St. Eve Magazine - 6th Issue

Editors Hut

Ndewo!!!

Salute to all our fans out there.We are ready and willing.

I want to thank the whole St Eve magazine crew for the wonderful work done this far. God of creation shower you all with mercy and love. Blessings and testimony shall always follow you all. Especially to Olumide and Olivia. Well done guys. We move to glory, through the power of the Christ Jesus.

This month is all about politics. Nigeria I going to choose another president and I tell you it is a very big deal. The reason is because Nigeria is the biggest concentration of black people in the world. This country is made up of over 450 languages and different ethnic tribes, just imagine! With different believe system and culture. What this means is that the country has high potentials. Aside from that, it is blessed with huge mineral resources. The huge gas deposits in nigeria is yet to be tapped.bitumen, gold agriculture to mention a few.

Honestly, Nigeria is one of the most blessed countries in the world. We don’t natural disas ters like flood, mud sides or earthquakes, even forest fire, see blessing o! But my greatest fascination with the country is its people. To me, the nigeria people are the true resources of the country. And having very wrong leaders over time has not tapped into that. We have had leaders who have being unfocused and trading on the negatives. Using our diversity against us, to the detriment of nation building.

Our story as country is so long. But I want us to have faith and hope in ourselves to do what is right and just. Like the saying, it is never late to do the right thing. We must work together to make the best happen to us by trusting in God and our capacity to achieve. Let’s look around us and see if what the country is now is the best we can be. We now have a third force in the polity challenging the two powerful Party of APC and PDP. Labour has risen to be a tough nut to crack. Well the power is always in the people. They only need to rise up. May God give us the wisdom and knowledge to pick the best leader from three presidential candidates. Vote wisely!

This edition is filled with passion on all rounds. Our woman of the month is the great beauty herself ( if I should say so) moi! Yes guys,read about me and let me know what you think. Hahahaha! I really fun o.

Read more on all our articles and madam cougar is at it again. The woman no wan old o!

Guys, living healthy is key. Make a change of diet today. The kidney failures in nigeria is so much now. We need to watch what we drink and eat. Like the enzymes expert Dr Fuller taught us, we are what we eat.

Please leave your comments on our social media handles and websites. We will reach out to you.

See you next month.

COUGARS

Love making is the new craze!!!!

Mhmmmm Diary, this new man is so cute but honestly, he is not meeting up to my desire! Like, he is not listening to my body and what I need in love making. It’s a shame that I have to let him go.

Cougars Diary

Like, just last night, he is so fast to press my nipples and finger me just in 2 sec onds, wow! It was so distasteful. I was shocked and laid there. I allowed him and guess what after his Olympic race to win a gold medal, he just expired and gave a loud noise, like seriously!!!

I haven’t felt so disappointed in years, this made me so sad. Then he came try ing to hug me and hold me, telling me he loves me very much, hahahahaa I laugh in French!

Well diary, the relationship ended that night. Since then I haven’t picked his calls o! Am done. Love making is an act to me. It has so many sides, it’s not a rush job or secondary puppy love or something. Diary I am an older woman, and we take sex seriously, like a serious matter. It’s something that makes us interestingly happy when we get into it. And I am not ready to act and fake sounds to impress anyone.

Hahahahaha! Diary, am sure you will be wondering what I mean right!!! Faking sex sounds and so on! Yessss! Women fake sounds in sex romps! Most times they are not in the same Sex plane with their lovers, they fake it. I really don’t know why! But that’s what it is.

How do I know, remember I had told you I met with the girls last week at our usual spot. It was all about waiting to ex hale saga. My girls were sharing so much. And they completely let go and shared intimate secret. I thought I was the only one, from their expose I found out I wasn’t the only one. Anyway, let me not bore with it.

I will be traveling for business trip next week, yeah, and I am going to turn it to a holiday. There is going to be an oil and gas summit in Norway. I would like to visit Venice and Italy to be precise, I need to feel romantic again.

The love of my life, I miss him terri bly. These were his favorite places and it was heaven the last time we went. The love making is out of this world. I mean the environment seemed to have been created for us to make love till the morning! I don’t want to cry but going there will give me closure some what. But you know diary, I need it after this lousy guy. Its not every cute looking guy that knows what a woman wants. Some are cute for nothing, am telling you. It’s a shame. Well, cute or no cute, am done with him period!

Can you imagine, just to think how pre pared I was for that evening. Honestly, I bought favorite sweet wine and cooked a lovely dinner for him. And waited and he came right on time 7pm on the dot. We talked exchanged pleasantries and hugs.

Then I kissed him on the neck as we sat on the sofa to watch the CNN news, he smelt really nice, loved his cologne. It was hypnotizing.

“ I love your cologne” I said softly as I kissed his neck. “you have good taste for perfumes” and moaned a little for I was already in the mood. “Really” he answered back, “am glad you like it”

“I love it” I replied as I continued kiss ing his neck and jumped to kissing him on his lips. Diary, yes I made the move. He is young but not that young though. But let’s get back to the gists

Diary, I hope you know who I am talking about! Yeah! Kennedy, the guy from the USA! Cute but nothing for me there o!!

As I kissed him, that’s were the race started, before I knew what was hap pening, he grabbed me and lifted me up from the sofa with his strong chiseled arms, to reposition me, then Kissed

me seductively and I was taking of my blouse and exposed my hard nipples. I flug my hands and held the back of his head. Now this is were he missed it. Before I knew what was happening, his mouth was in my nipples and his fingers and hands were everywhere, he was already stack naked at this point, and I wondered how he did it, before I knew what was happening, he had his penis inside of me, I mean diary, he was on top of me like, in a flash of light. Come to think of it, its like he was more hungry then I was. In total surprise at his magical tactics and distaste of his act, I laid there watching him, diary, he didn’t even care, he was moaning all sorts of sex swearing words. Wow!!!

And just as it started, it ended. Kennedy, just expired beside me, and that was it. He said “you so are so sweet, I love you” Love ke’ heyyyyyy, diary I didn’t reply him at all. I just froze, when I got my self out of the shock, I just got up, took my shower and locked my bedroom door and slept off. Am sure he found his way out. He has being calling me, but I haven’t picked. Diary, should I pick the call, at least I owe him to tell what he did wrong so the next wom an will not go through what I went through. Hahahahaha looking out for my sisters.

Anyway, I am done with him, I’m off to Norway! I hope I meet a new man there. I tell you this, in conferences you meet great personalities in the indus try. But diary, I must confess, I miss my toy boy, George’s friend Mofe. That boy understood me. Hmmmmmm!

Diary, should I be naughty and call him, maybe take him on the trip with me.umhmmmm Mofe my darling! Do we women really know what we want!

Next time diary, next time.

Cougars Diary

- BEAUTY -

Do you ever look at your skin and wonder why is it only getting dull by the day? You have been using the best of beauty products in the market, yet you see no effective results? From pollution, chemi cal-based products, poor diet to lifestyle habits, there are multiple factors that could be the reason behind the lost sheen. Our kitchens are loaded with a wealth of ingredients that can come in handy to treat a variety of your health concerns. Rich in minerals and antiox idants, these ingredients have been traditional favourites for a bevy of skin care rituals.

1. Honey For Glowing Skin

Honey is well-known for its antioxidant property. It fights free radicals, protecting your skin cells from further dam age. The anti-bacterial property of honey is effective in preventing breakouts and other skin infections.

Add 1 teaspoon of manuka honey to 1 tablespoon of tomato juice on your face and neck before going to bed, Wash off in the morning with warm water. This is considered to be one of the best night skin care home remedies for glowing and wrin kle-free skin.

2. Cucumbers

Cucumber is great to retain your summer glow. It acts as a natural toner for your skin due to its cooling properties. It can help to improve dull and greasy complexion. Cucum ber is also great for dry skin due to its hydrating properties. Just rub few chilled slices of cucumber over your face gently and let your skin soak in the juice before you wash it off. Do this as often as you can to keep your skin protected against the heat.

3. Tomatoes

Not only can eating tomatoes give you an attractive glow (thanks to ts antioxidants), but applying it also can help in improving your skin tone and treating sun tan. You can apply them as it or blend some with full er’s earth (multani mitti) to make a face pack. Multani mitti lends it cooling properties along with the nour ishment of tomatoes.

Turmeric

Turmeric is another traditional favourite when it comes to skin care and beauty. The curcumin present in tur meric helps protect the skin cells from free radical damage and can even slow down the signs of ageing like dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. Turmeric can help restore your natural glow and can even turn out to be quite beneficial for uneven skin tone and sun tan. In order to improve uneven skin tone and make your skin look bright, mix one teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric to make a quick face pack. Leave it on for 25 minutes and then wash off. Repeat the procedure three to four times a week till you see results.

5. Aloe Vera For Itchy & Inflamed Skin

Many of you must have gone through a difficult pe riod of uncontrollable acne. There are times when over the counter, anti-acne products do not work; but this one natural ingredient will not fail you. There is no reason to not trust the simple, humble succulentaloe vera, which may be living in some corner of your kitchen garden.

Scoop out the pulp of this plant and use it as a soothing face gel. Its skin healing property will make your skin soft and smooth. Its stops the body from overheating and reduces pimples.

How To Look Younger Than Your Age

10 Important Things You Should Do

Aging is the one guarantee in life that awaits us all. It is a natural process that we all must go through, but of ten times it can claim the confidence of many men and women who want to look as young as they once did.

Whether in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, or be yond, these anti-aging secrets will help you to stay looking and feeling young er than your age. Let’s dive right in!

When it comes to signs of old age, there are a few major ways we begin to show them

Face Body

Mind

Keeping all of these very important parts of the body in mind when trying to look younger is essential to getting the results you are looking for.

