THEWILL DOWNTOWN JULY 18 EDITION

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021 021 02

A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOR SOUND SULTAN

With an exclusive tribute by Seyi Shay And a specially curated DOWNTOWN playlist

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

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VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE

IT IS NOT DEATH THAT A MAN SHOULD FEAR, BUT HE SHOULD FEAR NEVER BEGINNING TO LIVE. - Marcus Aurelius Last Sunday, we were hit with the news of Sound Sultan’s death. A musician, actor, producer, father, husband and much more, his passing has rocked the entire entertainment industry to it’s core as he was arguably one of the nicest, most down to earth celebrities you could ever hope to meet. , ¿UVW PHW 66 DERXW WZHQW\ \HDUV DJR ZKHQ \RXUV WUXO\ was a bright eyed and bushy tailed teenager. I was suffering from a bad case of “the crush” on a friend of his who had saved me from a beating and imminent attack. I promptly fell in ‘love’ with this coconut head in tinfoil knight in shining armor and proceeded to follow him around like a groupie on a tour bus. Whilst I was daydreaming, the young bobo had tried (and had succeeded) to ‘japa’ and Sultan was the designated bearer of bad news. Even then, I remember thinking, “A whole celebrity came to deliver this message, wow what a great guy!”

He’d come from Festac to Surulere and we met up at a little joint somewhere off Adelabu street. He regaled me with stories and jokes, entertaining me to no end and by the end of the visit, my heartache and homeboy of the abroad were a distant memory, whilst I’d made a new friend for life.

It’s an odd feeling to know that someone is no more; has ceased to exist…will simply never say my name again. In the last year and half it seems like most of us have lost at least one person that hit close to home. I am sorry for your loss but convinced now, more than ever about the necessity of expressing our love, admiration or gratitude to those deserving of it in our lives while they are still alive.

Many thanks to Chukwudalu Egbejiogu (@daluss_) for the permission to share these wonderful images of Sound Sultan. As we all grieve, I ask that you spare a prayer for his wife and children while supporting his legacy by purchasing his music on streaming platforms.

Take care and I’ll see you next week.

LATASHA NGWUBE @latashalagos

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COVER STORY: A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOR SOUND SULTAN

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writer: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

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P O P C U LT U R E

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Celebrating World Emoji Day 12 Popular Emojis With Second Meanings

ODDB OD & TH E C ITY

Ye Olde Faithful

Exclusive tribute

by Seyi Shay And a specially curated DOWNTOWN playlist

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C U LT U R E

CHANGING FACES Is Chronicling Our Deepest Darkest Thoughts

07

THE EDIT

AUSTYN OGANNAH

CONTENTS

Lazy Vultures on the Loose!

11

M OV I E R E V I E W:

Black Widow

12-13 B E AU T Y

Beard Grooming 101: Pick Your Style

14

TH E SC ENE DOW NTOW N

The Grand Launch Of Aura In Abuja

15

W EB S IGH TS DOW NTOW N

W’s & L’s

16 L IVING

The Train Express!

The Newly Commissioned Lagos - Ibadan Train Is LIT PAGE 3

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

POP CULTURE

12

CELEBRATING WORLD EMOJI DAY

Popular Emojis With Second Meanings

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

T

Goat If you’re an old-head, you’d never guess this, but the goat stands for the acronym GOAT: Greatest of All Time. If you see this emoji in your social media feed, it means you’re being celebrated as the best in your field. Way to go.

Snake

hroughout history, humans have always found ways to communicate via encrypted messages, and the modern-day version of these ancient runes is the emoji. Among younger generations, emojis are so popular that they have virtually replaced words in texts and social media posts, often to the consternation of parents desperately trying to figure out what encoded message they’re trying to send. And while some emoji meanings are simple, others have a secret double meaning that needs to be deciphered, and some are quite complicated.

For example, a recent University of Birmingham study found that a balloon followed by a comma and a teddy bear meant “I’m thinking of you but don’t have the words to say it.” (You have to wonder how on earth that became a thing.)

Interestingly, that’s just one of many fascinating secondary emoji meanings.

So to help our Boomers learn the secret meaning behind some of the most popular emojis, here’s a dozen...

Devil

Fire

It may not be the sexiest image, but this actually indicates that someone is in the mood to get frisky. If someone sends you this then you better get your game up; they are coming for you flirtatiously.

Oh! You don’t need to call the firefighters.

This little flame indicates that someone or something is hot, or as the kids these days would say, “lit.”

Women With Bunny Ears

Eggplant

Beware if you see the snake, as it indicates that someone thinks you’re a duplicitous backstabber.

If you are not familiar with the Bible, the snake depicts deceit.

You should know this, granny. You are closer to the Bible times than the rest of us.

Some women send this to their friends to indicate they’re about to have a rocking girls’ night out, but given that they are modelled after Playboy bunnies, they can also be a code for sex workers.

Having a similar design as a cucumber - which is known for its sexual connotation - this is a stand-in for male genitalia and is often sent to illustrate the anticipation of sexy time. Don’t freak out now.

Snowflake You might see this pop up during a Twitter argument when someone wants to call someone else a “snowflake”—a derogatory term to describe a young person who is easily offended and overly fragile compared to previous generations. Here’s one for you to dole out more often.

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Avocado Peach Another fruit symbolising human anatomy, this peach emoji represents a derriere. The resemblance is stunning, isn’t it?

