Saturday, January 31, 2009

Converse 100th Anniversary Fall Collection

Hey people, how y'all doing? Ok, you guys know how much i enjoy reading all the text messages, emails and talking to you on the fone, but sometimes, you know some things just needs to be taken care off right...i mean, you know some bills that needs to be paid can only be done so, easy on me when i dont blog for a day or two, there are a couple of shows that am putting together for some clients and some other projects....you know now.

Ok, am not a snicker's person like that like that but i just love them converse, funny enough i have two that that has kept my feet sweet and sexy', yeah, i meant sexy!...lol...

Anyway, personally i think Converse has always had a connection with music and pop culture. On it’s 100th Anniversary, Converse unveiled a new Premium Inspired Footwear Collections for Fall 2008 to celebrate the undeniable connection with music and pop culture. The Converse key collections include the iconic influence from Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, The Doors, The Who, Ozzy and Pink Floyd. The canvas shoes that has made everyone stylish, from day and night launched these modern and uniquely inspired designs in both hi-top and low-top styles.



Grateful Dead : Alton Kelley’s and Stanley Mouse’s artwork from the graphic poster art in the 60’s and 70’s. Skulls and Roses is featured on the hi-top shoes, while the famous dancing bears are prominently shown on the low-top shoes . Available in black/blue/grenadine, black/bears, white/blue/grenadine leather, white/bears, white/grenadine/gold and white/multiple.



converese-grateful-dead-hi-top



converese-grateful-dead-low-top

Black Sabbath : A definite homage to Black Sabbath’s metal anthem, Iron Man, this collection has hard-core metal influence. Monochrome black leather uppers with metallic lining and Sabbath-signature purple accented linings. An iconic Black Sabbath artwork is featured on the Chuck Taylor All Star Shoe. While the Jack Purcell was treated with an industrial look and extreme attitude design. The Chuck Taylor All Star shoes come in high top black/white, black/white/gold and parchment/black canvas. Black Sabbath “we sold our sole for rock and roll” are available on Journeys.com and Journeys storesconverese-black-sabbath-hi-top1


converese-black-sabbath-hi-top2



converese-black-sabbath-hi-top3



The Doors: The hi-top shoe was inspired by the song “The Unknown Soldier” evident in it’s military-style, combat-fatigue detailing and black soles. The white low-top version features The Doors logo which blends the canvas and rubber side wall into one. The Chuck Taylor All Star high-top shoe is available in vineyard green/black canvas or black/black leather. An oxford version is available in white/black canvas. Retailing to about $50-$100.





converese-the-doors-hi-top



converese-the-doors-low-top

The Who collection has rolled out in January 2009, Ozzy collection follows in February and Pink Floyd collection drops on March.

I’ll feature them as soon as the full roll out kicks out. Meanwhile, what do you guys think about the collections? i think are just cute, fab!

Am already thinking of getting my own stock...hmn...na moni sha o!

THE 'JENIFA' IN YOU!


Hey people, how y'all doing? Am certain the weekend has started on a groovy note for most of you, well personally, i have been spending the larger part of the weekend sleeping...ok, before you start making your mind wonder, i anchored a show lastnight...its was explosive young peopls Jamz Nihght in surulere...and as body no be fire wood, i just had to rest, abi now...lol...

i know so much of you would have been wondering what the theme of today's post is all about...Yes, there is a 'Jenifa' in you and I am still very much sane OK?

Have you seen Jenifa? I know most of you have. Well if you haven't, I'll give a short summary. OK, there's dis chic (Funke Akindele) who is from the village but is about to attend the university in Lagos. So she gets there and changes her name from Suliat to Jenifa and tries to be a 'bigs gal'. Anyways, she tries so hard to fit in by sleeping around and she ends up with AIDS and becomes an HIV advocate.

OK, I know i gave a poor narrative but really the movie is amazing. Seriously, I am not a fan of Nigerian movies, talk less of a Yoruba movie but it starred Bisi from I Need To Know and she looked so cute, so I just had to watch and I LOVED IT!

But that's not the issue. My point is the movie revealed something to me. Something all thou judgemental critics will never see. That there is a Jenifa in every one of us.Let me make my point clearer now for the benefit of your understanding.

1. Jenifa did not have a problem. All she wanted was to be a big girl... ( or bigst girl..the way Jenifer herself will rightly put it...lol...) to fit in.
Look at that closely and I am sure it reminds you of someone. YOU! YES...YOU!!!

