Uncutxtra Magazine - Volume 11

ISSN 2635-1722

VOLUME 11

JAN 2023

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INFLUENTIAL ISSUE

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FASHIONABLE SHOES THAT NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

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INFLUENCERS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2023

FOCUS PORTABLE’ S RELENTLESS THRUST TO STARDOM AND WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM IT

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My greatest achievement is being able to provide for my family and look out for people...

MISS UNIVERSE 2022

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I moved to the U.S. when I was 11 with my family because we Won the lottery visa, and that was when everything changed

MAGIXX PG.10

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SPONSOR

Venerable Sydney Children’s Welness

CINDY MAHLANGU From The Backstage To The Frontline

ISSN 2635-1722

Award Winning Versatile Actress, Model & Mother

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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: HOW AI IS REDEFINING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

From the EDITOR DESK It should be clear by now that it is you, great readers of the world, who are at the root of the storyteller’s complex joy. It is for you we write.

The uncut Xtra magazine is a UKbased, Nigerian-owned quarterly magazine published by Creatrix Empire that aims to be the number one publication Of choice providing intricate detailing of all things relating to entertainment, fashion, Lifestyle, top African acts, and emerging talent Within Africa and beyound. Uncut xtra prides itself on the continuous development and delivery of Insightful, impactful and innovative content, and this remain at the epicentre of all we do.

This 11th edition of the UncutXtra magazine has been themed Influential Edition.

It is a celebration of great personalities like yourselves who are actively pushing to make the African Community the beauty it is.

Our cover star on this issue is Cindy Mahlangu, a south African actress whose journey to fame and motherhood is exciting to say the least. She shares her story, career, her introduction into the South African entertainment industry, and her love life. Also in this issue is Magixx, the Mavins record Signee who has been doing excellently well since his emergence into the music industry. The Love Don't Cost a Dime crooner talks about his greatest achievement and everything else. Also the trailblazing Asake, king of vibes, Montana Felix, Miss Universe 2022.

If you're reading this right now, then it is for you we have carefully curated over 50 pages of quality content and we have served it rich and sizzling hot!

Our team had a great time putting this amazing issue together, and we hope you have an amazing read all the way through. And your feedback is key to our advancement, so be sure to send us an email or slide into our DMs on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to let us know how we can serve you better.

Hoping to hear from you soon

Editorial Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Emmanuel Alade OPERATIONS MANAGER Oloruntoba Samuel ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Olatunji Adebunmi EDITOR Charity Ejomafuvwe Abuke WRITERS Michelle Mojisola Savage Oluwakoya Maverick Theophilus Paulson Omobola Adigun Chioma Ezeh Juliet Ike INTERVIEWERS Omobolanle Valentina Adigun Chioma Ezeh VIDEO GRAPHIC EDITOR Yusuf Mitha David Obisesan GRAPHICS DESIGNER Dickson Silas

Charity Abuke (Sharon) Editor

All right reserved. Reproduction of this work without permission is strongly prohibited.

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 01 05 10 15 19 24 29 31

ASAKE, I am asake I am my own sound

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PICK YOUR SLAYING STYLE

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UncutXtra meets Miss Universe 2022

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Fashionable Shoes That Never Goes Out of Style

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DRAGGING; The new Term for Cyber Bullying

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Time out with Gyak kess

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Portable’s Rise to Stardom

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Your eyes don’t need the extra bags Lose them

Top music collaborations of 2022

UncutXtra meets Magixx

People that broke the internet in 2022

Top 10 influencers to look out for in 2023

Uncutxtra meets Titok star; Edith Imonikhe

TECH’TAINMENT

Uncutxtra meets CINDY MAHLANGU

Asaké Asaké Asaké Asaké I AM ASAKE I AM MY OWN SOUND AND MUSIC

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A Man, His Music, & His Vibes

ove him or hate him, there's no denying one fact - Ahmed Ololade professionally known as Asake is a natural-born entertainer. His ability to command attention through his music, videos, and performance is what captivates millions of people all over the world.

Since his debut in the Nigerian music scene, the YBNL Nation signee has taken giant strides at a pace that only a few can equal. With chart-topping hits after hits, suffice it to say that his only mission is to dominate.

Asake's first commercial releases came in 2020 with the song "Lady," but they didn't exactly mark a qualitative leap in Nigeria's budding Afrobeats genre. The awardwinning Nigerian rapper and musician is known for his comedic style and humorous delivery.

He created music for a while without a break but never gave up because it was his lifelong dream. According to him, music was the only thing he did comfortably that gave him inner joy and peace. However, he confessed that he promise himself to go to either London or Paris to pursue a career in modeling if music did not work out.

Fortunately, he got his break before he hit the runway.

Olamide, a popular Nigerian rapper who also owns a successful record label, YBNL, reached out to him after listening to his single, “Mr. Money”. Asake released "Mr. Money" in 2020 and later featured Zlatan and Peruzzi in the remix. Olamide signed Asake to YBNL Records in February 2022. In the same month, Asake released his debut EP, “Ololade”. The extended play featured the song that broke him into the limelight - “Omo Ope” featuring his boss, Olamide.

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Asake released his first studio album in September 2022. “Mr. Money With The Vibes” which featured his popular remix of “Sungba” with Burna Boy. The album was a hit that it became the highest-charting debut Nigerian album of all time on the Billboard 200.

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The album turned Asake into an international sensation overnight.

It peaked at No.1 in over 19 countries from Nigeria and Cameroon to the United Arab Emirates and Canada. Shortly after its release, he joined the prestigious 1 billion stream gang, a feat that only a few African artistes have achieved.

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n addition, it made history as the first African album with the highest number of streams on the first day and during the first three days, the first album to have 7 songs in the top-ten positions in the history of TurnTable Charts, and the first album to have all tracks occupy the first 12 spots on Apple Music Nigeria Top 100.

South African amapiano stars like DBN Gogo and Major League DJz expressed their awe and adoration after hearing Mr. Money With The Vibe.

In a tweet, Major League DJz stated, "Asake is amapiano." DBN Gogo even stated that South African amapiano musicians had to team together in order to defeat the daunting Nigerian threat because the CD was that excellent.

She obviously doesn't know how to respond to Asake's varied cultural and musical influences.

Having conquered Nigeria, Asake set his sight on the international music scene. He announced his international tours of the United States and the United Kingdom after joining an American record label and distribution company, Empire. By that time, he had amassed a loyal worldwide fan base called “Terminators”, who showed up in large numbers for his tours.

His tour of the United States was quite successful, however, Asake made headlines on September 30, 2022, when he sold out his Priority O2 Arena tickets in less than two minutes, causing the ticketing platform to crash.

To appease his insatiable UK Terminators, he announced two more dates at the same venue which also sold out in minutes! Asake had become a force to be reckoned with in the international music industry.

Along with breaking and setting more records, he bagged many nominations and awards including an AFRIMMA for Artiste of the Year and AFRIMA for Breakout Artistes of the Year.

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Classifying Asake might be difficult.

With flair, charisma, and skill, he has been able to win the hearts of many What endears people to Asake’s music?His uniqueness and versatility. He is a breath of fresh air whose music cannot be categorized.

In simple words, he is a true entertainer.

This is why people, including those who do not understand his lyrics, enjoy his music all over the world.

His music does not need interpretation to be understood.

Asake's extraordinary success might be attributed to his unique musical style of expression. Street patois, friendly urban hooliganism, joyous fuji trimmings, immediateness, and openness need to be added to the already distinctive concoction. This is unquestionably yummier than the regular amapiano.

Some call him a Neo-fuji act. Others call him an Afrobeats artiste. And to many, his music is a fusion of HipHop, Amapiano, Afrobeats, Fuji and more. However, his music should never be defined or put under a category. According to him,

“I am Asake.

I am my own sound and music.”

NIGERIAN MUSIC

Collaborations OF 2022

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rguably, the Nigerian music industry is renowned for having some of the best artistes in the world with intriguing talents and songs that consistently break through on international stages. Obviously, the same standard was effortlessly maintained in 2022, because most Nigerian artistes delivered hit tracks back to back. While we can all agree that the year was marked by political squabbles, a hike in the cost of living, and endless Twitter chatter, we can’t deny the fact that we consistently received excellent music throughout the year as several artistes rose to fame. Below are the top ten music collaborations of 2022.

Buga: Kizz Daniel Feat Tekno Kizz Daniel as usual delivered no bad song by handing fans his 2022 hit and most viewed video of the year 2022, Buga. This single is ideal for all ears as its lyrics are free of vulgarity, the beat is mid-tempo, and the tune is rhythmic. Garnished with a flawless dance move, Buga's appearance on various countries' charts has earned Kizz international recognition, with Tekno putting little touches to spice the track.

Mavin - Overdose Mavin All-Stars collaboration 'Overdose' which featured Don Jazzy, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Magixx, Ladipoe, and Boy Spyce is one we all never saw coming. As usual Don Jazzy nailed it again with the brand-new hit song OVERDOSE. However, we must caution you that this jam has an excessively high repetition value and is quite addicting. Don Jazzy undoubtedly surpassed himself this time. What’s more, is that Overdose has successfully amassed 33.4 million audiomack views, which is quite impressive

Baddest Boy (Remix)-Skiibii ft Davido Skiibii, a well-known Nigerian musician, made a significant entry into the year 2022 with the remix of his song "Baddest Boy Remix. His performance of Baddest Boy, accompanied by Davido’s unmissable vocals and catchy one-liner, a sing-along chorus, and a catchy rhythm was another highlight that established him as one of the major key players in Afrobeats.

The duo was able to enthrall audiences with this resounding sound thanks to Omo Baba Olowo.

Finesse- Pheelz ft Buju Thanks to social media, Finesse has garnered enough audience to make it an anthem and not just a song. This collaborative single between renowned producer Pheelz and the Outside singer BNXN (Buju) was a hit even before it was officially released. Asides from Finesse's sonorous simplicity, what makes this track a crowd-pleaser is the iconic line which doesn't seem to be disappearing anytime soon; "If I broke Nah my business".

Consequently, Finesse made its debut on the billboard hot 100 in its week of release and pushed down Essence and Love Nwantiti JAN 2023

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Omo Ope- Asake ft Olamide YBNL’s latest signee, Asake confirmed that he was indeed a talent to watch after the release of his debut EP. Maintaining an upbeat flow, Omo ope was an energetic tune that leaned on the street/fuji pop style drenched in Yoruba lingo perfect for the voice of the street rapper Olamide. With over 10 million streams on Audiomack as we write, Omo Ope will definitely get bigger

Sungba remix- Asake ft Burna Boy YBNL’s latest signee, Asake made a massive impression with his debut selftitled EP which contained four remarkable tracks. Although Sungba was a definite party starter as a solo record, the inclusion of renowned hitmaker Burna Boy took this dance record to absolute perfection.

With its stunning visuals directed by TG Omori, Sungba is an addictive street jam with raunchy lyrics, typically asking a lady not to be shy because he has got enough money to take care of her and in return, she needs to Sungbalaja.