Given the Millennial obsession with avocados, you’d think this would symbolise something good. But given the eyeroll-worthy enthrallment with this fruit, it’s often used to indicate someone is hopelessly “basic” and just does whatever is trendy at the moment.

Manicure People often post this on someone’s Instagram page to indicate that they are “on fleek,” or, put colloquially, fabulous. It can also be sent in a text message to show that you are feeling as chill as a diva drying her nails, but its most popular use is as a response to indicate that you’re not bothered about something someone said about you.

Clapping Hands One of the simpler emojis, it’s often used to applaud something someone says. But you’ll also often find it inserted in between every single word in a sentence, as a passiveaggressive way of emphasizing something that people can’t seem to get into their thick heads.

Syringe Don’t panic. As foreboding of an emoji as it may be, the syringe can stand for a tattoo needle and is often used on Instagram to celebrate getting new ink.

Alternatively, it could be used to yell “Inject it into my veins!”

An expression young people say when they find content or agenda overly enjoyable.

You can text your grandkids any of these emojis just to gauge their reactions. We’ve got your back.

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

FASHION

ODUN OGUNBIYI

ODDBOD & THE H C CITY TY TY What to Watch Due to matters entirely out of my control (my knee’s still acting up, so I patiently await the results of my MRI, thank you very much for asking), I have been spending a lot of time in front of the television, so I am uniquely in a position to call out what’s hot and what’s not.

Law and Order: Organised Crime If you are a die-hard Law and Order fan, you would have been chomping at the bit to get into this spinoff series. They brought back one of my favourite characters EVER, Elliot Stabler, to lead an elite task force to take down NYC’s most powerful syndicates.

One episode in, I am pleased with everything.

Crossover activities with the SVU franchise and the delicious Dylan McDermott giving quality bad guy make it a thrilling watch all around. Coming in hot on your DSTV.

Ye Olde

Faithful S

ometimes going out to eat should be as easy and comforting as putting on a beloved and well-worn sweater. It shames me to say that in my household, we don’t partake in the traditional Nigerian breakfast—and tragedy is that when I look back on the breakfast options we had growing up, I absolutely loved everything. I miss yam and eggs with corn beef stew, akara and ogi preferred with an obscene amount of condensed milk and sugar cubes, moi moi with all sorts of good things like eggs and fish stuffed inside. The real tragedy, I guess, is that I never learnt how to make this food.

Sunday mornings craving had me hot-footing it to Terra Kulture, where I was assured that good things would happen. I was tempted to go straight to the lunch menu because I can’t remember the last time I had pounded yam that someone had to throw their back out to prepare, but I stuck to the plan. Dodo (aka fried plantain because I don’t know what’s going on in the metropolis, but they have stopped selling plantain in the market areas near me) and egg and corn beef stew. Just what the doctor ordered.

However, what really brought on the itis and an enjoyable buzz to the rest of my Sunday was the palm wine. Served ice cold in an igbá, it may be that I started drinking before I had anything to eat, but it seemed to me that it packed quite the punch. It was a very satisfied and sleepy Ods that made her way home. Variety is the spice of life—not every time full English breakfast and mimosas.

Joker I am probably the only person who does not download movies, so I appreciate that I am ridiculously late to this party. It is currently on DSTV Catch Up, and there is absolutely no confusion as to why Joaquin Phoenix walked away with the Academy Award for Best Actor. He was sublime, and as origin stories go, this one was excellent, chilling, plausible and relevant.

Absolutely worth a watch.

Sex/Life I watched it all, but I was irate the whole time, and all I can say about this is don’t believe the hype.

The acting was painful, the entire storyline got on my nerves, and the ending had me throwing my popcorn at the TV. In conclusion, eight hours of my life I will not be getting back. Catch it (if you must) on Netflix.

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VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

CULTURE

CHANGING FACES IS CHRONICLING OUR DEEPEST DARKEST THOUGHTS

By Joan K. Vincent-Otiono

I

in the arts and culture sector. He is a contemporary painter and sculptor, best known for defying classification. Adamant on not conforming to the norm, he embraces several media simultaneously to best address pertinent global issues.

Alimi Adewale is a name that carries weight

Adewale fell in love with exhibitions and workshops from his years in university and after honing his skill, has exhibited in Nigeria, every year since 2011.

n a new solo art exhibition, Changing Faces, Alimi Adewale relays a tale of system disruption and self-discovery, whilst expressing our collective musings regarding the global pandemic, African politics and the rampant police violence.

“I strive to create work that engages me and the viewer in a discovery process. The disruption of norms and defiance of expectations often emerges from this exploration process; however, neither is the initial impetus nor the priority.”

Some of his notable exhibitions include: 2011: Sublime Exhibition at Quintessence gallery 2012 June: Charity exhibition for the Ebunoluwa Foundation Quintessence Gallery Falomo Lagos 2013 march: Naked Butterflies an Online Solo Art Exhibition. First of its kind in Africa.

Asides being a massive contender in Africa, Adewale has also participated internationally by way of his Konstepidemins residency in Sweden, his exhibition in Ontario Canada, New York and more.

This year, the engineer turned self-taught artist is celebrating his solo exhibition, Changing Faces – where normal rules don’t apply.

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Adewale interrogates “a deeply divided world further fractured by religious differences, income, and gender inequalities” in a manner that is very intriguing and peculiar.

According to curators Dolly Kola-Balogun and Ugonna IbieEjiogu, the contemporary artist’s work will be well represented in the form of 2 large-scale heads surrounded by pigeons, an installation of works suspended from the ceiling alongside other works in the exhibition, juxtaposed intentionally to emphasize the narrative.

