THEWILL DOWNTOWN JAN 09, 2022 EDITION by THEWILL NEWSPAPER

VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

HAIR WE GO

7 Ways to really care for your wigs

MÉNAGE À WHAT?

A true tale of How It Really Goes Down

BOLD FASHION

An Insider’s Guide To 2022 Style

Kizz

Daniel the Son of Barnabas is also a father

VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Desire Onyema @desire_makeover

EDITOR’S NOTE

he relationship between a parent and child is often quite special, and with each child, it is different. Mine with my dad was quite close. So close were we that I was nicknamed ‘second wife.’

CONTENTS

COVER KIZZ DANIEL THE SON OF BARNABAS IS ALSO A FATHER

04-05

REVIEW DON’T LOOK UP

FASHION AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO 2022 STYLE

I remember that the relationship grew from phase to phase until we reached the friendship stage where on one occasion, he called me and said, “Onah, somebody is taking you away from me; you haven’t called me in some days now.” I denied it, but he was right. I had a love interest at the time. Our cover talent this week, Kizz Daniel, also shared a closeness with his dad - he was the one Kizz spoke to after getting intimate (if you know what I mean), for the first time. And through his dad, he learnt some valuable lessons about treating women nicely. Becoming a father himself has also taught Kizz to treat people better. According to the Pour Me Water crooner, his kids have a role to play in how he now treats people “It also made me a better person regarding how to treat people. When I meet new people, I can’t quite place my finger on it but the vibe is very different because now, you are treating people the way you want them to treat your kids.” In this first-ever, tell-all interview, Kizz sets the record straight about many things; including his rant on social media last year, how he makes hit after hit tracks, and his relationship with the music industry in Nigeria. You have to read this in-depth interview; you will get to know him better and maybe even understand him too. Also, in this issue, we feature this season’s fashion staples, suggest perfect ways to care for your wigs, and our relationship explorer is back with a tale of how to negotiate in relationships. We also have a three-part piece that applauds people from different sectors, who broke the ceiling in 2021- we feature the first part this week. While you are at it, take a look at the tech page for technology you should still own in 2022.

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SPECIAL FEATURE DOWNTOWN’S BEST OF 2021 PT.1 ENTERTAINMENT & TECH

06 RELATIONSHIP THIS AFRICAN LOVE: MR. BIG TIP[PER]

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL MÉNAGE À WHAT?

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BEAUTY TECHTALK HAIR WE GO 5 TECH GADGETS 7 WAYS TO REALLY YOU SHOULD STILL OWN 2022 CARE FOR YOUR WIGS

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.

WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM

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.

@agbuma.__.1 Nice write up

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

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

@oludavid This write-up is awesome

@ monalisacode

Timely!

- 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.

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION

St yle

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO 2022 White Dress DESIREE IYAMA

WE UNCOVER THE MOST EXCITING NEW FASHION TRENDS TO WATCH IN THE NEW YEAR Cut-out Dress KAI COLLECTIVE

BY DAVID NWACHUKWU

CUT IT OUT

The runways were ablaze with skin and sensuality as fashion tastemakers dared to bare with cut-outs. A recurring trend in fashion, this peekaboo pattern is for the fashion lover that enjoys taking risks. From dresses to jumpsuits, slasher chic is set to be even more popular in the new year. Kai Collective deftly used knits to create chic round cut-outs reminiscent of streamlined fashions from the 1970s. Like Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, you can also look to the Helmut Lang era of 1990s fashion and opt for a more modern cut-out dress. Update your nighttime LBD with LaQuan Smith’s sizzling take on the wardrobe staple.

t is always quite fascinating to watch each new year roll around, bringing an exciting array of fashion trends with it. 2022 in fashion is reflective of the escapist feeling in all of us, providing a sense of optimism for the year ahead. Here is your insider’s guide to key trends to wear in the new year.

Cut-out Dress LAQUAN SMITH

THE STATEMENT WHITE DRESS Marking new beginnings and an air of freshness, white is the go-to colour for revivals. Designers embraced this pristine hue for statement white dresses in the new season collections, creating key looks that can easily go from spring to summer. Offering the ultimate look in prairie girl chic is Desiree Iyama’s billowy white dress with lace accents while Abiola Olusola looked to the late ’80s beach looks for inspiration. For evening, Greta Constantine found a super slick way to make bright whites work for a cocktail hour look by letting voluminous sleeves do the talking.

Cut-out Dress BALMAIN White Dress ABIOLA OLUSOLA

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White Dress GRETA CONSTATINE

VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION

Dakar Kaftan DYE LAB

Zina Kaftan EJIRO AMOS TAFIRI

THE KAFTAN REVIVAL

An enduring staple for lovers of fuss-free fashion, the classic silhouette is set to garner even more popularity in the wake of hybrid work fashion and post-pandemic ease of living. This year, women of all ages can easily incorporate this look into their wardrobes, with its origins being unique to our culture. Make like Sisiano and opt for an opulent silk print kaftan with fringe details. Rukky Ladoja’s Dye Lab offers a refreshing take on this silhouette by experimenting with vintage Senegalese styles in sustainably-made indigo dye prints. Also paying homage to western African styles is Ejiro Amos Tafiri’s design, that serves just the right dose of Lagosian glamour, perfect for any upscale event.

Metallic Dress TURFAH

Kaftan SISIANO

HEAVY METALLIC

Shimmer and shine all the way through 2022 with the liquid metallica trend as planning your party looks just got easier. Go maximalist and embrace excess with Turfah gorgeous ruffles made in a glossy sheen the brand is known to do so well. Tom Ford makes a case for easy glam with metallic separates that can readily double as super stylish daytime city looks or club-ready fits for a night of bar-hopping. Rodarte’s body-skimming sheath is a winning pick for a wedding guest attire in 2022, with just the right amount of glitz for a West African function while Valentino’s asymmetrical green metallic tiered gown is perfect for brides looking for a wedding party dress with a lot of edge.