Undeniably, Sungba has all the ginger we can ever wish for, and currently it has 30.6 million audio mack streams.

Always – Darkoo ft. Black Sherif (Song) Black Sheriff has had a run of dominating Nigerian charts, advancing the Ghanaian music business, and showcasing the African experience through drill rap since his big break with his chart-topping hit Second Sermon.

His collaboration with Nigerian-British rapper Darkoo for the hit track ‘ALWAYS is proof that he is not going anywhere soon. Aside from ‘Always’ being a fantastic record and still holding its forts on charts, it is also one of the top-trending songs on Tik Tok, Due to its nicely composed vocals

Sugarcane (Remix) Camidoh ft Mayorkun, King Promise and Darkoo Sugarcane (Remix), a stunning tune that featured talented music crooners, Mayorkun, Darkoo, and King Promise. The hit track which was written and composed by Ghanaian music singer, Camidoh, was released in the year 2022, solely produced by a Nigerian brilliant music producer known as Phantom.

Mayorkun's creativity and attending grabbing lyrics with the other artistes is one of the things that sold out this remix, and it was also one of the biggest Tik Tok hits of 2022.

Camidoh, currently one of the top trending music coroners in Ghana.

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Kilometer- BNXN (Buju) and Zinoleesky (remix) Daniel Benson, globally known as BNXN (Buju), an award-winning Nigerian Afro-fusion singer, songwriter, and record producer made a new entry into the Nigerian music scene with another outstanding soundtrack titled Kilometer (Remix), which featured the sensational talented Nigerian singer and songwriter Zinoleesky of Marlian Music.

Riding on the Amapiano wave produced by Rexxie, on Kilometre's remix, the duo made it a point to outrun one another on this high-tempo track. undoubtedly this track deserves a spot on your playlist if you enjoy outstanding music.

Magixx – Love Don’t Cost A Dime Ft. Ayra Starr Mavin singers and celebrated Gen-Z stars Magixx and Celestial girl flaunted their rising stardom on this cheesy R&B/Soul track, Love Don't Cost a Dime' written by Nigerian afro-fusion singer and songwriter Adelabu Alexander known by the stage name Magixx Well, while lots of folks find the statement ‘Love don’t cost a dime’ controversial, it doesn’t diminish from the fact that the track was a hit, they flaunted their enticing youthful vibes in their adorable chorale and soothing voices, exploring the exhilarating thrills of falling in love

Calm Down Rema ft. Selena Gomez This melodious tune merges both talented sensations, having Rema come through with his vocal vibes and harmonizing lyrics while Selena Gomez balances and finishes her verse nicely. Rema's "calm down" continues to dominate the music charts. Even in India and the US and even, still trending in 2023.

Although it's hard to say if it was the combination of the music artiste or if it is the music itself doing the magic but whichever it is, this combo has definitely earned its right to be among the top music collaborations of 2022

Soweto - Victony and Tempoe Victony, also known as Anthony Ebuka Victor, is one of Nigeria's fastest-rising singers, songwriters, rappers, and Afrobeat crooners. He served the hit track ‘soweto’ hot with a hooge touch of good vibes alongside Nigerian Lagos-born record producer, DJ, singer, and songwriter Tempoe. Tik Tokers can attest to the fact that it is a dance track that will get you off your feet in no time

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w e i v r e t In With

MAGIXX

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agixx is an incredibly br i l l i a nt mu s i c i a n .

Aside from being one of the fastest rising artistes emerging from Africa, he is also very skillful with the pencil (artist), a n a m a z i n g s i n g e r, a n d songwriter, who currently has a number of really intriguing hit songs to his credit.

The Mavin Records signee speaks to Afrobeatsglobal p r e s e n t e r O m o b o l a Va l (@omobolanleadigun_), about life as a Nigerian artiste and how he got signed into Mavin record.

Given that you go by Alexander Adelabu, it is almost impossible to tell that you are Yoruba. How then did your brand name, Magixx, evolve?

People usually doubt that I’m Yoruba. People have always asked if I’m Igbo and that’s not surprising because my mum is from Edo State and I look more like her. Recently, I posted her picture on my Instagram page and people were saying I look so much like her. Also, people think I’m Igbo because of the way I talk. As for my brand name ‘Magixx’, it’s a divine name. I chose the name because I’m a very versatile artiste and this has been so since I was in school. I used to draw, sing, dance and all these things gave me that superman vibe. First, the name was ‘Magic’, and then I decided to change it to ‘Magixx’.

How did you get signed to Mavin records and how did you feel when this happened?

‘My Greatest Achievement Definitely Will Be, Being Able To Provide For My Family, & Being Able To Look Out For People’ Mavin happened sometime in 2020 during the pandemic. Then, I was putting out a lot of freestyle videos and I was also reaching out to a lot of people that I really wanted to be signed to their management.

I had just finished school then so I was really reaching out to people. Then one faithful night, I got a message and this message led to me meeting Don Jazzy and then becoming part of the team.

This made me so happy.

Though I was really popular in school (UNILAG) for my music and all that I always did but when I got signed, it just felt like God’s timing because it came at a very crucial time of my life when I needed it.

What is your educational background?

I studied Mass Communication at the University. The funny story is there was a time I wanted to do

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Sciences but after attending one class, I just knew it wasn’t for me. I always had a passion for Music.

My Primary school was more like a Music school too so I did Theatre Arts, studied Music, Fine Arts and also played instruments while in school. Then when I got to secondary school I also joined a dance group and it just felt like I was always around Music.

When did you kick-start your music career?

I recorded my first song when I was thirteen but I didn’t put it out.

The first song I recorded and put out was in 2015 so I’ll say I started my Music career officially in 2015.

Which song would you consider to be your hit song?

The first song before Mavin was ‘Problem’ but after I got signed into Mavin, it was ‘Love don’t cost a dime’. You know as an artist we just do our best and hope that a song will be accepted but you really never know which song will do exceptionally well. But for me, I am super grateful and this year I’ll definitely put out greater work.

How would you describe your style of music?

I would say I consciously make my music every time. My style is Afro-fusion; a little bit of soul, patwa, just afro fusion. I try to tell my story through my music. Not like my songs tell a current experience but more of my past experience. For example, when I sang ‘Love don’t cost a dime’, I had been single for like a year.

met a fan who asked me to give her my phone so she took a picture with me with my phone and asked me to send the picture to her on WhatsApp so she could save my number.

Though her phone was off truthfully as she claimed, I found this really funny.

Who is your role model in the music industry?

My biggest inspiration is Drake because I feel like we have a lot in common. I really want my brand to be known for speaking the truth and relatable stuff. Here in Nigeria too, there are a lot of people doing great stuff and they inspire me, people like; Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid, they all inspire me to do more.

Are you in a relationship?

No, I’ve not b e e n i n a relationship for a minute and that’s because I’ve really been busy with getting what I want to get out of my career and life.I genuinely think that at this moment a relationship will be a distraction for me.

What motivates you when you have a performance but aren't feeling well?

Honestly, this is normal but you always have to put up a show for those who paid to see you! And for me, because I love what I do, the passion and love for what I do keep me going so I am always gingered to entertain my people What other business or interests does Magixx have outside of music?

I studied Mass Communication so sometime in the future, I might really consider establishing a Media firm because I feel like the industry needs a lot of redefining and a lot of young people that think freely and have a platform to express themselves. I don’t want to say a lot but that’s one interest I really have.

Currently, how would you describe the Nigerian Music industr y compared to the international space?

To be very honest, I feel like we are growing. These international people have like a 70/100 years old industry so yes they deserve the perfection they have now but we are just growing and we are doing amazingly well. Also, in our

industry if you pay your dues, it's only right that you get what you deserve. Although, you need to have your connections, you need to relate with people because you can't do it all alone. But the truth is you don't have to be Wizkid to make money or you don't have to be a superstar to make money as a musician in our industry and that's growth Are you currently working on any project, track or album? If yes, kindly tell us about this.

Yes, I’m working on dropping some work this year. I won’t say a project because I don’t want to go ahead of my team but definitely, there’s going to be more music this year. It might be an album, an EP just expect something great.

What was the most embarrassing fan interaction you've ever had?

I’ve not really had embarrassing moments because I take it all in as love but I’ve had really extra fans. I

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What do you do for fun given how hard you work? always create time for myself.

Sometimes I play games in my house, sometimes, I go to the beach, very few times I go to lounges and sometimes I go home to my family. I just ensure I do random stuff that makes me happy.

You have a distinctive sense of style, What influences your style of clothing?

I’ve always been very conscious and intentional about how I want people to see my brand.

Also, one of the things I want to do is create a Fashion brand.

You actually need to stand out in the industry because it’s a game. I really want to stamp my footprints on the sand of time and this is what inspires my fashion style too.

In five years, where do you envision your brand?

What I’ll just say is you’ll see my work. The thing about destiny is you can’t put in so much work and not get a reward so you’ll see God’s work and you’ll see my works.

Who do you aspire to collaborate with locally or globally, and why?

I’ll really love to work with Doja Cat, Stormzy, Chris Brown, and a lot of great people. There are just so many people that I’ll love to work with.

What has been your greatest achievement to date?

My g r e a t e s t a c h i e v e m e n t definitely will be being able to provide for my family, and being able to look out for people. It gives me so much joy.

Kindly share three facts about you that the public doesn’t know?

I am a very jovial person but I also love to be alone sometimes. Also, I love football. Lastly, I draw very well. I posted about this on my Instagram page on this day and people were shocked because they didn’t know this about me.

What is your honest advice to every talented individual who hasn’t been discovered yet and at the verge of giving up & final words to all your fans I’ll start by saying a lot of people chase dreams, but what separates the dream chaser from the gogetter is that the go-getter is very conscious about a lot of things.

You might be chasing the dream the wrong way.

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Constant Self-improvement is key! Also, you need to have mental strength. For instance, if you want to get a body at the gym, you have to break a sweat. To be promoted in school, you need to write an exam. Put in so much work and be confident so that when you show up they ask who this guy is. Don’t worry, it’ll come to you.

Lastly, to my fans, I can’t wait to share so much more years and great music with you guys. I love how you’ve been supporting my music and sharing it with other people. I’ve been able to travel and feed my family through this music business and through their support. I am really very grateful for this.

People That Broke The Internet In 2022 Despite the difficulties and scandals that shook the globe in 2022, it was nevertheless a year to remember because of a few remarkable performances. In a world where thousands of species coexist in distinct regions and have almost identical creative genes, It's critical to recognize the extraordinary ones While there were a couple of historic achievements worth noting and individuals who regardless of any situation made it their goal to stand out in 2022, these 10 individuals did exceptionally well.

