THEWILL DOWNTOWN - THE VALENTINE EDITION

V O L . 1 N O. 1 • F E B R U A R Y 1 4 - 2 0 , 2 0 2 1

CHALYA: ON LOVE, LOSS AND LIVING HER BEST LIFE TODAY!

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE

CONTENTS

8-10 COVER STORY: Chalya Shagaya

Happy Valentine’s Day! As I frantically type my thoughts on my iPhone I pause and smile at how secretly excited I get every February 14th. The thrill of wondering if I’ll wake up to flowers and nice things is still very alive and present, but this time? I’m charged for a different reason.

Today marks TheWill Downtown’s debut and entry into the weekend lifestyle space and a new day in Lifestyle Journalism. We are officially live on the scene every Sunday bringing you compelling stories, the best and brightest in fashion, beauty insider info, young and vibrant creatives, reviews, Downtown hotspots, the chicest events and everything in between.

She is a fashion consultant, PR expert, certified chef, photographer, oil businesswoman and up until last year, a public servant [she’s done it all].

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The Review Downtown

Luxe Èkó: Young African Creatives Collaborate with Porsche

It is the year 2021.

Make it count by masking up, practicing Covid-19 protocols and staying safe for you and yours. Take care and you’ll be seeing us next week!

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LATASHA NGWUBE

The Scene Downtown

@latashalagos

THE TEAM

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Oddbod & the city

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Our Cover girl Chalya, is something of an enigma. Beauty, brains, style and sophistication with a hint of scandal- my favorite mixsprinkled with a dash of mystery. I’ve often believed I have the magic touch and under the right circumstances I could open a clam with my staggering charm and wit. I was not wrong and she never expected it! We had a riveting conversation where she speaks on certain events in her life that truly shaped the woman she is today. This exclusive interview is a must-read!

One thing this global pandemic has taught me is that taking care of oneself is indeed the cornerstone to a future without limits and this is why I didn’t hesitate to attend The Bloom Africa retreat 2021. All I will say is this is MY year of supernatural abundance and it can be yours too if you get your mind, body and spirit aligned with your purpose here on Earth.

My amazing team and I pulled out all the stops for this issue and I’m confident that in years to come, this will be a Collectors’ item. Gratitude as always to the Almighty God and massive respect to my Publisher Austyn Ogannah.

Editor-in-Chief : Austyn Ogannah Editor : Latasha Ngwube Beauty: Onah Nwachukwu Feature Writer: Chisom Njoku Columnists: Odun Ogunbiyi & Boluwatife Adesina Guest Photographer: Rachel Seidu Graphics/Layout : Tosin Yusuph Guest Art Direction: Sunny Hughes Digital Media: Olanrewaju Balogun Guest Photographers: Tosin Akinyemiju & Tosin Junaid

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Love Letters from Yeside Laguda

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SÓRÓSOKE DOWNTOWN

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

An Ile Eros Valentine Special

DOWNTOWN HOTSPOT

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s far as fine dining in Lagos is concerned, few establishments do it as well as Ile Eros. Unfortunately they had to take a little break from an unprecedented 2020 but now they’re back and ready to do the absolute most.

• A 10-Course Valentine’s Day Soiree with Ile Eros that will take guests on a unique gastronomic journey.

• The Premiering of the “Ida Omi” collection from the New Cookie Jar - (An African Boulangerie and Adult Dessert Parlour).

• An Eros & Gourmet 5-Course “Dinner in a box” especially for you and your significant other in the comfort of your home.

• Fresh Prep’s “Recipe in a box” - all you need to create a romantic 3-Course dinner evening with your lover.

Chef Eros and the good people at Ile Eros have put together quite the Valentine’s experience, all that’s left is to show up ready to be mesmerized.

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

ODDBOD & THE CITY

ODUN OGUNBIYI

Happy Valentine’s Day! T

his time last year we were all still swanning around absolutely oblivious to the looming catastrophe heading our way. And, no lie, it has been a struggle to adjust to living with this constant level of anxiety.

Still, it is the season of love. So, if you have anything planned, I hope it is suitably socially distanced and safe because the other shoe finally dropped with this second wave and the virus is making mourners of us all.

Today I will be taking the opportunity to treat someone that is often overlooked and could do with tender loving care. That’s right, I am talking about me! If my constant left-sided headache is telling me anything it’s that this girl is running on emotional fumes and she really could use a time out.

Regardless of if you are on a solo mission or have a partner to share this day with, here are some pandemic friendly activities one can get up to.

Breakfast in Bed If you are forward-thinking, you should probably have ordered it in but it’s never too late to pull this off with a little bit of effort. It’s all about presentation. A nice tray with a few of your partner’s favourite things, fruit, juice, a chocolate croissant, that sort of thing. You don’t even have to cook, but you do get brownie points, I think, for heart-shaped pancakes and some sort of modest flower arrangement and perhaps a copy of The Will Newspaper.

Spa Day Light your favourite scented candle, put on some soothing music apply some essential oils and a sheet mask. Guiltfree relaxation time.

