The Little Things in Love are the Sweetest

I saw this on a friend's page and just knew I had to share it since it seems we had been talking about cheating and marriages gone bad for the past few days. Some of us indeed, like the guy in the story below, continue to get it wrong. Enjoy reading this and do have a splendid time with that special one in your life this Friday and Forever...

My name is Dayo. I’m a typical Nigerian guy and I cherish my Fridays a lot; I get to hang out with the sickest guys every Friday night and secondly, It’s another escape from my nagging and boring wife. I get confused sometimes on whether she’s my mother or my wife. Don’t get it twisted; I love her pieces. It just gets complicated; like I wish we never got married…marriage has turned her into something that doesn’t amuse me. I wish she was still the adventurous, charming, high spirited lady I dated for five years.

A lot of people say its unethical for married guys to be found in a club, but I wish everyone won’t be too quick to judge and understand that people look for fun to run away from their problems; they just want to breathe, like me.

I forgot to say that I work in Guarantee Trust Bank along Lekki, I love my job and my job loves me, maybe its because I’m the senior banking officer. Lol. This particular morning, a lady breezed into my office. My heart raced faster because I had not sighted anything this beautiful in a long while. She wasn’t the typical slender Barbie, in fact, she was a bit chubby but her smile, cuteness and…I was tripped.

“Hi Good morning! Your ATM has swallowed my card!” She laughed, unlike a typical customer that would ram you.

I just tried to form Boss laughter…

“Good morning, You know what? I’d personally make sure they get it out for you, but not today. Can you wait till Monday?” I smiled

“GTB shaaa! OK, can I just drop my number so you could call me up or just text when its ready so I don’t come twice? Please? My name is Nancy” She blinked her eyes in a funny way.

“Sure” I smiled

We exchanged numbers. What a lucky Friday!

So it was 10:00pm and I headed to the club…as usual my friends were chilling for me. My wife had called a couple of times, I just ignored it. She knows I’m never home Friday nights.

“Look at you!” I heard someone say. I raised my head and it was the Look at you!” I heard someone say. I raised my head and it was the ATM lady-Nancy.

“Wow, look at you too!” I was surprised to see her but I was happy I didn’t have to wait till Monday to see her again.

“Happy Friday!” She screamed because of the noise, “Wanna dance?”

I didn’t even have the chance to answer, she already pulled me to dance floor. I really suck at dancing but she helped me; she was a great dancer! I had fun! At some point we decided to go to a private area and we talked, ranging from work, business to personal life. I tried to hide my ring as much as possible, I certainly didn’t want this to end now.

“You are a really wonderful lady. You are so interesting…any guy would want to be with you all day” I said.

“I wasn’t always like this but I have learned the hard way that life is just too short to be sad” she sang

Then her phone rang…

“Hey baby! Yeah I’m at the private lounge, I’d like you to meet someone…alright boo” she talked excitedly as usual.

I was in shock until this tall handsome man walks up to her and kisses her.

“You were late. Meet Dayo; I met him this morning, he’s helping with your ATM I told you got swallowed and Dayo this is my B to the O-O,” she laughed “Meet my husband Kolade, we only come here to dance every fortnight Friday; away from work, stress and kids.”

“Wow, a pleasure” I managed to shake him

Then she stood now excitedly holding her husband’s arms.

“Why don’t we invite Dayo for Mimi’s 16th birthday tomorrow?” Her husband said

They have kids too? How long have they been married and they look like a couple just dating!

“Silly me, please come for my second daughter’s 16th tomorrow. It would be an honor” She brought out an I.V from her purse. I began to feel so ashamed of myself…this was another guy like me, getting it right with one woman.

I collected the I.V and promised to be there.

“See you tomorrow! Have you had something to eat Kolade?” she talked and dragged her husband along.

They left and I kept staring atat the thin air like I had seen a ghost. They come just to dance together every fortnight Fridays? Why didn’t I think of that! Temi loves to dance…she also likes long walks, she loves to talk…she loves jazz music, there’s this vivid picture I have of me putting her hand on my chest when we danced at a jazz club on our first year anniversary…I found myself typing all the things I knew Temi loved to do on my Ipad and I realized I had denied her of all…I had made her the old woman she acts.

What the hell was I doing here! I didn’t even tell my friends goodbye, I walked out of the club into my Jaguar. Temi’s call came through and I picked at first ring.

“Temi?” My heart raced

“I know you are not coming home…”

“I am, stay up so we can gist. Been a while” I decided to do everything on that list and to even add many more for the rest of my lifetime with her.

“Are you alright?” She was shocked I suppose

“And I’d like us to go for a birthday party tomorrow. I want you to meet this amazing couple”

“You sound different Dayo”

“Maybe I’m different”

“Don’t say it! don’t say it! when you come we will gist very well” she laughed

She laughed!!! In just that laughter that I hadn’t heard in a while, she sounded like the lady I married six years ago…

Dear reader,

I wrote this natural piece just to remind us that creating memorable moments with our partner matters. Do you know that little things are the sweetest things? Just creating time to gist and laugh with your partner, having a day in the week that’s exclusively for you both-No friends or kids allowed.

