THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 29TH MAY 2022

...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022

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UCHE MBAGWU AUTISM MUM, WARRIOR MUM

Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

EDITOR’S LETTER

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SOCIETY

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COVER NOTE

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CONTENT

...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

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MOR NWA

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MAN FUNM

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022

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UNU PRIN

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IBIENE

OGAN

PART 1

WOMEN IN POLITICS GUT DRIVEN!

Meeting Uche Mbagwu, one is quick to notice the lighthearted, friendly, loving and happy air that she exudes, which completely belies the fact that she is saddled with the huge responsibility of raising a special needs child. A responsibility which, by all standards, she has done exceptionally well at. In this interview, she talks to KONYE NWABOGOR about her faith in God, the challenges of raising a special needs child and the importance of autism awareness in Nigeria.

Society

THE CORONATION ART GALLERY LAUNCH

Recently, Coronation hosted an evening of entertainment to commemorate the launch of the Coronation Art Gallery. The launch also flagged off an ongoing exhibition of works by artists who represent the zeitgeist of contemporary African

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Let’s talk about it

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S yle EXECUTIVE EDITOR KONYE NWABOGOR 08111847087 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE EDITOR OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI 08111847086

Global Fine wines & Champagne plays hosts

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When Jennifer Obayuwana turned a year older

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VISUAL/SENIOR DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500

Lifestyle & Fashion Ten Things This Week 10 The Man, His Music and ‘’My WorlD With U’’ 16 Survivors 17 Ten Nigerian Fast Fashion 18 Brands to Shop Now

STYLE CORRESPONDENT ISIOMA USIADE

Brand A-Gen Z with Ayo Lawal A Chat with Ololade Lois Olaiya Revamp your kitchen on a budget

GUEST CORRESPONDENT ENIAFE MOMODU CONTRIBUTORS AZUKA OGUJIUBA DIDEE ETA AYO LAWAL PHOTOGRAPHER KOLA OSHALUSI

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DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

y first experience with autism was on the job. This was in 2012. What was meant to be an interview for an extraordinary lady turning 50 turned into what I would call a heartfelt conversation and a crash course on being an autism mum (a term mothers of autistic children use to identify themselves).

My takeaway from that experience was that raising an autistic child is a full-time job, and being the mother of an autistic child is at once exhausting and exhilarating; at times lonely and other times, full of wonderful surprises.

Ask any autism parent to describe their life, and they are likely to talk about it in terms of before the diagnosis and after.

Over the years, as I have learnt more about autism and with growing national awareness, I have discovered that autism isn’t a cookie-cutter disability. There’s a spectrum, meaning each child’s capabilities and setbacks are different. It also isn’t a death sentence or anything to be ashamed of—autistic kids just see the world differently.

While autism may list itself among the more commonly known neurological conditions, the truth is that people are largely unaware of its symptoms and effects.

Despite its high rate, a vast majority of the world, including professionals and parents, do not entirely understand the disorder, making it harder to engage in timely and effective intervention. The common thinking today is that its causes are a mix of genetic and environmental factors, which might include air pollution, gestational illnesses such as diabetes, and parental age.

Popular culture has sometimes romanticised the concept of autism, particularly as a savant, a syndrome where an individual is socially awkward but demonstrates abilities far exceeding the average. This is most famously captured by Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Raymond Babbit, a savant with extraordinary recall abilities. The truth is that very few individuals with autism are gifted to that degree, and even those who are may still have a lot of the challenges that the condition characterises.

The key to autism can be summed up in two words: early intervention. The faster you intervene, the better the chances are of being able to teach children and help them cope in a very challenging world.

Finally, awareness creation among people, in general, is critical for the inclusion of children with autism in school and society. This awareness is also very important in addressing the stigma associated with children with special needs and their parents.

Skills can be acquired, and talent can be refined; a system that effectively caters to its autistic community and creates inclusive schools and workplaces will benefit from them.

What children with autism and their parents need is not our sympathy but our support in their journey to be productive members of society. So let’s all do it together.

22 @thisdaystyle |

Konye

@thisdaystyleon | www.thisdaystyle.ng

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LIFE STORIES

S yle Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

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The CorOnation Art Gallery Launch

BANJO ADEGBOHUNGBE KONYIN AJAYI, FEMI AKINSANYA &LANRE ISHOLA

KONYI AJAYI

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of ecently, Coronation hosted an evening ch laun the e entertainment to commemorat ch laun The of the Coronation Art Gallery. n of also flagged off an ongoing exhibitio conof t geis works by artists who represent the zeit ate priv the from temporary African, carefully curated of part As e. ued collection of Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukh tizocra dem is its societal commitment, Coronation ting a path for crea and art lity qua high to ing access e.

African artists to reach the global stag ts and art clien d ishe ingu dist e wer nce In attenda and society. lovers from across all spheres of life

SOCIETY

STYLE

SOCIETY

STYLE

TUNDE & RENI FOLWIYO

UGOMA EBILAH DOLAPO & DUNNI AKINRELE

JOE & SANDRA OBIAGO

KOFO MAJEKODUNMI

AIGBOJE & OFOVWE AIG-IMOUKHUEDE

FRANK AIG-IMOUKHUEDE ADERENLE SONARIWO & NKIRU BALONWU

ALEX NADER & ALOMA WAKIM

MAIDEN IBRU & EVELYN OPUTU

EMMANUEL IKAZOBOH

CATHERINE MUNJOMA & LAMIDE OLAJOLO

DOTUN SULAIMAN

HALIMA DANGOTE

TIFFANY DAVIES & OLUBUNMI FAYOKUN

AMAJU PINNICK BUNMI LAWSON

FEJIRO CHINYE-NWOKO & ZOUERA YOUSSOUFOU

MICHAEL OWOLABI & KELECHI AMADI OBI

YIANNAKIS CHRISTODOULO

FALANA ANDREA GEDAY, MUYIWA BAKARE & ALEX NADER

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KUNLE FASINRO DERE OTUBU, ADE LAYOYE & SEGUN FOWORA

AIGBOJE AIG-IMOUKHUEDE & JOHN COUMANTAROS

MADHURI MOHINANI

KOFO ADEBAYO

FOLU STORMS

TOLA ADEGBITE, EBI WILLIAMS, ADESUA DOZIE & TAYO AMUSA

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S yle Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

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Global Fine wines/Champagne plays host to top event planners and drink vendors

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gne / ecently Global Fine wines & Champa event top few a Josien Holdings Ltd. hosted apate priv a to planners and drink vendors ant taur Res Lab e preciation dinner at The Win

in Lagos. , the Country Speaking at the event, Efosa Ogbeide na, stressed Gha & Director of the company for Nigeria stry to indu lity the need for the brand and the hospita stakewith rly continue a good relationship - particula dors. ven k drin the holders like the event planners and e mad and s ring He also reintroduced the brand offe was nt eve The . ship promises of a better working relation nts Eve e Priv of MD put together by Elizabeth Elohor, the . ture and Global ambassador for Haute Cou ien Holdings are Global Fine wines & Champagne/Jos e and wine erag bev major stakeholders in the country’s industry.