If you have a partner, it’s game on. Fill your bathtub with essential oils, line it with candles, keep the champagne nearby and take a couple’s bath. If that thought doesn’t float your boat (why am I like this), reciprocal massages will prove just as bonding and enjoyable.

Karaoke Night

Indoor Picnic

If you have a karaoke machine its time to bring it out and dust it off. This is a great Valentine’s Day family activity for those of us who have little people sharing our homes. No matter how you plan to spend the day I can only encourage finding a way to celebrate yourself, your partner and life while staying safe

If we caught you too late to pull off breakfast next up is the Indoor picnic.

You just need the living room floor, a nice blanket, hors d’œuvres and copious amounts of bubbly to set the mood. If you got your hands on this article after noon, I genuinely want you to know that this scenario is happening right now in my sitting room.

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Movie Marathon This is the time to plough through all your romantic favourites (or for the brave the scary movie that makes you cuddle in each other’s arms). Popcorn, some gelato from Hans & René, and Haribo Starmix make the perfect accompaniment.

If I may be so bold, I would like to put forward a wonderful series currently in your Netflix playlist—Bridgeton.

It came out at Christmas and if you haven’t mainlined it already this is the perfect show to watch today. Set in Regency-era England, beautifully shot and a delightful escape in these stressful times. Episode 6 is bound to set a great mood for the rest of the weekend. You are MOST welcome.

For those of us on a solo mission— don’t judge me—I am currently working my way through Star Trek Discovery and my first non-beard related crush. Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise, thank you for your (fictional) service.keeps giving.

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

Movie Review:

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

Nneka the Pretty Serpent (Dec.2020) Cast: Idia Aisien as Nneka, Kenneth Okolie as Tony, Beverly Osu, Ndidi Obi, Bovi, Beverly Naya, Waje, Chioma Akpotha, Larry Gaaga, Shaffy Bello, Zack Orji

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tale of romance, vengeance and murder, Nneka the Pretty Serpent is both parts remake of and sequel to the 1994 Nigerian film of the same name. Far from being a by-the-numbers retelling of Zeb Ejiro’s classic, Producer Charles Okpaleke and Director Tosin Igho have come up with a bold new story and implemented their vision quite effectively. Where the 1992 Nneka leaned much more into the supernatural horror genre, with its stark visual imagery and tone, this version of Nneka is more concerned with continuing yet modernizing the main tenets of the original Charles Okpaleke has been on quite a streak of remakes of classic Nigerian movies ( Living in Bondage, Rattlesnake, Glamour Girls ) and this film continues that trend. Director Tosin Igho possesses a keen eye for great shot composition and that combined with his background in Visual Effects shines through in this movie. There is nary a wasted frame here and it’s clear the film shines under his control.

Nneka the Pretty Serpent stars Idia Aisien in her debut acting role and follows her as she seeks retribution against those who deprived her of her parents as a young child. On the journey to revenge, Nneka discovers wealth, power and love. Will Nneka discover the truth about her parents’ death or continue down the path of destruction? It’s a powerful story of love and regret that’s conveyed in a great way by Aisien’s performance.

Both parts physical and emotional, she gives a superb performance, with her frame belying the amount of punch she packs in some of the fight scenes in this movie. I can’t wait to see her next role.

The supporting cast is great as well. Aisien’s chemistry with Bimbo Ademoye’s character is brilliant, with the latter evoking genuine laughter in some moments.

Kenneth Okolie is also quite good as Tony, Aisien’s main love interest. Ndidi Obi, the star of the 1994 original has a key role to play in this version as well (won’t spoil her role here 🤐) which was nice to see. Bovi is here too! He plays the main investigator on Nneka’s case way more straight than I thought he would, but it’s Bovi; humor burst through eventually. Waje and Larry Gaaga are both admirable in their roles (see if you can find Waje under all the makeup! I couldn’t at first.) There are many other top level actors in this film and all of them deliver good performances.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Nneka the Pretty Serpent. Pretty well written, superbly shot and acted, This movie is a great popcorn flick and I would definitely see it again. Idia Aisien comes out of this movie a definite winner. Many raised eyebrows when she was cast while being a complete neophyte to acting, but she really did put in the time and effort and it shows here.

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

FASHION

LUXE ÈKÓ Young African Creatives Collaborate with Porsche

project, portrays a sophisticated immersive experience set within the city of Lagos through contemporary African fashion, photography, and great visual storytelling.

BY BUCHI PANAMA

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n the middle of the raging pandemic last year, a group of young and talented Nigerian creatives secured a partnership with German luxury car company, Porsche, creating an art film titled “Luxe Èkó”.

Luxe Èkó, as a lifestyle

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Asides from the rich selection of luxurious and stylish pieces that define African style at it’s finest, the presence of Porsche, one of the world’s biggest and most iconic automobile companies as

a part of this campaign should serve as inspiration to black millennials globally. The message is clear: when we collaborate, the impossible becomes possible and the ordinary- extraordinary.

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

FASHION

One cannot fail to notice the brilliant creatives who made this project a reality; ranging from the models, stylists, photographer, cinematographer, drone pilot, art director, makeup artist, voice-over artist,

and many more talented young creatives.

