When someone has talent and is willing to put in work, there is almost nothing unachievable for such a person.  This is true for the creatives in Nigeria that have dared to spread their wings, and it is extremely true for talented singer Seyi Shay. While on the path to what most would consider a highly successful career in the United States of America, Seyi decided to leave it all behind and come back home. Since her return, she has slowly but surely made her way up the Nigerian music ladder.

Most recent in her long list of achievements is Seyi’s African tour. We sit down with her during one of her breaks from her tour to talk about her career. Talking with this delightful songstress, I come to understand the energy we see in her videos comes from a natural place. Conversation is easy with this bubbly, bright, woman.

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. How’s your African tour going?

Thank you for having me. About the tour, we’ve been at it for three months already. We have been to Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.  Up next, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and some others.

I can tell how excited you are about the tour. What are your highlights so far?

My highlight from the tour thus far is definitely South Africa. Performing at the Club Coco in Cape Town, the show was sold out and it was amazing. And then Pretoria and Jo’Burg – truly just amazing. I think South Africa is my favourite because of the beauty of the country.

At this point, I bring up Seyi’s most recent blunders on television and how social media has been popping with them. I’ve always been of the opinion that she does these things intentionally, and Seyi giggles when I ask. I ask if there’s a particular reason why she’s making these blunders or if it’s just for the LOLs.

You know, I’ve never really taken myself too seriously because I believe life is too short. Also, I generally feel like there’s a lot more going on in my life than just the business of music. I’ve done music for fifteen years in different parts of the world and what I’ve learned is to not take it too seriously. Sometimes, let people make fun of you – love hard, laugh harder. I made a particular mistake in December with the T-W-O thing, and it’s still funny. I figured, why not keep doing it, just for the LOLs, you know?

You’ve released a couple of singles, recently put out an album, and now you’re touring Africa. Are you satisfied with where you are as an artiste?

Yes, absolutely. I’m not going to stop now though, because I still have so much to achieve and do. For instance, I have my CSR and I have so much to do for the growing children looking up to me. I need to make enough money to be able to support that. I also need to make a statement and be planted firmly enough for people to take me seriously when I tell them to support me for one cause or the other. This is one of the major reasons why I do what I do; I don’t do it for self-gain or vanity.

Speaking about CSR, you were recently vocal about domestic violence. Does this have anything to do with your latest video with Olamide ‘Pack and Go’?

Olamide actually wrote the song ‘Pack and Go’, but the funny thing is I didn’t record that song with any campaign against domestic violence in mind. My CSR has more to do with less privileged children. When the song came out, people became even more alert to how rife domestic violence against women is in Nigeria. Even worse, nobody is doing anything about it because Nigeria is still largely a patriarchal society. That was when I dedicated this song to the cause. Thankfully, Pack and Go speaks to abused women and I’m really proud and happy Olamide wrote that song and made me come to the studio to record it.

Do you think you are doing enough in the industry now to help you build what you are trying to achieve?

Honestly, I think I could be doing more but, again, it depends on what you consider to be ‘enough’ and also what your definition of ‘more’ is.

Your singles are spread pretty far apart, and it took a while for your album ‘Seyi or Shay’ to come out. Do you think you could or should be doing more music more frequently?

I’m going to focus more on the songs I already have and the album that’s already been put together. It takes time to distribute music and it takes a lot of money. However, I like the pace it’s moving at right now. I feel like God is really do His thing in my life.

Considering how much you had going for you in the United States of America, do you still feel like moving back to Nigeria to do music here was a good move?

I still feel like it’s the best decision I ever made in my life. Africa right now is the focal point of music, believe it or not. We have a lot of people looking to Nigerians, South Africans, West Africans and East Africans to bring something to the world, musically. I mean, look at Wizkid; he’s presently one of the biggest artistes in the world and he’s Nigerian. There’s no prouder time to be a Nigerian making music than now. When I was working with Matthew Knowles and the girls, it was really just a development and training ground for me. If I had stayed in the UK, the opportunities I have now probably would have never happened because there are 10,000 artistes just like me.

What changes would you like to be a part of and see in the Nigerian music industry?

Well, I’m already part of the change. Five years ago, nobody was going to look at Nigerian artistes and take us seriously. I have an international record deal with Island Records, and I’m one of the few Nigerian artistes to be so blessed. This means I now have a great opportunity to distribute my music globally. We’re still working on the music for that deal, but it’s a work in progress.

Sometimes, we get carried away with our hustle and it makes sense to give it our all. Sadly, a good number of us lose ourselves in the process of building our brands and businesses. Seyi Shay has mastered the art of living her life in a way that keeps her happy, and still pushing her music so it gets to the places she wants it to go. We’re super excited for future projects the singer is working on, including an EP she revealed to us she will be releasing at the end of this year.

Creative Team:

Photographer: H3Kenny by Kene Nwatu

Stylist: Henry Uduku

Makeup: Jumoke Tychus for Eyesome Beauty

The post Seyi Shay: Bold, Growing and Happy appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

I can count the number of times I have paid to watch a stage play. Unfortunately, much like the new generation, I am mostly involved with the first screen which is mobile and removing the options of rewinding, pausing and increasing the pace of whatever I am watching is like robbing me of my sanity. So why should I embrace theatre;  the first form of drama that created the ultimate source of entertainment?

It is genuine; a pure and unadulterated art. The theatre in Nigeria for so long has been ignored and we won’t blame the cinema but the patriots who forgot the cultural value of the theatre. I was fortunate to watch the stage play ‘Little Drops’ by Professor Yerima and I found a new respect for cast and crew alike. I would be a liar to say I have felt such strong emotions and respect for actors in Nigeria.

Today we shed light on some acts that have graced the stage and have witnessed the diversity first hand. We hope we might understand why we should not just embrace one part of drama but all parts, in all of its forms. The cinema is a great place to be but the theatre is where it all started. Let your mind wander back to the magic created by Williams Shakespeare and the radical mind of Wole Soyinka as they took to stage to make their words actions and their actions reality.

