UGO IGBOKWE; STILL RISING AGAINST ALL ODDS

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Shekudo… More Than Just A Label.

It’s A Lifestyle

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Hair Vendors Celebrate Princess Deborah Funmilayo Namabiri Aka Aunty Funmi Hair

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Ugo Ugochukwu

The Essential Bag Trend

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I Am Currently The Number 1 Food Critic In Nigeria...

Opeyemi Famakin

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Moriam Musa EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TRIBE AND ELAN

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WRITERS AKINWANDE VICTOR ERINFOLAMI TEMILOLUWA

10 Foods That May Weaken Your Immune System

COVER/LAYOUT DESIGNER SEGUN RAPHAEL

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Ejiro Amos Tafiri.

SHEKUDO… MORE THAN JUST A LABEL. IT’S A LIFESTYLE sure that we knew Australia was our home and that it also .manage to do a very good job at hiding systemic racism, but with recent global events, the formerly masked stench is resurfacing once more and it’s not going away.

A

my Akudo Iheakanwa. “...is the brain behind the fast rising fashion accessory brand – Shekudo .

Their locally crafted footwear – mostly mules and recently handbags have become a huge hit in the Nigerian fashion space.

Here is a brief insight on how this brand came to be and the journey thus far.

EARLY YEARS Growing up biracial in Australia was definitely an experience that had so many interesting peaks and troughs. We grew up in rural NSW where my mum and dad worked tirelessly with the local community. My dad, a proud Nigerian man, would tell us stories of how he proudly wore his 3-piece suit to college in

PERSONALITY

Wagga Wagga in the 70s in sweltering Aussie heat. No matter the challenges he faced and the blatant discrimination he would sometimes receive, he always lifted himself up with a smile and pushed on. He taught us to be proud of our Nigerian and Australian roots, telling us that we were Nigerian royalty before we went to school most mornings. Although we technically weren’t Nigerian royalty, I now see that he was trying to instill strength and pride in us to face what may come.

Mum, a white Australian woman who grew up in a rural farming community, taught us love, compassion and quiet strength.

She always made an effort to keep us connected to our Nigerian roots, but also made

COMING TO NIGERIA I now see that part of my relocation to Lagos, Nigeria was to somehow try and prove that my ‘Nigerian side’ had more to offer than many perceived.

Something that I always felt I needed to prove since childhood (“No, Nigeria is not just about kidnapping, Internet scams and poverty” ...”No, people don’t own lions as pets...” “...No, Nigerians don’t click their tongues when they talk, there are hundreds of local languages and dialects...” - I would regularly object). I’ve always wanted to help reconstruct the narrative around my fatherland to show that there was so much diversity and beauty in having a Nigerian heritage and I wanted to share this diversity and richness with the world. So here I am, trying to narrate my Nigeria one step at a time through this beautiful medium of craftsmanship.

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BUILDING SHEKUDO Founded in Sydney Australia, began as a women's clothing brand -drawing on heritage, life experiences and a wearable art aesthetic.

Now under the sole creative direction of Akudo Iheakanwa, the brand relaunched into footwear and accessories moving its base across the Indian Ocean to commence production in Lagos, Nigeria.

With this move, the brand hoped to shed more light on the local artisan and craftsmanship scene whilst integrating some of the ageold techniques and overlooked local resources into its own contemporary aesthetic.

Shekudo has gone from a team of 4 to 14 artisans and master craftsmen in just over a year.

Shekudo works hard to make sure that the majority of its raw materials can be found or produced locally (such as its shoe heels, recycled insoles as well as the upper and lining fabric for the shoes). The brand currently includes local leather and traditional Aso Oke/Akwete cloth for its shoe uppers, local cotton for the dust bags, as well as wood, brass and silver for the earrings.

PERSONALITY

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HAIR VENDORS CELEBRATE PRINCESS DEBORAH FUNMILAYO NAMABIRI AKA AUNTY FUNMI HAIR Osun State.

Those close to her said she had been battling with brain tumor which eventually took her life.

The news of her death comes as a huge shock to many of her clients and society friends, both in Nigeria and in the UK. A famous hair entrepreneur and a woman driven by passion , Aunty Funmi denitely came , saw and conquered . Below are a few tributes by her fellow hair vendors .

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unmi Namabiri, the Uk b a s e d h a i r entrepreneur who runs famous hair brand, Funmi Hair, passed recently .The sad news of her death was broadcasted via social media by her Bayelsa-born husband, Prince Isaac Namabiri. Aunty Funmi as she was fondly called , was a native of Osun State and together with her husband, they both ran the family business-, Helena Hair Care Ltd in the UK, where they are based.

