THEWILL DOWNTOWN, November 05, 2023

V O L 3 N O. 4 5 • N O V E M B E R 0 5 , 2 0 2 3

DARE TO DREAM

ANITA NATACHA UNRELENTING AKIDE’S SPIRIT

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CONTENTS

EDITOR’S NOTE

12

Delish Brunch BON APPÉTIT Recipe Ideas

13 Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

BEAUTY

F

rom Lagos Fashion Week, we move on to GTCO Fashion Weekend. Next weekend, GTBank will place African designers in the limelight worldwide, and fashion enthusiasts look forward to it. So far, they have hosted 410 small business owners and 69 leaders from 13 different countries in the fashion industry over the years. It will be interesting to see what additions they will have this year.

Anyone who watched the Big Brother show in 2019 is bound to remember one person, Tacha. Natacha “Tacha” Akide made her mark in the house; she always stood her ground. Tacha didn’t let anyone intimidate her, and when she was disqualified from the show, she turned a slogan she came up with into a name for her activewear brand. Fast-forward four years, and Tacha, our cover personality this week, is a serial entrepreneur; she runs a couple of businesses and has recently become an On-Air Personality with CoolFM. When asked why she wasn’t in the house for the recently concluded Big Brother show, she said: “I’ve always said my price went up. The Tacha of 2019 and the Tacha of 2023 are not the same. I’m a serial entrepreneur with many businesses, and I’m an ambassador to certain brands.

Some specific deliverables and obligations must come through for me, plus I am constantly getting back-toback bookings from brands. To leave all of this and then go on a show where I’m going to get paid peanuts isn’t worth it.”

Read her interview on pages 8 through 10.

Don’t forget that our content page is now interactive; click on any page title to take you to that page straight away. Also, click on the instructions underneath the QR code to access the music playlist on page 16.

14

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

15

Fashion 04-05 GTCO Weekend 2023 FASHION

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

16

REVIEW

@onahluciaa

+ 2349088352246

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Danielle Loth Writer: Ijeoma Ezeanyika Graphic Design: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’

Atafo’s Spring Summer ‘24 Collection Sartorial Revierie

A Decade In Fashion

The Killer

07

After-play DOWNTOWN The Importance of PostSex Connection And CONFIDENTIAL Cuddling To Dream 8-10 Dare Anita Natacha Akide’s COVER

Unrelenting Spirit

WHAT YOU SAID V O L 3 N O. 4 4 • O C T O B E R 2 9 , 2 0 2 3

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.

TALKS ON THE MOVIE ADIRE

INSTAGRAM

@noweisibor: A Screen Goddess in the flesh!! Thank you @ thewilldowntown

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah

Beauty And SelfExpression

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.

Dorcas Akintoye Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with more than 2 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty. She has a National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.

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Co star

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

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FASHION

Showcasing the Ultimate Fashion Experience

GTCO FASHION WEEKEND 2023 F

ashion and style aficionados globally can anticipate another chance to witness exceptional fashion showcases at the 2023 Guaranty Trust (GTCO) Fashion Weekend set to take place on November 11-12, 2023 at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.

The Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend is a consumer-focused fair and free business platform created to highlight Africa’s fashion industry’s vibrant enterprise while showcasing the best of the continent’s fashion to a worldwide audience.

Since its founding in 2016, The Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend has become one of the continent’s top platforms for exhibiting Africa’s Finest and encouraging genuine trade for local fashion industry enterprises.

In addition to giving hundreds of indigenous small fashion businesses a chance to grow their online presence, reach new markets, and position their businesses for sustainable growth, the twoday event will feature fashion leaders and industry experts from around the globe.

The Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend in 2023 will offer cutting-edge fashion retail experiences in addition to a series of online masterclasses led by wellknown fashion industry professionals, such as Jourdan Dunn, Julie Wilson, Sergio Hudson, Sir Jon, and Jawara Wauchope. The masterclasses are a “must-attend” for business owners and fashion fans alike, and they’ve been designed to provide the same level of engagement and content as in past years through interactive webinars that will concentrate on discovering fresh and

innovative approaches to creating and maintaining fashion brands now and in the future.

Additionally, the runway show will remain a feature of GTCO Fashion Weekend in 2023. The runway show, created with today’s world in mind, will showcase an array of daring and captivating design statements from Africa’s Best Design Brands.

