VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
OLAMIDE ADEDEJI The Show Must Go On
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
EDITOR’S NOTE
Photo: @HairByUgo
CONTENTS
IT’S NOT THE MONKEY ON TOP THAT MAKES A TREE FALL BUT IT’S THE WORK AND EFFORT OF NUMEROUS SMALL INSECTS AND ANTS. (AFRICAN PROVERB)
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COVER STORY:
Olamide Adedeji: The Show Must Go On
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Dear Workers,
FASHION
ay Day is for acknowledging your sacrifices and celebrating your contributions. Our daily lives go smoothly, standing upon the tireless work and service of the workers of various sectors. As we have all survived the last year with great willpower and hard work, we will do great in the future too. Another African proverb says that the best preparation for tomorrow is to make sure today’s work is superbly done.
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M
Our cover story on Olamide Adedeji amplifies the importance of hard work, exempt from the noise and far from the madding crowd. His interview by Chisom Njoku plays up the quiet pride that comes from the success of each project he executes and the growth of his new platform, Bounce Radio.
Stunning Red Carpet looks from the 93rd Oscar Awards
RELATIONSHIP
Lockdown Love Stories
Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite quotes about work that I do hope you will enjoy. Happy International Workers’ Day and you’ll see us next week!
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LATASHA NGWUBE
WEBSIGHTS DOWNTOWN
@latashalagos
Cruising in Disappointment
“Without labour nothing prospers.” – Sophocles “Our labour preserves us from three great evils — weariness, vice, and want.” – Voltaire
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“Labour Day is a time to recognize and reflect on that work, and for elected officials to recommit to the toooften ignored task of fighting to improve the lives of working families.” – Elissa Slotkin
SELF FITNESS
Now, is a Good Time to Start!
“Genius begins great works. Labour alone finishes them.” – Joseph Joubert “All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
AUSTYN OGANNAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEf Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahgram Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writer: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’
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10-11
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
Society & Lifestyle Journalist Azuka Ogujiuba’s 50th Birthday Party
12-13 BEAUTY
You Nailed It!
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
CAREER
Celebrating unconventional careers this
Workers’ Day
BY CHISOM NJOKU
I
n today’s Nigeria, a lot of young people are opting for unconventional careers for multiple reasons. For some, it’s because they are tired of the nine-to-five grind and desire a work-life more interesting than spending their days sitting in a cubicle or dialing into conference call after conference call, for others, it is simply because they can’t find gainful employment. Whatever the reason, thanks to technology, there are alternative careers that have expanded available options beyond a traditional desk job and provided a variety of opportunities. Here are some unconventional careers worth celebrating this Workers’ Day.
Zaqueri Black Professional Gamer A pro gamer is a full-time competitive player who is paid to play video games. It’s a highly rated career in the gaming field. Most professional players are normally paid by their teams or sponsors to compete in the biggest e-sport tournaments around the world.
Fitness Coach
Maje Ayida
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities. More than anything else, they understand the difference between what a client wants and what that client needs. They identify the underlying issues that prevent a client from achieving their stated goals, and know how to solve those problems.
Dimma Umeh
Professional Youtuber These are visual creators who film bite-sized, audience-appropriate videos at calculated intervals for their loyal subscribers who strongly identify with their content. They film and edit their videos to retain a quality that’s consistent with their brand identity and their earnings depend on how often people click on their videos, as well as advertising revenue. This career path has become largely popular with content creators because YouTube is one of the top platforms helping creators around the world monetise their content.
Bolaji Ajibare Social Media Manager Social media managers are responsible for curating a brand’s social channels. They monitor, moderate, and respond to audience comments; manage social media partnerships with other brands, creating or post shareable videos and images across various social media platforms.
Camile Storm Playlist Curator Individuals known as curators work in partnership with music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. While anyone can build a personal playlist and share their favorites with friends and followers, some curators are employed by streaming platforms to curate tasteful music for every mood and they are responsible for putting together global playlists.