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

THE EDIT BY C H A L’

LAZY VULTURES ON THE LOOSE! Y

ou know those very annoying and pesky unsolicited pop-ups that come on your feed while surfing through Instagram? The ones that disrupt the flow of images posted by your friends? Yes those ones! They really do my head in, and even more so when I come across something that is a complete rip off of another person’s creativity or intellectual property. Yeah, I know I wrote about this a few weeks ago. But this topic never gets old. So here we go again. I found myself the other day asking (in my head) “is this by DyeLab?” I could tell that something seemed a bit ‘offish’ about the photographed garment. It looked poorly executed and the finish appeared rather shabby. So I read the caption. And NOT to my surprise it wasn’t a DyeLab agbada.

But this person had attempted to make someone else’s signature adire fused with bright hues as a bib and turn-up sleeves their own! What?! How disrespectful and embarrassing.

Ozzy Etomi in the Original Design by DyeLab

Tata Chal’Boubou - A Chalya Shagaya & Tsemaye Beniti Collaboration

Who does that?! If you must draw inspiration from other people’s designs and work, do so but be more creative and come up with something with a “WOW factor” rather than the “Oh no she didn’t!” reaction from those of us that recognize the “theft”. While the boubou, kaftan or agbada design is merely an existing “template”; so many people have found creative ways to make their very own by adding a “signature”. An example of this is the #TataChal Boubou which is a collaboration between Tsemaye Beniti and yours truly, me. The version we have put out has the designers’ signature written all over it. Once anyone sees the finish and the detail they immediately recognize the Tsemaye Beniti craftsmanship.

Yes, we are all out here to make the coins but have some dignity and pride.

It doesn’t just apply to clothing design. I also came across a balloon styling post and I could have sworn it was by Ribbon Room Balloons Lagos. Again I looked at the {im}poster’s caption and handle and sighed. Come on now people!! We can do better. I get it, that healthy competition is great but it must get frustrating when the competitor copies your business model down to a tee. Even attempting to openly and publicly poach members of the leading brand’s team. You know what though, in the case of the image of the

balloon arrangement one could tell that they were gasping for more helium. Nothing like the real McCoy. I know some people would say “oh please a balloon on is a balloon!” Not really. Some can only be described as “bolom bolom”. Sorry not sorry.

Anyway, why so lazy? Why wait for someone to put out their designs of business then go invest your energy to create a copy? I find this a tad shameless. There was an agbada design that was released late last year that became very popular in no time. Before we could say “Jack Robinson!” there were copies of the velevt bib adire agbada everywhere.

Oh! Did I mention it was called the “Chalya Agbada” at the time? Yes it was. How very flattering.

The Original “Chalya Agbada” by TemiLady Anyhow, the point of this long rant is simply to say, DON’T BE A LAZY VULTURE that preys on other people’s creativity. Try to pause for a moment. Look inwards and find YOUR OWN creative juices.

Extract! Create! Sign it! Nothing beats authenticity. Not a thing!

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VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

Images by Chukwudalu Egbejiogu

COVER

A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOR SOUND SULTAN Words by Seyi Shay...

“Sorry I never told you All wanted to say; Now it’s too late to hold you, Ō&RV \RXōYH ŴRZQ DZD\ Never had I imagined, living without your smile (and jokes); But feeling and knowing you hear me, it keeps me alive I know you are shining, smiling, watching, down on me from heaven” You were my friend, brother and the father I never had. My mentor, my inspiration and my teacher. You brought me to Nigeria to start my music career as Seyi Shay back in 2011 and you have been my guardian ever since. You became my peace when life got crazy; my sanctuary and my home.

Now I can’t even imagine who I will run to when I’m sad, in trouble, lonely or just need to rest.

Who will I tell my accomplishments to? Who will I tell my secrets to? Who will I discuss topics of music, politics, social and spirituality with? Who will I call when I need advice or advocacy… who will show up on time, every time?

Who will I spend my Christmas and birthdays with?

Who will be there watching from a close enough distance if not you?

Who will rescue me when my ride breaks down or I get into an accident or altercation?

Who will I fear in case I fail or before make a bad decision?

Who will I get approval from about a new boyfriend or marriage prospect?

Who will caution the guy that would come to seek your permission?

Who will walk me down the aisle like I once dreamed?

Who will I fry the eggs that Aboo taught me to make because she knew that you would only otherwise eat my food because I made it and you didn’t want to make me feel bad (even if it had salt and onions in it which you don’t like)?

Who’s gonna scold me when I’m wrong or call me “obun” when I’m doing something wrong?

Who’s gonna protect me and defend me from this cold industry?

Who’s gonna cheer me on and encourage me whether I do music or not? It hasn’t been about music between us for years now. We became more than that…

Who’s gonna be a better you to Zara Mayowa and Bidemi?

Or a better Aboo to ChiChi? 7KH DQVZHU LV 12 21( 1(9(5 XQWLO LQƓQLW\ DERXQGV HWHUQLW\ DQG EH\RQG WKHUH LV RQO\ %DED I will make you proud and honor your wishes. I’ll make up and make peace with the person you desired me to. I’ll stop the habits you hated; I’ll hold up my end of the bargain.

Thank you for being a legend and the most talented artist in the world.

You played guitar, drums, keys, you were funny, had the voice of an angel, acted, produced and invested in people no matter where they were from.