When Jennifer Obayuwana turned a year older FOLAWE REGINA OLUMUDI

EFOSA OGBEIDE

ELOHOR ELIZABETH

AMANDA DARA & OLAMONISO NDUKA

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ctor ennifer Obayuwana, the Executive Dire her ed brat cele ntly rece p, of Polo luxury grou at Kaly er dinn ate intim an with birthday in Lagos with Restaurant and Bar. It was a night filled belly from es anc orm perf cial fun and laughter with spe eat to s load and boy Fire te dancers and Nigerian artis orous, and watchand drink. The dress code was Glam in their party ing the guests stroll into the restaurant each one turning outfits was like a mini fashion show— next. out a statement look bolder than the

SOCIETY

STYLE

SOCIETY

STYLE

FIRE BOY & JENNIFER OBAYUWANA

UZEZI OGBAIDE, OGBA ADRIANO & ESOSA OGEDEGBE

AKUNNA NWALA-AKANO & SARAH PENAWOU

NKIRU ANUMUDU

RUTH OSIME, JOHN OBAYUWANA & JANIA OCHONOGOR

OWEN OMOGIAFO

SAM DOUGLAS

GLORIA KEKERE EKUN

LARA RAWA & JUMOKE MICHAEL OJO

AYIRII OLADUNMOYE

OWI OKOSODO

KOREDE & ARINOLA ROBERTS

TAYO AYENI

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TAYO KOLA DAISI & KEMI ADELEKE

DOTUN IDOWU

FUNKE BUCKNOR - OBRUTHE

YEWANDE RWANG-DUNG

BANKE SU

TEMI & TAYO AWOGBORO

GREG UANSERU

LAURA EDEOGNON OBONG IDIONG

VIVIAN CHILOGI

SHATU GARKO

MR AKINTOYE & DEBBOLA WILLIAMS

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S yle Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

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Ten Things This Week

DESIGN

LOJAY DROPS THE REMIX OF MONALISA WITH CHRIS BROWN

STYLE TEMPLE NOW ACCEPTS PAYMENT IN CRYPTOCURRENCY

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igerian Womenswear Brand Style Temple has announced via its Instagram page that it would now accept payment in Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin). This would be the first Nigerian brand following the steps of global luxury brands that allow customers to pay in Cryptocurrency.

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agos-based Afro-fusion artist Lojay and internationally renowned super-producer Sarz have released a brand-new remix of the recent smash single Monalisa, featuring R&B superstar Chris Brown.

The original version of Monalisa is not just one of the biggest releases in Nigeria but a global hit that put Lojay on the map as one of Nigeria’s fastestrising stars.

HEADIES 2022 AWARDS RELEASES LIST OF NOMINEES

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he nominations for the 2022 Headies Award have been announced, with songs like Wizkid’s “Essence” and Ayra Starr’s “Bloody Samaritan” bagging multiple nominations. The Headies announced all the nominees on its official Instagram page. The list also had

first-timers like Portable, Magix, and other fastrising artists. The founder and Executive Producer Ayo Animashaun has earlier announced that this year’s Headies will be leaving the shores of Nigeria. This year, the award is set to hold on September 4, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia.

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JOHN OBAYUWANA BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN TO BAG THE SWISS LEARNING EXCELLENCE AWARD

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee has approved a new Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) of 13 per cent. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, says six out of eleven committee members voted to raise the rate.

The governor said the action was to tame the rising inflation rate in the country.MPR is regarded as the rate which the Central Bank of any country uses to control liquidity in the economy. Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset, or security, can be converted into ready cash without affecting its market price. If MPR rises, all the other rates go up, and if it’s dropped, all those rates go down. In Nigeria, the interest rate was pegged at 11.5 per cent for over two years, but Emefiele said it was jerked up to 13 per cent to tame rising inflation.

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fter laying siege to his Abuja home for seven hours, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Okorocha, who currently represents the Imo-West Senatorial district, was arrested by a combined team of EFCC operatives and policemen who broke into his home through the ceiling after denying them entry.

The EFCC, in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had to arrest Okorocha because he had to face trial on May 30, and the judge had threatened to strike out the case if the former governor was not brought to court.

The EFCC team was able to arrest Okorocha at 6:41 pm in an operation that started around 10 am. The family of the former Governor has accused the EFCC of failing to interrogate him 24 hours after his arrest saying that it confirms that his detention might be part of plots to stop him from participating in the APC presidential screening and primaries.

DID BANKY W WIN THE PDP HOUSE OF REPS TICKET FOR ETI -OSA CONSTITUENCY?

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ontrary to earlier claims that Nigerian singer turned politician Bankole Wellington, popularly called Banky W has won the PDP ticket to represent the party as its House of Representatives candidate in the upcoming 2023 elections, a result sheet has surfaces online which states otherwise. The new results show that he got 7 votes while his opponent got 23.

Although details of the move are still sketchy as at time of this report this has come as a rude shock to many Nigerians, especially youths.

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ormer Anambra State governor Peter Obi has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and pulled out of the contest for the party’s ticket. He announced his resignation from the party in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Obi was one of the leading presidential aspirants of the PDP alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal.

CBN RAISES INTEREST RATES

EFCC FORCIBLY ARRESTS SENATOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA

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PETER OBI RESIGNS HIS PDP MEMBERSHIP, JOINS LABOUR PARTY

STYLE

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n recognition of his outstanding leadership and promotion of exclusive Swiss luxury brands in the Nigerian market, the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria and the Swiss Learning Organisation have honoured the Founder and Managing Director of PoloLuxury Group, Mr John Obayuwana, with the Swiss Learning Excellence Award. He becomes the first Nigerian and African recipient of this award.