In this guide, I will address 10 Tips for Looking Ten Years Younger that you can begin using on a daily basis.

1. Stay Hydrated Dehydration not only makes your skin look wrinkly and saggy, but it also makes you look older. Make sure you drink plenty of water – at least 3 to 4 litres a day. Water flushes out the harmful toxins from your body and keeps your internal organs working optimally. It also nourishes your skin and adds to that flawless glow everybody wants.

Besides hydrating skin cells, it improves blood circulation too. Wondering how to look younger naturally at home? Drink more water.

2. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Although organic grass-fed meats should be in your kitchen for your nonvegetarian require ments, you shouldn’t skimp out on the fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies alkalize your body and give your liver a nice detox. In Chinese medicine, they say that the state of your liver and various internal organs re flects your health on the outside. And what better way to detox than by eating clean and green?

Foods to look younger include cacao powder, olives, avocados, pomegranates, leafy greens, and wheatgrass powder.

If you feel bloated, you can go on a juice fast too. It will give you that much-need nutrition boost and add months (or years) to your life. It’s one of the most

beneficial home remedies to look younger and beautiful.

3. Use the Right Skin-Care Products

When shopping for skin-care prod ucts, there are three powerful ingre dients you should look for to main tain younger-looking skin.

check the label for a serum con taining antioxidants like vitamin C which will help brighten your skin. add retinoids, which increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen re newal, to your routine. start using an alpha hydroxy acid exfoliator to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. Use these three

products as directed on the la bel to make your face soft and look younger.

4. Wear SPF Every Day for a Young Face

Whether it’s humid and 90 degrees outside or chilly and rainy, sunscreen is a must to look younger no matter what. So add it to your daily routine if you haven’t already, since sun damage not only causes wrinkles but can leave you vulnerable to skin cancer. Use at least an SPF 30, but don’t waste your money on anything higher than SPF 50 since there is little evidence that higher SPFs provide more protective benefits.

5. Take It Easy on the Foundation

Heavy foundation tends to settle on the rough patches or into the lines of the face. What is need ed as we age is a good transparent moisturiz

DID YOU KNOW? THE TRUTH ABOUT EYESHADOW INGREDIENTS

ing foundation or tinted moisturiz er. Avoid anything with a powder base For younger-look ing skin, it is rec ommended that you use Hydrating Foundation, which provides light to medium coverage. Also use a prim er before applying foundation. A prim er makes your foun dation roll on more smoothly, filling in lines and pores; minimizes dark cir cles; and makes all makeup last.

6. Maintain Good Posture

Good posture makes you look taller, thinner, and younger, Gbolah an Okubadejo, MD, NYC Area Spinal

and Orthopedic Surgeon, main tains. “Unless a conscious effort is made to maintain good pos ture, we spend so much time hunched in front of our phones and desks, and thus we are train ing our bodies to slouch”. He also says “Improving your posture as you age not only makes you look younger but has multiple health benefits.” Good posture is also linked to increased self-confi dence, and confidence projects a positive, youthful appearance.

7. Don’t Forget to Wear Sun screen on Your Hands

Unprotected UV exposure accel erates age related changes such as wrinkles, skin coarseness, and age spots, reveals Annie Gonza lez, MD, Miami Board Certified Dermatologist of Riverchase Der matology. “Wearing sunscreen protects against skin aging, and decreases age spots, wrinkles, and other premature skin ag ing,” she explains. While most of us don’t forget to wear it on our face, we often neglect our hands.

“Even if our face looks young, aged hands will reveal our chronological age,” she points out.

9. Exercise Everyday

In today’s world, we’re all hooked to our smartphones and tablets –slouching, sitting with poor posture, and leaning our neck forward to fix our gazes at the screen. As we’re leading busier lives, we end up neglecting ourselves in the process. We know that exercising is good for longevity and good health – but how many of us actu

8. Smile More

According to Sanam Hafeez, MD, NYC Neuropsychologist and Fac ulty Member Columbia Univer sity, smiling can instantly make you appear a decade younger. “People who smile more are of ten perceived as younger than their actual age, and a genuine smile gives you a youthful ap pearance,” she says. “When you are happy, your face glows, as opposed to an angry face, which can make you look grumpy and older. Smiling also boosts overall health and makes you feel happi er.”

ally pay any heed to it?

Well, if you want to look younger by face- you have to exercise. And you don’t have to be an athlete or a sports buff to avail the benefits. Start small by walking every day and going on leisurely strolls. Hang out with your friends and sign up for yoga or dance classes. If you’ve got knee or joint issues, you can do low-impact work outs and work your way up from there until your condition improves.

10. Cut Down on Stress

Stress releases a burst of hor mones like adrenaline and cor tisol which make your heart beat faster and raise your blood pressure. Your organs end up working harder than they should, making you tired, weary, and yes- older. We re alize everybody gets stressed these days but it has more to do with how you live and what habits you have.

Meditation triggers the re laxation response inside your body and prevents ageing of the brain. Just fitting in 10 to 20 minutes a day of that happy me-time will do wonders for your stress levels. And if you don’t know how to meditate or can’t sit still, go for qi gong or yoga Classes. They usually feature standing and moving meditation.

AFCON

Progress, elimination and the controversies so far

Africa’s showpiece Cup of Nations kicked off in Cameroon from January 9 against a back drop of controversy over player call-ups, the tournament’s timing, the host nation’s readi ness and the possibility of wi despread COVID-19 infections. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are the other North African cou ntries who are perennial con tenders but have disappointed in recent editions. Morocco, in particular, have gone into recent tournaments heavily fancied but have proved unable to live up to their billing. West African giants Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are all past winners with high hopes, but Nigeria and Ghana has been knocked out.

Since the start of the tour nament a lot of bizarre incidents have kept the AFCON firmly in the forefront of the collecti ve psyche of the football world. With wrong national anthems

being played to a referee who stopped a game 5 minutes early and restarting it again, only to stop it without giving any additional time for delays, this one has it all. And we are not even done yet. Here are some of the incidents that has kept AFCON 2022 in the news:

The most publicized incident was in a Group F match between Mali and Tunisia which was marred by controversy when the second period of the match turned farcical following some highly curious de cisions and timekeeping by Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe. Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe ended the match between Mali & Tunisia in the 85th minute, restarted it, before ending it in the 89th minute.

Mali won the match 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty by Ibrahima Kone but it was the referee who will make the headlines, for all the wrong reasons. Sikazwe, who has been suspended before on alle gations of corruption gave two highly-controversial penalties, flashed an even more debatable red card and blew the full-time whistle twice – once after 85 minutes and the second time with 11 seconds of normal time still left to play.

In another match, Ivory Coast drew with Sierra Leone with goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare forced off injured after conceding a bizarre goal deep into se cond-half stoppage time. With just minutes left for the game to end, Sangare came out to collect a ball headed back to him by his own defender and had to dive to gather it to prevent Ivory Coast from conce ding a late corner.

But while diving, Sangare’s right knee seemed to dig into the dry turf and he flipped over and lost control of the ball, fumbling it goalwards to Steven Caulker who squared to Kamara for the equaliser.

In another match, prior to a game between Mauri tania and Gambia the person working the audio bo tched the national anthem and played Mauritania’s

SportS

old national anthem. The cou ntry had changed their natio nal anthem in 2017 but their players heard the old anthem being played instead of the new one, three times in a row.

Nigeria, the only team to have won all three of its group stage games, might have been able to stage a comeback had it not been for Alex Iwobi’s red card at the 66th minute.

Tunisia, who lost twice in the group stage and only went through as one of the best third-place teams, closed Ni geria down in a cagey game in Garoua on the first day of the knockout stage. Nigeria was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations after a sho ck 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in

Sunday’s last 16 match in the Cameroonian port city of Ga roua. Many Nigerians blamed it on the President Muhammad Buhari saying it was the call he made to the team players just before the match began that brought the bad luck.

Senegal, beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to reach the final, they are yet to win the continental title but came close in Cairo in 2019.Their road to the final proved a lot easier than Egypt, who lost their opening group game to Nigeria and drew he avy criticism from home fans for their early performances. But they have gained mo mentum, edging the Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. The match is being played at Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium, where eight people were killed in a stadium crush and that tragedy over shadowed the tournament in Cameroon. This year’s AF CON final took place on Sun day February 6th, and Senegal defeated Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations championship match, winning the continental championship for the first time on penalty kicks at Olembe Stadium in Yaound, Cameroon.

NIFFPA

The most popular sport in Nigeria remains football. Fe male Football in Nigeria started in 1978 with Nigeria Female Football Organizing Association (NIFFOA) which was later renamed in 1979 to Nigeria Female Football Proprietors Association (NIFFPA).

When NIFFPA came into being, other clubs like Je gede Babes, Larry Angels, Kakanfo Babes, Ufuoma Babes, and the rest where formed. Nigeria Football Association (NFA as it was then known) in 1990 or ganized the first championship which the Nigeria fe male league was later restructured and renamed to be Premier League that involves twelve teams playing in a single division.

The Nigeria national women’s football team, nick named the Super Falcons, represents Nigeriain in ternational women’s football and its controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation. The team is by far Africa’s most successful international women’s football team winning a record eleven Africa Women Cup of Nations titles, with their most recent title in 2018, after defeating South Africa in the final. The team is also the only women’s national team from the Confederation of African Football to have reached the quarterfinals in both the FIFA Women’s World Cupand Football at the Summer Olympics. They won the first seven African championships and through their first twenty years lost only five games to African competition. 12 December 2002 to Gha na in Warri, 3 June 2007 at Algeria, 12 August 2007 to Ghana in an Olympic qualifier, 25 November 2008 at Equatorial Guinea in the semis of the 2008 Wo men’s African Football Championship and May 2011 at Ghana in an All Africa Games qualification match.

