2020
TAN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
NEW SILVERBIRD GROUP PRESIDENT HONOURABLE GUY MURRAY-BRUCE AT THE HELM OF AFRICA’S LARGEST MEDIA EMPIRE FASHION FOCUS: PAN AFRICAN MUSIC FASHION RUNWAY MUSIC MATTERS: RIP AFRICAN LEGENDS NOLLYWOOD ROYALTY: FUNKE AKINDELE ‘LESSONS LEARNT’
REFLECTIONS OF ADIRE THE AFRICAN FABRIC TELLING TALES
The Wheatbaker Located in the residential heart oflkoyi is 'The Wheatbaker' destined to become Lagos's premier luxury boutique hotel. The
hotel is targeted at entrenching itself as the top entertainment, lifestyle and contemporary art destination hotel in Lagos. The
Hotel features 65 luxury hotel rooms and suites with world class technology including multi-functional video conferencing
facilities, WIFI and a 200 seater conference room. The hotel is equipped with a private membership gymnasium. The hotel
has an internationally rated restaurant which offers a high class grill house menu and unique delicatessen which will spoil
your taste buds with home cooked meals and freshly baked cakes, pastries and breads.
4, Onitolo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: +234 ( 1) 277 3560-2 / +234 ( 1) 906 700-2 ¡ Fax: +234 ( 1) 277 3563 Web: www.thewheatbakerlagos.com Email: info@thewheatbakerlagos.com.
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TAN Content May 2020 4
TAN TEAM Editors Note: Ngozi Omambala Publisher / Editor-in-chief Ngozi Omambala
Cover Features: 6 Pan African 5th Annual Music 12 Origins of Adire 14
Honourable Guy Murray-Bruce
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Funke Akindele – Lessons
18 Music Legends Honoured Fashion 17
Maki Oh Game changer and Africa’s
global designer brand Entertainment 16 Events 17
Music Review
Sport 21
Samuel Eto’o & fellow international
footballers united #covid19 Reflections 21
Life after Covid-19 Cynthia Anuoluwapo
Creative contributors Ovo Ogufere Ade Bakare Art Director Ekeade Adetunji Marketing NMO Management and PR Assistant Writer Cynthia Anuoluwapo Editorial contributor (financial) Bode Augusto Staff assistants Hubert Dean Peterson Ifeanyi Anuforo Distribution consultant Bosaretho International Legal Michael Enyinnaya Esq. Country Hill Attorneys
Nutrition 11
Nuts about nuts - Babatunde Salako TAN Magazine: Advertising & Sales:
Economy 21
Expert opinion - Bode Agusto -
economic impact #Covid-19 for SME’s
22 TAN Technology
Email: nmomanagementandpr@gmail.com +234701 448 8538 (whatsapp)
Careers 22
Titi Ogufere – Youngest & First
female/ Black President: IFI
Special thanks: Maureen Obiabumuo (Silverbird Group), Biola Alabi, Uche Pedro (Bella Naija), Simon Grindrod, Martin Mabutho (DSTV), Alex Unusual, Ladong Make-up, Wofai Samuel. Team LoudNProudLive & GBT Auditions. All at NMO Management & PR Limited THE
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Editor’s Note
O
ut of apparent misery, a silver lining has emerged in the form of a wider ‘community spirit’ of ‘public unity’ and common purpose to support those in greater need. We are all in this together. Mother nature is flexing, dictating the ‘new normal’ whilst we adapt to lockdown modes in the wake of restrictions being eased in timed phases. There are lessons to be learnt no doubt.
Coronavirus does not discriminate and lockdown measures have interestingly made us reflect more on aspects of our lives, lifestyles, working habits and practices. The reality: covid-19 has severely impacted the African economy across major industry sectors. In our TAN exclusive interview, Honourable Guy Murray Bruce speaks about his new role as President of Silverbird Group; his plans and the impact of covid-19 on the African media conglomerate. Bode Agusto provides candid financial insight into the impact of covid-19 on SME’s in Nigeria. On a lighter note, we explore creative prominence of modern day ADIRE fabrics and its African connotations and savour the designer collections straight off the catwalk from Pan African 5th annual Music Fashion Runway. ‘Life after covid-19’ examines post lockdown reality and ‘Music Matters’ pays homage to legends past, whose legacy in music is eternally set in stone. Africa, still we rise. Remember folks, it’s a phase and it too shall pass… Don’t panic but conquer fear. Ramadan Mubarak to all our Muslim friends. Stay Safe wherever you are.