Metallic Top And Pants TOM FORD Bandeau Top And Skirt ABIOLA OLUSOLA

Bandeau Top And Skirt LISA FOLAWIYO STUDIO

BANDEAUS & SKIRTS

As the temperatures rise, no thanks to global warming, less just might be more (with a heavy dose of SPF of course). The Spring/Summer 2022 runways gave us a neat tip to staying cool: a barely-there bandeau and an easy skirt. Lisa Folawiyo’s Col 1 2022 gives the gypsy skirt lots of character through texture, Abiola Olusola’s tie-dye set is the perfect pick for beach day turned seaside dinner while Chanel revels in Parisian chic with a black tweed confection.

Metallic Dress RODARTE Bandeau Top And Skirt CHANEL

Metallic Gown VALENTINO

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

RELATIONSHIP

EFUAEXPLORES EFUA OYOFO

THIS AFR ICAN LOV E:

Mr. Big Tip[per] E

ver thought about the links between business and dating culture? In this story we hear from Bola, a systems analyst consultant, who decided to negotiate a particular segment of her love life. During this process, she came away with some tips and tricks she’d like to pass along to people looking to build their negotiation “skills” in the business of love. Once upon a time, I met this man. So first, on how we connected. I was swiping one day, as you do during a pandemic when I came across someone I knew in 3-D (as in, I knew him in real life), and I thought - hey! Let me say hi! So I swiped, and we matched. It started off friendly - a hi here, a see-you-later there - and eventually, we got down to the brass tacks of our negotiation: What do you want? What are you looking for? Love, sex, friendship? FWB? Jump-off? We found ourselves defining our social boundaries, which is important - that way, everyone’s working with fewer crossed

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wires… unless, of course, that’s part of the service offering. But as we weren’t negotiating any Hibachi, whip, torture, or roleplay, that wasn’t relevant. Additional small tips, especially as pertain to me: Another reason to outline these parameters upfront, so one doesn’t end up in a situation they can’t handle. We don’t want to be the person left on “read” by someone we’re possibly interested in. Plus, with this swiping culture our short attention spans have nurtured, it’s important that we manage our expectations. With some people, even when they’re chatting with us, we can tell by the canned responses, that all they did was hit ”copy and paste.” Based on our initial meeting and follow-up consultations, we determined that neither of us wanted something serious in the

other. So, we agreed to manage our expectations. While I’m waiting for “The One,” a girl still has needs. As they say, body no be firewood. We didn’t go over things like the sort of sexual encounters we’d be having, the kinds of things we wanted to do to each other. Historically, such claims need to be proven either through reputable testimonials, or through demonstrated action. Being that marketing is essentially the science of the brand or entity telling its consumers what to think of it, marketing is not something that works well, here. Endorsements are better… If you know what I mean! Suffice it to say, this potential partner decided to showcase some… USPs and activities, which were wholly unexpected. Another tip: When giving a sales pitch or proposal, don’t give away your entire plan! Leave the client with some areas… unsatisfied. If you’re on the other side, make sure you go over the entire contract - and leave assumptions to the chumps that believe in them. Spell everything out. As I said earlier, this partner and I didn’t fully outline some of the terms and conditions of our arrangement. I came to regret that, in the end, when this oversight returned to bite me in the you-know-where… which, I might add, this gentleman completely did not do. Leading me to leave the sales pitch completely… unsatisfied, as well. I debated whether to keep or lose this man’s number. Not because I didn’t have a good time, but that particular expectation I had, of… satisfaction, didn’t quite pan out. And not because it couldn’t, but he wouldn’t. Sometimes the teasing doesn’t prove as good as the implementation. Anyway, let’s see. It could also be a matter of supply and demand.

VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

Ménage à WHAT? BY TILEWA KAZEEM

ight from a young age, I’ve been a huge fan of music. I’d usually make up music videos to songs I hear on the radio in my head. And being cursed with such a vivid imagination, these videos were as outlandish as they come—think Adventure Time characters in MJ’s Thriller video, except it’s set in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and the Lion Voltron is doing the Gangnam style dance in the background. It was a lot but that was me and I loved it. So one day, I had just gotten back from school. My lunch bag and backpack had been disowned at the door and I was gliding through TV stations with a Capri-Sun to my mouth. Out of nowhere, I stumbled on a music video none like I had seen in my 11 years of existence at the time. It had sexy geishas, katanas, and a stunningly curvy lady reverberating “your love, your love” as I sat there in awe of her and her voluptuousness. I’d soon later find out that her name was Nicki Minaj. Of course, no kid my age had any business watching TV before doing homework, and considering who she was and the state I had left my school things, an ass whooping was brewing. Anyways, eventual ass whooping aside, her Samurai Jack-esque video, lyrical flow, and prowess had started a flame in my heart that would burn forever. But I’d be lying if I say her name, Minaj, didn’t have anything to do with it. Bearing her sultry lyrics in mind, choosing an inflected form of the word ménage couldn’t have been a coincidence. But then again, her name is Maraj and it could be an inflected form of that. However, for today’s discussion, the former will be perfect for the agenda. When my editor suggested I do something on Ménage à Trois my mind didn’t flutter to the wine but to a story of why having two women to a man is the preferred golden ratio for most men. But before going into that, I’ll explain what a Ménage à Trois, is for those who still think I’m talking about red wine. The short and most familiar answer is... threesome. Three people having sex with each other is called Ménage à Trois. Got it? Good, now back to the tales under whatever light you’re reading this with. Acquaint yourselves with; Kunle and David— not their real names— because they are the Ryan Renolds and Jonah Hill of the story. Not so much in physicality but in esteem. So anyway, I and Joseph’s brother, Tunji, are playing FIFA in a dark room and Kunle and his brother burst into the room chatting about a girl they both met. This girl had all the physical qualities to keep two guys badgering on and on about her two buses and a 10-minute motorcycle ride later. They painted a picture of her to us and she was like Nicki Minaj but not as pretty and not as lyrically talented as well.