The Super Falcons have been unable to domina te beyond Africa in such arenas as the FIFA Wo men’s World Cup or the Olympic Games however they have a highly successful tour through the middle east against various taliban organized football mat ches. The team has been to every World Cup since 1991, but managed just once to finish in the top ei ght. In 2003, the Super Falcons turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the first round, failing to score a single goal and losing all three Group A mat ches. They did little better in 2007, drawing only one

of their Group B matches. However, they faced the group of death in both 2003 and 2007, grouped both times with rising Asian power North Korea, traditional European power Sweden, and a historic women’s superpower in the USA.

Nigeria hosted the African women’s championship finals for the third time in 2006 which were then canceled due to a severe outbreak of gang in duced violence within the Nigerian area, replacing Gabon, which was initially granted the right to host but later pulled out citing financial dif ficulties, and won it for the seven th time in a row. Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Ghana’s Black Queens represented Africa in China for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The “Falconets” are the country’s junior team (U-20), which performed creditably in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup held in Russia when they beat Finland 8–0 befo re they were sent packing by Brazil in the Quarter-finals. They were the runner-up to Germany at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also played in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup held in Canada and lost to Germany in the finals 0–1, Asisat Oshoala got both the golden ball and golden boot.

The “Flamingoes” are the cou ntry’s cadet team (U-17), which qualified for the inaugural women’s U-17 World Cup New Zealand 2008. Nigeria qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup where they were placed in Group A with South Korea, Norway and hosts France.

NIGERIA WOMEN PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS

Teams

Rivers Angels F.C.

Rivers State Confluence Queens F.C. Kogi State Bayelsa Queens F.C. Bayelsa State Delta Queens F.C. Delta State Pelican Stars F.C. Calabar, Cross-River State Sunshine Queens F.C. Ondo State Osun Babes F.C. Osun State COD United Ladies F.C. Lagos State Tokas Queens F.C. Lagos State Abia Angels F.C. Abia State

Nasarawa Amazons F.C. Nasarawa State F.C. Robo Queens Lagos State Martin White Doves F.C. Edo State Adamawa Queens F.C. Adamawa State Taraba Queens F.C. Taraba State Edo Queens F.C. Edo State Ibom Angels F.C. Akwa Ibom State Capital City Doves F.C. Abuja

NIGERIA WOMEN PRO-LEAGUE TEAMS

Teams

Beautiful Tour Angels

Abuja

State House Queens Abuja Sa'adatu Kolo Amazons F.C. Minna

Invincible Angels

Benue State

Cerezo Queens Kwara State

Heartland Queens Imo State Police Machine

Royaltoms Queens

WOMEN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION TEAMS Teams

Adex Queens Ikotun, Lagos State Jagunmolu Queens Idiroko, Ogun State

Yaba Queens Yaba, Lagos State Oluyole Flamming Queens Ibadan, Oyo State

FC Phoenix Apapa, Iganmu, Lagos State Nana Babes Ore, Ondo State

NIGERIAN WOMEN'S CUP PARTICIPATING TEAMS Teams

Alberto Queens Osun Queens Osun State Rising Queens Ondo State Sure Babes

Gift of Life Queens Oguche Babes Lokoja, Kogi State Moje Queens Katsina Queens Katsina State

FCT Queens Abuja Tewo Babes Ibadan

DEFUNCT TEAMS Teams

Jegede Babes Ufuoma Babes

interview with

Chief Mrs. Evelyn Okere Onyung

Self-appreciation and acceptance for who you have be come, is one of the gift God can give to you. For it makes you know who you wish to be for rest of your life.

Loving life and the precious gift of being contend and loving the people and spirits that cross your path in your life’s journey here on earth, is one of the sweetest joys. As usual some experiences are a blessing, like your family, husband your kids, you mum and father and si blings. Some are completely superficial like friends who are supportive and encouraging you all the way, most are hurting by back stabbing to destroy you image or your achievements and so on. If you roll all into one. You will notice these experiences makes up life for each indivi dual.

My life is being an amazing ride. I have had to accomplish so much, with little or nothing but certainly with the God of creation. Of course, through his son Jesus Christ, who strengthens me.

1. Tell us about yourself?

Chief Mrs. Evelyn Okere Onyung

Self-appreciation and acceptance for who you have become, is one of the gift God can give to you. For it makes you know who you wish to be for rest of your life.

You are a SerIal entre preneur wIth multIple buSIneSS, we would lIke to know how You ventured Into the Saloon, event plannIng and clothIng buSIneSS?

Loving life and the precious gift of being contend and loving the pe ople and spirits that cross your path in your life’s journey here on earth, is one of the sweetest joys. As usual some experiences are a blessing, like your family, husband your kids, you mum and father and siblings. Some are completely superficial like friends who are supportive and encouraging you all the way, most are hurting by back stabbing to destroy you image or your achievements and so on. If you roll all into one. You will notice these experiences makes up life for each individual.

My life is being an amazing ride. I have had to accomplish so much, with little or nothing but certainly with the God of creation. Of course, through his son Jesus Christ, who strengthens me.

Let me introduce myself, I am chief Mrs. Evelyn Adanma Okere Onyung. I am a na tive of Imo state, Ulakwo, Ndema village. I am married to Chief Dr MKgeorge Okon Eyo Onyung. Who hails from Akwa Ibom. We have 3 amazing kids, who happened to be triplets.

I was born in Lagos state, attended our lady private school Yaba, then my secon dary school was at the Methodist Girls College Yaba. My university education was at University of Nigeria Nsukka, I have BA Honours in History. So, you can say I am a historian. My youth service was down here in Lagos.

I have worked with GTBank in my ser vice year, traveled to the US for a while, came back and worked with ECONET and then moved on to start my company called St Eve Concepts. I started off as an enzy me expert after training in America for the

business. We use enzyme to make people live healthier and making them achieve optimum health by di gesting their food. I also developed the other business from this brand. I own the St Eve Magazine, a health beauty and fashion lifestyle maga zine, then the St Eve West African Fashion Week, then Rose di Omi mi Couture and then the Talk with St Eve Show. My office is in Lekki presently at 60a Akintunde Adeye mi drive, off Adewale kuku Street. Off Fola Osibo Street. Lekki phase1. Where I run my fashion store.

I am a well-known politician. I have been in the political scene sin ce 2000, when I came back from the US. I felt women were disenfran chised and joined a political group called Obiigbo. I was the only fema le in this association and of course I made my presence felt. From there

I broke away and formed my own association called IUF (Igbo Uni ty Forum) for market leaders and campaigned for the now known Sen. Bola Ahmed’s tinubu. I worked po litically for the former governor Ba batunde Raji Fashola and a host of other popular politicians. To crown it all I was made Vice Presidential candidate of (ANP) Alliance Natio nal party. Presently I am also the publicity secretary of Ohanaze La gos state branch, and so many other political activities. I am a grass-root canvasser. To put in a milder term, I am a political Publicist. I use the gift of understanding a political terrain and scope of position you wish to hold and brand you to be acceptable to the people to vote for you.

I have my organizations that I run now, which are greenfield tra ders association, youth of honors and proactive leadership and Glo

IntervIev

bal African women in leadership, to mention a few.

I have made a name both in entertainment as well, I used my St. Eve Magazine to bring in the Popular American rap artiste in the person of Rick Ross in 2012. It was a blast. And con tinued by holding every year the St. Eve West African fashion week. Since 2013. The last we held we partnered with Greenwave com pany In Mozambique. It was a blast as well.

The future is bright for us. We must look forward even in the mist of it all. The pande mic of corona virus has hit the whole world, like the conspiracy theorists say, they have reset the world economy. But As a believer in God, through his son Christ Jesus. We must have faith that everything works for good for those who believe in God. We must continue in our life’s journey and do the best we can to support one another.

I encourage our youths and people all over to be more prayerful and fearless, as fear puts us behind. But when we conquer that fear. The universe is ours.

God bless us all, through Christ his son.

2. How did you start the prestigious St Eve Magazine?

Well, it’s a very mysterious story. But it was totally conceived to get people interested in their health. A kind of DIY lifestyle ma gazine. It’s all started while I was working to make people healthy via enzyme therapy. I was sitting in my office wondering how I could make people more aware that they are what they eat. If you were not digesting your food, you will have malfunction of the body cells or unhealthy cells. A malnourished cell will

definitely malfunction. I had started a grassroot health check and found out that we were truly not looking into our health at the local level. I sat down and decided to start the magazine, health for healthy living, beauty after health is you want to look beautiful and fashion, after you look beautiful you want to be in fashion and trend.

3. How are you able to cope with business politics and motherhood?

Awwwww! It is crazy. The simple truth is I love politics and have alwa ys been into politics. I started very early, making significant impact. I had worked a lot of notable politicians in this country. And to be honest I wanted my kids to grow before I take up a po litical position. My kids were so young

I couldn’t take a political position then. I had to sacrifice my ambition, which I don’t regret. Today I am a proud mother of triplets. They 12 years old. Now I can take up any position as I am training them to be self-sufficient and reliant. To know they have to start early to be more responsible for themselves. And they are doing well. And of course, I have a very su pportive husband in the person of Dr MKgeroge Onyung.

4. What are you passionate about?

That’s a very tricky question, am passio nate about so many things. I think getting ol der in life and in the industry has made me so humble. I found out that everything you pass through prepare you for who you decide to be. It’s gives you an insight of how you want to be seen and how you want the people around to view you.

