Issuu

IKECHUKWU ONUNAKU

The Art of Reinvention

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

CONTENT

EDITOR’S NOTE Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

14 FITNESS

have always admired creatives who refuse to be confined by a single identity. Ikechukwu Onunaku, popularly known as Killz, embodies this spirit of reinvention. From his emergence in Nigeria’s hip-hop scene and the release of Son of the Soil in 2006 to his growing presence in Nollywood, he has continued to explore new possibilities. His transition into acting brought memorable performances in The Wedding Party, Gidi Up and The Black Book. More recently, his role in the 2025 action thriller Dead Tide showcased another dimension of his craft, drawing on his martial arts experience. What fascinates me is his willingness to embrace demanding roles while remaining connected to his creative roots. In this conversation, Onunaku reflects on the experiences that have shaped his journey across music and film, his thoughts on Nigeria’s evolving entertainment industry, and the discipline required to keep growing. Beyond the spotlight, we discover the person behind the performer and the passions that continue to drive him forward. Scroll to pages 8 to 10 to read Ikechukwu Onunaku’s story. Hyperpigmentation is common in darker skin tones, often appearing as patches of uneven colour. While it can affect confidence, effective treatments are available. This issue explores five ways to manage hyperpigmentation while protecting your skin’s health. You’ll find this on page 13. Personal style goes beyond expensive clothes or fleeting trends; it is about dressing in a way that feels authentic to you. From your favourite pieces to your everyday choices, scroll to our fashion pages to discover four signs you have found your signature style. Our movie review page has compiled a list of music hits for you. Scroll to page 20 to download them. I promise you’ll enjoy the songs. Until next week, enjoy your read.

15 TRAVEL 16 CULTURE Signs to Know 04-05 4You've Found Your Personal Style

FASHION

Untold Truths 07 Can One Person Be #UNSHAKABLE

TRUTHS

8-10 COVER

LUXURY SILK

BEAUTY

Your Everything? (Part Two)

17 DECOR 18 THE SCENE

DOWNTOWN Ikechukwu Onunaku The Art of Reinvention

Found It.

Everything You Need to Know About Hyperpigmentation on Melanin-Rich Skin

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

The Active Date Fun Ways to Exercise Without Calling It a Workout Everything You Need to Know About Staying Safe on a Solo Trip in Africa What Happens When Your Choices Stop Being Just Yours? 5 Small Touches That Make Your Home Feel Different

BellaNaija Marks 20th Anniversary With StarStudded High Fashion Gala in Lagos

A Taste of Deji

Digger

REVIEW

WHAT YOU SAID 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.

Onah

Issue No. 296 • October 11, 2026

FAMILY LEGACY The Next Generation Stepping In

INSTAGRAM

@miriamnwosah

@onahluciaa +2348033239132

AUSTYN OGANNAH

Sally Chiwuzie @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind - Contributing Writer Sally Chiwuzie is a non-practising barrister who owns the brand #Unshakable. She is the author of Silent Symphonies, a fictional love story, and the creator of the podcast Chronicles of #Unshakable Truths.

@divine_creations_01

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Writers:Dorcas Akintoye, Johnson Chukwueke & Evi-Ben Ezaga Design & Layout: Hogan Effiom Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun, Victoria Dairo & Olamide Abolarin Consulting Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown 254 Remi Fani-Kayode Avenue, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888

Ada Obiajunwa @aaddaahh - Contributing Writer Ada Obiajunwa writes from Lagos about the big truths tucked inside ordinary moments — friendship, self-discovery, and the quiet revolutions of everyday life. She believes in the power of presence, good banter, and decoding the unsaid. Through her fragrance studio, WhiffWonders, she also crafts scents that weave memory and emotion into experiences that feel like home.

@otorroseline I'm proud of them

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Issue No. ISSUE NO.297 261••October FEBRUARY 18, 2026 08, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

FASHION

SIGNS TO KNOW YOU'VE FOUND YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

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BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

inding your personal style is not always about having a wardrobe filled with expensive clothes or following every trend. Your personal style is the way you choose to dress because it feels right for you. It reflects your taste, lifestyle and personality. Here are four signs that you have found your personal style.

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

FASHION YOU KNOW WHAT LOOKS AND FEELS GOOD ON YOU

One sign is knowing the types of clothes that ma ke you feel comfortable an d confident. You understan d the cuts, colours, fabric s and shapes that suit yo ur body and make you fee l good when you wear the m. You are no longer pickin g something simply beca use it looks good on someon e else. Instead, you can loo k at an outfit and quickly tell if it works for you. This does not mean wearing the same thing every da y. It means you have a be tter understanding of what makes you feel like yo urself.

YOUR WARDROBE FEELS MORE CONSISTENT Another sign is that your clothes begin to work well together. You may notice that many of your tops can be worn with several bottoms, or that your shoes and accessories match most of your outfits. This usually happens because you choose pieces that fit your preferred style. Your wardrobe does not have to look boring or have only one colour. It has a clear feeling or direction. As a result, you can create different outfits without feeling like you’re changing your style each time.