They have hosted over 700,000 fashion enthusiasts, 410 small business owners, and 69 leaders from 13 different countries in the fashion industry over the years. Along with a carefully selected craft and fabric market, they have also presented 19 fashion presentations, 39 masterclasses, and 45 runway shows.

According to Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, “Fashion is not just about making items

https://fashionweekend.gtcoplc.com/ PAGE 4

of clothing or style accessories; it is about exploring feelings and channelling creative expressions to create experiences that resonate with various buyers across different markets. The GTCO Fashion Weekend is

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FASHION constantly evolving to reflect the rapid growth of the global fashion industry in terms of size and sophistication as we continue to draw on the endless possibilities in fashion retail to create better outcomes for individuals, indigenous businesses, and our communities.”

Agbaje further said: “The landscape for fashion design is always shifting; so too are the needs of consumers. The 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend provides a unique opportunity for local fashion retailers to seize on emerging trends and buyers’ preferences to reposition their businesses and thrive amidst the uncertainties and complexities of the future.”

The GTCO Fashion Weekend is one of Guaranty Trust Bank’s primary platforms for “Promoting Enterprise,” mainly to assist the native creative sector and its expanding retail and SME clientele.

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

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DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

AFTER-PLAY The Importance of Post-Sex Connection And Cuddling

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

W

hile having sex is a profound experience that brings two individuals into proximity, what happens afterwards can also be significant. To build emotional closeness and improve the overall sexual experience, post-sex connection and cuddling, sometimes referred to as “after-play,” are essential. We’ll look at six key factors that make after-play important in this article.

1

.EMOTIONAL BONDING

Cuddling promotes emotional connection after the physical release of sex. Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” is released during skin-to-skin contact and helps to improve the emotional connection between lovers by fostering a sense of closeness and affection.

2

.STRESS REDUCTION

5

. EXTENDED INTIMACY

Stress and anxiety can both be decreased by cuddling. Both lovers can benefit from the soothing touch and closeness after sex since it can help you relax, lower your cortisol levels, and make you feel calm.

3

. ENHANCED COMMUNICATION

A perfect time for open and honest talk is right after an intimate moment. The intimacy of the moment may make partners more open to communicating their needs, wants, or worries, thus enhancing sexual satisfaction.

Beyond sexual activity, after-play prolongs the feeling of connection.

In the end, it leads to a more rewarding and meaningful sexual experience because it enables couples to relish the connection they have shared.

6

. IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION The satisfaction of a relationship, as a whole, increases through afterplay. Cuddling can promote higher relationship stability, happiness, and a more satisfying sex life because of the emotional connection and physical proximity it fosters.

4

. BOOSTED SELF-ESTEEM

Your partner’s confidence in their desirability and attractiveness is increased by affection after play.

Affirmations and compliments can help partners feel valued and loved during cuddling and can raise selfesteem.

CONCLUSION

It’s easy to ignore the significance of after-play in the hustle and bustle of modern life. The nurturing of a strong, intimate connection, however, depends on the tenderness, affection, and communication that come after sex. Afterplay provides several advantages beyond the bedroom, such as emotional bonding, stress relief, and improved self-esteem. Take the time to hug, connect, and deepen your relationship with your spouse after sex rather than immediately disengaging. It’s an easy yet effective technique to improve your relationship and well-being.

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COVER

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

DARE TO DREAM

ANITA NATACHA AKIDE’S UNRELENTING SPIRIT

T

hat one can be so many things at the same time and do well in all has consistently been proven by different individuals, and Anita Natacha Akide is one such individual. Despite being a business owner and a celebrity, the young serial entrepreneur forged ahead in mid-2023 to pursue her childhood dreams of being an On-Air Personality (OAP), serving as an inspiration that dreams are valid and shouldn’t be given a timeline to be achieved. In an interview with TheWill DOWNTOWN’s Ijeoma Ezeanyika, she explains how she skillfully balances being a brand owner, a celebrity, and a career woman.

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

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COVER Who is Anita Natacha Akide, in the absence of the camera, outside being a brand owner and a celebrity?

In the absence of the cameras and the Internet, there is a very loving, friendly, kind, and familyoriented person. I love kids, I love and enjoy my own company. I love to have fun, but I mostly love working and just trying to make money. But in all, I’m a very sweet person.

You now work at Cool FM as an On-Air Personality. Is it something that has always been your goal, or has something else made you take on the job?

