Kevin Costner, the writer, director, producer, and star of "Horizon: An American Saga," has been a well-known supporter of Westerns. Now, he explains why the genre haunts him. The "Yellowstone" star explained in the foreword of "The Great Horizon: Photographing Kevin Costner's 'American Saga,'" that Westerns are based on "no greater narrative than the arduous journey of men and women from across America in pursuit of a dream." Costner's "Horizon:

Despite being a dark horse for the awards season, "An American Saga" is only one of four planned films that examine how the American West changed during the Civil War. The release date for "Part Two," which made its debut at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, has not yet been announced.

Photographer Cale Glendening documented the first installment's filming. The official making-of book, "The Great Horizon" (Weldon Owen, published November 26), includes close-up cast portraits and behind-the-scenes photos. More than 250 never-before-seen photos, cast and crew reactions, articles, and script excerpts are included in the book.

In his foreword, Costner describes "Horizon: An American Saga" as the "most challenging journey" he has ever worked on. "The most difficult journey I've ever taken was the creation of Horizon: An American Saga," Costner wrote. "I'm a storyteller at heart, and the arduous journey of men and women across America in pursuit of a goal is perhaps the greatest narrative that has ever been told.

 Their ideal was fiercely pursued and only a select few succeeded, and even then, it took many people's blood, sweat, and tears to make it happen. The nightmares of the people who had inhabited and prospered in the West for ages came as a result of following their fantasies westward. This was a tale I had to share.

"I wanted to go beyond the myth and tell the story of the common people creating a new chapter in the history of America in the face of war, over great distances, in a nation at war with itself," Costner added. Traders and trackers, surveyors and settlers, missionaries and soldiers, lawmen and criminals – everyone was enthralled with the hazy promise of a brighter future.

 I wanted to depict their journey from the perspectives of friends, family, and enemies who are all trying to alter their fates. Everybody, from Chinese traders to Pima cavalry scouts, from European colonists to White Mountain Apache, penned their tale and entered uncharted territory.

 The excerpt states, “They believed in the journey and were willing to risk everything. The women especially faced intense hardship, but showed tremendous resilience in trying to keep their families clean, fed, and healthy. It is important to me that their stories are firmly at the center of all of the chapters of ‘Horizon: An American Saga.’ We can only measure our lives against the generations that came before and wonder whether we would have been as resourceful, as tenacious, as brave.”

Costner also gave some thought to the country's current situation. "Everyone in America is searching for something, whether it be opportunity, vision, or belief," Costner wrote. "It has been a long and difficult journey of opportunity, vision, and belief to create the first two episodes of the 'Horizon' film cycle. I hope that Cale Glendening's photographs from the sets of "Horizon:

 See that in the faces of the outstanding performers in "An American Saga," and sense the timeless allure of the American West in Cale's photographs of Utah's breathtaking canyons. And when the film starts and you sit down in the dark, I hope you will also feel the allure of the American West dream and lose yourself in the gripping tales of the people who sought it and those who were affected by it.

Costner has stated that he finds "comfort" in the Western genre itself in an interview with IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit program. "I hope that aspect of the film appeals to viewers. I'm not sure whether they do anymore, but I don't care. He said, "I love my gunfights, but I'm not in a rush to get to them. I do like it, so when I make them, it's still going to be there." I think the language informs [the action], and I'm in love with it. I'm prepared to take my time when stating my desired lines in opposition to these large areas.

Three renowned Nigerian artists—Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, and Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye—have been honored with the U.S. Exchange Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award as part of celebrations honoring 50 years of artistic collaborations between Nigeria and the United States of America (USA).  In honor of the three, who participated in the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) more than 50 years ago, US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills presented the award to the awardees.

Each of the legends received a commemorative certificate yesterday, according to a statement from the US Mission, in recognition of their extraordinary dedication to their craft, their unwavering mentoring of up-and-coming artists, and their priceless contributions that have deepened the ties between the people of the two nations. The U.S. government is dedicated to funding programs and initiatives that foster cultural exchange, encourage artistic expression, protect cultural heritage, and build the skills of Nigerian artists and professionals in the creative industries, Ambassador Mills said in his remarks.

He emphasized how alumni of U.S. government exchange programs contribute to their communities in a variety of ways, including the creative economy.

For this reason, we have funded these programs for fifty years, and we will continue to do so for many years to come," Mills stated. Chief Davies-Okundaye, who has taught students all over the world the ancient arts of batik and adire, stated that taking part in the exchange program had a big influence on her life and gave her access to fresh viewpoints and experiences that influenced both her professional and personal development.

Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, a renowned bead painter and awardee, expressed his happiness at the recognition.  "It was life-changing for me to travel to the United States on an exchange program fifty years ago in 1974. It allowed me to mentor the upcoming generation of artists and share my work with a wider audience."  In addition to teaching at esteemed establishments like the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and universities in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, Chief Buraimoh's artwork has been shown all over the world.

Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, who is 92 years old, is still a prominent presence in Nigeria's visual arts landscape, producing sculpture, printmaking, painting, and installation. He pointed out that emerging artists find it difficult to stay committed to their craft as a result of the prize recognition.  "I feel so inspired and thrilled. By fostering upcoming talent in the field, I will keep giving back," he continued. Professor Onobrakpeya is well-known for being the illustrator of Chinua Achebe's No Longer at Ease. He has had exhibitions all over the world, including this one.

"The Mask and the Sword" at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and is still regarded as one of the most renowned artists of the 20th century from West Africa.  Political and corporate executives, diplomats, academics, art curators and collectors, and alumni of various U.S. government exchange programs were among the notable attendees of the ceremony.

It emphasized the 50-year Sister Cities relationship between Lagos and Atlanta, as well as the historical people-to-people linkages in the visual arts between the two nations.

DNigerian musician Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, has disclosed that he is married. During a recent event, the award-winning singer revealed this while on stage. Wizkid was heard warning a woman not to go too near to him since he is married in one of the widely shared videos from the occasion.

I'm a married man, baby; stay away from me. My spouse and I are wed. I have my kids at home," he remarked. Whether the singer was making a joke or not is unknown. Currently, Wizkid is seeing his baby mama, Jada Pollock, who is also his manager.

Following the birth of their first child, Zion, in 2017, Wizkid and Pollock's relationship was first made public. A few years later, the couple welcomed another son, AJ. Recently, when Jada showed off what appeared to be a baby bump on social media, there have been rumors that they are expecting their third child.

Ten years have passed since Wizkid's album "Ayo" was published. Among the album's prominent tracks is "Ojuelegba," which has become a huge success.

The mid-tempo track emphasized his contemplation of his ascent to fame, which began in Lagos' Ojuelegba neighborhood. The song struck a chord with audiences because it contained catchy melodies in both Yoruba and Pidgin English while also spreading a message of thankfulness, optimism, and endurance.

Rappers Skepta, a British-Nigerian, and Drake, a Canadian, were drawn to Ojuelegba's commercial success and decided to freestyle on what would eventually become the unauthorized remix. The song will be essential in the internationalization of Nigerian mainstream pop music since, a year later, Drake will include Wizkid in his worldwide hit song "One Dance." Through this partnership, Wizkid and Afrobeats will gain international recognition, helping to steer the genre toward success on a global scale. Wizkid's "Ojuelegba," released ten years ago, has become a legendary song with noticeable effects on the Nigerian music scene.