Ngozi Omambala Publisher /editor-in-chief
il @caramelchicng @theafricannarrative1
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| Email: Tantheafricannarrative@gmail.com
TAN MAGAZINE
TAN FASHION FEATURE EXCLUSIVE:
PAN AFRICAN 5TH ANNUAL MUSIC FASHION RUNWAY #MFR
HOST
WINFREY OKOLO Former MBGN Tourism OF SILVERBIRD TV
Photography: Ajao Oluwafunmilayo
E J I R O A M O S TA F I R I
A F R I K FAS H I O N T R E N D A F K (CAMEROON)
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ZIZI CARDOW
QUOPHI AKOTUAH (GHANA)
KIAS DIVO COLLECTION (UGANDA)
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SKENTELE BY ETTI
ANNIES YVONNE CONCEPT
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HOUSE OF TEMMY
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BIG BEN KILANI
S T E V E R AY C O U T U R E
Organized: NMO Management & PR Ltd | Sponsorship & enquiries nmomanagementandpr@gmail.com THE
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TAN: HEALTH (NUTRITION)
BABATUNDE SALAKO EXPLORES THE NUTTY LIFE
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hey may look small in size but they are one of the most nutritious foods found on planet earth. Whether as part of your breakfast, in your salad, as dessert toppings or roasted, nuts are healthy snacks you shouldn’t do without in your daily diet. You may have heard that they contain high fat content but what you may have not heard is that these nuts play vital role in preventing cancer, building strong bones, responsible for beautiful skin, nails and hair, keep the heart healthy and yes, weight loss amongst other things and fortunately for us, our Continent is rich in these healthy nuts. Here are 5 healthy nuts you can get without breaking a sweat.
Cashew nuts: Easily identified by their distinct shape, cashew nuts are excellent source of vitamins and minerals and fats which are good replacements for animal fats and protein and help to lower one’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Daily consumption of a handful of these nut prevents diabetes, reduce blood pressure and help in weight loss. In Nigeria, Cashew nuts can be enjoyed as a delicious snack when roasted and salted and they also serve as a vegan recipe when raw and unsalted.
Tiger nuts: Known as ‘Ofio’ in Yoruba, ‘Aki hausa’ in Igbo and ‘Aya’ in Hausa, this nut is very rich in fibre(about 33% fibre content), vitamins E and C and it is also a good source of Magnesium which is needed for the normal functioning of the body. Tiger nuts are one of the richest sources of non-meat protein and they are rich in milk which contains no Lactose. So if you are looking at cutting down on your meat intake and are lactose intolerant, this nut is perfect for you.
Groundnut(Peanut): Call it ‘Epa’, ‘gyada’ or ‘opupa’, this nut, exclusively grown in Northern Nigeria is the main ingredient used to make the world famous peanut butter. It has a smell you just cannot miss. Groundnut promotes fertility, boost memory power hence the ‘brain food’ tag given to it, inhibits tumor growth and also prevents gallstone. It aids blood sugar regulation and lowers the risk of weight gain. So whether you like it raw, roasted, boiled or fried, just make sure you enjoy every moment of it.
Kolanut: Believed among some tribes to be the first tree on earth, Kola nut is a symbol of hospitality and kindness. Often chewed before meals to aid digestion. In spite of its slightly bitter taste, it is used as flavoring agent in Soda which is why most of these drinks have ‘Cola’ Kola nut helps in weight loss optimization, prevents cancer and it serves a s metabolism booster. However for people suffering from pre existing heart conditions, the high level of caffeine found in this nut can be a risk, hence medical consultation is advised before intake.