Well, you know, radio is very exciting. I mean, it’s something I’ve always looked at, especially as a teenager and growing up. I’d always come back home from school and turn on the radio to listen to it and repeat after the OAPs, just stuff like that.

Radio has always been exciting for me, and I tried to get a job at Cool FM Port Harcourt once, way back in 2017 and got rejected. I didn’t get the job, and then having to get this job offer was just great.

I love it. I love doing new things being a brand ambassador and business owner. It was entirely new doing this or transitioning into being an OAP. You won’t believe I’ve been doing radio for three months.

Nigerians can shop, from my pink lip kits to power banks to our bracelets to our face masks.

There are a lot of products, and it’s something that you should try and check out.

my opinion, the show is really for, let’s say, people who probably do not utilise their first chances, and honestly, to just be fair, I do not fall into that category.

Is “NLNT89” a different brand from Everything Tacha?

Yes, definitely. It means No Leave, No Transfer 89. I spent 89 days in one of the reality shows that I was in. And no, leave, no transfer was just like a very strong slogan I had to come up with from the reality show. I just wanted to give my fans something to love and be excited about. I’m just that person who loves diversity, and I love to explore new things. NLNT89 is an activewear brand that sells apparel, from clothes that cater to all sizes to sunglasses, water bottles, and much more.

Which housemate were you rooting for to win in this Big Brother Naija season, and why?

No one in particular.

“If God be for you, who can be against you?

With prayers and just understanding where I’m coming from and knowing that everything that I’m having right now I envisioned it from years ago ”

Have you had a moment that made you feel like quitting, and what is your highlight with the job so far?

No, I haven’t had any moment where I felt like quitting because no challenge has ever totally thrown me off balance. There hasn’t been anything that God has sent my way that I haven’t been able to be good at or be great at. So, I think I’m doing great with managing and being amazing in the space so far. And with the highlight of the job, I would say it’s showing up every Friday and just kicking it, interviewing personalities across Africa, speaking to listeners and perfecting my skills as an OAP. We all know being a celebrity has its pros and cons. In your job as an OAP, has your position as a celebrity impacted it positively or negatively or both?

Definitely positively. As said earlier, I interact with some amazing people, and the listeners also get introduced to them. I also get to meet people in the real world who tell me they’d like to be on The Big Friday Show with Tacha. Many people know me as a reality TV star, so it’s been a nice transition for me.

What is your brand, Everything Tacha truly about, and is there anything we should anticipate?

Everything Tacha is an online store for everybody, both men and women.

Everything Tacha sells essentials you need in your day-to-day activity and life, including home essentials and office essentials.

And I came up with that name, Everything Tacha, because I did not see what I cannot sell. Currently, we sell laser hair removal, power banks, air pods, speakers, and so much more. I had to make it affordable because of people like me who are into simplicity. So, it’s a brand worth every penny and a store where

How did your fame from the Big Brother Naija reality show influence your brand and the person we know as Anita Natacha Akide today?

I was already a very big social media influencer before entering the house. The Big Brother platform added to my fame, and I could utilise every opportunity thrown at me and make the best out of it. Even though the same show almost broke me. But you know how the saying goes: If God be for you, who can be against you?

With prayers and just understanding where I’m coming from and knowing that everything that I’m having right now I envisioned it from years ago and everything I’m enjoying right now or that I constantly do have is as a result of constant, constant years of hard work and consistency and basically trying out new things and always giving your audience something to talk about, something to smile about and something to be happy about.

Are there career paths you would love to pursue if the opportunity comes, and why?

Acting definitely. I’ve been in about five movies, and I still have more auditions and more movie roles coming up. I’m currently one of the biggest brand ambassadors. I run a business, I create content, and I can travel whenever I want to travel. Yeah, I think I’m really enjoying life, though, and there’s no career path I love to do that I’m probably not currently doing. Let’s see, you never know what life throws at you, and we just keep learning and trying out new things.

What advice would you love to leave with youths on the verge of giving up on their dreams?

Your feelings are valid. Feeling like giving up means you still have a small amount of motivation to carry on. As someone who was once in that position, I’d advise them to measure where they are now compared to where they were in the past. The growth, no matter how small, shows their dreams are still valid. Build a solid foundation, block out the noise from naysayers and enjoy the ride. I am still on the verge of fulfilling my dreams, but with every new chapter comes new challenges and obstacles, so you must be ready to use what you’ve learnt so far to keep pushing. Lastly, STAY PRAYERFUL. Is there anything from you we should be on the lookout for?

