THEWILL DOWNTOWN JAN 16, 2022 EDITION

A new dawn... and it’s looking good

Cover illustration by Victor Asowata

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

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EDITOR’S NOTE Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Desire Onyema @desire_makeover

COVER 2022: A NEW DAWN... AND IT’S LOOKING GOOD

Seeing as it’s back-to-work for most people, ladies, we have an enlightening piece to help you pack the right makeup essentials for workdays on pages 12 and 13.

Downtown Confidential continues with tales on page 7, and this time, it’s about Voyeurism. We feature the perfect bags for a working girl on pages 4 to 5, pay tribute to Sidney Poitier on page 11, and our Best of 2021 continues this week with television and media. Don’t miss the review page; this week spotlights Encanto and The Witcher. I can’t wait to watch both.

TO GO TO SCHOOL OR HELL

14-15

Image effect by Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’

Speaking of which, for our cover story this week, the DOWNTOWN team had a tête-à-tête with a few noteworthy businessmen and women about their hopes for their different industries and businesses this year, and I must say it’s looking really good. Read what Oke Maduewesi of Zaron Cosmetics, Lisa Folawiyo of Jewel by Lisa, Tomiwa Aladekomo of Cabal Media, and others have to say about a bright 2022 on pages 8-10.

WEBSIGHTS DOWNTOWN

FASHION BAG IT UP! THE WORKING GAL’S GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT BAG

W

On a lighter note, Funmilayo Adebayo, who we have over the past few weeks, come to know as Mummy G.O was recently on BBC Pidgin where she refuted most of the memes and videos making rounds on social media. According to her, people were simply having fun. I must say I had a lot of fun reading some of those memes; she might just give Osita Iheme a run for his money. Catch the tales so far, on Mummy G.O, our (according to DOWNTOWN writer, Kehinde Fagbule), ‘Rapture Correspondent’ on page 16.

At least she brought some spark to the New Year.

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04-05

hen I read about the Twitter suspension lift after approximately seven months, I couldn’t help but laugh at our government.

I mean, people have been tweeting since day one of the so-called suspension, so really...

In their opinion, they have made a move to keep us in their good books, considering elections are just around the corner. Here’s what I have to say: Lift suspension or not, you already engraved impressions on our hearts, so, no, this doesn’t change anything. And for the record, people will continue to tweet, with or without the ‘lift’.

CONTENTS

SPECIAL FEATURE DOWNTOWN’S BEST OF 2021 PT.2 TELEVISION & MEDIA

06 REVIEW ENCANTO

07

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

11

TRIBUTE TO SIR, WITH LOVE: SIDNEY POITIER

Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity

- Contributing Editor Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.

Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm - Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Senior Lifestyle Editor: Ayodele Johnson Writers: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Graphics/Layout: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

12-13 BEAUTY

ALL YOU NEED IN YOUR “BACK-TO-WORK” MAKEUP PURSE

WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM @jonnyblakegram @kizzdaniel Vado the great

David Nwachukwu @ebube.nw - Contributing Writer David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television.

His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design.As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.

Efua Oyofo @efuastar

- Contributing Writer Efua has always enjoyed telling stories.

A writer and cultural storyteller, Efua Oyofo helps clients tell their most compelling story. She focuses on social impact storytelling, and hosts a podcast: This African Love, exploring the culture of dating - and helping people develop more effective ways to navigate relationships in today’s world.

@bebewhyne

The Greatest @tiwakizz222

Vado d great

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION

BAG IT UP! The Working Gal’s Guide To Choosing The Right Bag

BY SOPHIA E D I S I

Y

our style is not complete without the good old fashion accessory... “Bags”. A bag is a must-have fashion staple that serves both aesthetic and practical uses. It is pretty much one of the easiest ways to make a fashion statement. However, finding the perfect handbag for you is not easy. In choosing the right one, questions like: ‘How many pockets do I need? Do I prefer to carry it on my shoulder or my elbow? How big does it need to be?’ should come to mind. Now that we have established that, let us look at some of the best must-have bags for every working fashionista.

LAPTOP BAG If you are a lady who works remotely, then you should purchase one of these if you do not already own one. As the name suggests, it has compartments to carry a laptop and its accessories. Pull up a boss lady vibe with this accessory.

Fade Ogunro

Geometric-print Laptop Bag ANYA HINDMARCH

HANDBAG Varenne Top Handle Handbag JIMMY CHOO

Birkin Handbag HERMES

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Considered to be iconic, handbags are the quintessential medium-sized ladies’ bag that every girl must own. If you have been thinking of investing in a bag and do not own one of these, go for it. For the working woman on the go, this bag can carry most of your essentials and still leave room for you to maintain your style quotient.

K/Ikonik Laptop Bag KARL LAGERFELD Sylvian Nduka

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION SHOULDER BAG The shoulder bag or as I would like to call it “the everyday bag,” is the most functional bag of them all. This is a bag that you hang on your shoulder all day long. Usually average sized, this bag can fit in all your bare necessities and pretty much goes with whatever outfit you wear.

Shirley Leather Grab Bag In Raspberry STAUD Black Quilted Grab Bag CHRISTIAN DIOR

GRAB BAG These bags are simply elegant, portable, and scream pure sophistication. They originally started as a practical way for women to carry more items but nowadays, the trendy grab bag designs have evolved and can now be worn for every and all occasion. Whether for work, evening, or day events, bags like these add spice to your wardrobe and compliment your overall look.

Did I say ultra-luxe vibes? The only downside to a grab bag is not being able to decide what’s important to carry and what to leave out. Whichever way you rock it, this bag just screams perfection!

Gancini Shoulder Bag SALVATORE FERRAGAMO

Juliette Foxx Grab Bag URBAN REVIVO

TOTE BAG

MISS DEMS

This is a rectangular-shaped bag made of stronger materials like canvas or leather. It’s a favourite among influencers and it is ‘the-shoppingmust-have’ for most girls. The tote bag is also a multipurpose bag; if you are going for a short weekend getaway, it can also be used to put all your essentials instead of going with a travelling bag.