YOU CAN DRESS WITHOUT FOLLOWING EVERY TREND Fashion tre

nds can be fun, but you do not fe el pressured to wear ever ything that becomes popular. You can see a viral ou tfit and appreciate it with out feeling like you must buy it. When you have found yo ur personal style, you know w hich trends fit into your wardr obe and which ones do no t. You may also choose to up date your wardrobe with a few trendy pieces while keep ing the styles you alread y love. Your clothes are guided by your taste, not by wha t ever yone else is wearing.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET DRESSED The biggest sign is how you feel in your clothes. Yo u are not constantly adjustin g your outfit or wondering wh ether you look like someone else. Instead, you can leave the house feeling comfortab le, confident and happy wi th what you are wearing. Your style starts to feel natur al rather than forced. Even when you experiment with new looks, you still fin d ways to make them your ow n. At this point, fashion beco mes less about impressing pe ople and more about expressi ng yourself.

Finding your personal style is a process, and it can change as you grow. You do not need to fit into one fashion category. What matters is finding clothes that match your personality, lifestyle and comfort. When your wardrobe feels like a reflection of you, you are closer to your personal style than you think.

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Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

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SALLY CHIWUZIE

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

#UNSHAKABLE TRUTHS

UNTOLD TRUTHS @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind

Can One Person Be Your Everything? (Part Two)

ast week, I wrote about the different friends who bring different parts of me to life, and why I struggle to name just one as “best”. No single friend has to understand every version of me for our friendship to matter.

There is another possibility we do not always enjoy considering: perhaps the other person has been honest, and we have been hopeful. They said they did not want marriage. They said they preferred something casual. We stayed, privately believing that being loved by us would change the terms.

However, it gets a little trickier when you are choosing your forever person. Apparently, all my personalities and I have thoughts.

If someone has clearly shown you what they are offering, can you fairly resent them for not becoming the person you hoped they would be?

Friendship asks for care, honesty and reciprocity, but we are not necessarily negotiating a shared future. Romantic partnership brings another set of expectations. So perhaps the first question is whether we fit.

Of course people can mislead us, and promises can go unfulfilled, but where someone has been clear, we have a responsibility to take them seriously. Wanting more does not make us unreasonable. Their wanting something different does not automatically make them inadequate. It may mean we should not be choosing each other.

Attraction helps enormously. I am hardly going to pretend otherwise, but once we have finished being fascinating over dinner, can we actually talk? Is there a friendship beneath the chemistry, and do we want lives that can comfortably become a shared one? And can you love the version of me who has nothing to perform that evening? I mean the makeup-free woman, certainly, but also the tired one, the uncertain one, the one who has run out of entertaining conversation. Can I disagree with you or admit that I am struggling without feeling that I have become less desirable? I want to offer that room too. Acceptance must leave space for both people to be imperfect, accountable and capable of growth. I do not expect someone to inherit my entire personality collection or enjoy everything I enjoy. That is partly what my friends are for; however, affection that feels reciprocal matters to me within a romantic relationship. It need not look identical to mine. Someone may be quieter or express care differently. What matters is whether we both feel wanted, rather than one of us

People have different priorities. An arrangement I would find lonely may suit someone else. My minimum is not everybody’s minimum, but I need to know it and communicate it. The other person cannot respond honestly to a need I keep insisting does not exist.

continually supplying the warmth and hoping it will eventually become mutual. Affection is only one consideration, though. What if the relationship they are offering falls short of what we want in commitment, shared ambition or the future we hope to build? Are you asking for too much—or asking someone who does not want the same relationship? We tell people not to settle. We also tell them that nobody is perfect. Somewhere between those instructions, we have to distinguish between differences we can happily live with and needs we are pretending not to have.

The same honesty applies to personality. Someone may find my sociability exhausting; someone else may delight in it. I may find their quietness reassuring, or feel lonely beside it. Neither of us has to be wrong for the fit to be wrong. Love should leave us willing to learn and adjust. But I cannot insist that you accept me as I am while quietly making plans for who you need to become. I still stand by what I said last week: if I love you, you will know. But the depth of my affection cannot, by itself, make us compatible. Perhaps the #Unshakable truth is that one person cannot be your everything, but you should not have to become someone else to build a life with them, nor expect them to do so for you. Are we choosing each other, or choosing who we hope the other person will eventually become? ‘See’ you next week.