According to the project’s Creative Director and male lead- Downtown’s, Chisom Njoku, it was imperative to erase the longheld misrepresentation of Africa as a poverty-stricken land and a place of

primitiveness. Depicting the beauty and richness of Lagos, spotlighting the biggest art gallery in West Africa (Nike Art Gallery) as well as many of the city’s finest attractions are steps in the right direction to changing the narrative for the better.

Photocredit: Ayo Philips Styling: Sadiq Adams & Odueso Yewande

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

COVER

CHALYA: ON LOVE, LOSS AND LIVING HER BEST LIFE TODAY!

Close your eyes for a second and imagine a highborn woman of noble heritage, fiercer than is expected of ‘a lady’, as expressive as a portrait, experiencing this thing called life and with the battle scars to prove it. She only plays by her rules and no one else’s and [oh] she bears some resemblance to Ms. Lauryn Hill...

If the image you’ve conjured in your mind isn’t Chalya Shagaya, then you’ve missed it.

Born into the prominent Shagaya clan, Chalya is the daughter of Brig. Gen/ Senator John Shagaya and Mrs. Pauline Shagaya [both of blessed memory] but who has since made a name for herself outside the family. She is a fashion consultant, PR expert, certified chef, photographer, oil businesswoman and up until last year, a public servant [she’s done it all].

Chalya Shagaya welcomed Downtown’s Editor Latasha Ngwube and Features Writer, Chisom Njoku into her plush Ikoyi apartment for an afternoon of reflection, laughs, and clarification on long-standing issues. Notoriously elusive and private to a T, in this exclusive interview days after her 48th birthday we delved deep into her life and came up with more than a few golden nuggets!

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ho is Chalya Shagaya?

[Soft laughter]I’m still trying to discover who Chalya Shagaya is because every day I think I’m evolving and who I think I am changes by the day.

If you talk about character, I’m a ball of controversy…I’m the sweetest yet the hardest person. It’s like tough love but also very healthy, I’m all about “the positivity meets the positivity, let’s all get along”! ​

How has your role as a socialite and public figure affected or dictated how you live your life?

I have a problem with that socialite title, even if a lot of people say I am one. I don’t like being called a socialite because I’m actually an introvert. Although I appear to be or may come across as an extrovert, my life is the actual opposite.

I don’t socialize much and so when I’m called a socialite it’s a bit irksome.

You’re right…Not all socialites socialize. So where did it [socialite title] come from?

I’d say being referred to as a socialite came from years ago when I just moved back to Nigeria after college. I was this person that was non-conformist in the way I dressed, the way I looked, the way I behaved, I simply was not in the typical Naija way and I stood out like a sore thumb. I worked in oil and gas on the trading floor and would

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Photo Credit: Tosin Junaid Makeup: Maero for The Bella Rouge Company Dress: Style Temple

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

COVER attend entertainment and fashion industry events with friends. Being this person who was not the “normal”, my style attracted photographers and before long I was being published in the magazines.

That’s how I got tagged a socialite but it irks me to the high heavens because I was thrown into the limelight without much choice in the matter. Being the ‘public figure’ you are referring to got me in trouble a few times and thank God back then there was no internet because some of the things I did back then? *chuckles. For example, a man coming up to me and groping me or saying the wrong things to me would cause me to react in a certain way. If it were in these times, I would have probably been caught on video reacting drastically!

What’s your ideal definition of happiness?

That’s easy; A nice kitchen that’s set up well equipped, my plants, painting/drawing, and my family.

You have been able to set yourself apart as a maverick in your industry, transitioning from modeling to oil and gas back to the fashion world as a consultant among other things. How did you achieve such an impressive feat?

Everything sort of came together for me to be honest. I modeled back when I was in college and sort of got my foot in the fashion industry door so to speak. From then on it was a lot of front of camera, behind the scenes, learning the works, knowing how things should be etc.I developed a very keen interest in what was my first passion. I studied criminal justice as an undergrad with the intent of going into law school in America but I said to myself “I’m not cut out for law” and so I went and did a Masters in Management Information Systems..

A degree I’m sitting on the today, doing nothing with because soon after I moved back to Nigeria, I did my NYSC and started working in oil and gas trade. While doing all that, I was still leaning into the fashion and entertainment industry, consulting with for the likes of Dakova. At some point I joined Nduka Obaigbena when he just started ThisDay fashion weekend and many years later, here I am.

Was it passion that sustained you?

It’s the passion and you know it’s tricky for people like me because we are passionate about so many things but I have managed to balance them all at once without letting one suffer for another to thrive.

Over a decade ago you went through one of Lagos’ most talked about breakups till date, effectively placing you in the line of fire for unwanted advice and commentary, how did you deal with it?

My first instinct was to run away because at that point my dad had just been elected to the senate, so it wasn’t even Chalya Shagaya and X’s breakup, it was “Senator Shagaya’s daughter”. I ran off and went to the States to let it die down just to keep the tabloids away from me. That’s when I became private with my life because I didn’t want anyone to know about me.

Are there any misconceptions about the entire saga that you want to set the record straight on now?