CROSSBODY BAG

Biker Bag in Nappa Leather MOSCHINO MILANO

Large Devotion Knitted Shoulder Bag DOLCE & GABBANA

For you ladies that like your hands free maybe while running quick errands or generally busy with your hands most of the time, this comfortable bag is just what you need. There are a lot of designs when it comes to crossbody bags, so you need to know what works best in your closet and with your style. The right crossbody bag will be the perfect finishing touch to your outfit and your everyday essentials.

Depending on the purse, the strap can be adjustable and worn around your body; making it a convenient choice from casual to functional.

Naomi Noinyane

Leopard Print Tote Bag MARC JACOBS

Fierce Collection SANDRA J

La Greca-print Tote Bag VERSACE

CHIC BACKPACK This is for everyday activities and beyond. Backpacks are not just for kids or gym-goers, these stylish bags which are also designed for adults can hold just about anything and you would look great doing so. They are a playful alternative to the standard totes. Ranging from sleek refined leather with edgy metallic detailing to simple cloth, they work for almost any style preference and personality.

Mini Tiffany Quilted Backpack TYLER ELLIS

Megan Backpack REBECCA MINKOFF

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Movie Review:

ENCANTO

D

isney and magic go hand in hand.

And so it comes as no surprise that Disney’s Encanto is full of enough magic to power three more Frozen sequels, but it surprisingly isn’t the main focus here. In Encanto, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, we’re introduced to the Madrigal family. A family with magical powers like controlling the weather or shape-shifting, led by the matriarch Abuela Alma, voiced by María Cecilia Botero. Then there’s Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz.

Mirabel doesn’t have any powers, simply never being granted them when she came of age like her siblings and cousins. But she doesn’t let this stop her from trying to contribute to the family, their sentient house, or their idyllic village in Colombia. However, things take a turn for the worst when a vision from her prophetic uncle, Bruno (John Leguizamo) reveals that she might have something to do with the family losing their magic.

What follows is a magical, musical journey full of beautifully visceral animation, heartwarming humor, and an incredible soundtrack written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. So you know, your standard modern Disney stuff. I could sit here and rave about the look of Encanto all day (this was a gorgeous movie), but what really strikes the eye and gets those tear ducts moving is the film’s heavy emphasis on family and how important

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it is to check in on one another every once in a while.

The first song in Encanto, The Family Madrigal, serves as a catchy round-up of every member of the magical Madrigals.

But it also gives the audience a lot to think about by the end of the film. As Mirabel embarks on a journey to save the magic, she begins to see the cracks form in her family’s perfect lifestyle. Both literally and figuratively.

While the film doesn’t have a central villain, there is an antagonistic force that is responsible for the Madrigal’s trouble in paradise. The Madrigals themselves. Family isn’t perfect, but anyone who grew up in a big family knows the stressful expectations set to make it seem that way.

These expectations are what keep a certain distance between Mirabel and her Abuela.

The beacon of the village, Abuela lives to ensure that everything is perfect in their Encanto, as well as in the family. The magic saved her life and the life of her children, so she values it highly. With Mirabel powerless, she seems to have no way of earning her Abuela’s admiration like the rest of her siblings and cousins.

But it’s these same expectations that ultimately lead to the near destruction of the family, as we learn that not everyone is able to withstand the role they were born to play. Mirabel’s sister Isabela, voiced

by Diane Guerrero, can create beautiful flowers out of thin air. She’s expected to be beautiful and perfect in every way and to marry someone who will strengthen their family’s influence. But this conflicts with her true ambitions and self-interests constantly being buried below the surface.

Encanto turns the magic on its head, teaching the Madrigals and the audience a valuable lesson in familial communication.

Abuela isn’t a villain, she has no sinister motives whatsoever. But in her mission to achieve what’s best for the family, she’s forgotten to account for what’s worth fighting for. She doesn’t truly connect with her children or grandchildren, even leading to her only son, the aforementioned Bruno, mysteriously disappearing due to his disastrous prophecies threatening the family’s perfect lifestyle.

The lesson Disney wants Encanto to leave us with is deceptively simple. No family, even one with magical powers, is perfect, but that’s okay. What’s important is that family comes through for one another, especially when it’s time to pick up the pieces and build anew. Mirabel may not have powers, but what makes her special is that no one else is like her. She’s the Madrigal with the uncanny ability to see the pain affecting the family and heal it with her own humanity.

There’s always at least one essential heart to every family, and that’s the true magic.

7/10

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)

Playlist for the week

Magixx - Love Don’t Cost A Dime

Reekado Banks - Ozumba

Fave - Baby Riddim

Tiwa Savage_ Work Fada (Ft Nas, Rich King)

Liya - Alari

Mayorkun_ Victony - Holy

Dave - We’re All Alone

Jessie Ware - Remember Where You Are

GuiltyBeatz_ Nonso Amadi Uthando

Netflix Watch of the Week

The Witcher Season 2 storytelling structure and vibe get a twist toward the conventional as its hulking, yellow-eyed central warrior becomes more protective father than beast hunter.

Season two finds Geralt and teenage Ciri traveling the land with his faithful steed Roach, running into old friends and finding sanctuary in the Witchers’ mountainous keep. After losing her entire family and kingdom in Cintra, Ciri seeks to find her way and understand her abilities.

But Ciri’s also pursued by several forces, so Geralt juggles keeping her safe Henry Cavill continues his quest to while also dealing with warm dragon-loving folks’ hearts as an uptick in new deadly stoic monster hunter Geralt of Rivia monsters. in the second eight-episode season The shift to everyone of Netflix’s enjoyably bingeable The being in the same time Witcher series.

The show found a following as a witty and space eliminates a and gory B-movie sword-and-sorcery lot of exposition, as we know the main “Witcher” adventure based on the Andrzej personalities now, and Sapkowski novels – more Xena: Warrior Princess than Game of Thrones, the series builds out its mythology as more of with one heck of an infectious bard a usual fantasy show: tune (Toss a Coin to Your Witcher).