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f there’s anyone that knows how to give a good show, it’ll definitely be the Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman, Robyn Rihanna Fenty also known as ‘Riri’ by her fans 2022, News about the superstar started to hit the internet while she was promoting her makeup and lingerie line. But, she took netizens by surprise when pictures of her pregnancy started flooding the internet. She rocked a pink shirt and trousers

baring her gorgeous baby bump in an interview with vogue magazine While we were still taking it all in, after six years away from music, she returned with the release of a new single “lift me up” which has been nominated for several awards, she was announced as the wealthiest female musician with an estimated net worth of 1.4billon dollars, and was honored at Met Gala with rock solid realistic rendering of a marble statue.

Rihanna

One of the highlights of 2022 that cannot be forgotten in a hurry is the short drama that ensued between Will Smith and the American standup comedian and Tv host, Chris Rock at the 94th academy awards on the 27th of march 2022 when he slapped the comedian right on stage for making a joke about his wife.

This single act led to him being banned from the Oscar’s gala and other academy events for 10years

Will Smith

While people thought this will derail him, he definitely proved them wrong as he went ahead to issue a public apology to Chris rock as well as star in a movie that was released in December 2022.

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The Argentine professional footballer, Lionel Andrés Messi. also broke the internet when he won the world cup and the best player of the tournament, after winning man of the match 5 times in the competition.

His career also picked up greatly in the year as he scored numerous goals for his team and had the highest assist as against his previous years in PSG. The soccer star’s chess picture with Ronaldo also broke the internet as most people couldn’t believe he was in the same picture with his colleague

Messi

From his dance routines to the number of celebrities that he uses for the promotion of his songs, the Nigerian-born singer songwriter, Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe popuparly known as Kizz Daniel surely knows how to set trends.

Kizz Daniel

kizz Daniel almost lost a huge number of his fans in 2022 after he was called out and on 8 August 2022, and arrested in Dar es Salaam by the Tanzanian police force over failure to perform at a show he was paid for. But good thing is that he learnt his lesson, and is back to give us ‘No Bad Song’ as always. His most recent ‘Rich Till I Die’ should be in your playlist if it isn’t already.

2022 was definitely a bit of a roller coaster for the Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. From leaving his club to not qualifying for the fifa World Cup, it was a huge blow.

However, few weeks later after, he bounced back with sealing a mega deal worth 200million dollars with a Saudi Arabian club, AlNassr which Automatically made him the highest paid soccer player in history.

He was declared the most followed personality on instagram with 500million followers.

Ronaldo

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Mbappe The French professional footballer, Kylian Mbappé Lottin’s contract status in 2022 was one of the biggest stories of a busy transfer window showing how popular he has become around the globe of soccer.

Nigerian track and field athlete who specialises in the 1 0 0 m e t r e s hu r d l e s , Oluwatobiloba Ayomide "Tobi" Amusan, became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100 m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds in the semi-final, followed up by a wind-assisted 12.06 s in the final.

he became the highest goal scorer for French league, the Highest goal scorer for the World Cup and the 2nd player in history to score a trick at the World Cup finals years after Geoff hurst of England.

2022 will go down as one of davido’s memorable years.

Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and record producer, David Adedeji Adeleke popularly known as Davido. He became the first Nigerian to be featured on the fifa World Cup soundtrack, this alone was a big deal especially for NIGERIANS Sadly, On October 31, 2022, Peoples Gazette reported the death of David Ifeanyi Adeleke Jr,, the first son and third child of Davido. He was three years old.

Ifeanyi drowned in the private swimming pool at the Banana Island residence of the celebrity.

TOBI AMUSAN

Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, became the first female artist to reach the billboard hot 100 after she delivered a masterpiece on a song with future and drake titled ‘I’ll wait for you’ She bagged two Bet awards becoming the 1st Nigerian female to win best international act at the BET AWARDS.

Davido

She went on to diary of on the Black panther : WA K A N D A f o r e v e r ’s soundtrack. She was also the first female Nigerian artists to make solo debut on billboard hot 100 and also wrote the song lift me up which has been nominated for the Oscar’s

Tems

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TOP10

INFLUENCERS IN NIGERIA

Social media in general offers a wide spectrum of opportunities to active users, people have been able to use these social platforms to their benefit; turning them into a tool where they make money through their influence on social media. They are invariably called Social Media Influencers.

Social media influencing has become a major business globally as most of the Brand’s audiences are active social media users and the best thing about it is that you do not necessarily need to have formal education before you can become an influencer. All you need is C-R-E-A-T-I-V-I-T-Y! Below are the Top 10 Social Media Influencers in Nigeria according to AfroBeatsGlobal.

Enioluwa Enioluwa is a Nigerian social media influencer with over 2.5 million followers across all platforms (Twitter, IG & TikTok). He was born on July 6, 1999 in Akure, Ondo State. He is a professional speaker, writer, professional wedding and film designer, communication specialist, film director, and fashion influencer in Nigeria and the host of the “Late Night Show With Eni”. He is referred to as the youngest director in Nigeria, after he was awarded the 'best director' award at the Nigerian Universities Theater Arts Festival, in 2019 He is known for talking or ranting about people or things, switching between English and Yoruba while applying and reapplying his lip gloss, which earned him the nickname, “Lip Gloss Boy”.

Jenni Frank

Onyekwelu Jennifer Ebere popularly known by Jenni Frank is a social media personality, brand influencer, Youtuber, content creator and Tiktoker who has amassed a total of over 4.5 million followers across all social media platforms (IG, Twitter and TikTok) She rose to fame after participating in the #slowmochallenge where she had the highest votes, stunning a lot with her creativity, which eventually earned her the title “Queen of Slow Motion”. She is known for her ability to be creative with her content, some of which include mimicking popular footballers' celebration on the pitch.

John Merry John Merry, popularly known as Beauty Goddess is a Nigerian-Ghanaian TikTok influencer, brand ambassador, content creator, and model. She was born on May 4, 2001 in Accra, Ghana.

She has amassed a total of 3.3 million followers with over 79 million likes on TikTok. She is also a member of “The Geng”, a popular group on social media that consists of young and popular social media influencers. In 2022, she was named “Influencer of The Year”

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Jerry Chuks Softmadeit, whose real name is Jerry Chuks is one of the most multi-talented social media influencers in Nigeria, he is a brand influencer and ambassador, a producer, artist, model, dancer and content creator. He was born on August 2, 1996.

Softmadeit has amassed a total of approximately 4.5 million followers across all platforms.

He is known for posting dance videos and occasionally collaborates with other influencers and artists. He is also a member of “The Geng”

Umeh Odinakachi Rodney Rodney Odinakachi Umeh is a Nigerian social media influencer, TikToker and content creator. He is from Anambra State and was born in December 14, 2001.

He is known for his hilarious and relateable short video contents, which he usually posts on his Instagram and TikTok accunts. Rodney is an anime fan, as evidenced by some of the characters he portrays in his Tiktok content.

He started posting videos on his social media in 2020 during the Pandemic period, when the whole world was on lock down and has gone on to become one of the most influential content creators on TikTok. Currently, he boasts of approximately 5.4 million followers across all platforms.

Adegoke Pamilerin Dr. Pam Pam – as he is fondly called – has over 8 years of experience in social media campaigns, brand management, PR, and digital strategies and has worked with big names companies like Google, MultiChoice, Coca-Cola, Access Bank, Universal Music, and a host of others Pamilerin “The Pamilerin” Adegoke was born March 10, 1994, in Lagos, Nigeria. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

His first biggest deal as a Social media influencer was when he worked with Pepsi in 2015 on Public relations ground. Pamilerin has gone on to work with various celebrities in Nigeria as a Public relations professional such as Korede Bello, Adekunle Gold, Adedimeji Lateef, and several others.

Currently, he has amassed a total of approximately 1.2million followers across all platforms

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Rinu Oduala Bolatito Rachel Olorunrinu Oduala famously known as Savvy Rinu is the project director of HuBNGR, a platform that assists victims of state violence and police brutality in Nigeria. She is also an advocate for human rights, and a community influencer who focuses mainly on issues of equity, justice, and community improvement. She was a famous face in the notorious #EndSARS movement.

Rinu is also a digital influencer at ICFJ Knight Cohort, the director of Coconut Head Media, and a mentor at Dweebs Global.

She is the recipient of the Woman of the Year and Her Economy 2022 Awards and she has a total of approximately 600k followers across all platforms.

Nonso Bobby Fidelis Nonso Bobby Fidelis Egemba popularly known as Aproko Doctor is a Health Blogger, Activist, and social media personality. Aproko doctor was born on October 26, 1990.

Aproko Doctor is famous for giving out health tips and nuggets on his social media handles.

He is the founder of The Healthy Threads; a lifestyle brand that educates people on anything medical-related and infuses humour with it. Lately, he has been making skits that are not only humorous but also educative.

Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa Adekunle, popularly known as Tunde Ednut was born on the 20th of January in Katsina State. Tunde Ednut is a comedian, social media personality, blogger, and music artist. Tunde started his career as a comedian.

His comedy got him an invitation to perform at the Dynamiks Award in 2009. He later switched to music before finally focusing on blogging.

He is currently one of the biggest social media influencers in the country with over 5million followers across all social media platforms.

SUSAN PWAJOK Susan is a young and famous Nigerian actress, model and brand influencer. She is popularly known for her notable roles in movies and television shows, including The Tunnel, The Johnsons, Adobi is Getting Married and Cover Up. She was born on January 15, 2003 in Lagos, Nigeria. Besides being an actress and model, Susan is a social media personality. She has an Instagram account where she posts her modeling shoots as well as endorsing various products. She has amassed a total of approximately 700k followers across all social media platforms.

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Interview

EDITH IMONIKHE

AND BOYFRIEND, PRINCEWILL

With more than two million followers on TikTok, Edith Imonikhe has proven that there really isn’t anything we can’t achieve if we put our minds to it. The Nigerian-born TikTok star Edith Imonikhe and her boyfriend Princewill speaks to Afrobeatsglobal presenter O m o b o l a Va l (@omobolanleadigun_), about becoming celebrities, their struggles & their relationship.

As a celebrated Tiktoker and content creator with over two million followers. How did Tiktok click for you and would you say it has changed your life?

Definitely Titkok has changed my life because this whole content creation experience happened at a very dark phase i n my l i fe w he n I w as depressed. Due to this, I had to travel to meet my people and I started Tiktok, I didn’t even know it would blow up the way it did.

Princewill, How did content creation begin for you?

Funny enough, I remember when we were just friends, I always told her how I’ll be popular as an Actor and Model.

(Because I was really passionate about these things) Then, she’ll always say God will do it for you. When she then blew up, it was funny because I‘ve always been the one who

Who comes up with the contents the most between you and Princewill?

‘I Think My Childhood Edith: I come up with most of Was Ruined the content and my boyfriend does sometimes because he Because I Didn't writes scripts. And other times, I come up with content, and my Pursue friends chip in some ideas and My Dream’ thoughts so we combine the ideas. craved fame and all but then it happened to her first. So yes, when I started creating content I was shy at first but I knew I wanted to do it because I have always wanted to. Also, Edith motivates me because I tell my s el f “If E d it h t hat I motivated can do it, I can do it too.”

Edith, do you ever feel pressured as a content creator, if yes, why?