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Almonds nuts: Remember that fruit we call ‘fruit’? It has fleshy body which covers a hard shell. Well if you remember, then you will know that we don’t throw the hard shell away after eating the edible part but break the shell perfectly into two to reveal an edible nut inside. That nut is called Almond nut and the fruit is called Almond fruit. Almond nuts contain healthy fibres, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. Almond nuts help lower blood sugar levels, reduce blood pressure, promote weight loss, lower cholesterol level and they reduce hunger too. They are close to perfect as food can get. To sum it all up, if you are in search of healthy snacks that will keep you in perfect health, let your life be filled with nuts. AFRICAN
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ART & CULTURE
The intricate beauty of the ADIRE fabric design and its origins by Ngozi Omambala
What makes Adire fabric a special art form is its Intricate hand painted designs. The Adire textile reflects the African heritage of Yoruba culture of Nigeria. Adire means ‘tied and dyed’ was first applied to indigo-dyed cloth decorated with resist patterns at the turn of 20th Century.
removed in hot water and any residue of wax washed off in cold water. The results are richly exquisite. Most dyes used to produce Adire fabric are natural dyes curated from organic materials. The processing techniques have been passed on through generations. It takes on average three days to complete a yard and about seven days to two weeks to complete five yards of fabric depending on the design. Adire fabrics patterns have meaning and tell a unique story. Cowries represent money and power. Cassava leaves represent life, and the talking drum is the epicenter of tradition.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN PROCESSES USED TO MAKE THE ADIRE FABRICS: Adire Oniko (Tie and Dye): tying the fabric with a twine to create the desired patterns, which acts as a resist pattern, and it is then dipped in the dye bath. Batik process: heating wax on a hot plate, then applying the melted wax with a foam sponge on the fabric creates each one of a kind batik fabric. Once the wax resist outline is completed, the fabric is immersed for approximately five minutes into a large bowl containing natural dyes, mixed with hydro sulphide and caustic soda. The fabric is then left to oxidize. The candle wax is later
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Cassava leaves represent life, and the talking drum is the epicenter of tradition.
Wearing Adire fabric embraces a time capsule of art & preservation of culture. Adire designs and patterns are more accessible to contemporary tastes particularly on delicate materials such as chiffon, cotton, lace, T-shirts, scarves and silk as shown and illustrated by our front cover shot of Ade Bakare’s beautiful silk Adire hooded Kaftan: simply stylish, classy and proudly African.
TAN MAGAZINE Ade Bakare Couture: Silk adire hooded kaftan from the mid summer range Dubai collection ss20 Photography: Ofure Ighalo Model: Kemi Amusan Commissioned for TAN by NMO Management and PR Ltd
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GUY MURRAYBRUCE TAN Exclusive Interview: Honourable Guy Murray Bruce talks to Ngozi Omambala about his newly appointed position as President of Silverbird Group, covid-19, Pageants and more.
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he future is bright with the emergence of a new Silver lining and literally new blood in the guise of Honourable Mr Guy Murray Bruce. He recently took over the reins from older sibling Senator Ben Murray Bruce as President of Silverbird Group, Africa’s largest media network. ‘Mr Guy’ as he is respectfully known, happily married to Anne Murray-Bruce with four children; is charismatic by nature, light spirited and forward thinking - a formidable force in the ‘Murray Bruce clan of brothers’ collectively behind Silverbird’s 40 year success story. Prior to his appointment, Guy Murray Bruce had served as Executive Vice-President at Silverbird, with responsibility for the local and international operations of the Group, comprising of Silverbird Communications Limited (STV and Rhythm FM), Silverbird Cinemas (Ghana and Liberia), Silverbird News 24, Dream Magic Studios, Silverbird Film Distribution Limited and Silverbird Properties. The Group also hosts Nigeria’s premiere beauty pageant The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and the prestigious Man of the Year Award. Guy Murray Bruce is obviously well equipped to handle the responsibility of navigating a media conglomerate; he is also acutely aware of its challenges and the pressing priorities 14