After weeks of waterboarding our ears off about her, Chioma agrees to show, well with the intentions of coming to ‘collect’ if you know what I mean. The plan to instigate a sex triad was something out of a poorly directed x-rated movie; Kunle would lead Chioma up to the room and right when the lovemaking begins, David would come in and offer to join igniting the ménage. But this wasn’t Chioma’s first rodeo and she called all the shots. She had picked up from the first encounter that they were just two horny lads drooling over her sexy exterior and she was primed to see what she could procure from them. A classic chop me, I chop you plan was in motion. She comes and casually leads both boys to the room, tossing their poor plan into the blender. A few minutes later, Kunle comes downstairs to where David’s brother and I are gisting and begins to lament how David was hoarding the main course and he was a bench warmer. From his scared demeanour, it was obvious he had made a mistake and he just wanted to scrub his memory squeaky clean of that night. An hour later, David and Chioma descend from the stairs chuckling and giggling on their way down. Looked like he had upheld the biblical status of his name and had slinged a decent dick. So much so that Chioma left without saying goodbye to Kunle. Poor, poor Kunle still rues the day to date. If only he had known these things I’m about to share with you today maybe, just maybe, he might have had as much fun as the aptlynamed David. First of all, in my viewpoint, two male friends shouldn’t be having a

threesome unless they are both comfortable seeing each other’s testicles in all their shrivelling glory. What happens when you accidentally get teabagged. There are so many ways it can go awry. That’s why it’s usually a married couple looking for a ‘unicorn’—a single person of an agreed gender to get in on the fun. Looking back to that story, something both Kunle and David lacked that is very important when planning a ménage are rules and boundaries. You don’t want someone all pouty because your unicorn is hoarding your wife. God knows if some random dude did that to me he’d find out why unicorns are so rare. That said, if you’re the jealous type, please leave this ‘group chat’. It’s not for your kind. Vetting your extra half is also very critical. How individually attracted you are to the third and how likely you are to cheat on your current partner with your new partner are valid questions to ask. You wouldn’t want that climactic scene from the movie Love happening in your relationship where the main actor cheats and impregnates a neighbour he and his partner had had a threesome with. Respecting your partners and communicating with them too would significantly help all parties involved. And lastly, you’re dealing with real-life and real emotions. Don’t assume you’re in a porn scene and everything is jolly and pleasant because more often than not, it usually isn’t.

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER

KIZZ DANIEL

The son of Barnabas is also a father I spent every Friday of what was left of my hyphenated NYSC placement, taking a forest green cab to Kuto Park in Abeokuta. While I was there waiting for my bus home to fill up, I remember thinking to myself how claustrophobic the central marketplace felt. The cars moved bumper to bumper across the narrow road and the wares of the market women stretched out past its borders onto the street. While I sit there idly watching passersby go about their business, I’m serenaded by Kizz Daniel’s subtly robust voice and lyrical panache. His animated delivery of every note carries me along like a giddy puppy going on a morning stroll. It was the right balance of a visual flow of chaos and audible bliss.

irst things first, I’d like to ask; you’re a father now. How much of that has changed your daily routine or your life in general?

First I’d like to say thank God for my kids, for my boys. I wake up every morning and I’m grateful to God for blessing me. Although people will say you have two boys, I know I have three boys because God gave me three boys. So I say a prayer for him every day. And to answer the question I’d say it made me more aware of what’s going on around me. I’m a father and I’m quite particular about energy not just around me but around everyone close to my kids and the mother of my kids. It made me more responsible. Now I think twice before spending one naira. I used to be a sports car enthusiast, now I’m an SUV guy. I just bought a 2021 Lexus 520 and when I wanted to get it, I knew I wouldn’t drive it. All my cars are sports cars; I’m not a big car kind of guy but now I have to be one. It also made me a better person regarding how to treat people. When I meet new people, I can’t quite place my finger on it but the vibe is very different because now, you’re treating people the way you want them to treat your kids. They’ll soon grow up, go into the world and when they are feeling cheery or downcast, they’ll call home or experience those emotions first-hand. So yeah, I’m a better person for it.

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Little did I know I was dwelling in all that made Nigerian award-winning singer and songwriter, Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe famously known as Kizz Daniel, the man, and father he is today. Inspired by a mad man named ‘Orobo’ who sang fuji on the streets of Kuto, this private and shy bookworm you have all come to hate, love and ‘put hand for breast and swear’ for, sits down with DOWNTOWN’s writer Tilewa Kazeem to discuss fatherhood, growth, and music.

Buttressing on treating people nicely and better than you have before the kids came, there have been rumours of you being a bit arrogant and uppity but we’ve spent ample time with you and it hasn’t been as advertised. Would you say that’s blown over from the past, is it untrue or it’s one of the things that the arrival of your kids has changed? It is very untrue. I’m a very private individual and a very reserved guy so a lot of people tend to misinterpret that for hubris or arrogance. You’re in my house, this is where I stay most of the time. I live alone with my maids. There’s a studio here; that means loud music which is not a good environment for kids and so the mother of my kids and my kids don’t stay with me. I can be home for a week and I wouldn’t step out of my house. I might not be a social person when I’m out there because I’m a very quiet person and that can be easily mistaken for being snobbish. If we had this shoot elsewhere, I would not be this comfortable. But because this is my abode, my home, I’m free. I have had conversations with my team and management and of course Buki and she had the same comment; “Kizz people say you’re this or that” and I told her it was not the first time I had heard it. It’s something I’m used to. I go online and I come across a lot of lies and ideas of who I am but none of them know who I am, they don’t even know me. I’d like to think it’s because I am a reserved guy; not every artist can be social. Some artists can be like a snail; a little contact and they recoil back into their shell.