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Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER

IKECHUKWU ONUNAKU The Art of Reinvention

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

or Ikechukwu Onunaku, reinvention has never meant abandoning one dream to pursue another. Known to music fans as Killz, the Nigerian rapper emerged during the 2000s hiphop era with a confident sound and a distinctive personality that helped him carve out a place in the industry. His debut album, Son of the Soil, arrived in 2006, introducing audiences to an artist whose ambitions extended beyond music. Over time, he ventured into acting, earning recognition for his role as Sola Akinyemi in The Wedding Party and its sequel, while also appearing in productions such as Gidi Up, Gbomo Gbomo Express and The Black Book

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

to martial arts. I was also very into mimicking movies and music videos, which grew into a heavy interest in my father's record collection. As I grew up, older sisters always returned from uni with r&b and hip-hop records. This solidified my interest in music. Leaving Nigeria back to America for university in the golden era of hip-hop was lifechanging

COVER developing, particularly outside music and acting? Yes, grateful to God for the network my career has provided me, I have endeavours in both entertainment and non-entertainment. But I would like to keep them undisclosed til they disclose themselves.

Your music career introduced audiences to Killz, while acting brought You recently starred in Dead Tide, another dimension to your public an action thriller set in identity. How do Badagry. What attracted As I grew up, older you approach you to the project, and these two sisters always returned creative sides, how did your martial arts background influence and does one from uni with r&b and your preparation for the give you more Yet Onunaku's story is not simply about role? hip-hop records. This freedom than moving between two entertainment Dead Tide was brought to the other? solidified my interest in Both music and industries. It is about sustaining a me by the director. It was creative identity through changing pitched to me as a project film allow me music. Leaving Nigeria seasons, exploring new possibilities that had me in mind with a to approach and finding fresh reasons to return to semblance of The Equalizer. creativity from back to America for the work. In 2025, he starred in Dead different angles, university in the golden be it writing, Tide, an action thriller set in Badagry, The Nigerian drawing on his martial arts experience entertainment industry era of hip-hop was life- producing, for a physically demanding role. The has changed considerably directing, or project offered another opportunity to since your early days in performing. I’m changing explore a different side of his abilities as hip-hop. What changes just glad to have a performer. have you found most significant, and the freedom to be capable of all how have you adapted to the new With a career spanning music, film realities of the industry? What is one ambition you still have and other creative pursuits, Onunaku The music and film industries of the that audiences might not expect represents an entertainer who world are always evolving. Change is from you—whether in film, music, continues to explore what is possible inevitable. Part of the definition of hipentrepreneurship or another field beyond the labels audiences attach to hop is change; hence, I allow myself to entirely? him. In this conversation, we look at change and As a young teen, I was Both music and film the experiences that have shaped his grow. My music always involved in keeping journey, the projects occupying his continues to do garden of our home allow me to approach the attention, his perspective on Nigeria's so also and, at and very interested in evolving entertainment landscape and the same time, creativity from different planting different things and the personal experiences that keep him remain constant watching their growth and angles, be it writing, grounded. as to my core the outcome. So agriculture attributes. With is a serious interest of mine. producing, directing, or In this exclusive interview with film, acting Design also captivates me, THEWILL DOWNTOWN’s Johnson allows you performing. and I might see my hand in Chukwueke, Ikechukwu Onunaku to become it sooner rather than later. speaks on the discipline behind his characters different from you, yet The growth and provision of opportunity craft and the life he leads away from the allows you to utilise your essence at the for the young is another. Hopefully I spotlight. This is a conversation about same time. Besides acting, writing and will be able to provide platforms that creativity, growth and the freedom to producing become part of the picture. enable the discovery of untapped talents keep becoming something new. Opening doors for those up-and-coming from academia to athletics, music, film, in any way I am capable of. The growth writing, etc. of both film and music globally has been Your career has great, creating greater Looking at your body of work, is there taken you from opportunities for a project that challenged you in an Success is defined Nigerian hip-hop to Nigerian creatives. I'm unexpected way or made you discover Nollywood and other differently by people. very proud to be part something new about yourself as a creative ventures. of the cause of such creative? For me, I may be late in an effect. Looking back, what If I'm totally honest, as far as film is experiences have concerned, I'm still hungry for a project the game of family, but shaped the person Beyond performing, to really challenge me. and entertainer you I am looking forward you have been are today? associated with You have worked on projects across to starting one with the writing, production music and film. What are you currently Growing up, I was very active, from and other creative working on, and what upcoming right partner. school theatre, work. Are there projects should your audience look sports and athletics projects or business forward to? ventures behind the scenes that you are Rest assured, I'm constantly recording. PAGE 9

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER It never actually stops. But yes, I've started to put together a new body of work. Actually two. Besides that, there are a couple of film and animation projects I have written. Til then, my audience can read my book I published last year. Longevity in entertainment requires more than talent. How do you approach reinvention, choose the opportunities worth pursuing and decide when it is time to try something different? I'm always trying something different and always allowing myself to think and process outside the box of normalcy. I'm always open to learning and never feel like I know it all. Away from cameras, recording studios and public appearances, what does a typical day in your life look like, and what do you enjoy doing when work is over? I don't have typical days. When there's free time, I try to fill it either with the pursuit of things on the back

burner or rest. Travel and exploration when possible, and writing and reading, which are becoming lost practices in the current digital world. What’s your thought on marriage and family life influencing one’s priorities? Your outlook on success and the way you approach your career? Success is defined differently by people. For me, I may be late in the game of family, but I am looking forward to starting one with the right partner. As you look towards the next chapter of your life, what would personal fulfilment look like for you beyond professional recognition, financial success and public acclaim? Peace of mind, fulfilment and the ability to help others will fill my life with satisfaction. PAGE 10