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ahead “we (Silverbird) will be focusing on strategic alliances and partnerships with Nollywood and Hollywood producers to boost content availability and variety in Nigeria” says the graduate of Business Administration from the California State University. He graduated in 1985 before joining the Silverbird Group in 1992. Mr Guy maintains there are fundamental measures to address in “shaping the new narrative on how Silverbird operations will look and feel across the board, whilst ushering in a new era of innovative and strategic management practices” As the Former Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, he is also a member of The Bayelsa Business Council (which formulates policies aimed at attracting local and foreign investors to the state) with responsibilities of laying solid economic foundations and formulations of economic policies driven by private sector. Founding organizer of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, the evolution of beauty pageants in Africa have created road maps of opportunity for hopeful contestants with big ambitions. With perceptions of racism, sexism & gender stereotypes in the mix, the prominence of pageants in 2019 has come into the popular public domain marking an historic landmark with the World’s top 5 major beauty pageants titles all held by Black Women simultaneously. This combined with the emergence of an apparent
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‘sisterhood’ support network as shown by current MBGN title holder Nyekachi Douglas - a top 3 Miss World finalist herself - whose well publicized spontaneous and jubilant reaction to fellow contestant Miss Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh clinching the 2019 World title, was celebrated and beamed to millions across the globe and seen as a source of inspiration for ‘friendship goals’. Mr Guy Murray-Bruce took the lead in the emergence of Nigeria’s Agbani Darego as Africa’s first winner of the Miss World pageant in 2001 and in doing so secured hosting rights of the Miss World pageant in Nigeria in 2002. With the beauty pageant business for Silverbird Group seemingly pretty secure, new unseen threats to business operational survival have emerged with the onset of covid-19 pandemic - the unprecedented invisible enemy and its widespread impact on people, healthcare systems and corporations. “The health, safety and wellbeing of our teams continues to guide all our decision making” Murray Bruce asserts “and we have been looking closely at the detail of what has been announced and what further action we need to take. “ With lockdown in place under Ministry of Health and The World Health Organisation guidelines in keeping with safety protocols and social distancing directives, Bruce Murray candidly explains “While our physical malls are
closed to the public at the moment, continuing on with our various media channels especially TV and Radio is essential for our business and is crucial at this time as we work together to cope with the financial impact of the crisis.” “I would like to assure you all that while the COVID-19 challenge is huge; we have been making great progress formulating a plan to get us through and emerge on the other side with a stable business.” The challenges are real he laments “Over the next few weeks we will continue to encounter difficulties and indeed make some hard business choices to stay head above waters, but you can be assured that we will return to business soon enough on the other side of the crisis.” Indeed it’s a balancing act juggling the current crisis but also having an eye on the future “Silverbird Group is a diversified multi-media company with holdings in Radio, Television, Real Estate, and Cinemas. The company is today one of the largest media entertainment companies in Africa. The company is a leader in innovation and has earned an international reputation. It has become very evident that entertainment has proven to be one of the biggest exports that Nigeria and Africa have to offer to the world. Our plan is to continue to support the creative sectors and partner with innovators in groundbreaking ways that entertains and educates the people for decades to come.” THE
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TAN ENTERTAINMENT
EVENTS
Florence Ita Giwa aka ‘Mama Bakassi’ star studded 73rd birthday celebration at flagship Lagos restaurant Echoes of Calabar.
GIST ‘WETIN DEY HAPPEN’
Nollywood Actress Funke Akindele-Bello aka ‘Jenifa’ as she is popularly known has recently spoken out after being prosecuted for breaking the social distancing rule of Lagos State when she hosted a birthday party for her husband Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skills. Via her social media the actress reflected
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positively by saying “These past few weeks have been a learning curve but we must keep moving forward.” Akindele-Bello and her husband were sentenced to 14-day community service and fined N100,000 each for hosting more persons than permitted by the lockdown law. “My dear friends, coronavirus is real. We must collaborate with the Lagos State Government and
Guests included
Federal Government by staying at home, staying safe.” Since then, shining light on the conflicting nature of lockdown rules, the Nigerian government itself came under scrutiny with an apology from SGF (Secretary to Government of the Federation) for violating the same lockdown and social distancing protocols during the burial of Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari in Abuja, who sadly passed after falling ill from covid-19.