He is a very dear friend to me, even though we had that break in communication, I broke it off. We were engaged to be married. He proposed to me and I’m like let’s see how it goes, no rush. But then I noticed some things and decided it was not going to work. I didn’t realize it was of such interest to people and the public at large until we broke up and people started wagging tongues, stories started going around, wrong impressions etc. He took up with someone else which was okay because I ended the relationship but by the time it got to the media, it was a different story implying I was heartbroken. It

simply was not true, I was nowhere heartbroken and I just decided I was not dealing with this relationship and I walked away…which by the way I’m not proud of. Being a woman of a certain age, I’ve ended relationships so many times because I simply couldn’t deal with and I have to practice being more tolerant.

The misconception was that I was heartbroken. Now X and I are very good friends.

There’s record of a physical altercation between yourself and X’s now ex-wife?(pardon the pun)

I came to Lagos to spend the holidays with my brother and his family and X had invited me to a party. I arrived at the venue upstairs, we were all dancing, as a large group of friends, people from way back who all knew each other. Before long a new group of women joined the space and I greeted but no one responded and so I continued doing my thing.

Suddenly I felt something flying past me, I didn’t even know what it was, but the sound of glass shattering cleared my doubt. Apparently somebody had tried to throw something at me and at that point I was confused as to why anyone would want to do that.

At the time I refused to believe it was X’s girlfriend because I was completely on her side! I remember trying to figure out what was going on but I was held back by someone because they assumed I had realized immediately that it was her (and yes, it turned out it was her!) She apologized later, and that was okay because I’m a very forgiving person and I can understand as a woman, the kind of pain that must have ensued. It turned out I was actually not the person she was looking for.

Some relationships they say, break to make us. Would you say that was the case with you and X? Absolutely. It helped define what I wanted, what I could tolerate, what I would accept and what I could put up with. So yeah it did.

What was the most difficult thing to accept when the relationship was coming to an end at the time for you?

Nothing! I mean people were wagging their tongues, I said that already but I accepted everything quite well.

What did moving to DC and then to New York shortly after that episode do for you?

While in DC I did a Masters in Entertainment Business Management which is just like an MBA but focuses on the entertainment business, and then soon after that, I started taking on clients like Deola Sagoe and I represented them in America. I tried to get them

into retail spaces and showrooms then we started doing press and P.R to get the brands out. I don’t think I’ve told this story publicly but I had a small apartment in Brooklyn which I shared with people because I was focused on trying to get these brands out. Every day I would haul a suitcase of clothes from our Nigerian designers through the streets of New York city looking for the right showroom, the right press to get the exposure that we needed and then I got lucky! I was called in by my good friend Arieta who worked as head of P.R for River Island UK to do a shoot for them.

I styled Kelis and also Kelly Rowland soon after that.

Kelis, just loved how I put things together and she said to me she had a comeback album coming out so she wanted me to style her for her tour using Nigerian designers. All this happened because we had gifted her a shirt by Lisa Folawiyo and she loved it so she asked I put some more things together and that was how it went. When I think about it, I get teary eyed because I think of the people who were with me at the time like Ugo Mozie who was my assistant on that project. Today Ugo is a designer styling big artists like Justin Bieber and the likes. I’m proud of him because he was just a teenager then. During that time I also met so many people like Sara Diouf who worked with Beyonce... it all started in New York. It was like a door opener basically, and a blessing in disguise when I ran off and left all the gossip in Nigeria.

Do you think there is something to living alone as a single woman in a foreign country?

Who said I was single? Single not married but I was dating.

The experience of living single in a foreign country, is it something you would recommend or advise someone to do?

Everybody is different, it’s a bold step to take, leaving the comfort of your own space to go somewhere else. It wasn’t so foreign to me perhaps it was because I went to college in America, and parts of my elementary school was in America. I’ve always been an East coast girl, going to school in Virginia as a child and then university in Washington D.C.

Why did you move back to Nigeria?

Two things; Career advancement because I saw that there was a void in the fashion and entertainment industry when it came to public relations back then as at 10 years ago. So after doing my Masters, running the streets of New York, being able to put my foot in

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

COVER every door, networking, and realizing that there is no magic to this thing.

You lost both your parents within a relatively short time apart from each other. How did you handle this devastating loss?

Could you take us through your grieving process?

It’s not something I like talking about but the truth is a lot of people may have gone through the same experience and it’s not something I wish on anyone.

It was like a movie with a bad script. Mummy had just died 11 months before and she had died in my arms. I was still getting over that trauma and then I got a call three days after my birthday, saying to me “ we lost daddy” in a car crash. It was devastating but I will tell you about my mum. After she died, I did something crazy because there was just so much negative energy within me. She died of cancer and I thought we could have prevented it even though we couldn’t have because the prognosis was not good at the time it was caught. I rode a bicycle for 24 hours straight, a stationary bike. I think I set a record, that was the kind of bad energy I just had to let go of. And then my dad’s death… we were very close. I’m only starting to find peace and forgive myself because we were so close that I was displeased at some things that happened. I wasn’t speaking to him at the time he died, so that’s why I can’t forgive myself. I’ve only recently started to find peace. So the moral of the story is, as annoying as your parents may be, when the time comes, love them, check on them, call them, see them and hug them. I have a picture of my dad hugging me and that was at my mum’s funeral. So the irony is that at my mum’s funeral was the time last l actually embraced my father really tightly.