I am passionate about my spirituality. This is where one builds its core human being. ability to feel and know the God and his will for you, as well what is expected of you to him. Developing a communica tion or dialogue with the everlasting God of creation. He does exist. And that’s the truth. With him, inner peace and joy in all spheres of life challenges.

Am passionate about my principles, I totally love honest and sincerity. This is where one sees you and can depend on you. People can trust you will stand on we’re justice and fair are, no matter if it affects you as a person or someone you know.

I am passionate about the truth. I am known to stand for what is right no matter who it affects. And I truly agree with the slogan ‘the truth will set you free’ the lies of the world have kept this world and our country in a bad shape.

I am passionate about health living. You need to in constant happy with your skin. You must learn to listen to your body and give it what it needs to pull through. You must agree with me, an unhealthy body cannot have a health mind.

I am passionate about fashion. I make clothes and a fashion designer. You look makes you or mar you. If you come out shabby you will be treated shabbily. Look good always, I believe in the caption ‘cheap and chic’ you don’t need to break and bank to look good. Subtle and unique always steals the show.

I am passionate about personal aes thetics of being in trend and lifestyles pleasures. It’s way of circulating arou nd. Being able to grow with the latest trends and being aware of socializing with any one at any age.

5. What are your beauty routine?

Hahaha, this is where I am very ca reful. You know, as an original fair skin

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person, it takes a lot to keep your skin looking healthy and supple. Ones needs to be very careful with the creams out there. There are so much products but you much know what is good for your skin.

I am a preacher of using natural pro ducts, I use more of local Shea butter to give my skin the natural oil it needs.

Then I use sun protection cream which I use to protect my skin from the hash hot weather and the toxic gases emit-ions.

Then I make sure I eat healthy, more of fresh foods and fruits. You must build your healthy beauty from the inside.

6. Tell us about your career in po litics?

My political career is growing and I am getting ahead with my dream. I am around and God keeps taking me to meet powerful intellectuals, that is for ming my political personality. So, I am grateful to God for the insight.

My dream is to be a female president of this country. The grace and the wis dom instilled in me by God. I will get to my dream.

7. What is your take on the statement “All women must be believed”

It all depends on where or who we are speaking about. It is quite an am biguous phrase to use. Like everything human, all have a flaw by default. So, say that women must all be believed is dicey.

Now if we work by ratio or percen tage, that is to believe all women 1-10. That way it will be easier to say yes, it is better to believe women more than men.

As a female activist and gender equality supporter. Yes, women tend to say the truth more than men. Women are more emotional driven and that’s why they are very supportive to anyo ne they believe in. But know that some women can be very troublesome. And to be honest a good percentage of us are.

8. What is your take on the recent worldwide Johnny Depp and Amber he ard domestic violence defamation case and do you think the verdict will affect other women, or do you think domestic

violence has no gender?

Hmmmmm! It is very sad. I get sa ddened when I see once a couple who have loved each other come out and have to go through out show of court proceedings, especially very popular actors of this kind. Also know that po pularity in the movie industry does not make it easy for both of them.

The truth is only both of them know the real truth, because court procee dings are very edgy. Both parties are working to win a case so we cannot say as such. But looking from the hu man point, I feel both of them have not done very well. They have not car ried themselves wellbeing that they are both A-list actors internationally, they should have taken connivance of who they have become and made sure

to carry themselves as such. Discussing and exposing intimate and private emo tional information those not make them look well.

But like always, I will stand by women because they are at the receiving end.

9. Concerning the Nigerian politi cs, what do you have to say on the 2023 presidential election?

Be careful o!!!

I can’t say much here but it is impe rative we know and understand the si tuation confronting our beloved country now. We are in serious and in dire need of a president who must know that the welfare of every Nigerian should be his paramount on his list.

Nigerians have gone through a lot in this present government dispensation. The people must stand up and take the mantle in our hands.

It’s also important we make an ob jective decision on who we vote into the seat of governance. Let’s not be taken unawares or ridden by social media pro pagandas. These affected us negatively. That’s why we got here. So, it’s im portant we pray and work with the in sight from God to help us make the best decision.

10. What do you think is the biggest problem Nigeria is facing as a country?

The biggest problem of Nigeria is the Nigerians. Period!

I keep telling people who care to lis ten, it is people that make a country not a country that makes the people. We have had very irresponsible leaders over the years who have not cared about giving the country proper foundation and inept structure to build on. This is very key. Our past leaders have worked on tribal lines and religious lines. This has affec ted the growth of the country’s eco nomy and social cultural growth. My hus

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taught me that leadership success stands on four legs.

are

Innovation

Knowledge.

Again, he taught me you only get what you negotiate and not what you deserve. I will add to this four, negotia tion skill. With the diversity of Nigeria, any president who is not skilled in ne gotiations, will find it extremely diffi cult to carry everyone along. Because a country made of 450 something said languages and cultural orientation, with high diverse belief system, trust me it won’t be easy.

must get it right with the new age of technology, it is possible. We need a president that sees every Nigerian as potential in every function. From the covid and End Sars experience, we can all see that everyone matters. No one is totally special.

If you would one day become the female president of Nigeria, what would you do differently?

passion is borne out of the sheer view of the high potentials we have in this country.

The people of Nigeria are the real gold mine. Not as much as the natural resour ces. The people and their diversity are the goldmine, which is what intrigues me and what to shower that potential to world. The world needs the Nigerian factor.

my dream is to be the Pre sident of our dear country Nigeria. Yes

My first attack on the campaign is pa triotism to the country, self-emancipation from, from tribalism and religious fanaticism to self-worth and capacity ability. This is because from all indications and from the

experience of Covid, with the high-tech era, everyone has a potential buried in them. And if placed in certain roles, they will be given an enabling environment to shine. I will bring the concept of ‘it people that make a country and not a country that makes the people’. You can see once we have gotten the political mind and social psychology right, the we use them calculatedly to achieve our ultimate goal.

Secondly, I will now add new revenue re sources to our already known natural resour ces of the country.

There something in our country we have not taken seriously, we neglected that in our diversity is a huge potential of tourism of our

different culture. Nigeria is made up of over 525 languages. With this comes people with different cultural values. This culture is also a goldmine that’s has being neglected overage years but is also a goldmine.

The opening of this cultural exchan ge into a tourist industry will bring high influx of new entrepreneurial communi ty, where small scale industries will be born. This will bring an end to local tribal and border clashes in the country. Be cause every tribe will be busy with tra de. Most of all, the huge influx of foreign tourist to these areas will bring out huge revenue to these areas. The people will be very busy harnessing the community qualifies. Especially in the cultural fes tivals. I will make sure the media cam paigns and push out these areas at no cost to them.

Thirdly, I will encourage youth par ticipation in governance. Our youths are fabric of Nationhood. With the proper management and enhancement of our youth there will no future of our country.

The youth of our country between the ages of 18 to 45 is enormous. Their voting power cannot be ignored. Their energy and hypnotic drive to succeed is very necessary to make the changes needed for the country. I will harness them multitask them, put them into va riation.

Fourth, I will raise the consciousness of the capacity of women. The poten tial of the African women has not been touched.

It is said ‘it’s a man world’ but the truth is without the women the re might be no man at all. The fact has been found out that strength and intel lect of women is huge. The United Na tions are now campaigning for female gender equality. Why? The covid expo sed and showed that the counties ma naged by women as president and pri me minister were covid free. They used their natural endowment of management

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva has stated that the Nigerian govern ment, led by Muhammadu Bu hari, was not considering re moving fuel subsidy at this time.

The Minister made this known during an interview on Chan nels television on Sunday night.

Ripples Nigeria had on Friday re ported that the National Executive Council (NEC) took a decision to remove subsidy on petroleum products in June when provi sions made for its payment in the 2022 budget must have expired.

Labour unions and student unions across the country would later call on the government to drop the plan as they have threat ened to lead protests should the subsidy on PMS be removed.

But Sylva has revealed that the government was not even considering the removal.

During an interview in November 2021, the Minister noted that the undulating foreign exchange made it difficult for the Federal Govern ment to effect complete remov al of fuel subsidies due to its po tential hardship on the populace.

The Government had promulgated a price modulation policy where

international product prices and associated landing costs in Nigeria are used to deter mine the retail price of petrol.

Sylva had clarified, We are still trying to manage this bumpy start. We have not been able to get to that 100 per cent removal of subsidy from the foreign exchange end.

If we were to take it out com pletely and allow people to ac cess foreign exchange from the parallel market and allow people to import the product, the price of the pump will even be more.

The federal government, know ing the impact it will have on the people, decided that they are still going to manage this situation.

If we continue to preserve the workforce, then it means that we are serious about getting to use this workforce in the fu ture. If you lay them off and fix the refineries, you will have to go looking for them to employ again. It is because we want to fix those refineries that we have kept them, he explained.

INSPIRATIONAL

The Boundless

I have loved thee with an 31:3).

WHAT IS THE biggest thing can reflect? In what can we the overwhelming sense

There are the vast lone spaces pled with countless worlds, ghways, with stars as the pilgrims, unknown journeyings. We

Boundless Love Of God

an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

thing on which the human mind we most easily lose ourselves in sense of the immeasurable?

spaces of the stellar fields, peo worlds, crossed by mysterious hi pilgrims, ever moving on their We can lose ourselves there.

There is “the dark backward and abysm of time,” opening door after door of ever-receding epochs, back though twilight and dawn into the primeval darkness, where the in quisitive mind falters and faints. And we can lose ourselves there.