Folorunso Alakija, Abah Folawiyo, Alibaba, Ini Edo, Shola Sobowale, artists The Voice Nigeria winner: IDYL and 2BABA serenaded the former senator and popular socialite. Events: Innovative music initiatives LoudNProudLive showcased its first online edition: One Nite ‘Instagram Live’ and Unplugged. Sheun Natural #GogoMaster performed songs including popular hit ‘Gyrate’ live, whilst mini crew and trimmed ‘One Sound’ band adopted covid-19 social distancing rules wearing protective designer ‘ankara’ masks and gloves. Great online entertainment experience. For event updates follow @loudnproudlive www.loudnproudlive.com #stayhome #staysafe
TAN MAGAZINE
MUSIC REVIEW
Ghanaian Songstress Efya returns with 2020 banger ‘Pricelezz’
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fya is back! One of Ghana’s most celebrated modern female singers, known worldwide for collaborations with Mr Eazi, Sarkodie and Major Lazer returns. The 5 time winner of the Ghana Music Awards: Best Female Vocalists’ new offering ‘Pricelezz’ is a bubbly Afropop cut, with Efya’s distinctive vocals supported by rapper Mugeez (R2Bees). The mood is uplifting, full of celebratory lyrics and typically uptempo production. Welcome back!
GAME CHANGER AFRICA RECIPIENT 2019 MAKI OH DESIGNER
AMAKA OSAKWE Nigerian global brand & international designer:
Maki Oh with Ngozi Omambala
First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Lupita Nyong’o, Lady Gaga, Solange, Kerry Washington.
TAN Publisher /Editor-in-chief
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TAN MUSIC
MUSIC MATTERS LEGENDS HONOURED: RIP
Manu Dibango Manu Dibango Cameroonian 86-year-old Afro jazz & funk saxophone legend, musician and songwriter Sadly passed in Paris France after being one of the first global stars to die from contracting Covid-19 disease. Best know for ‘Makossa’ hit song in 1972 he collaborated with many other legends including Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, 4 time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo, American icon Herbie Hancock, better known for filing a lawsuit in 2009, later settled out of court, addressing a hook which he said had been lifted from his song Makossa and used on Michael Jacksons global best selling Thriller album.
Bill Withers Sad passing 81-year-old two time Grammy winning Rhythm & Blues singer songwriting 1970’s legend Bill Withers behind timeless iconic hits ‘Aint No Sunshine’, No. 1 hit ‘Lean on Me’ ‘Lovely Day’ and ‘Just the Two of Us’ He is best known for setting the record 18 second for holding the longest sustained note on memorable hit anthem ‘Lovely Day’ Uncannily ‘Lean on Me’ has become associated as music anthem for covid-19 pandemic theme song used in support of Health workers on the front line because of its
community spirit & uplifting message . Track ‘Grandma’s Hands’ was sampled on Blackstreet’s ‘No Diggity’ and by Eminem. Withers cut short his music career stepped back in 1985 after his label Columbia allegedly denied him freedom to express himself creatively and he
Afrobeat legend
Tony Allen Dead at 79
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permanently erased an entire album of new songs when his label refused to pay him which he later regretted. Withers died of heart complications and in a family statement was described as ‘Solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world’.
Tony Oladipo Allen, Nigerian iconic and legendary drummer of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat sound has passed. Allen was the pioneering music director of Fela’s Africa 70 Band and responsible for the distinctive drum beat synonymous with the Afrobeat genre which can be clearly heard on hits ‘Colonial Mentality’, ‘Zombie’ and ‘Gentlemen’. He passed away in Paris. Described as ‘Greatest drummer that ever lived’ for 4 time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo who collaborated with him, he ‘changed the history of African music’ RIP
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TAN Economy By Bode Agusto
Amid COVID-19 and the significant drop in crude oil prices, would banks still be willing to grant loans to SMEs? Bode Augusto believes SMEs are going to be riskier. Banks have to manage those risks. When a business becomes riskier, you either say you are not going to lend to them or that you want to lend at a higher interest rate. This can be managed. The government can help to de-risk the SMEs, to lower their risks. ‘That is what I think we should be doing.’ Bode concludes. Giving SMEs grants, would help them to de-leverage. Government can also buy partial risk on the credit or bear a portion of the interest. Those are options. Whether we like it or not, the government should step in and help. Why? Banks in Nigeria are owned by investors, not government. If banks were owned by government, then the government can unilaterally reduce the interest rate, lend to specific sectors and tell them what to do. But, once a bank is owned by private sector, they have to be managed in the interest of shareholders and we need to have the right balance. Yes, depositors’ interest is important, yes, the growth of the economy is important, but we 20
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How will COVID-19 will impact the Nigerian economy and businesses in 2020 for Africa’s most populous nation. Bode Agusto (MFR) explores this for TAN with SME’s in mind. need to strike the right balance so that we don’t ask the shareholders to bear all the losses. The government needs to step in and do something as well. Bode Agusto is a chartered accountant and independent business consultant with over 30 decades of work experience in private/ public sector. Non-executive director of Guaranty Trust Bank and founding MD of Augusto & Co. Bode was former Assistant Vice-President at Citibank Nigeria, a partner in PwC, Director General & Adviser to President Obasanjo, who in 2002 invested Bode Agusto as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contributions to the Nigerian economy.