Word on the street was that you had sworn off Lagos but here you are surviving, adapting, and thriving. What is it about the city of Lagos that lured you back in?

What led me back to Lagos was not about Lagos. It was about my dad always wanting me to be in public service in some capacity. I got the opportunity to work for the Nigeria Government up until recently when I resigned in October 2020. We lost him in February, I officially joined the Nigeria government as a public servant in April 2018 and I said I’m just going to give a couple of years, just two years and I’m done. And that’s exactly what I did. I just wanted to get a feel and understanding of how the inner workings are and how they go and then I said I would run for political office. But as we know a few things happened in the final quarter of 2020 that affected all of us. A lot of us were traumatized and I just said to myself I’m not messing with anything government or politics and I removed myself.

What did you discover in the two years of public service?

It’s a mess. A cock-up in many ways. It’s a cesspool of corruption. I’m not saying everybody in the public service is like that but there is a culture that tolerates and allows it. And you know now that I think about it in the hindsight, I can say, the problem is deeply rooted. It’s not about politicians or whose party is in power. The problem is within there, who stays there.

Listen, soldier come, soldier go, but that barrack still remains. So they know the system and if we are shouting change, it doesn’t come from the politicians alone. If I had gone into politics as I had planned, I would have met the same thing. How then do you change things? They will fight you because it is a culture they are used to. The people that are shouting change will get in there and be assimilated by the pre-existing culture.

Are you seeing anyone right now?

That’s not your concern.

So that thing that’s none of my concern, is it valentine’s day serious or is it like just whatever?

It’s not whatever. Whoever comes first, whoever sends the biggest bouquet, or whoever calls first. It’s not about even the size actually, to be honest.

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Where is your heart right now?

Work, career, me, loving myself, discovering me, trying to manifest me as a woman of a certain age, you know what I mean.

You have led a very colorful life, what is the biggest lesson that life has taught you?

Downtown y’all are fishing! Do good be good. Try as much as possible to stay positive and all of that would come back to you. You know I tell friends who call me and if they say something negative I say don’t speak it into the universe. I’ve learned that with life. It’s what you say that becomes. So I’m very careful with what I think, what I speak because it would manifest. So I don’t confess anything negative.

What is it like to date Chalya Shagaya?

The younger me then was a lot of drama, I had energy but now I’m like okay that’s cool. “You like her, that’s fine. When are you coming home? Cool, see you soon alright. What do you wanna eat? Okay bye. I don’t care”. *laughter* I don’t know if it’s about the experiences in the past because I’ve been engaged three times actually, but it has always been a case of “I can’t put up with your nonsense” and I walk. But nearly five decades later on earth, you realize there is nothing in this life. Don’t get me wrong I still don’t take rubbish but just be open and honest and I can work with you.

How do you feel about marriage?

I’m gonna get in trouble with my married friends for saying this, but I think it’s just something that was man-made, and there is a lot of pressure on both parties to keep up with a contract that was manmade. Who wrote the Bible? [Man!] And then we have Islam that says you can have more than one wife as long as you treat them equally. Well it’s not possible... We know that you would always have a fav, even with our siblings we have our favorites. So a man who is asked to take four wives, there is no way you are going to treat them equally or love them equally. So it’s all too tricky! Personally, I’m at that place in life where if marriage happens it happens. But is it something like ‘I have to get married because other people are getting married?’

No. If anything, I would much rather have a kid than be married but I want a partner if I can. You know a lifetime partner, a friend, companionship because in old age you need them. You need that person.

What are you currently working on right now and how has the pandemic affected your work?

After I resigned in October from public service, I’ve been working on a couple of products I’m trying to put back into the market, going back to consulting in the downstream oil and gas industry. I’ve also been working on my art because I started strengthening my fine art creative side. What else... I’m working on developing new talent, helping the younger people who have some potential in certain fields manifest their potential.

Are there any personal lessons you took away from the pandemic?

Life is short! I was keeping a list up until December of people who had passed away then I lost another person who was close to me. I said to myself, stop writing their names. I think I was at fifty-something and I said many more are going to die, it doesn’t help that you are writing their name down.At some point, I felt this is doing more harm than good so I stopped.

So basically life is short, be kind, be good, do good it takes nothing from you, be polite. Mercy is who assists me and she twisted my arm just before my birthday which was February 6th to take pictures. We had to do so because if anything happens to me, you have fine pictures to put in the obituary. You know that’s the way I see life now, you never know it can be any of us.

Work, career, me, loving myself, discovering me, trying to manifest me as a woman of a certain age Let’s talk about your style, who are your biggest influences?

Past is Isabella Blow, Audrey Hepburn, and more recently Cicely Tyson.

How do you nail your style every single time?