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
FASHION
The
2021 OSCARS:
History was made, Chadwick snubbed and Kaluuya wins again
S
Chloe Zhao
BY TILEWA KAZEEM
ome months and a pandemic later, the 93rd Academy Awards would go down in history as the ceremony’s most diverse year since its launch amongst other things. The show took an unexpected turn when awards like Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Actor were moved to the later part of the night. It was a bid to build tension around who would take home the Best Actor award but that anticipation quickly took a disappointing turn as the favourite to win, Chadwick Boseman, didn’t despite his image being used to market the ceremony. Ironically, the winner, Anthony Hopkins was not present to accept his prize so the show pretty much just ended abruptly. This was met by a ton of criticism from spectators who also had a bone to pick with why the acceptance speeches went on forever and the playback of nominees were taken out. It wasn’t all bad as Beijing born Chloe Zhao became the first woman of colour and the first Chinese woman to win the Best Director. British actor Daniel Kaluuya edged out Lakeith Stanfield and Leslie Odom Jnr to win the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Judas and the Black Messiah. His derailment during his acceptance speech was a form of amusement to us but not so much for his mother. Grammy Award-winning artist HER and Tiara Thomas also won a statuette in the Best Original Song category for their song Fight For You. Tyler Perry’s Refuse to hate speech after he received the Humanitarian Award was very Martin Luther-esque to say the least.
Daniel Kaaluya The winner in the Best Supporting Actor Category came to serve looks in a custom Bottega Veneta suit and his signature one-piece chain.
Tiara Thomas Tiara Thomas stepped on the red carpet wearing an all-white custom Jovana Louis outfit and a necklace adorned with little Swarovski crystals.
Tyler Perry HER
Leslie Odom Jr
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Grammy-winning HER took home a statuette in blue custom Dundas dress.
Actor and director Tyler Perry stepped on stage to receive the humanitarian award in a Giorgio Armani suit which was styled by Elly 30.
Lakeith Stanfield
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
FASHION
Viola Davis An unscripted scene on How to get away with Murder was seen on the red carpet as Viola killed a white Alexander Mcqueen gown. Styled by Elizabeth Stewart.
Laverne Cox The Orange is the new Black star stepped on the red carpet in a bright pink Tulle dress by Christian Siriano and styled by Christina Joy Pacelli.
Celeste Waite She had our hearts in her hands with her Gucci dress and a bejewelled heart clutch purse.
STUNNING RED CARPET LOOKS FROM THE 93RD OSCAR AWARDS
Simone Ledward Boseman Representing her late husband Chadwick Boseman, Simone dressed in an Atelier Versace gown.
W
e finally got to see the return of the red carpet to award shows as opposed to virtual pandemic awards. The 93rd Oscar awards promised elegance and it certainly delivered. Some of our favourite black celebrities’ fashion and style took centre stage and here are some of the looks from the night.
Zendaya
Regina King A stunning custom Louis Vuitton gown styled by Wayman and Micah had Regina King looking like the Queen of Atlantis.
Actress Zendaya Coleman appeared for the ceremony in a yellow Valentino outfit. She can’t get enough of Valentino outfits. This will be added to the catalogue of some of her famous red carpet looks.
Halle Berry Die Another Day actress Halle Berry wore a pink Dolce and Gabbana dress for the event.
Angela Bassett Veteran actress Angela Bassett wore an exquisitely put together custom made red Alberta Ferretti dress.
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
COVER
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
COVER
OLAMIDE ADEDEJI
The Show Must Go On Lights. Camera. Action! Show business has always been all about the glitz and glamour with largerthan-life stages, lighting and performances that often leave audiences captivated.
things. I was also quite easy-going and rarely got into trouble. I enjoyed going to school, too. I did my primary education at a school called Saint Saviours and eventually studied accounting at the Lagos State University.
At the heart of these grand productions, there is usually someone pulling the strings and making sure that things run as smoothly as possible.
How did you start creating? My dad wanted me to go to business school. I did that, but it was just for a short time, say between six months and one year. While I was there, I got close to one of the lecturers named Olawale Falolu. He noticed me because I was always the first person to enter the lecture room and the last person to leave [that changed eventually]. Before coding became popular I was studying programming languages such as Java, C++, Visual Basic, and the rest. The lecturer and I became quite close because I didn’t mind running errands for him and being his ‘guy. My closeness to him gave me access to his computers, which weren’t very common in Nigeria at the time (about 20 years ago). I would spend several hours doing programming and running Visual Basic scripts because I just found it fascinating. He introduced me to design, which I really loved, and started teaching me CorelDraw. This was outside the business and computer programming I signed up for. I would pick up magazines and redesign them. I would go to business centres and spend a lot of time on computers. It was as if something had fired my curiosity and I wasn’t going to give up too soon. I think that helped me because I would do odd jobs at the cyber cafe and that gave me access to the computers. It also enabled me to learn more. Then the Internet became popular and I would go to a cyber cafe and pay for 24 hours to sit in front of the computer, visit websites and temporarily get out of my immediate environment. In the process I discovered many colourful websites. I think that kind of set the tone for my romance with entertainment and show business.