YES! I am about to be on your screens a lot more.

I have about five movies on the horizon.

I am fully immersing myself in Nollywood, building new connections in the hopes of becoming a Nollywood icon one day.

“Your feelings are valid.

Feeling like giving up means you still have a small amount of motivation to carry on. As someone who was once in that position, I’d advise them to measure where they are now compared to where they were in the past.”

Your fans anticipated your participation in the recently concluded Big Brother Naija All-Stars season. Is there something we should know about why you were not in the house?

Not all my fans because some are happy that I wasn’t in the house, and secondly, as I’ve always said, my price went up.

The Tacha of 2019 and the Tacha of 2023 are not the same. I’m a serial entrepreneur with many businesses, and I’m an ambassador to certain brands.

Some specific deliverables and obligations must come through for me, plus I am constantly getting back-to-back bookings from brands. To leave all of this and then go on a show where I’m going to get paid peanuts isn’t worth it. I’m enjoying my work at Cool FM every Friday, and I won’t leave my fans hanging. In

“I also get to meet people in the real world who tell me they’d like to be on The Big Friday Show with Tacha. Many people know me as a reality TV star, so it’s been a nice transition for me.”

How far do you wish to go with being an OAP? That’s an amazing question. Being an OAP has taught me a lot about myself and the industry. I wish to continue The Big Friday Show with Tacha for a very long time, host more shows at home and abroad, and mentor anyone who wishes to become an On-Air Personality.

Which do you enjoy more, being an OAP or brand owner?

I love working out; it helps clear my mind, and with every opportunity I have, I work out. I enjoy charity and giving back; travelling is also up there for me, and I wish to explore more countries in due time.

Who has been your favourite guest on the big Friday show so far, and why?

This is very hard because I’ve loved speaking with all of them. I have had artists, influencers, skit makers, and reality TV stars. Each guest has brought out a different side of me as an OAP. Have you had any guests you regretted inviting to the station, and why?

Not at all. The diversity in guests has made the show very dynamic, and I look forward to every Friday now because of it.

Has your presence at Cool FM taken the station a step higher?

Absolutely. CoolFM is the first radio station in Nigeria to have a reality TV star as an OAP. This is something no one ever thought would happen.

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COVER

I have had great feedback from management, and the show has had two major sponsors, Smirnoff and Schweppes, with more to come.

In the outside world, I have people, including celebrities, coming up to me and letting me know they love and listen to the show.

What is the backstory of how the brand Everything Tacha came into existence?

I started Everything Tacha in 2017, a period where I saw a huge market for the average Nigerian, both men and women, who need cost-effective day-to-day essentials. The brand started with basic beauty products, adornments, electrical appliances, and more.

I initially marketed to my friends, university students and online customers. With the growth in sales came product development, and now Everything Tacha has products such as power banks, portable speakers, AirPods, eyelashes, contact lenses, wireless microphones, and so much more.

If you were given a chance to start life all over, what is that one decision you made in this life that you wouldn’t make again?

To be quite honest, every decision I’ve taken has been for my growth and finding my purpose. I’d say I wouldn’t want to have it any different.

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

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BON APPÉTIT

DELISH BRUNCH RECIPE IDEAS

BY IJEOMA EZEANYIKA

I

s there anything better than weekends that begin with a delicious brunch? Brunch is the perfect combination of breakfast and lunch.

At the brunch table, anything goes, so you can either opt for a savoury fare or seek to satisfy your sweet tooth. It has always been a staple to host brunch for a family get-together or invite neighbours for homemade biscuits and jam.

Brunch is a chance to slow down every weekend and get together with family or friends to enjoy a light-hearted, unhurried meal. Here are two amazing brunch recipe ideas to try out this weekend or next.

BUTTERMILK WAFFLES

CHEESY CROISSANT CASSEROLE

A batch of tender buttermilk waffles topped with pats of melty butter and pools of maple syrup is an excellent way to start your day. The waffles will fill your kitchen with the delicious fragrance of vanilla-scented batter, making it an aromatic haven.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

2cups all-purpose flour 1tbsp Granulated sugar 2tsp Baking powder 1tsp Baking soda 1/2tsp Kosher salt 2 Eggs 2cups Buttermilk (shaken) 1/2cup Butter (melted, plus softened butter for serving) Cooking spray Maple syrup and sliced fresh fruit (for serving)

Directions Step 1

Whisk flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Step 2

Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter in a medium bowl. Then fold into the dry ingredients until just incorporated - do not overmix.