Kemi Lala Akindoju

Lala is an actor and a producer. She has won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMVCA) for Best Young Actor and is creating a portfolio that speaks for itself.

Thoughts about theatre in Nigeria…

Theatre is spreading in Nigeria, I don’t want to say “theatre is back” because I don’t think it ever left – many people just never experienced it. A lot of people can attest to the fact that there were moving theatre companies and National theatre going on. Sadly, as with a lot of things in the country, the poor maintenance culture got in the way. Also the economics of it was an issue. Ttheatre is not as glamorous as film, and does not travel as fast as certain things on camera. There was a need to rebrand and now Theatre reaches people that otherwise won’t have known about it. Theatre is definitely growing. Even in other countries, it thrives on the government and philanthropy.

The difference between film and stage actors

I believe an actor should be an actor. An actor should be able to perform on all platforms, and there are different techniques for the different platforms. I don’t believe in titles because they box actors. If you can’t act for stage go and learn. Likewise, if you can’t ask for film go and learn. There is no stage and film actor. It is not a skill problem affecting why people do not work in theatre, but more of the positioning of their brand and career. For me, this was my launch pad to the camera

What do you think the public should know about theatre?

Theatre is an alternative form of entertainment. When you go to the theatre it is a total experience; you connect with people that are there, as well as the music, dance, lights, and the entire spectacle. You suspend your belief for a while. It is a breath of fresh air. With theatre there is education – you would find a lot of books you’ve read before brought to life on stage. Art is life, it pushes your mind, and it is a place to let out steam. Theatre is all of those things and more and I absolutely think that people should experience the theatre not once in their lifetime but all the time.

Ozzy Agu

In 2014, Ozzy was nicknamed the ‘New Kid on the block’. That kid has grown into a man that is sure of himself and his career. Ozzy describes himself as an all-round artist.

Thoughts about theatre in Nigeria…

Theatre is fast rising; a lot of good plays are being showcased. Theatre was always strong, but there was some sort of lag when TV and videos came around. Right now, I think there is a resurgence. For example, I am in a musical drama called Wakaa and not only was it a success in Nigeria, it is also touring and would be playing in London in July.

The difference between film and stage actors

Anywhere in the world, they require different techniques. The screen calls for different tools just like the stage. For instance, on a stage you have to be bigger, and you have to project. With film, you have microphones and have to minimise that. You have to alter your style and that calls to the versatility of an actor if you can transition easy between both platforms. Yes, there are differences but nothing that can’t be learned.

What do you think the public should know about theatre?

The value of theatre cannot be quantified. It is not a money thing because you don’t see an immediate material gain from the theatre. Instead, what you see is an understanding and a reflection on yourself as an individual and yourself as a Nigerian. What theatre does is that it tells the Nigerian story to the Nigeria and inspires us to be better Nigerians. A good number of stage plays hold a mirror to society and force us to look at the situation. Consider stage play a call to action. See some plays and it might begin to change you as a person, and your perspective of society, and this can be a tool for immediate change.

Bikiya Graham-Douglas

Bikiya Graham-Douglas is an actress, producer and singer. She is the founder of Beeta Universal Arts Foundation and won the Africa Magic Viewer Choice Award (AMVCA) for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama.

Thoughts about theatre in Nigeria…

I have been in the industry in Nigeria for 8 years, and I can say it has been a progression from my own personal experience. When I moved back from the UK I found it difficult to find work and so I set up my own organisation. Since that time, we have seen so many other production houses come up. We also have more opportunities for actors to perform, and for the general public to access theatre. I won’t say it is at the forefront or given as much recognition as film, but I can say there has definitely been an encouragement in what is happening in Nigerian theatre today

The difference between film and stage actors

To be honest, I do not think there is a segregation per say. I trained as an actress and most of my training was stage performance and I had most of my electives were in Film. I am doing both. Some people have a preference to be in films and the same goes for stage. It just depends on you as an actor and how you want to share your craft and what you want to pursue. For me, I am an actress that likes stage and actor who likes films.

What do you think the public should know about theatre?

Theater, my theatre! Theatre is very valuable because it brings you in very close proximity with actors who are trying to mirror a lot of things that are happening in our society today. It speaks to you in a way that no other art medium does because of how intimate stage play can feel or can be. Say you are in a performance space of over 200-1000 people, you still feel like you are a part of the story because in the theatre it is nothing but you, the actors and you connect directly with that. I think it is very important because it is a reflection of our society and it is a part of our heritage, it is a part of our culture and our history. When you go into a theatre you forget everything that is out there. It gives you an escape and I feel that is extremely important because in our society today we just carry on living and we don’t have things like theatre that takes us away. When I talk about theatre, I am very passionate because I have a lot of things to say. Musical concerts are a form of theatre. Only theatre has the ability to make a room filled with people breathe as one person, cry as one person, laugh as one person, be as one person.

From the actor and actresses who we cast our light on today, we understand the value of theatre; all the culture and history it encompasses that we shouldn’t be able to forget. To these actors theatre is a very integral part of our culture and rightly so. Consider the entertainment it brings, and the change that can emanate from such a pure art form. I have seen two sides of a story – portrayed by a film and then a stage play. The emotions that coursed through my veins as I saw Joke Silva weep on stage and Najite Dede scream about her suffering in the hands of her abductors in Little Drops was nothing short of incomparible. 

I believe that theatre is a spirit that we need to survive Nigerian living.

Creative Team

Photography: Kola Oshalusi for Insigna Media

Makeup: Jumoke Tychus for Eyesome Beauty

Styling: Henry Uduku

The post Embracing the Stage: The Cultural Value of Theatre appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Not many may know the name behind hit television series, Tinsel, Hotel Majestic, The Johnsons and the new campus comedy series Zone 222. This is because the man behind the scenes, Rogers Ofime is more concerned with ensuring the team as a whole is duly appreciated for their effort. In all of Rogers Ofime’s works, he has proven that his creativity, hard work and passion for the arts is key. In his own words,

“I always wanted my work to speak for me. I believe that the hard work you see on your screens are efforts of a lot of actors and crew and I am just one of them. The fact that I am the Creative Producer and the CEO of Native Media Ltd does not mean I will parade myself as the star of the team and the face of all projects. I have always believed that the ‘star’ of a team is ‘the team’.

