Just had to post cause I can't wait to see the role that John Boyega and Lupita Nyong’o will play in this installment moving forward with the STAR WARS universe.

An Ancient African Game of Thrones Too Big for the Small Stage

16 years ago Creator/Director Shayla Hudson Williams was with her mother at the African History Museum in Washington DC. There she was inspired by the smallest exhibit that made reference to an epic time and story. It was at this moment that she discovered and chose her life’s work, to bring this mostly forgotten and hidden story to life for the world. 

That story is that of the Kush Empire, the darker skinned ancient Africans that overthrew their Egyptian oppressors and ruled for nearly 100 years. The story of the Kush has been shrouded in mystery and mostly hidden for centuries. It is only now that scholars and archeologist are starting to piece together a more accurate picture of these great people. For years Shayla did extensive research pouring through books and archaeological reference to find a story that would make a great feature film. She encountered many dead ends as she would discover one family or story only to have to abandon the concept due to lack of information about them. Finally she uncovered the story of King Piye and his family the subject of The Lost Kings. 

When coming to the stage with her partner Chris Molina and introducing the play, Shayla expresses to the audience that you must use your imagination for what is to come. The Cupcake Theater in Hollywood is a tiny venue.   Most of the action takes place on a small square platform stage with an exit path stage left. There is a curtain back drop where for a few scenes characters enter and exit from the corner stage right. There is also a wooden ladder stage right that leads up to a tiny platform of only a few feet which hangs above the stage. On that platform sits the narrator who is mostly employed to describe the big scale battle sequences and scenes that would require crowds of people to which there are many. 

In the climatic battle of the piece the Kushite city of the protagonists is under siege. I literally needed to close my eyes to picture the epic battle that includes elephants and other wild beasts hidden in underground cages to be unleashed on their unsuspecting attackers. 

Although King Piye played well by Chaim Dunbar is the head of the royal family or House that gives us our point of view in Lost Kingdom, it is really the story of his General and sister Makeda played masterfully by actress Frances Domond. 

At the opening of the story Makeda is wounded in a fierce battle in which she leads the Kushites in a sneak attack against the Egyptians which results in them seizing power and expanding their territory.

A true historical event that one archaeologist in the PBS special entitled “Rise of the Black Pharaohs”, was a real David and Goliath story. 

Returning to the Kush kingdom after the battle Makeda is troubled and considers stepping down as General to settle down with her warrior husband Kibwe, played by Kevin Craig West and start a family. Frances and Kevin have a natural chemistry and this representation of black love and partnership is one of the gems that make up this piece. 

The emotional high point of the play though happens about mid-way through as Makeda confronts her brother Shabaka played by Melvin Ward about his betrayal to the family. I could feel her pain as she confronts the reality of being betrayed by someone she has known and loved her entire life. 

I do think though that the biggest missed opportunity of the work is with the character of Shabaka who turns out to be the villain of the piece. Shabaka is reminiscent of Iago from Othello. It’s a challenging proposition to portray a character who is at once loving brother and scheming traitor at the same time.

It is surmounting this challenge though that I think will unlock some of the greatest potential that lies at the heart of The Lost Kingdom. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention the heart wrenching performance Narlyia Sterling as Subira who is tortured by the loss of her husband Mchumba played by a very entertaining Christian Broussard. 

Also considering the budget they must have had to work with the costumes pretty amazing. Also impressive was the fight choreography which again had to take place in a very limited space. 

I was thoroughly entertained by The Lost Kingdom. The Lost Kingdom in its current integration is very much a work in progress and it was easy for me to see and be excited about it’s potential as a big budget feature film, larger scale stage production or even TV series. 

With the announcement of Disney/Marvels Black Panther Feature and the incredible success of FOX’s Empire I think the time is right for the emergence of projects like The Lost Kingdom. 

#BlackGameofThrones #SwordandSoul #DemThrones

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lost-kingdom-review-eric-t-elder?trk=hb_ntf_MEGAPHONE_ARTICLE_POST

Its so sad but due to insufficient entries to compete in the Comicpanel Pencil Gladiators Competition, we regret to announce that the competition has been cancelled as a stand alone competition. The event had been postponed to give opportunity for more artists to compete in the competition but yet the entries where not enough for a competition to hold. We are very sorry for any inconvinience we may have caused those who sent in their entries.

Check out entries Here

Brasillian artist Marcelo d’Salete’s Graphic Novel titled Cumbé, documenting the history of Slavery in Brasil. Check it out... Pass the word, show your support.

http://hyperallergic.com/178249/a-graphic-novel-portrait-of-slavery-in-brazil/

http://www.cumbe.art.br

 for more info follow the link:

http://www.seereal.com/en/holography/holography_technology.php

Drexel University partners with Free Library of Philadelphia to widen student tech options

In a partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, Drexel University is adding an iPad vending machine in their Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. The machine will rent out up to twelve iPads at a time.

The iPads come loaded with a suite of tools suitable for an academic environment, including Bowzine, Hoopla, Mango Languages and a variety of news feeds, art, music and editing tools. Via the App Store, the borrower can add any other software he or she needs to complete a project. Users don’t have to be concerned about leaving personal information on the iPads, since nonstandard data is automatically deleted upon turn-in.

Simple, portable computing has been progressively changing the face of education, for example with allowing access to instruction via Khan Academy or replacing traditional textbooks entirely with tablets. This second example has become more and more popular over the past five years, and has met with general success.

The iPad kiosk, and the MacBook dispenser before it, are expansions of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s technology programs. Earlier iterations of this project have included free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the area, and neighborhood computer labs available to the public. In keeping with the partnership, Drexel will make the iPad rentals available to both students and local residents.