Their hair care business is globally known for the famous hair extension, Funmi Hair which is highly patronized by top celebrity

Hair By Ugo: She set the bar so high! A trailblazer.

When we didn't know there could be anything like life time warranty she found it.

She sold value in exchange for money. women for it’s high quality, She taught us to sell which has seen the Chinese condently from a distance. trying to replicate it without She gave the hair industry success. world wide a standard. China Funmi Hair rated as the had to sit up! Vietnam, knew world’s number one human there was double drawn hair. Worn by women all over because of you. I celebrate the world, Funmi Hair, which the life you lived and pray launched into the market your soul rest in peace. Ps: over 40 years ago, remains know the difference between the most sought after human gold and gold platted, funmi hair by women. did it for us.PS:I never met So successful did her human her”. hair business become, that she wrote a book on her life’s k i k a G o o d H a i r : S h e journey titled, ’The Secret Of inspired Chioma and I. Her Funmi Hair’.Z legacy lives on Funmi and her husband, a former IMB banker, also ran Ems Strands: Oh no, she did their family resort, Praise set the bar high, Rest In Peace Banquet Hotel and Resort, ma’am. located in her homestate, www.tribeandelan.com

Vendors. Rest well Queen.Ur legacy lives on❤ Tseju Hair: Life Hair hi lites: Yes, she was i n d e e d a t r a i l b l a z e r.

May her soul rest in peace.

C e c e i Hairs.ng: I guess a funmi h a i r a s Vietnam calls it was curled from her name Hairspa_hd: She set a high standard! Rest in peace Ma Raw Donor H a i r Extensions: R e s t o n mama,thank you for paving way for us in this hair industry, your legacy lives on queen

Ms Ogarr: My God! I met her once at her store in West Hampstead. I stood from a distance as she pulled a ‘Ghana must go’ full of hair close and said ‘hair is nished, everyone please go and come back next week, these ones have been paid for’. I looked at her in admiration as her store was full of people with bags of her hair and even the number she had in the ‘Ghana must go’ was a lot and all I could do was think of the money she had made.

It blew my mind and I was in that thought when I heard

‘Come dear, did you get any hair?! I looked up and realized she was talking to me, I still wasn’t sure and she asked me to come closer, I went and she said she liked my face and she gave me a pack she kept for someone else saying she would nd a way to replace it. I smiled. She was sweet to me and that made me really happy. Rest In Peace ma’am!

Monie_Tee: Oh wow, I remember traveling from east London by train to her store just to by her weave which I still have after so many years. She did have very good hair. May her soul rest in peace.

Gloria Duruibe: This is very heartbreaking. I was honoured to meet you in your store in London in 2011. You were very gracious and kind. You were both regal and royal yet you treated everyone with enormous respect. You denitely left a lasting impression on me. Rest in peace game changer. May the Lord give your family and friends the fortitude to bear this loss.

Ocial Diva Hairs: Rest in Peace my hair mentor she indeed set the bar in Tushed 4 bella: Ohhh one of the best hair I've ever had. I've used it over the hair industry 10 times since I got it in 2012 yet it Queen KJ: She was a constellation of stands out. May her soul rest in peace, talent. My hair from her was lik gold. such a loss.

She sure raised the bar for us all hair

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THE ESSENTIAL BAG TREND

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ags , the accessories that will finish your look and are similarly diverse too. Under your arm , on/across your shoulder or it could be a small hobo bag or a giant carryall tote this season, bags are the unifying item.

Nichole By Haguanna

The point being that the best shoes, bags, sunglasses, and other accessories will really work for you and fit into your life—however you want to live it. A carryall bag or a soft curved hobo bags reemerging on the shelves of brands like Femi handbags , Ora lagos , Nicole by Haguanna , Aaboux , and others have given us clean shopping totes and market bags—optimum storage that doesn’t skimp on style.

Shekudo Femihandbags Femihandbags

Oralagos Femihandbags

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I AM CURRENTLY THE NUMBER 1 FOOD CRITIC IN NIGERIA... OPEYEMI FAMAKIN Ghanaian dishes, I review them all.”….

Not a rm believer that only women should be seen in the kitchen, Opeyemi , actually started out as a food blogger who posted DIY cooking videos and occasionally did restaurant review content. It was then he noticed restaurant reviews did better and he began doing more of it. According to him …”Long story short, I'm an awesome cook”. He has had a close knit relationship with food and its art and this intimate relationship for food intensied as his family always made it a tradition to go on holidays to different countries in order to taste their various cuisines.