Everything’s played a lot In this Witcher go-round, the

Theophilus London_ Raekwon Whoop Tang Flow straighter, and it’s missing the hot-blooded camp quality the series initially embraced. The show at its core is still pretty enjoyable for a dark fantasy, and characters like the flame-conjuring rogue mage Rience, help in that regard.

Of course, Geralt is a magnet for various odd creatures, and Cavill is top-notch when slicing and dicing various things and people. It’s the quieter moments, however, like when Geralt’s having a heart-to-heart dad chat with Ciri, that the actor gets to showcase the beating heart of a guy who’s not supposed to have a human side.

With an onslaught of fantasy fare vying to be the next Thrones, from The Wheel of Time to the anticipated Lord of the Rings series, toss a coin to Cavill for keeping it real.

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

“I Spy With My Little Eye” I

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

f you were asked what a movie titled The Voyeurs was about, your response might be a movie that involves travelling or going on a journey right? Well, clench onto that thought, I’ll address it shortly. I was finally able to leave my apartment— yes, you read correctly and yes, it’s a brag now— after having what could have been symptoms of Omicron or this nasty bug that has been going around. I got to spend the holidays at my sister’s during Christmas. We played musical charades, stuffed our bellies on deliciously-made homemade meals, and watched a bunch of movies. On one of our movie nights, a movie titled The Voyeurs caught my attention—specifically, the Euphoria cast member, Sydney Sweeney.

As the movie nudged on, I discovered that my synopsis of the movie containing some form of odyssey was wrong and it was actually about a sexual fetish I had never known existed but had partaken in. The term Voyeurism is the act of getting sexual gratification from watching or listening to naked or undressed people doing sexual activity. It is a sexual fetish that is acceptable when the participants consent to it, but it can be criminal if done without consent.

Now that you know what it is, I’ll let you lounge in the thought of what category I fell under when I unknowingly partook in this fetish.

Voyeurism can be considered inappropriate when the voyeur observes unsuspecting individuals without consent in a private setting.

An example would be watching someone in a public dressing room or locker room, or a person’s home. Observing or capturing photographs or videos of another person’s sexual behaviour may constitute non-consensual voyeurism.

The raunchy movie tells the story of a young couple who become tenants of an apartment with quite an astonishing view. The loft dwellers get front row tickets into their neighbours’ apartments and eventually, their lives. However, this unsolicited preview takes an odd turn when they take a keen interest in the glamorous across the street. I’ll put a pin in it here because this isn’t the review page but I strongly recommend—if you can sit through the risque scenes.

After two hours of the erotic thriller, I immediately flipped through the pages of my mind to pinpoint a part where I was a voyeur or constituted in voyeurism. And although some might require handcuffs slapped on my

wrists—you’d meet a lot of characters in college— I was able to find one that was entirely consensual.

At a time in university, I was in-between apartments so it required me shuffling between friends places. During that phase, I had a stunning neighbour who at the time, was stuck in limbo with her boyfriend. The one-storey lodge was built like a hotel. Two corridors opposite each other were separated by an outdoor railing and a wide gap that would fracture bones and possibly kill anyone who fell victim.

Her apartment was on the ground floor but opposite the one I was squatting in.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to stay there long at first but her curvaceous body made the decision easier.

Prior to that moment, I had never come to a consensus that quickly in my life.

She had this sultry glare that was compelling. You take one look and her eyes reeled you in. The way she gently slurred her sentences paired with her baby-like voice gave this evident sex appeal and thereupon we got close.

Mind you, the feeling was mutual from her as well, she enjoyed my company

and I enjoyed hearing her giggle. At times, she’d text me to come downstairs to keep her company and she’d casually undress while we talked through her window.

One sunny afternoon, I had gone to hers and what began with her taking off her clothes in front of me and slipping into something more comfortable, ended with a private twerk session. Her fluffy throw pillow spent the entire time over my erect phallus. The way she threw glances my way and surrendered her waist to the beats blasting from the speaker made her derrière move cheerily.

Being there and watching her unclad filled me with a flurry of emotions and venereal excitement that made what we had albeit with a shelf life, exotic and unusual.

These short private sexual showcases continued for a while ranging from sensual dances to open door showers and stripteases.

A lot of which I got sexual gratification from and ultimately ended up in us having all and different types of sex. From slow and passionate to explosive quickies.

It is very obvious to see how this, in many ways, is a felony if not consensual because of how unadulterated and passionate it can be. There should be a level of agreement and understanding between partners if not it’s just creepy and perversely inappropriate. If you do choose to explore this fixation ensure there’s mutual communication and most importantly consent. And for those that are a lot more practical and are excited at the possibility of profound sexual awakening, this fetish might provide, do feel more than welcome to share your experiences with us.

Stay protected and lubed up in all your sexual exploitation and if it isn’t too late, Happy Belated New Year to you.

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER

A NEW DAWN...

AND IT’S LOOKING GOOD

A

couple of years ago, the pandemic hit. With absolutely no preparation on how to stop the virus that ravaged and ultimately brought the entire world to a halt, we were all forced into a lockdown. It was a tough year for everyone.

Last year was when we began to open back up, and even though we had to navigate around variants and mutations, we made it work as best as we could. This was our new normal and we can only look forward.

Despite the gloomy clouds formed concerning the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide insecurity, and the overall hardship that plagues the country still, there are several glimmers of hope littered across several sectors of our beloved country.

The year 2022 has a lot in store. For Nigerians, optimism is plentiful; the realisation that at whatever level we are on right now as a people, the potentials are very promising and we can only get better. Whether in the beauty industry where made-in-Nigeria brands are looking to attain global recognition and patronage or in movies where cinemas are aiming to recover from the low box office turnouts of the past two years. Unlike the movie industry, music has produced record-high numbers thanks to streaming platforms. The year promises to double up that number due to the consistent integration of Tiktok in our daily social media adventures. In tech, the year is looking like the perfect one for digital art creators who can now auction off their works online in the form of NFTs - a testament to how much times have changed. For journalism, freedom of the press looks like an agenda that could experience recognisable growth.