Yes, I do because everyone on social media expects you to live up to a certain standard. Also, they try to dictate what you should do. For instance, I started with comedy but I knew I could do more than comedy, I can dance, sing, act, and a lot more. Then Tiktok was only pushing just my comedy videos but I didn’t want to be boxed.

Whenever I did transition videos, some people would drop comments stating that I’m not fine and that I should stick to comedy. This pressured me a lot.

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Princewill you’ve loved the craft from the onset, now that you are both living the dream, what do you love most about the craft?

I love the fact that when you put in hard work and creativity, it pays off. Also, the fact that technology and social media have made it easier for one to be known for what they love to do.

Edith: For me, I love the fact that I’m doing what I love to do the most. Wake me up, I’m ready to create content. I’m living my passion.

What scares you both most about social media?

Edith: Trolls! Most people feel popular creators don’t have feelings. They feel they can just say anything to anyone and it hurts sometimes.

PRINCEWILL: Edith is quite emotional, but she is definitely getting better at handling her emotions.

For me, what I fear most is what I’m also working hard to achieve ‘Fame’. I always say Fame is both a curse and a blessing.

What regular people can do, famous people can’t. It feels like living your life for other people.

Fame boxes you up. You can’t shop carelessly on the street, you have to be security conscious, and you can’t use just every means of transportation. This is why there are so many depressed celebrities out there. I just advise people, don’t let the hate speeches or comments get to them so they can live a sane life.

Edith, what’s the darkest place you’ve ever been and how were you able to come out of it?

That’ll be the phase where I was dealing with low self-esteem because no one knew me then and I was so skinny. I was just a model and I honestly hated myself because people always came at me. Tiktok was actually the first platform that made me love myself because I had people who wanted to be like me. They loved my confidence and wanted to be able to flaunt their body the way I always did on Tiktok.

Edith, you both aren’t afraid to show off your relationship on social media. What are some of the worst comments you’ve received for this?

For me, one of the comments I remember vividly is one where someone said “no be child abuse be this?” and this is because I’ve got a small stature.

People think I’m still a teenager.

Some others drop comments asking where my mum is and if she do esn’t s ee how I’m following a man up and down.

Some will drop comments asking me to go to school without knowing that I’m a graduate. These comments always made me emotional, but my boyfriend always reminded me of the fact that most of the people commenting don’t even know me so I shouldn’t even let their words get to me.

Princewill, do you ever receive comments that imply you are merely attempting to benefit off Edith's fame and wealth because she started producing stuff before you and she is currently highly popular?

Yes, there have been a few occasions when criticisms have bothered me. I don't let criticisms affect me since they shouldn't tear me down if you don't know me. However, one of them really struck a chord with me when we were on her live video.

We got into a fight over this specific one, and we finally had to tell each other to stop saying “how can we be arguing here when the person who dropped the comment might be somewhere chilling The second criticism I received was in reference to a video of us dining at a Chinese restaurant.

Due to my request, I initially

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believed I was drinking Chinese gin, but I was later informed that I was actually sipping Korean soju. I didn't actually understand these specifics. Then someone said that Edith was the one paying the bills. I was bothered by this because I can foot the bills if I want to. This really affected me.

I was the one who dragged him out that day and told him I wanted to pay because it wouldn't have cost him anything for him to pay for me or purchase these items.

Edith, what do you hate most about your childhood, and have you been able to change it?

That will likely be my dad stopping me from pursuing my dream course at the university. I wanted to study Theatre Arts but he said it’s a course for only prostitutes. He forced me to major in sciences. I mean he was a soldier so everyone did what he wanted. I’m only achieving my dreams today because I have never given up on them. He was bragging about his daughter studying in the sciences, while I was in so much pain because I wasn’t studying what I loved But now that I'm making a name for myself in the arts, he’s really proud of me. One day he said, “If dem tell me say my last born Edith go dey do like this today, I no go believe.” On the other hand, I think my childhood was ruined because I didn't pursue my dream.

How old are you both and where are you from?

EDITH: I’ll be 22 on the 11th of June and I’m from Edo State.

PRINCEWILL: I’m 26 years old and I’m from Imo State.

Where do you both draw your inspiration from?

Princewill: I always look out for people who are talented and who you can draw inspiration from.

For instance, I love Funnybros comedy a lot and she knows. I really hope to meet that guy someday. Also, Edith inspires me a lot. I’m so proud of her because she’s good at almost everything; acting, singing, dancing, so I’m always like If Edith can do this, then I can.

What’s your advice to the young creative out there trying to be like you?

Edith: I’ll say consistency matters and whatever you do, please put God first. No matter what you are going through, stay consistent.

Edith: My personality and the w hole world inspire me.

Cartoons used to inspire me in the past, but now my entire life, experiences, and surroundings inspire me.

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PRINCEWILL: I always tell people, there are only two masters you can serve. You either serve God or the Devil, either way, you’ll make progress.

But with God, it’ll lead to everlasting, life, and with the devil, it’ll lead to many awful things. You need to be prayerful because so many things are more spiritual than physical. Also, please no matter what you are going through, talk to someone because if you stay silent, you might give up, get depressed and it might even lead to suicide.

TECH’TAINMENT How Artificial Intelligence Is Redefining The

Entertainment Industry

The growth of the entertainment industry has been aided by AI. According to many experts in fields including game development, film production, advertising, and suppliers of other entertainment services, the usage of AI has brought about an entirely different approach to creativity.

In order to maximize expenditures and focus on providing top-notch content that meets consumer demand, the entertainment industry will adopt AI even further in 2023.

Artificial intelligence and robotics can be used to give customers amazing experiences and entertainment from the future. Industry leaders in entertainment and technology, including Blizzard Entertainment, Walt Disney World, Google, Microsoft, and Intel, are participating in developing, releasing, and

improving AI-based technologies.AI automation helps enter tainers deliver comp el ling content w hi le spending more time honing their craft.

By analyzing important data, an AI solution can also enable firms to make informed decisions re g a rd i n g m a r k e t i n g a n d advertising.

PERSONALIZING CONTENT & RECOMMENDATIONS Both audio and visual content are tailored based on preferences and prior experiences anywhere from music apps to OTT platforms. It makes recommendations based on user demographics and activity, such as their favorite genres of movies, music, and videos.

AI uses deep learning networks and sophisticated machine learning algorithms to deliver personalized content to users.

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A d d i t i o n a l l y, m e d i a o r entertainment organizations may be able to increase their user base and outperform their rivals by offering consumers a highly customized experience.

ONLINE ADVERTISING WITH TARGETED AUDIENCES AI is used to make online advertising more accurate and pro du c t i v e w it h t a r g e t e d audiences for higher conversion rates.

The best examples are Google AdSense and AdWords, which can leverage user history like what things users are looking at or searching for on websites or ecommerce sites.

Additionally, the AI can deliver adverts tailored to the user's tastes thanks to this kind of AI-

based sensing. The correct

systems can recognize and

that AI-powered search engines

audience may be targeted, in

examine various elements in

deliver the appropriate content to

order to get maximum result

various movie sequences, as well

the appropriate user. Conclusively,

from the ads.

as facts about the genre, cast, and

artificial intelligence in the

crew, to determine which

entertainment sector is a powerful

category is most appropriate.

player for major reform that will

REGULATING THE TRANSMISSION OF

SEARCH

change the face of the industry.

Businesses within this AI-driven sector need to be equipped to manage cutting-edge technologies with solid solutions and tech-savvy technical teams.

There are tons of contents

Adopting AI enables automatic

FILM PRODUCTION

available to stream online. To

text, visual, and voice search

make it easier for users to access

optimization and makes it

relevant material, content

possible to give some of the most

providers must improve their

relevant search results.

search algorithms. AI is a great

Technology has a big impact on

tool for this project. It can

how customers find brands and

examine the objects and data

how search engines rank content.

connected to the inclusion of a

Brand owners will need to pay

specific kind of material in a

closer attention to how their

specific categor y for this

media content is organized on

purpose. For instance, AI

websites in order to make sure

ONLINE CONTENT AI is useful in locating and

O P T I M I Z AT I O N F O R

removing offensive content.

Before displaying such information, AI can determine a user's age and gender. It can also automatically filter out problematic content before broadcasting it with audience category ratings such as for children or adults only.

CATEGORIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF CONTENT

A variety of skills are needed for filmmaking, including storyboarding, budgeting, site scouting, shot lists, recording, scheduling, and editing.

AI's entry into the entertainment industry has helped to automate sound production. AI can offer a platform that can automate o p e r at i o n s l i k e s c r e e np l a y segmentation, shortlist creation, storyboarding, schedule building, and strategic planning in the film industry.

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“

you have a new meaning of life when you have a child, everything just turns upside down...

”

CREDIT

Cindy Mahlangu

Photographer @yusufmithaphotography stylist- @phuphogumedek make-up -beezglam_studios hairstylist - tthaircouture interviewer - @yusufMitha

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Very shy, hardworking, and God fearing What has been your most challenging role so far as an actress?

The influential issue of the prestigious UK-based magazine, UncutXtra features one of the leading influential figure in Johannesburg, South Africa in the person of Awardwinning versatile actress, model. a n d m ot h e r, C i n d y T h a n d o Mahlangushe is gracing the cover of this edition following the theme of the edition designed to celebrate notable individuals who are actively pushing to make the African community the beauty it is.

Who are not only breaking frontiers across continental borders, but are also beaming positive narrativesshe takes us through her journey in the entertainment industry alongside being a new mother to her loving her son, and how she ventured into the South African Movie industry

Who is Cindy Thando Mahlangu?

Cindy Mahlangu is a girl from a very small town called Standerton, Mpumalanga, South Africa,

who worked very hard to get where she is currently, an actress. I studied Financial Accounting.

Your profile states that you are a model, actress, and TV presenter, even though you read accounting, at what point did you venture into the entertainment industry, and how has the experience been?

I feel like acting found me. I was studying, and a friend called me and suggested I should audition for a particular role,which ended up to be my first role on ‘The Herd’. But, I just went for it and I loved it very very much. I was very nervous, and you know when you are nervous, you know something is meant for you. know anything by the way when it comes to acting, the entertainment industry. But yeah, that’s how it started, from my audition that I got for Dumazile on ‘The Herd’

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Uhm, I feel like all of them are challenging, I really can’t p i c k o n e , t h e y ’r e a l l challenging in a very good way because i feel like with every role that i get, i learn something from it, i am always learning, you can never learn enough, so every role is challenging You became popular in 2018 after you landed the position of Dumazile in Mzansi magic supernatural series, before then, what were you doing ?

I was studying (laughs) How did you feel when you got the role of Zama Bolton in Blood & Water?

I was in disbelief to say the least, I was so so excited I never imagined myself being part of Netflix, so far me that was like a dream come through. So yeah, I was just very excited and grateful

What was your favorite part of being Zama in the Blood and Water series?

