It was a hot afternoon. I was alone but I could hear the tap outside running. I imagined that some labourers working on building sites around my house were on the premises fetching water to work with. So I didn’t feel the loneliness much. But the whole house was burning with heat. The light had been out for days and the generator was beyond what my fragile arms could handle. So I brought out a little rug and spread it in the dining room.. Staying close to the part of the wall farthest from the door that led to the sitting room.

Just when I turned on the radio and began to relax,I heard a swishing sound from behind me..but I wasn’t bothered. They were a million and one newspapers piled up on a low table in one corner of the room. So I imagined that one of them might have fallen off. Then the “newspaper” suddenly became noisier and I turned to look and maybe pick it up and return it to its place. Only for me to come face to face with the first live snake I’ve ever seen!

My heart stopped working. My brain practically shut down. My throat went dry. And for the longest second ever.. I was struck dumb,deaf and immobile. In the next second I bolted from the rug and into one of the rooms like my nipples were on fire. The room I ran into had just a single door,a single window and a single bunk bed. I couldn’t go back through the door. I couldn’t fit through the miniature window even if it wasn’t barred.

I quickly jumped on the bed. I searched frantically for the phones in my pocket. I found two. One had no airtime on it at all. Just when I was still thinking of whom to call,my mind recalled one bollywood movie I saw as a child where snakes could fly. I became extremely troubled. Not once did it occur to me that the snake would have no business coming after me and would probably have disappeared too in fear,like me.

I jumped down from the bed. Carefully, with eyes darting from left to right and top to bottom,I moved to the door and peered out gingerly to were I saw the snake. It was gone. The doorway was free of its kind. I looked around once more and then I was out of the house in a flash clutching one of the phones. Outside the house,I almost ran head straight into one of the workers in the compound.

He looked at me with a question on his lips and worry in his eyes but I was running past him already,barefoot. I didn’t think to ask him for help. I didn’t stop running either till I got to the middle of the road behind my house. As far away as I could go in my little skirt. Then I remembered my mum was close by and was supposed to have returned by then or should be on her way. That was when I checked the phone. It was d wrong one! No airtime!

…to be continued

I get very excited when I come across menswear fashion collection because they are not as common as female fashion collections, which still stand out but are just a tad too common. But fashion collections for men, particularly great ones, whew, they just keep my eyes hungry. Lol.

This collection I am about to unveil shows great promise in the fashion industry and it is actually from a new talent I’m excited to reveal.

Okay, suspense over.

They are JZO, a new menswear label and this is their ‘Aremo’ (meaning Heir Apparent in English language) collection for Harmattan 2016. The collection is motivated by the African man’s day to day effort to infuse the modern fashion into his already existent traditional originality.

The collection contains handwoven custom made Aso-Oke fabrics with amazing and unique patterns, majorly Hausa/Fulani Aiki-Sama embroidery which stands them out any day. These jackets are wonderfully African and non-traditional at the same time and the colours used are so simply beautiful that any man adorned in any jacket in this collection can only be said to be ‘tasteful’. The bags featured in the collection were designed by Tunde Owolabi Studios.

Now, take a look and fall in love.

The Search is the last Official Single off “Days B4 Denim” EP dropping on the 5th of December,an alternative rap tune it features singer and producer 3rty and is about how the quest for the truth should trump all the faux pas lifestyle nowadays.

Enjoy this soulful rendition tinged with honesty.

So far on his 17-track debut album, “Ghetto University” this track is the “bestest” sound yet! Maleek Berry delivers a sweet, slow beat that just makes you want to jump on your feet and dance! It just immediately melts your waist into liquid. While Wizkid’s voice just gently urges you on even though his lyrics are super serious and has nothing to do with your waist at all o!

This definitely is going to blow up in clubs and in stereos for a while. If you are a Runtown girl like me and a Wizkid lover, you should totally get this song.