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

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Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

LUXURY SILK

ADA " OBIAJUNWA @aaddaahh

here are the

FOUND IT. "Never mind." He went away. His footsteps went down the hallway. She did not look up. After that, they found the tape measure in a bag in the store.

scissors?" She didn't look up. "Second drawer in the kitchen. Under the foil." A few seconds passed. "They're not there." "Lift the foil." Silence. Then: "Oh." She kept reading. Later, from the kitchen: "Do we have batteries?" "Cupboard beside the fridge. Top shelf." "Which side?" "Left." A pause. "Can't see them." "Behind the blue container." Another pause. "Oh." The next morning: "What's the Wi-Fi password?" She gave it to him. He looked at her. "How do you know that?" She sipped her tea. On Saturday afternoon, the power had been gone for an hour. The generator hummed on the other side of the wall. She was curled up in the armchair when someone called from the hallway. "Where's the screwdriver?" She thought about it. Nothing came. "I don't know." There was silence. "Eh?" "I don't know." "Are you sure?" She lowered her phone. "Am I sure I don't know?" "No, I mean, you haven't seen it?" "I haven't." She went back to her phone. A drawer opened. Then closed. "Is it in the kitchen?" "I don't know." Another drawer. "Where do we normally keep it?" She almost answered. Then realised she didn't know that either.

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A document everyone had been looking for inside another document.

"Try the store." She heard things being moved around. Something fell. "Careful!" "I am being careful."

Something else fell. She decided not to ask. More things moved.

Then nothing. The fan hung still above her. She pushed the throw off her legs. Her phone said forty percent. She read a message she had already read. She forgot about it. Twenty minutes later: "Found it!" She looked up. "Where was it?" "In that black toolbox." "The one on the bottom shelf?" "Yes." "Oh." A few days later: "Where's the charger for the power bank?" "Second drawer." She heard it open. "It's not here." "At the back." Things moved. "Found it." That evening, she opened the drawer looking for something else. The charger was near the front. She looked at it for a moment. Then closed the drawer and left it where he had put it. One afternoon he stood in the doorway of the room where she was working. "Have you seen..." He stopped.

The generator receipt, folded inside a cookbook. The gate remote in the pocket of a coat nobody had worn since Harmattan. The spare key in a handbag nobody had used in weeks. Each time: "Found it." She didn't ask. One Sunday, it was the car

key. The searching started while she was cooking. Pockets. The hook by the door. The little bowl. She stirred. She lifted the lid and put it back. It went on for a long time. The lid rattled. The stew began to spit. She turned the gas down. Then, from somewhere near the bedroom: "Found it." She turned the gas back up. One evening, she was on her laptop when she heard a cupboard open. Then another. A drawer slid out. Someone walked past her, checked the dining table and went back. Nobody asked her anything. She kept typing. Outside, a neighbour's generator coughed and caught. Her tea had gone cold beside her. A chair scraped. Something was lifted, then put down. The screen dimmed. She touched the trackpad, and it brightened. Another cupboard opened. Then: "Found it!" She kept her eyes on the laptop. The cupboard closed. She typed another sentence. Then another. "Where was it?"

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

BEAUTY EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYPERPIGMENTATION ON MELANIN-RICH SKIN BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

yperpigmentation is very common in darker skin tones. It happens when the skin produces too much melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its natural colour. When extra melanin collects in one area, that area can look darker than the surrounding skin. The good news is that hyperpigmentation can be treated. In this article, we will show you five effective ways to treat hyperpigmentation while protecting your skin.

USE SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY Sunscreen is one of the most important steps when treating hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure can make dark spots darker and slow their fading. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning, even when you are not spending much time outside. If pigmentation is your main concern, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides may also help protect against visible light. Sunscreen will not remove existing spots on its own, but it helps prevent them from getting worse while other treatments work.

USE DARKSPOT -FADING INGREDIENTS Certain skincare ingredients can help improve uneven skin tone. Vitamin C can brighten the skin and help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Niacinamide can help reduce excess pigmentation and is generally gentle on the skin. Azelaic acid is especially useful if acne is causing your dark marks because it can help with both acne and pigmentation. Retinoids can also improve pigmentation by increasing skin cell turnover. However, they can irritate, so start slowly. You do not need to use all these ingredients at once. Choose one and give your skin time to adjust.