The Consul General of Switzerland to Nigeria, Thomas Schneider, presented the award to Obayuwana at an exclusive event in Lagos. The event themed ‘A Taste of Swiss Luxury’ was attended by a selected audience of corporate executives and industry leaders who were taken through the excellent products and services coming out of Switzerland, including the top-notch educational institutions in the country.

A HALAL SECTION AT HIKKYS HAIR NOLLYWOOD’S LEADING LADY INI DIMA- OKOJIE GETS MARRIED

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he wedding bells are ringing for Nollywood’s leading lady Ini Dima- Okojie, as she recently tied the knot to Abasi Ene Obong. Abasi is the founder and CEO of 54gene, an African genomics company building the world’s first pan-African biobank.

Ini and Abasi announced their engagement on social media in June 2021, marking the beginning of their forever journey.

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uslim women who wear the headscarf known as a hijab face a challenge when it’s time for a hair session at the salon. First, male stylists are fast becoming very popular in female salons; also, a male client could pop in at any moment. That’s a big problem because Muslim women remove their scarves only when around women or men in their immediate family. It’s become a concern that they should be catered to at salons in a comfortable way that doesn’t hinder their beliefs or religion. For this reason, Hikky’s hair Salon in Lekki has carved out a Halal section. Men are not allowed to enter this room as it will be locked when a Muslim woman is inside.

This will enable her to uncover without worrying about a male employee or client who could catch a glimpse of her hair.

How great is this?

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theaccesscorporation.com

Corporation

COVER

S yle Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

After 20 years of living with Autism, your son recently spoke his first words. Reliving all it took to get you here, what was that moment like?

It wasn’t a total shock because it was something we had been praying about, and we believed that God would come through.

His speech was a manifestation of God’s grace in response to our faith. Nevertheless, it was still a very emotional moment, and we are very grateful to God for His mercies. It’s one thing to hear other people’s testimonies about the things that God has done in their lives, but to have your own experience is almost surreal. I’ve always believed that God can do anything, but I questioned whether he would do it for us. Had we been good enough? Had we prayed enough? Were there other things we should have done? Like maybe fasting? But I found that God’s goodness is not dependent on anything you do. It’s just in His nature to do good, and all you have to do is have faith in Him. The Bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Let’s take it to the very beginning. How did you find out your son was autistic? Were there any early signs?

We took him to a Paediatric Neurologist at around age three, and the diagnosis was made. The signs of Autism vary from person to person. For our son, the most obvious sign was a speech and language delay. He had certain repetitive mannerisms like hand flapping, and from time he would be fixated on certain objects and carry them around with him.

He preferred playing alone to playing with other children. He also used to walk on his toes frequently.

UCHE MBAGWU AUTISM MUM, WARRIOR MUM

“The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her, but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.” C. JoyBell C Meeting Uche Mbagwu, one is quick to notice the light-hearted, friendly, loving and happy air that she exudes, which completely belies the fact that she is saddled with the huge responsibility of raising a special needs child. A responsibility which, by all standards, she has done exceptionally well at. As a way of giving back, she runs an NGO called the Initiative for the Care of Children with Developmental Disorders to support families without the financial means to educate their special needs children.

Getting to meet and know her has made me realise that there is truth in the saying that goes,” Through humour, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers, and once you find love and laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.” In this interview, we talked about her faith in God, the challenges of raising a special needs child and the importance of autism awareness in Nigeria.

Words By – Konye Nwabogor 14

How were you able to cope with the discovery, and what significant life changes came with it?

When the diagnosis was made, we were utterly devastated. We tried various medical therapies without much success. We visited multiple experts here and abroad without any significant improvement. We then decided to turn to God and trust him for divine healing.

One significant life change was that I gave up my job to devote myself to his care. Another significant life change was the desire to build a better relationship with God. Deep down in my heart, I knew that only God could provide the total healing that we desired. I had seen other children who had been helped to some degree by various therapies, but it always seemed that something was missing. So I would spend hours studying the Bible, reading books on divine healing and watching Christian television. Other people in my shoes were trying to find out everything they could about Autism, but I had no desire to do that. It was all too complicated. I much rather preferred to focus on what I believed was the answer which was God and His Word. As I focused on God, I found that He began to change me. I was no longer the fearful, wimpy person given to bouts of panic attacks that I used to be. I became more confident and had such peace and joy it was quite unbelievable.

What is Autism? And at what point does a parent begin to entertain the fear that their child is autistic?

The word Autism originates from the Greek word “autos”, meaning “self”. Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that mainly affects an individual’s ability to communicate and socialize with others. Symptoms vary widely between different children and adults. The behaviour of individuals with ASD are perhaps the best known of the signs and symptoms.

Most children and adults with Autism appear perfectly normal to the bystander until certain behaviours like flapping or spinning indicate that Autism or a related condition is present. Films such as RAIN MAN have illustrated behaviour exhibited by people on the autism spectrum. A diagnosis of Autism may be made as early as around two years.

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I imagine the early years with your son must have been very challenging. Is there any particular memory that stands out?

It was difficult to watch other children going to regular schools while my own son was unable to do the same as he struggled to reach developmental milestones.

There were also some embarrassing moments when we took him out. People would stare at us because he had these strange mannerisms like hand flapping. Once, we went out to a restaurant, and the next thing we knew, he had gone over to a table with people we didn’t know and started eating some of their food because he simply lacked the ability to recognize that kind of behaviour was wrong.

What is the role of a sibling when raising an autistic child?

A sibling plays the usual role of love and support, but what is unique in this situation is their understanding of the challenges their brother or sister goes through and their ability to still go ahead to love and support them.

Do you feel Autism as a health issue isn’t correctly handled in Nigeria?

The entire health sector in Nigeria obviously needs a lot of work, and provision for the care of individuals with developmental disorders is also sadly adversely affected.

This is what informed my decision to set up an NGO, Initiative for the Care of Children with Developmental Disorders, to support families without the financial means to educate their children because a lot of the children respond positively to various therapies.

Looking at our society, do you think an autistic child can eventually blend into society and live a relatively normal life?

An autistic child has qualities that make blending into society challenging because they have issues with social skills, so a lot of education of the populace will be required.

Aside from funding, how do you think the government can support autistic children to live comfortably in Nigeria?

They can create public awareness so that people living with developmental disorders are not stigmatized.