To get a sense of what businesses envisage for 2022, the DOWNTOWN team spoke to prominent people from different sectors about their hopes for their different industries .

BEAUTY An enabling past decade of inventing and complementing the opulent bridal fashion scene has positioned Nigeria’s beauty and personal care industry for the transition it is about to launch into by the hopeful year. In this year 2022, inspired creative directors and cosmetics brands are imagining the expansion of the range to reach beyond the African continent. Now that the hurdle of perfecting their care products to check the box of resourcefulness is out of the way, local brands are looking to compete on a global scale. It is about fine-tuning their offerings to have a focus that echoes with diverse audiences they are involved with, especially black women. Like Zaron Cosmetics is doing. The way founder and Chief Executive Officer Oke Maduewesi pictures it, although the trouble of exchange rate inflation lingers on, her company’s ever-innovative personality and resilience will soon see the launching of a new line of products by the first quarter. It is in order with the drive to experience fascinating worlds.

“Every year, I just want to be positive. First of all, is seeing the light in the darkness.

Much more than ever before, I think we are seeing the end of COVID. Working from that perspective, we know what we have to do with our lives. The most important part is how do you prepare for the unexpected? Are there comfortable strategies? People no matter their

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Oke Maduewesi

experiences always have to remember the opportunities that Nigeria holds regardless of the problems we have.

I always say that I will always want to be the biggest, boldest, and fastestgrowing beauty brand in Africa – that has always been my slogan. Nigeria is the place to be because we are the market that keeps growing in terms of population. Our population is cash right there because you have to feed, cloth, and beautify them – the traffic is unbelievable. We are keeping with our strategic session in January, and just see how we can own our market as Africans.

We have to own our market and believe that we can deliver much more than foreigners. Being able to scale to other foreign markets and have new markets that we are looking to launch by the grace of God in the half quarter of 2022.

We are looking forward to that – how we can instigate foreign exchange to capture the foreign market. It is about seeing opportunities in other markets and also producing the right products for our economy and people. Our target is women of colour. At the forefront of everything we do, the woman of colour is key and important. We plan to increase our product range and just keep delivering. But most importantly, improving the product offering that we have for women of colour.”

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

TECH AND MEDIA Whenever we talk about technology, we often emphasize the fintech apps that have simplified our everyday financial transactions, we don’t tell a lot of our tech stories as we ought to.

“No one has taken the time to document. It takes time and everyone is building. Also, journalism is really expensive. People who normally should do it can’t, the people who are doing it are too busy making history.

They can’t go recording the history they are making, they will look like douches,” former DOWNTOWN cover personality and serial tech entrepreneur, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji said when asked why Nigeria’s technology history isn’t properly documented. The intersection of tech and media was non-existent at some point.

Technology in Nigeria has seen steady long-overdue growth. In between creating solutions to make living as seamless as possible and convincing Nigerians to embrace it, keeping people updated on the latest happenings within the tech stratosphere is just as important. But the inventors aren’t going to do that part of the job and that is where tech and media intersect.

One publication house stands right in the middle of the tech and media intersection– Big Cabal Media, parent company to popular technology resource platform Tech Cabal, and youth-centric progressive digital magazine, Zikoko. DOWNTOWN spoke to Big Cabal Media’s CEO, Tomiwa Aladekomo to get a perspective on tech prospects in 2022.

When asked what the sector hopes for, in terms of business and growth, this year, he said, “2021 revealed Africa’s tech and media industry opportunities to a number of international investors and players, resulting in an investment boom that’s setting the scene for a very active 2022.

Beyond the big fintech deals, there is a lot of capital going into other technology subsectors and operators attempting to solve new problems and build products for greatly underserved markets.

Tomiwa Aladekomo

So we expect to see a wealth of new experiments and really interesting startups working on varied problems. As the number of people who have worked in well-funded and aggressively run startups grow, we also expect to see the impact of more experienced founders start to show.

For a media business sitting at the heart of Africa’s tech ecosystem and Nigeria’s youth culture, it’s the most exciting time possible. We’re growing robustly, doubling down on our investments in technology, original video content, and building out our brands across platforms and formats.”

Lisa Folawiyo

FASHION The fashion industry thrives during busy periods. When the pandemic hit in 2020, events were either postponed or cancelled as we were all forced to reckon with what has now become the new normal–lockdowns, social distancing, and safety precautions.

Last year, however, saw a promising upward trend of fashion shows as the country began to open back up. From the Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria to the Arise Fashion Week in Dubai, UAE, it was as though the fashion industry had been starving for years—every fashion house understood the assignment to the letter.

With still a lot of work to be done on the economic front, the fashion industry possesses an enormous creative potential and there’s no telling just how big it could be if we get things right. To discuss what the new year has in store in the fashion scene, DOWNTOWN spoke to globally acclaimed designer, Lisa Folawiyo, founder and Creative Director of Jewel By Lisa, The J Label, and Pretty Precious.

When asked what her expectations for 2022 are, she replied, “After the last couple of years of economic uncertainty felt very acutely by the fashion industry, my hope for 2022 is that not only designers, but the entire chain of production, will benefit from more governmental intervention, participation, and support in the form of grants, trade concessions, tax exemptions, infrastructural development, etc, that will encourage a most enabling environment to work within and hopefully see

NFTs

COVER

Almost everyone in 2021 couldn’t help but talk about Bitcoin this, and cryptocurrency that. This coin investment made everyone who didn’t hop on the trend seem like they didn’t know what to do with money. There was a general “fear of missing out” —which is actually a crypto term— among people who didn’t have the stomach to put their hard-earned naira into a blockchain.