As technology becomes a more fundamental aspect of how societies share information, access to technology will be as much of an inequality issue as police relations and nutrition. Projects like the community iPad kiosk can help to alleviate some inequalities by providing access to neighborhoods where technology and knowledge of its use is rare. Find out more about how the Free Library of Philadelphia is helping here.

This is not the first time Drexel had success with a vending machine that made rentable technology available. Last year, they introduced a vending machine that allowed students to check out a MacBook for 24 hours.

Filmed Almost a year ago with a cell phone Camera, here is a visual of where we are NOW with Holographic Tech. Pretty impressive.

EchoPixel Medical Education Viewer from EchoPixel, Inc. on Vimeo.

Practicle uses of Holographic Technology. Check it out at:

http://www.wired.com/2015/04/holograms-will-let-doctors-see-3-d-views-insides/?mbid=social_fb

Above is a character named BAHATI™ from my franchise THE ADIGUN OGUNSANWO™. This character happens to be a Holographic Game character who came to life. Below starts to document the  beginning of this tech in the REAL WORLD.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/06/augmented-and-virtual-reality-to-hit-150-billion-by-2020/#.5wk65a:5fSD

check out more

http://techcrunch.com/tag/hololens/

CONGRATZ and Much success to the 2015 GLYPH COMIC AWARD Nominees that were announced on Tuesday March 31, 2015 from the GLYPH AWARDS Facebook page. The award will be presented on May 15, 2015 at the AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM in Philadelphia. Check the ECBACC site link below for specifics. I can relate with each creator's anticipation from last year when my franchise THE ADIGUN OGUNSANWO™ was nominated and on the GLYPH Award night WON in the category for Best Comic Strip or Web Comic. KEEP PUSHING FORWARD GLYPH NOMINEES!

Complete 2015 GLYPH Nominee List at the following link:

http://ecbacc.com/wordpress3/category/glyph-comics-awards/

We have another submission making 5 submissions we have now. The Pencil Gladiators competition needs 10 contestants to battle for N30,000 cash prize and also a chance to have their artwork colored by a super colorist and possibly even sold. But we need 6 more contestant for the competition to take off. We have postponed the competition for one more week to give artist the chance to send in their entries. Check out the latest entry

 We have 5 entries and we are still looking for 5 more contestant to participate in the month long event where the winner takes home N30,000. Check HERE for more details about the event and below for the entries so far. You would think that a competition like this will get massive participation but that's not the case.  If you haven't sent in your entry, you have just 2 days left to enter for this competition. If by next Friday we don't get up to 10 participant the competition will be cancelled.

Check out the entries submitted so far here:

http://comicpanel.org/index.php/content-blog/399-check-out-the-entries-so-far-3

Check out BAOBAB, AN ANIMATED TALE. French Directed and Produced. A Year old but quality animation and even a few clips showing how a few of the scenes in this film was composited to look as stunning as it does. Check it out at:

http://www.theartofnikosmoss.blogspot.fr/

Baobab - Night Compositing from Baobab on Vimeo.

Baobab - Day Compositing from Baobab on Vimeo.

Artist/Writer Etubi Onucheyo and his "Mumu Juju" Manga Strip which involves Two Nigerian Ghost Busters that goes under the handle of "The Mortar" and "The Pestle." Etubi also goes under his alternate artist handleS of "LALALA,"and "ARTDRIOD" he just started this Manga Strip in February Check it out and show your support for this creator from Abuja, Nigeria. 

http://www.gidicomics.co/issue/#1

http://mumu-jujutsu.tumblr.com/post/112406381755/its-hurrr-hope-you-guys-like-and-see-you

DSX - is a old project of Chuck Dragonblack Collins of the weekly comic strip "BOUNCE". Get back to him and show some love at the DSX BlogSpot at:

http://dreadsocietyx.blogspot.com/

Check It out.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Roye Okupe is a veteran creative specialist who holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in computer science from The George Washington University. His passion for animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012, an avenue that would allow him pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote and produced several animated productions including, but not limited to, 2D/3D animated short films, TV commercials, show openers, music videos and much more. Roye is no stranger to wearing multiple hats. He was part of a team (as a producer, assistant director and editor) of filmmakers who retold the Biblical story of King David in a contemporary movie titled D’Comeback, which premiered in the US in March 2010. With the superhero genre currently in its golden age, Roye has made it a goal to create a connected universe of heroes, with origins from locations that are currently neglected and ignored. The first of these locales will be Nigeria, where he was born. Roye is a creative director/producer at YouNeek Studios. Along with a team of artists, he is currently working on a Fall release for the E.X.O. graphic novel. Check him out and show your support at his website:

Youneekstudios.com

Below is the link for more about this Mercedes Car:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz-f-015-luxury-in-motion-concept-is-this-the-vehicular-future/#comments

The last drawing is MY concept of a Luxury Car of the Future

I have been a fan of artist Shof Coker for quite sometime. He and his brother/writer Shobo Coker have released on Tapastic.com their Online Comic

Outcasts of Jupiter

Check it out at this link:

http://tapastic.com/episode/65786

This creative family, including their sister Funola Coker, works under their business banner The Coker CoOp. 

http://www.cokercoop.com/

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria.... Check it out!

My ORIGINAL Acrylic Painting of THE ADIGUN OGUNSANWO™ comic strip #1 is on for sale. Click here to purchase the acrylic on canvas, matted and famed art by CJ Juzang. 

Check out creator Paul Louise-Julie comic story featured On Kindle and IBooks A NEW DURECTION in the saga of Lycans on earth.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/24241855/The-Pack-Graphic-Novel

Painting in Acrylic THE ADIGUN OGUNSANWO™ comic strip #2. One Panel done Four more to go. Stay connected to abyssiniamedia.net to see the final ORIGINAL painting and poster for sale.