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In today’s Afrinity connect interview. You are about to find out more about one of the most prominent Gambian actresses Monica Davies.
Who is Monica Davies?
Monica Davies is a Gambian Actress both on Stage and Screen. The strong Passion she have towards acting gave her the confidence to explore the industry.
She is currently working with an Organisation as Acting doesn’t pay much to cater for her needs, now she is a part-time actress after her office working hours.
“Most Producers or Film Directors that I have been working with understand the nature of my job and I do explain the same to any other person that needs my services. I also make sure that not to accept scripts whose filming schedule might clash with another as putting a production on hold is the last thing I will ever do in my professional career” said Monica.
What’s her background?
Monica is from an average humble Family of 8. She studied Office Administration and later proceed to do a 2years course in Sales and Marketing Management at the University of The Gambia in Collaboration with LCM.
In 2015, she got admission to study Public Administration but later deferred her course because her sponsorer stopped and after applying for scholarship through the Higher Education was unsuccessful.
Monica Davies received few awards in the cause of her career; Best Female Actress in The Gambia – 2012, Pan African Most Promising Actress 2015 which was held in Ghana, Leadership Recognition Awards 2016 by Leadership Mind Ambassadors in Nigeria and Best Actress 2018 -Special Movie Awards (SMA) and other Recognition certificates by Production houses.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
Monica was inspired to act after the death of her Father when she was just 17 years old and was in a situation that was frustrating. Having the strength to come out of that situation with the Grace of God pushed her to never give up in pursuing what she believe in life.
Why does Monica Davies Choose acting?
According to her, she have always been passionate about acting back in school. The love for Literature and dramas in those books she read deepen her love for the act and that was why in 2003 when she came across an Audition advert by Vinasha Film Production on the Gambia Daily Observer, she grabbed the opportunity and successfully got a role in one of their TV series “BANJUL COPs”.
Since then she have never looked back and later started stage acting in 2012 with GAMYAA and Pan African Theatre and Films Production before joining the Renowned and ONLY Professional and Standard Theatre in The Gambia ‘The Ebunjan Theatre’ in 2013 where she learnt and experienced Professional Stage Acting and has done several stage performances of plays written by the Phenemonal Proprietess/Director Janet Badjan-Young and other international Playwrights.
When asked to name three actors she do like to be compared to, she said “Nollywood Patience Ozokwor (Mama Gee) because of her strict or hard character or roles and mother roles she plays. Stella Damasus and Nkiru Sylvanus- They versatile actresses and when they are to play an emotional role they play it so well that they get their audience carried along.”
Monica’s professional goals is to always bring humility and Authenticity to any role she is interpreting and to be truthful ad professional in improving her skills.
She further make known of what she can’t do without, which includes her Rosary and her phone which has her off Line Bible and novels that she can read at anytime and place.
By Amie T. Camara
Your Service Will Always Be Remembered, Buhari Greets Babangida At 79
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has felicitated former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) on his 79th birthday.
The Nigerian President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined family, friends, and associates to celebrate with the elder statesman.
“As the former military leader turns a new age, the President believes his services to the country will always be remembered,” the statement said.
“President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will continually strengthen Gen. Babangida, grant him good health and longer life.”
IBB served as a military President of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993.
Elections in Nigeria: IGP Orders Arrest Of Individuals, Groups With Prohibited Firearms
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Nigeria, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to identify and arrest any individual(s) or groups(s) in possession of prohibited firearms.
Channels TV said, the IGP’s directive comes as part of preparations toward the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, as well as efforts by the Police High Command to curb the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, DCP Frank Mba, says, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual(s) or group(s) in possession of prohibited firearms.
DCP Mba said that the directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.
“In addition, the directive is targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act.
“In a similar vein, Commissioners of Police in all the States of the Federation and the FCT have been directed to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi security outfits spread across the country in order to ensure that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations”.
The statement further added that the IGP, while observing that several civil groups – vigilantes, quasi-states, and regional security outfits under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, notes that the trend if unchecked will pose a serious threat to national security.
Nigeria Confirms 298 New COVID-19 Cases, 207 More Recover
As Nigeria gradually reopens its economy amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the country has reported 298 more infections – the third-lowest since June 8.
On August 4, the country reported 288 COVID-19 infections and just one week later, it recorded 290 new cases.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced the latest figure in a late-night tweet on Sunday.
It explained that the new infections were reported from 15 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The new figure, which is 27 lesser than the last number of infections recorded on Saturday, brings the total number of cases in Nigeria to 49,068.
Jacinda Ardern postpone election due to coronavirus fears
The prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, has postponed the country’s general election by a month amid a spike in coronavirus cases.
According to Aljazeera, the vote was due to take place on 19 September but will now be held on 17 October instead.
Ms Ardern said on Monday that the new date would allow parties “to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under”.
Earlier this week, the country’s largest city went back into lockdown.
“This decision gives all parties time over the next nine weeks to campaign and the Electoral Commission enough time to ensure an election can go ahead,” Ms Ardern said, adding that she had “absolutely no intention” of allowing any further delays to the vote.
The opposition National Party has argued the election should be delayed as restrictions on campaigning mean Ms Ardern had an unfair advantage.