I wish I could have played my new album to you. But I wanted to get it perfect before you heard it.Thank you for my songs Healer and No lele. Thank you for being a perfect example of what I should aspire to. Thank you for your unmatched contribution to the industry and to humanity.

0\ RQO\ UHJUHW LV WKDW , ZDVQōW WKHUH DW WKH HQG RU DEOH WR Ŵ\ LQ ZLWK \RXU RNUR VRXS DQG WKDW PRUH RI WKH ZRUOG GLGQōW JHW WR H[SHULHQFH you the way we, your family and friends did.

I’ll love you forever.

Seyi Shay.

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O

n the 11th of July, 2021, Nigerians were sent into a painful shockwave as the passing of music veteran, Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan made it to the news. The 44-yearold Jagbajantis crooner, had been battling with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and unfortunately passed away. His brother, Dr. Kayode Fasasi, in a statement on behalf of the Fasasi family, made the revelation.

The statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter, Onlanrewaju Fasasi a.k.a Sound Sultan.

He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with “Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma.

He is survived by his wife, three children, and his siblings.

We, his family, appreciate the utmost privacy as we come to grips with this tragic loss.”

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

COVER The Man

Sound Sultan was born on the 27th of November, 1976, in Jos, Plateau, Nigeria, to Mr Fasasi Liadi Alarape and Mrs Fasasi Adeyinka Ajarat. He is the fourth of six children, including his brother Baba Dee, who is also one of the early pre-millenium entertainment stars.

From 1981 – 1987, Sound Sultan attended Stepping Stone Nursery and Primary School.

After which he proceeded to the Federal Government College Ogbomosho for his Secondary education from 1988 –1993.

The entertainer was a graduate of Lagos State University, from where he obtained a degree in Geography and Regional Planning in 1999.

In 2009, Sound Sultan married his long-term girlfriend Chichi Morah, now known as Farida Fasasi. The couple had three children- Zara, Mayowa and Bidemi.

The Music

Sound Sultan started writing his own lyrics, miming and performing from the early age of 15.. His career in show business would officially kick off in the 1990s when he hosted shows to raise money for studio sessions.

As a young artist, he was influenced by his elder brother Baba Dee, who studied theatre arts and provided him with the majority of his stage experience. He started learning how to play the guitar after his secondary school education and was in a band by 1999.

By the end of the decade, he had won numerous local talent-hunt competitions. The following year, he released one of Nigeria’s biggest ever hit songs in Jagbajantis.

He would go on to release other hit singles independently and also feature in other artists’ songs before signing to Kennis Music.

Before his contract with Kennis Music expired in 2007, he had already released four albums with them. On leaving Kennis music, he partnered with Baba Dee to start Naija Ninjas. Naija Ninjas is a parent company for a record label, production outfit, and clothing line.

From rap to Afrobeat, soul, and Nigerian Fuji music, he worked in many different musical genres. He believed that music should not be measured by its genre and that what mattered was the message conveyed by music.

After a long absence from the music scene, Sound Sultan released the rap single Remember in 2015.

The singer was a friend to Haitian Rapper/Actor Wyclef Jean. He featured alongside Nigerian singers like Faze and 2face Idibia in Wyclef’s song Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101. He would then collaborate with Wyclef on two other songs titled: People Bad (2012) and King of My Country (2009).

Basketball Involvement

Sound Sultan previously played basketball for the Dodan Warriors, so he was an experienced player. In 2015, he partnered with investors and purchased shares in the Lagos Islanders basketball team. Afterwards, he became a facilitator of the African Basketball League and was one of the special guests at the first NBA African Games.

After the African Basketball League fell apart, the veteran singer sealed a deal with the organizers of the Continental Basketball League to become a team owner of the Lagos City Club, and a facilitator of the league’s entertainment.

Festac Concerts & Community Activity

The entertainer held annual concerts in Festac where he lived during the early 2000s.

During the #EndSARS protests, as a community leader, he was present at the frontlines and marched with thousands of people demanding acccountabolity from the government and police. He simply could not turn a blind eye to injustice.

His Lifestyle

In 2012, it was announced that Sound Sultan was made a UN Ambassador for Peace for his exemplary lifestyle and career.

The artiste was very popular for his positive and peopleoriented lifestyle with close friends and family members

attesting to the fact that he had no vices or interest in stimulants. Ebuka Obi Uchendu on his talk show Rubbin’ Minds while paying his respects was confident in this fact, enough to dare viewers to try and find anything negative about the late musician. Such was the strength of his character.

instead of after death. His appeal was in tune with Patoranking’s latest single: Celebrate Me which also called on people to give all necessary accolades whilst people were still alive and not after death.

His Last Words

His Death

The late Singer, Lanre Fasasi, a.k.a Sound Sultan had urged Nigerians to celebrate people while they were alive. This was his last appeal on his Instagram before he died last Sunday.

Sound Sultan said it was necessary to give accolades to people while they were alive

He was reported to be undergoing chemotherapy in America on May 12, 2021. This illness ultimately led to his death.

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VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

COVER

“He performed at my mum’s church- St Agnes Catholic Church for the children’s harvest and didn’t collect a dime.

I only realized years later he was a muslim.

I couldn’t have known because he had no religious biases!”

-Jennifer ‘Jbeautyfull’ Alegieuno

enable him seal a deal with the Lagos state government that would allow him to beautify the walls for #EkoTag. “This one really hurts. Prayers up for Farida and kids. Rest in Power King!”