I know it’s going to stay on repeat on my phone for a while

FOR WOMEN WHO ARE ‘DIFFICULT’ TO LOVE

you are a horse running alone

and he tries to tame you

compares you to an impossible highway

to a burning house

says you are blinding him

that he could never leave you

forget you

want anything but you

you dizzy him, you are unbearable

every woman before or after you

is doused in your name

you fill his mouth

his teeth ache with memory of taste

his body just a long shadow seeking yours

but you are always too intense

frightening in the way you want him

unashamed and sacrificial

he tells you that no man can live up to the one who

lives in your head

and you tried to change didn’t you?

closed your mouth more

tried to be softer

prettier

less volatile, less awake

but even when sleeping you could feel

him travelling away from you in his dreams

so what did you want to do, love

split his head open?

you can’t make homes out of human beings

someone should have already told you that

and if he wants to leave

then let him leave

you are terrifying

and strange and beautiful

something not everyone knows how to love.

About the Poem: This poem expresses what women feel when men find it ‘difficult to love them as a result of their individuality and independence. These women are so set in their ways, a lot of the time, profoundly talented and successful, other times just very grounded. I feel that some men do not take the time to study their women and just want whatever it is they want, when women want to be unveiled like a rose, petal after petal. Women are accused of being too intense, sometimes unrealistic and possessing unreachable high standards when all they want is a man who would go the extra mile for them. This poem captures all of those feelings and puts them into this very wonderful expression with words.

About the Writer: Warsan Shire (born 1988) is a Somali–British writer, poet, editor and teacher currently residing in London. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and released Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth, a poetry pamphlet published by flipped eye in 2011. Her full collection is to be released in 2016.

Shire has read her poetry in various artistic venues throughout the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, North America, South Africa and Kenya. Her poems have been republished in various literary publications, such as the Poetry Review, Magma and Wasafiri. Also, Shire’s verse has been featured in the Salt Book of Younger Poets (Salt, 2011) and Ten: The New Wave (Bloodaxe, 2014) collections. They have also been translated into a number of languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish and Estonian.

Her first full poetry collection is to be released in 2016. She serves as the poetry editor at SPOOK magazine and also teaches poetry workshops both globally and online for cathartic and aesthetic purposes.

A remarkable example of an African poet, Shire is on Instagram at @wu_shire and on twitter at @warsan_shire.

Red, Green and white are the colors of Christmas everywhere in the world. They seem to dominate every home every December/January. This year, we challenge you to add a bit a of brown! Adorn your home with something African as you decorate your living rooms this year with Christmas trees and bells.

Below are some great ideas of things to decorate with this season:

1. Jar

Photo: @homeafricanconer

Jars and pots add character to a space. They lend mystery and earthiness to any room they are placed. You want to put a pot in your living room only if you have an abundance of space.

2. Painting

Photo: @morak_02

A daring painting such as this, will surely add mischief to your space. It will most definitely garner more than one glance and  a lot of comments from your guests.

3. Carved Chair

Photo: @interiorculturebyobiageli

A carved chair is everything! There’s no question of a misinterpretation. It is daring, bold, and welcoming. Whether or not it is for function or form, it is definitely worth the buy!

4. Handmade baskets

Photo: @dorandkieobjects

Need I say more? Every woven piece screams African. They make great additions to tables and shelves as they perform both function and form.

5. Carved Santa

Photo: @3lunsford

…and Father Xmas himself in wood!

Photos and handles: Instagram

The Joys of Motherhood is a novel written by Buchi Emecheta. It was first published by Allison & Busby in 1979 and was reprinted in Heinemann’s African Writers Series in 2008.

It goes without saying that this book expresses in depth the burden of proof of a Nigerian woman’s womanhood through child bearing, “and above all to give birth to sons”. The book narrates the unfortunate fate of Nnu Ego, daughter of Nwokocha Agbadi and his love, Ona, with bringing forth children. Eventually, Nnu Ego bears more children than she and her lazy husband, Nnaife can cater for and then earns the respect of her people.