(Laughs) I feel like just being young and carefree, Zama is young, carefree and she just wants to live life, it was just so nice to come out of my shell and portray the character of Zama

In all the roles you have been in; Phumzi In Kings of Jo'burg, Jewel in Yena, Zama in Blood and Water etc which of the characters best describes your personality?

(Laughs) None of the above, that’s why I always come out of myself to portray every character, so far, no character is similar to Cindy Mahlangu How do you handle NOs or rejections in the movie industry?

Especially after auditioning for a role you really wanted and getting turned down Shoot! It’s very difficult to handle rejection to be very honest with you, it is never easy, but I've always told myself what is meant for me will always find a way to me. So if it’s not meant for me, something else is out there for me You were offline for a while and then you came back on social media with a baby, at what point did you decide to go public?

(Laughs) When I was comfortable letting the world know that I am a mother, and that I have given birth.

But I really just wanted to take time off during my pregnancy just to be true with myself and the beautiful beautiful bundle of joy that was growing inside me In what ways has motherhood changed you?

In so many ways, I am so patient you know, my baby means the world to me. I feel like you have a new meaning of life when you have a child, everything just turns upside down but in very good way What’s the darkest place you have been in and how were you able to come out of it ?

Not getting to where I want to be, that feeling alone is tasking emotionally, and also just being my own critic. That is a good thing and a bad thing, but can also affect you emotionally. That has to be the darkest area I have been in What’s the thing you hate most about your childhood and do you think you have been able to change?

I don’t hate anything about my childhood and wouldn’t change anything, because I feel like everything that I went through taught me something, I learn something, I’m still learning, so I really wouldn’t change anything about my childhood. I loved every moment

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Every artist or movie star has that one project that sold them out, what movie would you say made you become known?

I feel like they all have bits and pieces. For example, When we look at South Africa, we are speaking about Dumazile in 'The Herd. That was the first time I did anything, and from there I went to Netf lix, w hich was more international. So then, a bits of both, the South African part and the international part

What is the most interesting aspect of your life right now?

(Laughs) Definitely, me being a mother and just growing with me being a parent and also juggling my career.So I just feel like a new person all together, but mostly it has to be me being a mother As a thriving actress and a mother how do you handle pressure?

(Laughs) Honestly, I just try to do certain things that make me happy, me being an individual. Aside from being a mother, an actress and being career driven, I just try to deal with myself. It could be going for a massage, could be reading a book, could be reading a bible. That’s just how I try to surround myself with peace during the storm

What’s your biggest weakness?

(Laughs) My son, everything is my son, I feel like my son is my biggest, biggest weakness and also my biggest strength.

What’s that one thing you just can’t stand?

I can’t stand people who feel entitled with the way a person should live their life, and certain decisions that they make. I can’t stand anyone who feels entitled to having opinions about someone else’s life or choices.

What makes you feel accomplished?

Ticking my bucket list, yeah, and seeing my vision board come to life If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be?

Tyler Perry! Yeah, I just really want to see how he maneuvers around everything, Hollywood, and also I love his shows and how he does his stuff, like he is very talented and I really just like to see and learn from everything that he does.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but you’ve been too scared to do?

Start a business definitely! I am also into interior designing, but I am a bit skeptical or probably I am scared to actually just go out there and do it

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What’s the one talent you wish you had?

To read people’s minds! Yeah. I wanna know what the next person is thinking you know. For example auditions.When we go for auditions, you just read what they are actually thinking, so that you can fix it and do the right thing (laughs) What are three words that describe living in Johannesburg, South Africa?

(Laughs) Loan Shedding, nature, gold! Africa, Johannesburg is where the money is. If you really want to hustle, come to Johannesburg.

Is there any international actor/actress you would love to be on set with someday? If yes, who please Taraji! I love that woman so much!

You can feel her character, you can feel the different person she is trying to portray in every single character she is in. I feel like that’s my ultimate favorite.

Are you married, single or in a relationship?

I’m in a relationship What is the funniest story you have heard or read about yourself online?

It is quite a lot, and also I don’t read what people have to say about me, I really don’t.

C I N D Y MAHLANGU

But, there was one that really got my mother’s name wrong. They probably got it somewhere, because I never really speak about my family or anything like that because they are very close to my heart. But yeah, someone got my mother's name wrong and that was the craziest part.

What and who is your greatest motivation?

It has to be my grandmother. That woman prays for me a lot. My son, my mother and my partner. I feel like everyone who is for me, people who pray for me, they are with me through hardships, when things are going good and bad. I feel like yeah, that’s my group of people

is not your plan. And seeing the difference between the two, that's the hardest part, because you always want thing to go the way you want them to go and sometimes that is not just the right way

What’s one city you’ve always dreamed of traveling to?

It was Paris, but I have been there (laughs) What’s the most challenging part of working with your fellow colleagues in the movie industry?

.What is the one thing you had to learn the hard way ?

That things don’t always go your way. And sometimes God’s plan

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YI feel like we are all different individuals and we come from different backgrounds and just being able to shoot with someone you don’t know is actually very difficult. I feel like that's the most difficult part.

Aside from acting, what other things are you passionate about?

Interior designing (laughs) Any recent project you are working on? Would you like to share?

There’s something, but I can’t really speak about it right now ( l au g h s ) b e c au s e it i s i n production. But, yeah I have a lot coming up, I took some time off

just being a mother and right now I can be a mother and also go back to what I love doing which is acting. So yes this year is a year of lots of characters.

our final words to your fans and upcoming actresses in the entertainment industry.

I really don’t like to call people fans, but people who love me.

Thank you so much for being part of the people who loves me and believe that I actually am talented, supporting me, It means so much to me For upcoming actors, it is not easy, but if you feel like it is what you are destined to be or to do, you go get it. Don't let anyone tell you, you can and cannot do something, because no one is an author of your life. It is God and whoever and whatever that you believe in. so seek in prayer, work hard and be consistent with whatever it is. Lut your heart and mind to it and I am telling you, you can achieve anything in this world.

We heard that this is your first magazine cover, how do you feel about it?

(Laughs) Yes! Yes! And I am so excited. I have always wanted to be on a magazine cover and the crazy part is that this one is international, so that's like a double, triple wow. It's like it's out of this world. So I am really really excited

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FASHION TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2023

Last year, bold and daring fashion took center stage on and off the red carpet. Seemed the words of Harry Winston "People will stare. Make it worth their while." was taken to a whole new level.

Whether attending a major event or not, some of our celebrities and non-celebrities alike made regular mundane fashion feel entirely different and modern, bringing to life the words of Gianni Versace ‘.... you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress.

There were a few stars who made metallic one of their favorite look. Two standouts from Chioma Ikokwu were the blue metallic outfit she wore for an event and a gold mini-gown . Toke Makinwa is also a fan of the metallic look, as she was also spotted in an event strutting a blue metallic bodycon gown

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In 2022, we saw ladies sporting extremely little outfits, and even the long ones featured revealingly high slits. Expect to see incredibly scanty clothes on the red carpets in 2023.

The Gen Z generation is pretty bold, so you can count on them to strut in those miniskirts with grace and ease. Since little dresses are always in trend, expect to see more of them in 2023.

Just be aware that if you must wear a tiny dress, be careful not to be seen dragging your dress down out of discomfort. Be at ease in the clothing you choose to wear.

MIINI DRES

SES

Fringed clothing has been in fashion for a while and people are becoming increasingly creative with how they style it. In same vein The embracing of feathers and how it is now artistically employed is on a high side.

Fashion designers have been able to creatively craft sleek designs that press all the fashionistas buttons. People no longer merely use fringes to embellish their clothing, they have included feathers. In 2023, it is guaranteed that there will be dresses, slacks, jeans, and other clothing items embellished with feathers and fringe.

However, with Gen Z gradually taking over the world and reinventing some antiquated fashion. We can only expect more audacious styles. Below, are 12 more of this year’s best fashion trends to look out for.

Fringing and Feathering

Accessories are like toppings. In 2023, expect to see the use of bold, vibrant, and creative accessories. These include purses, glasses, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other fashion accessories that will enhance fashionistas' appearances.

ACCESSORIES

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COL

COL OR BLOC OR M KIN IXTU G & RES

In 2022, fashionistas were more creative when it came to

experimenting with color combinations and color blocking.

Whichever way, this birthed a love for the combination of colors. The fact that this experiment included men, as well as women, is what I find most intriguing. Having seen how gorgeous, eye-catching colors were paired in 2022, many more discoveries will be made, and the fashion scene will be saturated with clothes with stunning color combinations by 2023.

S ET K AC RJ

ZE

A BL

Nah! This is never going out of trend especially because people have found a way to combine blazer jackets to suit different occasions. You can easily put together a professional style with a pant suit, a casual look with a jean or short, and a sexual look with a sexy bratop or underwear and a little skirt or bum short with your blazer jacket. Blazer coats are nearly usually a lifesaver for males, with the exception of places like the gym of course. Lol!

DEN I

M

Just like the blazer jackets, expect to see the denim trend remain and possibly even gain a bit more traction. In 2023, it is obvious that designers will create various outfits featuring denim.

Beyond the typical denim jacket and pants, we will undoubtedly see the emergence of new creative uses for denim materials which will be suitable for both male and female clothing.

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It appears that the use of vibrant, metallic/leather materials for

clothing will increase in 2023. These fashionable things won't just be dresses; they'll also feature bags, shoes, accessories, blazers, shorts, pantsuits, and other exquisite attire made of leather and metallic materials.

This will largely be seen on the red carpets of important events and on runways. In 2023, leather will likely rule the fashion industry.

MET ALIC

CARG

& LE

ATH E

R MA TER

IALS

O WE

ARS

C

ARGO WEARS: It doesn’t seem like cargo designs will go out of style anytime soon. The "cargo everything" trend appears set to rule the fashion industry in 2023. There's a chance to see cutting-edge fashion items produced from cargo materials or patterns, as opposed to only cargo pants.

GLITZ: It never goes out of style, not even for women. Make sure to purchase clothing in 2023 that has some sparkle, whether it comes in the form of stones, beads, or vibrant fabrics. There will always be an occasion with the theme "glitz & glamor" each year. While the women prepare their gorgeous dresses, jumpsuits, and ensembles with some dazzling accessories starched on them, the guys should also get their sparkly jackets ready. Expect to see high slits, long tails, veils, and stunning embellishments because the majority of these outfits come with their own paparazzi.

ITZ GL

KIM PALAONO JAC ZZO PANKTETS & S

KIMONO JACKETS AND PALAZZO PANTS: While this isn’t a new fashion trend for the women, it's unquestionably becoming more popular among males. In 2022, we saw a lot of stylish men rock kimono jackets and palazzo trouser in a casual yet elegant style. It sort of assures us that we will definitely see more of this in 2023.

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CORSETS

It doesn’t seem like the use of corsets on

dresses and tops are going into extinction anytime soon. In 2023, expect to see more lovely outfits with corsets designs. Although corset designs have been overused, it seems like most women are obsessed with the appearance and firmness a snatched waist gives. Therefore, expect to see more outfits with corsets infused.