On social media, a presenter hinting that your post about the music industry being a cabal was largely incandescent and quoted you. Do you have a response to that and what did you mean by tweet, to begin with? First of all, I have no clue who this person is and I’ve never heard of him in my life. Concerning the tweet, it wasn’t personal. What happened exactly was someone showed me a tweet from a colleague complaining about an artist not being nominated for an international award—and this colleague had a strong argument. The artist in question had a more significant impact on the international scene than the artists on the list but he wasn’t there. Why do we always have to lobby before we get nominated for an award? Do you get what I’m saying? It’s a cabal. Na people wey you know. I wish I could say more but I can’t. But it’s the truth and the industry knows. I didn’t say anything the industry didn’t already know.

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER It has been argued that you have no bad songs and you literally even have an album titled No Bad Songz. How much of that pressure do you take back into the studio when recording music? I’m never under pressure to make music. Now, the thing about my music is that it’s a big chunk of my reality. That’s how I make my music. For instance, The Barnabas E.P; Pour Me Water is my reality and it could be your reality as well. So that’s how I make music. I go into the studio, I look at myself, at what is going on and I make music out of it. I spend most of my time alone and most times, I’m usually in my head. I catch the vibes around me. I’m never pressured to make music. I only enter my studio when I have something to say. If I don’t have anything to say, I’ll stay in my room or theatre watching movies. I don’t have to go into the studio but when I feel like pouring out my mind, I go in the studio and make music. Mama, was a text message to my ex. She broke up with me 1st of January 2016 and the text message I sent to her was Mama. I took that text message to the studio and the rest is history. So you can tell, I’m never pressured to make music. I bid my time, and when I feel I need to express myself I use my music. You can tell through my social media, I’m not the type to constantly go online to rant about one thing or the other.

not to. He is always all about respecting women. He married my mum, stepmom and was about to marry a third before he passed away. He loves women. The bookworm side explains why you’re still so private. So how did you transform from bookworm to sexy papa Kizz Daniel? (he relaxes from chuckling before speaking) The bookworm thing wasn’t intentional. It was more or less by force because of how antisocial I was. I was this guy that always stayed indoors so I had no choice but to pick up a book and read. It wasn’t like I loved education or attending school; it was more like an escape for me. And I did it so much that I became a nerd. For an artist, music starts as an escape or a therapy of some sort primarily before becoming a career. It’s like you said, you only go into the studio when you have something to say but it can be argued that you do not reveal enough of what’s going on in your life in your music. Can you tell us why? I try as much as possible to separate Oluwatobiloba from Kizz Daniel. I’ve had PR in the past but my current PR is the only one trying to merge both together. Others were comfortable with me separating the two because of the fact that I’m a very emotional person and highly temperamental. So I don’t like mixing my personal life with the business because it is the business. The fans listening or watching you want you to be a certain way. To reiterate what I said about an artist being a people person; when you meet that artist, he might not even be a people person, to begin with. So for me, I try as much as possible to separate my personal life from my music and I think that’s what’s causing that. I don’t want to be Tobi in Kizz Daniel or Kizz Daniel in Tobi. I have so many responsibilities even the fans would say ‘shey wahala no dey finish?’

Your fans know you to have a funny persona thanks to your skit-making stint from years ago. How come we no longer see that side of you? Yeah, I did that in the past. But the more you grow your priorities change. Right now, I get pikin, they come first before I even think about myself. My father is dead and I’m his first son. I’m also my mum’s husband. I wake up in the morning thinking about family members and my responsibilities to them. They all look up to me so you can imagine the kind of pressure I’m under. When would I now have time to sit down to think about how I want to make you laugh? There’s no time. Speaking of family, your late father had a significant influence on your career. It’s known that you used his old records to hone your skill. Walk us through who he was and how he impacted your life and music. My dad is my best friend. I used the word ‘is’ because he’s still in my heart (he turns around and apologises to his brother wearing a smile) after him, then my brother. So I was really close to my dad but not so much with my mum. As a normal dude, the day I lost my virginity, I should have called my friends but it was my dad. I lost my virginity at the age of 21 —as a kid, I was a bookworm and a huge nerd. I studied Water Engineering and graduated with a 4.32 GPA —so I’m narrating everything to him; from the beginning, all the way to the end and he laughed from start to finish. It was a very weird conversation but that just goes to show how deep the bond went. ‘Oh, I love you so much Baba 70’. The guy doesn’t overthink things at all. He talked me through everything after I told the story. He then said, “this is how you behave now and respect that woman”. He is never that guy to tell you

… I’m a very private individual and a very reserved guy so a lot of people tend to misinterpret that for hubris or arrogance… If we had this shoot elsewhere, I would not be this comfortable. But because this is my abode, my home, I’m free. I go online and I come across a lot of lies and ideas of who I am but none of them know who I am. I’d like to think it’s because I am a reserved guy; not every artist can be social. Some artists can be like a snail; a little contact and they recoil back into their shell.”

