totally agree with you there.

Small correction: I wasn't implying that the media's the only tool employed by the States, I merely pointed out how it used to further their cause

Forgive me, I'm still new here, but I'm working hard at getting the hang of this site! lol

I really don't know how to cut particular aspects of someone else's post!

//Oh come on!!! I have seen quite a lot of American movies where there are American villains//

You're getting me wrong here. It's not about the accent used but the perception created. Hollywood movies play multiple roles one of which is the furtherance of the 'American Idea' - America and everything American is cool and must ultimately be portrayed as such.

It's one of the ways their values are enforced in the minds of their populace because they are well aware of just how powerful a tool the mass media is when it comes to mental conditioning and indoctrination.

//I don’t know about right. Who decides what rights SONY has and what rights it does not have? It is NOT a political establishment, neither are the products it sells to do with politics. It is simply a company, like any other and only limited by laws that guide companies like itself and others. We have companies like the BBC, ABC, Universal, which freely use these stereotypes in selling their movies and news. Why is SONY to be denied the same rights as the other companies?//

I feel you here. Truth is, in today's world, political correctness is a rather strong term and could be rather costly if one is on the wrong side of its application. We've seen protests over seemingly fickle issues because someone said blah, blah, this is what I meant by right, sensitivity to issues.

The US will do whatever it takes to promote their country, especially the concept of the 'American Dream' so that doesn't come as a surprise to me.

The Pentagon even has a Hollywood liaison and gives full backing to movies centred on/around US military doctrine

The essence of a 'Rich List' is to rank the people according to their Net Worth.

The first post failed to do so, save for Dangote.

Regarding Bayo Kuku, he's not the one who co-owns EKO hospital, that would be his brother Chief Sunny Kuku.

Chief Bayo Kuku is a major player in the oil and gas industry [dunno the name of the company but I have heard gist about his wealth - short version: dude's loaded!

As one living outside the country, I constantly find myself trying hard to paint a picture which is very much at variance with that which the majority of our people paint via our movies, music [those glorifying crime and the like], the corruption we read about daily [I first heard about the recent bank issues and the '13bn nanny' from a Mozambican!].

Look at the US, Hollywood is an integral part of the nation's image making. Check out the Disney feature length movies: the hero has an American accent and the villain one that's distinctly un-American. This things are deliberate. their country must be painted in the best possible light at all times, subtly or not!

We're simply living in denial and the earlier we wake up, the better.

I don't think Sony was right in airing that ad, but truth be told, our actions [and indeed our inactions too] baited anyone willing to poke fun/insults/whatever else at us.

In one other thread, some guys were inflamed over the depiction of Nigerians in District 9, Question: Have any of them bothered to take a sample of the opinion people outside our dear country think of us? What their perception of Nigeria and Nigerians is?

Most times, I find myself telling people I'm from West Africa, not because I'm ashamed of my country, but because I know I have a tendency to take an argument to any level,

, so rather than argue all night, I'd rather say things that'll lead to me getting some pumpum!

Further to the Nollywood thing:

Spent the better part of Saturday night explaining to this chic that Nigeria isn't made up of ritual killers! Trust me, it wasn't a simple case of 'it's just a movie' , this chic is really into AfricaMagic and practically all the home videos have some form of ritualistic practice and these all form an opinion in the minds of others about us.

Rather than devote time speaking out against the crap these people spew endlessly, we'd rather wait and pounce on anyone that suggests we're a voodoo nation!

There's the unwritten rule that Nigerians are the ONLY one's permitted to criticise ourselves!

Is it that we've not strolled into the average cybercafe in Lagos or any of our cities for that matter?

Is it that we [and millions of other all over the world] don't receive scam emails daily?

Are you saying most of our youth are gainfully employed?

The very least we can do is to stop fooling ourselves.

A few years ago, Taiwan was touted globally as the den of fake goods, the Taiwanese didn't respond by asking their government to sue any and every, they upped their game and now are a major hub for high quality electronics.