In your experience, what is the biggest misconception people or parents have when it comes to children with special needs?

In my opinion, the biggest misconception people have is their belief that these cases are the result of witchcraft. People need to understand that these disorders arise from complications in brain development.

If there is one thing you hope other parents can take away from your story, what would it be?

Learning to trust in God and attending a good Bible-believing church that teaches faith and divine healing, like my church, Guiding Light Assembly, Park View Estate, Ikoyi.

What would be your message to new mums or parents beginning their journey raising a child with Autism?

Having a child with Autism is hard on a marriage and a family; raising a child who is so far from what you anticipated. My answer to this question would be the same as my answer to the last question.

Autism is incurable from a medical standpoint, but with faith in God, all things are possible.

The signs of Autism vary from person to person. For our son, the most obvious sign was a speech and language delay. He had certain repetitive mannerisms like hand flapping, and from time he would be fixated on certain objects and carry them around with him.

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Sunday, May 29, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9880

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WURLD The Man, his Music And “My WorlD with U”

By Charles Didee Eta

When Sadiq Onifade, with the stage name WurlD, stepped into the music scene in 2012 with his first single titled “Beyond our dreams” from the debut EP Evolution, a couple of things were certain; this soulful artist had a drive, and we all would celebrate his growth one day.

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016 was the year when the Nigerian sound was on an upward trajectory with Jamz like Pana by Tekno, Skintight by Mr Eazi and Mad over you by Runtown, making huge impressions on the World using afrobeat. WurlD followed through on the trend and strategically decided to drop “Show You Off”, which featured Walshy Fire and Shizzi. It ended up being an absolute hit due to its unique infusion of afro, soul and electronic. A true moment where he was comfortable showing off all of his good vocal skills and general eclectic vibe.

He’s approach was undoubtedly alternative yet so refreshing to be factual.

Growing up in Atlanta, which boasts a thriving music industry, it wasn’t so unusual that WurlD fell in love with music and pursued it passionately, giving him a solid musical background in RnB/ Soul, Hip-hop and Electronic dance music. Due to his diversity, it didn’t take him long to gain recognition as a singer-songwriter, working with the likes of Akon, B.O.B, Timbaland and Polish producer/Dj Gromee. Every single one of the tracks he collaborated on was successful, buttressing the fact that his talent could not be ignored.

Receiving great reception from his country Nigeria, WurlD decided to move back home for a while with a plan to reconnect with his roots. This, he thought, would help him come up with more authentic African content that he could include in his existing musical catalogue. This move brought about the birth of his second solo EP project, “Love Is Contagious”, where he experimented with Fuji, western pop influences and his smooth RnB/soul voice as the final ingredient for the rather sexual playlist. The project was so good that producer Sarz collaborated with WurlD on an entire body of work named “ I Love Girls With Trouble”, which had an instrumental direction of afro-house and electronic pop merged.

This paved the way to his third solo EP project called “AfroSoul”, an album more fixated on the predominant use of the soul genre on afrobeats and makossa like flow infused with reggae, igniting the limitations that could be broken through this form as the ultimate plan.

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My WorlD With U Review The nineteen tracks on this playlist seemed to be created on a personal note, with WurlD delving into the many undiscussed corners of a romantic relationship and how it affects both parties—touching on topics ranging from distance to infidelity, growth, hurt and self-love. Based on the musical direction, there is a consistency and a sweet calmness that brings about an intense mood that feels almost too good to be true.

Lyrically, WurlD has always been a master with his wordplay, they reflect so much intention, and I suppose this has to be his superpower.

Starting with so much positive message on “ These days love don’t change”, which featured Dami Oniru, an equally talented singer, served as a reflective and affirmative song that had their both vocals gliding in synchronicity on the cool but drum-based instrumental.

“Gucci” follows right after maintaining the tempo but with a little more groove to it, then the next is “Let you down”, which has a more danceable instrumental direction with electronic tones and consistent base drums. WurlD gets a bit explicit with the message and shows off his soft but piercing vocals. “Sad Tonight” has him expressing his need for companionship, talking about the complexity of being alone or without the one you love. Right after this is “The way you love you”, which passes an underlined message of loving yourself so much that someone else

can love that about you... so deep. The vocal scaling on this particular song stayed quite fresh from start to finish.

With a more African approach instrumentally, “Toxic” has a good mix of really interesting instruments, especially the electronic guitar, which played a major role throughout the song and as a solo presentation at the end.

“Sweet n Fine” felt familiar probably because Sarz featured, but I can’t deny there was a fun difference to the track. Next is a slow jam with strings and a dreamy vibe titled “Same as you”.

Then “Something to lose” flows in with true RnB grit, wrapped up with so much intimate details projected at his intentions. Immediately after is the “Blue interlude”, with a girl professing her love for WurlD. “Shine” takes its place as the next track, with its electronic tones very prominent throughout the song.

“Press” is a track that reiterates undying affection towards the girl in question.

A base guitar ushers in “Make it snow”, a tune with an infusion of highlife and classical music that dishes a fresh take on the afro sound.

“Naked rain” is a two-part grimy and sexually driven track with all the elements of old school RnB click beats and enticing vocals... So sexy!

An absolute melodic snack is none other than “Spunk”, a track that has WurlD complimenting her qualities in unique ways that give chills.

Definitely of replay value; this track is perfectly placed on the tracklist as it begins to show a wind-up.

In the same breath, though, “Stamina” revitalizes the dance mood, influenced by the popular Amapiano sound that is sure to get you off your butt and on your feet at all times.

The “ATL to Lagos (Prelude)” sets the mood for “Overthinking”, a song that had WurlD taking responsibility but filled with anxiety.

“No easy love” is the closure this album needed, a track that helps reflect on everything about relationships and their effects on our choices.

He literally finishes the show on the most positive note.

It’s such an intriguing playlist, if I must say so.

WurlD has shown us how progressive his sound and lyricism can get, and we are absorbing it all without complaint. His love for experimenting with his inherited African sounds undoubtedly elevates his musical prowess on a global scale, and we are here for it all. Using the term “Impressive” would be an understatement for the effort put into creating every song. His ability to not hold back his authentic motives is a blessing, and the future of alternative music rests oh

SURVIV

By Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru

Dear Reader, Welcome to the WARIF Survivor Stories Series, a monthly feature, where stories of survivors of rape and sexual violence are shared to motivate and encourage survivors to speak their truth without the fear of judgment or stigmatization and to educate the public on the sheer magnitude of this problem in our society. The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is a non-profit organization set up in response to the extremely high incidence of rape, sexual violence, and human trafficking of young girls and women in our society. WARIF is tackling this issue through a holistic approach that covers health, education, and community service initiatives.