Now, most of us humans want to fit in... We want to fit in... roll with the cool crowd...be in good terms with out family members... we want to fit in with our friends...we want to SO BADLY BE A PART OF SOMETHING.

Now, you can be annoyed at this point and refuse to accept that Jenifa in you. Well, if there is anything I have learnt in this my short time in life...it is to be real.We want to fit it. It is who we are. That is how we were created. We can't deny it. WE WANT TO FIT IN. And trust me, it is good to want to fit it...sometimes....

BUT the greatest point of an individuals life is a point where they accept who they are. If you are 60 years old and you have not accepted yourself, you have not started living. If you don't love yourself, if you don't fit in with yourself...It is not so good. God says...Love your neighbour as YOURSELF. This means you cannot love someone else if you don't love GOD and yourself first.

All I am saying is accept who you are, you saw what happened to Suliat kan... She got AIDS... if we continue to act or behave like something or someone we are not, we may get a disease, a disease that may not only hurt your body but your soul. I used to want to fit in with the coolest writers and bloggers. Someone said my blog wasn't for intellectual people. I felt bad. I wanted the famous authors and writers to read my blog. I wanted my blog to be for intellectuals and trust me I tried to be like that. I tried writing in 'intellectual' mode and I hated my posts

But when I accepted that, I am an intellectual and I dictate the rules on my blogspace and if your intellectualism is different from mine then GOOD RIDDANCE... this blogger doesn't play by the rules cuz in blogville...there are no rules...Now i blog with so much confidence that I feel i write better than those who have Nobel laurels. (OK... I take that back)

So get rid of the Jenifa in you... Accept yourself. Be yourself. Don't try to fit in. You just be you cause God loves you...Talkaholic!

Friday, January 30, 2009

RUGGEDMAN and MODENINE BEEF

Hey folks, Hmnn, really, it took me more than just a little while to finally decide to do this posting. I have been debating with Linda Ikeji about all the loss of sense in this petty beef that seemd to have cropped up in the nigerian rap Industry between Ruggedman and Mode9. well though i have my own reservations about it, I got a call few seconds ago from a friend about an interview by Ruggedman on the genesis of the whole beef...much as i think its petty, some of you i know who are fans of both Riggedman and Mode9 are eager...(hey, dont get me wrong, these two great personalities are Nigerian's i love, despite that i am a friend to the two, i just feel there are better ways for the situation to be handled...

It took publishing the lyrics of mode nines song to get king of rapper micheal stevens a.k.a ruggedman to respond. after what seemd like an age, Ruggedman finally brok the ice to state his side of the beef story on why he is being so badly dissed by his colleague.

below you find the reply of an angry man.ruggedman does not mince words in this chat and lets us know how he feels about the rap-fight.if you think hell hath no fury like a scorned women..read his interview
RUGGEDMAN - 9JA'S OWN


.1....-have you listened to mode nines lyrics cursing you out?

---I havent been bothered to listen to the track but thanks to Encomium I have read the lyrics.I will not waste an instrumental on replying his childish baseless words.I am too big and too busy to do thatwho is mode9?in his whole life in the industry,he hasnt been able to do anything for himself let aloneanybody around him.

2....what do you think the problem is with him?

...i dont know but i feel his pain.he has been in the industry for so long and is about the oldest rapper in Nigeria and yet still has next to nothing to show for it so I think I understand his grouse.

3...so this beef between you both is real and not hyped?

....no,not on my part.if he wanted to hit fame so badly,all he had to do was meet people like me,D'Banj,2face,Naeto C ,infact all the successful artistes and ask to be shown the way instead of trying to beef.Beefing is old school,especially when you are beefing a rapper who is more successful than you in all ways,I am hoping its a strategy hes using and not jelousy really.he cant compare himself to me,I have more awards,rocked and still rocking more shows than he will ever do to date and I have been on a few shows he has been lucky to be a part of and seen how the crowd responds to him and that is when they do at all. i am on to bigger and better things because I have been able to achieve a lot for myself and people I have come in contact with.I have done more for the industry than any rapper out here now.Instead of him trying to do something positive that he will be remembered for he is trying to go the beef route, now that boys are making mad money from wahala moves I made years ago that revolutionized the industry and made it better.

4...but mode nine is a man,you can easily walk up to him and straighten things out...