Lady, when last have you told your partner he is so darn hot? Guy! When last have you told your lady she is the sweetest thing? When last have whispered ‘Thank you’? When last have you been quick to say ‘I’m sorry’?

Do you even have a clue on what your partner loves to do?

When you ignore little things, they are the little pieces of rocks that build up to become a mountain you can’t easily break down.

Pay attention to little things, believe that they work and experience new bliss!

Yours Truly, 

I just had to share this with u guys.....wish u luck!

Why Men Cheat - Infidelity is a Necessary Evil?.......How true isthis article about men....

In a comment on the unrepentant husband, someone wrote, "he is definitely fooling around and ladies when ur man starts to cheat it is not always because you are doing something wrong or not giving him a lot of attention. Some men just love the chase and they have no idea how much they are hurting you. It also doesnt mean they love u any less." A few people agreed with the anonymous comment. 

I want to guess and say the comment is posted by a woman and maybe the supporters are women too. I wonder, does she really believe this? Does this kind of marriage work for some people? Does it make them happy, better human beings? The comment reminded me of an article that had gone round the interwebs earlier this year. Read and let's discuss...

1. Most Men cannot have sex exclusively with just one woman, for the rest of their lives.
2. Men are created with varied sexual appetite ,some men can do without sex for a year, others cannot do without sex for a week.
3. A man who's madly in love with one woman can still have sex with other women but still love his 'woman'.
4. Some of the best husbands have concubines or mistresses, these extra marital affairs play a role in keeping the man sane and free of sexual tensions, especially during mid-life crises.
5.I f your man is just having sex with some sweet sexy teen or babe, DO NOT WORRY. But, if your man starts making midnight calls and exchanging text messages with another lady at odd hours, BE VERY WORRIED.
6. Before you choose your man, ensure he believes in AIDs, STDs and protected sex. That way, chances are that he will not bring HIV and other STDs into your life.
7. Most chronic wife beaters are faithful husbands, they hardly have extramarital affairs.
8. Most 'extra' loving husbands have concubines, these concubines keep the man abreast on new ways of making women happy.
9. Your man's mistress or concubine is most times not interested in you or your home. She has already seen your pictures and those of your kids via your hubby’s phone. She and your hubby just have a sexual understanding or partnership which helps both deal with peculiar individual issues.
10. As a woman, if you go all out in a bid to catch your husband red-handed cheating, you WILL succeed. Then what next? If u listen hard to your domestic servants in their private discussions, u will certainly hear them insult you, so why listen?
11. Judge your man by his responsibilities towards you and the kids, and NOT by who he's giving 'doggie style' to him in the office.

Now, let me say that I know this is the reality for some women, and maybe the way they cope with the situation is by accepting it as the norm. In fact, some people will argue all day, supporting this write-up as true and realistic, but my question is, Who are we deceiving? How is this something to aspire to? Should we not try to do away with stuffs that are detrimental to us?

Infidelity is bad. Promiscuity, which is what this write-up is basically condoning, is reprehensible. While consensual polygamy or serial monogamy might work, a relationship where infidelity or promiscuity is taken for granted is not a desirable one. No matter how much you think you can suppress your emotional side, any kind of betrayal hurts, and especially when it is from a man/woman you have decided to partner with for the rest of your life! 

A lot of women do learn to live with cheating men, but may be sad and unproductive in other ways, some will transfer their aggression to the other woman, or their colleagues and subordinates, or worse, on their children. My question is, if you find yourself in this scenario, why not face the genesis of your problems? The cheating and randy man? Do not swallow it, for it may kill you slowly emotionally if not physically.

Before I round up, I have to point to the blatant fallacy in #7 - faithful husbands are wife beaters? What utter tosh! Quote me anywhere jare. Infidelity has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with men who are violent or not. One may even argue that since vices go together, an unfaithful man is more likely to be violent, including beating up their wives and children. But let's not conflate issues.

Any man that wants to learn new sexual stuff to please his wife, and the 'woman' he still supposedly loves, should read relevant books and well made instructional videos. If possible, watch it with the same woman. I think men who are promiscuous, and who think they can only release pressure through sex with a prostitute or mistress, are disrespectful, not just of women generally, but also themselves. 

The bottom-line is that there are various ways to decompress both for men and women. Hit the gym, take up golf, or football, or your favorite sport, go back to your childhood talents and passions - writing, drawing, painting, knitting, tinkering with electronics, etc. 

Also do things as a couple - stay indoors and gist, have sex together regularly or as often as you can, go to the club and dance off your energy, go to plays and the movies, poetry and book readings, art showings, owambe parties and so on. Try to remember the early days or dating or courtship and recreate some of what you did. :)

Rekindle your love and don't go looking for it when it's right there in your house.

Full budget implementation not possible – Okonjo-Iweala

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) today (Wednesday July 25, 2012), confirmed that the implementation of the 2012 budget has reached 56% from 39% as at the end of May.

Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the council meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, the minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala said that the 56% represents 324 billion naira of the 404 billion so far released.

She stressed that the objective remains that president Goodluck Jonathan and the executive arm of government are on the same page with the National Assembly in the execution of the budget and the need to deliver on the development programmes of the country.

On the reports that the lower legislative chamber wants President Jonathan to implement the budget 100% before September or be impeached, she said that “there is nowhere in the country where budget is implemented 100% by September” insisting that from her experience the least any country has done is 80%.

The FEC said that there is no lack of effort on the part of government on budget implementation expressing the confidence that in the next few months both the National Assembly and Nigerians will say “yes a good effort has been made”.

 Director General of the Bereau for Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Eze highlighted the challenges in budget implementation, saying that “all projects must go through a process of scrutiny by the BPP and this is time consuming” he explains.

The FEC  directed that henceforth in bilateral agreement with any country on issues of education beginning with Turkey, the Ministry of Education should ensure a proper need assessment that will enable Nigerian students go into areas of study that are of national priority.

Fuel Subsidy scam: Court grants sons of Tukur, Ali, Alao N20 million bails

The Lagos High court sitting in Ikeja has granted bail to the sons of the former and serving national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Ahmadu Ali and Bamaga Tukur, the son of Ibadan businessman and politician, Arisekola Alao, and some other suspects indicted in the oil subsidy scam.

Mamman Nasir Ali, Mahmud Tukur, Abdulahi Alao and two others were granted bail by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo in the sum of N20 million each with two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties according to the court must be a blood relation and another a level sixteen officer in the Federal or State civil service.

The court also held that one of the sureties must own a property worth N100 million in Lagos and that the title of the said property must be registered with the state land registry and the sureties must present to the court’s registrar a three years tax clearance.

Justice Onigbanjo also ordered the defendants who also included Ochonogor Alex and Christian Taylor to deposit their travel passports with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which can only be released to them on the orders of the court.

Though all the accused persons are free to go home upon fulfilling the terms of the bail, Abdulahi Alao would, however, remain in the custody of the EFCC until the 1st of August when another judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, handling the second charge filed against him by the anti-graft agency will determine whether to grant him bail.

His bail application for the trial which he and his company, Axenergy Limited are being arraigned, could not be heard because the EFCC pleaded for more time to respond to the application. He is facing a seven count charge of obtaining N1. 8 billion under false pretence

Mr Alao in the charge was specifically accused of conspiring to obtain N1. 8 billion from the Federal Government by falsely representing that the sum represented subsidy paid to him under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 20, 014, 627 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which he falsely claimed was purchased and imported to Nigeria from Mercuria Trading N.V, vide MT Gavros ExMT Nippon Princess.

In the second case before Justice Onigbanjo, Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulahi Alao and Eterna Oil and gas are facing a nine count charge of obtaining a sum of over N5 billion under false pretence.

They were said to have of conspired to obtain the sum from the Federal Government by falsely representing that the sum represented subsidy paid to Eterna Oil and gas under the Petroleum Support Fund when they claimed to have purchased 33, 288, 338 litres PMS from Mercuria Trading SA and imported to Nigeria through MT Fulmer EX MT Emirate Star and MT Panther EX Emirate Star.

More false pretense

In yet another case, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor and Nasaman Oil Service Limited were also arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo on a three count charge of obtaining N4. 8billion under false pretense.

Nasir Ali is the son of Ahmadu Ali, former chairman of PDP, and former chairman of the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

However, the arraignment of Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha-Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olajide Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd could not go ahead as Wagbatsoma failed to appear before the court.

His counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) informed the court that his client was not in court because he’s presently out of the country but would return to the country on Monday to enable him appear before the court.

But counsel for Ugo-Ngadi, Ebenezer and Ejidele, the second, third and fourth defendants respectively, Mr. Wale Akoni, (SAN), Abimbola Odeyemi and James Ogunyemi urged the court to separate the case of their clients from Wagbatsoma’s to enable their clients to be properly arraigned and also enable the court take their bail applications.

But Justice Abiru in his short ruling refused the request of the counsel on the basis that the request is premature at this stage as they are not yet properly before the court, he held that until their plea is taken the court cannot assume jurisdiction or make orders over the case.

The judge then adjourned the case till the 1st of August while the accused persons would remain in the custody of the EFCC.

When Knowing You're Loved Is Not Enough

It starts…without us even thinking much. We find ourselves acting like we are more hurt than we really are when they make a mistake, we get a bit more careless with our negative emotions and habits, and we silently dare our significant others to deal with it because they have no choice…we enter a fight knowing we are partly at fault but we put our significant others in a position where they are the ones saying “I’m sorry”. We don’t even realize when these thoughts pop in and how we make these decisions. All we know is how we feel and that we don’t feel loved.