Childhood abuse is more prevalent than most people know. It is said to be the most common issue of trauma in adulthood. It’s so sad that a large percentage of children go through “Child Traumatic Stress” when sexually abused. Most time, the perpetrators are the so-called trusted family members, associates, and friends. This is often possible through grooming and most families have fallen prey to it. Mine wasn’t an exception and I want my story to be a lesson to other families so they can avoid my pitfalls and the mistakes made.

This is my story.

My name is Winifred*. I’m the firstborn and only daughter in a family of two. My parents are both working-class and they work on the Island while we live on the mainland in a central location that is easily accessible to the Island. Every morning just like the average working-class family in Lagos, we wake up early, say our prayers as quickly as we can, head for the bathroom for a wash after which we grab our breakfast and then our parents drop us off at school while they head for their offices. It’s the usual routine for us and this never changed until I gained admission into the University recently and left for school.

When I turned 9 years, my father introduced a kinsman of his to us, my dad told us he was a relative and should be regarded as our second father. We called him Uncle Richard, but his native name is Bassey. Uncle Richard was in his early fifties, a few years older than my dad. He treated my siblings and me nicely, took us out, and bought us ice cream and other goodies that children love.

At other times, he took us out for movies, and my mother always endeavored to follow us on such outings except on occasions when she was unavoidably busy. My siblings and I loved him so dearly and we saw him as Godsent. He was also a children’s minister in his church and there was no reason for anyone to be suspicious of anything around him. We reciprocated his warmth by visiting his house during the weekend accompanied by my parents.

A few months after my 12th birthday, Uncle Richard came around in the evening when my parents were still at work. This was after our school bus had dropped us off from the after-school classes and the bus driver had handed us over to our neighbors which was the custom. My parents ensured we remained in our neighbors’ Mr. and Mrs. Bamise’s house until they returned. We were only permitted to go to our house to bathe and change our clothes. We were also allowed to eat any meal offered to us whilst in their house.

Uncle Richard pressed the doorbell which alerted Mrs. Bamise to go to the door, upon sighting him, she recognized him as our kinsman, and they allowed him in. Uncle Richard told her that he was sent by my parents to check up on us after which he told us to go to our flat. He came along with ice cream and snacks for my brother and me and called our parents to say that he was with us.

They thanked him over the phone while my brother and I enjoyed the goodies we had received.

After we were done, Uncle Richards told my brother to follow him into the room, that he needed to check to see if he kept his genitals clean, because he didn’t want him to fall ill. When he was done with my brother, he called me to come into the room as well because he needed to check my vagina. I felt uncomfortable about this, but he assured me that it was in my best interest and explained that he did the same with his daughter while she was growing up. I didn’t know much about sex education, so I obeyed him. He instructed me to pull off my panties and lie down on the bed, then spread my legs apart and fondle my vagina repeatedly with his fingers while he made moaning sounds. While at it, he told me he needed to check deeper to see if I had any infection, he then inserted his finger into my vagina whilst also touching other parts of my body inappropriately. I cried out because it was painful, so he asked me to get up, that he would check again some other time. Before he left, he warned both of us not to tell our parents because it was taboo to say such things to anyone. He further said that if we did, we would die, and our parents would die too if we ever mentioned it to anyone.

When my parents returned, I wanted to tell them what had happened, but I didn’t want to die and I didn’t want any member of my family to die, so I kept it to myself.

During that weekend, he came to visit as usual, and my family welcomed him warmly, but I remained reclusive towards him. He called me to come, I didn’t answer him, and I told him I had homework to do but my mom in her naivety insisted that I answered him. When I got to him, he asked if I was fine, I answered in affirmation, and he then whispered that he hopes I was obedient to the instructions he had given; I just kept quiet and walked away.

Two weeks later, he came to the house again when my parents were away at work.

This time he asked my brother to go play outside, that he had bought a surprise gift for him. Excited, my brother exclaimed and ran out to check what the gift was, I also joined him to see what it was, and it turned out to be a bicycle. My brother began to ride around the compound, excited about his new gift. I told him to be careful not to injure himself and went back inside to go to the bathroom. While in the bathroom, Uncle Richards opened the door and came in. I shouted at him to leave, but he told me he needed to complete his check on my privates and instructed me to be cooperative so that it wouldn’t be painful as the last time.

Uncle Richard asked me to bend over, and he held me in that position as he forced his penis into my vagina. As I screamed out in pain, he quickly used his hand to cover my mouth and continued to forcefully penetrate me, moaning to himself as he raped me until he ejaculated. When he was done, he noticed the traces of blood coming out of my vagina and asked me to wash it off. He warned me to keep quiet unless I wanted to die young, he then cleaned himself and stepped out as if nothing happened. I remained in the bathroom, sobbing in pain and filled with thoughts of hatred towards him, wishing I could kill him or strangled him or something else.

I remained there for several hours until I could no longer hear his voice playing outside with my brother, I then struggled to get out of the bathroom. I was exhausted from crying, so I went straight to bed. When my mother returned, she came to check on me as usual, but I didn’t tell her anything. She checked my temperature to see if I was sick, asked me if all was well, and begged me to eat something; I took a few spoons and went back to bed.

I didn’t want her or anyone else to die so I obeyed Uncle Richard’s instruction and kept quiet.

This then became a frequent occurrence, Uncle Richard continued to come to the house when my parents were not around to molest me sexually, and I couldn’t summon the courage to tell anyone. I continued to keep quiet about it so that no member of my household would die. After some years, whenever Uncle Richards raped me, he would give me pills to take in his presence before leaving. If I refused, he would force it down my throat and tell me it was for my good, that he didn’t want me to get pregnant and drop out of school. He also started to offer me money, which I always rejected, but he later started to leave the money behind or insist I collect it.