BO O TS

B

OOTS: Of course, we expect to see ladies strut around in their stilettos, flat shoes, sandals, and other everyday footwear. Also, we expect to see stylish men do their thing. But one fashion trend that will likely dominate the fashion space in 2023 is the use of boots.

There is a rise of creative boots for men and women and in 2023 we can’t wait to see both sexes rock these boots and fill the fashion space with some more beauty.

?

What

fashion

trend are you looking out for in

2023

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MONTANA The Queen, Her Guts & Her Crown

Hannah Iribhogbe is a Nigerian actress, model, and beauty queen from Edo State, professionally known as Montana Felix. She is the founder of The Montana Initiative, an organization that feeds 10 million children all over Africa, and the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2022. The Nigerian-born b e au t y q u e e n s p e a k s w i t h A f r o b e a t s g l o b a l p r e s e n t e r, Chioma Eze @chioma_ezeh, about her journey so far, her family, and what she is out to achieve.

Who is Hannah Iribhogbe?

Hannah is a 21-year-old actress and beauty queen who has been modeling since she was 14, I am smart, confident and a true Christian who is passionate about impacting the world How did you get the name MONTANA? I got it from the movie HANNAH MONTANA. When She is Hannah, she’s a normal girl but when she is Montana she is like a different person, smart, energetic, and a superstar. I decided that I’ll bear it after I was asked to pick a nickname and I was blank. But then I realized that Montana can be my nickname. When I am home I can be called Hannah, but when I am out, Montana is the name, because that’s a different personality How and when did you kickstart your Modeling career?

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I moved to the U.S. when I was 11 with my family because we won the lottery visa and that was when everything changed. I won my first prize when I was 14 Back in texas. I was bullied because I was African in America for a while so I was in my shell but eventually i modeled my first show AFRIMA’ and that’s when everything changed because that was when I knew that modeling is something I wanted to do for a long time.

At first, my parents were not comfortable with my modeling dream but eventually, they adjusted.

When you enrolled for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageantry and saw your fellow models, were you at any point intimidated?

I definitely wasn’t, although there was a little bit of bad blood here and there because they thought I came all the way from the US to take their crown, I was able to meet amazing people and build great friendships Did you get comments about your hair when you represented Nigeria at the miss universe competition?

No, funnily enough, my roommate from Ghana also had short hair.

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My short hair has always been my power. I cut it after high school in 2018/2019 It is my tool, it gives me the confidence that even with my short hair and dark skin I am still beautiful. I will never feel intimidated by anyone with long hair because I believe we are all beautiful in our own way How has the experience been since your win?

It’s been amazing, but it gets overwhelming and frustrating.

Even though I am 21 years old and there’s a whole lot that I want to do, I cannot because I know now that there are a lot of young girls looking up to me, so I have to get used to it

‘ if the dream is big enough and the passion is strong enough, you won't give up, just always remember where you are coming from'

What is influence to you and what do you want to be known for?

I want to be known for making a great impact in not just Nigeria but globally. I want to be known as the little girl who didn’t have so much but found a way to make things work out because she had a dream. Especially for women and kids, I want to be known for making life better for them. I want to be known as One of the most successful women that came out of Nigeria

but in the world. The good thing about this platform is that I have been given access to people globally, so now I can collaborate and achieve great things with them Has your modeling career at any point in time stood as an obstacle to your education?

a better version of myself, I want to go into politics I feel like women are not in that space enough even though we have so many intelligent and out spoken women, so for now my projects and title will be taking front stage, but I’ll definitely love to go into politics Are you in any relationship?

I would not say that it affected me from going to school but I’ll say it made me not to be interested in a course I initially wanted to study. My dad is a lawyer so I wanted to study law, but this made me realize that I am more of an entertainment

(Laughs) I initially thought there was no need for a relationship because I wanted to be focused but I met someone during my national pageant and it’s been a m a z i n g . H e ’s b e e n s o supportive I think it’s important for women to know that even though we are all about women's empowerment we also need a man.

Can we know who he is?

(Laughs) I am not the type to dis clos e my relationship, especially on social media because I believe what they do not know they cannot destroy, so I prefer to keep him private

What other things are you passionate about. And should we look out for any new projects from you in these areas of passion?

Charity, mental health for kids, and women empowerment. I have been working on the project since I won my crown My advocacy is for feeding kids and not just in Nigeria

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and business person, this made me change my course from law to business management and fashion, so I wouldn’t say it affected me, But it impacted me to focus on what I love.

So what are your plans?

I have one year to focus on my reign and at the same time I want to use this year to focus on my self and become

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Who is one person who has always believed in you?

My kid sister and she is only 16. there were times my parents will scold her for supporting my modeling dream but she never stopped.

She has been my Cheer leader and biggest supporter

What’s the craziest thing about the modeling industry that you think most people do not know?

The beauty queens are too afraid to speak up because they all are trying to live the perfect life.

They go through a lot but act like things are okay While I was in camp, I asked some of the beauty queens how the journey has been for them and got to find out that most of them were left on their own to handle everything. A lot of agencies do not support the beauty queens and it is mentally draining because girls go into it every year not knowing the situation of things and then they have to pretend everything is perfect The rivalry between girls also is alarming but I am hoping things will be better for good What’s the darkest place you have been in and how where you able to come out of it?

It’s been a lot, I recall when my mum sold firewood to survive, how my dad lost his job. I remember when I had an accident and had my first surgery when our house got flooded and it was a whole lot for us but I won’t focus on that, I think I will talk more about my experience last year

I was so confused I did not know where God was taking me and during that period I wasn’t getting along with my family also I would see my friends doing well and feel like I am not doing so much but I think that happened because God wanted to test me. But I am grateful that I did not give up because I was so close to quitting but 6months after I am here holding a crown How were you able to hold on despite the challenges you faced last year?

Any time I want to give up I remember that I am just 21. I could decide to sit at home and wait for my parents to handle everything or I could be in school but no I don’t want to do that because I am a hustler and I remember where I come from. I know it gets bumpy and lonely, but if the dream is big enough and the passion is strong enough, you are going to continue going just always remember where you are coming from What’s the thing you hate most about your childhood and do you think you have been able to correct it?

I would say it was my neck. Back in middle school, I would always get picked on because they said it was too long,

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so that made me always slouch. 4 years growing up I was always that kid slouching because of how I had been picked up but now I know that my neck is one of the most beautiful things about me so I do not even mind.

I love it What’s your biggest weakness and strength?

My heart… funnily enough, this is my biggest strength and weakness. Some people have taken advantage of it, because of how good I am, but it’s not something I am not willing to trade because it is also my biggest strength.

What’s your advice to the young models out there who hope to be like you someday?

Put God first before anything first. Ask yourself why you want to do this, once you are able to answer the question sincerely, you’ll know what to do next. Be confident in your self If you can dream it then you can have it, back it up with actions and take steps to achieve it.

Pagentary is expensive, it’s not something you prepare for in 2 months, start one year before because the truth is it gets hard.

FASHIONABLE SHOES THAT NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

fashion faux pas would not be appropriate during a formal event or meeting. Different shoe designs go with various clothing and occasions.

Many people concur that a man's footwear can reveal a lot about him. The perfect shoes may upgrade your outfit and turn a basic appearance into one that stands out from the crowd.

BROGUES According to Herring shoes ‘the Brogue is widely regarded to be one of the most iconic shoe designs for men. With a unique style that can be easily identified by looking at the surface of the shoe, the first thing to note is that the term ‘brogue’ refers to the holes punched into the leather. The more holes that are on the shoe, the more brogueing it has.

The beautiful thing about brogues is that they can be worn to both formal and casual business settings. Brogues in a single solid color can be worn just as stylishly as dress shoes for business settings such as meetings and casual company events. Black brogues complement a black suit and tie, while tan leather brogues look best with an outfit that combines white and navy blue.

A pair of stylish, current, and comfortable shoes is a necessity when dressed professionally.

With the right shoes, any look can be transformed from plain to classy. The greatest formal shoes for guys combine style and functionality. Everyone aspires to walk with confidence and in their best footwear, but not everyone knows how.

Oxford shoes and Derby shoes are frequently mistaken. Once you are aware of their distinctive traits, they are extremely different. In contrast to Oxford, Derby shoes have an open lacing mechanism.

As a result, the vamp, which is the portion of the shoe that covers the foot, splits in two and requires lacing. This shoe is more casual due to the broader, more comfortable lacing. The designs made of smooth leather give every outfit a sophisticated appearance. The most adaptable choice is a basic derby, which may be worn for both professional and informal occasions.

Men can choose from a wide variety of formal shoes for the workplace on t he market nowadays. Men can choose from a range of shoe designs while looking for the ideal pair of work shoes, just like women can. Men's work-appropriate shoes that are now in style can be seen here, along with wardrobe pairing suggestions.

The reason monk strap shoes have that moniker is that they are essentially a more upscale version of the footwear that monks wore hundreds of years ago. The monk strap shoes were created in the 15th century by an unidentified monk who lived in the Alps, according to the Gentleman's Gazette.

Modern-day Single, double, or triple buckled straps span the top of monk straps. A single-strap shoe is the most formal of the group because it has less detail and a sleeker appearance. Compared to a loafer, this simple slip-on shoe is more formal.

If you're a contemporar y professional man who frequently attends formal events and gatherings, you should fill your closet with plenty of formal shoes.

These varied formal shoe styles can be worn with a variety of clothes to help you stand out in a crowd and leave a memorable impression.

DERBY SHOES

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The Chelsea boot is the ideal example of how casual and professional can coexist. They are an excellent way to update your look because they sit in between dress shoes and boots. You can use these boots for formal events, Friday night cocktails, as well as a relaxed get-together with your boys.

CHELSEA BOOTS

Because there were various varieties of the shoe worn throughout many nations throughout history, the origins of the loafer are a little hazy. Moccasins, a type of shoe used by Native Americans, are comparable to loafers. A different version of the shoe was used by fishermen in northern Europe. Nine different shoe designs make up the adaptable slip-on footwear known as loafers. For a smart-casual appearance, the handsome shoe goes well with long pants, slacks, or shorts.

LOAFERS Like an Oxford or Derby shoe, dress boots are thin and have a dressy appearance. They have been popular since the Victorian era and are still often worn now as a trendy option. Because of their high ankles, they are excellent shoes to wear throughout the chilly winter months. They immediately give otherwise plain clothing some class.

DRESS BOOT An exquisite dress shoe known as an "oxford," it has a closed lacing system that is hidden inside the top part of the shoe.

Oxfords are typically worn by men as dress shoes; however, the timeless style has adapted to fit into women's fashion.

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Dragging:

The New word for It is no news that the entertainment industry globally is filled with so much drama and scandal.

Of course, we all had our fair share of all the juicy gists that went down in 2022, ranging from Russia invading Ukraine, worldwide economic gloom, inflation, and various other factors delivered a year never experienced before. Be it Elon Musk's Twitter takeover or actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock on the Oscars stage, Or even Bianca Ojukwu slapping Mrs. Obiano, wife of former Governor of Anambra State, Nigeria, 2022 will be remembered as an eventful one.