You’ve just come to that point. That point where knowing you’re loved is not enough…that point where you want to feel loved. You need evidence. You are restless about it (and perhaps rightfully so) and you are getting the bold blood flowing… You’re ready to hold an emotional gun to your significant others’ head and demand that love. You want to tell them to get on their emotional knees and fork out the love money.

Here are some fixes that are not popular but are fundamental and important. They may not solve all your love woes but they will surely help…a lot.

1.) Stop asking “why” ask “how”: When things are not going great…when we are not “feeling the love”, we start asking ourselves “why?”. Why isn’t he /she showing me love anymore? Why has her/his behavior changed? Why are things different? The problem with that is that there could be a million reasons and it is too complex to comprehend, manage or change. You may even cook up more to the situation than there really is. You may create a monster that you have no idea how to kill.

The better question is “HOW?” How is he/she not showing me love anymore? HOW has her/his behavior changed? HOW are things different? This line of thought makes things more specific and brings the thought to HOW “specifically” things have changed. It isolates the current issue from others that may not have anything to do with what you are going through now, and allows you to deal with the issue in front of you on a smaller and manageable scale. It focuses on the PROCESS of change not the REASON for change and the process of change is often more important than the reason.

Think about it. Think about something foolish you did before, that you don’t want to do again and ask yourself: “WHY did I get there” and compare that to the question “HOW did I get there”, and you’ll see that with WHY, it can get a little vague. Even if you could pin-point the reasons, it is still difficult to orchestrate the changes you need to make so that you don’t do that thing again. Not so much with HOW. “How” lets us take our emotions out of it a little and see with a bit more objective eyes. It lets us see “process” and if we see process, we can orchestrate change better. So back to love. Ask “HOW”.

I think there are two levels to “HOW”, and I have nicknamed them “HOW-Situational” and “HOW-Meaning”. The description I just gave above about HOW, is the first part- Process- Identifying HOW the behavior has changed?

The first step in the “HOW” questions is seeing specifically HOW the behavior has changed. That’s the HOW- Process

The second step is to seek meaning. “HOW does this change mean xyz…?” That’s the HOW- Meaning. In other words, we have to ask how this change in process “means” what we think it means. In this case, we are talking about relationships. Once we ask ourselves HOW the love has changed, then we can take the answer and plug it in the “HOW –Meaning” equation. For example:

Step 1 (How-Process):
Question-HOW has he/she changed? How is he/she not showing me enough love right now?
Answer-He /She used to call me first thing in the morning to say good morning and I liked that. That doesn’t happen anymore.

Step 2 (How-Meaning)
Question-HOW does that mean he/she does not love me anymore? How does that mean that he/she loves me less?
Possible Answer-Maybe…maybe not. Does he/she spend more time on the phone with me at other times of the day? Does he/she have later nights or earlier mornings now? Do we have more intimacy in other areas of our relationship? Am I going through more emotionally draining situations in my own life that requires a bit more from him/her? DOES he/she know…did I ever verbalize how much I really enjoyed those early morning phone calls? Even if he/she did know, did they know just how much that meant to me to the point where they knew that if they stopped doing it, I would interpret it as a reduction in love?

Here is a good one: “Does that morning phone call really define love for me, or have I just associated that call with love….furthermore, can I find other things in our relationship to associate with receiving love?

Powerful…because it’s important to know that just because there is a change, doesn’t mean that there is now an absence or reduction in love….or it might. Who know…the point is that this mental process gives us OPTIONS…Options as to how to manage our emotions and keep things positive. By the time we go through this exercise in our head, we “may” see that the situation may not be as grim as we made it to be.
The good thing is that even after going through this process, we still come to the conclusion that we are in a wrong relationship, then we would have arrived at that conclusion having taken the right mental journey. We would have RESPONDED not REACTED.

This isn’t to down play that need to be showered with love “just because”. Oh no. It isn’t always a scientific or psychological exercise when we feel a little pang of physical or emotional loneliness for whatever reason. No this is simply giving you a powerful tool to protect your relationship when that little pang goes for a little longer than expected or when the panic meter spikes a bit. This thought pattern may not even solve the problem at all but it will certain put you in more control of your emotions when do go through this. Go ahead...get your loving…but know this tool to keep sanity in the relationship.

Making Accessibility Easier – CBN to Introduce Graphic ATMs for the Physically Challenged

The plight of physically challenged people in Nigeria for many years has been an unpleasant one in terms of their accessibility to basic services and amenities in the country. Access into public buildings, event venues, schools, banks, churches and so on has been a challenge for many physically challenged people because most of these buildings are not designed to accommodate easy access for people using wheelchairs, crutches, and other walking aids.
The announcement made by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday therefore comes as a huge relief. Ikechukwu Nwaoha, the bank’s Deputy Director, Consumer and Financial Protection Department, said the CBN will soon introduce graphics moderated automated teller machines (ATMs) to facilitate the participation of physically challenged persons in e-transaction.
Nwaoha also said that the illiterate populace would also be able to use the facility which, he added, would take care of all the concerns they had raised on the cashless policy at various seminars.
He disclosed that complaints about ATMs and Point of Sales (PoS) terminals constituted about 99 per cent of the grievances reported against financial institutions.
This is definitely a welcome development. I once met a physically challenged man who complained that his wheelchair could not pass through the security doors used by most banks in the country and as such, he hadn’t been able to enter a bank for some years now. He said whenever he goes to the bank, his account officer has to come and meet him in his car because his wheel chair cannot pass through the front security doors or the side staircase either.
This is calling on other government agencies and private service providers to please ensure that their services are accessible to all who want to use them, especially for the physically challenged.
What do you think about the announcement made by the CBN? How can the government ensure that accessibility to public facilities and buildings is made easier for physically challenged people in the society?
Please share your thoughts.
News Source: Daily Times