TREAT THE CAUSE If acne, ingrown hairs, shaving, or skin irritation keeps causing dark spots, treating the pigmentation alone will not solve the problem. Avoid picking or squeezing pimples because this can increase inflammation and leave darker marks. If shaving irritates, use a clean, sharp razor and avoid repeatedly going over the same area. Also, stop using skincare products that cause strong burning or irritation. Damaging the skin can lead to more pigmentation.

CONSIDER PROFESSIONAL TREATMENTS For stubborn pigmentation, a dermatologist may recommend treatments such as chemical peels or certain laser procedures. However, people with melanin-rich skin need to be especially careful. Treatments that cause excessive inflammation can sometimes worsen pigmentation. Choose a qualified professional with experience treating darker skin tones. They can identify your type of pigmentation and recommend a suitable treatment.

BE PATIENT AND CONSISTENT Hyperpigmentation usually does not disappear overnight. Depending on how deep and severe it is, fading can take weeks or months. Keep your routine simple: cleanse gently, use a suitable treatment, moisturise, and apply sunscreen. Avoid harsh scrubs, unknown bleaching creams, and using too many strong products at once. More irritation can mean more dark spots.

Hyperpigmentation is common on melanin-rich skin, but you can manage it. The goal is not to change your natural skin colour but to help your skin look healthier, clearer, and more balanced.

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Issue Issue No. 297 October 18, 2026 No.•297 • October 18, 2026

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FITNESS

The Active Date

FUN WAYS TO EXERCISE WITHOUT CALLING IT A WORKOUT

BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE

ot everyone gets excited about gym sessions, treadmills or counting repetitions, and that is perfectly fine. Sometimes, the thought of changing into workout clothes and following a strict exercise routine is enough to make you postpone being active until tomorrow. Whether you are planning a date with your partner, catching up with friends or enjoying your own company, these activities can help you move more while having a genuinely good time.

TURN A DANCE SESSION INTO A DATE

Forget standing in front of a mirror trying to master every move. Put together a playlist of your favourite Afrobeats hits, clear some space, and have a dance challenge. You can compete to see who remembers the most choreography, teach each other new steps, or simply dance until your favourite song ends. Dancing gets your heart rate up, works different muscle groups, and can lift your mood. The best part? Nobody needs perfect rhythm to participate.

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MAKE WALKING MORE INTERESTING A walk does not have to involve endless laps around the same street. Choose a neighbourhood you have never explored, visit a local market, discover interesting architecture, or walk to a café instead of driving. You could even create a photo challenge, taking pictures of unusual signs, colourful buildings or beautiful street scenes along the way. These little missions make walking feel less repetitive while helping you spend more time on your feet.

BRING OUT YOUR COMPETITIVE SIDE

A little friendly competition can make physical activity surprisingly addictive. Try badminton, table tennis, bowling, basketball, tennis or a game of football with friends. Racquet sports are especially useful because you move, react and change direction while concentrating on the game rather than the effort involved. Start with an activity that matches everyone's ability, and keep the focus on enjoyment rather than winning every point.

PLAN AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Swap the usual restaurant reservation for something that gets you moving. Explore a nature trail, go cycling, try kayaking where available or plan a day of sightseeing on foot. You can also visit a park for frisbee, casual games or a picnic that involves walking around and exploring beforehand. Choose activities that suit your fitness level, check safety requirements and bring water, especially when the weather is hot.

MAKE ORDINARY ERRANDS MORE ACTIVE You do not always need a special outing to move more. Visit a shopping centre and walk through several sections; take the stairs when practical; walk to nearby shops; or turn household chores into a shared challenge. Cooking together can also involve trips to the market and plenty of movement around the kitchen. These activities may not replace every form of structured exercise, but they help make movement a natural part of everyday life.

Staying active does not have to mean forcing yourself through workouts you dislike. Start with something you genuinely enjoy, invite someone along if you like, and let consistency develop naturally.

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue IssueNo. No.297 297••October October18, 18,2026 2026

TRAVEL

Everything You Need to Know About Staying Safe on a Solo Trip in Africa BY OLAMIDE ABOLARIN

here is something deeply liberating about exploring a new place entirely on your own terms. Solo travel in Africa is one of the most rewarding experiences a traveller can have, but like any adventure worth having, it requires preparation. Safety is not about fear. It is about being smart enough to enjoy every moment without unnecessary risk. Here is what you need to know before you go.

RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU LEAVE Knowledge is your first line of defence. Before you book anything, spend serious time understanding the country you are visiting. Understand the political climate, cultural expectations, areas to avoid, and local laws that may differ significantly from what you are used to at home. Travel forums, official government advisories, and firsthand accounts from other travellers are all valuable resources. The more you know before you arrive, the more confidently you will move when you get there.

ALWAYS SHARE YOUR ITINERARY WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST

Someone at home should always know exactly where you are. Before you leave, share your full itinerary — your flights, accommodation details, and plans for each day — with a trusted friend or family member. Check in regularly throughout your trip. It takes less than five minutes, and it is one of the simplest and most effective safety habits any solo traveller can build.