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ust As the Government, Health officials and Medical practitioners have advised that the lesser we move around, the lesser we spread the virus and the virus can be easily contained. Being home after a long day at work is super great however, being home for more than 24 hours of doing nothing can be crazy especially for the single ones living alone, the ones who crave for a meaningful relationship or the ones who are single by choice. Here are some ways you can come out of the Covid-19 A Better Person 1. Be Hygiene Conscious/ Daily Exercise
This is even more important at this time considering how inactive our bodies are from sitting at home or working from home. Do take short or long walks, its also important to do home workout which many times are online, Check Youtube for Workout Routines or Some instagram pages of some fitness instructors on Instagram. Music also helps to achieve results so you can listen and dance to music while Exercising. You can also Practice Yoga for at least 1 hour. Remember you have to feel and look good after Covid19. Take care of your body.
2. GET CLOSER TO GOD
Everyday do something that will lead you closer to God. Even the bible says ‘Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you’ James 4:18. It is important to learn about God in private, a lot of people who claim to know God don’t even know God like that. This is the time to maybe get to know for yourself. 3. KEEP READING
A wise man once said “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn This period is the best time to fulfill all the promises you have made to yourself to read that book. It doesn’t matter what type of book you choose to read, what matters is that you are taking this opportunity to broaden your horizon, live different lives, learn and unlearn, see the world from the eyes of another and above all, expand your vocabulary and use of English. 4. LEARN NEW SKILLS
The honest truth is that any one can even become a pilot by watching YouTube videos. There are so many “How to” videos on YouTube. You can pick up any skill dear to your heart this period online. You also do not have to limit yourself to one skill. Learn as many as possible and practice them in how ever little way possible to make sure they remain part of you, so much so that it becomes part of your residual information. Trust me, you will need it sooner or later 5. DECLUTTER
Now that you are home all alone, it is the best time to remove unnecessary items out of your
#COVID-19 COMING OUT BETTER AFTER It is no longer news that the whole world is fighting The Corona Virus (Covid19). In a bid to flatten the curve, some major cities of the world have restricted movement and many cities are on a Lock down. by Cynthia Anuoluwapo
belongings – offline and online. Declutter your icloud, photo gallery, room, shoes, clothes and recycle properly. 6. GIVE
Giving does not necessarily mean giving out money but skills, you probably know a lot of DIY i.e Do It Yourself, things that people can do by themselves to add value to their lives. Go live on Facebook, Instagram and twitter. Teach people something for free. Give and watch the universe give back. 7. Movies
they are doing and start conversations. Get to know them. People have a lot more chatting time than before as they don’t have to be stuck in traffic. 10. Educate yourself on Covid19
Research, follow the news and read up on the coronavirus disease. This will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones, as panic doesn’t help. This will also help you not to fall prey to fake news and conspiracy theories. Life After COVID-19
This is pretty much what everyone is doing. This too shall pass and life will go on. This is You can however raise it a notch higher a good time to think and create a plan for the by focusing on documentaries. As much as future. As gloomy as it seems right now, there you can learn from seeing meaningful fictional is light at the end of the tunnel. Plan, but take movies, you can get in touch with the lives it easy on yourself. and events that have happened or are currently on going. Netflix has got many, also YouTube. TAN SPORT / HEALTH 8. Courses
It’s also a good time to take up courses online and get certified. As part of helping us all survive this period, some of the online course platforms are offering huge discounts and even free courses. So take these opportunities now. 9. Engage with people
Be intentional about building relationships with people. Reach out to people around you. Find out how
Samuel Eto
Didier Drogba
Demba Ba
Africa Voices in sport unite in backlash… Africa is NOT the panacea for covide-19 4 time Africa player of the year Samuel Eto’o blasts French Doctors Jean Paul Mira and Camille Locht in a ‘Africa is not your play ground’ remark after French medics appeared in a live tv broadcast asserting the effectiveness of vaccine in combating the virus, be first tested in Africa. Eto’s comment was later backed by former Chelsea & Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba and Senegalese international Demba Ba hit out at the offensive and ‘racist’ remarks on social media
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in Nigeria and across the continent. As the Founder of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) and Design Week Lagos (DWL), West Africa’s first and biggest global design fair, her wealth of experience and expertise makes her an asset not just to the industry in Nigeria but Africa at large. Titi joins as the 21st president of the federation as it nears its 60th and continues to expand internationally and across all levels of society, furthering the contribution of the Interior Architect/Design profession through the exchange, development of knowledge, experience in education, research and practice, through fellowship and community.