Olamide Adedeji is the name that should come to mind when you think of such a ‘super producer’. He has been able to spread his influence across the media and entertainment scene in Nigeria. Boasting 15 years experience in show business and a career that cuts across broadcasting, publishing, live performances and media production, he has definitely earned his stripes. Adedeji speaks with Downtown’s CHISOM NJOKU about his early days in business, his passion for creativity and what it feels like to produce Africa’s biggest television franchise, among other things. How would you describe Olamide Adedeji to someone who has never heard of him? First, I’m not the popular music artiste that bears the same name. He is my cousin in the industry (*laughs*). I like my space and I don’t like fame or publicity. Maybe it’s because if I’m in that position, I’ll probably be distracted. So I intentionally avoid it. I’m a very quiet person that enjoys his space and I try as much as possible to make the most out of life by using my God-given talent. How come you produce great shows and performances that often push people to stardom, yet shy away from publicity? Some people can’t handle fame and publicity. I think I’m one of such people. I’d rather stay behind the scene and keep on creating stuff. From what I know over the years, I think fame comes with a lot of pressure. As a creative person, you’re already under pressure. You don’t need unnecessary extra pressure. However, I’m glad that God has used me as a vessel to produce superstars. What’s your zodiac sign? I’m an Aries. Although I haven’t really been able to get into it, I find it very fascinating. What was your childhood like? I had an interesting childhood. Judging by the kind of upbringing I had, I never thought I would be doing the things I do now for a living. My father was a soldier and that translated to a strict upbringing. I was a very imaginative kid. I recall moments when I felt like creating something. I would sit down and think about all sorts of
How did you get into show business? My uncle Sola Ojewusi actually introduced me to the industry. One day I was with him and he asked if I could use a computer. I responded affirmatively and he asked me to follow him to work and intern at Ovation Magazine where he worked. I did that for almost a year. My uncle was the Marketing Manager at Ovation. Then he became the supplementary editor. I really enjoyed the opportunity and we spent a lot of time together. One day he had a meeting with Ayo Animashaun and I accompanied him [a very important part of my story]. We got to the meeting and afterward, he introduced me to Mr. Animashaun and told him that I was good with computers, in case there was an opportunity for
me. Animashaun invited me to Hip Hop World Magazine, which he ran from his residence at the time. We became best friends for that period. At a point, when I worked late and could not go home, I would sleep on his couch. We had a small team comprising a few young men and women. It was like he was incubating talent for future endeavors. My stint with him lasted between 10 months and a year. What was your first major project? One of the biggest projects that sat on my table then was the maiden edition of the Hip Hop World Awards (now known as the Headies), which was the first of its kind at the time. Animashaun insisted that I handle it personally and he was bursting with energy about it [like he still does]. So I started speaking to individuals and teams, assuming the role of a producer and I was young and just trying to figure things out. After we wrapped up the award event, the reception was amazing and many people thought it was very innovative. But I knew I wanted to switch gear because I had seen what was possible. I’m a very curious person and I’m always searching for the next thing. After the Headies, what was your next move? Curiosity led me to take another look at the brand called Soundcity. Although the brand was new to the game at the time, it had great quality. I feel that working with Soundcity was a spiritual thing. This is due to the fact that I got the job after a chance meeting with my boss Tajudeen Adepetu. The first time we met, there was this chemistry between us and the energy was so right. After I landed the job, thanks to the skills I had acquired over time, I was directed to use my web design experience to clean up the Soundcity website and then use my publishing experience from the Headies to produce a magazine for Soundcity. I felt a bit overwhelmed, but it put me to the test and we were able to deliver two or three months later. The rest, they say, is history.
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021 VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
From what I know over the years, I think fame comes with a lot of pressure. As a creative person, you’re already under pressure. You don’t need unnecessary extra pressure.”
You have to always be on your toes, hoping, planning, and praying that everything goes right. I’ll add that doing events or production in Nigeria is one of the most stressful things because there’s a shortage of almost everything you need to pull it off (power, human resources, equipment). What inspires you? A lot of things inspire me, including music and movies. For inspiration, I watch movies from my favourite directors. I like movies like The Godfather. The one I’m obsessed with right now is Tenet. What’s your dream project? The legendary project I would always want to be part of is called Global Citizen. That’s a cause I really want to support. Let’s raise funds for millions of people in Africa, have a blast of a festival while doing it and present it in such an entertaining way. You mentioned before that awards and clout don’t move you. Why is it so? I surround myself with the right people. I have people around me that are just levelers. I’m surrounded by people who don’t care about anything. My best friend, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, is one of the biggest television presenters on the continent, but he doesn’t care. He is just focused on doing the work.