......why should i?Its sad that as old as he is,he is still fighting over who is a better rapper and who is not whilst other artists are making good music that rock shows and clubs/partys and make more money that he can only dream about.Come to think of it,in all his years in the industry he has never had any song that you hear in a club or party and those are really the kind of tracks that get you shows that get you paid.He can go on his childish yarning spree talking about me having a skinny neck like guinea fowl,coconut head,he said that Maintain got more money than me,that I am a dancer now like Kaffy and Suzzy but what he fails to realise is that he is out watching me and my moves but he is no where near me or any of these people he has mentioned.He fails to see the log in his own eyes and the hole in his pocket .See wetin desperation dey cause.His one and only brown timberland boots and tye and dye shirt are more popular than he is amongstartistes.

5..maybe you unknowingly stepped on his toes...

.....i did nothing of that such.The brother cannot understand why a rapper he thinks he is better than is moresuccessful than he is.He hasnt been able to achieve anything for himself or any of his crew to show for themany years he has been an artist and He hasnt had any hit track thats gotten into clubs and partys to get him high paying shows but Ruggedmans been getting them thanks to 'Baraje' and my other hit tracks.

6...since this is not a publicity stunt,maybe you can address some fot he things he said concerning you.why did your dancers leave?you tried sleeping with them?.

...He said my dancers left me cos they wouldnt sleep with me,you can call them all and ask them about me and how we were like one family when we worked together.About my dancers I can say I brought the best cropof dancers Naija entertainment has.From sensational Korede,Patience,Toyin,Michael who made up the dance group DANCE NA THE MAIN THING,A name I christened them from a line from my Baraje track.Flexx is with P.Square doing great,Shock graduated and is working now.Suzzie has her own dance school,so does amazing Kaffy who went on to get into the Guinness book of records.please he should respect them because they have achieved more than he has in this industry.

7...but mode9 is a talented rapper doing his thing.....

...I am sorry I have to say this but he went as far back as picking lines from my 1st album,meaning envy has been eating him up all this while.At least he got lines from my 1st album while I and a lot of people on the streets cant remember any from any of his albums/mixed tapes because they were all the same boring baseless battle raps that nobody really listens to.The only track that a few people are talking about on his album now is the one he kind of directed at me.Remove that one and their is nothing else.I still dont understand why wonder rapper is still too lilly livered to mention my name in any of the 8 or 9 tracks he has been directing at me all this while.he is talented?Most of his friends who used to do rap all American style have seen the light and switched their game to using our local lingua like I preached in my award winning track Ruggedy Baba and its working for them.Six Foot Plus,Obiwon and even Ilbliss got a great track in 'You Go Wound o' when he mixed it up with pidjin.it is only a stubborn fly that will be buried with the corpse.

8....why are you the only rapper mode nine is beefing?....

oh he does it to everyone,just that my own is out of more jealousy.he laughs at other rappers behind their backs,talking about how weak or wack they are.Even after they help him out.Please he should tell people thename of the Nigerian rap artist that was nice enough to ask him(mode9)to follow him to his shows in Italy and he was paying mode9 a hundred euros and allowing him a little time to perform when he is on stage.mode9 should Talk quick or I will. The only track that got mode 9 his Channel O and hip hop world awards was the one the chorus was done in Igbo.Was that not a good enough sign?Since then,what else has he done close to that?Nada my people.

9...but he says he has some incriminating evidence on you,what could he mean?

.....thats a big joke,he has tried to add suspense by saying he has some incriminating information on me,see as I turn rapper to FBI agent o!.he should please tell encomium magazine,I dare Mode9 to be a man for once anddisclose the incriminating information or he is a bastard and will die broke for ever mentioning anything like that.I am tired of all this rubbish.Is it my fault I am bigger than him?I am street and music smart and work hard.Thats the only part that touched me.How stupid does he want to get with looking for publicity?The next thing he will say I am into blood money.

10....but isnt your head like a coconut like he mentioned?

...Lets say my head is like a coconut,my neck is long like a Guinea Fowl and I am skinny and mode9is the best rapper in Nigeria and the rest of the world,infact give him best fuji artist too,what does he have to show for it?Now lets check the Ruggedman he is talking about.I have done more for myself and the industry than he canonly dream to do.Last year alone I won the awords for best rap album,best rap artist and best indiginousvideo concept.What did he get?I have more awards than he can ever dream of,have rocked more shows than him,have made more money than him.Have more popular songs and albums than him.Have touched and helped more artistes.I am and will for ever be more relivant to Nigerian music industry than he will ever be,if he continues making the kind of music he does and continues with this type of attitude,he will not get anywgere.Acts bigger and richer than him are humble to a fault. He says I claim to have dough and I am skinny.Its funny really Coming from someone that has no car or home of his own,he has been squatting with different people till date since he camme to Lagos and I will say their names later if need be.its mad funny I tell you.Meanwhile have run through a BMW 3 Series,A nissan Murano,A Mercedes Benz C Class,A Volkswagen Toureg and I dedicate my new Chrysler Crossfire to mode9,its to inpsire him not to give up,he still fit make am.