The book is set in colonial times and Nnu Ego and family have to adapt to the change, albeit without much success. Her life revolves around her children as she toils day and night for a better life for them, which despite her efforts, they never achieve. She experiences a plethora of emotions as she brings up her children, some good, some, not pleasant at all which explains her ‘joys of motherhood’. She deals with the travails of having to live with Nnaife’s second wife among others. The hope she has for the success of her children in life is her driving force as she sweats to give them her best in everything, only for her to die alone and miserably in the streets. Nnu Ego is considered a success in her village as a result of the number of children she bore but she, in reality, is not much of a success after all. The title of the book, ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ is, in more ways than one, very ironic as even after death, the oracle says thet her children are childless because Nnu Ego is still angry with them after everything.

About the Book:

Nwokocha Agbadi is a proud, handsome and wealthy local chief. Although he has many wives he finds a woman named Ona more attractive. Ona (a priceless jewel) is the name he has given her. Ona is the daughter of a chief. When she was young, her father took her everywhere he went, saying she was his ornament, and Nwokocha Agbadi would say jokingly, “Why don’t you wear her aroung your neck like an Ona?” (a priceless jewel). It never occurred to him that he would be one of the men to ask her when she grew up.

During one rainy season chief Agbadi and his friends have gone elephant hunting and having come too near the heavy creature he is thrown with a mighty tusk into a nearby sugar-cane bush and is pinned to the floor. He aims his spear at the belly of the mighty animal and kills it but not until it has wounded him badly. Agbadi passes out and it seems to all he has died. He wakes up after several days to find Ona beside him. During this period, he has sex with her, and after eighteen days he finds out that his eldest wife Agunwa was very ill and died later. It is thought that perhaps she became ill as a result of seeing her husband pass out.

The funeral festivities continue through the day. When it is time to put Agunwa in her grave, everything she will need in afterlife having been placed in her coffin, her personal slave is called. According to custom, a good slave is supposed to jump into the grave willingly to accompany her mistress but this young and beautiful slave begs for her life, much to the annoyance of the men. The hapless slave is pushed into the shallow grave but struggles out, appealing to her owner Agbadi, whose eldest son cries angrily: “So my mother does not deserve a decent burial?” So saying, he gives her a sharp blow with the head of the cutlass. Another relative gives her a final blow to the head and she falls into the grave, silenced forever. The burial is completed.

Ona becomes pregnant and delivers a girl child, named Nnu Ego (20 bags of cowries). The baby is born with a mark on her head resembling that made by the cutlass used on the head of the slave woman. Ona gives birth to another son but she dies in premature labour and her son also dies a week afterwards. Nnu Ego becomes a woman but is barren. After several months with no sign of fruitfulness, she consults several herbalists and is told that the slave woman who is her Chi (goddess) will not give her a child. Her husband Amatokwu takes another wife who before long conceives.

Nnu Ego returns her father’s house. She is married to new husband whom she does not like but prays that if she can have a child with him, she will love him. She does give birth to a baby boy, whom she later finds dead. Shocked, she is on the verge of jumping into the river when a villager draws her back and comforts her. She subsequently gives birth to four children. Her husband, a laundryman for a white man, is drafted into the army during wartime, but on her own Nnu Ego ensures all her children have a good life, sending two abroad to study. After she dies a lonely death, her children all come home and are sorry they were in a position to give her a better life. She is given the greatest burial in their town.

When all her children are unable to have offspring the Oracle reveals that this is because Nnu Ego is angry with them. Stories say that she is a wicked woman even in death. Still, they agree that she has given all to her children and that this is the joy of being a mother.

About the Writer:

Buchi Emecheta (born 21 July 1944, in Lagos) is a Nigerian novelist who has published over 20 books. According to Buchi, her works are “stories of the world…[where]… women face the universal problems of poverty and oppression, and the longer they stay, no matter where they have come from originally, the more the problems become identical.” She also writes majorly on themes of child slavery, motherhood, female independence and freedom through education and has won recognised critical acclaim and honours, including an Order of the British Empire in 2005.  Her books are based largely on her experiences living in London, in an unhappy marriage, solely working to provide for five children.