STAY CONNECTED AT ALL TIMES

The moment you land, get a local SIM card. Reliable data and a working local number are not luxuries for a solo traveller; they are necessities. They keep you connected to maps, ride-hailing apps, emergency services, and the people back home. An expensive international roaming plan is never worth it when a local SIM card costs almost nothing and works better.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS WITHOUT HESITATION

Your instincts exist for a reason. If a situation feels wrong, a person makes you uncomfortable, or a location does not feel safe, remove yourself immediately and without apology. Solo travel sharpens your awareness of your environment in ways that group travel never does. Learn to listen to that awareness. The moments you override your gut are almost always the moments you regret later.

CHOOSE YOUR ACCOMMODATION WISELY Where you sleep shapes your entire experience. Well-reviewed guesthouses, centrally located hotels, and accommodations with visible security measures are always worth the extra consideration. Read recent reviews carefully and pay attention to comments about safety and neighbourhood. Prioritise security first.

Solo travel in Africa is not something to be afraid of; you just have to be prepared. With the right research, habits, and mindset, you can explore it confidently and come back with nothing but extraordinary stories. Preparation is not the opposite of adventure. It is what makes adventure possible.

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Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

CULTURE

EVI-BEN EZAGA

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CHOICES STOP BEING JUST YOURS?

ost personal choices stay personal. But for public figures, even decisions that have nothing to do with their work can shape how they are seen, discussed and judged.

choice, or a like on a post can all Audiences become clues that audiences use to start understand who they are. asking questions: Separate moments begin to Why did connect. A relationship, an you attend appearance or a comment can add that up to a larger picture, sometimes event? with very little context beyond what is visible.

When Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour, Sheeran chose to distance himself from Why the decision rather than defend it. That did you single move became part of the story. make that choice? Critics called him spineless for not Being taking a side, fellow musicians publicly familiar condemned him, and fans began to an audience does not mean being unfollowing him online. Suddenly, the accountable for every personal decision. A conversation was no longer only about person can share parts of their life publicly what had happened, but about what without agreeing to explain every choice his involvement might say about him. they make. But the more an audience feels it knows someone, the more it can expect an This is not limited to international explanation. artists. In Nigeria, public figures have faced similar backlash over political Even affiliations, relationships and public silence gets statements, sometimes over things read. Public they said years earlier that resurface figures at a moment they did not choose. are often The choice may be personal, but the expected reaction rarely stays that way. to weigh in when Audiences rarely see a public figure's actions as isolated decisions. Attending an event can read as endorsement. Working with someone can read as agreement. Supporting a political figure can be seen as alignment, whether or not that was ever the intention. People can reasonably care about the values and choices of those they admire. Yet a person can be known for years through their work and still find that one choice becomes the detail through which others understand them. PAGE 16

The same choice can mean different things to different people, and in a culture where conversations move fast, interpretation often happens before there is room for explanation. Being publicly known does not mean giving up the right to make personal decisions. It also does not mean audiences must agree with those decisions. But visibility changes the circumstances in which those choices are made. More people are watching, more people have opinions, and more people can attach meanings that the person making the choice never intended.

an issue matters to their audience. Yet, silence can mean different things to different people: neutrality to one, avoidance to another, privacy to someone else. Speaking invites criticism. So does staying quiet.

That is one of the less obvious realities of public life today. A public figure can control what they say, what they do and how much of themselves they share, but they cannot fully control what those things come to represent. Once a choice becomes visible, it can become part of a public identity that is no longer entirely yours to define.

This reflects a wider shift in what it means to be publicly known. Public figures are not only watched for what they produce or say in their professional lives. A friendship, a fashion

That conversation may not be one a person set out to start, and its meaning may not be theirs alone to decide.

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

DÉCOR

5 Small Touches That Make Your Home Feel Different ADD A SIGNATURE SCENT The way your home smells matters more than people think. A fresh, nice scent can make your space feel clean and welcoming immediately. You can use scented candles, air fresheners, or even natural scents like citrus peels or fresh flowers. Pick a scent you love and let it become part of your home. Over time, that smell becomes familiar and comforting.

REARRANGE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE You do not always need new things. Sometimes, you just need a new arrangement. Move your furniture around. Change the position of your chair, table, or even your bed. Swap items between rooms. A throw pillow in the living room can work in the bedroom. A small table can move to a different corner. This gives your home a fresh look without spending money.

BRING IN PLANTS OR FLOWERS BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

our home does not need a full makeover to feel new again. Sometimes, it is the small changes that make the biggest difference. The little things you add or adjust can completely change how your space feels, from dull to warm, and even from plain to inviting. What makes this even better is that these changes are simple. In this article, we will show you five small touches that can make your home feel different in a beautiful way.

CHANGE YOUR LIGHTING

Lighting affects everything. It can make your home feel calm, cosy, bright, or even boring. If your space feels too harsh, try softer lighting. Warm bulbs instead of bright white ones can instantly make your room feel more relaxed. You can also add small lamps instead of relying only on one big ceiling light. It makes your space feel more personal and peaceful.