11...any last words of advice or as peace offering to mode9?

.....The last thing I will say to mode 9 is that Nigerians and i are waiting to hear the incriminatinginformation he has on me.Please he should not keep us waiting too long. a word is enough for the wise.Hardcore rap,best rapper in the world,lyricist on the roll without financial success will not pay bills and secure his future.I have nothing against him,he should do his music and let me do mine. I will not reply him with a song,so he should not waste his time waitingI know he wants me to reply because that will help him sell cds but I will not,sorry.Network will always be busy here.I have better things to do with my time and I intend to do them.I have been and will always be a pace setter and a go getter and a helper in anyway I can to people whom I can help.Beef only comes when one artist is jelous of the others success.He doesnt need it.He should chanell his energy into repackaging,after all Kanye West is singing now.he should at least look on the bright side of things,if he decides to sing for me again,i will be nodding myhead to his track in my new Chrysler Crossfire.he should leave me the hell alone,i got work to do.


Yours trully: ok, am hoping that in the new few hours or so, (hopefully not in days, you will be able to read the interview from Modenine also...his own version of the whole beef bruhaha...)but seriously, what do you guys think about this whole beef? Worth it? Logical?

interview by: STELLA DIMOKO-KORKUS

Thursday, January 29, 2009

OBAMA...YARADUA AND THE REST OF US!

...i have touched so many issues since I started blogging but one area I have carefully and cautiously ensured i do not touch, not because I don’t know what to say, or even how to say it, after all, my first major tertiary certificate was from journalism/mass communication but more because I know its a very dicey area and a lot of us, based in various inclinations have got our own standpoint and views when it comes to politics and the parties (more like the personalities/individuals we support or throw our weight behind)...personally, I have been an Atiku fan and I care to shout it loud anywhere I am...hey, its my blog an sometimes, am at liberty to voice out something’s for free right(ok...lol...hope that cane out well, without offending anyone)


Our president has taken time out to attend to his health, ok, nothing in itself is wrong about that, but in our usual way, we’d rather keep it secret and brand all those who dare discuss it ‘enemies of the state’,.

Everything should be kept hush-hush...just as we hush-hush about our uncommon luck that has seen the president’s daughter cornering all the governors as husband. Again like i said, some matters are considered for the primary 5 class (like my pastor will rightly put it) and should never be discussed in public.(how amazing, suddenly, some of us have become ‘public’). Since there is just but a thin line or demarcation between public and private life, the president has the right –divine right-to brand any issue that catches his fancy as private. And we should be under the obligation not to discuss it as public citizens. It does not matter if the future of our country is directly affected by that decision.

Yes, that’s the power of the presidency.-or is it what incumbency-means. Anybody who does not like it can as well get his own Maurice lwu, win his own ‘selection’ and become president.

So, the president’s health, annual leave, vacation, marriage-age daughters and who they marry should not be any of our business, we should all be concerned about the failing price of crude oil, and the price of petroleum products-which the minister of petroleum has told us is not the responsibility of the government.

Of course we have long known that government has abdicated that responsibility to raving mad oil marketers, contractors and what have you, (don’t forget smugglers-most of who happen to be the same politically elected ‘private citizens’).

Rather than the health of our president and the future of our country, we should concern ourselves with Atiku and Obasanjo and how they reconcile the PTDF account-which they never told us of, until they disagreed on the sharing formula...

But while we let our president be, let me quickly add that just last week, the Indian Prime Minister was to undergo a heart surgery and it was all over on CNN. The entirety of the Indian 900 million populations knew about this. It was no big deal...

It was not shrouded in one big national mystery. As a mortal man like the rest of us, it’s only natural that the president fall sick and go for check-ups...after all, we will all die one day, either by ailment or accident...at least, that’s how God created the world.

The great Senator Ted Kennedy came to the Inauguration of President Obama from the operations theatre, where he’s been battling with brain tumour. Everybody knows he’s ill and there is no big deal about that. It has not diminished his profile before the America people, or the global audience. That he even collapsed during one of the inauguration ball events was not mystified as a taboo that must never come to the lips of the living.