Jennifer ‘JBeautyFULL’ Alegieuno - Makeup artist for Film & TV SELFLESS! He was LOVE! Tributes

Family, friends, and close associates of Sound Sultan took to social media to express their grief and share some personal experiences with the late artiste.

Ill Bliss - Rapper

Rapper Ill Bliss recounts how he brought a totally unknown artiste called Chidinma to record her first single in 2011 after winning Project Fame West Africa. Sound Sultan apparently supported her with his verse and helped create her first song Jankoliko In the same vein, he took a gamble on a lot of rising stars and saw the potential in so many of them when so many couldn’t see beyond popularity. He wrote so many big records and offered creative direction that helped define so many. Sound Sultan drove Wyclef Jean down to the Capital Dreams studios in Omole and made music with Tha Suspect and Jerry Wonda. At the 2021 Headies, they sat next to each other and he reminded Ill Bliss of how long it took before he started winning and how divine the virtue of patience is for every artiste.

“Too many great memories. You are now resting with the Lord. Thank you for so many amazing memories..We celebrate. We are weeping non stop but... we Celebrate the Legend Sound Sultan.”

Osa Seven - Artist

The artist emphasized how Sound Sultan was “one of the kindest souls” he had ever met. Apparently years ago the late musician gave Osa Seven who was just a normal “Festac boy” with a dream a shot to graffiti the wall he and MI Abaga shot 2010 against. And that was the first time his work made it to TV. This would eventually help build the artist’s profile and

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Twice I called on him, many times he answered. Never said much, only acted in kindness, with smiles, and very peaceful!

Always on time for any event or performance. He performed at my mum’s church- St Agnes Catholic Church for the children’s harvest and didn’t collect a dime. I only realized years later he was a muslim. I couldn’t have known because he had no religious biases! He lived and loved EVERYONE! He stood up for me on one of the significant nights in my relationship. I worked with him on set a couple of times as his makeup artist but most importantly on his song Light Up Naija. He was always so calm, funny and humble.

A gentleman with no airs!

An artiste with great lyrical content. Whenever I saw him, I would hail him “Uncle Sound…

LEGEND. That’s who he was, is and will always be- A Legend!

May God keep his entire family and loved ones wrapped in his love and peace.

SS LIVES ON!

In memory of Sound Sultan, the DOWNTOWN team created An Apple Music and Spotify playlist with some of our favorite songs of the late icon.

Scan the barcode and take a walk down memory lane with us.

SPOTIFY

APPLE MUSIC

Sound Sultan playlist Sound Sultan - Natural Something Sound Sultan; WizKid; 2Baba - Geshomo Sound Sultan - Ole (Bushmeat) Sound Sultan; Daddy Showkey; Baba Fryo; Danfo Drivers; Marvellous Benji; Afican China - Ghetto Love (Bonus) Ice Prince; Sound Sultan - Pray (feat. Sound Sultan) Sound Sultan - Very Good Bad Guys Ft Banky W. 2Baba; Sound Sultan - Enter the Place ft. Sound Sultan DJ Jimmy Jatt; Yung Greyc; 2Baba; Sound Sultan; Burna Boy - Glasses Up Eedris Abdulkareem; Sound Sultan - Country Hard Sound Sultan; Johnny Drille - Area Sound Sultan; Olamide - Monsura Sound Sultan - Ibo Demon Seyi Shay; Sound Sultan - Healer Sound Sultan; Eldee; Faze - Campus Queen Sound Sultan - Flying With The Birds Ft Essence Sound Sultan; Flavour - Orobo - Remix Sound Sultan - Very Good Bad Guys Ft Banky W. Sound Sultan; Johnny Drille - Area

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

FASHION Movie Review: BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Director: Cate Shortland Cast: Scarlett Johansson As Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow Florence Pugh As Yelena Belova Rachel Weisz As Melina Vostokoff David Harbour As Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian O-T Fagbenle As Mason

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Netflix Watch of the Week

Day of Destiny

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ime travel films are by no means new. But in the Nigerian industry, they’re still something of an untouched area. This is why the plot of Day of Destiny sounds so intriguing. Directed

by Akay Mason and Abosi Ogba, this film stars Denola Grey and Olumide Oworu as Rotimi and Chidi respectively, two brothers who go back in time to change their parents’ financial fates. The movie also features Gbemi Akinlade, Norbert Young, Toyin Abraham, Blossom Chukwujekwu (Sanitation Day), Ireti Doyle, Ini-Dima Okojie (Namaste Wahala), and Broda Shaggi.

Day of Destiny takes its time and builds a background ahead of when the science fiction begins. Motives are stated. Conditions and warnings are revealed before it all goes down. Typical time-travel boilerplate stuff. Some of the cinematography in this regard does seem unconvincing – and the animated use of Rotimi and Chidi in one instance isn’t fooling anyone. But that’s beside the point.

The time-travel element of this movie is utilized quite well. The production design helps with blurring the lines between the past and the present. You can’t say outright that this is the year 2000, but you can’t say it’s not 2000. Appearances and settings are obscure and vague enough to work.

In terms of the plot, the film serves up quite commonplace timetravel paradoxes. Things never really go according to plan in timetravel flicks and this is no different. The plan seems to go well, but

atasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, has been hanging out in the MCU since 2010, often memorable but rarely the star. Her first appearance was, after all, in Iron Man 2 : someone else’s movie. Somehow, despite being played

by Scarlett Johansson, even Ant-Man snuck ahead of her in line for his own, stand-alone feature — two of them, in fact. Not exactly a complaint; those Marvel movies are solid, frequently clever diversions, a welcome dash of low-stakes nonsense amid so much clashing world destruction.