It’s the year 2022 and we’re sorry to be the bearers of bad news but this conversation is only going to get louder. Cryptocurrency has been around for more than seven years now and although Nigeria and her coww mpatriots just turned on its channel—give or take— two years ago, it will most likely stay on it. So we advise you to surrender to it, learn about it and make or lose money. It’s up to you.

Cryptocurrencies are digital money that’s decentralized and based on blockchain technology, many of which are familiar to you, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, there are more than 5,000 different types of cryptocurrencies available. Essentially, a blockchain is an open, disseminated ledger that records transactions in code. Think of it as a chequebook that’s distributed across millions of computers around the world. There’s no bank, no head office to complain, just your crypto wallet, where all your coins are stored.

We saw one of the apps we cannot live without and have grown to love to undergo a rebranding in the third quarter of last year. Facebook, where we all liked, poked, and shared mutuals, became Meta. There was some confusion surrounding the overhaul, and everyone had the same question in their minds: “What is Meta?”

The vision of the change was to shift from sliding into DMs via texts to sliding into DMs virtually via the Metaverse.

The metaverse is described by Wikipedia as a persistent, online, three-dimensional virtual world accessible by conventional computers

Iyobosa Rehoboth “Prodigeezy”

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER and virtual and augmented reality headsets.

You can party, shop in digital stores, buy digital real estate, attend digital auctions, etc., just to name a few. Imagine The Sims but with excessive amounts of money injected into it.

Cue non-fungible tokens or NFTs. They are digital assets kept in a public ledger on a blockchain, a network of computers that keeps track of transactions. Anyone can view the ledger to check the NFT’s authenticity and ownership.

As a result, unlike most digital items which can easily be copied endlessly, every NFT has a unique digital signature, which means it is unique. Cryptocurrencies or dollars are usually used to buy NFT, which is stored on the blockchain and can be viewed by anyone, but only the buyer has the status of being the official owner.

In the metaverse, NFTs are the currencies of choice and the potential for its growth has been seen by different fashion houses.

Various parts of the Decentraland (a 3D virtual reality platform containing 90,601 parcels of land) have already been acquired by luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry, which have already entered the metaverse via NFTs. Numerous celebrities, both domestically and abroad, have already taken part in the metaverse.

DOWNTOWN cover star and actor Chinedu Ikedieze took advantage of the trend by creating a non-fungible token based on his film character, Aki. Iyobosa Rehoboth “Prodigeezy” is an NFT digital artist and he had this to say when asked about what to expect in terms of the progression of the NFTs this year.

“The metaverse is still in its infancy and I predict that adoption of the technology will pick up a few notches in 2022. Meta has also announced haptic gloves and there have been rumours of Apple releasing a VR headset. This would mean that, if the designs work out like what we’ve seen, we’ve solved the long-term problem of developing a consumer- and designer-friendly XR product that enables more presence in the virtual world — the presence here refers to the senses of sight, sound, and touch. This is an innovation I

MUSIC The music industry has gained a reputation as Nigeria’s biggest export over the years. This is as a result of technology evolution in the form of streaming - it is very seamless now for art to travel across borders and our music, over every other art form, has enjoyed that in abundance.

The Nigerian music scene keeps getting better exponentially, there are limitless possibilities for how big it

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Joey Akan can still get. There is so much to look forward to this year, kicking off with the now-postponed 64th annual Grammy awards. A record five Nigerian artists will compete against each other in two separate categories: ‘best global music performance’ and ‘best global music album.’

From Wizkid’s globally acclaimed Made In Lagos album, Femi and Imade Kuti’s contemporary Legacy+ project, to Burna Boy’s formidable relationship with the legendary Angelique Kidjo, Nigerians are now becoming a regular at the most prestigious music award in the universe.

However, not a lot of people understand the music business in all of its glamour, evolution, and most importantly, data.

To get a sense of what the future holds for afrobeats in terms of data, DOWNTOWN spoke with award-winning music journalist, podcaster, and African music commentator, Joey Akan, who has worked closely with some of the stakeholders as he dutifully reports in his newsletter, Afrobeats Intelligence.

In a year where we’ve seen songs blow up from Tiktok and go-ahead to take the world by storm, steadily reinforcing just how much difference the numbers aspect of this business makes, we asked Joey the impact the app is going to have on song promotions this year. He replied, “Tiktok has always been big, especially in the United States. Last year, however, Nigerians hopped on it and we all saw how influential it was in terms of its ability to make songs go viral.”

He continued, “this year, expect it to become even bigger.

Labels know better now to invest heavily in it. And it can only get bigger from there. Tiktok might end up being the biggest marketing platform this year.”

concept in this part of the world and in pulling it off Kemi Adetiba, the cast and the crew achieved something special. The film was the talk of the town for numerous weeks and drew many new subscribers to Netflix. In DOWNTOWN’s interview with actor Titi Kuti earlier this year, he had this to say about Netflix and its impact on Nollywood: “I think it’s a very welcome development. Netflix has become a platform with a global audience.

For you to become an international act, you need various platforms that provide different alternatives. The fact that Netflix is here does not stop cinemas from making their money.

Platforms like Netflix have quickly identified the traction they have gained in Nigeria and are seeking to leverage that. Nigerian actors are now getting put front and centre. I saw Sola Sobowale in the same graphic as Idris Elba. That is how you globalise the industry, with alternative platforms.”

Regrettably, we also lost a number of actors this year. Veteran Nollywood Yoruba comic actor, Baba Suwe whose real name is Babatunde Omidina, died on 22nd November 2021. Nollywood legend, Rachel Oniga passed away in July 2021 at the age of 64. Victor Olaotan died in August 2021. The talented Nollywood actor was known for his lead character in the popular television series, Tinsel. Karibi Fubara passed away in late 2021. Fubara rose to prominence after starring in Bodunrin Sasore’s 2015 romantic drama series, Before 30.

May God rest their souls.

Looking forward to 2022, there should be more of a recovery from the COVID-induced box office horrors of 2020 and 2021.