What are your thoughts on failure? Failure is not a bad thing. If you don’t fail once, you can’t get it right [that is probably debatable]. But you must learn from the experience and avoid the same mistakes in the future. It’s all part of the process. It’s like learning to ride a bicycle. You fall a couple of times before you get your peddling straight. Falling and bruising your knee is part of the learning process. How do you decide what project to undertake? There are things that I’m comfortable with and there are things that I take up as a challenge. If you ask me to produce a concert or festival, that’s second nature to me and because I work with the right team, it’s not difficult for me to pull off. There are things that I’m curious about, like stage plays, which I had an opportunity to produce for television two years ago. This really helped me to understand first-hand how to put a stage play together. In terms of projects, work has to be done and I don’t shy away from challenges. If the language is right and the stars align, I’ll go for it. Is there something unbelievable that actually happened to you in the middle of production? One time my computer crashed just at the beginning of a live show for another television show, actually one or two hours before the televised show. It was really wild and bizarre. There was another time a show I was producing had a severe and almost accidental technical challenge from a third-party supplier on the show, interrupting our production. The show was easily gunning for the best outdoor concert of the year but the damage was done. We just had to soldier on and learn from it. Which of the shows you produced was most challenging? Everything. Every single production is a challenge. There are so many factors; manpower, gear, equipment and location. So many things. A lot of pieces have to come together for the production to be successful. So usually I pray to God to help me handle the aspects of every production that are beyond my control.
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How did Bounce Radio come about? The landscape is changing and there’s a new set of audience, viewers and listeners that consume entertainment through the second screen (mobile phones). These people are growing and they’re redefining the entertainment culture in Nigeria. Some of them are carefree, rebellious, inquisitive, bold and they like to enjoy themselves. Some existing media and entertainment brands are disconnected from these people because they’ve been in the game for a long time and they’re set in their ways. With Bounce, we decided to tap into the market. The idea was to launch a new media product that would be able to hold a digital audience captive. So we created a hot entertainment platform that will first capture the radio audience just to see how it goes and that’s how we took off. What’s an average day for you like? I wake up around 5 am every day, have a cold swim and walk my dog. Then I’m at the office by 8 am and I work till late. I attend a couple of meetings throughout the day and try to go to bed by 10pm or 11pm, try to read in between or catch up on social media and then get some sleep. The Big Brother Naija project is arguably the biggest in Africa and you’re credited for that. What role do you play and how do
you manage such a tasking responsibility? I believe it takes a village to make things happen. So there’s no one-man credit for Big Brother because it’s such a big franchise. What I do for the show is produce the live show. It’s the summary of the entire week and it needs to be presented in such an entertaining way and that is what everyone wants to see. There are zero margins for error. It has been so successful because I have a strong support team. The team includes the series producer, who is my very good friend from South Africa; the series director who’s Nigerian, Kayode, who everyone speaks of all the time, and of course, the fantastic presenter, Ebuka. If you weren’t a super producer, what would you be doing? I would be an accountant, counting money (laughs). Have you ever thought of what it would feel like to be a housemate? I’ve never thought of it because I’ve never seen myself as a celebrity. I’m probably the ‘wrongest’ candidate for the show because I’ll just be in my bed in one corner. I could just decide to be comfy and read a book. There are things I can’t give up, such as my morning swim, walking my dog, and my morning exercises. Sorry, I can’t give them up for three months. What are the three things you can’t live without? I can’t live without exercising because it helps me stay fit and sharp. Secondly I can’t live without my wife. She is my soul mate and we do everything together. Finally I can’t stop working because it gives me joy and fulfillment. I can definitely live without my cell phone. Yes it’s helpful and functional, but I can do without it. You described your wife as your soul mate. Give us an insight into the dynamics of your relationship. We’re very similar. I’m not interested in many things and she’s not, too. I think we hacked it pretty early. Nothing other than the two of us comes first and we work every day to perfect it. We keep figuring it out as we go. What advice would you give to an aspiring producer? You need to work hard and smart. You need to read a lot, too. Read whatever you can lay your hands on because no knowledge is lost and you need to expand your mind because what you’re doing requires a lot of imagination and creation. What’s the major misconception about you? People assume I’m wicked or highhanded, but I’m really just particular. I hold certain standards with the kind of things I do and I don’t want to compromise it for anything. I’m a longterm kind of person and if you build something with a solid structure or foundation, the long-term gain will be much better than the short-term gain.