On one occasion, my brother almost caught Uncle Richard in the act of raping me. He had asked my brother to go with his driver to buy some things at the mall, however, my brother forgot his iPad, so he had to come back home unannounced. On entering the house, my brother called out my name, this caused Uncle Richard to quickly jump off my body, but he wasn’t fast enough to leave my room. My brother noticed that something was wrong because I was sobbing, on asking what the problem was, Uncle Richard quickly jumped in to tell him that I fell in the bathroom, so he ran in to help me. My brother then told him to leave the room to allow me to get dressed, that it was wrong for him to barge into my room unannounced because even our parents wouldn’t do so, they respected our privacy. Uncle Richard, at that point, quickly apologized and reminded my brother that he was headed somewhere. My brother looked him in the eye and told him that he wouldn’t leave his sister on any account after seeing me that way.

I later found out that my brother reported what he had observed to my mother and told her how often our uncle came to the house whenever they were not around. My mother told my father, who called Uncle Richard to ask about this, but he denied it. My mother began to observe me and ask questions, she noticed I was withdrawn, and when my grades began to drop, she went to my school to question my teacher to find out if I had confided in her concerning any issue.

Her suspicion wasn’t doused so, she

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enrolled in therapy sessions, and explained the symptoms to her therapist, about how I was always lost in thoughts, inattentive, and having nightmares, among others. She was advised to look inwards, and her fears were further spiked by my continuous withdrawal from activities I had enjoyed in the past. An idea then came to her mind to install a CCTV camera in our house, since she had asked everyone around if they observed anything and she was not getting any answers.

My mum got assistance and installed the CCTV cameras in our house without my knowledge. I had just written my WAEC and JAMB examinations, so I was always home as I was awaiting my results. Unaware of what was in place, Uncle Richard came to our house frequently, during work hours as usual to rape me. At this point, I had also accepted my fate and had made up my mind not to return home after I gained admission into the university. On getting home, my mother would examine the content of the recordings from the camera facing the gate, and she always saw that Uncle Richards was the only person that visited the house; disappointed, she wouldn’t examine further to see what transpired afterward. She kept checking to see if any other person came in, but she didn’t see anyone. She would occasionally ask me to know if my uncle came to check up on me and I answered in the affirmative, unaware of the cameras installed.

One day, my mum arrived home from work earlier than usual and decided that she was going to explore the contents of the recording more thoroughly. This time around, she viewed the content of the other cameras and scream out in pain from what she saw. She never thought, in her wildest dream, that an angel like Uncle Richard could turn out to be the devil. She shouted Uncle Richard’s name in horror and kept screaming, my chest o, my chest o, help me! This alerted the neighbors who came in to rush my mother to the hospital in a state of shock. The incident had triggered my mum’s blood pressure, as she had always been hypertensive, and on constant medications, so she was hospitalized for some time.

My father took the evidence to the police and the perpetrator, Uncle Richard, was arrested. I was in shock too because I thought that after my mother found out, she was going to die. However, she recovered from the shock and was discharged from the hospital after a few days. My father and brother are still alive and doing well too, so it meant that Uncle Richard had fooled me as an excuse to rape me consistently for seven years.

At the police station, we were directed to WARIF Centre for medical assessment and psychosocial services. The sessions with the counselor were very rewarding and helpful in the healing process. It helped me to deal with my emotions better, made me feel better about myself, and gave me hope.

I was also privileged to attend the group therapy sessions where I was taught coping mechanisms to manage the trauma. I feel encouraged now and I am moving on from the past because a brighter and bigger future lies ahead of me.

I have learned that the best way to stop sexual abuse is to speak up and never remain silent no matter the threats. I am getting ready to start my first year at a private university and I am happy, that WARIF also offers phone counseling for survivors, so I can reach out at any time.

Dear survivor, please know that you are not alone and it is not your fault. Help is available.

If you have been raped or you know someone who has, please visit us at The WARIF Centre - 6, Turton Street, off Thorburn Avenue, Sabo, Yaba or call our 24-hour confidential helpline on 08092100009.

For questions or more information please contact: info@warifng.org

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Sunday, 2022 Vol. Vol. 22, 22, No. No. 9859 9880 Sunday,May May29, 8, 2022

ZIVA LAGOS

PERIDOT

@zivalagos

@peridotrtw

DESIGN

TEN NIGERIAN FAST FASHION BRANDS TO SHOP NOW In this new age of social media, it is very easy to be influenced by celebrities, peers, and more. The result of this is the fast creation of trends that appear in our favourite fashion retail stores even before we can blink an eye. These fast fashion brands have made it even more, easier as they produce at the speed of lightning and at a very affordable rate. Often the clothes are cheap enough to possess in every colour we love. If you are a lover of fast fashion, keep reading because this week, we let you in on some fast fashion brands to shop from now.

By Funke Babs Kufeji.

The Peridot brand is not new to the Nigerian fashion market. It was a bridal and occasion fashion brand which later branched out into Ready-to-wear (RTW).

Fashion influencers and fashionable people are obsessed with the label, which features gorgeous little details that bring its simple designs to life.

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Ziva clothing brand has established itself as a key player in the fast fashion market thanks to its collection of loungewear made from the finest of silk chiffon, chiffon, cotton and more. One thing about the Ziva brand is that it keeps evolving.

SHOP MAJU

@shopmaju

ARIES COUTURE

TNL DESIGNS

@ariescoutureco

@tnldesigns

If any label has stood the test of time and has proven repeatedly that whatever the trend off the runway, it’s there to give you the affordable equivalent of it, it is Maju. Their designs are trendy, comfortable and most importantly, affordable.

Aries Couture is a fashionable fashion brand which sticks to promoting the local tie and dye material, otherwise known as Adire. They stock everything from tops, joggers, shirts, dresses, coords and more in the traditional Adire fabric. If you want to spruce up your look by wearing trendy Adire outfits, Aries Couture is the store to explore.

This brand has set itself apart from its competitors due to its recognisable aesthetics and its wide appeal to different demographics of women. They stock everything from Aso-oke pants and skirt sets to jumpsuits, dresses, kaftans, etc.

SHOP FOR STYLE SAKE @shop_fss

PRIVATE LABEL

@privatelabelng This ultra-feminine brand is a favourite among fashion IT girls for its extra soft and feminine design silhouette. They came into existence about five years ago and have become a household fast fashion brand in the ever-growing Nigerian fashion industry.

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ZHENA

Zhena is a popular Lagos based Rtw brand. The brand offers modern clothes with an indigenous twist for women.

You can buy dresses, jumpsuits, shirts, pants and more for upwards of N25,000. .