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Step 3

Apply cooking spray over a preheated waffle iron. Then, in the middle of the iron, pour 1/2 cup of batter. Cover and cook until golden.

Transfer the waffle to a plate and repeat until the batter is exhausted.

Step 4

Serve waffles hot topped with softened butter, syrup, and fruit.

What makes this dish special?

Well, it is the delicious contrast between the crispy, flaky edges of the croissant and the soft, cheesy middle.

Step 3

Ingredients

Step 4

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

6 Large croissants, quartered 6 Slices bacon 8 Eggs 3cups Milk (preferably whole) 1cup Heavy cream 2tbsp Finely chopped chives 2tsp Chopped thyme leaves Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Pinch cayenne 1cup Shredded Gruyère (divided) 1cup Shredded mozzarella (divided) Butter (for pan)

Directions Step 1

Preheat oven to 450°. Then, spread croissants on a large baking sheet, cut side up, and bake until golden brown.

Step 2

Over medium heat, cook bacon for 8 minutes until crispy in a large skillet.

Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate, then chop it into bite-size pieces.

Whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, chives and thyme. Then season with salt, pepper, and cayenne, and stir in about ¾ cup gruyère and ¾ cup mozzarella.

Lightly butter a baking dish.

Scatter croissants and cooked bacon into the baking dish, then pour the egg mixture on top.

Press down gently on croissants to ensure they’re fully soaked in the mixture. (If you have time, refrigerate for 30 minutes up to overnight.)

Step 5

When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350°. Then, with the remaining cheeses, top the casserole.

Bake until golden, for about 45 minutes. Garnish with more chives and serve warm.

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BEAUTY

Beauty And Self-Expression Tattoos, Piercings, And Beyond

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

B

eauty can be interpreted as a blank canvas ready to be painted with your own unique story. We can express ourselves in a million different ways, even beyond conventional beauty standards. Some of the most effective methods for expressing oneself are body alterations such as tattoos and piercings. We cover six ways to express yourself with beauty in this article. Everything revolves around accepting who you are and allowing your inner beauty to be seen.

4.NAIL ART

A lovely way to show off your flair is with nail art. A little canvas for elaborate patterns, striking hues, or understated elegance can be created on your nails.

Every nail art design has a story, and you can switch it up whenever you feel like it. To let your nails express your personality and sense of style, get creative with manicure polish, stickers, or even small gems.

MAKEUP 5.MAGIC

Apart from the fact that makeup helps highlight your best features, it also helps cover up your imperfections.

You can transform yourself every day with just a brush, some eyeshadow, and a touch of lipstick. It’s an artistic endeavour, a daily self-portrait that you make.

Let your face serve as a canvas while you play with colour and style.

1.TATTOOS

Tattoos are a visual biography engraved onto your flesh, not just a piece of ink.

Every tattoo you have, whether it’s a sentimental phrase, a cultural emblem, or a treasured memory, they are all a piece of your journey. Make your story boldly visible by selecting designs that speak to your soul.

3.HAIR TRANSFORMATIONS

2.PIERCINGS

Even though they are always small, piercings are essential ways to represent who you are. Piercings let you adorn your body in a way that is exclusively yours, from eyebrows to earlobes. There are countless options, and every piercing declares your unique personality. Show off your elegance and create a look that is uniquely you.

Your hair serves as a canvas.

Experiment with colours, trims, and styles to convey your dynamic personality. Your hair is a versatile canvas for selfexpression, whether you choose bold colours, a stylish pixie cut, or long, flowing strands. Try many looks to find one that suits your personality.

6.FASHION FREEDOM

The easiest way to express oneself is probably through fashion. You can alter your look every day to suit your mood. Accept a variety of looks, such as sporty and sophisticated or boho and chic. A treasure trove of options should be your wardrobe, and the clothes you wear should represent the changes you are becoming.

CONCLUSION

It’s not necessary to worry about complicated syntax or rigid rules when it comes to beauty and self-expression.

Tattoos, piercings, hairstyles, nail art, makeup, and clothing are just a few ways to express your own story on your body.