Adding something living to your space instantly changes the mood. Plants make your home feel fresh and alive. Even one small plant on a table or by the window can brighten up the room. If you are not into plants, fresh flowers work just as well. They add colour, softness, and a natural feel to your space.

UPDATE SOFT ITEMS (PILLOWS, CURTAINS, RUGS)

Soft items are easy to change, and they make a big impact. Switch your throw pillows. Change your curtains. Add a small rug. These things might seem small, but they can completely change the look of your room. Try different colours or patterns.

Making your home feel different does not have to be hard or expensive. It is about paying attention to small details and how they make you feel. Sometimes, all your home needs is a small touch to feel like a whole new place.

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Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

DARE & DEOLA ART AL

BOLANLE OLUKANNI

ADE

BUCCI FRANKLIN

JUMOKE PEDRO & BODE PEDRO

BUSOLA TEJUMOLA

IAMS LA AND KEHINDE WILL

AYO MAKUN

DEBO

BELLANAIJA MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH STAR-STUDDED HIGH FASHION GALA IN LAGOS BellaNaija celebrated its 20th anniversary with a glamorous, star-studded gala at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. With the Theme High Fashion Icon, the celebration brought together leading figures in entertainment, fashion, media and business, including Rita Dominic, Ayo Makun, Basketmouth, Bovi, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, KieKie, Denrele Edun and Uti Nwachukwu.

UCHE PED

DIIADEM

Guests showcased striking ensembles on a grand, Met Gala-inspired red carpet, celebrating African fashion and creativity. The evening featured a Moët & Chandon Welcome Lounge, an MTN Prestige Lounge, personalised caricatures and podcast conversations. Hosted by Jimmie Akinsanya, the afterparty featured a live performance by Segun Johnson, with Schweppes serving as the official refreshment partner.

UKWU

UTI NWACH

Founded by Uche Pedro in 2006, BellaNaija marked the milestone by celebrating two decades of amplifying African stories, championing emerging talent and documenting the continent’s evolving cultural landscape.

LANRE DA SILVA

KIE KIE

PAGE 18

RITA DOMINIC

INK EZE

EBUKA OBI-UCHENDU

EZINNE CHINKATA

IDIA AISEN

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

s e l c i n o r h c ’s y s s ca A TASTE OF DEJI

Thank God my friends weren't there. Titi would have embarrassed me before I even finished my first drink. After a while, I leaned closer. "Would you like to get some air? Everywhere is getting too hot." "Sure." Outside, the music became a distant noise. We walked slowly, our hands brushing until he finally held mine. I glanced at him, and he smiled. My stomach did something embarrassing. When I said I wanted to go home, he offered to walk me. Of course, I agreed. I wasn't about to ruin a perfectly good opportunity. At my door, I turned to him. "Would you like to come in for a bit?" He looked at me, smiling slightly. "Are you sure?" "Yes, Deji. I'm sure." Inside, I offered him water, but neither of us seemed interested in drinking anything. We stood in my sitting room, looking at each other like we had both forgotten what to say. "You've been quiet since we got here," he teased. "Maybe you're making me nervous." His smile widened. "Am I?" "Don't let it enter your head." He laughed, stepping closer. I could smell his cologne, warm and intoxicating. When he gently brushed a strand of hair from my face, my teasing suddenly disappeared. His eyes searched mine. "Can I kiss you?" I nodded. His lips met mine softly, almost cautiously. Then I pulled him closer, and the kiss deepened. His hands settled around my waist while mine found their way to his neck. Every time we paused, we looked at each other and smiled before kissing again.

When he kissed my neck, I let out a quiet breath, gripping his shirt. He whispered my name against my skin, and somehow, hearing it in his voice made everything feel more intense.

eji was the most popular guy at the club. Every lady wanted him, and my friends were no exception. They could talk about this man for hours, and somehow, the conversation always returned to his sexual abilities.

Until Deji walked up to me one Friday night.

He was tall, dark, and handsome, with a body that made you look twice. I could admit that much. But I never understood why everybody acted like sleeping with him was some kind of achievement.

"Can I sit with you?"

Titi once joked that she wouldn't mind having a one-night stand with him because of what she had heard from other ladies. According to her, she wasn't interested in dating him. She just wanted to experience what everybody kept talking about.

We started talking, and surprisingly, conversation flowed easily. He was funny, confident, and nothing like the intimidating man I had imagined from a distance.

We made our way to my bedroom, stopping more than once to kiss. By then, I wasn't thinking about the ladies at the club or the things my friends had said. I wanted him, and he wanted me.

I noticed a few ladies staring at us. Naturally, I laughed a little louder at his jokes and occasionally touched his arm when I spoke. I was enjoying myself, and honestly, I wanted them to see it.