There is the appalling wilderness of human need, beginning from my own life, with its taint of blood, its defect of faculty, its dreary gap in circumstance and condition, and repeated in every other life inevery street, in every city and village and country through out the inhabited world. And we can lose ourselves there.

And then there is the deadly, ubiq uitous presence of human sin, in all its chameleon forms well-dress es, ill-dresses, blazing in passion, mincing in vanity, and freezing in moral indifference and unbelief All these are stupendous themes, and the mind that ventures upon them is like the dove that ventured upon the waste of waters, and, soon growing weary of flight, returned to the place of its rest.

But there is something more ma jestic than the heavens, more won derful than the far, mysterious vis tas of time, more pervasive than human need, and more abounding than human sin. The biggest thing withwhich the mind can cope is the infinite love of God. All our sanc tified powers and all the ministries of holy fellowship, and all the ex plorations of eternity, will never

reach a limit in its unsearchable wealth.

The biggest thing you and I will ever know is the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. There will always be “a region beyond,” and for the already wondering eyes there will always be a new sur prise: “Theheight, and depth, and length, and breadth, and to know the love of God, which passeth knowledge” (Eph. 2:18, 19).

Its Height

Let us reverently gaze into the height of the love of God. In love the scale of height is measured by the degree of purity. The height in the scale of diamonds is deter mined by an analogous standard. A diamond is of the “first water” when it is without flaw or tint of any kind. And love is lofty in pro portion to its brilliance.

Love can be deteriorated and de graded by the tint of jealousy. It can be debased by the tint of envy. It can be vulgarized by a strain of carnal passion. These earthly elements may be mixed with the heavenlysubstance, and its spiri tual value is reduced.

So the first test to apply to any love is the test of purity. This is the test of height, the test of how far it is sublimated and separated from selfish and fleshly ingredients that dim and spoil its luster.

Now, it is here Scriptures begin in their revelation of the love of God. They be gin with its brilliance, its holiness. “In him is no darkness at all!” How would that be as a description of a diamond? “No darkness at all!” Nothing sinful in His love! But more than that. Noth ing shady in it, nothing questionable, nothing compromising or morally in different! No darkness at all; no black ness of faithlessness; no twilight of forgetfulness; “no night there!”

And thus it is that when the Book guides us in the contemplation of the eternal love, it first leads us into the contemplation of the eternal light. Al ways and everywhere this is where we begin.

If I listen to the psalmist, he leads me into the holy place: “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy” (Ps. 99:9). If I listen to the prophet, I am led into the same sacred precincts: “The high and lofty One whose name is holy” (Isa. 57:15).

If I listen to the mystic seraphim of the Old Testament, I hear them cry one to another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:3). If I listen to the songs of the Apocalypse, I find them burdened with the same theme: “They rest not day and night saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Rev. 4:8).

If I reverently listen to the Master in His secret communion with the Un seen, I hear Him say, “Holy Father” (John 17:11). And if I listen to the prayer which He Himself teaches me to pray, I am led immediately to the holy glory of the Lord: “Our Father, . . . hallowed by thy name” (Matt. 6:9).

Always and everywhere this is the begin ning of our contemplation. We are led away into the light, into the unshadowed brilliance, into the holiness of God. If, therefore, God’s love is symbolized by amountain, its heights will be clothed in the dazzling whiteness of the everlasting snow.

Love’s heights are found in love’s holi ness. “God is light,” “God is truth,” “God is love.”

From this primary teaching I wish to ad duce two inferences. The first is this: The force of love always depends upon its height. We find the analogy in water. The force of falling water is determined byits height. It is even so with love. There is a type of love that has no vigor because it has no height. It is a weak, sickly senti ment that just crawls about you. It is low and, therefore, it has no enlivening force. It is mixed with earthly elements and, therefore, it has no heavenly quickening. It enervates, it does not invigorate. The more holy love is, the higher it is, and the more fraught it is with vitality.

How, then, must it be with the love of God? Born in holiness, it has power enough to waken the dead. Have you seen an Alpine river, born amid the snows, and rolling gloriously though the valley?

That is the figure we need: “And I saw a river of water of life, clear as crys tal,” proceeding from “the great white throne” (Rev. 22:1), out of the unshad owed depths of eternal holiness. “There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God” (Ps. 46:4), and the holy power of that river is determined by the holy heights in which it is born.

The second inference is that the ulti mate ministry and goal of love are also

determined by the height of its holi ness. Once again seek your analogy in water. Water rises no higher than its source. Water canlift no higher than its source. It is even so with love. Our love can never raise a loved one higher than the love itself.

There are aspects of that law which are altogether staggering. Take the love of a parent for his child. Our own tainted love will not lift our child into puri ty. Our own jealous love will not lift our child into an unembittered dispo sition. Our own envious love will not lift our child on to moral serenity.

Our love will not lift above its own level. That is the solemn responsibil ity of a lover: That if his love is low, it will scarcely lift the beloved one above the plains. If we want to lift higher, we must heighten our love.

How, then, is it with the love of God? His love, so glorious in holiness, can raise to its own level, and lift us into “heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). “They shall sit with me on my throne.” “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God’s love imparts its own loveliness, until one day we too shall be “altogether lovely.”

From the supreme height of the high land plateaus on the island of Arran, there comes rolling down the granite slopes a gloriously alive and vitalizing stream. They call it “The White Wa ter,” and it is wellnamed. It gleams on the slopes like the whitest foam. From a distance out at sea, when everything else was obscure, I could see the white water running on its ceaseless errand.

Oh, the loveliness of its bequests, and the unutterable beauty of its dells and glens! It feeds the bracken, it nourish es the stalwart heather, it moistens the retiring fern. The White Water endows its haunts with its own loveliness.

And the white water of the eternal love, ceaselessly flowing from the holy heart of God, brings with it power to make everything lovely, and at last to present everything spotless before the throne.

Its Depth

Let us gaze into its depths. Let me link together detached sentences from the Word, that in their associations we may discern what is meant by the depth of the love of God. “The high and lofty One whose name is holy.” “He is gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner!” “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God . . . began to wash the disciples’ feet.” “And one cried with another, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!” “Neither do I con demn thee: go, and sin no more!”

All these are suggestive of what is meant by the love-depths of our God. And on these I want to build this teaching, that it is only the really lofty that can truly reach the really deep. The arm that can reach far upward is the only arm that can reach far down ward.

It is only holy love that can deal with humanity’s deepest needs. A low love has no depths of service. Low love is a thing of compromise and has no deal ings with extremes, whether of holi ness or of sin.

Pharisaic love had no height. “I thank thee I am not as other men are.” That is not loft iness. It is superciliousness; it is not vision from the snow-white hills. And because Pharisaic love had no height, ithad no corresponding depth. When the Pharisee saw One descending into the deep pits of human need, he cried in self-respecting amazement, “He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners!” (Mark 2:16).

Holy love, crystalline love, goes down and down into human necessity, and it is not afraid of the taint. Sunbeams can move among sewage and catch no defilement. The brilliant, holy love of God ministers in the deepest depths of human need.

God’s love is deeper than human sorrow. My appointed lot gives me daily and deep ening experience of how deep that is. But drop your plum line into the deepest sea of sorrow, and at the end of all yoursound ings, “underneath are the everlasting arms.” God’s love is deeper that death, and there are multitudes who know how deep grim death can be.

“Just twelve months ago,” said a near friend of mine a week or two ago, “I dug a deep grave!” Yes, and I know it was deep enough. But the grave-digger’s spade cannot get be neath our Father’s love. God’slove is deeper than the deepest grave you ever dug! “And entering into the sepulcher they saw an an gel” (Mk. 16:5), and you can never dig into any dreary, dreary dwelling of death that is beyond the reach of those white-robed messengers of eternal love.

Yes, God’s love is deeper than death. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55).

And God’s love is deeper than sin. One night, when I was crossing the Atlantic, an officer of our boat told me that we had just passed over the spot where the Titan

tic went down. I thought of all that life and wreckage beyond the power of man to re cover and redeem. I thought of the great bed of the deep sea, with all its held trea sure, too far down for man to reach and re store.

“Too far down!” And then I thought of all the human wreckage engulfed and sunk in oceanic depths of nameless sin. Too far gone! For what? Not too far down for the love of God!

Listen to this: “He descended into hell” (Eph. 4:9) and He will descend again if you are there. “If I make my bed in hell, thou art there” (Ps. 139:8). “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”(Rom. 5:20). “He bore our sin” (1 Peter 2:24); then He got beneath it, down to it and beneath it. There is no human wreckage, lying in the ooze of the deepest sea in iniquity, that His deep love cannot reachand redeem.

What a gospel! However far down, God’s love can get beneath it!

Stronger His love than death of hell,Its riches are unsearchable:The firstborn sons of lightDesire in vain its depths to see,They cannot tell the mystery,The length, and breadth, and height!

Its Breadth

Let us gaze into its breadth. Here again I want to say that the breadth of love is deter mined by its height. Low love is always very confined and exclusive. Lofty love is liberal and expansive.

Low love is like a lake; lofty love is like a riv er. We can imprison a lake within our own estate; we cannot imprison a river. It will be out, and about, and on’ Sometimes we fool ishly try to imprison the love of God. We make His love too narrow by false limits of our own. Men have tried to appoint social

limits, national limits, ecclesiastical limits, and credal limits. We may as well try to break up the sea into allotments as to “peg out” the love of God.

The love of God is as broad as the race, and nowhere is there a single man in any cli mate, or of any color; in congested city, in tropical jungle, or in a lonely frontier line where a pioneer has built a primitive home nowhere is there a single man, woman, or child who is orphaned of a place in the eternal Father’s heart. O Love of God, how broad!