Nailing it is relative, I don’t know because sometimes I leave my house thinking I look mad and I don’t care because that’s just me. I’m not a conformist. I’m nonconventional so I don’t know about nailing it, I guess it’s that I just have this thing, it’s an automatic ‘that’s what’s expected so don’t do that.’ I’m thinking you are going to go out there looking like the next person, why are you going to put a wig on my head, that’s not me. I mean I don’t know, don’t get me wrong but it’s not me. I’m not going to wear that tight dress that you know before I sit down, I’d have to wiggle my way down to the chair. I don’t know how and I’m not trying to hail or praise myself, I have a 28 waist and 42 hips so I’m an hourglass shape, I have that figure that people die for. People ask me all the time why I hide my body but It’s just not my style.

What do you consider to be a fashion faux pas?

I’m going to be technical in my response. Know your body, you can be an eleven figure which means as a woman you don’t have the curves. You have narrow hips, broad waist, so you don’t come out curvy. Know what suits you. Just because you see the other girl who has 42 hips and a 28 waist wearing a fitted dress doesn’t mean it’s going to look the same on you and the mistake a lot of people make is that they go with trends. Trends will get you in trouble. Know your body, know your type, know your style. Anybody can be fashionable; you can carry the latest fashion or latest trend. If you don’t know your style, you are lost completely. You can put on all the waist trainers under the dressing but it’s not going to work, it’s just not you. So the biggest faux pas is not knowing your body and understanding what styles work for you.

Who are your favorite designers of all time?

Favorite of all-time locally remains Deola Sageoe.

I worked closely with her, I love and adore her craftsmanship, the tailoring, the attention to detail, and how she handles her clients. Internationally if you go to my closet more recently you will probably find more of between Stella Jean and Self Portrait, more recently easy, ready to wear.

What is the one fashion rule that you live by?

I don’t do rules, you know that.

We understand that Chalya has been trademarked, what’s the intention?

I was having lunch with a few friends a few weeks ago and I decided then and there that I was going to trademark Chalya. I can’t say why, but I just figured that it was time to capitalize on this brand I’ve reluctantly and unintentionally but ultimately grateful I’ve become.

When your number is finally up, how would you like to be remembered?

She came, she caused trouble, she resolved problems, and lived without regrets. That’s the truth. I’ve loved openly even when people criticized me for loving too many people who did not deserve my love but yes that’s how I would like to be remembered. I was just a loving person openly.

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

TRIBUTE

BY CHALYA

• Chalya wearing a Cicely Tyson inspired hairstyle

Remembering The Legendary Actress, Model,

STYLE ICON CICELY TYSON The beautiful Cicely Tyson was an actress like no other. She was graceful, stylish, glamorous and well poised. The multiple award winning actress died on January 28th at the age of 96. She paved the way for so many black women in Hollywood.

She was a legend in her field pioneering a path for Black women in Hollywood. She left a long-lasting influence on black women in and outside the industry, reminding us all to carry ourselves with pride, dignity and respect.

She began modelling in the 1950s after being discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and soon became the face of the “Black is Beautiful” movement with covers of Ebony, Essence, and Jet magazine, making the natural hairstyle a key standard of beauty. Later, Tyson graced the covers of top fashion glossy magazines like Harper’s Bazaar making her the first Black woman seen on the cover of fashion magazines.

The American actress broke stereotypes of what it means to be a black woman. Her roles included women of strength, respect, courage, civil rights icons, mothers, and other deeply complex female characters. She became the first actress to receive a Tony award at 88 years old. Then in 2018, she received an Honorary Oscar, leaving her film career with over 100 films, television, and stage roles.

Cicely Tyson’s life included decades of civil rights work and activism.

Not only was she an actress, but also a leader. Her life so fully lived is a testimony to Greatness.

Tyson’s memoir, “Just As I Am,” was published in January.

ACTS ABOUT CICELY TYSON • Her father William Tyson was a carpenter and a painter.

• Cicely Tyson had a daughter at the age of 17, whom she kept hidden from the public and was fiercely private about.

In her memoirs, she refers to her by the name Joan and dedicated the autobiography to her daughter.

• She got married to her first husband Kenneth Franklin at the age of 18 and the marriage lasted for less than eighteen months.

• She was kicked out of their home by her religious mother, who thought she was choosing a sinful path after she got her first acting job.

• She walked away from her typing job at age 18 and began modeling.

• She married for a second time to jazz legend Miles Davis at the age of 40 and the marriage lasted for 8 years.

• She co-founded The Dance Theatre of Harlem.

• She was a vegetarian.

• She got her big break at age 48.

• She was a model before she became an actress.

• She spent most of her childhood in church.

• She was commemorated by renaming a school after her. Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts.

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

An Evening Of Good Vibes with bCODE

BY CHISOM NJOKU

bCODE,

a multi-brand retailer for wellness, fashion and lifestyle goods, recently announced the opening of their Adidas stores across Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja).

In honor of this, bCODE hosted guests to a Covid compliant evening of bottomless drinks at The Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos. Attendees ranged from music executives to high net worth individuals, influencers, creatives and many more.

Famed illustrator, Lawyartist, was also present, delighting guests with a live illustration of a custom Adidas x bCODE design. The ambience of the venue was quite complimentary as a special walk-in type store was also set up with a stunning botanical display where guests could check out available sneakers as well as capture social media worthy moments.