I met Hoviare Freedom’s work before I met her and I have to say, I was amazed. I just had to organize an interview with her to meet the person behind these works.

Here’s a look into the life of Hovi; Artist, Painter and Sculptor.

3rty: Tell us about yourself.

Hovi: The name’s Hoviare Freedom, I’m from Cross River State, Abi LGA precisely. It’s a small place.

I’m an artist, born into a family of five, that’s plus my folks. I’m the only girl. I’m not much of a social animal. Art and music are my soul food. That’s basically me in a nutshell.

3rty: How was growing up for you?

Hovi: From the home front? It was fun, just the normal things. I was a church kid, played a lot, raised to appreciate good music. My father is a follower of all things good, musically that is.

Art was a low key thing for me then because you know, they feed you that science is king stuff and if you not with it you are somewhat seen as an inferior specie.

I just used to do cartoons a lot way back. It was a talent and nothing more. Academically, I was good. I don’t mean to brag but I was a smart kid, top of the class till I woke up to the science reality and you know. (Laughs)

3rty: What did you do with the cartoons?

Hovi: I used to develop characters, draw them and colour. Copy some most times and even do comic books. Little beginnings.

3rty: So, did you ever move to art class?

Hovi: No. I didn’t. I finished school as a science student. I was too young so I had to stay a year before getting into the university. That one year changed everything.

3rty: What happened in that life-changing year?

Hovi: (Laughs) Well, I got talking with my cousin one day; she’s light years ahead of me. We were talking about everything and she asked if I woke up right, “you are still dazed and all. What’s the one thing you can do perfectly?”

I said drawing without thinking too hard and she just laughed and said, “so why Medicine?”

I had no flipping idea why I wanted to do it except for the fact that I thought I had the mental capacity for it and that changed everything.

3rty: So, what did you decide to do?

Hovi: First off, I had to talk my parents out of the science idea they had about my life. It wasn’t easy at all; they both saw it as a hobby and not something to be taken that seriously.

I even had to involve some extended family that could help change their minds. As soon as that was done I had to re-write WAEC because I didn’t write art in my first sitting. So I registered for it; still science combination but with art this time.

3rty: So, what did you study in the university?

Hovi: I’m studying Fine and Applied arts at The University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

3rty: Okay. So, you are getting formal training in your craft.

Hovi: Yes, I am.

3rty: Are your parents supportive of it now?

Hovi: Yes, they are.

3rty: So, do you find it rewarding and satisfying?

Hovi: (Laughs) It is satisfying making art. Rewarding? It is to an extent, yeah.

It’s a tough path to follow in the sense that the ‘rewards’ don’t just come so easy. You have to give the audience some time to appreciate and recognize what you doing before you get the ‘reward’.

That’s the phase I’m in now right now, a minority can relate to it but its good, satisfying still.

3rty: Have you sold any of your works?

Hovi: Yes I have.

3rty: What is the most you’ve sold one for?

Hovi: (Smiles) 20k a piece

3rty: Which do you enjoy the most, writing, painting or sculpting?

Hovi: It depends on my mood

3rty: Who are your biggest influences?

Hovi: George Odoh, he’s a painter and a draughtsman. And an amazing one at that.

3rty: What materials do you prefer to work with?

Hovi: Charcoal mostly. Clay was fun to work with because of its flexibility but I’m off that now.

Charcoal is it. I’m going head on into draughtsmanship so you know.

3rty: What plans have you made to go commercial?

Hovi: For now, I really don’t have any plans of going commercial. In reality, is not on my mind just yet. I’d do whatever private commissions I lay hands on and that’s it for now.

3rty: Do you have any advice for Nigerian Youths.

Hovi: Well, there’s so much that’s expected of us. There’s so much a single person has to offer and there’re still so many challenges out there.

So put God first, pursue what you genuinely have a passion for regardless of demeaning opinions. I believe that’s where happiness and success meet.

You might not get results immediately but just keep doing it for the love of it. It’s crazy we all want fast money now. It’s tempting but not worth it in the long run. It would do good to focus on what’s right.