Wizkid finally gets Headies 'Next Rated' prize car he won last year

 

The music star finally got his Headies Music Award Next Rated' prize - a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. Wizkid won the next rated category at the 2011 edition of one of Nigeria’s leading urban music event - The Headies, beating Ice Prince, Tiwa Savage and Olamide.

The car was presented to him on Friday July 13th, 2012 at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos

Nigeria’s top musical forces take to stage at the London Olympic City, Stratford

As London gears up for the Olympics, Africa's most dynamic country, Nigeria is brought to life at Stratford.The East London borough of Newham will be treated to a feast of African music when top Nigerian artists take to the stage at the historical Stratford Theatre Royal from 21 to 25 July 2012 as part of the New World Nigeria Sports and Cultural Showcase. 

 

New World Nigeria is an initiative of the Bank of Industry. Created to market the diverse and vibrant Nigerian economy, it promotes investment and business opportunities for investor and business of all sizes.

The second week of the project brings celebrated Nigerian musical acts, including the man who put Juju on the map, King Sunny Ade, Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Tuface, Tiwa Savage, Naeto C, Choc Boiz: M.I,Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince & Brymo, Wiz Boyy, Waje and many more.

Bank of Industry, BOI General Manager of Strategic Planning, Waheed Olagunju said: “We are looking forward to promote inward missions of Nigerian businesses to the UK and UK businesses to Nigeria.”

The exchange at New World Nigeria will also include films, literature, theatre and poetry. Attendeescan also enjoy an exhibition of Nigerian manufactured goods which will also be on display.

For tickets, visit https://stratfordeast.ticketsolve.com

-ENDS-

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Schedule

Saturday 21 July

8:10 PM	WizBoyy	8:30 PM
8:35 PM	Waje	9:05 PM
9:15 PM	TuFace	10:00 PM

Sunday 22 July

7:35 PM	Young Mo	7:45 PM
7:50 PM	Wande Coal	8:3 PM
8:55 PM	Choc Boiz	10:00 PM

Monday 23 July

7:35 PM	Tiwa	7:55 PM
8:00 PM	Naeto C	8:30 PM
8:30 PM	M.I	9:00 PM
9:15 PM	River of Music	10:00 PM

Tuesday 25 July

7:05 PM	Bez	7:25 PM
7:40 PM	Keziah Jones	9:00 PM
9:10 PM	King Sunny Ade	10:10 PM

Wednesday 25 July

7:00 PM	Nigerian Diasporama	8:30 PM
9:00 PM	Seun Kuti and Egypt 80	10:30 PM

King Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade, more affectionately known as KSA, is a musical phenomenon respected around the world. Having been a part-time percussionist at school, KSA joined the famous comedian, Moses Adejumo’s musical band in 1963. KSA went onto establish his own group in 1967: Sunny Ade and his High Society Band. Success came quickly and most of his albums sold in excess of 500,000 copies. In 1983, KSA became the first Nigerian to be nominated for a Grammy Award. He has shared the stage with legendary artists including James Brown, Peter Tosh, The Police and Peter Gabriel.

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 Band

Seun Kuti is a Nigerian musician, and the youngest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80. About three-fourths of the current Egypt 80 line-up consists of musicians who not only played with Fela Kuti, but were often arrested and harassed alongside the founder of the Afrobeat movement.

The Nigeria Diasparoma All Star Band featuring:

Asa

Asa’s debut album fuses pop, R&B, world, funk, soul and reggae, with vocals in both English and Yoruba and featuring impeccable percussion, a funky Hammond organ and reggae-infused bass. Asa has gained global recognition with her trademark husky voice, unafraid to tackle serious issues with intelligence and confidence.

Keziah Jones

Blufunk is a fact! Committed artist and philosopher Keziah Jones blends funk, soul, blues, pop, rock and acoustic, with a particular touch of African style and sound, bossa nova and afro beat, creating a modern, multi-faceted and totally original musical style.

Dele Sosimi

Dele's career began when he joined Egypt 80 with Fela Kuti, one of the founders of Afrobeat – a blend of complex but highly danceable funk grooves, Nigerian traditional music, African percussion, jazz horns and rhythmical singing. Today, Dele Sosimi stands out as one of the leading musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene worldwide, with a strong jazz influence and shades of deep funk and latin, all underpinned by the heavy grooves of Afrobeat's Yoruba rhythm.