@zephansandco

@dtclothings

If you want a fast fashion brand that will make you look and feel good, stop your search at the DT clothing brand. The brand has caught the attention of online shoppers for its versatile designs in arrays of fabrics ranging from Ankara to Adire, Silk and more.

@zhenaclothingbrand

ZEPHANS & CO RTW

DT CLOTHING FACTORY Offering modern and elegant pieces, TNL Designs is one of the top fast fashion brands in Lagos, Nigeria, that can help you make a strong fashion statement without breaking the bank. The brand offers dresses, gowns, tops, pants, skirts and more online with a price tag that ranges between N25,000 to N50.000.

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OSAS IGHODARO

This brand which was established in 2016, sells affordable women’s clothing for women of all shapes and sizes. The Zephans & CO brand is the go-to brand for stylish people on a budget who want to stand out. Their fabrics are durable, and the designs are stylish and smack on-trend. Everyone can find an outfit for day or night outings on their racks.

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TONTO DIKEH

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- FOUNDER LOIS REGALIA JEWELRY

Gen- Zers are obsessed with Old Nollywood – Especially the Fashion!

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A CHAT WITH OLOLADE LOIS OLAIYA

o doubt, Nollywood is one of the largest film industries in the world – sitting between Hollywood and Bollywood. Big budgets, higher production values, star power, and bigger movies are all telltale signs of an industry steadily rising. However, it wasn’t always like this. In the ‘90s and 2000s, Nollywood was known more for its tacky non-theatrical direct-to-video hits like Living in Bondage, The President’s Daughter, Abuja Connection, Beyonce and Rihanna and many more captivating titles. When you think Old Nollywood, think horrible CGI (computergenerated imagery), overdramatized scenes, predictable storyline and wait for it ........amazing fashion – and yes, we didn’t think so at the time, though!

Fast forward to 2022, and the “golden age” of Nollywood has made a comeback - The good parts, thankfully. Thanks to its re-emergence made by Nigerian Gen-Zs, Old Nollywood is not outdated anymore. Its fashion aesthetics continue to grow and have more popularity that they are now considered a huge part of Nigerian history and pop culture. Oddly, at the time of the release of these movie productions, these aesthetics and the characters that wore them made no socio-cultural statement – At least, that wasn’t the goal. They were simply what they were – wearing clothes that were “trendy” at the time. However, today, Gen-Zs – plus some

younger millennials–give The second reason for the sudden appeal of individualistic and futuristic Y2K fashion is the nostalgic value of the images definitions of those iconic, being posted on these pages. “For many of us, these images are reminiscent of a simpler glamourous Y2K looks.

What indeed led to this time that we’d gladly go back to. This nostalgia and the irresistible glamour of that era have influx? Why is Y2K fashion allowed platforms like Nolly Babes and Yung so popular again?

Not too long ago, this Nollywood to grow an almost cult-like online following that has spilt over into the real world.” golden age of quickly In late December, there was an old Nollywood and cheaply produced movies was confined to era themed party at the Lagos concept store VHS and DVD formats.

ALÁRA. The event had a large turnout of Lagos The luxury of saving your youth dressed in clothing expected from the golden era of Nollywood. The event’s success is favourite clips on your a testament to how much influence Nollywood’s mobile device was absent.

Then, in the early months past still has in today’s world.

As the young generations start to come of of 2019, memes featuring age, the struggles and lifestyles portrayed in ‘90s Nollywood duo Osita Iheme and Chinedu these movies are now relatable as opposed to just staring at your TV screen as a 10-year-old.

Ikedieze went viral. The Although the times have changed, the issues over-the-top nature of challenging Nigerian youths then and now are these memes and short videos - a defining factor of movies from that not so far off. According to Nairametrics, 50.9% era - made them an instant hit on the internet of Nigerians are Gen-Zs. Old Nollywood, its characters and aesthetics, thrived on coming of and social media. They worked well as reaction age and the glory of youth. Something Nigerian images for any given tweet or thread. Different old Nollywood clips of famous actors started 2000 babies can beyond zero doubt relate to.

Scroll through your social media feeds, and to make the rounds. We truly started to feel the 00’s nostalgia when Instagram you can see young people sporting tiny sunglasses, mini skirts, bandanas, bucket pages like @Yung.Nollywood and @ hats, ribbed cropped tops, baguette Nolly.babes began to gain popularity, especially among the younger bags, baggy jeans, oversized clothing, durags, big buckle belts, vests, and not generation. The admins of these pages - who are in their 20s - have forgetting the Y2K inspired makeup.

Graphic liner, very glossy lips, taken it upon themselves to bold coloured eyeshadows, document the industry’s past and share it with a new dark lip liner - what’s not to love? We’re very much into generation. These past throwback clips of movies these staples from such an iconic era. that rocked our screens have given us many reasons to ache for the return of cropped tops, baggy pants, mini skirts, big buckle belts, CYNTHIA NWADIORA. and glossy bubblegum lips.

“People are into stills from what we like to call the ‘Golden Era of Nollywood’ — the mid-90s to the early noughties — for two reasons,” Tochi, one of two Nigerian sisters running @Nolly.babes, tells the press. “The first reason is the purely aesthetic appeal of the images. People will always appreciate beautiful black women dressed impeccably, and that’s essentially what the image of a Nolly Babe is. These women continuously set trends by pushing the boundaries of both traditional and western styles. Genevieve Nnaji’s Gucci monogram looks would put Bille Eilish to shame.”

DIANA ENEJE

NENGI HAMPSON

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By Charles Didee Eta

eated with a glass of water in my right hand and an open notepad on my lap, right in front of me is a now excited Ololade Lois Olaiya grinning from ear to ear, dressed in her comfort clothes and a scarf tied on her head but still looking as beautiful as ever. Undoubtedly, it’s not so unusual for anyone to be laid back at home; still, for some reason, it’s quite unexpected to see the consistently fashionably dressed jewellery brand owner of Lois Regalia enjoying her day off all by herself nibbling on snacks.

Born and raised by her parents in the Oshodi environment in Lagos, Lade narrates how much she enjoyed her beautiful beginnings, was privileged to attend really good schools, shared fun experiences with her friends, and had a good relationship with her family. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when she lost her dad at the tender age of 11. This affected her perceptions of life, losing the one person who served as a pillar to her and her family. According to her, even at that young age, she claims to have observed a shift in the attitude of the people who surrounded her, blaming it on the sudden change in her family’s economic status. For her, that struck a nerve that taught her the value of making money to care for her family.