3rty: How can people who want to work with you contact you?

Hovi: My email address is Hovee028@yahoo.com. Twitter is; @ill_myth and Instagram is; @Hovii_are. My Phone Number is +2348079503669.

To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved – George McDonald

I have scars
Cuts,bruises,burns
I have scars like you
I can show you but you won’t see
I have cuts too and bruises,yes
But I don’t hurt as easily as you

You have scars
From bus rides
Races, amusement parks
And kitchens,yes
You have cuts and bruises and burns
So you think you hurt more than me

But you see,
Even if I can’t show it
Even when I seem invincible
Even though my skin’s tougher
And smooth
Even though you think I’m ice and stone

I hurt in several places
All at once
My scars never heal
My cuts are too deep
My bruises remain fresh
My skin is not so tough

Because my scars
I didn’t get from jolly rides
Or bus rides
Not from family time
Or the playground
No,I’m not so lucky

This scars you can’t see
Its from placing people in
My heart;
Watch them be ripped away
By death,by distance,by excuses
Its from caring too much

So when I seem invicible
And cold
When I wear that chilling smile
When I cut our conversations short
Those days I seem to be miles away
I’m right here in my Panic room

-Sisi

“The whole world is spreading before me and I am looking up to the grey sky moving slowly slowly against the top leaf of the tall tall Iroko tree. And under this, many smaller tree is fighting each other to climb up to the sunlight.… This is making me think of jubilating, dancing, shouting, singing because Kai! I am saying I am finally dead.”

Agu is a young boy recruited by a guerilla unit during a civil war in an anonymous West African country. Taken away from his Bible-reading, spiritual mother, now amidst brutal men, Agu is torn between the beastly violence he witnesses and the paternal figure of his commander, in a brutal world where crime is ordinary and humaneness remains rare and precious.

 Although situated in a long line of child soldier stories, Iweala’s brilliant novel is really a story about how language creates things, images, and worlds.

Language is one of the major achievements of this novel. It is through language and dialogue that Agu fights his demons and rediscovers the innocent, “normal” boy he once was. And through Agu’s eyes the reader comes to know the savagery, but also the spectacular beauty of his world. A world haunted by fear, the horrors of war and the absence of humanity, and mirrored by his inside words.

Instead of chronicling a coming-of-age or a loss of innocence, Beasts of No Nation is more about exploring what innocence actually is. And in Iweala’s novel, it is synonymous with being able to speak for oneself, to voice out the demons inside oneself. Innocence is letting go and freeing oneself and, for Agu, freedom is speech.

Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala

Harper Perennial | 2006 | ISBN: 978-0060798680

Review by Ioana Danaila

“The whole world is spreading before me and I am looking up to the grey sky moving slowly slowly against the top leaf of the tall tall Iroko tree. And under this, many smaller tree is fighting each other to climb up to the sunlight.… This is making me think of jubilating, dancing, shouting, singing because Kai! I am saying I am finally dead.”

Agu is a young boy recruited by a guerilla unit during a civil war in an anonymous West African country. Taken away from his Bible-reading, spiritual mother, now amidst brutal men, Agu is torn between the beastly violence he witnesses and the paternal figure of his commander, in a brutal world where crime is ordinary and humaneness remains rare and precious.

 Although situated in a long line of child soldier stories, Iweala’s brilliant novel is really a story about how language creates things, images, and worlds.

Language is one of the major achievements of this novel. It is through language and dialogue that Agu fights his demons and rediscovers the innocent, “normal” boy he once was. And through Agu’s eyes the reader comes to know the savagery, but also the spectacular beauty of his world. A world haunted by fear, the horrors of war and the absence of humanity, and mirrored by his inside words.

Instead of chronicling a coming-of-age or a loss of innocence, Beasts of No Nation is more about exploring what innocence actually is. And in Iweala’s novel, it is synonymous with being able to speak for oneself, to voice out the demons inside oneself. Innocence is letting go and freeing oneself and, for Agu, freedom is speech.

Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala

Harper Perennial | 2006 | ISBN: 978-0060798680

Review by Ioana Danaila

PROLOGUE

It was getting dark but the man was not in a hurry to get home. The day had not been progressive, he had not been able to get any work and the last thing he wanted to do was to go home to see the hopeful look on the faces of his wife and son and show them empty hands.

But go home he must, so he trudged along the side of the road, as slowly as possible, in a bid to postpone this inevitable fate.

Had he rushed home, one would think he might have been able to save the situation, but even that is not sure.

As he got to his street and walked closer home, he didn’t have an uneasy feeling or any such form of premonition of what was waiting for him at home. All he felt was despair at failing his family. He got to his front door and knocked.

No answer. He knocked again and still no answer. He tried to open the door ad it gave way to him and he called, “Seyi! Where are you, now?”, as he walked in and still there but he didn’t hear his wife’s voice. He walked on to explore his empty little house and as he was about to enter the only room which he shared with his wife and son, he heard someone move in the front door and he quickly turned around and was about to shout when he saw the fat face of his neighbor’s wife.

“I heard movement here and I thought it was you, Baba Dayo. So, I came to tell you what happened”, she said.

“What has happened?”, he asked, as his heart chose now to begin to race.

“Your son is sick, o! Mama Dayo came to the house to ask my husband to help her rush him to the hospital”, she said excitedly.

“Jesus! Which hospital?”, he exclaimed.

“The one at the junction side”, she replied, as Baba Dayo brushed past her, out the door and back into the night.

CHAPTER ONE

Mrs. Oladapo was feeling restless. Her husband was coming home from his trip and she was prepared for him. She couldn’t still believe he could ever cheat on her and she was furious.

“How could he? After everything I’ve done for him. Oho! Now that he is made he thinks he can now run around town sleeping with small small girls. Well, I will show him! It’s not me he will be doing that one with. It must stop today!”

Her head jerked up as she heard the sound of the gate opening and a car driving in. she walked to the window and looked out. It was her husband and she prepared herself for the battle that was about to ensue.

Soon enough, she heard his footsteps at the door and it opened. Chief Oladapo walked in the room with no idea of what had come to her knowledge and when he saw her, he smiled and said, “How are you? I hope dinner is ready”.

Much to her surprise, Mrs. Oladapo heard herself saying, “I made Eba”. And as she turned around she found that she had no zest to fight with him. “This is strange”, she thought to herself. “Just a moment ago, I was ready to burn this house to the ground”.

But by the time they were going to bed later that night, she still hadn’t brought it up. I was not that she was scared, nothing like that. She just found that she wasn’t ready to destroy her marriage. Because that would surely be the final result of the battle.

Her last thought as she closed her eyes beside her snoring husband was, “so, what am I going to do?”

Baba Dayo Rushed into the hospital and headed straight for the reception.

“Please, my son was rushed here, where is he?”

“Oga, do I know your son? How can I know where he is?”, said the nurse with a mouth full of rice and beans who was very annoyed at the rude interruption of her meal.

“My name is Mr. Oladele Johnson. His name is Dayo. Dayo Johnson, he was rushed here for asthma attack”, he replied, exasperated.

He was met with silence; the nurse had gone back to her meal.

“Answer me na!”, he shouted, “What kind of rubbish is this?”

“Mr. Man! Will you stop making noise?”, the nurse shouted back making more noise than him. “This is a hospital not Oshodi Market. Even for Oshodi you no fit dey shout by this time.” She said with disgust. “Go and take a seat. I will attend to you.”

Baba Dayo turned around defeated, he knew he could never win one of these war of words with a Nigerian nurse he was headed for his seat when a figure in the hall way caught his eye. It was Seyi, his wife and she was looking at him with a mixture of fear and relief in her eyes.

He walked quickly towards her and she just let herself enter his arms. He just held her for a while because he knew it is what she needed for now.

“How is he?”, he asked after a while.

“He is not awake yet, the doctor said we should give him some time”, she replied with her voice breaking from tears she was fighting to hold back.