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
EFUA EXPLORES
RELATIONSHIP
EFUA OYOFO
Lockdown
Love Stories I
n B.C. (Before Corona), dating went as follows: you met someone, you guys did a dance and eventually - you either got it together, or you didn’t. Sometimes the union lasted, at other times it didn’t. There’s something about this pandemic that makes everything seem like it’s intensified and pressurised. Decisions have significance and clear-cut repercussions that aren’t as easy to ignore.We’ve had to change the way we look at so much - from how we live, the way we choose to love, to the intensity with which we do it. For many people, the pandemic has proven to be a defining moment in their lives. Almost like fire: some relationships, like plastic, melted and burned under the fiery heat of the pandemic. Others, like clay, were forged stronger because of it. For the first in this series, we have a lovely blended couple: Ciru, 36 - and Cheikh, 33. Both in their thirties, the couple met right before COVID wound its way through 2020.
Below is their story, of Lockdown Love
I was in the prime highlight of my carefree dating life. I enjoyed being single, was very happy to wait until the best guy for me came along. You can’t rush perfection, I always say. We matched on a dating app. I thought he was super cute. I didn’t think he’d work as a boyfriend, but as a friend, definitely he had a nice, open smile and expression, with a fun profile bio. When we spoke, though, I confirmed in my mind that we couldn’t be compatible - he had four large dogs, and I have two very fussy cats. Yup, I’m that cat-lady! Any pet-parent can tell you - it’s hard to blend pet families! So we went for a friendly coffee - it couldn’t hurt, right? When we met, he was just as I’d hoped he would be - nice, friendly, open. We said hello for the first time around noon. I’d planned we’d hang out for an hour, since it was just coffee. However, I looked up to realise that much more time than that had passed. Several hours later, we decided on a walk through my neighbourhood. I was still nervous - we all know the stories of crazy charmers, who do all sorts of vile things. My heart was in my throat, but I took precautions and kept faith. Pleased to say he wasn’t a psycho at all. But I still thought we’d just be good friends. The next hangout started off very friendly. I met him, super relaxed mentally, sure we’d just do a calm hangout and then part ways as friends. This time, however, something was different. Whenever he touched me, I found myself aware of him, everywhere. I realised the feeling was mutual, so I decided to keep an open mind. After that, we saw each other almost every single day. We found ourselves connecting physically and emotionally. He started incorporating himself into my world, and me into his. I met his mother, his brothers - and his house-full of pets. HE met all my friends. By this point, we were joined at the hip.Those first few weeks, every day felt like waking up from a beautiful dream. The dream didn’t last long. COVID-19 came and lockdown started. By then, we knew what we’d have to do. I felt so sad at the thought of parting ways with him - so we did
something crazy. While dating during a pandemic sounded like a terrible idea, we decided to take a leap of faith and take it one step further. We moved in together! Not just to have “company” or a lockdown boo during the pandemic - but to get to know each other in these strange times. During the lockdown, we grew so close. He did video calls to meet my friends. He took care of me whenever I got ill. I did the same for him. We had socially distant lunches with his parents, so they got to know me quite well. After awhile, it felt like we’d been meant to know one another all our lives. We introduced our pets, determined to make it work even though we knew it would be a disaster. It was… initially. It’s still not easy, but at least our pets are learning to get along; and it’s proven to be the hardest
part of our entire relationship. We’ve even adopted a dog together! As the pandemic wore on, I began to realise something.The more time I spent with him, the more time I wanted to spend around him. Hardly a day went by, when I didn’t include this man in my prayers - this human being, who felt like he’d been tailor-made for me. This man, who was the Muslim to my Christian, the West African to my East African self. A dog-lover to my catowning self. Different languages, with one in common: our language, of love. They say opposites don’t get along but, I’m happy to say, not in our case! Opposites do attract. You just have to find the right one that you vibe with. Not that everything is that crisp perfection like the movies claim - it’s even better: it’s real, and true. I’d made the best possible decision for my love life: taking a chance on myself and on love. Eleven months ago I swiped right - and not too long ago, I found myself swiping “yes” to “I do.” Now, I have one more addition to our blended family: we’re expecting a baby!