Toyosi Etim-Effiong Launches her Book Now You Know Me Better T B Y SOPHIA EDISI

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V Producer Toyosi Etim-Effiong joined the league of Authors with the debut of her first ever book titled- Now You Know Me Better. The event was held at The Oriental Hotel in Lagos and the book was reviewed by 2019 NLNG Prize for Literature winner, Jude Idada while the evening was hosted by Olive Emodi.

In the words of actor and filmmaker Daniel Etim-Effiong who is also the author’s spouse, ‘’I am so proud, not because my wife has written a book, but because she has come up with a brilliant work of art’’. The author’s mother, Mrs Phillips also expressed her gratitude to God and commended the precision and accuracy of the author, her daughter, in documenting the events that have shaped her life thus far. The book was published by Femperial Publishing and is now available for purchase on Amazon.

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

Adaobi Obani Tosin Durotoye, Founder of The Bloom Africa

Patrenia Werts Onuoha

Fifehan Osikanlu

Waje

Simisola Agunbiade

Xiomara Small Yetunde Bankole Bernard

The Bloom Africa Hosts its 2nd Annual Retreat

BY LATASHA NGWUBE

Ayomide Akindolie

Timoni Akindolie

O

n the last weekend in January 2021, Women from across various walks of life gathered at Jara Beach Resort for “The Retreat” by The Bloom Africa, a yearly twoday event where likeminded women attend mastermind sessions to discover purpose, strategize around key life goals and gain clarity for the year ahead. The Bloom Africa, founded

by Tosin Durotoye is a community and platform that curates safe spaces

for ambitious African women to gather, connect, learn and grow.

With over 16 years of training, strengths coaching and strategic planning experience, Hostess and lead facilitator Ms Durotoye states that “The Retreat” was conceived from her desire to create a growth space where ambitious women can reflect on the deeper meaning of life and gain the skills and tools needed to live a more intentional life.This year she was joined by two

Femi Atinuke Abanishe

Karika Yonreme

powerful guest facilitators Patreina Werts Onuoha of PatreinaSpeaks and Yetunde Bankole Bernard of The YBB Company who both brought their special essence and training to the weekend’s activities.

This year’s retreat was made memorable through a partnership with Veuve Clicquot which resulted in beautiful portraits of each guest surrounded by blooming flowers, the bright color yellow and of course, glasses of bubbly to welcome a new year filled with hope.

Miriam Nwosah

Adesola Arowolo

Oyeyemi Immanuel

Photo Credit: Tobi Tej

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VOL.1 NO.1 • DECEMBER 2020

BEAUTY

BY ONAH NWACHUKWU

1. Use Sunscreen I cannot overemphasize the importance of using sunscreen. Not only does it protect you from sunrays, but it also reduces your risk for skin cancer. Although dark skin has some form of protection from UV lightthanks to our melanin, the highest level of protection we have is SPF 13, quite far from the recommended level of SPF 30. I get it, applying sunscreen after you have moisturized can be a daunting task, so why not get a lotion with SPF. PRODUCT: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15

2. Moisturize Often

GET THE MELANIN GLOW When it comes to black skin, there is the saying that ‘black don’t crack’. This to a large extent comes from the fact that we do not wrinkle quite as much or as quickly as Caucasian skin does. The simple reason behind this is the God-given melanin that black skin has been blessed with. Does this mean that we do not need certain beauty regimens to keep our dark skin looking its best? Why certainly not. Even skin that doesn’t crack still needs to be cared for; that is why I will be discussing routines that we should follow to keep our skin glowing

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It is advisable that we moisturize twice a day and right after you step out of the shower. That way, the water locks in the moisture of the product into your skin. Also, remember to use products that are tailor suited to your skin type. For instance, if you have dry skin, then use products formulated for dry skin.

PRODUCT: Nivea Body Lotion For Dry To Very Dry Skin

3. Consult A Dermatologist Who Understands Black Skin I cannot overemphasize the iWhile most dermatologists may have an overview of different skin types, as dark-skinned people, it is important that we stick to one who understands our skin.

VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

BEAUTY 4. Start Using Anti-Aging Products Early It is true that melanin helps us fight signs of aging such as wrinkles, however, it is advisable to start using anti-aging products early. A good age to start would be around your late twenties to early thirties.

Some people may argue that this is too early but preventing signs of aging is better than treating it.

I highly recommend Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum for your face.

PRODUCTS: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

5. Exfoliate Granted we should exfoliate to keep dead skin at bay, but you shouldn’t exfoliate too often. Once in two weeks is just about right to keep your skin glowing, and remember to be gentle with your skin while you exfoliate.

You can make a simple body scrub at home with: a cup of brown or white granulated sugar, and olive or coconut oil. Simply mix both ingredients and voila! body scrub to the rescue.