And thanks to Technology, social media has become a connecting point for all things controversial, trendy or mundane

CYBE BULL

People are beginning to go beyond connecting, to sharing content whether negative or positive, and even calling out people for one reason or the other. While some of these are not bad, I believe there should be a balance to everything Now more than ever, random strangers especially the likes of Daniel Regha known for calling out Nigerian celebrities, Oriretan Honour who just started following his steps, and the new podcast by media personality Nedu #TheHonestBunchpodcast who suddenly feels they know everything happening in everyone’s life simply because of the narrative they have off social media.

It can be overwhelming sometimes!

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Marvin Records signee, Magixx in a chat with the Uncutxtra magazine team recently, said that staying relevant in the entertainment industry requires a lot of mental strength, and I couldn’t agree more.

The blue street is not FRIENDLY, it DOESN’T CARE HOW YOU FEEL! In Nigerian pidgin parlance, ‘most of them just open their mouth waa’ We have a lot of keyboard warriors who do not really care how their actions and inactions make you feel.

Somehow, we have normalized ‘bullying’, in today’s term ‘dragging’ LMAO. The weird part is how some of them actually are awarded as ‘Influencers” Well, it is the blue street after all….

Sadly, not everyone is lucky enough like the Nigerian TIKTok star Edith Imonikhe to have a Princewill in their life as a support system.

Regardless you have to look for a way to ride on the wave of the drama

ER LYING Ni ge r i an Ti k Tok st ar Princewill says it best ‘being a celebrity is synonymous with living a boxed life, you are pr a c t i c a l ly l iv i ng a n o t h e r p e r s o n’s l i f e because you do not have total control over what part of your life can and should be made public, and the pressure that comes with putting up a 'fake' lifestyle just to control the perception the public a l re a d y h ave of you .

Welcome to the ‘woke’ world of Gen Z Most netizens and trollers are not wired to be nice, they are out to drain you mentally and emotionally

if you let them and if you let everything get to you. What you may likely not know is the fact that most of them are actually trying to carve out a career on social media off you, from the attention and engagement they get from your fans. Daniel Regha, the Nigerian School teacher cum influencer proved that already in 2022.

Nollywood actor Segun Arinze said it best ‘C o nt r o v e r s i e s w o u l d always come, but what matters is how one handles it. So the question is ‘how do you handle the ‘dragging’

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If you are coming into the entertainment industry then you really have to be emotionally ready to handle a lot of ‘grown-up’ stuffs because these people ‘nor send your papa’ i.e they don’t care how you feel I mean why come if you are not ready Many don’t know that a content creator or anyone in the entertainment industry is as good as their last content/movie. It’s like being a football player.

Footballers don’t shine on the pitch at all times.

Even (top footballers like) Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to score goals sometimes. The FIFA world cup finals held in Qatar, in 2022 can attest to that. Understand this and stop putting yourself under unnecessary pressure simply because you have to deliver.

All you need is to ALWAYS BRING ON YOUR Agame.

While you are bringing on your A-Game, you have to learn how to relate with people and also evolve, as things change by learning and unlearning. You should know when to sit back or push forward. It is not all about your achievement all the time.

Guard your heart You need to be able to put yourself and your mental health above everything that seeks to destroy her.

You cannot be in an environment or keep consuming content that is toxic to you, expecting

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not to be influenced by it. So guard your heart, see it as a precious seed that needs not to be corrupted because once you are affected there, it affects every other thing.

whatever level you are, the little growth or height you seem to attain you have to be grateful for them.

If you don't learn to do this early enough in your journey, it could be emotionally detrimental

So learn to embrace the uniqueness in your journey and vision, that way it becomes easy to make progress in your life.

In conclusion, you need to learn to create a balance between your professional life and your personal life. While they can both be a blessing and a curse, it is only important that they both lead you toward making distinctive progress.

Appreciate your growth and journey.

Understand that life is in phases

One of the hindrances to growth is ingratitude. When you are not grateful for where you are, then moving to the next phase could become difficult. You need to be able to see beyond your challenges to understand that there is a bigger picture that must be materialized. So

When you appreciate your journey, it helps you understand that success is relative. Like I always say; success is a journey, it is not a destination.

When you understand that 'your fight is different' and that your Till I write to you again. Stay journey is unique to only you, it will thriving. save you from wanting to compare I am rooting for you dear Creative. yourself with others. ©J. I Juliet Ike Talent Development Coach & Manager

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TimeOut

with

Gyal Kess

“

Sometimes I hear rumours About myself And i just laugh Out loud Because i do not Even know these Things about Myself

“

N

igerian Model, Singer/ Songwriter, Beauty Queen, and Entrepreneur speaks with Uncutxtra magazine presenter Chioma Ezeh @chiomaa_ezeh about life as a Nigerian artiste, her style of music, and dealing with rumours

A lot of people know you as gyal kess, but kindly tell us your full name.

My full name is Kessy Isong.

Okay, We know that you are a model, a public administrator, and a Beauty queen, and we’ll definitely touch up on that. But for now, let’s talk more about your music.

When did you know you wanted to do music, and when did you decide to finally go for it?

I have always loved good music, and I had a feeling that I was going to eventually go into it.

So when the opportunity came for me to explore, I took it.

Your style is quite different, with a unique sound. Has anyone ever told you, you sound like Cynthia Morgan? And what was your reaction?

Thank you (laughs). Okay, I don’t know Cynthia Morgan personally but I know that she is a great artist. People tell me that I sound like her a lot but I have noticed that the people that say this are mostly Nigerians and I think it’s because Cynthia Morgan is the only prominent female artist that is into the dancehall genre. But I definitely do not have a problem with it.

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What would you say influenced your style of music?

I think it’s mostly my hometown, growing up in my state, a lot of people around me loved to listen to dancehall and reggae a lot so I picked up the vibe while growing up and continued riding hard.

Who are your favorite artistes?

They are a lot of them, but I love a whole lot of people (laughs). I love Kendrick Lamar, Buju, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and just a whole lot, I love music normally so anybody that gives me good vibes I move.

But have you ever been with an artist that has given you a negative vibe?

Honestly, I don’t pay attention to negativity. I try to avoid it a whole lot, and it has really helped me.

Which artist do you think you’ll never make a song with?

(Laughs)I don’t think there’s an artist I wouldn’t want to make a song with, if the person has good energy and a good vibe then why not.

You have performed at different events alongside notable artists, what would say you love most about performing?

Wow, it’s definitely the adrenaline rush. you know the kick you get when you take coffee, that’s the kind of feeling you get. It’s such a beautiful feeling.

What inspired your single ‘like that’ and did it exceed expectations?

My music generally is influenced by the people around me, my experiences, the things I read, and hear. That’s where it came from. It was also my friend’s ideology, so I sang about it and it did pretty well.

So do you have plans for more songs?

Yea, but I do not want to say anything now cos I do not want to let the cat out of the bag. But something amazing is coming (laughs)

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What and who inspires you?

What do you think needs to be corrected in the Nigerian God basically and the preciousness and the beauty of life inspire me a lot music industry ASAP? We need structure in the Nigerian music industry, It’s too As a beautiful multi-talented queen, what rumors or scattered in my opinion.

That’s why anybody can wake up to say “I am a manager” or A stories have you heard about yourself that hurt you and R and then when they test them with that they just don’t deeply, and how did you deal with them? deliver and they end up eating people's money.

Of course, there are times I hear stuff about myself and I I have had people in the industry that have experienced it, and just laugh out because I do not even know these things it’s really sad. about my own self but someone else ‘sabi am pass me’ So you won Queen of Aso tourism 2020 and before Give us examples of the rumors you have that you won the Miss Tourism” United Nations, heard International Pageant, what was the experience Like saying I am dating somebody when I like for you? haven’t even seen the person before It was a beautiful experience, I met a lot of (laughs). But I have also realized that it beautiful ladies, and that platform helped me comes with the job. There are billions meet amazing and prominent people, it was of people all over the world and really great everybody has their opinion about different things so just let Was it something you had always them talk wanted to do or was it something you just wanted to experience?

Who is your celebrity crush I love competition, I literally love a n d w h a t ’s t h e m o s t modeling, growing up it was all about embarrassing thing you have modeling and then I switched to ever done to be noticed by pageantry and it just got to me.

So it’s definitely something someone you like? that I have always wanted to Funny enough, I have never had a do. celebrity crush oo (laughs). It’s funny but true.

You said your goal was to revive the educational structure in Nigeria, were you able to Who is your favorite person on earth?

I have a whole lot Honestly, I can’t mention just one do that?

Yes, I was able to do something in my own capacity and it was person, they are so many. I have wonderful people in my amazing. We constructed a dilapidated school in my life. hometown and a couple of other projects here and there.

What’s your advice for ladies like you trying so hard to We have heard some nasty stories about the modeling make it work? industry, as a model, did you ever experience it? And how I’ll advise that they keep hustling and pushing and they should always remember that the ball is in their court to were you able to handle it? do amazing things.

I have heard about it, and it is definitely there, but I haven’t had such experiences because I have worked with a good manager.

But I also think it’s not just the modeling industry but also the entertainment industry

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FOCUS

PORTABLE’S

RELENTLESS THRUST TO STARDOM & WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM IT

If shameless has a face, It’s undoubtedly going to be that of the Nigerian artiste Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable. His personality is the pictorial representation of the word ’shameless’. Emeka Nobis captured it best in his book title ‘shameless marketing’ Portable’s personality is one that can not be hidden, especially considering how popular he has been and continues to be in various dramas.

Most of the information we have about him was forced on us by his ceaseless shenanigans on social media, thanks to the algorithms that favor oddity/controversy However, it is perplexing how despite the plethora of negative criticisms hurled against him; he hasn’t given up or bowed down, rather he appears to be surfing the wave of the criticisms.

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This brings to mind the short story told by Ram Shankar Nikumbh in the movie ‘Like stars upon the earth: On Solomon Islands when the natives want a part of the forest for cultivation they don't cut the trees.

They simply gather around the tree and shout abuses to their heart's content. They curse it. In a matter of days the tree withers and shrivels. It dies on its own.

Portable has proven that curses, criticisms, and abuses don't kill every tree LOL if it does I am sure Portable has gotten more than enough abuse that will last him a lifetime. Makes one wonder how true the belief is.

While it is almost impossible to tell which is more, between his haters and his fans, we can’t deny the fact that the controversial artiste has remained consistent with his brand and he recently got verified on Instagram, something most artistes, content creators, influencers and others in the entertainment industry with more ‘valuable content’ hasn’t been able to achieve within the same timeframe

I think this is one of the qualities someone like Obi Cubana of Odogwu bitters saw in him that propelled him to sign an ambassadorial deal with him. He has a product for the street and he needed someone who speaks the language the street understands and has the personality to sell the product as well.