MOVIE The COVID-19 Pandemic took a lot out of Nigerians and amongst the most hit industries was Nollywood.

The vibrant, highly productive industry ground to an absolute halt as no one could meet to film or view any movies in the cinemas. In 2021, efforts were made to recoup some of the losses, all to varying results. Earlier in the year, films like Prophetess and Eyimofe were amongst some of the more popular films. Towards the end of the year, releases like Aki and PawPaw and Christmas in Miami were amongst the headlining acts of the theatrical holiday season.

2021 was also the year Netflix really made its most sizeable move into Nollywood. Almost every week new releases were pushed onto the site and onto the screens of millions of Nigerians. Of these, King of Boys II: The Return of The King was the most significant. A serialised sequel to a theatrical release is a rather uncommon

Titi Kuti

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

TRIBUTE

TO SIR, WITH LOVE: Celebrating the life and career of Sidney Poitier

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Sidney Poitier With His Oscar

I

n 1964, something unprecedented happened — an African-American man won an Academy Award for the first time. His name was Sidney Poitier. As he walked up to receive his Oscar for his role in the movie, Lilies of the Field, the presenter, Anne Bancroft (a Caucasian woman) gave him a congratulatory kiss on the cheek. At a time when America was still very heavy and unapologetic on segregation and racial discrimination, this gesture of interracial contact was simply unforgivable for some white Americans. But that was what Sidney Poitier’s life and career were all about—his groundbreaking acting pioneered Black presence in mainstream Hollywood cinema, as he paved the way for generations of Black film stars and helped combat social prejudice.

Born in Miami to Bahamian parents, Sidney Poitier grew up in the Bahamas before returning to the US aged 15 and working at a series of low-paid jobs before briefly serving in the army during the second world war (and attempting to feign insanity to win a medical discharge).

Without an exact sense of direction, Poitier auditioned for the high-profile American Negro Theatre based in Harlem. Although he was rejected, he worked hard to improve his acting skills and lose his Bahamian accent. After being allowed to attend classes, Poitier stepped in when Belafonte, then a star student, was unable to perform. Having been spotted by a Broadway director, Poitier subsequently carved out a nascent career in the Black theatre circuit of the period.

He then secured his first significant film role, in the 1950 film noir No Way Out, in which he

played a hospital doctor whose racist patient starts a race riot. With its overt depiction of racial conflict, No Way Out was considered too controversial to be shown in southern states, but established Poitier’s trademark persona as a sensitive, forbearing figure, more intelligent than the white characters around him.

Though films examining the fraught state of race relations were popular at the time, there were still limited roles for Black actors in the United States. As one of the few who had made an impact, Poitier then went to South Africa to shoot the British-produced adaptation of Cry, the Beloved Country; his experience of apartheid there pushed him towards activism.

Before Poitier, Black actors had had to be content with merely supporting roles – entertainers and servants – that were easy to edit out for versions shown in parts of the country that didn’t want to see Black faces on screen.

But Poitier was the first Black-leading man, a matinee idol, and usually the reason a film had been made in the first place. He played intelligent, quietly-spoken professional men – doctors, teachers, and detectives – and after Poitier, Hollywood was never the same again.

The pioneering star, who died aged 94, spent his career as a standard-bearer for racial integration– a burden he admitted weighed heavily on him.

“I felt very much as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made,” wrote the man who confessed he preferred tennis to acting. He found the pressure of being the only black actor in many of his films and

‘carrying everybody’s dream’ to be ‘excruciating.’

Although his characters were often outraged by the racism they faced, Poitier – who rarely lost his temper on set – invested them with the stoicism and quiet dignity he himself exhibited.

It was a decision that infuriated other black people as the civil rights movement gathered pace. They accused him of taking on bland, saintly roles that wouldn’t offend white audiences and labelled him an ‘Uncle Tom.’ It was a deeply unfair slur on an actor who overcame astonishing odds to become Hollywood’s first bona fide black star and a trailblazer for generations of others.

Upon his death, political and entertainment industry notables paid tribute to Poitier’s achievements.

Barack Obama posted a photo of himself with Poitier, writing: “Through his ground-breaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together.

He also opened doors for a generation of actors.”

Oprah Winfrey wrote: “The utmost, highest regard and praise for his most magnificent, gracious, eloquent life. I treasure him. I adored him. He had an enormous soul I will forever cherish.”

Denzel Washington, the second Black actor to win the best actor Oscar, said in a statement: “It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family.”

Actor and director Tyler Perry wrote: “The grace and class that this man has shown throughout his entire life, the example he set for me, not only as a black man but as a human being will never be forgotten.”

Whoopi Goldberg wrote: “If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters that would soar a thousand feet high. To Sir… with Love. Sir Sidney Poitier R.I.P. He showed us how to reach for the stars.”

Westworld star Jeffrey Wright called him “a landmark actor. One of a kind. What a beautiful, gracious, warm, genuinely regal man. RIP, Sir. With love.”

Actor Viola Davis added: “No words can describe how your work radically shifted my life. The dignity, normalcy, strength, excellence and sheer electricity you brought to your roles showed us that we, as Black folks, mattered!!!”

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY Puff in Your Compact Powder Say ‘no’ to cakey powders. Use a powder that gives you an air-brushed glowy look and is buildable to deliver your desired coverage, keeping your makeup fresh all day.

Matte Fusion Pressed Powder KIKO MILANO

Mineral Finishing Powder NUBAN BEAUTY Mary-Jane Ohobu

ALL YOU NEED IN YOUR

“BACK-TO-WORK”

Seal Your Makeup

MAKEUP PURSE

BY SOPHIA EDISI

Always seal your makeup up with a setting spray to keep your makeup free from harsh lines, hydrated, and smooth all day long.

S

o the holidays are officially over and it’s back to work and business as usual.