But Johansson is better than that, even if the character of Black Widow, as written, has sometimes felt like a glorified side story, amplified by the power of the star playing her and by a few well-placed emotional bullet points: nods to the traumas undergone, as a child, in the supersecret program that made her who she is; some painful commiseration with the likes of the Hulk — stuff for fans to latch onto for a character that the franchise often seemed not to care quite as much about. She’s a trained Russian assassin schooled in hand-to-hand combat. She can’t shrink like Ant-Man or go goliath like the Hulk. She’s not a mega-rich super-genius like Tony Stark or a biologically altered freak show like Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, Captain America, and so many others. She’s a spy. With a haunted past.

Marvel’s Black Widow marks a much anticipated end to the 14 month long forced MCU hiatus. Directed by Cate Shortland, this film seeks to both fill in gaps in its titular character’s history and be a fitting end to Scarlett Johansson’s decade long run from the MCU. Coming almost five years too late, it accomplishes both, but not as well as I’d have hoped.

Set in between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow is at its best when exploring the dynamic between the lead characters.

The smaller stakes of the film work in its favor, leading to some brilliant interactions between it’s stars. The film has the bubbly, quippy energy that the MCU has become popular for, but juxtaposes that against the more functional, 70s spy-thriller tone of a lot of the scenes involving the Black Widow program.

The cast is the biggest strength of the film with MCU newcomers David Harbour and Florence Pugh being especially fascinating to me. David Harbour plays his Russian counterpart to Captain America superbly but it is Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova that steals the show. Pugh, who nails every single line reading in a project that’s clearly designed to hand the baton off from Johannson to her, proves more than up for the challenge, finding just the right shades of strength and vulnerability. It’s a top tier MCU performance by the film’s MVP. One of my main gripes with the film is it’s underwhelming villains. Taskmaster, the supermimic for whom my excitement to see on the big screen was palpable, was relegated to a side show.

Devoid of any agency or much characterization, I was a little sad to see one of the more fascinating comic villains relegated to doing the bidding of another rote, by the numbers Marvel One Movie Foe™.

This movie as a whole is solid, if unspectacular.

It has some of the bigger pitfalls of some of the more middling entries of the MCU. Good but slightly formulaic action, a plot that seeks to surprise but rarely ever does and a nagging knowledge that no matter what happens onscreen, you know Ms. Romanoff is never truly in danger, because we all know she survives past this movie. It really does feel so out of place and time. If this had come out 5 years earlier maybe it would have felt different, but I can’t just get out of my seat for this movie that, due to Marvel Studios strange handling of it, does feel like an afterthought.

6/10 .

the end result is far from what’s expected. There’s a true sense of jeopardy, as well as a sense of intrigue as to how things would be reset to normal.

One thing the film does well is the relationship between Denola Grey and Olumide Oworu. They complement each other; a wide-eyed rogue idealist, and a calmer respectful one averse to trouble.

One, a daredevil adventurer; the other, a peaceful bespectacled kid of obedience. It might seem like a Hollywood cliche, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Day of Destiny is quite forgettable, and ultimately, its endgame, lesson, and even resolution is very much classist. There are also some obvious plot holes, even though they can be excused as time travel shenanigans. But it still offers a sense of humour, uniqueness, and some good acting. It won’t set anything alight, but however makes for a fairly decent watch.

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VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021 VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

BEAUTY FASHION

BEARD

GROOMING 101:

PICK

YOUR

STYLE VJ Adams

Square Face Styles Shave or trim with sharp, precise lines near your cheekbones. Keep your beard short on the sides and fuller on your chin to take advantage of your square jawline.

BY CHISOM NJOKU

W

ell-groomed facial hair has always had some level of prestige attached to it and this is even more prevalent now because there are various products and services available for gentlemen looking to grow facial hair and achieve that distinguished look.

Having a beard is a symbol of masculinity unfortunately, not everyone is genetically blessed to grow one but if you are, then beard grooming is essential if you intend to look great and stand out.

Growing a beard is one thing but grooming and attention to detail are the essential factors that result in achieving the look you’ve always dreamt of.

Having a beard is like owning a sports car. Before you get one, you have to do research and make sure you’re getting the right brand with the right interiors and performance but in the case of a beard, you have to ensure that you’re picking a style that’s suited to you and makes you look your best.

In this issue, we will be looking at the different beard style options a proper gentleman can sport.

It is important to point out that the ultimate goal of your beard style is to add contrast and dimension to your face. Every beard type doesn’t suit every man because face shape differs from man to man.

The beard style should be selected based on facial features. Here’s how to choose the right style for your face.

Kanye West sporting a circle beard

Vine Olugu sporting a royale beard

Circle Beard

Royale Beard

A chin patch and a mustache that forms a circle.

A mustache anchored by a chin strip.

Common sporting a goatee

Diggy Simmons sporting a petite goatee

Goatee

Petite Goatee

A small beard that elongates the chin.

PAGE 12

Different from the full goatee, the petite goatee is a smaller version, with a light mustache, designed to elongate the chin.

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021 VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

BEAUTY FASHION

Round Face Styles Slim your face with an angled shave along your cheekbones. Keeping hair full on your chin will also help.

Oval Face Styles An oval face is considered to be an ideal and more versatile option as it’s not too angular.

It is also known as a wildcard format as it combines with various beard styles. You can choose short or long beard and can change the type anytime if you wish. That means with your oval face, you can modify the beard by simply changing the style.