The outgoing vice president, Dick chemney came to the swearing in ceremony in wheelchair. He had strained his back while packing out of his official residence and was advised by doctors to use a wheelchair to reduce the pressure of his legs to rest his back. The Americans were never under an illusion that the vice president was supposed to be a super human...

But once it comes to Nigeria, everything is suddenly viewed from the esoteric standpoint of culture. You’d think that this culture they talk about-that’s so secretive- is not the same culture you come from. Why is that it’s only when it comes to telling the truth about our culture that we remember out culture? Does our culture not frown against looting public treasury? Against under-age sex? Smoking (am i a culprit here?...lol) having children out of marriage? Which of these has our political leaders religious adhered to?

Ok, they say we should be secretive about the president’s ailment. Is it not our forefathers who warned us that whoever conceals an ailment risk being concealed by the ailment?
We know our president is not enjoying the bet of health, and it’s not secret also that many vultures hovering over the political landscape, patiently waiting to profit from the said ill health. Hoping that he would drop dead any minute...

I wonder how on earth...rather than we learning from Obama, it is the Americans that should from us. How can they be talking about sacrifice and stopping of presidency staff salaries when we know in our peculiar clime that democracy is very expensive?

How can he be talking of openness when there is something called official secret act?
While Ya’radua administers the oath of secrecy on his appointees, naive Obama was administering an oath of openness and transparency.


While our presidency threatens to deal with anyone who leaks out an official secret, Obama takes time on as he saddles on his new journeyto brief his people conditions upon which information should be withheld.
How can any president be in a hurry such as Obama is? He should come to Abuja and learn the act of ‘slow and steady wins the race’.

...How can he get down to business so quickly without taking at least, six months to settle down? And another six month to draw a one point agenda?

OBAMA AND THE REST OF US-‘Nigerians’...we really do not have any lesson to learn from him or anyone else, not even neighbouring Ghana ( for a successful election which Nigeria has struggled with since independence). We are simply in a world of our own.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

THE NATION IN MOURNING...

Its the first month of the year and and its certainly not the best of time for our nation; the breeze of mouning seem to have found its way into our dear country...in less than two days, the nation has witnessed the death of two great personalities from two major sectors of nation...

GOV. MAMMAN ALI (YOBE STATE-NIGERIA)
http://www.vanguardngr.com/images/stories/Yobegov.jpg

Governor of Yobe State, Mamman Bello Ali died yesterday at the age of 50 in Miami, Florida, United States of America after a prolonged battle with cancer. The deathof the governor which came as a shock to many Nigeria's has generated so much emotions from different corners of the country.
Various top government functionaries including the Gov. of lagos State, babatunde Fashola have already signed in their condolence messages.

what can we say, from your trully,www.santiagopad.blogspot.com we ask that God to receives him and MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE!

IYABO MOMOH OF SUPER STORY SERIES IS ALSO PASSES ON!


The death has also been announced of talented Yoruba actress and former Mama Ajasco in the Papa Ajasco and Company series, Iyabo Momoh, is dead.
She died yesterday afternoon, in Lagos, following a protracted illness which had affected her career for sometime now.

The late Momoh, apart from being a popular Yoruba actress, endeared herself to lovers of comedy, when she played Mama Ajasco in the Papa Ajasco and Company television series, created by Ikebe Super exponent, Wale Adenuga, a few years ago. She was later sacked alongside the former Boy Alinco, Adebayo Bankole, and the current Papa Ajasco, Abiodun Ayoyinka, for alleged breach of contract.

This is indeed a big lose to the Nigerian entertainment industry, we wish the family God's strenght to bear this great lose.

But one thing that we should never while in the midst of mourning the dead i to take a quick look at our lives, asking ourselves if per adventure, its our turn next, have we made that much impact in our generation? would we be able to stand before our creator to justify our stay here on earth? what did would we have left here for the next generation to remember us by?

This are few tots that we need to think deeply about...

TO SOME ENT. NEWS...

Ok, i will save the details of how i met this fine young man for another day but, people, if you wont attend because you are reading this, at least, make sure you are present for this function because you would be supporting a true Nigerian dream, one thats borne out of passion, dedication and hardwork...and hey, he trully deserves it...For me, he does what R'Kelly and Brian Mcknight does to me each time i listen to him...