“Can I go and see him?”

“Doctor said no, we should just wait let them watch him”

“Okay”, he said as he guided her to the seats and sat her down.

“They said we need money”, she said, whispering now. “I managed to pay 500 naira for the card and registration. Now we need money for the medical bill when it comes”.

Dele was quiet. There was really nothing to say.

Seyi was quiet too. She knew.

Most of the time, the Geles (African Headgears) we see at events are usually the type shaped out in ‘fan’ style and they are usually very pretty so most people have already learnt how to do it or want to learn how to do it.

But here’s a really wonderful new style which I think…no, I know you will love. it’s very different from the ‘fan’ style and the finish is equally beautiful.

The Gele can be worn to church, events, parties etc but is mostly to complete a traditional look.

Try out this style and trust me, the compliments will be endless.

Adesua Etomi might not be a name that is as popular as that of a lot of other Nollywood actresses but this young fair-complexioned actress is steadily becoming a force to reckon with in the Nigerian movie industry.

Adesua graced the big screens in her first leading role in the Royal Arts Academy movie ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ in 2014 alongside stars like Majid Michael, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Ini Edo and she was excellent in her acting. The movie opened doors for her into more movies like Brave, Falling, A Soldier’s Story, Gidi Up etc.

She first encountered acting  at age 7 at her drama club at her primary school, Corona Victoria Island. At 13, she moved to the UK where she studied Physical theatre, Musical theatre and Performing Arts at the City College, Coventry, United Kingdom, graduated in 2006, then went further to study Drama and Performance at the University of Wolverhampton where she graduated in 2009 with 1st class honors and ‘The Foursight Theatre Award’.

In 2012, Adesua returned to Nigeria with intentions to stay for three months but her plans changed when she was featured in  several theatre productions like Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives, Saro, Shattered, The Grimm Tales, Anatomy Of A Woman, Crystal Slipper, The Crucible, Fractal, Not my cup of Tea, The Millers Tale (August 2012, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Jesus Christ Superstar (Musical), Miss Saigon (Musical), Les Miserables (Musical) among others and finally had her big break in 2013 with ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ which was released in 2014 and she has been soaring high since then. Singing, dancing, playing the guitar, ice skating, swimming and physical theatre are other things she is remarkable at. Very humble, down to earth, harworking, spiritual lady, her dream is to perform on Broadway and be an all-round performer.

Adesua has been nominated for several awards, won several notable awards like the best new actress award in the 2014 edition of Nollywood Reinvented Awards, Golden Disovery at the Golden Movie Awards among others and also recently bagged two awards, Best Actress Big Screen for ‘Falling’ and Best Actress TV for Gidi Up at the recently concluded Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) Awards 2015.

She is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adesua.etomi, Twitter as @Miss_Adesua and Instagram at @adesuaetomi.

So, for all these reasons and more, Adesua Etomi makes an incomparable #WomanCrushWednesday.

It’s funny how kids of this generation are so smart that even the adults tend to ‘fake’ knowledge on some subjects when they ask too many questions about everything.

Here’s a little boy giving a short pep talk on how to “get up and do something”. A lot of people need to be told this and he’s right here to trll you or remind you, whichever one it may be, that life is too short for excuses. Grab the reins and take over your life.

Enjoy!!!

Label: Kennis Music ‎– KMMC 024

Format: CD, Album, Gatefold

Country: Nigeria

Released: 2002

Genre: Hip Hop, Reggae, Pop

If you didn’t rock to this song then you are not hip, this was a big hit from Tony Tetuila at the time, Kennis Music was the one calling the shots, I remember how much airplay the video of this song got, watch the video below, you will be happy how much naija music has developed.

Zimbabwean born designer Intisaar Mukadam obtained her BA (honors’) Fashion Design degree in the UK, in 2010. She has become an International name after launching her label, IntisaarM, in Harare, in December 2010.  Intisaar’s first collection, “Tribal” was selected- by a judging panel including the renowned British designer, Karen Millen- as one of sixteen degree collections to showcase at Graduate Fashion Week 2010, which was held in London, UK, This collection was entered in the BHM Knitwear Visionary Award competition 2010.