When we finally fell onto my bed together, we had the best night of our lives.

I laughed when she said it. Back then, I didn't think much of it.

"Hi." I looked up from my drink, almost wondering if he was greeting somebody behind me. "Hi," I replied, hiding my surprise. The Almighty Deji wanted to sit with me. I smiled and nodded, pretending it was the most normal thing in the world.

I pulled him back to my lips, no longer interested in pretending I wasn't affected by him. "Are you sure you want this?" he asked, resting his forehead against mine. "Deji, if you ask me that question again, I might change my mind." He laughed, and I kissed him to shut him up.

Titi had been right about everything she said about him. Now, I finally understood the hype.

PAGE 19

THEWILL THEWILL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN •• www.thewilldowntown.com

Issue No. 297 • October 18, 2026

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera or click to access the playlist (Youtube Music)

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

MOVIE REVIEW:

Digger chewing the appropriate amount of scenery) go into major spin control. Their concern isn't necessarily stopping the inevitable but making sure they look OK coming out of it.

om Cruise really, really goes for it in Digger, a big, showy apocalypse comedy that matches and even one-ups the performer's outsize energy. After a decade of franchise fare (the superb, in this writer’s opinion, Mission: Impossible movies), it's a reminder that Cruise is still one of our finest actors, and that at 64, he still has plenty more to offer the world of film than death-defying stunts in Mission: Impossible and Top Gun sequels. To be fair, Digger is a bit of a death-defying stunt in its own right. Cruise appears underneath pounds of makeup to become Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon and master of the universe who wields mighty global power.

Digger and Compson are joined by Riz Ahmed as Ganesh, a scientist and desperately needed voice of reason; Sandra Hüller as Digger's half-sister; and Jesse Plemons as Kenny, a tech magnate with a cloudy backstory that is eventually made clear. Digger is part Dr. Strangelove, part Don't Look Up, part Birdman, a kind of caricature of power and the malignant goons running our doomed world. There's nothing subtle at play in Digger, as subtle has never been the language of director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the double Oscar winner behind Birdman and The Revenant. Everything here is purposeful, deliberate and grand, from the performances to the stunning shot compositions of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (himself a triple Oscar winner, for Birdman, The Revenant and Gravity) to the triply underlined global warming message that is at the center of the film. Everything is as quiet as a fire alarm.

That goes doubly for Iñárritu's approach, which comes with a built-in highwire act, (which The stunt here is Cruise if i reveal will spoil the most finding the man underneath delightful surprise of the film) the prosthetic potbelly, doesn't seem to be entirely and he fully inhabits the necessary. But that's not how character beyond the balding Iñárritu or Cruise are built, hairline and thick Southern and the audaciousness of their accent. The fear is some sort stunt makes Digger a bold of outlandish 2-hour version experiment on top of an already of his garish Tropic Thunder lofty presentation. There's an Les Grossman shtick, but astonishing showpiece in the those worries wash away as center of the film which updates Cruise not only slips into the Gordon Gekko's "greed is good" character but brings him to speech from Wall Street for our life. modern world, and Cruise delivers it with aplomb. A smaller swing A catastrophic scenario wouldn't yield such bombastic presents itself for which results. But Digger plants its feet, Digger bears responsibility, drives its shovel into the ground, and he and his allies, and strikes oil. including U.S. President Rating: 8.5/10 Compson (John Goodman,

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MoStack - Body Tea (feat. J Hus)

Tmaro - Ten Ten

Nolais - anywhere anytime

Juls - YOU KNOW I'M DOWN

Mysie - DUN DI DUN

Jungle - Back On 74 - Full Crate Remix

WATCH OF THE WEEK and James Gunn

LAN TERNS SEASON 1

ow exactly do you make the Green Lantern gritty? Anyone who has endured Martin Campbell’s campy film of the same name from 2011 knows how ludicrous that question sounds, with an earnest Ryan Reynolds rollicking through that neon-green fever dream he would later spend years brazenly lampooning from the safer perch of his wisecracking Deadpool persona at Marvel. This is, after all, a character whose job description involves a magic ring, an intergalactic police force and a battery that runs on willpower, so HBO’s decision to give him the prestige-procedural treatment by transplanting all that cosmic stuff into a True Detective-adjacent rural Americana did initially feel like another miserable indignity to inflict on this notoriously inadaptable DC superhero. Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and comicbook writer Tom King, with Mundy as showrunner

and Peter Safran among its executive producers, Lanterns is clearly made by people coming at the material from very different directions. You can feel that tug throughout its eight episodes, which keep bouncing between small-town crime drama and characterheavy television, occasionally punctuated by bursts of DC comics mythology. Fortunately, Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are so damn good together that they make the whole thing feel considerably more coherent than it actually is, giving the series a human core without sanding away the ridiculousness of being a Green Lantern.

KAYTRANADA - Spit It Out (feat. Rochelle Jordan)

All episodes of Lanterns are streaming now on HBO Max / Crave