Rogers goes on to explain how important teamwork is where his productions are concerned.

“We have lots of fans who watch our productions and I am excited when they appreciate the actors, the makeup artiste, the cinematographer, the lighting, it’s more fulfilling for me that way. I am just a crewmember in the team- I am just an Executive Producer and/or a Producer who has played his part in the overall production. I am not against the producers who throw their names out there to get the glory for a team effort. I always tell my team that we should promote and celebrate the team – one man can never be the team. I am happy when the actors, makeup artiste or art-director win awards. I am who I am today because the team played its part; it worked tirelessly to ensure each project maintains the quality we desire,”. From the way Rogers speaks about his team and their effort, it’s easy to tell he has the utmost respect and appreciation for them.

‘Tinsel’, the drama series that swept the nation when it first aired in 2008, was a great step for Nigeria in the TV production industry. It not only changed the way Nigerians felt about original productions, but changed the way other nations looked at us as well. Rogers worked on the project for seven seasons before handing over to another producer noted,

“I am the first Nigerian Producer to produce a multi-cam, studio-based, daily drama-series in Nigeria. Apart from South Africa where the culture already exists, Nigeria was the first place in West, North and East Africa to pick up the multi-cam, studio-based daily drama series. It was quite an experience and I like to tell the story because it was the production that brought the shift in quality production that we see in Nigeria today.”

Listen to Rogers talk about Tinsel, I can feel a portion of the passion he poured into the series. It’s the same way one would boast proudly of a first-born child who made him proud.

“I am proud to say that it took a lot of pain for the project to kick off. I will always salute the effort of Femi Odugbemi who stood by the crew when it seemed like the project was going to fail. We stayed on the project, we kept the team together, we were not sure which direction to go but as God would have it, we were able to start filming.”

Rogers Ofime was also part of the team that created the Africa Magic Original Films (AMOF). He was the Executive Producer of over 200 films made for television in three years. This, definitely, is another huge achievement for him and for our country.  Rogers explains that the idea behind this is purely to drive quality content for Africa Magic channels. According to him, “They are called telefilms- they are films made for television, not cinema quality, they are motion pictures intended primarily to be shown on television.”

Rogers didn’t stop at heading the team of Tinsel and producing 200 movies made for television. He went on to incorporate Native Media Ltd, whose first production was six episodes of ‘The Johnsons’. Rogers shares that MNet was not sure what the people’s reaction would be to the show, and it was amazing when ‘ The Johnsons’ was widely accepted. Today, the series is in its fifth season. After The Johnsons came a new telenovela initiative with Africa Magic – ‘Hotel Majestic’. The series, which was set in Benin but shot in Lagos, ran for one year. “Again it won the hearts of the viewers and we were happy to always give the viewers what they want.”, Rogers said.

This year, Rogers has embarked on another remarkable project commissioned by Africa Magic titled ‘Hush’. And there’s also his very first transnational feature film titled ‘Oloibiri’. Speaking on the project, Rogers said

“It was a huge project shot in Bayelsa and we had actors and crew from America, Canada and Nigeria. The story is very sensitive, but we had to tell it just to be able to find help for the Oloibiri community. We have been at it for two years now and it’s almost ready for release.”

Last year, Rogers started another initiative targeted at helping upcoming actors, producers and directors find their voices faster. “We decided to invest into low budget television series. The aim is for us to help actors and filmmakers’ rise without compromising quality. We started the initiative with a campus sitcom titled ‘Zone 222’ and ‘Till You’re 16’ which is a transnational series shot in Nigeria and Canada.”

It’s funny to think that Rogers’ career started when he was just a six-year old boy skipping after-school lessons to watch filmmakers/theatre practitioners rehearse at a guesthouse. Rogers recounts the story of the day his life really changed –

“One day I approached the director of the group: the kids all called him ‘Uncle Ralph’. I told him I would like to join in and he agreed, and my career into acting began. While at this, my parents often thought I would go to my lesson after school, little did they know that I was going to dance and act. We had a performance one day, an open event and loads of people came to watch, news got to my dad who also came to watch and two memorable things happened to me that day. The first one was that the performance was a career lift for me because the most popular actor and director then, Sam Loco Efe came to me and told me he wants to train me as an actor. The second thing was that when I got home, my dad gave me the beating of my life and made me promise I would neither go there again nor miss my after-school lesson for anything.”

Rogers then went on to get his first degree in Theatre Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, and attend the University of Ibadan where he obtained his Masters in Arts of the theatre too. Presently, Rogers is running a program in business administration in Canada. According to him,

“My career journey is never complete if I don’t mention the names of Tade Ogidan who toughened me up and gave me the opportunity of under-studying him after I graduated, I can never forget Femi Odugbemi who stood behind me as the one who could handle Tinsel when no one was ready to take a chance, Erika Klopper who for nine years of my journey in Tinsel, opened several doors, made sure I was part of several workshops and seminars to help improve my skills.”

Rogers confides that his major challenge has always been not having enough time between projects, but he’s not one to complain.

“I enjoy the challenge. I am smart enough to always run to senior and junior colleagues for help – Obi Emelonye is my good friend in the industry, Tade Ogidan is forever my mentor, Erika Klopper is alway there for me. Femi Odugbemi will be blunt with me, Jimi Odumosu I like to spend time with whenever he is free. So I run to them to seek advise. I do not have too many industry friends especially because my generation of filmmakers think we are in some form of competition – often one finds unfair critiquing of other people’s works. I expect to be able to work with any one and expect anyone to be able to work with me. I believe we will get there soon.”
Rogers, who ensures he not only brings new faces in his productions but also brings back the old ones, noted that he finds the need to show gratitude to the veterans who gave their all to grow the arts in Nigeria,

“I believe the only way we can appreciate them is to invite them aboard our projects so they can feel the rewards of an industry they fought so hard to develop without governmental support. I remember years ago when I called Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett and suggested she return home to enjoy the industry she worked so hard to grow. She was excited and I am happy that today, she is enjoying it. I like to work with veterans and I seek to close the divide between the old and the young.”