Its Length

And what of its length? There is no end to it. To what length will it not go? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). To that length! “Becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross!” (Phil. 2:8). To that length! “Goeth after that which is lost

until he find it” (Luke 15:4). To that length!

God’s love is as long as the longest road. God’s love is as long as the longest day. God’s love is as long as the longest night. God’s love is as long as life. God’s love is as long as eternity.

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).

“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).

“Love never faileth” (1 Cor. 13:8).

FASHION TRENDS

FASHION TRENDS

Being posh is one thing, being elegant is quite another. Contrary to the misrepre sented ideas that Elegance has to do com pletely with the way you look outwardly, It is evoked from within. It is the quality of be ing graceful and stylish in appearance and manner. It is beauty that shows unusual ef fectiveness and simplicity.

When we describe an Elegant lady, we mean a number of certain qualities, such as grace, mystery and elegant inherent which makes her different from others. All these qualities come from a woman’s sense of self-confi dence, with slight hint of impudence, courtesy, kindness, and often includes a perfect sense of style — this style is unique and ex traordinary.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE ELEGANT

This may be slightly controversial, but let’s face it…many women in society (aka instagram and social media), seem to be doing the same kind of things. Cyberbul lying, twerking for attention and posting thirst trap photos, interested in becoming more in touch with their masculine ener gies, feeding into drama, wearing extreme ly revealing outfits, the list goes on.

You want to transform your person al style and appearance

elegance isn’t solely based on the way you dress, but your outward appearance has a huge impact on how you are perceived. Plus, when you are dressed well, people treat you differently, you feel better about yourself, and you attract a different type of man.

In a world full of Instagram baddies, you want to be the classic, timeless diamond in the rough. You want to be well spoken, intel ligent, graceful, kind, beautiful, caring, and master etiquette. You notice some things that your friends and other people are doing that aren’t classy and you don’t want to be like them, you want to level up. You want to be come a better version of you.

With Knowledge, a good research the right steps and some level of determination you too can become an Elegant lady, and here are some ways to help you become one.

You don’t want to be the woman that society is always pushing You want to transform your person al style and appearance

EDIT YOUR FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

This is going to be hard for most people . But the reality is that if the people around you are toxic, they will bring you down. Re moving toxic people from your life is going to be one of the best decisions you will make.

Everyone in your life should be people who have your best inter est at heart . They should bring in nothing but positive energy, this kind of circle gives room for growth and productivity in your life.

LEARN ETIQUETTE

This seems old fashioned and people these days don’t have the same values as they did in the past. Learning the right etiquette can be such a game changer in the lives of women especially. Mannerism always adds colour to one’s beauty, how you talk, eat, laugh and sit outside is something to always be conscious of. Also in order to be a classy woman, you must learn how to act with grace in even the most trying of circumstances.

SET HIGH STANDARDS

Someone once said “High standards protect you from low quality experiences”. No matter what you do in life, you need to keep standards high for yourself and never accept anything less.

This just simply means knowing your self worth. Not allowing yourself to be trampled on, setting boundaries and limits on how far you can tolerate something. And this in no way means pride it is just called self respect.

CONSUME ELEGANT CONTENTS

If you are ready to reinvent yourself as a feminine, elegant, classy woman, you should consume content that will give you tips on how to act, dress, and give mindset shifts. When you see people dress inappropriately or talk with alot of foul language, it’s major ly because of what they spend their time consuming.

BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR BEAUTY INSIDE-OUT

No matter what you look like, you need to understand how beautiful you are and don’t let anyone make you feel less than.

Outer beauty is great, but inner beauty is more important. A classy, elegant woman is kind, polite, helpful and supportive of others, nonjudgmental and lifts others up.

Classy women wear classic, timeless, modest, and feminine clothes. They pay attention to the details and are sure to cu rate a wardrobe that is going to flatter their body. Classy women aren’t afraid to splurge on high quality pieces because they know they will have them for a long time. They don’t focus on fast fashion because it’s too trendy. If you want to become classier, you will have to upgrade your wardrobe.

PRACTICE SELF CARE

Sometimes we get so busy working and living life that we forget to treat ourselves like queens.

Self-care is an important way to maintain excellent mental, phys ical, and emotional health. Take time away from all the noise and drama that comes with life and just focus on yourself once a while.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

The problem with many women is they spend all of their time, energy, and money on others. Some women even feel guilty to treat themselves and invest in their own well being. By setting aside money in your budget to invest in yourself, you are in vesting in a better future.

THE

LINE

Modern Elegance is all about creating a life that you love, re specting yourself, being kind to others, being well mannered, and well dressed. Creating an elegant lifestyle is easier than it may seem and it’s definitely a journey that is worth taking.

HEALTH

TOBA CCO

Within 10 seconds of your first puff, the toxic chemicals in to bacco smoke reach your brain, heart and other organs. Smoking harms almost every part of your body and increases your risk of many diseases. Smoking also affects how you look and feel, your finances and the people close to you.

SMOKING

No matter how you smoke it, tobacco is dangerous to your health. There are no safe substances in any tobacco products, from acetone and tar to nicoti ne and carbon monoxide. The substances you inhale don’t just affect your lungs. They can affect your entire body.

Smoking can lead to a variety of ongoing compli cations in the body, as well as long-term effects on your body systems. While smoking can increase

your risk of a variety of problems over several years, some of the bodily effects are imme diate.

The nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive. It makes your brain release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a ‘feel good’ chemical that:

• makes you feel happy

• helps you to concentrate

• gives you more energy.

But this effect doesn’t last long.

As the nicotine levels in your body fade, your brain craves more do pamine. The longer you have been smoking, the more dopamine you need to feel good. You become dependent on nicotine.

Once you are dependent on nicoti ne, without it you will have withdrawal symptoms. You may find it difficult to concentrate or feel nervous, restless, irritable or anxious.

These two things — nicotine de pendence and nicotine withdrawal — make you want to smoke more. You become addicted to tobacco.

how You become addIcted how tobacco damageS Your bodY

The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage your body in many ways. For example:

Nicotine narrows your veins and arteries. This can damage your heart by forcing it to work faster and harder slow your blood and reduce oxygen to your feet and hands.

Carbon monoxide deprives your heart of the oxygen it needs to pump

blood around your body. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs.

Tar is a sticky substance that coats your lungs like soot in a chim ney.

Phenols paralyse and kill the hair-like cells in your airways. The se cells sweep clean the lining of your airways and protect them against in

fections.

Tiny particles in tobacco smoke irritate your throat and lungs and cause ‘smoker’s cough’. This makes you produce more mucus and damages lung tissue.

Ammonia and formaldehyde ir ritate your eyes, nose and throat.

Cancer-causing chemicals make your cells grow too fast or abnor mally. This can result in cancer cells.

How tobacco affects the way you look

Smoking tobacco can: cause yellow-brown stains on your fingers, tongue and teeth increase your risk of tooth loss and bad breath make your skin saggy and give you early wrinkles make your hair lose its natural shine.

Health effects

If you smoke, you: reduce your life expectancy and your qua lity of life increase your risk of many conditions and diseases as well as of dying prematurely.

It can be a long time before smokers get a smoking-related condition or disease. Because of this, some people believe it won’t happen to them.

In fact, up to ⅔ of long term smokers will: die of a smoking-related disease have their life cut short by about 10 years on average, compared to non-smokers.

There is also growing evidence to suggest that smoking has a negative impact on mental health. For example, some studies show that smoking is associated with increased rates of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicide attempts and schi zophrenia.

Some of the condItIonS and dI

Did you know?

• Tobacco use is the one risk factor shared by 4 of the main categories of non-communicab le disease. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung di sease and diabetes.

• CancerSmoking cau ses most lung cancers and can cause cancer al most anywhere on the body. This includes the lips, tongue, mouth, nose, oesophagus, throat, voice box, stomach, liver, kid ney, pancreas, bladder, blood, cervix, vulva, pe nis and anus.

• Breathing problems and chronic respiratory conditionsSmoking is

the main cause of chro nic obstructive pulmo nary disease (COPD), a serious, progressive and disabling condition that limits airflow in the lun gs. Active smoking also worsens asthma in active smokers and is associa ted with an increased risk for asthma in adolescents and adults.

• Heart disease, stroke and blood circulation problemsSmoking is ma jor cause of cardiovascu lar disease, such as he art disease and stroke. Smoking increases the risk of blood clots, whi ch block blood flow to the heart, brain or legs. Some smokers end up having

SeaSeS that can be cauSed bY SmokIng

their limbs amputated due to blood circula tion problems caused by smoking.

• DiabetesSmoking cau ses type 2 diabetes, with the risk of developing diabetes 30 to 40% higher for active smokers than non-smokers. Smoking may also worsen some of the health conditions re lated to type 1 diabetes, such as kidney disease.

• InfectionsSmoking we akens your immune sys tem so you’re more li kely to get bacterial and viral infections.

• Dental problemsS moking increase the risk of gum diseases, tooth loss and tooth sensitivity. Once a person has gum damage, smoking also makes it harder for their gums to heal.

• Hearing lossSmoking reduces blood flow to the inner ear. Smokers may also lose their hearing earlier than a non-s moker.

• Vision lossSmoking damages the eye and can lead to macular degene ration — the main cause of blindness in Australia.

• Fertility problemsS moking can make it more difficult to fall pregnant and affect sperm quali ty. Find out more about smoking and tobacco and pregnancy.

• Osteoporosis and me nopauseSmoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis and in women, may result in early menopause com pared to a non-smoker.

effectS on thoSe

around You

• As a smoker, you can affect the health of other people when they breathe in your second-hand smoke. This means they’re breathing in the same toxic and cancer -causing chemicals that you are.