While getting ready for the day takes a lot of time for us ladies typically due to all our different morning routines, having your makeup done can be perceived as such a huge deal breaker. This, however, could only be the case if you are seeking a full-blown GLAM. Now is the time to enjoy the process of applying that classic dewy and light makeup combo to feel more “polished” and because masks are still required at work and in a lot of places, you might want to emphasize a little bit more on eye makeup. All you need in your back-to-work makeup purse are these simple products to step out like the million bucks that you are in just about 20minutes.

And yes... that’s all the time you need to get it done.

Mineral Makeup Fix Setting Spray ELSAS PRO

Get Your Arch on Fleek

Ladies, never walk out the door with untidy eyebrows.

Get a brow pencil perfect to sculpt and define your brows; preferably one that also comes with an inbuilt spoolie brush. They are your best bet for natural-looking brows because they are pretty much the easiest to Brow Pow maneuver.

HEGAI & ESTHER

PAGE 12

Dewy Coconut Face Setting Mist ELF COSMETICS

Lash Out

Eyebrow Styler MAC COSMETICS

Extension Length x Volume Mascara YANGA BEAUTY

Not a big fan of lash extensions?

Then use a waterproof mascara that lengthens and volumizes your natural lashes to bring your eye look altogether.

Lash Love Fanorama MARY KAY Lash Love Fanorama MARY KAY

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY Contour Your Makeup

If maybe you want to go extra for a quick face definition and highlights, a contour kit will do just the trick.

XD Face Definer ZARON COSMETICS

Sculpt Stack Contour Palette MELT COSMETICS

Neutral Colour Lippies

You will need a lipstick that doesn’t crack, blends evenly and is highly pigmented with vibrant colours to satisfy your desire for a beautiful nude look.

Onome Odometa

Nude Girls Eyeshadow palette ZIKEL

Opt For Nude Eyeshadow Palette

Glossy Posse Fantasy Lipgloss FENTY BEAUTY

Nude LipKit KAYGE COSMETICS

Lay Your Foundation

Blending shadows and matching colours require a whole lot of time and technique especially if you are not a professional. But this isn’t the case with nude colours, that’s why a nude eyeshadow palette could just be the best option for you.

Nude of New York Palette MAYBELLINE

Add Some Wings With a Liquid Eyeliner

You also want to use a seemingly flawless foundation that is lightweight and makes you feel almost like you have no foundation on. Make sure to use the right skin tone because this will save you the endless stress of blending the foundation onto your skin.

Give your eyes the much-needed extra pop by using a waterproof matte eyeliner. These are very easy to use even for an amateur; it dries up instantly, so there’s no need to worry about it smearing over to ruin your eyeshadow.

Brown Skin Liquid Foundation ZARON COSMETICS

Precision Liquid EyeLiner HOUSE OF TARA

Life Liner Quick N Easy HUDA BEAUTY

PAGE 13

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

SPECIAL FEATURE

Ima ge: p ngit em. com

Downtown’s best of 2021 Pt.2

TELEVISION & MEDIA

BY AYODELE JOHNSON &KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

T

here are trends that we are kept abreast of when it comes to media consumption—some of them we embrace instantly, others we play catch-up with. The Nigerian media space has surely seen evolution like none other.

It has come a long way from a time when the television and radio were integral parts of our lives, and newspapers, in print, were the only platforms where we could get news.

Nowadays, with Netflix in competition with terrestrial TV, podcasts giving radio stations a run for their money, movies now enjoying box office successes in cinemas nationwide, and journalism being digitized, one thing hasn’t changed... the quality of content we are being fed.

In the second instalment of DOWNTOWN’s Best of 2021, we bring you some of the people and publications that made a mark in media and television last year.

Movies and Series King of Boys: The Return Of The King

King of Boys: The Return of The King is a 2021 7-part limited series directed

by Kemi Adetiba. It was released on 27 August 2021 exclusively on Netflix as a sequel to the 2018 Nigerian crime political thriller film, King of Boys.

The Smart Money Woman

This TV series is based on a 2016 novel of the same name by Arese Ugwu.

The series which initially aired as a single season of 13 episodes on Africa magic was released on Netflix as a single season with 7 episodes on 16 September 2021. It was executively produced by the writer of the novel, Arese Ugwu, produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, and directed by Bunmi Ajakaiye. It starred Osas Ighodaro, Timini Egbuson, Ini Dima-Okojie, Kemi Lala Akindoju, and many others.

Castle & Castle

The Nigerian series is streaming exclusively on Netflix. It is Nigeria and Africa’s first legal series that features the story of a legal family characterized by love, drama, and betrayal. Castle & Castle currently has two seasons streaming on Netflix and it stars some A-list Nigerian actors like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Dakore Akande, Deyemi Okanlawon, Daniel Etim Effiong, and many more.

Aki and Pawpaw

Aki and Pawpaw is the remake of the 2002 nationwide hit, Aki na Ukwa. Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze had to reunite after some time apart on our movie screens. Now young adults who are striving for a better life, their roles in this movie are very different from what they became very popular for - the mischief. Overall, the nostalgia comes alive still.

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VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

SPECIAL FEATURE

Podcast

I Said What I Said by FK Abudu and Jollz Feyikemi Abudu, also known as FK Abud, and Jola Ayeye fondly referred to as Jollz, attained celebrity status by simply being some of the biggest voices in the country– the duo hosts the most streamed podcast in the country. The year saw them travelling between states hosting live shows and engaging with their listeners in real-life. The ‘podcast aunties’ also hosted an Owambe party, and just like their other live shows last year, it was also a sold-out event.

Best of Media In a year when a lot happened locally and globally, a few media outfits did a great job of reporting and also shaping narratives. Here are six of the best media outfits from last year.

Arise TV

In a time when Nigerian media outfits wouldn’t talk in-depth Prince Nduka Obaigbena - Founder Arise TV and about the EndSARS protests ThisDay Style for fear of backlash from the government, Arise News stood its ground and never stopped reporting. The Nigerianowned channel which has studios in New York City, London, Johannesburg, Abuja and Lagos, got heavily fined by the National Broadcast Commission over their coverage of the protest. But won the people’s trust over the course of the year.