He added,

“The evolution of Nollywood is tremendous. It has earned us the international respect we craved and our content consistently works towards globally acceptable standards. The new crop of filmmakers are out to change the notion that Nollywood is nothing to write home about. We are stepping up technically, and the quality of our projects are mind blowing. The actors are also taking the business a lot more seriously. You watch some shows and you will marvel at wonderful and quality acting; People want to grow. Our industry can be likened to soccer, a lot of money in there but you can only make the money if you give attention to your skills. Producers want to hire skills now.”

With a total of 13 awards so far, from his days as a producer at Tinsel, to winning an award for Oloibiri in Los Angeles and a few short film awards from the California Short Film Festival, he said,

“Because I have not been out there a lot, my awards have been limited.”. Rogers lives by two simple philosophies – “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,’, and ‘Constantly be aware and observing, always seek to improve yourself and the team”.

The post Rogers Ofime… Ardour For Redefining Nollywood appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Over the past couple of years, Nollywood has been changing. I used to hate watching Nigerian films because of the poor acting, bad directing and awful video effects. And don’t get me started on the storylines! You could predict the plot of an entire movie just from the first scene. Everything has started changing now. There are still bad movies out there but the quality of movies being released have vastly improved and the industry is changing. No more movies being shot in one day and predictable storylines; we now have movies with plots that thrill and acting that can move you to tears.

On our cover this week, we talk to four young actors who are part of the next generation of Nollywood. They all found their way into the industry in different ways, from growing up in front of the camera, to being in the industry by luck and for some, destiny wouldn’t have it any other way. They are slowly becoming the mouthpiece for the new generation. As we embrace our cover subjects and the industry that they represent, they share their stories of inspiration, hopes and modus operandi of being on the job.

Olumide Oworu

Olumide Oworu started off as a child star, staring in several TV shows such as Everyday People, The Patriot, The Men In Her Life, Hammer, Stolen Waters, New Son, etc. Over the years, the media has watched him grow in front of the camera and loved every minute of it. He is one of the few who have made the leap from child actor to a man in his own right.

What inspired you to start acting?

Before I started acting, I was already exposed to the media as a kid. I was doing radio voice overs, and I was modeling as well. I assume I went into acting because I was very animated in conversation; having watched a whole lot of TV growing up. My mum suggested I go audition for Everyday People, so I did. I got the role, and everything else just kind of happened from there. I fell in love with acting, and now it’s hard to imagine myself doing anything else.

What enables you switch from one character to the other in the different roles you play?

Understanding the character, most importantly, and then the character’s significance to the story. That allows me to give the character certain traits, or work on a look that will best suit the character. I just visually try to become the character as much as possible.

What’s your favorite thing about playing all these roles?

It’s really just the fact that I get to play so many people. It’s my excuse to be whoever I want to be and get away with it because I’m acting. The thrill for me is just knowing that I’m being someone else, and the entire process of giving a character life.

Where do you see Nigerian movies in about 10 to 15 years?

I see Nigerian movies being bigger and the scope of our stories being wider. I see our movies addressing a lot more issues in the society. I believe film will be one of the tools through which we can kick start the change everybody is hoping for in Nigeria.

Adesua Etomi

The fair lady of Nollywood came to the scene fully prepared, with a primary education in theatre. Her early life is pregnant with tales of what would now form the foundation of her career. Adesua always knew she would be in the limelight as a performing artist and actress and with time, she has fully settled into the life as one of the leading ladies in Nollywood of today.

What inspired you to start acting?

I started acting because I believe it’s what I’m supposed to do for the rest of my life – it’s a calling. The fear of not fulfilling my destiny scares me more than anything else, really. I believe that this is more than just a job; this is destiny, and I’m supposed to touch lives doing this. The fear that I might die without touching the lives I’m supposed to or effecting some kind of change is a huge thing for me. So, once I realized that this is what I’m supposed to do, and once I got the courage to do it, it was a great relief.

What enables you switch from one character to the other in the different roles you play?

There’s something beautiful about acting – telling different stories. If we’re being honest, every human being has different characteristics, likes, and things that make them different. A lot of preparation is essential in playing different characters, no matter how similar a role may seem in script. The characters will always be different because you’re not playing the same person over and again. The need to be believable and give each character life, mannerisms and a voice is what enables me play every character differently, because I don’t believe every character should be the same.

What’s your favorite thing about playing all these roles?

My favorite thing will have to be the fact that I’m different people at different points in time. I think it’s awesome. I also get to tell different stories throughout my life.

Where do you see Nigerian films in 10 to 15 years?

I see Nigerian films growing around the world, to be even bigger than they are now. I see us having major collaborations with Hollywood, going beyond being just movies for Nigerians, and becoming movies that are universally watched and universally appreciated. I see Nigerian movies telling stories about our culture and opening the eyes of foreigners to the beauty of Nigeria. I see our films creating change that cuts across different nations, not just Nigeria itself. The moment that Nigerian movies starts to cut across

Blossom Chukwujekwu

Blossom has been on our big screen for a long time (since 2009 actually). Blossom has definitely created a niche for himself as an actor that delivers consistently on every production that he features in. Diverse as can be, Blossom is one of Nollywood’s best in recent times.

What Inspired you to start acting?

Honestly, acting just chose me. For me, it was never really a childhood dream, and it wasn’t in my teenage plans either. It just happened that when I took my brother to a modeling competition some years ago, the organizers saw me and decided I have the qualities of an actor. That was really how my career started.

What enables you switch from one character to the other in the different roles you play?

Well, research. You need the right information for every single character you play. I read the script, do a character breakdown, and then build him from the ground up. Basically, it’s all the information I get from my research, and being able to make the right choices to suit the character the scriptwriter has written. Most importantly, I pray. Then I talk to my manager about it, and we both come up with the right direction to go in.

