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P36-40 Layout 1 lifestyle MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016 Features Nina Simone defied genre, new films may inspire exploration oming so closely on the heels of the crimination from her earliest days as a clas- Oscar-nominated documentary “What sical music prodigy and throughout her CHappened, Miss Simone?” the contro- career. This fueled passionate songwriting versial new Nina Simone biopic is bringing and performances and ultimately her com- the artist’s life and struggles back into public mitment to the civil rights movement. Light, consciousness. “Nina,” available in theaters who has yet to see “Nina,” said the contro- and on-demand Friday, has been dogged by versy over Saldana’s casting highlights problems almost since its inception. Simone Simone’s struggle: “That debate is around fans railed when Zoe Saldana was cast as the actual issues that were actually relevant to singer, saying the actress’ slight frame and Nina and her life.” “Nina” does little to illumi- A still frame taken from Ivory Coast national television RTI 1 yesterday In this file photo dated Congolese pop star Papa Wemba is hoisted by sup- lighter skin made her a poor choice to play a nate the singer’s artistry and activism, shows Congolese music star Papa Wemba collapsing on stage during the porters as he leaves the courthouse in Bobigny near Paris Tuesday, Nov 17, woman who celebrated her dark complexion focusing instead on her personal problems FEMUA music festival in Abidjan. — AP/AFP photos 2004. and African features. “Nina” writer-director with alcohol and depression. The film Cynthia Mort ultimately sued the producers begins when Simone has already exiled her- over creative differences, and the film’s self to Europe out of frustration with racial release was postponed several times. politics in the music industry and American Reviews for “Nina” have been dismal, with society. ‘King of Congolese rumba’ one critic calling it “a cinematic insult to the She’s being held in a psychiatric ward icon and her fans.” But Simone experts after pulling a gun on a record executive encourage the discussion the films have when she meets a kindly nurse, Clifton inspired. “Regardless of what the response to Henderson (David Oyelowo), whom she Papa Wemba the movie is, it’s gotten a debate about Nina hires as her personal assistant. Simone ver- dies and about representation of black women bally abuses Henderson as he tries to rein in and about a lot of things she dealt with and her health problems and move her toward a struggled with back into newspapers,” said musical comeback. Simone received 15 apa Wemba, one of Africa’s greatest music Western influence Alan Light, author of the 2016 biography, Grammy nominations and was wildly popu- stars, died yesterday after collapsing on stage Like many of his generation he was strongly “What Happened, Miss Simone?” which was lar in the 1960s, but unlike contemporaries during a festival in the Ivory Coast, the event influenced by American and British pop culture P inspired by the documentary. “In the end, it Miles Davis and John Coltrane, she wasn’t as organizers said. Papa Wemba, renowned as the and initially took the stage name Jules Presley. In certainly will contribute to more visibility and well-known in popular culture. Though that “king of Congolese rumba” for the fusion of Cuban 1969 he helped found Zaiko Langa Langa, a Zaire- conversation around Nina.” seems to be changing. —AP and electronic rock that he pioneered in the 1970s, based pop group that was to achieve cult status in was 66. The flamboyant world music singer died the 1970s with its revival of Latin American rumba. Passionate songwriting after collapsing during a set in the early hours of The group revitalized the style that had been pop- As the film touches on and the docu- yesterday at the Urban Musical Festival Anoumabo ular in the 1940s, using a combination of Afro- mentary deeply explores, Simone faced dis- (FEMUA) in Abidjan. Cuban rhythm and Congolese song while introduc- Video footage broadcast live on television ing rock rhythms and electronic sounds. Papa showed the dramatic moment that Papa Wemba- Wemba settled in France in 1986 as his fame began wearing a bold black and white patterned tunic to reach as far afield as Japan, dazzled by the and oversized bowler hat, slumped to the floor African dandy who was dressed by the world’s behind a group of dancers, before performers leading designers. rushed to his aid. The FEMUA management This file photo taken shows Congolese singer He went on to reach a much wider public expressed its “deep sorrow” at the death of a man Papa Wemba performing during a concert at thanks to a world music album produced by who has been at the forefront of African music for the New Morning in Paris. France’s Martin Meissonnier in 1988, which blend- more than four decades. The festival was the first convicted in France in 2004 for smuggling illegal ed African