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
Society & Lifestyle Journalist
Azuka Ogujiuba’s 50th Birthday Party
T
BY LATASHA NGWUBE
Photocredit: Ebenezer Dada
he media and lifestyle space came out to celebrate with veteran journalist and founder of Mediaroomhub, Azuka Ogujiuba as she turned fifty. A party was hosted in her honour by lifestyle entrepreneur, Efe Tommy and was attended by celebrities, media moguls, family and long time friends of the celebrant. She dazzled in a custom gold dress by Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi as she happily received her guests. Azuka’s long and Illustrious career in lifestyle journalism, that’s spanned over 25 years, has gained her a lot of accolades as well as goodwill which was evident in the variety of people who turned out to celebrate with her.
The Celebrant Azuka Ogujiuba & daughter, Chidera
Chika Ike
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa
Pastor Ituah Ighodalo
Ruth & Omome Osime
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Yinka Oredola, Mo Abudu & Helen Ajayi
Ngozi Nwosu
Olisa Adibua
Ini Edo
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
Lanre Alfred, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Ayo Animashaun & Bisoye Fagade
Funke Bucknor Obruthe
Pretty Mike
Fidelis Anosike, Konyi Nwabogor & Sir Efex
Mpho Laing
Deyemi Okanlawon
Suleiman Aledeh
Ezinne Chinkata
Kemi Ajumobi & Mary Akpobome Ebele Udoh
Ade & Tosin Adefeko
Yomi Owope
Downtown EditorLatasha Ngwube & Jennifer Olize
Cheche Smith
Abby Ikomi
Olumide lyanda, Toyin Nwosu & Azuh Arinze
Akins & Tola Odunsi
Efe Tommy
Tewa Onasanya
Uche Nnaji
Ejiri Amos Tafiri
Femi Imokhai, Ay Makun & Yomi Casual
Lara Rawa, Temi Remi Adeoye & Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
BEAUTY
YOU
NAILED IT! Nail Lacquer OPI
Pistachio Pistachio is perfect on dark skin. I’ll never forget the day I was in an elevator and someone stopped me just to say, ‘Your nail polish really suits you’. I was wearing pistachio that day. For someone who gets uncomfortable when you pay her compliments, it felt good. Lesson learnt!
White Nail Polish YSL
White The beauty about wearing white nail polish is that it allows you to wear any other colour without worrying about a clash. This classic look makes for a great contrast against your skin.
BY ONAH NWACHUKWU
F
inding the right nail polish for your skin tone can be quite a hassle, much like foundation or any other beauty product, identifying the right shade for your complexion will go a long way. I know you can get tempted to choose the most attractive colour when you get to a nail bar, but there are specific nail polish hues that best suit dark skin. Choosing the right nail polish will not only have complete strangers stop and compliment you on your nail polish, but it will also leave you feeling like a million bucks- at least I felt that way when it happened to me.
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Cobalt Blue
Colbat Blue Nail Polish
When it comes to dark skin, bright colours generally pop against it, so why don’t you try cobalt nail polish? The good thing is we only have dry season and rainy season here so either way, it works. Cobalt Blue Nail Polish DIOR
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
BEAUTY
Lilac Nail Polish SALLY HANSON
Lilac Olamide Gabriel @aogpixels
Always eye candy, lilac nail polish is very pretty on the hands. It’s a great contrast against the skin and you can create your own version of the French tip by using lilac polish instead of white.
Charcoal Nail Polish NAISINC
Grey Nail Polish
Grey There are different shades of grey and regardless of whether you like charcoal or light grey; it looks really good on dark skin.
Nude Nail Polish Dark
French Manicure
Nude Like white nail polish, nude lacquer won’t have you worried about a colour clash when you get dressed. An added bonus is that it emphasizes your skin tone.
Nude Nail Polish LANCOME
This is always a good option for dark skin. Interestingly, there are some modern takes on this nail trend. You should try them on; you’ll love them.
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
websights DOWNTOWN BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
Cruising in Disappointment
When life disappoints...
...make cruise
...then take it with you on a date
Last month, tech giants, Twitter, decided to set up its first-ever African headquarters in Ghana, a decision that shocked a lot of Nigerians on the Internet. Having gained notoriety on the African Twitter space as the big brother with the best jollof rice, of course the self-proclaimed Giants of Africa were left disgruntled by Twitter’s decision to set its camp in Ghana rather than Nigeria.
Desmond Elliot, one of the biggest talking points of the #EndSARS protest era was once again dragged to the podium to become the subject of Twitter NG’s banter sessions.