ThisDay Style

OffAir with Gbemi and Toolz

As Nigerians transitioned from listening to radio stations religiously to streaming podcast shows, there was a clamour for popular OAPs, Gbemi and Toolz, to continue their on-air conversations off-air; hence the podcast title. The podcast was well-received by fans nationwide.

Renowned as one of the most popular magazines among fashion enthusiasts, ThisDay Style, in addition to fashion, also features a health and beauty as well as a lifestyle section.

The pullout which is a subsidiary of the popular newspaper publication ThisDay has featured prominent industry names on its cover, including Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Folorunso Alakija and afrobeats superstar, Wizkid, to name a few.

BellaNaija

Founded by Uche Pedro in 2006, BellaNaija is a lifestyle, entertainment, and fashion website headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

The website went on to birth two different subsidiaries—BellaNaija Weddings and BellaNaija Style—with the former having over five million followers on Instagram.

Uche Pedro - Founder BellaNaija

The Beat FM

The Hindsight Podcast by Wolexis Media

This is the biggest sports podcast in the country. Comprising a team of four mainstay hosts, and a couple of recurring guests, the Hindsight pod is a fan favourite for sports lovers in the country. The team’s refreshing analysis and hot takes on the latest developments in sports puts them on the map.

Here is an exceptionally inspiring radio station, the one that a youthful population cosy up to for hot gossip around the world of culture. But it is not only these that the audience gets to enjoy – all-year-long, there are close-up interviews with celebrities and newsmakers on a long journey in their career or are on a new beginning in entertainment. The Beat FM 99.9 and its exciting OAPs have managed to sustain the efforts even with a pandemic still hanging in the clouds and there is no imminent dropping of tempo, it seems.

Classic FM

Chris Ubosi-Founder and CEO of Megalectrics- parent company of Beat FM and Classic FM

They play every song you know, it is why they are Classic FM 97.3. The Lagos-based radio station goes way back with their music, as far back as the ’60s. This is why the audiences who tune in to their dial tend to be quite diverse since their programming captures the far ends of the age spectrum including boomers and curious Gen Z that are seeking to connect with the past. It has been over a decade keeping up at this game and ageing with unchanging listeners all through, day and night.

Pulse

It is the ability to capture the interest of a digital generation whether millennial or Gen Z – Pulse, an innovative publishing brand plays to the yearnings of businesses, initiatives that are seeking to connect with their range of audiences mostly through a mobile phone and desktop derivatives. Their patrons are often struck by their ever adept view of what is new in the entertainment world.

Leonard Stiegeler - Pulse Publisher

PAGE 15

VOL 2 NO.03 • JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

websights DOWNTOWN

To Go To School or Hell

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Featuring Rema, Mummy G.O and the Kano State Government Rema, who had planned to finally release his debut album this year, then took to Twitter to promise his fans that he will try to drop it before he resumes for school.

Here are some of the best reactions to the story.

We hope Rema faces his book and tries to be a straight-A student of the University of First Choice.

Congratulations!

The Rise of Mummy G.O, Our Rapture Correspondent

Meet Latest Unilag Fresher, Rema The Internet had a field day when Nigerian music sensation, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema announced that per his mother’s request, he will go to school—the University of Lagos—to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

The Mavin Record label signee later revealed that he will be studying Creative Arts, and his announcement has ignited jeers and cheers in almost equal proportions.

As significant as this might be for him, Rema wouldn’t be the first celebrity to go back to school and bag a degree despite the fame. He joins fellow popstar Davido who bagged a degree in Music from Babcock University in 2015, Nollywood actor Odunlade Odunkola who got a degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos in 2018 and movie veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo who started the program to get his Law degree from the University of Abuja in 2015 and was eventually called to bar in 2020 to practice as a lawyer at the age of 58. More recently, superstar DJ, Florence Otedola, fondly known as DJ Cuppy, was accepted into the prestigious Oxford University, England, for a master’s degree in African Studies.

On the foreign scene in recent times, we’ve also seen Megan Thee Stallion and Kim Kardashian earn their school degrees last year with the latter taking a rather unconventional route to her Law degree.

PAGE 16

therefore, you can’t make heaven,” she said in one of her teachings.

Her eccentric messages have been received by Nigerians as comedic and most people on social media milk her content for the humour.

One of her pictures has turned into the biggest meme of the year so far.

Although the ministry and some of the doctrines and preachings are real, the evangelist in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin refuted some of the clips that have surfaced on the internet, claiming that they were doctored.

Here are some of the reactions from her Twitter congregation.

If you have been on the Internet the past couple of weeks, you would have come across prophecies and doctrines being propagated by a controversial pastor, Evangelist Funmilayo Adebayo popularly known as Mummy G.O. Dubbed as Mummy G.O by her by-force social media congregation, her ministry, Rapture Proclaimer Evangelistic Church (RAPEC) became popular and controversial online in December 2021 when she began preaching about things that will make everyone go to hellfire.

Her preachings which cut across different industries and lifestyles revolve around the same theme: who ends up in hellfire. In that similar fashion, she has targeted football stars, comedians, national ID card recipients, specific food consumers–Titus fish and Indomie noodles, vaccinated people, Nigerians who migrated to America by lottery, women who wear trousers and makeup, among others.

“Eyelash is from the armpit of Satan,

shisha smoking, swimming between men and women in the pool, lesbianism, and gay practices.

“The committee will further oversee the activities of DJs at wedding ceremonies and event centres. All event centres should be closed by 11 pm.”

Kano Bans Everything But Won’t Ban-dits

The Kano State Government has banned men and women from swimming in the same pool, smoking shisha, and entry of children into hotels.

These laws were enforced by the state’s Task Force on Tourism Development Levy, according to Sahara Reporters.

The Chairman of the Committee, Baffa Dan-Agundi, stated these laws following a meeting with hotel and event centre owners.

He said, “Part of our term of reference is to stop underage children from entering hotels without their parents, banning