CHDDY 'K VIDEO VIEWING AND ALBUM LISTENING PARTY
Host:BETA TUNEZ RECORDZ & PAPAS ENTERTAINMENT
start Time: Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 10:00pm
Location:Club Papas (K's Place)
Akin Adesola Street

Contact Info
Phone: 2348023888472

COMEDIAN TUNDE EDNUT'S BIRTHDAY BASH AND ONE NITE STAND COMEDY SHOW LAUNCH
Host:TUNDE EDNUT (ONE NIGHT STAND COMEDY SHOW!!!)
Type:
Start Time:Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 10:00pm
Location:VOGUE NITE CLUB (DV8) Besides McDonalds
516 Old Kent Road. Besides McDonalds
London, United Kingdom

Contact Info
Phone:07958217814
Email:tundeednut@yahoo.com

OPTICAL LAUGHTER

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE

Hey guys, whats up with y'all? am wondering, there is this funny incident that happened in the office and it really makes me wonder...sometimes why God just allows some people to come our way and even still be alive till now...anyway...i will let you guys on the full details of the incident later...but in the meanwhile, i saw this somewhere on the net and it got me really thinking...
I know it will give you reasons to look back on your life and really make you do some adjustmemts if you would be really sincere to yoursel.
So, take out some few minutes and let it 'bless' you.

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did the previous year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present
moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31. The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.38. Share this with someone you care about

Ok, am sure that if nothing at all, you saw one or two things that you smiled about, something that you know sincerely that you need to work on...its a new year, its not late to still make all those changes and remember, no successful man does the same things that keeps him stagnant and desires to be successful.\

Cheers and see you guys later!

(thanks to Nithya Shanti)

Monday, January 26, 2009

MAKOKO...THE CITY THAT SLEPT AWAY WITH TIME

In the morning give thanks…’for food… give thanks…
For shelter give thanks…
For good health …give thanks

Sometimes in life, we are so consumes by our won insatiable quest for things that makes us comfortable and able to live life to the fullest, so much s o that we forget to appreciate the simple things that has freely been given to us.

For the fifth edition of Nigeria’s biggest fashion, Modeling & beauty international mag, F.M. & B. after much consideration, the editorial team decided to do an exclusive on a community that once was the cynosure of all eyes but gradually slipped away with technological
development...
The City Time forgot.
(standing on a heap of reffuse which has become home to many...In Makoko!)
In our mag FM&B, we have a page we call street life. Like the name indicates, it's about life on the streets of Lagos and the way of life of Lagosians. In the last edition, we did the area boys and street kids, this time we decided to go to a place that used to a city of life....

The city called MAKOKO…

a small community in the Yaba Local Government area of Lagos State. Majority of the people who live there are the Ilajes and the Eguns, from the Western part of Nigeria. Their main occupation is fishing.


This is how they live...their homes are made of wood and built on water. When it rains, well you and I can only imagine their plight...

The community has only one government school (primary).It does not have any general hospital; the closest is at Ebute Metta, that’s about 20 min. drives from the community.The community depends on bore hole water, and the other good source of water for drinking is one they have to buy daily, depends on the size of family and water usage.


This is how they move from one part of the community to the other...via a little boat. Walking long distances is usually not advisable, except you're a good swimmer because the planks they use to construct their bridges aren't very strong and could give way at any minute.


If you want to go from one section of the community to another and don't want to go via the boat, maybe because you're not going very far, then you can cross this 'bridge'. It's a single plank that can break at any minute.


This is their kitchen.


Behind is their bathroom. The bathroom is also built on water and not very private. If you cared to, you could see a naked person having a bath.

While we were doing this story, so many things kept coming to my mind…


This is their playground, on a pile of rubbish


This is their only source of drinking water.


Here's the little girl again with another little one. See how close they are to the gutter? And there's no one around checking on them. One of the residents we spoke with said they've had cases of children falling into the gutters. Some of them survive it, some don't.

Talking to some of the residents of Makoko

(Linda Ikeji & a resident)

Despite their living conditions, the residents of this community are friendly, helpful and very accommodating.


The Team: Oteri Agboro, linda ikeji, Gbemi Mowarin and My Self.

I dare say that if only some of us would take time out to experience this city, the life and the way of life, we would without any option
Understand poverty and appreciate it more…
Appreciate the life that has comfortably been given to us freely…
Understand kindness and the worth of a simple smile.


despite the poverty, deprivation and suffering we witnessed, we still I still found reason to smile...

As you go went through those pictures, I sincerely pray that you were able to see reason(s) to daily be thankful and above all, how to add a meaning to that next life by your side and also bring a smile to that face that you have over looked cos you felt it wasn’t your business…

Remember, life is like a flowing river, you never know when the river you helped to flow will become that same river you will need to quench a future thirst,