What’s your favorite thing about playing all these roles?

It’s really just amazing to be able to live different lifestyles in one. It’s an amazing privilege that comes with a lot of responsibility. For me, it’s a blessing to be able to play a pauper, a bus conductor, an area boy, a tout, and such. It’s a gift to have all these emotional journeys and be able to understand how these people feel.

Where do you see Nigerian movies in 10 to 15 years?

10 to 15 years is too far. Let’s say ‘in the next two years’. Because the truth of the matter is the industry is growing fast. Right now, it’s not what it used to be. Presently, we have a lot of major international collaborations and we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface. There are thousands of stories we still haven’t told. So the industry is really just warming up to blow the world. The entire world right now is looking at Nollywood because the grass is green. Very soon, Nigerian movies will be opening in theatres worldwide, and people will be hustling for our directors and producers. I advise anyone who hasn’t invested in Nollywood yet to come and let’s break bread.

Wole Ojo

Wole Ojo is as daring as can be and this trait threw him into the world of acting. He started acting as a kid but took a break and came back with a statement in the hit film, Maami, and has continued to grace the screens with his skills.

What inspired you to start acting?

Quite a number of things, actually. I practically grew up in front of the TV, watching a lot of cartoons and sitcoms like Fresh Prince, Family Matters, and an endless list of others. It wasn’t long before I developed an interest in acting. As a kid I did a lot of plays in church, and there was a program running on NTA at the time – Kiddies Vision 101. I was a big fan of the show and would watch, critique, and talk about the show. One day, my mum challenged me to do what I was doing professionally and that was how it started. So, my inspiration came from TV and my mum pushing me to give acting a try.

What enables you switch from one character to the other in the different roles you play?

Quite a number of things. I read, do my research, and I draw from real life experiences, reported experiences, what I’ve witnessed people do round me, what I’ve seen on screen. I basically just pull in everything I can from my surroundings. I also do a self-input where I dissect a character and decide the traits I want that character to have.

What’s your favorite thing about playing these roles?

My favorite thing is it makes me come alive. It’s what I love doing; acting has always been something I’ve always wanted to do. Also, I believe it’s a gift to be able to pass a message to people, playing different characters, and show the audience what the different sides to a character are. It brings a certain satisfaction to what I’m doing, knowing that there are people receiving a message from what I’m doing.

Where do you see Nigerian films in 10 to 15 years?

Firstly, Nollywood is growing. The growth may be slow, but it’s growing. We just need a lot more investors in it. I’m not one to say “we need the government for this and that” because I believe we are the government and we can do things for ourselves. However, we cannot take away the fact that the government has a strong role to play. Not necessarily by giving us money, because Nollywood can fund itself to a large extent. This, of course is dependent on if the main issue with Nollywood – piracy – is tackled. If piracy is tackled, producers will be able to make profits off their investments and more investors will be better inclined to invest in the industry. I’m sure there are business men out there who recognize the potential of Nollywood and would like to invest, but are cautious because of the piracy situation. So, we need the government to act fast on piracy. 15 years from now, I see Nollywood challenging the big shots; which we are already doing in our own way. I see Nollywood standing with the world’s greatest and competing strongly as regards quality.

The post The Next Generation of Nollywood appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Mercy Aigbe-Gentry is a household name. Not because she’s a versatile actress who has acted in several Yoruba movies, but also because of her unique sense of style as well as her ambition and drive. Just like fine wine, Mercy has gotten better with time and she has become a force to reckon with. The actress is also a producer; fresh off set from one of her productions, ‘Victims’ that balances Yoruba and English genre of Nollywood and tells a story about an issue that has affected society.

One thing is for sure about Mercy is her attention to detail, her love to have the best things and her relentless hard working spirit. Getting to know her was a delight.

What inspired you to become an actor

I’ve always wanted to act, right from when I was in primary school. I joined the drama group in school, knowing that I have the talent and passion for it. However, I didn’t know I was going to do it professionally. I just felt it was more like a hobby. Growing up, I saw the likes of Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett and I loved her. She was one of the people who also inspired me to act. When I got into the polytechnic where I was studying financial studies, I joined a drama group and that was when I actually started taking acting seriously.

Did you always want to be an actor for Yoruba films, or was it something that just happened?

It was something that just happened, to be honest. I’m a professional – having studied theatre in University of Lagos – so it’s not like I set out to star specifically in that genre of Nollywood. When I first started out in the industry, it was with English-speaking movies. During that time, I got the script for a Yoruba film and decided to do it. The film came out and turned out to be a success. That then caused a ripple effect and I started to get more and more scripts for Yoruba movies. As someone new to the industry, I couldn’t turn down scripts. I was thrilled to be getting roles and, before I knew it, I became more prominent in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood.

Over the years, you’ve gotten bigger and better, and even started producing your own films. What has the experience been like?

It’s been a lot of hard work. You know, when you’re established as an actor and want to delve into producing you have to be very careful. You don’t want to do something substandard, so you put in your best. As a producer I have about some films to my credit, the latest of which is Victims which will be out on DVD soon. What actually inspired me to start producing is the fact that I have my own stories I want to tell and I don’t want to just give it to someone else to interpret their own way. Producing is the best way to tell my own stories, the way I envision them. I believe movies can be a tool for changing people, inspiring people and trying to correct ills in society.

Tell us a little more about the movie ‘Victims’ and what inspired it.

Well, ‘Victims’ is actually a bi-lingual film. It’s about 60% Yoruba and 40% English. Like I said, I’m a professional and I really don’t think there’s much of a difference between Yoruba films and English ones. Besides the language, everything else is the same. I thought it was a great opportunity to expand my fan base because I realize there are a lot of people who don’t watch Yoruba films. They love Mercy because of her sense of style and will maybe watch one movie for me. So, since I speak the language, there’s actually nothing stopping me from doing English-speaking movies. Even if it’s not English, if all it takes to do a part in a movie is to learn a language, I’ll do it. ‘Victims’ is bi-lingual because I had to use some actors who don’t speak Yoruba and I didn’t want them to struggle.