Tony Allen

Tony Allen is arguably Africa's greatest kit drummer. As co-creator with Fela Kuti of the hugely popular and influential Afrobeat style, Allen has inspired generations of musicians worldwide and is a legendary figure amongst fans of funk, jazz, hip hop and African music.

Choc Boiz:

MI

Described by DIV as the future of African hip-hop, MI is a prolific songwriter, musician, lyricist and producer. He has worked with artists like Don Jazzy, Kel, Djinee, Shifi (Style Plus), Jesse Jags, Ice Prince, Ruby, Lindsey and Leony, while also running Rytchus Era Productions with his brother Jesse Jagz. MI has been likened to Kanye West for his flirtatious experimentation with different genres from R&B to roots reggae to pop – all built on a hip hop foundation.

Jesse Jagz

Jesse Jagz’ hit hip hop songs include Bend down low, Sugar Cane Baby, The Greatest and Wetin Dey, while the classic My Brother was included in the International Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 compilation. Award-nominated Jesse Jagz also represented Nigeria at the 2009 Sauti Za Busara Music Festival in Zanzibar, Tanzania. This annual international festival of East African music has established itself as one of Africa’s leading festivals.

Ice Prince

Ice Prince appeared on the scene in Nigeria in 2004 with his debut single Extraordinary. But it was his single Oleku that hit number 1 in 2010, cementing his places as a star in Africa. Citing his influences as Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, Jay-ZKanye West, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and Lauryn Hill, Ice Prince has collaborated with MI, Jesse Jagz, Dekunle Fuji, Rugged man, Kennis St Brown (KSB), Sauce Kid, da suspect, YQ, El Dee, Naeto C, Mo Cheddah and Whiz Kid d-black amongst others.

Brymo

Brymo recorded his debut album Brymstone in 2007, before going onto promote the hit single Shawdy with a video that reached number 2 on the MTV African top ten countdown, and number 1 on the Nigezee top 10. In 2010, he met rapping sensation M.I., who introduced him to Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince. Shortly after, he signed up to the Chocolate City music label. He has been described as the master of hooks because of his contribution to the Ice Prince monster hit Oleku.

Tiwa Savage - The word that best describes this Grammy nominated Nigerian singer/songwriter is 'gifted' because she embodies the virtues of a true artiste. In 2010, she released her first single 'Kele Kele Love' and has since mastered the art of fusing soulful R&B with Afrobeat and Pop melodies. Her electrifying stage presence matches her powerful voice.

Tuface (Idibia) – is a Nigerian pop singer/song writer/label executive. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group boy band, Plantashun Boiz, whose phenomenal success with their 1999 debut, Body & Soul changed the sound of Nigerian contemporary music for good.

His award-winning hit track African Queen was used as the sound track of the 2006 hit comedy, Phat Girlz. He has collaborated with several international artistes ranging from the likes of: Wyclef, Beenie Man, Chakademus and Pliers, R. Kelly, to Mary J. Blige, Mellissa Briggs, Teargas, Jozi, Sway, Kelly Rowland, Gyptian and Maxi Priest.

Keziah Jones, is known as the king of Blufunk, a modern and multi-faceted musical style.  As an electric guitar virtuoso, Keziah invented his musical style whilst at school in England. His hit single, "Rhythm is Love" was a triumph and his melodic, often edgy songs are spiritually reminiscent of his eternal idols, Jimi Hendrix and Fela Kuti, the founder of Afro beat.

His second album "African Space Craft" produced in New York by Ron St Germain, was released in 1995, followed by "Liquid Sunshine" in 1999. In 2003, he chalked up another huge success with "Black Orpheus." His fifth album, and last to date, is "Nigerian Wood."

Wande Coal

Like many great musicians, Wande started singing in the teenage choir at his church, before getting his break in the entertainment industry as a dancer.
He continued improving his vocal skills and was signed to Don Jazzy’s Mo’hits records in 2006. His first single of the cv album ‘ololufe’ has been described as the greatest love song ever written by a Nigerian.

Waje

Waje is an incredible singer whose vocal range covers three octaves. Originally discovered while singing in church, she has shared the stage with numerous international artists and performed with the phenomenal Wyclef Jean on stage in South Africa.

Waje was dubbed 'the Queen of R&B' after her hit single For a Minute topped every Nigerian music countdown.

Bez

Bez creates 'alternative soul', an understated and unusual hybrid of soul, rock, jazz and R&B that sets him apart from the mainstream Afro hip-pop movement. A natural performer with a charismatic and playful stage presence, His songs of love, life and loss are modern gems that fit right beside the music of singers like John Mayer, Amy Winehouse, and John Legend.
 

Naetochukwu Chikwe “Naeto C” - was born in Houston Texas but spent his early years growing up in England and Nigeria within a musical household.