What is the ideal look one could wear on a first date? This was the conversation on Twitter NG last week as a user came online to bash men who wear traditional attires on dates. Another Twitter user came and included jeans trousers and t-shirts in the category of what NOT to wear to a first date.
It all happened when a Twitter user came online to share a story of how her friend got engaged and broke off the engagement as soon as her fiance handed her a ring worth 10,000 Naira. As expected, this sparked a wild conversation. However, one of the responses gave birth to a whole different trending topic. Another Twitter user responded by saying “come Surulere make we flush you inside Desmond Elliot toilet.”
This left a lot of men confused as it circled back to the age-old “what exactly do these women want?” question. Here are some of the funny opinions…
For many Nigerians, it was a moment of introspection, while others took a rather patriotic approach to call out Twitter on its unfairness. Here are some of the reactions from Twitter NG.
The Lagos State House of Assembly lawmaker’s toilet, as is with his other projects within his Surulere constituency, has been a subject of ridicule ever since his ill-fated comments regarding the #EndSARS protests and the then-proposed antisocial media bill. What would follow were relentless jest tweets that blamed Desmond Elliot for everything that went wrong in each Twitter user’s personal life. Here are some of the funny ones…
Needless to say, the Nigerian tech space has witnessed an impressive uprising in recent years with startups like Paystack, Flutterwave, Piggybank, amongst others, leading the charge to digitise the nation. Also, it is important to note Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s famous visit to Lagos, Nigeria in 2016, which resulted in plans to set up the second-ever African Facebook headquarters in Lagos, this year, six years after the first one was set up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Whilst we are happy for Ghana and all of that, let’s not forget that we still have the best jollof rice on the continent.
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Perhaps the most unfazed people on God’s good earth, Nigerians, have mastered the art of making lemonade out of the lemons life throws at them. So no matter how disappointing the situation is, we’ve made it a habit of turning it into cruise sessions.
VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
Self Fitness IHUOMA NWIGWE
COLUMN
Now, is a
GOOD TIME to START! E xercise is one of the best things that you can do for your health and well-being. No one can deny the abundance of benefits that physical activity has, such as healthy body weight, reducing the risk of diseases, boosting mood and energy levels, etc. However, most of us find it challenging to establish a routine and then stick to it. Well, for the most part, all it requires is willpower and determination. When it comes to fitness for beginners, here is how you can make it a regular part of your lifestyle.
Set goals
Setting goals should be one of the initial steps you need to take after embarking upon the fitness journey. For example, you can target a goal to finish a 3-kilometer run. Now, you can start with smaller runs to get to the ultimate one. Simultaneously, make sure that the goal you get is realistic and achievable. Setting a goal to lose 10 kg within a week is something impossible and will only demotivate you.
Make it a routine A critical factor in achieving success in fitness for beginners is to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. To see quicker results and to sustain them in the long run, it is imperative for you to exercise regularly. When you decide to exercise, set up a time to work out in a day; for example, you can decide to work out first thing in the morning and then stick to it in all conditions. It is generally suggested to work out 150 minutes a week, but you can start slow since you’re a beginner.
your muscles. Consuming protein will assist with muscle recovery, building muscle mass, and repairing tissue damage. Keeping healthy fats as a part of your diet can be really helpful in fueling your muscles, burning body fat, and keeping your energy uplifted.
Warm-up Hydrate
As a beginner, it is crucial to remember hydration is the key to triumph. You need to keep replenishing your fluids for optimal performance. Especially if you’re training in hot temperatures, you must keep a water bottle throughout your workout. Ensure to hydrate yourself after exercising to help your body recover.
Balanced diet
One just can’t stress enough that if you’re working out, you should make sure that you consume the healthiest of diets to sustain your energy levels. Eating the right food, especially carbs, will help in the building up of
It is incredibly significant to warm up before working out. Keeping your body warm will help prevent injuries, reduce soreness, and improve flexibility. You can do some easy movements like lunges, leg kicks, or a short walk for that. It will drastically improve your athletic performance.