Besides your movies, your style has made Mercy Aigbe-Gentry a household name. What inspires your style?

I’m just someone who likes to look good. I really like people paying me compliments. I like it when I walk past people and they say, “Wow, she looks great”, and I love taking pictures.  I always tell people I’m a photoholic. If you notice, the only social network I’m really active on is Instagram. So, my style is basically comfortable. I love being comfortable. But I understand that fashion isn’t always comfortable so I can get dressed up too. My style is also chic, and the event I’m attending also inspires what I wear.

What’s your favorite thing about being an actress in your genre?

The ability to play different characters. Today, I can be a nurse, tomorrow, I might be an armed robber. I get to explore different characters and it’s very exciting.

What challenges do you face producing movies?

Ah, a lot oh! Some that you don’t even foresee. Sometimes, it’s location problems. The day of shoot will come and you’ll go to location and the owner of the house will tell you can’t use it again because her husband is back early from a trip and she didn’t tell him about it. This is why we keep advocating for our own film village. Because if we have this we won’t have all these unnecessary location issues and it will help with the ambience. Then the cast might be a problem sometimes, regarding what time they show up to set.

What do you foresee in Nollywood as regards both the Yoruba and English genres?

I see all of eventually merging into one. If you look at where we are now, there used to be a wide gap between both genres, but there isn’t anymore. You have actors crossing over to either side every now and then. For instance, Juliet Ibrahim is starring in ‘Victims’, and you also have Yoruba actors starring in English-speaking films. So, I see us all coming together under one umbrella.

The post Mercy Aigbe- Gentry…Diva On And Off Screen appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Not many former Nigerian sportsmen have been able to successfully make the transition from sports to business, but not Obinna Ekezie. He lived the American dream and is now creating his Nigerian dream.

As the Guardian Life team crew waited for Ekezie in his Lekki Phase One, Lagos office, I recalled the first time I heard about ‘Waka Now‘. I was in the university and the name drew me to a banner strategically placed within the varsity’s campus, but I never thought much about the brand or the man behind the brand.

Ekezie is the C.E.O of Wakanow and he has revolutionised the travel and hospitality business with dedication, speed and a level of consistency that has made him not only a pace setter in his field but a role model to some, as well as a pillar in society (no pun intended).

Prior to Wakanow, Obinna was a renowned basketball player, drafted in the NBA and playing for teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, LA Clippers, and Vancouver Grizzlies. He also had a playing stint in three European countries.

Speaking on the sport, he said: “When I was younger; when I started getting really tall at the age 14, I was always a sports person. As my height grew, I picked interest in basketball. I started playing the game at the age of 15 and I wanted to take it to the next level.”

Wakanow is the first online travel company in Nigeria and was birthed from the travails Obinna faced traveling from Nigeria to America and vice versa. But is there any pressure being a forerunner in the online travel business?

“We are just trying to create value every day just to continue to improve our services, improve our position in the market, create new products for the travellers and solve the problem the average Nigerian traveller has on a daily basis,” said Ekezie. “That is really the challenge. We don’t really feel the pressure; we just work harder every day to improve.”

We learn every day and the best thing about learning is how diverse it is. We don’t necessarily have to be in a formal setting to allow life teach us what we need to learn to be successful. Ekezie incorporated the principles of team work and having skilled team members to grow his company. And a whole lot of it came from his time on the basketball court.

“We have been able to build a very strong team,” he continued. “We have competent people in every position in the company and that comes from my experience playing basketball. That it is important, and for you to win, you need to have a very strong team and good teammates with good attitude.”

“We have built a good culture here in the company where we are always trying to improve, and a lot of that came from my basketball background.”

Ekezie played college basketball in the United States at the University of Maryland from 1995 to 1999 before making the jump to the NBA where he was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies (now known as the Memphis Grizzlies) with the 37th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

He then played for five NBA teams over a seven-year period before heading off to Europe, playing in Serbia, Italy and Russia.

“I came into the NBA with a knee injury. I tore my Achilles tendon in my senior year in college,” recalled Ekezie, while describing his ‘short-lived’ NBA career, that’s if a seven-year career in the world’s toughest league qualifies to be called that.

“I personally think I would have had a much better career if injuries were not a part of it. But I thank God for the experience. If I didn’t have those, especially the last injury, I probably won’t be back in Nigeria and Wakanow won’t exist. At the end of the day I am happy for my career and the opportunity it gave me for the next phase of my life.”

Launched in 2010 and, six years down the road, still a pacesetter, one can safely say Wakanow has created a space where they are champions of their field and can contend with similar companies outside the country.

Wakanow came into Nigeria in the infant years of ecommerce platforms which gave them leverage to set the pace in the industry. So, how did they maintain their drive?

“We benchmarked ourselves against the global players in terms of service delivery, the technology and being able to provide excellent customer service. These are things that, when we came into the market, didn’t exist in the travel space. We have been the pacesetter and we try to provide a level of service that anybody would expect from the major markets in the world” Obinna said.

Just like every startup, Wakanow faced challenges and road blocks. Being a new sector, nobody believed in the vision and plan they had especially in a country with a high rate of cyber-crimes. So it took Wakanow sweat, blood and a couple of losses to rise above it.

“We had to build our credibility. We made a lot of strong efforts to appease our customers,” Ekezie recollected. “Sometimes we made losses just to make them happy because we wanted to build our credibility. It was the early stages in Nigerians booking online, and using e-commerce platforms. Credibility was the main issue but we have been able to build that trust over the period.”

Being almost seven feet tall may have its uses in the world of basketball, but it does have its problems in the fashion world. So, you might wonder what influences his style choice.

“I get most of my clothes tailor-made. In a corporate setting I would wear suits, jackets, and blazers, but I’m not really one to knot a tie unless it is a special event. On casual basis, I like traditional wear sometimes when I go for a function. When I want to relax, or go to the mall, I usually wear jeans and a shirt. I believe I am visible enough; I don’t need to get too stylish,” added Ekezie, teasingly.