• Find out about the health risks of passive smoking.

• Financial effects

• Smoking is expensive. To work out how much you could save if you stopped smoking, try the I Can Quit calculator . The numbers add up over a year.

• If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, you could be spending more than $10,000 a year on cigarettes.

• Reducing the effects

• There is no safe level of smoking.

What You Can Do To Maintain Your Health

A lot of factors play a role in staying healthy. In turn, good health can decrease your risk of developing certain condi tions. These include heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and injuries. Learn what you can do to maintain your and your family’s health.

Committing to healthy behaviors is one of the most mea ningful gifts you can give to yourself, as well as to those around you. By taking care of your health, you are able to serve as a role model to your family, friends and co -workers. Following is a handy list of 10 habits that will help you maintain your health and wellness:

10 habits that will help you maintain your health and wellness

Build your plate around healthy choices.

Build your plate around healthy choices. Start by filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Fill in the rest of your meal with a selection of proteins, whole grains and dairy. ChooseMyPlate.gov makes it simple by offering suggestions of food serving sizes, health benefits, and tips for each food group.

Stay Hydrated.

Water, clear non-caffeinated beverages, and food all cou nt toward your daily fluid intake. Avoid sports drinks or sodas with high sugar content and select water-rich fruits and vegetables for snacks. Begin each morning by drinking a full glass of water and continue the trend throughout the day, including at mealtimes. Men should aim to drink at least twelve, 8-ounce glasses of water per day; women should aim to drink at least nine, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Drinking fluids throughout the day versus all at once will help your body cells absorb the water gradually without adding stress to your kidneys.

Limit alcohol intake

If you drink alcoholic beverages, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest you do so in moderationno more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. That equates to 12-ounces of beer; 8-ounces of malt liquor; 5-ounces of wine; or 1.5-ou nces of a shot of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka or whiskey). Excessive or binge drinking leads to numerous immediate and long-term health risks.

Avoid/quit tobacco usage

No list would be complete without acknowledging the in numerable reasons why the use of tobacco is unhealthy. If you are a smoker, it’s likely you will find this habit one of the hardest to change. Talk with your company about tobacco cessation programs. Additionally, seek out re sources and support from the American Lung Association. Learn about our BeneQUIT Tobacco Cessation Program.

Walk more

Opportunities to walk are everywhere we turnwhether that means taking a 10-minute walking break at the office or choosing stairs over elevators. These short increments of activity can increase blood flow; releasing hormones that help us manage stress, increase alertness and burn calories.

Choose physical activities you enjoy

Experts suggest adults should set a goal of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each day of the week—whether that means 30 minutes at a time or broken into 10-minute intervals three times per day. Find an ac tivity that you enjoy doing, and you will look forward to exercising.

Wash your hands

The number one way to minimize the spread of germs is by thoroughly washing your hands. It’s the simplest step toward limiting infection to you and to others. Using soap and water remains the most effective method of hand wa shing. When soap and water aren’t readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) is the recommended back-up plan.

Develop healthy sleep habits

Adhering to a sleep schedule or bedtime rituals can rein force your body’s “sleep-wake” cycle, such as con sistently going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. The addition of relaxing rituals, such as reading a book or listening to music, also allow your body to wind down at the end of the day.

See your primary care physician regularly

A primary care physician will help you stay healthy, ma nage illness and prevent disease. Ask your doctor for a list of general health screening recommendations to prioritize the need for scheduling an appointment.

Set goals and work toward achieving them

Use S.M.A.R.T. criteria when setting your goals in order to provide specific direction and achieve measurable re sults. These are the kind of goals that you are more likely to adopt as part of a long-term commitment to better he alth and wellness.

5 Foods That Can Help Improve Your Memory

• The brain is an energy-intensive organ, using around 20 percent of the body’s calories, so it needs plenty of good fuel to maintain concentration throughout the day.

•

• The brain also requires certain nutrients to stay he althy. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, help build and repair brain cells, and antioxidants reduce cellular stress and inflammation, which are linked to brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

•

• Whether you want to optimise your nutrition during exam season or stay sharp in your next work mee ting, paying attention to your diet can really pay off. Although there’s no single ‘brain food’ to protect against age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, thinking carefully about what you eat gives you the best chance of getting the nutrients you need for cognitive health and mood.

•

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes these 5 everyday brain-boosting foods may help to keep your memory, concentration and focus as sharp as can be.

Wholegrains

May improve concentration and focus

Like everything else in your body, the brain cannot work without energy. The ability to concentrate and focus comes from an adequate, steady supply of energy (in the form of glucose) in our blood, to the brain. Achieve this by choosing wholegrains which have a low-GI, which means they release their energy slowly into the bloods tream, keeping you mentally alert throughout the day. Eating too few healthy carbs, like wholegrains, may lead to brain fog and irritability. Opt for ‘brown’ wholegrain cereals, granary bread, rice and pasta.

Oily fish

May promote healthy brain function

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) can’t be made by the body which means they must be obtained through food. The most effective omega-3 fats occur naturally in oily fish in the form of EPA and DHA. Good plant sources include flaxseed, soya beans, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and their oils. These fats are important for healthy brain function, the heart, joints and our general well-being. Although studies are at an early stage there is some suggestion that adequate amounts of omega-3 fats in your diet may help to relieve depression. What makes oily fish so good is that they contain these ac tive fats in a ready-made form, which means the body can use it easily. The main sources of oily fish include salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and kippers.

Low DHA levels may be linked to an increased risk of de mentia, Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss, whilst ha ving sufficient levels of both EPA and DHA is thought to help us manage stress and make the good mood brain chemical, serotonin.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you may wish to add se eds like flaxseed, hemp and chia to your diet, or consider a plant-based omega-3 supplement from micro-algae. If you are considering taking a supplement speak to your GP first. It’s worth remembering that vegetarian or vegan mums -to-be, or those who are breastfeeding, should consider a supplement because of the important role omega-3 fats play in the development of the central nervous system of your baby.

Blueberries

May boost short-term memory

Evidence accumulated at Tufts University in the United States suggests that the consumption of blueberries may be effective in improving or delaying short-term memory loss. They’re widely available, but you can also achieve the same effect with other dark red and purple fruits, like blackberries, and veg, like red cabbage. These contain the same protective compounds called anthocyanins.

Tomatoes

May prevent free radical damage

There is good evidence to suggest that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, could help pro tect against the kind of free radical damage to cells that occurs in the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s. Favour cooked tomatoes and enjoy with a little olive oil to optimise your body’s absorption and use. Other foods supplying this, and similar protective phyto-nutrients, include papaya, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

Eggs

May delay brain shrinkage

Certain B vitamins – B6, B12 and folic acid – are known to reduce levels of a compound called homocysteine in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk of stroke, cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. A study of a group of elderly pa tients with mild cognitive impairment found that after two years of intervention with high doses of B6, B12 and folic acid there was significantly less brain shrinkage compa red to a subset given placebo treatment.

Other B vitamins including vitamins B1, B3 and choline play an important part in regulating normal brain func tion. Choline, which is rich in egg yolk, is essential for the memory-boosting brain chemical, acetylcholine.

Opt for B-rich foods like eggs, chicken, fish, leafy greens and dairy. If you’re vegan, look to fortified foods, inclu ding plant milks and breakfast cereals, for vitamin B12 or consider a supplement. Other useful vegan sources of B vitamins, including B6, include nutritional yeast, avocado, soya, nuts and seeds.

May boost short-term memory

Evidence accumulated at Tufts University in the United States suggests that the consumption of blueberries may be effec tive in improving or delaying short-term memory loss. They’re widely available, but you can also achieve the same

5 Foods That Can Help Improve Your Memory

How does COVID-19 affect the lungs?

The lungs are the first site affected by COVID-19.

• The cells that line the airways have certain proteins on their surface called the ACE-2 receptors.

• The SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches to these receptors and enters the cells in the lungs.

• Once entered, the virus rapidly multi plies to form more viral particles that invade more cells in the airways.

• The spread of the infection in the lungs leads to an immune response by the body.

• In severe cases, this fight between the virus and the immune system may lead to the formation of a lot of debris and fluid collection in the lungs.

CORTICOSTEROIDS IN THE TREATMENT OF SE VERE COVID-19 LUNG DISEASE: THE PULMON OLOGY PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FIRST UNITED STATES EPICENTER

The lungs is the first organ to be affected by the corona virus. Al though COVID-19 mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary disease), studies done so far suggest that it can affect almost every organ in the body (extrapulmonary dis ease). Nonetheless, it is not certain which organs or organ systems will be involved in this disease in a par ticular person. Even the severity of organ involvement by COVID-19 varies with people.

Apart from the lungs, other organs or tissues affected by COVID-19 include: Cardiovascular system (consisting of the heart and blood vessels), Kidneys, Brain, Gastrointestinal system or the gut, Skin, Blood, Pancreas, Liver, Eyes, Joints,

Muscles, Immune system

A type of severe and often life-threatening complication of COVID-19 is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in chil dren (MIS-C) or pediatric multi system inflammatory syndrome (PMIS). Apart from the prob lem posed by the coronavirus on our overall health and mental well-being, it also affects the he patic tissues in the body. In many Covid-patients or the people who have already recovered from the infection, an increased level of liver enzymes and abnormal liver function have been noted. Doctors and medical experts claim that in many patients, the liver functions do not get back to normal, even after recovery, which according to them could be due to the rush of cytokines in the body, caused as a consequence of the drugs pre scribed during the illness.