Photograph: TY Bello
Titi Ogufere emerges President of IFI
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iti Ogufere is a pioneering Interior designer, critical design thinker, design advocate and visionary. She is the Creative Director at Essential Interiors Consultancy, a pioneer interior designing company in Nigeria and publisher at Essential Media Group. Her award-winning practice was set up in 2002 and has since established an international identity with a wide variety of projects that are context-specific, innovative, experimental, theoretical and critical. She founded the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) a body charged with the promotion of excellence in the interior design sector of Nigeria in 2007. She is also the Founder of Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA Awards), Made By Design Show, Design Week Lagos (DWL), and Publisher of Essential Interiors Magazine, Essential Traveller Magazine and Essential Woman Magazine. The full-service media company which spreads across the platforms of Publishing, Events and Digital Media has published over 25 books including This is Africa: Traditional Design, Modern and Comtemporary (2017), In Conversation with
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Demas Nwoko (2019) and Vernacular Design: Redefining the Narrative (2019) among others. Titi Ogufere made history with her appointment as the new president of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) for being the youngest, first female and first black president since the inception of IFI, which is the global voice and authority for professionalInteriorArchitects/ Designers. IFI is the singular international federating body for Interior Architecture/ Design organizations. The International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers (IFI) inaugurated Titi Ogufere, CEO of Essential Interiors Consultancy and Publisher Essential Media Group as president in front of an audience of renowned international designers and architects in Dubai. The first president of African descent was voted with the unanimous support and vote extended by the IFI members during the General Assembly in 2017 in recognition of her contributions towards the development of the Interior Design sector in the continent. Prior to her emergence as president Titi has played an instrumental role in bringing structure into the industry
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As the new president Titi plans to focus on shifting the narrative of African design by creating stronger links leading to collaborations between the continent and the rest of the globe with IFI resources. She strongly believes design should be inclusive and as the global voice and authority for professional interior architects/ designers, IFI must prioritise this as its central agenda. The president is elated by the opportunity to strengthen relationships across the region, using design to solve problems and improving the profession of architecture and design on a global level. The IFI president believes that the design industry is particularly intriguing because if a design doesn’t solve a problem and isn’t of use to a broad group, not just in the developing nations, but globally, then it is not a very successful design. Titi is an exceptional creative genius, an asset to the design industry in Africa and unarguably among the top 10 leaders of the design industry in Africa. Her contributions as a true leader in the design community in Africa are of immense value. Her appointment as president is seen as an opportunity for IFI to help expand and uplift literacy, awareness, fellowship and cooperation, not just within the discipline of interior Architecture and Design, but also at a societal and cultural level.
TAN: Technology
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n a move to grow Africa’s digital media consumption habits, Apple has ramped up its music service to 17 more African countries making it available in a total of 30 Countries. This reflects the growing influence and expansion of African music and entertainment. Spotify on the other hand, as the worlds leading digital music service, is currently only present in five African countries. This partly explains; in relation to revenue generation for African artists, why it is lagging behind Apple and You Tube. Interesting to note, the African music and TV/film industries are being re-modeled for the digital age. So while major international companies are able to fund major expansion or acquisitions, they will be looking to establish key relationships in what is a very fragmented sector.
READY TO SERVE AND SUPPORT THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
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2017 - 2019
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