PRODUCTS: Sugar Olive Oil Coconut Oil

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VOL.1 NO.1 • FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021

SORO SOKE DOWNTOWN

LING & LAMB

BY CHISOM NJOKU

S P E C I A L

Acclaimed Nigerian musician and prison reform advocate Yinka Lawanson popularly known as Lamboginny alongside his better half Taccara Rae are one of the hottest viral sensations on the video-sharing social network Tik Tok. Known to fans as Ling and Lamb, the duo are a breath of fresh air on social media with their engaging and adorable content.

Where and how did you guys meet?

We met during my first trip to the US during a fundraising concert for my prison projects in Weston, Connecticut. After the concert I invited Ling to play the lead role in my music video after which we quickly became great friends and very fond of each other.

When did you begin creating content together?

We have always recorded ourselves being silly since we started dating. But officially, we started our Ling and Lamb content creation in the final weeks of August 2020/early September 2020.

How does it feel to be internet sensations?

We are grateful to God for the opportunity to share our experience with the world. It’s still surreal to see the amount of people who have found a home in our beautiful foolishness. It makes us so happy to know that we can do what we love each day, while making people feel good and happy each day as well. It’s a very fulfilling and humbling feeling.

You recently surpassed 100 million views on TikTok and that’s huge! How do you feel about your massive success on the platform?

We truly feel blessed and grateful that millions of people from across the world can relate with our content. It’s crazy to think that our love of food, exploring new things and love/relationship chats resonate with so many people, from so many different cultures and generations. It’s an unexplainable feeling to be honest, lol.

What fascinates you most about each other’s respective cultures?

LING: I am fascinated by Lamb’s food culture. There is so much tradition, preparation, love, and passion that comes from his culture and directly translates into his delicious meals…I don’t even think he knows this, but it really amazes me and makes me interested to learn more LAMB: I love Ling’s playful nature. She helped me to see life from a global perspective, helped open my eyes; if you will. Being that my wife is of multiple races, I’m excited to learn about the different cultures that come along with her mixed race.

Where’s your dream baecation destination?

This is extremely tough, as our ultimate baecation is to traval THE WORLD! But Wifey and I really can’t wait to visit Japan, Italy (for Ling’s authentic pizza lol) and the Seychelles Islands! We love being in beautiful, different spaces!

What’s an ideal weekend for the both of you?

An ideal weekend for us can truly be different pending on our mood at the time. BUT, I think a really ideal

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weekend looks like sweat pants, 6am donut run from our favorite: Lakeside Diner, a quick nap, Lifetime movies, listening to music and dancing around the apartment, content creation/editing and deep/random conversations on our fav couch in the living room.

Who’s more romantic and what’s the most romantic thing the person has done recently?

LAMB: Well Ling says I’m more romantic, but I think she’s more romantic and doesn’t see it. Being considerate of each other with the little things is key for me. The most romantic thing Ling has done for me lately was nominate me for Good Morning America’s Inspiration List for 2021: Who’s Making Black History. I was featured for my works and so humbled and honored to have this surprise from Ling.

LING: Lamb is DEFINITELY the romantic out of the two of us LOL. He is so sweet and loving in a way that almost three years later, doesn’t make sense to me. The most romantic thing Lamb has done for me recently is cook dinner and clean the house every single day since busy season picked up at my job.

Things like this drive me crazy in the best way What’s your favorite thing about each other?

Ling: I love Lamb’s eyes, laugh and smile. His eyes make me fall in love with him each day, because they are so big and dreamy. His laugh makes my heart melt with joy and feel like a kid again. His smile makes me know that no matter what, everything is beautiful and will be ok.

LAMB: I love Ling’s sarcastic nature. I love her goofy, silly, playful disposition and outlook on life. Yet, she is able to balance it with great discipline. Last, but definitely not least, I LOVE her Rolling Donuts- which will forever be our inside joke/secret What got you so interested in prison reform? (Lamb) I was tired of complaining about the terrible situation in Nigeria and wanted to be part of the solution. When I conceived the initiative, no one was speaking up about the thousands of people rotting in prison across Nigeria. Being a musician, I felt I could help by using my voice and leveraging my personal relationships with entertainers and media platforms- to shine the light on the true situation in prisons. To date, we have gotten freedom for over 130 wrongfully incarcerated / minor offenders across prisons in Nigeria.

In what ways do you feel the prison/corrections systems are outdated? (Lamb)

They are outdated in so many ways. 80 percent of the correctional facilities in Nigeria are congested with thousands of inmates awaiting trials, due to our slow judiciary system. Most facilities are not equipped with tools to aid in proper reform.

What inspired you to nominate Lamb for the Good Morning America Spotlight? (Ling) An associate for the show/publication reached out to me asking if I knew of anyone I would like to nominate for their upcoming project/ campaign highlighting Black men and women making a mark in the world today. When they explained that they were looking for a living person, currently doing great works throughout the world- I knew I didn’t need to hear much more.

Lamb is a firecracker, but he is humble. His works have been tireless and mostly unnoticed for over the past decade and I knew this was the time for the light to be shown on his incredible efforts in the prison reform movement. I am glad that GMA also saw it fit to honor Lamb in his works as well!

Join us on Instagram @ thewilldowntown on Sunday 14th February at 4pm W.A.T as we go live with @LingandLamb in the spirit of Valentines so come ready!