Your beauty is in your expression, which is a reflection of your always-evolving nature. Allow it to radiate and show the world how stunning you indeed are. Here’s where your journey of self-expression begins!

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THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

ATAFO’S SPRING SUMMER ‘24 COLLECTION

Sartorial Reverie C

elebrated designer Ohimai Atafo recently showcased the ATAFO Spring Summer collection labelled Sartorial Reverie at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The show, sponsored by Macallan, Schweppes, Infinix and GAC motors. featured a mix of garments for men and women. The menswear featured different silhouettes, including men’s designs inspired by the Benin culture and his signature design from last year, tradxedo. The womenswear, on the other hand, merged contemporary and romantic designs. Both the male and female designs had art designs in the collection.

Shaffy Bello

In his style, just like last year, Ohimai Atafo seated everyone in the front row; each guest was made to feel special. During the interlude, a choir spread out on stage, belting a mixture of Nigerian and international songs, keeping everyone entertained.

The event was graced by prominent people in the entertainment industry, including Richard Mofe Damijo, Adesuwa and Banky Wellington and many more.

Ohimai Atafo Damilola Bolarinde

Bizzle, Ik Osakioduwa

Sartorial reverie ATAFO ss24

AFO ss24 Sartorial reverie AT

reverie Sartorial 24 ATAFO ss

rie

Sartorial reve ATAFO ss24

Sartorial reverie ATAFO ss24

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e Sartorial reveri ATAFO ss24

Richard Mofe Damijo

Sartorial reverie ATAFO ss24

Waje

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

A DECADE IN FASHION

BY IJEOMA EZEANYIKA

T

zars Studios 10 years in Fashion, held at Art Twenty One Eko Hotel Lagos on the 20th of October 2023, was a nostalgic fashion experience hosted by the designer Audifferen Ian to celebrate his stupendous journey in the fashion industry.

The ambience was bubbly and artsy, filled with artistic finesse fitting for the theme nostalgia. For the settings design concept, the designer chose installations that felt nostalgic to him. The event kick-started with the display of beautiful creative outfits bodied by the models to the delight of everyone gathered.

In an interview at the event, Ian expressed sincere ecstasy for how the event turned out, also mentioning how he made all the outfits displayed by the models only with the materials he had been using for the past 10 years and nothing new.

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VOL 3 NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 05, 2023

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BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA MOVIE REVIEW:

Scan this with your camera or click to Scan this with your camera or click access the playlist (Youtube Music) to access the playlist (Spotify)

The Killer

T

he Killer represents a return to form for Michael Fassbender, whose cold gaze will make the hair stand on your forearms and, at times, send shivers down your spine. To go along with a darkly comic narration that is pitch-perfect for David Fincher’s meticulous crime thriller, the prolonged opening sequence sets the tone for the entire film. It is a remarkable character study displaying great patience, and the film excels when watching how the main character reacts when sequences unravel and are not under his control.

Par example, the opening is so stoic, cool, calm, and collected. Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kenneth Walker immerse the viewer in the mindset of a man with unmatched paranoid vigilance.

You begin to feel his obsessive sense of control, extreme orderliness, and methodical nature of his highly planned professionalism, and perhaps most importantly, psychological rationalization is used as a defence to excel in a world where very few last a long time.

That means our Killer has to stick to his process, quietly rocking out to The Smiths and performing yoga while always making sure not to leave any DNA—oh yes, that pesky DNA. That’s where Fincher and company grab the viewer and refuse to let go. The Killer is not about a successful hitman but about how a true professional handles himself when things don’t go as planned.

You’ll notice Fincher’s famed use of movement, soaking within each frame.

Fincher always uses the camera lens to mirror and connect his audience with the character – you can feel that overwhelmingly here. As the film progresses, you’ll notice the painstaking, even arduous, discipline in each step taken to accomplish the job.

The Killer is an adaptation of the French comic book of the same name by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon. The immersive character study starts with Fassbender’s unnamed assassin as he stalks a rich whoever about to enjoy a quiet night of BDSM from, by the looks of it, a highly paid dominatrix. Our hitman has no desire

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to find out what the old man did or why someone has put a contract on his head. Frankly, he does not care. All he wants is to do his job professionally and get back to his girlfriend, Magdala (Sophie Charlotte).