Tips to stay motivated While you need the determination to begin with, you need motivation throughout your regime to keep it going. When it comes to fitness for beginners, visualizing your motivation helps so for example a particular body type you admire, a dress you want to fit in on prom, or just staying healthy. To keep your motivation alive, you need to make sure your workout is fun. You can mix a couple of physical activities to keep things exciting. You can join a yoga class, or start pilates, participate in a virtual fitness class, or hire a personal trainer. These are all options that can keep you motivated, especially because they hold you to a certain level of accountability. Having someone to keep a record of your progress and navigate you correctly towards success plays a huge part in keeping your interest sustained. However, make sure whatever form of physical activity you choose blends in with your lifestyle. Working out just for the sake of it and not enjoying it will not help with goal attainment but instead you may feel your motivation taking a nosedive. Working out is essential for the body as well as for the mind, but it’s essential to bear in mind that results take time. Nothing happens overnight; you need to put in the effort and some sweat in order to accomplish what you desire. Make sure to eat healthy, hydrate adequately, and keep tracking your progress. Keeping it all within the check will lead you to be the winner.
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VOL 1 NO.12 • MAY 02 – MAY 08, 2021
WORDS to EAT by
DOWNTOWN EATS
UZO ORIMALADE
SLOW BURN
I
have a thriving counselling practice that I run from my home. Not inside my home exactly but within the premises. I converted the guest chalet into my home office. A relaxing and soothing space conducive for my clients to feel comfortable enough to unburden themselves to me. This work from home situation means I control how many clients I see everyday and what times their appointments are. Today is an example of a light yet heavy day. I have only one appointment today, but this is one special appointment. Sessions are usually an hour long, but this client has 2-hour slots booked. She is a rather demanding client. Her sessions with me are more like a one-sided conversation. She rarely gives me a chance to interject with observations or to ask leading questions. She throws the most intense
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tantrums if anything interrupts our sessions and I have learned to ensure I give her my full attention. I cannot forget the meltdown she had when I took a sip of water during one of our sessions. She cried and yelled and accused me of being like her mother who never focused on her and how she trusted me. She stormed out and did not show up for her next four appointments. This had me calling every number in her next of kin file to make sure she was okay. She waltzed into my office after 3 weeks, plopped herself down on the couch and essentially warned me to never be naughty again. High maintenance I know but I am in this line of work to help people navigate their feelings and if I must sit perfectly still during sessions with her and make progress each week, so be it. Her appointment is in an hour and this gives me just enough time to…. Five minutes later, the door is flung open and there she is. What in the world, I think? She declares dramatically that there is no traffic and alas. A little problem. I did not get a chance to finish what I started. I thought I had time to be done and calm things down before her appointment. Plus, things were extra hot and spicy and going so well. ‘You are early. I need to get things ready, and I will be right back’ Tears rushed to her eyes. In a raised voice, she said ‘No. Not again. I will leave and you will never see me again. Do you want me to run away? Why? You are just like the rest of them. You do not care….’ I stopped her. ‘Hold on. We can start’ Maybe I can bear it. Maybe if I sit perfectly still…. I sit across from her. I am flushed. I can feel the heat. On my lips. I grab my notebook, cross my legs and say, ‘What is on your mind today?’ She starts talking. I admit. I cannot focus on what she is saying. I shift ever so slightly in my chair. The air conditioning is at full blast but I am beginning to sweat. I shift again. She narrows her eyes and says, ‘Is everything okay?’ I cough and say ‘Of course. Please continue’ I feel so uncomfortable. I push my hair back in frustration and touch my eyes. Big mistake.
I start to blink furiously. My eyes are watering. My nose is beginning to run. My lips feel like they are on fire. I do not think I will make it another minute. I need to get up. ‘You do not look good. What is wrong? Do you have something that is contagious? ‘ She looks really alarmed and gets up and begins to back away from me. In the direction of the door. I say ‘Go. Go now’. The voice that comes out of me sounds like something from the exorcist movie. I get up and run to the kitchenette. I fling the little fridge open and grab a bottle of water. I open the bottle and gulp it all down. It does not help. I see a packet of full cream milk and open it. I down most of it. Some respite. I really should have waited till dinner time to dig into the extra spicy suya I bought from Glover Court.
Chicken ‘Suya’ You will need: • 1 kg chicken wings – separated. • ½ cup vegetable oil • 3 cloves garlic • 1 tablespoon ginger powder • 1/2 cup peanuts • ½ teaspoon Cameroon pepper • 1 long green chili pepper • 1 teaspoon chicken seasoning powder • Salt to taste How to: • Preheat oven to 350 degrees or gas mark 4 • Wash and dry chicken pieces. Place pieces in a baking dish and set aside. • In a mortar and pestle or blender or food processor, add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth. • Add more oil if needed if mixture is too chunky. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste. • Pour the marinade over the chicken pieces and rub liberally. • Bake in the oven for the first 10 minutes. Turn the pieces over and cook until done. • Serve with raw onions, tomatoes and dry suya spice on the side.