and Western sounds. Papa Wemba part- major cultural event in Ivory Coast since the immigrants into the country. ed ways in 1999 with the Real World record label Islamist attack on the beach resort of Grand- Papa Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio founded by Gabriel, the former Genesis singer. But Bassam last month that left 19 people dead. Pene Kikumba in June 1949 in what was then he remained immensely popular in Africa, taking Papa Wemba won international acclaim when Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of part in major music events including a concert in the fashion for African and world music took hold Congo. He began his singing career in religious London for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. He was in Europe and the United States in the 1980s, and choirs in which he developed his trademark high convicted by a Paris court in 2004 of smuggling recorded with British rock star Peter Gabriel. The range voice, making his debut in the capital illegal immigrants into France by disguising them father of six was also known as the driving spirit Kinshasa at the end of the 1960s. He inherited his as members of his band but walked free as he had behind a cult movement known as “Sapeurs” love of song from his mother, who was a profes- already served four months behind bars. — AFP whose members-young men-spend huge amounts sional “wailing woman” at unerals. of money on designer clothes. However, he was This image released by RLJ Entertainment shows Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone in a scene from, ‘Nina.’ — AP Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer holds B2B conference for NEXA AUTOCOLOR ohamed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons (MNSS) one of the Al- ners for the valuable support as well as our distinctive sales Sayer Group Holding Companies held a B2B confer- efforts enabling us to achieve top results.” Mence for NEXA AUTOCOLOR, to highlight latest devel- NEXA Auto color is a brand owned by PPG Industries head- opments of products and services in the Auto refinish markets quartered in Pittsburgh, USA. The hallmark of the company in the Middle East as well as globally. The event which was founded in 1883 is Innovation, Sustainability & Color. PPG’s organized at The Crowne Plaza Hotel was attended by distin- global operations stretches across 70 countries and employs guished guests from a large spectrum of popular automotive 46000 people. PPG’s product portfolio includes, Aerospace OEM companies in Kuwait. products, Architectural paints, Automotive paints, Fiber glass, The event proved to be a great platform for the attendees to Industrial coatings, Packaging coatings, Marine coatings, other learn how quality is at the center of NEXA AUTOCOLOR business specialty coatings. The world’s leading supplier of automotive operations. Alberto Gonzalez Business Solutions Manager coatings is PPG and two out of three cars in the world use their EMEA said “Color experts at NEXA work actively with car manu- paints. facturers and pigment suppliers worldwide, to match the thou- Acknowledging the valuable partnership between MNSS sands of new colors produced annually to ensure comprehen- and NEXA Krishna Kumar General Manager MNSS Tires, Oil and sive, up-to-date color offerings. In addition to this NEXA brand Paint Division (TOP) said “MNSS will continue to offer quality has a range of innovative color tools focused on delivering fast services through best facilities to compliment the top quality and reliable color excellence and color accuracy for “right first products from NEXA. Through such important events we aim to time” results.” strengthen the ties with our partners to further reinforce the Krishna Kumar General Manager MNSS Tires, Oil and Paint market leading position of the brand”. Division (TOP) welcomed delegation from NEXA AUTOCOLOR The mission statement of NEXA Autocolor is to deliver represented by Bulend Alpay, Market Director Middle East & Productive and Innovative products, easy to use colour tools, Turkey, Juan Navarro Business Solutions & Branding Director and provide value added services to optimize performance in EMEA, Alberto Gonzalez Business Solutions Manager EMEA, automotive body shops globally. The mission statement is best Serdar Gursess Business Solutions & Technical Manager Middle captured in their tag line “We provide tailored solutions”. As part East & Turkey, Praveen Kalia Market Manager Middle East of this process, Nexa Auto Color has introduced the “MVP” pro- Refinish, and Dayanand Shetty Business Development Manager gram spear headed by Mr. Juan Navarro - Business solutions & Refinish. Branding Director, Europe, ME & Africa, to help body shop Mubarak Naser Al-Sayer CEO Al-Sayer Group Holding said Manager’s with management tools to improve their operations “We are bringing to you NEXA AUTOCOLOR brands long history and reduce cost and improve their efficiency.
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