We will avoid any more details to prevent spoilers, but we shouldn’t mistake The Killer for a documentary. This is based on a comic, and as such, you can highly question its realism. The source materials, in any case, were written pre-Ring doorbell and HD closedcaption television, leading to a number of gaps in logic most likely attributable to the anachronistic nature of the comic. Fassbender’s character, for some reason, doesn’t have to worry about security footage from the most basic public places to the most secure living quarters in the country. Then there’s the matter of leaving a couple of characters alive, which doesn’t make sense in the grand scheme of the film.

However, that’s beside the point.

What you have here is a cold and calculated study not of a profession but of the practice of discipline.

Of course, Fincher scratches that itch for something different and ultra-cool, unlike most hitman genre films. Fassbender’s dry inner monologue, the affectionless way he adapts his plan to meet one of his victim’s needs or the icy smoulder of surveilling your target.

The Killer is a return to the genre film for Fincher. If you compare it to the master’s almost biblical filmography of Zodiac, Seven, or Fight Club, you’ll undoubtedly walk away disappointed. But that’s because we are incorrectly holding Fincher to an incredibly high standard he himself has set.

The thing is, he has applied his high standard to a source material that has its limitations. To call The Killer, director David Fincher’s new thriller, aloof and cold to the touch is an understatement, despite the presence of nearconstant voiceover narration from star Michael Fassbender as a seasoned assassin. And even if that detachment is part of the point, it doesn’t well serve this efficient but strangely disposable effort.

Rating:6/10

WATCH OF THE WEEK

GEN V After three superbly savage seasons, The Boys has graduated to the spinoffs stage, first with the animated shorts Diabolical and now Gen V, a supes-in-college series that’s every bit as nasty – in mostly good ways – as the flagship series. Cleverly drafting off the anchor show, this coming-of-age superhero satire, in some ways, feels like what The New Mutants should have been.

As usual with The Boys, the premiere roars out of the starting gate, offering a horrific demonstration of the dangers of uncontrolled powers and puberty. That toxic combination informs the back story of Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), whose strange ability involves wielding her own blood as a weapon, becoming the latest student at the superhero training ground Godolkin University, or God U. for short.

Understandably reserved, Marie quickly falls in with the cool kids on campus, a group led by the appropriately named Golden Boy (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who appears to be on the fast track to not only graduating at the top of his class but earning coveted entry into the super-group known as The Seven, whose real unsavoury natures are well known to viewers of The Boys.

and relationships, to pull viewers along.

Plus, the producers know their audience well enough to pepper the dialogue with clever pop-culture riffs, indulging in detours like debating the merits of Waterworld.

The Boys world surely isn’t intended for the faint of heart, but there’s a method to its madness and an underlying warning about greed running amok and parents letting their babies be turned into medical experiments, their values warped by the promise of riches at the end of that rainbow.

the world or starring in reality TV, hey, it’s all the same.

Setting this all around a college dorm is as deliciously fraught with possibilities as that sounds, although Gen V occasionally bogs down a bit on its Riverdalewith-superpowered soap-opera elements.

Of all the big-ticket franchises launched by newer streaming services – including Amazon’s massive bet on the bland The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – The Boys has to be among the most valuable, and Gen V only provides further evidence of its fertile commercial potential.

Like the adults in this ruthless environment, the kids might be extraordinary, but they’re not all right.

That formula might not quite equal The Boys at its best, but for those who sink their teeth into it, Gen V passes its admission test with flying colours.

Fortunately, there’s enough Still, all is not as it seems at Godolkin, momentum, with shifting alliances unleashing a shocking series of events and underlying mystery as to what or who was responsible. That thrusts Marie into sort-of detective mode without being entirely sure who she can trust, other than her roommate Emma (Lizze Broadway), whose ability to shrink, Ant-Man style, is both played for broad laughs and a source of rather pointed social Alex Isley_ Masego_ Jack Dine - Alina Baraz_ Galimatias - Fantasy commentary.

Good & Plenty

Indeed, if there’s one underlying thread to the wider The Boys universe beyond the corrupting aspects of power, it’s the commoditization of superpowers, where everything is seen as a means of feeding the financial interests of Vought, the corporation that transforms babies into superheroes – and just as often, monsters.

At the college, that leaves all sorts of ways to potentially cash in on one’s powers, whether it’s crimefighting or entertainment, with the bosses at Vought acting as if there’s scant difference between the two. Saving

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