Your father was a painter and he allowed you to blossom into who you are. How important was that support? He wasn’t the richest guy, but he was rich enough to give me money; a hundred thousand naira to come to Lagos and record my first song. A hundred thousand naira back then was a lot of money -14 years back! I’ve been doing this music thing for a while - 8 years professionally but before that it was more of a studio rat kind of thing: buying food for people, running errands, and whatnot. That money was what I used to record my first professional track and I did it at Edge Records owned by Ibro and co-owned by Jabless and 9ice. Touching on the studio rat behaviour in Nigeria, we’ve seen now-famous artists mention times when they too were sent on errands. Is that some sort of right of passage to becoming an artist? No, it’s not. Most artists call it ‘paying dues’ but that’s not it. I don’t think it’s paying dues. I feel your status as a human being in a given society would dictate your experience in that same society. I came from one location to Lagos to chill with a different crowd; of course, you’ll be looked down on. And normally in that situation, some dirty things will come your way. Having the whole ruckus that happened between you and your previous label you had to step into big shoes and boot up your own record label. How much of a transition was that for you? I call it a big win. Why? Because not so many artists leave their record labels and still stay afloat. Now, this doesn’t mean it wasn’t without challenges because it was very challenging. A lot of people were against me going solo and even after I did, it still is challenging. Sometimes my fans complain ‘why is Kizz Daniel not getting this?’ but they wouldn’t understand. I know where it’s coming from but they wouldn’t

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER work. Then, Emperor Geezy said you know what? Let’s go directly to the people. So we fed Woju directly to the people, and the people reverberated it back to the industry and the posh so they had no choice. You know when you’re in the VIP area of a club and a song plays and everyone at the regular side is singing along at the top of their lungs you’ll be forced to ask what song it is. That was the strategy we adopted —we went to the streets. I read somewhere there was allegedly some uneagerness to work with Reekado Banks on a song and that once you found out he too was featured on that same song you pulled out. What’s the real story behind that? There really is no story behind that. It’s just one person trying to blow up his song. Most of what you read online are lies and controversies.

...I have no clue who this person is. Concerning the tweet, it wasn’t personal. What happened exactly was someone showed me a tweet from a colleague complaining about an artist not being nominated for an international award… The artist in question had a more significant impact on the international scene than the artists on the list but he wasn’t there…”

understand—Na if I stop I f*** up. I have to just keep putting out music and pushing— I know one day they will get tired when they see I’m not giving up they’ll get off my back and that’s the truth. Let’s go back to the beginning. How difficult was it for you to start then? It was as difficult as no one wanted to play Woju. After the song blew up, I did a radio interview where the presenter said he’d like to apologise Kizz Daniel because when they brought the Woju song to him, he said the song would never blow. How then did you rise above water considering that everyone had blacklisted you? I worked with the fans. I was pushing my music in the industry before and it didn’t

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As far as inspirations go, who would you say inspired your craft? We grew up in Kuto, Abeokuta. Some twenty-something years ago when Kuto was still Kuto. It was a rugged place and our house was in the middle of the marketplace. The way our house was built, once you came out onto the balcony, you’d be looking straight into the market. On some days, the market spills to our doorstep. So by 4 a.m, we’re already up because the market was open. Now in that marketplace, you can hear different genres of music playing and the reason why I settled on music was because of one mad man called ‘Orobo’. Orobo used to sing fuji and he made money in the market. People gathered around and gave him money to hear him sing and he was mad. Then I told my friends that if Orobo can make money from music, I want to do music too. So we bought a rechargeable lantern. I had to push for it before we eventually bought one. I told my dad that he must buy it and owning one in Kuto came with its bragging rights. If someone from across the street put one on, you’d be able to tell it’s a rechargeable lantern. So he got one and I started recording myself with the lantern, on other people’s records and that was how it started. Orobo dey make money, me sef I gas do am! Sadly, he was murdered in cold blood. So all of those experiences exposed me to different sounds from Danfo Drivers, Mad Melon and Mountain Black, Junglists then African China arrived. Much later after the likes of Elton John and Lional Ritchie came Plantashun Boiz and Style Plus. So all this music was heard from the market and the influence is street music and Orobo. It was much later I genuinely started loving music. Why do you not like to feature other artists in your songs? What do you mean? I have songs with a lot of artistes. But most times when I make music it’s a chunk of my reality and who better to interpret my reality than me. After creating your record label one would expect artists to start dropping in but for Flyboi Music that was far from the case. Why? I haven’t gotten to where I am going to so why do I need to add an extra burden to my shoulders. I tried to do it in the past but it didn’t work out. I have a height that I want to get to but I’m not there yet, once I get there then I’ll be able to drag people up. During the #EndSARS period, there was a lot of discussion about you not showing support and then you came out to say you were ill. What was that all about? I’m not sure I want to talk about the nature of the illness but I wasn’t really myself that