Conversing with Ekezie, it was only necessary to know his philosophy and words he lives by.

“Do unto others as you want them to do unto you. Very simple,” he said, with a smile, before adding: “Best commandment in the world.”

Busy as can be expected of a man in his position, we conclude the interview with his advice to young, creative entrepreneurs.

“My advice to people today…there has never been a time in the history of mankind where you have so many platforms to be able to learn from. Gone are the days where you are restricted by the traditional way of learning; having books or sitting in a class room.

“A lot of young people that sit around and wait to gain knowledge through a formal setting are wasting time. You have to use the internet; anything you want in this world you can get online. You can download books on your phone. You can really educate yourself. For me you can educate yourself without having a formal setting.

“In terms of starting a business, I studied a lot of the most successful people in the world. So I read a lot of books on how they started their business: how do you start a business? What is the process? How to write a business plan? All those things are online; you just need to put the time in and be focused and dedicated. People spend a lot of time on things that don’t give them value and it is important that people start to focus on things that create value for them,” added Ekezie, matter-of-factly.

Your ideas are dreams till you make them practical. We are all scared of disrupting different spaces because of the road blocks we have set in our heads and not because they exist. Ekezie has proved that our ideas are valid and we can achieve as far as our minds can conceive.

The post Obinna Ekezie: Walking Tall, Flying High appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Haneefah Adams is a ball of intoxicating energy and if I was ever in doubt about how my work gives me the opportunity to meet the best people in Nigeria, she removed such doubt.  Haneefah is a medical scientist, creative artist and lifestyle blogger and she is passionate about food, fashion, her faith and her creative outlets which include mixed media and food art. In February, she broke the internet with her Hijarbie project; a Muslim Barbie which drew inspiration from the designs of popular Muslim fashion bloggers like Habiba Da Silva and Leena Asad. Haneefah is also the winner of the 2016 #TechMeetsArt competition, a food art competition held by Re.Le Art Gallery and sponsored by Samsung Mobile.

What inspires Haneefah’s art? She gives credit to the material used in the creation of each piece.

“The colours and shapes of the materials influence how I create what I want to create,” she said. “I see them and I think of what I can do with them, easily put, I am inspired by nature,”.

Her work can be likened to the works of Ida Skivenes (Norwegian food artist), Hong Yi (Malaysian artist and architect), Andrew Gorkovenko (Russian graphic designer and brand developer) and Amelia Harnas (New York based artist) who have been highly profiled by Relish.com. Just like her international artists, her work is very visual and always tells a story.

The process in which art is created tells a lot about how the final product will come out. Speaking on the timeline of her creation process, Haneefah reveals that it really depends on what she’s working on.

“Sometimes it takes five minutes in execution and sometimes it might take a day,” she said. “It depends on what I want to achieve. Some art works are really simple and some would involve more technicalities. Some days are longer, I might sketch, then move on to shading and finally covering it up with the materials that I use and this could take two to three days.”

Even though Haneefah is a professional medical scientist with a Master’s degree in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery from Coventry University in the UK, art comes naturally to Haneefah Adams.

“I was that student in high school that had her art work ripped from the exam sheet and pasted in the fine art department,” she said. “I was really good with water colors, crayons, drawing and sculpting. I am basically self-taught as well as influenced by the knowledge I gained from Junior secondary school,” she added.

One doesn’t easily come across food art in mainstream Nigeria. I for one, didn’t know the extent to which art can be created from food. Being one of the Nigerian pioneers in this field, Haneefah talks in a lighthearted manner about the challenges faced in carving this niche for herself.

“Copycats,” she laughs. “Some people do not value the hard work that goes into it and would want to value it less for your work. Although, it has really been fun and I enjoy the process, basically it is me trying to create something that is worthwhile.”

Haneefah isn’t just incredibly gifted, but very stylish as well. She makes some of her outfits herself, and her unique style has been commended by the likes of CNN Style and Metro UK.

“My religion first and foremost,” she said. “It is the first and almost the only thing I think of when I am dressing up. I have to be very modest, and I have to dress properly according to my religious beliefs. It’s not even about the article of clothing, it’s also about my character and how I try to continuously uphold a good one. How you carry yourself, it’s about what you wear and just owning it.”

Art is the expression of human creative skill and imagination, to be appreciated primarily for its beauty or emotional power. Haneefah hopes to leave a positive trail of goodness and positive impact where it is possible through her work.   The artist shares that every piece of work she puts out has a story behind it.

“It is basically trying to pass any message I am trying to pass across at that time,” she said. “I have done art work that reflected global warming, going green and recycling. I have also done one about sickle cell awareness.”

Greatly inspired by her faith, Haneefah created an impact during this interview and the shoot. The subtle way she talked about her religion, her energy, her laugh and the way she blended with the crew. It is no wonder that she is inspired by the decision to do good and be good to others. In her words, she lives by a simple life philosophy; to be kind.

“It is really important to have a good heart and I try to check my heart all the time just to make sure I am being good and not forget that, as it is really close and tied to my religion,” she said. “I try as much as possible to be with God, just to make sure I do not stray from my faith. To me, that is the ultimate goal.”

Nigeria is blessed with so many natural and human resources. Lately, the creative sector has been on the rise, with commendations from Forbes profile on “15 Young African Creatives Rebranding Africa” to the infographic released by FORUM D’AVIGNON on the growth of the cultural and creative industries in Nigeria. This is a right step to improving the economy and the general outlook of Nigeria as a country. As the interview rounds up, Haneefah Adams offers some words of encouragement for upcoming artists who may wish to express their creativity in ways that are equally or even more unique.

“Consistency and hard work are important,” she said. “I even try to advise myself on that as well. Even if it takes years, when you are unique and you know you are putting out good original work, you would definitely be recognized. People who appreciate and understand value would notice and celebrate you.”