During these vacations, Opeyemi Famakin documented his experience and shared food reviews on his social media pages without even knowing he was being a food critic until it became something a lot of people now know him for as they even seek his expert opinion on dishes.

Opeyemi Famakin does not consider himself to be a food critic by profession as he actually works as a content and brand strategist for an advertising agency. His reputation as a food critic started out due to his love for food and that is still the major reason he is not thinking of stopping any time soon. He enjoys watching peyemi Famakin popularly know as The Food Critic has been crowned the cooking competitions and videos as well as “unofcial” biggest food critic in Nigeria , reading about food. With no Nigerian role model believe it or not . Opeyemi , who has through his In the food critic industry in sight , Opeyemi crowns love for food created a brand that a lot of people himself like the proverbial lizard saying ... “In the have fallen in love with. On why he decided to food criritc industry, not exactly as I'm become a food critic, Famakin had this to say …. currently number 1”. But In the general food “In all honesty I didn't decide, It just industry, Chef Fregs. His story inspired me a lot happened. I've always been a foodie who to become who I am. Him and my mother dined in restaurants and face objective reviews. I was very consistent in doing it and Opeyemi aims to help food brands grow while also things just fell into place and my following educating his audience on the best places to eat grew massively over time.” the dish they crave. Due to his passion for studying and teaching people about food, On a nal note Opeyemi Famakin wears many hats as he is a concerning how lucrative this line of passion could food and wine critic, food consultant and writer at possibly be , asides sampling ne cuisine, Ope Food Critic. Opeyemi has grown to garner an Opeyemi would not spill as he adds … That last engaged audience through his reviews and question isn’t really needed….” Well Opeyemi critique of various food outlets and their dishes. Famakin is now known as the biggest food critic in Although not restricted to Nigerian dishes alone, Nigeria with hopes of becoming the biggest in he admits to reviewing dishes from other parts of Africa and we raise or glasses to that as more restaurants and diners clamour for his attention, the globe ….”

I review dishes from all over the world. From Opeyemi has with no doubt engraved his name in Asian dishes, to Ethiopian dishes and even the Nigerian food sector.

O

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lhambi S H A E www.tribeandelan.com

10 FOODS THAT MAY WEAKEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM Highly refined carbs A diet high in refined carbs may adversely affect your immune system. Choosing more nutritious carb sources like fruits and starchy vegetables is a better choice for your overall health.

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Certain high-fat foods Eating a diet high in saturated fat may impair immune function.

Following a balanced, high fibre diet is likely a good way to support immune health.

Foods high in omega-6 fats Eating more omega-3-rich foods and fewer omega-6-rich foods Artificially sweetened foods and may promote optimal immune beverages function.

Artificial sweeteners have been associated with alterations in gut Fried foods bacteria that may harm immune Fried foods aren’t good for function. Additionally, some overall health and may cause research suggests that high immune dysfunction. Fried foods intake may contribute to the are high in AGEs and should be progression of autoimmune Additional Sugar - Limiting your limited in any healthy diet. diseases. intake of foods and beverages high in added sugar, including ice Processed and charred meats The bottom line cream, cake, candy, and sugary Diets high in processed meat and You can support your immune beverages, can improve your m e a t s c o o k e d a t h i g h s y s t e m b y l i v i n g a h e a l t h y overall health and promote temperatures have been linked lifestyle. h e a l t h y i m m u n e f u n c t i o n . to increased disease risk and This means limiting foods and Limiting your intake of sugary may harm your immune system. beverages that are high in added foods and beverages can sugars and salt, processed promote better blood sugar Fast food meats, and fried foods, all of m a n a g e m e n t a n d i m m u n e Keep your intake of fast food to a which may have adverse effects minimum. Eating too much of it is on your body’s immune function. response. associated with health risks and To support your immune system, may harm your immune system. it’s best to follow a balanced diet Salty Foods Studies show that a high salt rich in whole, nutrient-dense i n t a k e m a y i m p a i r n o r m a l Foods that contain certain foods and limit your intake of i m m u n e f u n c t i o n , p r o m o t e additives ultra-processed foods as much inflammation, and increase your Ultra-processed foods contain as possible. susceptibility to autoimmune a d d i t i v e s l i k e e m u l s i fi e r s , thickeners, and sweeteners that Culled from Healthline diseases. may affect immune function. e are in times where we have to be more cautious about our health. With the pandemic and other underlining factors, we can not afford to have our immune system compromised due to our poor lifestyle choices. Here are 10 foods that are sure to affect our immune system.

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