year. And that year, the mother of my children was pregnant so there was the need to stay put. Considering what was going on on the home front, I needed to be there for her. I ran a campaign for #EndSARS in Abeokuta twice and also in Lagos as well but I didn’t do it the way I wanted to do it, I just did it for my fans and the people of Nigeria because I recognised what they are going through. Tiktok has done a world of good for Nigerian artists with yourself included. What’s your take on how artists are using the platform to reach a wider audience and does it influence the artist when he goes into the studio? First of all, I discovered the app when Nesesari blew up. Nesesari has 47.8million streams on Spotify, it also has 20million streams from Applemusic, 35million on Youtube- if you add the video that takes it to 40 million- and it’s all thanks to Tiktok. So that alone shows how far it can propel your music to anywhere in the world. It is a very friendly and healthy community. They just want to showcase your talent. It is one of the most effective ways to promote your music. And to answer the last question; Yes, it does influence an artist going into the studio. Eh God (Barnabas) was because of Tiktok. The Eh God adlib was added because of Tiktok. I made Pour Me Water for Tiktok as well. The ‘put hand for breast’ lyric was tailored for the Tiktok challenge. But how sustainable do you think it is for Nigerian artists? The duration doesn’t matter for now, what matters are the engagements. Of all the albums in your discography, which one of the three albums means the most to you and why? The New Era album was my first album and it meant the most to me because it was done at a time when I was at my most vulnerable. I was in so much pain at that time and I was able to make music from it. How instrumental was family for you at a time when it felt like the whole world had turned its back on you? One thing I can tell you for a fact is that I don’t dwell on the past. I’m grateful to God for where I am right now. I’m grateful to God for all I have accomplished as well. Some people who came into the game before me don’t have what I have. I’m not an artist without sense. I spent five years in school and I spent more years on the streets. I can never go back. So I don’t think about it at all, I don’t dwell on it and that’s how I operate. Most of the time I’m not on social media, I’m in the real world. What’s the reason behind the name change? I just decided to change because I felt like it. What are we to expect from Kizz Daniel? I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few months, but I’ll just say you should wait on it.

VOL THEWILL 2 NO.02 DOWNTOWN • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

TECHTALK

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

Tech Gadgets You Should STILL Own in 2022

or technophiles, it is an agonising dilemma lusting after weird electronic novelties—even if you absolutely don’t need them. And as for those who need them to improve the quality of living, deciding on one amongst the scattered plethora out there requires some level of research. Luckily, we have done the honours of fishing out tech gadgets that suit both the technophiles and the not-so-much.

Trova Go+ 1

2021 iMac

2021 iMac APPLE

With the 11.5 millimeters thin iMac, Apple finally offers an iMac with the best camera, microphones, and speakers it has ever made while boasting Touch ID and looking ultra-thin. The iMac with its M1 chipset comes with a splash of new colours that would serve you past 2022 and doing so, colourfully as well.

Trova Go+ Good news for people who feel safer with their most prized valuables within arms reach. Introducing the Trova GO+. A smarter, thinner, and pleasant-to-look-at way to safeguard your belongings. An app paired with the portable device allows you to tap your phone on the scanner to open the compartment or you can use biometric security within the app itself.

Bluetooth shower head AMPERE

Shower Power: The Hydropower Shower Speaker AMPERE Getting this is sure to make peeking through your shower curtains to change tracks a thing of the past. This Bluetooth speaker uses the flow of water to power itself. It literally hydropowers itself. It was manufactured using recycled materials and can hook up to any showerhead. Cool, right?

The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Unlike the previous foldables, this could be a viable option. The first few iterations were plagued with reliability issues. Folding the phone into two halves will allow the screen to be split in two, allowing you to, for instance, sit the phone on a table to watch videos.

Galaxy Z Flip3 SAMSUNG

The unique feature of the TV is that when you are not watching the it, it displays high-quality artwork and photos. That’s right. While it is not displayed as a TV, you can almost believe that it is an original piece of art. It’s almost indistinguishable from an original canvas or print because it is backlit.

The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV SAMSUNG

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY

HAIR

WE GO

7 Ways to really care for your wigs BY SOPHIA EDISI

uman hair wigs are particularly popular here in Nigeria. Besides the look they can give, wigs have been touted as a good option for most women and it remains the gold standard for every lady regardless of how expensive they are. There is however, a significant perhaps overwhelming, number of women who can agree with me that one of the main reasons for their wig fatigue is the level of maintenance involved, and of course, we all know that wigs typically only look good when they are laid & slayed properly. While the use of a ready-to-wear wig saves us from daily manipulation, it does not remove the need to take care of your wig regularly. Here are some simple steps and products that are designed to recharge your hair quickly and effectively whilst also answering all your hair needs.

KEHINDE SMITH

Deep Condition If you want your wig to reach its full potential, you definitely need to follow your shampoo with a deep-conditioning treatment that protects the hair and makes combing easier, reduces tangling, prevents static’s electricity, and strengthens the hair structure. It leaves the hair silky and shiny.

Signature Shampoo ORIBE

Cleanse With a Moisturising Shampoo When it comes to slaying your wig and bringing it back to life, a good wash is needed and that starts with your shampoo. It’s recommended to opt for a sulfate-free shampoo that will cleanse, hydrate, and nourish your hair gently. You need extra-clean hair to make sure there’s no lingering residue or oil buildup, so wash your wig at least once a month.

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My Hair My Canvas ALTERNA

Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner OGX BEAUTY

Tea Tree Conditioner HERBAL ESSENCE

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY

Apply a Heat Protectant

Heat Tamer Leave-in-Spray TRESEMME

A heat protectant creates a barrier between your hair and any hot tools you use on it, saving you from the effects of heat damage like dry texture and breakage.

Before And After Hair Care

Blow Dry Your Hair Blow out your wig using a round professional brush with a ceramic coating that emits negative ions, closes hair cuticles, locks in moisture, and reduces frizz and flyaway hair. The ceramic coating will ensure fast and even heat distribution, enhancing drying time.

Style Your Hair

It’s time to straighten or curl your hair to get that extra-smooth finish. Preferably with a flat iron that has a titanium plate. Not only do they help distribute heat more evenly than most flat irons, but the plates glide over your hair, making it look and feel like silk.

TEGA DOMINIC

MO ABUDU

Overnight Repair or Light Serum

Hair Perfume

Use luxurious rich hair serum for an intensive overnight repair treatment. The concentrated formula repairs and strengthens the hair. The serum will reduce visible signs of damaged hair and protect the hair against split ends. Not only will it seal in moisture but it will also help you get that silky, straight, and bouncy finish you’re going for.