Naeto C graduated in 2004 with a B Sc. in Biology but opted for a music career. Naeto C recorded over 40 to 50 songs as a solo artist and about 25 songs with the World Famous Akademy as a group.

Wizboyy - a pop/hip-hop artist who’s making Africa proud. Music is in his soul, and his ability to play a wide range of instruments including the guitar, keyboard, and wind instruments gives him an edge as a producer. Wizboyy is currently a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian music industry, and the release of his latest album Infinity confirms it. The titled track has had overwhelming success already and has made it to number 1 in over 30 radio chart shows in Nigeria.

Changing Careers After Marriage -

When I moved to the United States in 2009, I knew I was taking a leap of faith. I had finished a Master’s in Public Health Research in 2007 and worked for about a year after that with the Health Department of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh. I quit the job at the end of 2008 not because I didn’t like them, but I had just gotten married and preferred to join Atala who lived in the United States. The recession really hit after I got to the USA and finding a job was out of the question anyway. So I had to ask myself serious questions, the foremost of which was, how do I reinvent my career? Fortunately for me, I had a small savings cushion and being married allowed me to optimize every penny. However, apart from the fears of how to be financially successful, other fears also lurked at the back of my mind. After working since my graduation almost a decade earlier, I was afraid of stepping into the unknown and uncharted territory of being without an income. A part of me worried about what people – my friends, my colleagues and people I had gone to school with – would say. At the top of that list were my parents who had invested, emotionally and financially, in my education and lifestyle. I did not want to disappoint them, and the dreams they had of me, some of which we had shared together. Still, I knew I had to remain true to myself. No matter how much I cared about other people or how much they cared about me, it was my life alone to live. Any decisions I made would affect me more than any other person. So while the fear that I had been wrong in making the inter-continental move simmered, I put some of my previous knowledge to good use. If there was one thing that had been confirmed by my master’s degree, it was how paramount research, planning and information were to any project. I set out to find all the evidence I needed to begin to map out a new future. Gathering data and measuring article after article against each other helped me put things in perspective. I had a clearer view of where I was going. I began to see that fear was a normal and common-place among those who had switched careers or stopped working at a certain point in their life. I found relevant blogs and it was reassuring to know, from reading other people’s accounts that I was not alone, as most of them wrote about the same fears that I had. They cautioned against being stuck at the stage of doing nothing, and the consensus was to keep moving, even if you might only be able to take small steps. It is often said that when you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life. I thought about this for a long time and how to apply it to my life. Even though the decision to quit my last job and move to a new country had been a serious one, this time, I dug even deeper. I had to find those things I was passionate about. There were not many options, as they would have to suit my situation were to do something that while it did not entail formal employment would allow me to gain some new skills and experience as well as build on the ones I already had. In my particular circumstance, it boiled down to the following; - Volunteering, also known as internships in some places - Taking up one of my skills/talents, writing, crafting, painting, etc - Establishing my own business in an area I was passionate about. I registered with a couple of charities in my local area and soon had positions with them. Volunteering is a great way to test out the job pool without sinking or drowning. I was working a total of 4 hours a week, at most six, and the positions were fulfilling. At the same time, I also joined a writing group, and began to work seriously on the novels I had in my flash drive. I began blogging not too long after that in order to sample public opinion of my manuscript. This culminated in publishing my first book in December 2009, winning the Best Nigerian Blog Award for 2010, and releasing my second novel in March 2011. With all my experiences in the last three years, including disappointments as well as achievements, I have learnt some things about changing your career after you get married, or at any other time in your life. The most important is the ability to ask yourself questions, to get as much information as you need and to keep moving, assessing and learning from each step you take. In my opinion, life is a journey, and sometimes it is not about the destination as about enjoying the drive and stops in between. When you believe in yourself and learn to roll with the punches, changing your career can be a positive and enriching experience that will take you to heights you never knew.

ME PHOTO NEWS HOLLYWOOD HOTTIES BEFORE AND AFTER PLASTIC SURGERY Hollywood Hotties Before And After Plastic Surgery

All these actresses have had ‘work’ done on some parts of their bodies. So you be the judge if they came out better or worse after the surgeries…

 

Breastfeeding your baby for 6 months will 'keep you slim in later life'

Mothers who breastfeed their babies reduce their risk of becoming obese when they get older, research has shown.

A study of 740,000 post-menopausal women found that the more children a woman had, the heavier she was likely to be in later life. But average Body Mass Index (BMI) was lower in women who had breastfed - irrespective of how many times they had given birth.


Every six-month period of breastfeeding reduced a woman's long-term BMI - a standard measurement relating weight to height - by one per cent, according to the findings published in the International Journal of Obesity.
This was after taking account of factors known to influence obesity risk, including smoking, exercise levels, and social deprivation.

Professor Dame Valerie Beral, director of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University and a member of the study team, said: 'Our research suggests that just six months of breastfeeding by UK women could reduce their risk of obesity in later life.
'A one per cent reduction in BMI may seem small, but spread across the population of the UK that could mean about 10,000 fewer premature deaths per decade from obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.'