Timini sporting a fresh balbo beard variant

Balbo Beard A beard without sideburns and a trimmed, floating mustache.

Idris Elba sporting a chevron mustache

Chevron A mustache that covers your entire top lip.

Van Dyke Beard

Van Dyke Beard A full goatee with detached mustache.

Michael B Jordan sporting a light stubble Lamman Rucker sporting the Anchor beard

Anchor Beard Jay Ellis sporting a short boxed beard

Short Boxed Beard A short boxed beard is similar to a full beard, but has thin, neatly trimmed sides.

A pointed beard that traces the jawline, paired with a mustache. It only consists of a goatee and a mustache. The rest of the section of the face and the cheeks which connect the mustache to the chin beard is completely shaved.

3-Day Stubble Beard A closely trimmed beard that simulates 3 days of stubble.

Rectangle Face Styles Keep your beard shorter on bottom and longer on the sides to show off your strong facial structure.

A rectangle is a longer face shape, so having your beard styled long, triangular or pointy at the chin will most likely look good on you.

Gunslinger beard and Mustache:

Flared sideburns paired with a horseshoe mustache. It was famously worn by X-men character Wolverine.

TG Omori sporting a horseshoe mustache

Horseshoe Mustache A mustache with long bars pointing downward.

Chin Strip:

A vertical line of hair across the chin.

Chin Strap Beard Style:

A beard with no mustache that circles the chin.

Mr T sporting mutton chops

Mutton Chops Beard Long sideburns that connect to a mustache.

LAX sporting a chin strap beard

Anthony Joshua sporting an original stache

Original Stache A trim mustache that sits just above the top lip.

PAGE 13

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN FASHION

Transcorp President & GCEO - Owen Omogiafo, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Chairman Transcorp Group - Tony Elumelu, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Speaker of the House - Femi Gbajabiamila, Transcorp MD & CEO - Dupe Olusola

THE GRAND LAUNCH OF

AURA IN ABUJA

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

L

eading African hospitality brand, Transcorp Hotels launched a digital platform that connects individuals to unique homes, great food, and memorable leisure experiences.

The event which took place in Abuja had the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman Transcorp Group, Tony O. Elumelu; Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige and a host of others in attendance. It was hosted by TV Personality Nancy Isime.

Taymesan Emmanuel

Idia Aisien

Tiwa Savage Ogwa Iweze

Eddie Madaki

PAGE 14

Nancy Isime

Onyiibekeh

Ozinna Anumudu

Timini Egbuson

Tive Ibru

Denola Grey

Chef Fregz

Neo Akpofure

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2021

websights DOWNTOWN

W’s & L’s

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Bukayo Saka: One Of Us

Kingdom Come: There’s A New Nigerian Idol After a five-year hiatus, Nigerian Idol returned with season 6 to a massive viewership.

The 16 weeks show which featured several pulsating vocal performances ended with Kingdom Kroseide as the winner having defeated Francis Atela at the grand finale which was held at the Africa Magic studios and aired live last week.

Performances by the judges and a beautiful rendition of One Hit

by Cohbams Asuquo, one of the guest judges alongside Kingdom, were highlights of the night. Also performing at the event were Patoranking, Ayra Starr, Ice Prince and Chike; with Patoranking singing Celebrate Me to pay tribute to Sound Sultan whose death was announced on the morning of the finale.

As the winner, Kingdom walked home with the grand prize,

which included a cash prize of 30 million Naira, a brand new SUV, a six-track EP recording deal with three music videos included, an all-expense-paid trip to Seychelles, and a weekend getaway to Dubai for two.

Other gifts include a wide range of Tecno products, Bigi branded refrigerator plus one year supply of Bigi drinks, and a DSTV Explora fully installed with a premium subscription for 12 months.

Here are some reactions to the finale

Mike Brown at the helm, Nigeria became the first African nation to beat the US, who were playing the first of five tune-up games before Tokyo. The US has won the last three Olympic men’s basketball titles.

It is a remarkable rise for the West African nation, struggling with a crippled domestic league following a protracted leadership crisis. Just nine years ago at the 2012 London Games, the USA beat Nigeria by 83 points (156-73). Four years later, Nigeria lost to Team USA again in an exhibition, that time by 44 points.

However, the country has turned to overseasborn players and a strong community of diaspora players based in the United States for both its men and women’s teams.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean much in the standings as far as where we’re trying to get to,” says Nigeria coach, Brown.

“But it’s a good win for us.

No African team has been able to beat USA Basketball in an exhibition game or

Mike Brown

a real game. We’re trying to get a little bit of momentum for Nigeria and the continent of Africa.”

The team’s performances have excited fans ahead of their 19 July departure for Japan but ‘D’Tigers’ look set to be leaving without their Olympic kits. These are currently stuck with Nigeria’s Customs Services.

Faced with thousands of dollars in customs duty, the cash-strapped Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) says it is applying for a waiver so they can pick up the kits donated by their China-based sponsors. To fix this problem, Nigerians on social media have organised a fundraiser.

Nigeria would go on to lose their third warm-up match vs Australia by 39 points (108-69) two days later.

Here are some reactions to the rollercoaster week the Nigerian basketball team had

Sandwiched between the D’Tigers victories was a devastating loss for the English football team at the European Championship final. The match which ended 1-1 after extra time was decided by a penalty shootout with British sensation, Bukayo Saka, missing the crucial penalty to hand the Italians the trophy.