Frizz Killer Serum L’OREAL

A refined and delicate hair scent that boosts the senses and delivers a fresh and harmonious fragrance. Hair perfumes are infused with silk protein and argan elixir to nourish, repair, and protect your hair, providing care and a long-lasting scent.

Overnight Repair Serum BALMAIN

Hair Perfume BALMAIN PARIS

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

SPECIAL FEATURE

Downtown’s best of 2021 Pt.1

ENTERTAINMENT & TECH BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

ith each year that passes, some sectors of Nigerian mainstream offerings keep a linear progression. Think about a child coming of age – you never really know what they are capable of until they actually do it. Last year saw the actualisation of some of our potentials, in entertainment and technology. Looking back at the previous year, our songs garnered worldwide attention, record producers delivered impeccable music production, skitmakers ensured that Nigerians kept laughing through the bizarre happenings that engulfed the year, and tech companies took their operations to a new level, in a bid to make our daily operations as seamless as possible. Here are some of the people and projects that defined the Nigerian entertainment and technology space in 2021.

Image: pngitem.com

Music

Essence by Wizkid featuring Tems Essence remains the biggest hit off the widely successful Made In Lagos album. Very few duets will rival this “Big Wiz” and Tems body of work in the entertainment industry. Feeling by LADIPOE featuring Buju Buju was one of the biggest winners of the year, and so was LADIPOE. This collaboration was almost perfect as it also has a sentimental value seeing that both artists have worked so hard to get to this point in their careers. Feeling was the biggest song in the country at the time of release. High by Adekunle Gold featuring Davido This was perhaps the most random collaboration last year. Alternative artist, Adekunle Gold brought in serial hitmaker and popstar, Davido. The result? A nationwide amapiano banger. Monalisa by Lojay and Sarz One of the most important lessons we’ve learnt last year is that Sarz is ‘not our mate’. The legendary producer teamed up with a relatively unknown Lojay and almost immediately shot him to stardom. Similar to what the beatmaker did with Wurld, Sarz and Lojay served us an EP that was nothing short of breathtaking. One of the hit singles on it is Monalisa. Peru by Fireboy DML With two well-composed studio albums in two years, Fireboy has quickly established himself as a top artist in the Nigerian music scene. When he’s not busy dropping classics or getting his songs featured on popular football video games - FIFA, he is dropping hits. Peru (para) was one of the biggest songs of 2021.

Record Producers

Niphkeys Sarz

Osabuohien Osaretin (Sarz) EPs: Sweetness by Obongjayar and LV N ATTN by Lojay Richard Olowaranti Mbu Isong (P2J) Album: Made In Lagos by Wizkid, Singles: System and Lazarus by Dave feat. Wizkid and Boj respectively. Michael Ovie Hunter (London) Album: 19 & Dangerous by Ayra Starr, Singles: Gyrate by Wizkid, Koroba by Tiwa Savage, Bounce and Soundgasm by Rema. Adebajo Oluwanifemi Adebanjo (Niphkeys) - Singles: Naira Marley by Zinoleesky, Feel Good by Mohbad, Ale Yi by Zlatan. Michael Alagwu (Tempoe) - Singles: Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) by CKay, Understand by Omah Lay.

Tempoe

London P2J

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 - JANUARY 15, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

SPECIAL FEATURE

Tech

Skitmakers

Kuda Bank Founders - Babs Ogundeyi and Mustapha Musty

2021 was the year of tech in Nigeria as we became more welcoming to innovations than ever before. Here are three fintech apps that had their breakthroughs last year. Abeg Abeg is a fintech app co-founded by Muheez Akanni, Michael Okoh and Dare Adekoya in 2019. The app was launched in September and is already generating a buzz on social media for its unique approach to solving fintech problems. It gained popularity after it was one of the headline sponsors of the most-watched TV show in Africa, Big Brother Naija. Kuda Kuda Bank formerly called Kudi money is a Nigerian free digital-only bank that was founded in 2017, and was renamed Kuda Bank in 2019. It was founded by Babs Ogundeyi and Mustapha Musty . It rose to the top of the fintech ladder thanks to its ‘totally free banking’ USP (unique selling point) and its tagline - bank of the free. Piggyvest Formerly known as PiggyBank, this app is a savings and investment platform. It was first launched in January 2016 as a savings-only platform before it was rebranded to PiggyVest in 2019 and began offering direct investment opportunities

The skit industry saw a lot of traction as well. Although stand-up comedy is still a thing, Instagram skitmakers are gradually phasing out life-performing comics. Debo Adedayo (Mr Macaroni) Ooiin! He did well! In a year that followed his courageous activism during the #EndSARS protests of 2020, Mr Macaroni reminded us all just how much he brings to the table as he brought the “father figure” role his character is known for, to life. Mr Macaroni has redefined the skit space with his short films being heavily star-studded, featuring fellow skitmakers, veteran Nollywood actors, and all-around entertainers. Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Ejekwu (Mr Funny) A relatively new face in the Nigerian Instagram comedy space, Mr Funny rose to the top of the food chain last year. His character, Sabinus, is a frustrated Nigerian youth who, in a bid to better his living situation, becomes susceptible to the ills of society. His “Something Hooge” skit was one of the biggest last year. Maryam Apaokagi Greene (Taaooma) Taaooma has been around for a while and there are no signs of her slowing down. Her skits mainly show the relationship between African parents and their children, and several people find them relatable. Nosa Afolabi (Lasisi Elenu) Nigeria’s foremost ranter, Lasisi Elenu, keeps setting the bar higher with his impeccable improvisations. Whatever role he plays, he does to perfection.