Lead author Dr Kirsty Bobrow, also from Oxford University, said: 'We already know breastfeeding is best for babies, and this study adds to a growing body of evidence that the benefits extend to the mother as well - even 30 years after she's given birth.

'Pregnant women should be made aware of these benefits to help them make an informed choice about infant feeding.'
The research formed part of the Million Women Study, a major investigation into reproductive and lifestyle factors affecting women's health.
Participants had an average age of 57.5 and an average BMI of 26.2, which is classified as 'overweight'.
A BMI of 30 marks the point at which an overweight person becomes obese.

Most of the women taking part in the study had given birth to at least one child and of these, 70 per cent had breastfed for an average 7.7 months.

Previous research had shown that breastfeeding can help women lose the weight they put on during pregnancy in the months immediately after birth, however the long-term impact of breastfeeding was unclear.
The study was funded by the charity Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council.

Sara Hiom, from Cancer Research UK, said: 'We already know that breastfeeding can reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, and this study highlights that breastfeeding may also be linked to weight.
'Weight in turn influences the likelihood of developing some cancers as well as other diseases.
'Too few people know about the significant cancer risks associated with being very overweight,' she said.
Professor Dame Sally Macintyre, director of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing based at Glasgow University, said: 'The obesity epidemic is one of the biggest challenges facing both high-income and, increasingly, low and middle-income countries.

'Studies such as this one, which look at broad trends within a large population, can help us to develop effective strategies to prevent obesity and its related diseases.

When Religion Breaks Up a Marriage

For most of us, religion forms a pretty big part of our lives, right from when we are born up to when we become adults and begin thinking of who to partner with for the rest of life's journey. It becomes an even bigger deal then because not only do people have to share the same morals and values, most of which stem from their early religious/non-religious upbringing, you also have to consider where what role religion will play in your wedding, the marriage proper and in raising your children.

When a couple have different religions, there is potential for conflict, especially when one of their faiths is not conventional, such as Tom Cruise’s Scientology. After jumping with exuberant and love-pumped joy on Oprah's couch and the whirlwind romance that followed, Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes in an Italian Castle with all pizzaz and paparazzi. To those of us reading about it in the papers, it was a fairy tale and the princess would spend happily ever after with her prince charming.

Not so. Katie Holmes walked out of their Hollywood mansion last week, 5 years into the marriage. According to sources, the split could have been caused by differing opinions on religion. According to the Daily Beast,

Holmes’s papers cite “irreconcilable differences,” and TMZ’s sources say the two couldn’t see eye to eye on Suri’s involvement in the church. Holmes was raised Catholic and converted to Scientology before marrying Cruise in 2006, but she’s reportedly worried about their daughter’s involvement in the religion. Suri, who’s 6, is now old enough to participate in what a Village Voice report describes as a Scientology practice called “sec checking,” which is a security interrogation by an ethics officer of the church. The report also implies that Holmes didn’t like what she saw of the religion over the past six years and has chosen the opportune moment to pull out. - Source

If it is true that it is religious differences that caused the marriage break-up, I really don't find it surprising that it was Katie Holmes who began to chafe. The truth is that when marital gender roles are in play, as they often are, it is the women who are more impacted in most tussles including the place of religion in the home. Most times, it is the woman that has to convert to the husband's religion, and then make sure to bring up the children in that religion, no matter how she feels about it.

Some homes and some couples are able to come to a compromise, and I have seen when the couple in the marriage decide to allow each person to continue to practice their own religion as a way of maintaining peace  in the home. This may even extend to how they raise the children. This Muslim/Christian couple I know split the children by gender, girls go with their mum to the mosque, and boys go to church with their dad :)

In another family, where both were Christians but from different denominations split the children based on order of being born. First child goes with the father, and the next with the mother, and so on. This may sound strange or funny, but it worked for them.

There is of course the thinking to totally avoid religious difference by only marrying from one's denomination and even from the same church. This may work, but again, individual opinion on certain theological topics may differ and if one doesn't know how to talk things through in a level-headed manner, small issues may blow up into daily warfare.

Another area of pressure may come from outside, from parents, friends, family and even from the people in the person's religion. While a Christian man may be happy to bear with his Muslim wife who is fasting for Ramadan, the people from his church who make snide comments may rub him off the wrong way and create cracks. This goes the other way too. A Christian wife's friends may deride the white garments or method of prayer of her husband's celestial or Aladura church.

This is where even I am guilty. As much as I try to respect most religions, I still find that some aspects of other religions I am not too familiar with, either get me laughing, or thumbing my nose. I catch myself sometimes and zip my mouth before I say something stupid. If I have already spoken, then I have to apologize. I think even as bystanders we can help couples retain their equilibruim in the face of religious differences by each being more tolerant and understanding.

But what is even more important is for the couple to respect each other, respect their differences, and actually respect the other person's religion. They also need to sit down and discuss how their religious differences will affect them, right from when they are still dating and courting, and as and when ever it becomes an issue again. They should never take it for granted.