The announcement that new cases had been discovered shocked the country, which had recorded no locally transmitted cases for more than three months.
Before the new cluster was identified, the government had lifted almost all of its lockdown restrictions, which were first imposed in March.
New Zealand has reported more than 1,600 infections and 22 deaths since the pandemic began, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Source___Aljazeera
Convention set for formal nomination of Democrats Candidate Joe Biden.
Four-day event set to include formal nomination of Joe Biden as the Democratic challenger of US President Donald Trump
A presidential primary season like no other will culminate this week for the Democratic Party in the United States in an unprecedented, mostly digital convention that is set to cement Joe Biden as the official candidate tasked with taking on President Donald Trump in a November election.
Only essential staff will be on the ground at the convention centre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a pivotal swing state that had spent millions of dollars preparing to host the high-profile event, which runs from August 17 to 20, before it was scaled back in light of the pandemic.
The convention comes as Democratic officials work to energise voters behind Biden’s candidacy – and not simply against Trump.
While defeating the Republican president is a huge motivator for many within the party, there is some concern that less-engaged voters who lean Democrat and swing voters are not locked in to cast ballots for Biden, especially as the pandemic is expected to create barriers to voting.
Following a fractious and ideologically diverse 28-candidate primary season, the party has also sought to unify before the convention and avoid a repeat of 2016 when Hillary Clinton’s supporters clashed with those backing her progressive rival, Bernie Sanders.
Source__Aljazeera
The Gambia records 10 new Covid-19 deaths
The Gambia recorded 10 new Covid-19 deaths, the highest on single days-bringing the total to 43.
According to Standard, 7 of these new deaths are males, 9 are aged 45 years and above. Twice more males than females aged 70 and above were confirmed positive for Covid-19.
With the information from the of health ministry, a significant number of the new cases are residents of Western Health Region 1 (over 70%).
The 79 new cases registered took the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 1,556.
The country currently has 354 people in quarantine, 1,246 active cases, 172 probable cases and a crude case-fatality ratio of 2.8%.
Trump new executive orders against Tiktok
US President Donald Trump late Friday lashed out anew at ByteDance, issuing a fresh executive order stating the Chinese internet giant must sell its interest in the Musical.ly app it bought and merged with TikTok.
The order builds on sweeping restrictions issued last week by Trump that TikTok and WeChat end all operations in the US, his latest explosive moves aimed at countering China’s rising global power.
ByteDance bought karaoke video app Musical.y from a Chinese rival about three years ago in a deal valued at nearly a billion dollars. It was incorporated into TikTok, which became a global sensation.
Trump’s order contends there is “credible evidence” leading him to believe that ByteDance’s take-over of Musical.ly “threatens to impair the national security of the United States.”
“As we’ve said previously, TikTok is loved by 100 million Americans because it is a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection,” ByteDance said in response to an AFP inquiry.
“We’re committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform for many years to come.”
The order set to take effect in 90 days retroactively prohibits the acquisition and bars ByteDance from having any interest in Musical.ly.
Trump ordered that any sale of interest in Musical.ly in the US had to be signed off on by the Committee on Foreign Investment, which is to be given access to ByteDance books.
It also ordered that any saved user data be destroyed.
Source__Aljazeera
BREAKING: Tribunal Affirms Election Of Duoye Diri As Bayelsa Governor
Channels TV said the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Senator Duoye Diri as Bayelsa State Governor.
The three-man panel affirmed on the decision earlier today which is a month after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by a former aspirant of the Bayelsa governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timi Alaibe, challenging the candidacy of Senator Diri in the November 2019 election.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Owodunni, the tribunal held that the petition filed by mister Owei Woniwei of the Alliance for Democracy is incompetent and lacks merit.
The Tribunal further held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations of the forged declaration of age and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate levelled against the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence.
Credit___Channels TV
Who is Kamala Harris?
The California Democrat was born in Oakland, California, to two immigrant parents: an Indian-born mother and Jamaican-born father.
After her parents’ divorce, Ms Harris was raised primarily by her Hindu single mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist.
She grew up engaged with her Indian heritage, joining her mother on visits to India, but Ms Harris has said that her mother adopted Oakland’s black culture, immersing her two daughters – Kamala and her younger sister Maya – within it.
“My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters,” she wrote in her autobiography The Truths We Hold. “She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.”
She attended college in the US, spending four years at Howard University, one of the nation’s preeminent historically black colleges and universities, which she has described as among the most formative experiences of her life.
Ms Harris says she’s always been comfortable with her identity and simply describes herself as “an American”.
She told the Washington Post in 2019, that politicians should not have to fit into compartments because of their colour or background. “My point was: I am who I am. I’m good with it. You might need to figure it out, but I’m fine with it,” she said.
After four years at Howard, Ms Harris went on to earn her law degree at the University of California, Hastings, and began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
She became the district attorney – the top prosecutor – for San Francisco in 2003, before being elected the first woman and the first black person to serve as California’s attorney general, the top lawyer and law enforcement official in America’s most populous state.
In her nearly two terms in office as attorney general, Ms Harris gained a reputation as one of the Democratic party’s rising stars, using this momentum to propel her election as California’s junior US senator in 2017.
Credit_BBC
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