Mr Macaroni

Taaooma

Piggyvest Founders - Joshua Chibueze, Somto Ifezue and Odun Eweniyi

Abeg Founder - Dare Adekoya

Lasisi

Mr Funny

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VOL 2 NO.02 • JANUARY 09 THEWILL - JANUARY DOWNTOWN 15, 2022

FASHION

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Movie Review:

ovies love to menace Earth. It’s human nature. In some of the most plausible doomsday flicks — Deep Impact and Armageddon— a big space rock threatens annihilation. Director Adam McKay is in no mood for nihilistic flights of fancy. Our planet is too dear and its future too terrifying, as the accelerated pace of species extinction and global deforestation underscore. But humanity isn’t interested in saving Earth, never mind itself, as 2021’s climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, reminded us. We’re too numb, dumb, powerless, and indifferent, too busy fighting trivial battles. So McKay has made Don’t Look Up, a very angry, deeply anguished comedy freak-out about how we are blowing it, hurtling toward oblivion. He has broken up the downer atmosphere with plenty of laughs — good, bad, indifferent — but if you weep, it may not be from laughing. Maybe bring a tissue, but don’t look for speeches about climate change and global warming. Rather than directly confronting the existential horror of our environmental catastrophe, McKay has taken an allegorical approach in Don’t Look Up with a world-destroying comet. Oh, sure, on its website, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (yes, it’s actually real) isn’t worried about near-Earth objects, as they’re called: “No known asteroid larger than 140 meters in size has a significant chance to hit Earth for the next 100 years.” Whew. But no matter. The planet is on fire, and so is McKay, who has embraced his inner

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Roland Emmerich (director of 2012) with fury by lobbing a great big joke at us. That joke is definitely on us or soon will be in Don’t Look Up, which follows a studiously curated ragtag collection of scientists, politicians, military types, journalists, and miscellaneous others who face — or don’t — the threat of a rapidly approaching comet. “I heard there’s an asteroid or a comet or something that you don’t like the looks of,” a visibly bored president of the United States (Meryl Streep) says to some anxious scientists who have been granted an imperial audience. The scientists really don’t like what they’ve seen but the president has other things on her mind, including upcoming elections and the friendly perv she is trying to get placed on the US Supreme Court. Packed with big names, many locations, and ambitiously staged set pieces (and a lot of hilariously terrible hairdos), the movie, now streaming on Netflix, is a busy, boisterous mixed bag, and whether you laugh or not, you may still grit your teeth. The story opens in an observatory where Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), a graduate student, first spots the comet. Kate’s giddiness over her discovery soon turns to fear when her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (a terrific Leonardo DiCaprio), crunches some numbers and realizes the worst. Together, they pass along the bad news. Enter NASA (Rob Morgan), the military (Paul Guilfoyle), and the White House, which is where the movie’s breeziness takes a turn for the ominous, frantic and obvious. The stakes are higher still in Don’t Look Up, which grows progressively more frenetic and wobbly as the inevitability of the catastrophe is finally grasped by even the most ridiculous of the movie’s buffoon-rich cast of characters. One problem is that some of McKay’s biggest targets here — specifically in politics and infotainment — have already reached maximum self-parody or tragedy (or both). What is left to satirically skewer when facts are derided as opinion, flat Earthers attend annual conferences, and conspiracy theory movements such as QAnon have become powerful political forces? Even so, McKay keeps swinging hard and fast, and from the start, establishes a sense of visceral urgency with loose, agitated camerawork and brisk editing that fits the ticking-bomb story. He slings zingers and stages bits of comic business, making fine use of funny faces, jumping eyebrows, slow burns, and double-takes. Part

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

Ruger - Dior

Kizz Daniel - Pour Me Water

Burna Boy_ WizKid - B. D’OR

AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove

Jorja Smith_ Preditah - On My Mind

Moliy - Wondergirl

ethnographer, part sociologist, he is especially good at mining the funny-ha-ha, funny-weird spaces in between people. But he’s not always in control of his material, including some cheap shots that slide into witless sexism. Presidential vanity is always a fair target, but too many of the digs directed at Streep’s character play into gender stereotypes. Streep is a great deal of fun to watch when she’s not unintentionally making you cringe, and Lawrence gives the movie a steady emotional pulse even at its most frantic. McKay’s work with DiCaprio is particularly memorable, partly because Mindy’s trajectory — from honest, concerned scientist to glib, showboating celebrity — strengthens the movie’s heartbreaking, unspeakable truth: Human narcissism and all that it has wrought, including the destruction of nature, will finally be our downfall. In the end, McKay isn’t doing much more in this movie than yelling at us, but then, we do deserve it. 7/10

WSTRN - Wonder Woman

Poco Lee_ Portable_ Olamide -

Fireboy DML_ Ed Sheeran Peru

Netflix Watch of the Week

Chief Daddy: Going for Broke

Netflix was thoughtful enough to kick off 2022 with a sequel to the highly grossing movie, Chief Daddy. In a further confirmation of Netflix’s burgeoning interest in Nollywood, this star-studded project was deemed fit to be the streaming platform’s first Nollywood film of the year. Sadly, this film is a massive miss. Little to no redeeming qualities can be found in this rather trite cash-grab movie. The first installment deals with Chief ‘Daddy’ Beecroft’s sudden death and the feud over his will among the family members. That feud however ended up in harmony and

everyone accepted that they were part of a single big family. But the second installment tears them apart again with their inheritance being hijacked by another unofficial family member, Leila, acting on revenge for becoming the illegitimate daughter of Chief Daddy and being neglected in the will. The most egregious aspect of the film are the screenplay and script. Unimaginative and incoherent, the star-studded cast is given nothing to do. I cannot understand the need for this movie to exist, but here we are. Chief Daddy: Going for Broke is cinematically bankrupt!

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