Intisaar spent 2011 working closely with Judith Clare Williams from Model Management and Michele Fortmann, one of Zimbabwe’s top photographers, dressing models for the ‘Ford Supermodel of the World Search- Zimbabwe 2011’, ‘Sun is Up’ summer fashion show, Passport Boutique launch show and Africa Fashion Week Johannesburg. She has dressed models Samantha Tshuma (Miss Tourism Zimbabwe2010), Miss Zimbabwe 2011: Malaika Mushandu and Thandi Muringa, Zimbabwe representative at the Miss Earth 2011 Pageant in the Philippines. Intisaar has worked on a range of photo shoots, for magazines such as Double Magazine (UK), Skyhost Magazine (Zimbabwe), and a spread in Zimbabwe’s Daily News, where she dressed Vimbai Mutinhiri as well as featuring in the October issue of Baobabwe.

African Kaleidoscope Intisaar’s Spring/ Summer 2012 collection was debuted at Africa Fashion Week Johannesburg 2011 held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Showcasing at an International event like Africa Fashion Week has opened the doors for Intisaar; her designs were welcomed by everyone with an eye for fashion. She has been featured in many online reviews, such as coastweek.com and examiner.com, to name a few. The examiner.com refers to Intisaar’s collection as “A fun and playful extension of the luxe visual collage at Africa Fashion week 2011.” Shortly after showcasing in Johannesburg, Intisaar received an invitation to participate in Africa Fashion Week New York 2012.

2012 saw IntisaarM Designs feature in Jewel Magazine Zimbabwe and Out of Africa- Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine Zimbabwe. Catherine Ruze Modeling agency launched their Zimbabwean branch in June 2012 where Intisaar was one of three designers to showcase.

Showcasing her collection ‘Power Play’ at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012, Intisaar was one of the four designer nominees to be given the chance to showcase at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Johannesburg (Africa Fashion International) 2012- for the second year running. Her collection opened the Zimbabwe show with a beat that was unforgettable and select pieces were used at the main Mercedes Benz stand for the rest of the week.

Fresh into 2013, we saw IntisaarM Designs feature not only on the cover of Jewel Magazine, but in a full two page spread inside. On February 5th, a South African online store- Style 36 launched a selection ‘boutique’ of IntisaarM Designs.

This year, Intisaar showcased her latest collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa, 2014, in Johannesburg. Her collection was accessorised by The Ndau Collection, from Victoria Falls. This years collection went down a new root, with Intisaar’s knitwear as the main focus.

Harmattan is here. As the fog descends, ribbons and banners begin to hang from pole to pole announcing carnivals on streets and in estates across the country. But then there is the biggest carnival of all. The pride of Nigerians and the hub of true tourism, hospitality and and cultural heritage. The Calabar Carnival;. Proudly tagged  “Africa’s Biggest Street Party” hits the ground on the first day of December and extends through the entire month. This year, the festival is holding at the Old Calabar Zoo Garden and it is aptly themed “Climate Change” to promote preservation of the forest and encourage climate-friendly behavior during and after the festival.

If you are participating in this year’s festival, there is plenty to look forward to: beautiful costumes, choreography, souvenirs, and the famous Calabar hospitality. Looking back, however, we have handpicked some of the best pictures and costumes over the years and some of these are truly jaw-dropping awesome!

Dazzling, are they not? We hope to see even more of these in this year’s show. Follow on Instagram for updates as they come.

Africa’s sweetheart, Lupita Nyongó debuts her new look on the cover of United Airline’s “Rhapsody Magazine” in a Star Wars inspired haircut styled by celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, who also works with Uzo Aduba, Tracee Ellis Ross and Zendaya. Wearing Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, her face however remained fresh, with almost no makeup, like we have come to know and love her for.

Photography: Yu Tsai

Makeup: Nick Barose

Hair: Larry Sims

Clothes:  Micaela Erlanger