Well, we can say growing up with a single mother comes with its challenges, but for Lade, it was the propelling factor she needed to pursue her entrepreneurial goals while still in secondary school. She remembers going with her mother to the Lagos Island market to buy jewellery she would resell to her classmates at school. It was fortunate for her that she happened to make profits. That, in turn, put her in a state of responsibility, sending financial aid to her mom as well as paying her school fees - or at least adding to it.

“Getting into the University of Ilorin doing remedial was an exciting time for me,” she says before she downs a glass of water. And then continues by saying, “A chance to be on a campus was all I needed at the time because I was still very much interested in selling jewellery, and that’s all I could think about, so of course, I invested all I had into it.”

She explains that she went ahead and purchased a variety of watches, chains, earrings, bangles and the like but inculcated the idea of better packaging, which she had learned from branding consultants and her own experiences trading.

For a while, Lade made a raking, but the pressures of focusing at school and selling jewellery simultaneously were getting difficult to handle.

Also, the jewellery sales was no longer a thing of passion but a primary means of survival for her and her loved ones.

Things eventually turned from bad to worse, and she could no longer afford to pay her fees, accommodation and upkeep. She had to terminate her admission and then moved to Lagos State placing the accessories business aside and delving into the modelling world where she did pretty well, featuring in designer look book’s/ collections, fashion shows and music videos. It seemed like this would be her path to success, but soon after, certain realities started to set in.

She then tried again to find her place in business, which ultimately brought her back to buying and

selling jewellery, but with an approach to establishing a reputable company.

With a plan to achieve international standards, she decided to order custom jewellery from the United Kingdom and Dubai, which did fabulously well regarding sales but not being too good in quality. . She stressed that her need to trade in impeccable taste was a knack inherited from her mother, who never saw the need to compromise in any form, and that became one of Lade’s many business ideals. Unsatisfied with her first procurement, she decided to go back to her initial source, the market, and then personalised the packaging using the brand’s now established name, “Lois Regalia”.

Using the word “Regal” in the sentence, she explains why she chose the brand name and how it reflects the kind of client she’s interested in catering to. In her words, “I never envisioned my jewellery to shine or glitter. Metalwork had always been my inspiration.”

Enrolling with the African Women Entrepreneurship Corporative (AWEC) for an entire year, Lade got even more focused on understanding business to keep her company DENOLA GREY afloat for the long haul. She talked about how she had to personally market her jewellery on foot to public and corporate spaces trying her very best to build her clientele and public exposure of her brand.

Finally, things started looking up when “Lois Regalia” was selected

by Lagos Fashion Week X-Retail.

Going viral during the showcase catapulted the brand to new heights on social media, which translated into actual sales both locally and internationally.

At this point, Lade explains how she went back to the drawing board to apply all the new strategies she had learnt. Literally getting on her feet, she said to me, “I had to revisit my past to be able to understand who I was in order to move forward, especially in the areas of coming up with designed concepts for my created jewellery”.

Amongst the many happy TEMS customers, she made during her X-Retail marketplace experience came Temi Opaneyi, popularly known as Tems. She was the first Nigerian to order two pieces of Lois Regalia’s infamous “Lola” collection, which eventually sold out.

Getting into how she tried reaching out to know if Tems had gotten her order, Lade mentioned that she did not know who exactly her new customer was at the time, but that was just the beginning. Other

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similarly trendy artists such as Ladipoe, Fireboy, Joeboy and Brotha Shaggy were also in love with what the brand represented and were boldly flaunting their newly acquired jewellery pieces everywhere they appeared.

Like every other creative, Lade feels the need to give back to the society that gave her a chance. This is the motive behind nurturing creative young minds from the Makoko area in Lagos. According to her, “the fragile stage of being a child is a very important moment.” She also points out that children aren’t usually taken seriously and urges the need to stop that in our society. In support of the creatively inclined child, an initiative was set up by the jewellery brand to donate a certain percentage of funds generated from the “Colours of Agape Collection” (which is soon to be disbursed), as well as conducting actual training sessions on jewellery making and gifting these children jewellery and tools in order to pass on the skill and legacy.

In conclusion, Lade speaks about aspiring jewellers who are yet to make themselves known in the industry, pleading with them to utilise the space reserved for jewellery makers to globalise African arts and crafts - but on a contemporary level. She also touched on the need for collaboration and consistency in whatever craft is embarked upon, keeping in mind that all you need to do is “keep doing what you do, and the things you desire will come true’’.

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REVAMP YOUR KITCHEN ON A BUDGET

AFRICA AND BRITAIN: A FORGOTTEN HISTORY © 2016 BBC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

For a lot of us, the kitchen is the main hub of the house. If you’ve been looking at yours lately and feeling uninspired by the design, try one of these ideas to breathe new life into your space without breaking the bank.

By Usiade Isioma

Begin by decluttering.

To give your kitchen a new look, begin by decluttering the countertops and shelves. To make the best use of the space in your drawers and cabinets, you can use dividers or organizers.

Spruce up your Shelves.

One of the simplest and least expensive ways to update your kitchen is to remove some upper cabinets and replace them with shelves.

Show off your bright bowls and any eye-catching small appliances. They’ll look great in the kitchen as a decorative piece.

Replace your Backsplash.

To update the look of your kitchen, consider changing the tile backsplash. If the rest of your kitchen is neutral, choose a fun patterned tile to add some flair. Select your materials with care.

Install a New Light Fixture.

Don’t be afraid to go bold with your lighting and make it the focal point of your kitchen.

Look for one that matches the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. It can make a huge difference in the kitchen.

Add a Work of Art. A fun piece of art can add a touch of whimsy to any room. Not many people think about getting artwork for their kitchen, but it’s a great idea. You can even find some great vintage items to add character to your kitchen. This is a simple way to refresh a kitchen wall.

Use an attractive Faucet.

The sink is the most used piece of kitchen equipment. An attractive faucet adds a gleaming new accessory to your kitchen sink. It’s a small change that can make a big difference in the look of your space, especially if the faucet draws attention and is bold enough to be a focal point.

Upgrade Your Hardware.

To add personality and style to your kitchen, you can replace the existing hardware on your kitchen cabinets.

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Paint a corner.

You can always choose to highlight one area with colour to liven up a dull kitchen without resorting to heavy paintwork.

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