Born to Nigerian parents, the Arsenal talisman who had otherwise been exceptional throughout the competition was a subject of racial abuse instantaneously.

Some Nigerians, however, were in a celebratory mood as they sarcastically thanked him for getting one over the colonial masters.

Here are some of the funny reactions

From GoFindTheNet To GoFundMe. Impressive Nigerian Basketball Team Is Self-Funded.

Despite victory in two Pre-Olympic matches in three days, Nigeria’s men’s basketball team could be missing its official kit for the Tokyo Olympics.

Last week, the 2015 African champions stunned the USA with a historic 90-87 victory in Las Vegas before then sealing a big 94-71 win over Argentina, the world’s fourth-ranked side, two days later.

With six NBA players and former NBA head coach

PAGE 15

VOL 1 NO.23 • JULY 18 – JULY 24,

LIVING

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

A

lot has been said about the new train operation from Lagos to Ibadan and vice versa; I decided to have a feel of it firsthand. The train meant so much to the President, he flew down to the train station in Yaba, Lagos, to commission it. This happened in the same week that we had the mastermind behind the project, Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as our cover personality.

We are used to being promised amenities and raising our hopes only to end up with disappointment in either abandoned projects or substandard execution. Would the Lagos - Ibadan Train Service (LITS) be any different?

Okay, That’s Impressive!

I rode from Ibadan to Lagos in a standard class, which translates to ‘as regular as they come,’ so, my expectations were really the bare minimums: comfortable enough to Netflix my entire journey down, good baggage handle to ensure the safety of my belongings, but most importantly “can the train not stop on the road please?” As a Nigerian living in Nigeria, you don’t expect a lot from public facilities.

To my shock, it turned out to be a surreal experience. I got to the train station as early as 6:30 am for a departure time of 8:00 am; the sort of forced punctuality you get imbibed with because village people don’t sleep, and neither should you. Cash payments are only allowed (I’m hoping just for now) but not to worry, a woman is stationed outside the station with a POS machine to help convert your money to cash. I bought my ticket, registered it, then went into the waiting area to sit in anticipation of the departure time. Just like with aeroplanes, the numbering system ensures that the whole boarding process

PAGE 16

THE TRAIN EXPRESS! The Newly Commissioned Lagos Ibadan Train Is LIT is as orderly as possible.

The standard class as expected has the most coaches at 3, with each coach having monitor screens showing soundless movies, a toilet and hand washbasins. Although there were no casualties on board, it was reassuring to see beefed up security put in place, keen medics and parading rail hostesses.

Also, accompanying each seat row is an electric socket that ensures passengers stay plugged in for the duration of their journey.

Most of the facilities are in mint condition which was expected as it just began operations less than a month ago.

That Could Be better!

Quite conflicting how the Government is trying to propagate a cashless environment but wouldn’t have POS terminals at their facilities.

Scheduled departure times could use a lot more broadening too.

Presently, one can only travel within two time frames: 8 am or 4 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am or 6 pm on weekends.

So what happens when you suddenly get hungry in transit? I mean if we are going to have eager hostesses, we might as well be served some concessions… even if they come at an extra cost. I need food, please.

Also, to keep myself company, I had Netflix (surprise, surprise).

Alternatively, if I didn’t have a smartphone and I wanted to watch a movie on the way, I just had to take a professional lip reader along with me to transcribe in real-time whatever was going on in the movie showing on the soundless monitors. That should be fun.

Lastly, you wouldn’t be wrong to expect to find WiFi on the train.

If there are sockets, maybe providing a steady internet to-go shouldn’t be rocket science. It is 2021; they go hand-in-hand.

Fancy Taking The Train Soon?

If you are going from Lagos to Ibadan, you’re getting the train

at the Mobolaji Johnson Station, Alagomeji, Yaba. On the other hand, if you are travelling from Ibadan down to Lagos, you will get the train at the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Station at Moniya, very close to Iwo Road.

A trip takes approximately two and half hours; however, it could be delayed by a few minutes because of the 5 minutes stopover at the Prof. Wole Soyinka Station in Laderin, Abeokuta. This means travellers going to Abeokuta will alight and those going to Ibadan/Lagos will also join the train.

For now, there are just two trips to and from Lagos. On weekdays, the departure times are 8:00 am and 4:00 pm; whilst the estimated arrival times are 10:40 am and 6:40 pm respectively. On weekends, the trains take off at exactly 8:30 in the mornings and 6:00 in the evenings, with the arrival times estimated at 11:10 am and 8:40 pm.

The train has only one coach for the First Class. There are two coaches available for the Business Class and three coaches dedicated to the Standard Class. Here is how much they cost...

• Standard Class ticket – N2,500 • Business Class ticket – N5,000 • First Class ticket – N6,000

For passengers going from Lagos to Abeokuta or vice versa, Standard Class costs N2,000, Business Class N3,500 and First Class N4,500.

Conversely, those going from Abeokuta to Ibadan or vice versa will have to pay N600 for Standard Class, N1,500 for Business Class and N2,500 for First Class.

Children above 14 years old are to pay the full adult price, while those below 14 years are to pay half of the adult price.

As mentioned earlier, the new service is operating on a limited schedule with just two trains a day but will expand to 16 daily departures once construction on stations is complete (when will that be?)

Finally, remember it is important to arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure time. This is to allow you to have time to purchase tickets and register. Wearing a face mask, and having an identification card – passport, national ID, work ID, or voters’ card – is compulsory to buy a ticket at the counter.

Here’s wishing you a safe trip.