The Igbo Culture

Ọmenala ndị Igbo) are the customs, prac tices and traditions of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It consists of ancient practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either by cultural evolution or by outside influence. These customs and traditions include the Igbo people’s visual art, music and dance forms, as well as their attire, cuisine and language dialects. Because of their various subgroups, the variety of their culture is heightened further. They are majorly found in Abia, Anam bra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. A siz able Igbo population is also found in Delta and Rivers States. Large ethnic Igbo pop ulations are found in Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside Africa. There has been much speculation about the origins of the Igbo people, as it is unknown how exactly the group came to form. Geographically, the Igbo home land is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western sec tion. The Igbo people are one of the larg est ethnic groups in Africa.

Helmet-mask 20th century Indianapolis Museum of Art (USA)

Igbo Religion

MTHE SPIRITS (ALUSI) are powerful beings who inhabit the three dimen sions of space—sky, earth (land and water), and ancestral world. There are several categories of spirits. Powerful sky deities manifest through thunder, lightning, sun, and moon; nature spir its inhabit rocks, hills, caves, trees, and land or farms. The guardian spirit of the earth is Ani/Ala, the earth moth er. There is also a spirit associated with each day of the Igbo four-day week: Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo. Patron spir its serve as guardians of hunters, farm ers, fishermen, medicine men, and oth er professional guilds; the matron spirit is called Nne Miri or Mami Wata. Ma rine spirits inhabit rivers and streams. Human spirits, called chi, determine each individual’s destiny. Spirit forces energize medicine that individuals can conjure and deploy for strength, pro tection, or to harm enemies. Ancestral spirits are the living dead who inhabit the spirit world but are involved in the lives of progenies in the human world. During festivals, they visit the human world as guests in form of masquerades. Evil spirits live in both human and spir it worlds. Only those who lived honest lives, did not die from inexplicable dis eases, and had full burial rites can be ancestors or reincarnate. The spirits of evil people wander as akalogolu who appear on lonely farm roads to frighten people. Among the most dreaded evil spirits are ogbanje— spirits who mani fest as children, covenanted to return to the marine world after a brief sojourn among human families. Their mission is to participate exuberantly in life events, tantalizing parents with their excessive beauty, friendliness, joy of living, and precocious habits. Near the appointed time of return, they develop

Complex wooden carving depicting images of power and daily life, such as horsemen, imported goods, military in signia, Europeans, rifles, wild beasts and masqueraders.

unusual illnesses and die very suddenly. Ogbanje spirits tend to possess females. Parents consult dibia afa (divining healers, as opposed to dibia ogwu, who are adept with herbs), make sacrifices to marine spirits, and use facial scarifications on the children to discourage their return to the hu man world. Body marks at birth may betray an ogbanje child (modern medicine suspects sickle cell anemia).

Benevolent spirits have shrines, priests, and reli gious festivals as part of their worship. The wick

THE SPIRITS (ALUSI) are powerful beings who inhabit the three dimen sions of space—sky, earth (land and water), and ancestral world. There are several categories of spirits. Pow erful sky deities manifest through thunder, lightning, sun, and moon; nature spirits inhabit rocks, hills, caves, trees, and land or farms. The guardian spirit of the earth is Ani/ Ala, the earth mother. There is also a spirit associated with each day of the Igbo four-day week: Eke, Orie, Afor, and Nkwo. Patron spirits serve as guardians of hunters, farmers, fishermen, medicine men, and other professional guilds; the matron spir it is called Nne Miri or Mami Wata. Marine spirits inhabit rivers and streams. Human spirits, called chi, determine each individual’s destiny. Spirit forces energize medicine that individuals can conjure and deploy

for strength, protection, or to harm en emies. Ancestral spirits are the living dead who inhabit the spirit world but are involved in the lives of progenies in the human world. During festivals, they visit the human world as guests in form of masquerades. Evil spirits live in both human and spirit worlds. Only those who lived honest lives, did not die from inexplicable diseases, and had full burial rites can be ancestors or reincarnate. The spirits of evil people wander as akalogolu who appear on lonely farm roads to frighten people. Among the most dreaded evil spirits are ogbanje— spirits who manifest as chil dren, covenanted to return to the ma rine world after a brief sojourn among human families. Their mission is to participate exuberantly in life events, tantalizing parents with their excessive beauty, friendliness, joy of living, and precocious habits. Near the appointed

Igbo Religion

time of return, they develop unusual illnesses and die very suddenly. Og banje spirits tend to possess females. Parents consult dibia afa (divining healers, as opposed to dibia ogwu, who are adept with herbs), make sac rifices to marine spirits, and use fa cial scarifications on the children to discourage their return to the human world. Body marks at birth may be tray an ogbanje child (modern medi cine suspects sickle cell anemia). Benevolent spirits have shrines, priests, and religious festivals as part of their worship. The wicked spir its receive no regular cultic activity except the occasional offering made with the left hand as the supplicant asks to be left alone. Major ancestors have statues, which recall their spiri tual power, located at a family shrine. Before drinking palm wine, the Igbo pour out a few drops in honor of the ancestors. The ancestors are believed to help the living reap a good harvest, have many children, and protect the family from misfortunes. Ancestors may also be reincarnated among the children of their descendants. Sacrifice is central in Igbo religious life. Sacrifices are offered for the ex piation of sins, for protection from misfortune, to petition for assistance, and to offer thanks. Most are offered to spirits and ancestors, but in certain cases sacrifices of white chickens are offered directly to Chukwu. Sacrific es at family shrines are performed by the senior man of the family. Each spirit has its own priests who per form sacrifices at the shrine. Offer ings include eggs, chickens, fruits, goats, cows, and (in a few rare cas es of community sacrifices) human

AGWU is famously known as the divine oracle (Alusi) that controls the behaviour of people possessed under its influence. This is one of the ancient beliefs of the Igbo people of Nigeria, West Africa. Igbo people believe that every soul is born with Agwu.

beings. Sometimes the victim—animal or hu man—is offered to a spirit and a little of its blood is shed as a sign of an offering, but the victim is allowed to live as a devotee who is consecrat ed to the spirit. Human sacrifices are sometimes connected with adjudication of disputes at orac ular shrines. Oracles are graded according to purview. The three with the widest geographical patronage that extended beyond Igboland were Ogbunorie, Igwe-ka-Ala, and Ibin Ukpabi. The last acquired notoriety because the Arochukwu, who served as middlemen in the transatlantic slave trade manipulated the oracle by soaking the stream near the ravine that housed the ora cle with red ochre wood and declaring that Ibin Ukpabi had eaten the guilty party in the arbitra tion. Meanwhile, they sneaked the hapless victim through the forest to a waiting slave boat. The colonial government conducted a raid on the Arochukwu community between 1901 and 1902, but could not wipe out the oracle. They followed this with four other four raids between 1912 and 1925 against the oracle, still to no avail. Healing is central to Igbo religion. Ndi dibia ogwu (herbalists) employ a variety of techniques to discern the spiritual cause of a particular mal

ady or misfortune: a violation of taboos/ prohibitions, moral failure, an offense against a spirit, or a bad personal fate (chi). A spirit, agwu, possesses the herb alist after he recites incantations, and it identifies the herb and the location in the forest for the cure.

Social control models include socializa tion into acceptable values (omenali), restriction through satires and peer jok ing relationships, punishment for those who flout the salient values, and reward for those who uphold them. Each con trol is legitimized with religion. For in stance, theft from a farm threatens the food security of the community, so the elders invoke the spirits of Ahiajioku (the god of the yam who also guards farms), Ani/Ala (the earth mother), or ancestors to detect and punish the thief.

The earth spirit and ancestors serve as guardians of morality. The most se rious crimes are abominations com mitted against the earth spirit, such as patricide, suicide, incest, theft of crops or livestock, giving birth to twins, and killing sacred animals. Itinerant priests from Nri conduct the expiation of such abominations. Ndigbo employ cov enants with the gods of their fathers to preserve social order, enhance the well-being of individuals and commu nities, and preserve the highest values, nka na nzere —long life and prosperity. They sacralize the whole of life.

Africa is full of bizarre practices some of which are known, and many others that are unknown to the world. Some of these strange customs still exist many years after civ ilization. These ethnic communities practice certain traditions that will shock you.

1. STEALING EACH OTHER WIFE- Niger

In the Wodaabe tribe of Niger in West Africa, men are known to steal each other’s wives. The Wodaabe’s first marriage is arranged by their parents in infancy and must be between cous ins of the same lineage. However, at the yearly Gerewol Festival, Wodaabe men wear elaborate makeup and cos tumes and dance to impress the wom en – and hopefully steal a new wife. If a man is able to steal away unde tected (especially from a current hus band who may not want to part with his wife), then they become socially recognized.

ing hello. While the Englishman would say hello, spitting is a way of greeting. Asides that, when a baby is born, it is the custom of the men to spit on the newborn and refer to him as bad. They believe this would protect the baby from evil spirits. Maasai warriors also spit in their hands before shaking the hand of an elder. Fur thermore, the Maasai tribe is also famous for its drinking of fresh animal blood.

2. SPITTING AS A FORM OF GREETING - Maasai tribe

The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They spit as a way of say

3. FESTIVAL OF THE DEADMalawi

Chewa (also known as Nyanja, /njænd/) is a Bantu language spoken in much of Southern, Southeast and East Afri ca, namely the countries of Malawi and Zambia, where it is an official language, and Mozambique and Zimbabwe where it is a recognised minority language. During the burial ceremony of a tribe member, it is customary for the body of the deceased to be washed. The corpse is taken to a sacred place where the cleansing is done by slitting the throat and pouring water through the in sides of the dead. The water is squeezed out of the body until it comes out clean. The water is then collected and used to prepare a meal for the whole community.