I know that right, but there might be a thing or two you can take off Portable’s book if you are observant enough.

There is also the phrase ‘God abeg’ that trended for a while and the most recent “Wahala! Wahala! Wahala!”. Even the most learned individual sometimes uses these words because they cut across borders, especially if you are a Nigerian in these times where everything ‘dey carry us go where we nor know’ LOL. I guess it is safe to say that Portable indeed added new words to our pidgin parlance in 2022. I am sure most of us are looking forward to what he is going to unveil this year.

As much as some people find Portable’s shenanigans very disturbing, you can’t take away the fact that he has an Exciting Personality. A perfect scenario was when Portable dragged the Nigerian artiste Davido Adeleke, popularly known as OBO for unfollowing him on Instagram because he campaigned for his uncle’s (formerly Senator Adeleke)

While there are many people who grew up in the street but are afraid of identifying themselves with it because of what people will think of them, Portable is obviously on a different path, as he in fact is willing to tell every Tom, Dick, and Harry who cares to listen that he is a product of the street.

His Street Credibility is something that should be studied.

And did someone just say ‘our path differs? LOL

opposing party. After Davido’s Uncle ‘Senator Adeleke’ emerged winner of the gubernatorial election in Osun state Nigeria, the same Portable was seen jubilating and congratulating Davido’s Uncle over his win.

Or when he called out Olasunkanmi Quadri Taoreed professionally known as Kogbagidi, an international show promoter popularly known as ‘Kogbagidi’ for allegedly ripping him off the financial benefits he received from shows.

Recall also when he called out Iweh Pascal Odinaka, one of the most popular dancers in Nigeria popularly known as Poco Lee, for owning his glory for his song ‘Zazoo zeh’. There are countless scenarios where one minute Portable is annoying and have you wishing you can have him taken totally off your timeline, the next minute, you are laughing over how unserious he is.

Tricyclist, market women and motorcyclist loves him and his style of music because he is able to relate with them and they can relate with him. What you call nuisance, they deem it as ‘fun’ or simply ‘cruise’ Recently, during the ‘Omo Better concert’ held in Lagos, Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Fuji, afro-pop recording artist and performer Adekunle Temitope, popularly known as Small Doctor, you could tell that the atmosphere changed when it was time to bring Portable up on stage.

While lots of people believe that the Zazoo crooner enjoys the bash and trolling because it gives him inspiration on what next to say, others are of the opinion that he does too much and shouldn’t be invited to shows anymore

Having grown up in the streets of Lagos, we can say he has mastered their language. His usage of EXCITING SLANGS especially in his song ‘Zazoo Zeh’ was one of the things that drew many people to him. It is almost like he has ways of relating with almost everyone who has been in the street and those who are still in the street with words.

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Well take it or leave it, he is making his money, in the words of the CEO of Creatrix Empire, Emmanuel Alade ‘No publicity is bad publicity.

Society loves drama, controversial issues, or personalities and the likes of portable, Ayra Star, Mike of Lagos, Korra Obidi, Toyin Lawani of Tianna’s Empire, and others know this for a fact, and they are serving it hot. If not, how else do you expect to stand out or be known, especially in a society swarming with talents?

Another case scenario was Portable’s recent arrival at a show in a casket. Like what the hell man??

Did I hear someone say ‘who does that?

Well, now you know, Portable does that.

Probably, the question on his mind anytime he has to step out has to be ’ How do I get these people talking about me?

And he seems to always have a weird concept Portable is an incredible performer, who never leaves his drama and energy at home. And might I add, he is talented as well. If not, people (even if not the majority) and foreigners alike won’t be paying to attend his shows, would they?

Someone once said that society is clueless about what it really wants, till you show or give it to them, and I totally agree. The truth is that society criticizes bad behaviors but consumes bad behavior more, and as long as controversy sells, Portable will always be in our faces.

Yes, the backlash won’t be stopping anytime soon, but as we said earlier, controversy is a part of his brand language/identity, and he obviously understands this and is using it to his advantage. You don’t really have to like it.

don’t focus on what you are up against. Instead, focus on your goals and try to ignore the rest.”.

Someone once said that society is clueless about what it really wants, till you show or give it to them, and I totally agree. The truth is that society criticizes bad behaviors but consumes bad behavior more, and as long as controversy sells, Portable will always be in our faces.

Yes, the backlash won’t be stopping anytime soon, but as we said earlier, controversy is a part of his brand l a n g u a g e / i d e n t i t y, a n d h e obviously understands this and is using it to his advantage. You don’t really have to like it.

He recently created another drama round with his latest track ‘Apostle’ already brewing a teeny weeny bit agitation among some Christian folks. But in the midst of all the agitations, a greater percentage of netizens were applauding him for finally having the courage and boldness to say what most people have been afraid to say.

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While there were those who are of the opinion that he has an amazing talent and has grown since the release of the hit track Zazoo Zeh, some others claimed that he is probably going to be another Fela Kuti in the making You can take everything away from Portable, but definitely not his b o l d n e s s o r t r a n s p a r e n c y, especially when he feels he is being cheated or used to achieve a cause.

Another case scenario was when he outrightly admitted that a certain political party in Nigeria paid him to slander the candidate of their opposing party.

While we hope that Portable finds a more decent way to deal with the negative news hovering around him, it will also be a wise decision to learn the tactic of not allowing people’s comments or backlash to stop you from attaining your goals.

Like Portable, you can decide what to do with the abuse and criticism society throws at you.

However, we can only advise you to be careful though or you might lose the Headies LOL It is uncertain if Portable can sustain his relevance in the industry on a long-term scale but many are looking forward to seeing his character development so that where his talent fails, his character can uphold him.

Conclusively in the words of Venus Williams, don’t focus on what you are up against. Instead, focus on your goals and try to ignore the rest.”. You don’t have to be a Portable to stand out, but you will definitely have to go blind, go deaf to societal’s definition of what ‘normal’ is if you must stand out.

Stay Focused, My Friend!

YOUR EYES DON'T NEED THE EXTRA BAG LOSE THEM

Growing up, I remember one of the things I struggled a lot with was eye bags. Not sure why though, but with time I understood why it happened most times.

For someone who was very self-conscious, it gave me a hard time especially when I had to stand before people or talk with someone.

The hardest part was looking them in the face knowing that their attention was going to be divided between what was on my face and what I was talking about.

You are probably wondering how I knew that. Well, I’d probably do the same. Maybe it is just how the human mind works.

Humans generally have a short attention spans and it seems to be getting worse with each generation. So anything that seemingly isn’t normal becomes a distraction and sometimes even a lifesaver especially when you would rather be somewhere else or you are getting bored. Your mind starts wandering, then it finally lands on something it didn’t see at first, and suddenly it has something else to munch on.

Eye bags puffy eyes as it is popularly known are not very welcoming as they usually create an appearance of tiredness or sleepiness. But it can be caused by various reasons Aging is one of the primary reasons of puffy eyes. Because of the thinness of the skin around your eyes, any aging-related changes in your body are highlighted.

You may notice that your eyes appear puffier when you get up in the morning. This could be the result of edema. Once you awaken and begin blinking, you may notice that your eyes start to look less puffy.

In addition to aging, there are other reasons you may have puffy eyes, such as: High-salt diet: Eating a lot of salty foods causes you to retain water and leads to swelling.

Allergies: Congestion and inflammation from allergies can sometimes exacerbate under-eye puffiness.

Medical conditions: Some health conditions such as thyroid problems can cause the eyes to become swollen.

Genetics: Having under-eye bags can be a physical characteristic that runs in your family.

Your eyelids' tissue may deteriorate over time. This may cause the fat in your upper eyelid to drop and rest in your lower eyelid.

As you age, fluid may also be more likely to become trapped in your lower eyelid. Edema is the medical term for fluid retention.

Your eyelid's thin skin can make fluid retention highly obvious, which leads to puffy eyes.

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Regularly getting a good night's sleep will help you get rid of swollen eyes. Adults require between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Establish a bedtime routine and follow it to make sure you're getting enough sleep.

It's crucial to keep in mind that your nighttime routine begins far before you go to sleep.

To get a good night’s rest, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you should: Stick to a sleep schedule.

Stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime.

Stop drinking alcohol close to bedtime.

Finish eating dinner about 3 hours before bedtime.

Finish exercising several hours before bedtime.

Turn off electronics 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

To prevent moisture from gathering around your eyes while you sleep, place a few pillows beneath your head. Try lifting the head of your bed a little to achieve the same result if you have trouble sleeping at an angle on a wedge pillow or stack of pillows.

To achieve this, place a pile of books or another wedge under the foot of the side of the bed where you sleep. If you observe a change in the frequency or intensity of your eye puffiness, think about a more stable remedy, such as bed risers.

PROP YOURSELF UP

If you experience seasonal or year-round allergies, consult your doctor. Your eyes may become red, swollen, and puffy due to allergies. This might make you rub your eyes more, which can result in further puffiness.

ADDRESS YOUR ALLERGIES

A friend once said, no matter what you are going through, always stay hydrated. Eye puffiness can be the result of dehydration.

Make sure you drink plenty of water every day to keep your skin healthy. The general rule of thumb is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.

DRINK ENOUGH WATER

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Did someone just grumble? Well this is probably like asking a chronic cheater to leave women alone, but hey! No harm in trying right?

Try to limit or avoid alcohol and other drinks that can make you dehydrated. Dehydration can result in puffy eyes, so it may be best to have a glass of water instead.

If you’re tired of plain water, infusing it with fresh fruit is a great way to stay hydrated and refreshed. Try adding your fruit of choice to a water bottle for infused water that lasts all day long.

AVOID ALCOHOL

Consuming excessive amounts of salt can make your body retain fluids even more. Additionally, it can result in other health problems like a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Salt levels are frequently excessive in prepackaged foods like quick soups. You can spot salt that is too salty by reading labels. It is advisable to consume more whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

PASS ON THE SALT

You might want to raise your potassium intake because it can assist your body get rid of extra fluids. Bananas, beans, yogurt, and leafy greens can all help you do this.

If you already consume a diet high in potassium, discuss with your doctor if your current potassium level is safe or whether you should start taking a potassium supplement.

EAT MORE POTASSIUM

By placing a cold towel on your eyelids for about 10 minutes, you can reduce eye puffiness. This can aid in draining extra fluid from your under-eye area.

Green or black tea bags compressed may also work. Caffeine and antioxidants in the tea help narrow blood vessels and lessen inflammation.

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There are numerous eye treatments available that could reduce puffiness. Chamomile, cucumber, and arnica are a few ingredients to search for in an eye cream. All of these have qualities that might lessen inflammation and tighten the skin.

Eye creams and makeup with caffeine may also help reduce puffy eyes.

TRY AN EYE CREAM

If lifestyle changes or other treatments don't relieve your extreme eye puffiness, you might want to consider blepharoplasty surgery also known as eyelid surgery.

An eyelid's extra skin, muscle, and fat are moved or removed by a doctor during this surgery.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT COSMETIC SURGERY

ADVERT

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