Guardian Life continues to celebrate creatives who are carving out a path for the industry to not just grow but also to have a positive impact on the nation’s economy. When thinking about building a better future for another generation, we also have to consider the opportunities we are leaving for them. Gone are the days of white collar jobs being the be all and end all. Artists like Haneefah Adams are clearing the path for a younger generation to know it is okay to be creative and find unconventional outlets for income generation.

The post Haneefah Adams – The Multi-Dimensional Creative appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

On the 21^st of June, 2016, Obinna Levi Ajuonuma a.k.a DJ Obi announced he was going to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Marathon Club DJing. The previous record of 200 hours was set by Polish DJ Norbert Selmaj a.k.a Norberto Loco, at the Underground temple bar in Dublin, Ireland. To set the record, DJ Norbert Selmaj played from 19^th to the 27^th of November 2014. When DJ Obi announced he would be attempting to break this record, all hell broke loose.  The country was spilt into three sets of people; the ones who believed he could do it, the ones who said he would back out and the ones who claimed to be indifferent. They would eat their words and flood the Sao Café on the 29^th and 30^th of June as he broke the previous record and set a new record by playing for 229 hours and 58 minutes, beginning at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22nd and ending at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 2nd, 2016. Due to medical advisement he didn’t set the 240-hour record he aimed for.

According to the rules, DJ Obi was allowed a five-minute break every hour, had to have someone dancing at all times, and could not repeat a song within four hours of playing it. He was also allowed daily medical checks and massages, and vitamin doses.

Finding strength in his late father, the late Dr. Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma, former host and executive producer of the ‘The Sunday Show’, among others, on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Obi lived true to his social media mantra #GLOBALDJOBI. Of course, resilience and a supportive crowd played a major role in this incredible achievement as well.

What inspired you to attempt to break the record?

I was tired of introducing myself to people (laughs) and I needed the perfect PR plan that would enable me not need to introduce myself(laughing). Honestly, it was one of the things that sparked it. Aside from that I use this global DJ hashtag on social media and I needed to embody this thing. In praying, thinking and talking about it, the idea came up to go for the Guinness World Record. I found out that there was a World Record for longest DJ set, so I thought I would give it a shot. I initially thought it was 4 days until I did my research and found out the previous record was 8 days.  I decided to do 10 days since I celebrated 10 years as a DJ December last year.

What was the reaction when you told people you were going to do this?

They didn’t believe me. They listened to me, but they didn’t take it seriously until it started happening. The extent to which they didn’t believe me was that some people actually forgot that I mentioned it until they saw it happening. Except for my family who believed in me and always supported me.

While attempting to break the old record and set a new one, we know you had some physical challenges like exhaustion and having hallucinations, none of which could have been easy.  What mental challenges did you face?

I am not a morning person. In the mornings I like to sit down and reflect, even when I am awake. I like to sit down at home, relaxing and reflecting on what I did and what I can do better. During the marathon I kept thinking that I was crazy, like ‘What was I thinking about?’, “Why did I sign up for this”, “This is difficult” “Who am I trying to impress?’. I was going through the emotions of ‘Why am I doing this’ because I was exhausted. I almost gave up a couple of times but thank God for the energy and support that people were showing. I didn’t cry but I felt like it at some point. I got really tired at some point because I was awake but my body and mind were doing two different things. At certain times, I didn’t even know where I was, those were the kinds of mental challenges I faced.

What was your drive during the 10-day marathon?

The motivation to continue came from people that came to support. A lot of people were using my dad, who has passed, as a reference point, saying, “He would be proud, don’t stop”. That was really strong motivation for me. If you see pictures from where I was playing, there was a wall with different legends, most of them are dead, but just sometimes looking at those pictures kept me going because it felt like I was in the presence of greatness. Seeing family and friends kept me going, and making new friends and seeing a lot of people happy as well. Also discovering my music library, as a DJ you may never get to go through your music library but in those 10 days I got to know every song, that kept me going as well.

How did it make you feel to see many people come out to support you?

I didn’t expect it. That was the one thing I didn’t expect from this whole thing. Like I said, people weren’t taking me seriously. I thought I would have to beg a lot of people to come. But after I posted the video of the first day, it went viral. The first night Don Jazzy came with my cousin DJ Big N and that made me know that people were paying attention. There was a crowd of people the first day and it just kept on getting bigger. The love and support was amazing, I felt very appreciated and I haven’t felt like that in a minute so it was good.

According to the rules, you weren’t allowed to repeat any song in a four-hour timeframe. What was your thought process during song selection?

What I was doing beforehand was downloading folders of music. Instead of downloading track by track, I was downloading specific genres like deep house, South African house or vocal house and instead of downloading tracks I would look for a folder of 200 or 1000 songs. When I added those to what I already had, I didn’t even have to repeat songs.

What impact do you hope this would have in Nigeria’s music industry internationally?

I just hope that people will be able to now sit down and think outside the box; dream big, take on those dreams, and live them. A lot of people in the music and entertainment industry like to be people that have already been there. They want to be the Wizkids and the Davidos. In the movie industry, they want to be like the Genevieves or RMD. Come out and do you. If you come up with a crazy plan, a lot of people will think you are crazy, like they thought I was but some people would support you. You are going to get those reactions, so just dream big and achieve it. Don’t wait around for people because one of the things I realized living in Nigeria, especially in the entertainment industry, is that certain people want you to go through them for you to make it. That shouldn’t be your story. You should be able to do what you want to do and those people should come and meet you for them to feel like they made it.

What can we expect from you now?

Global greatness. Yesterday, I think the news just hit the international scene – especially the non-English parts – and I began to get mentions on Twitter and Instagram from different magazines and blogs speaking about it in different languages. It is doing what we wanted; giving us the global recognition and it is working so expect DJ Obi around the world. That global DJ hashtag, I can comfortably use it now.

What projects can we expect from you after this?

I am working on a lot of projects. I was actually working on the Guinness thing since August last year. I like to work in secrecy.  l like to keep things I’m working on quiet until I am sure it’s going to work and then talk about it when I know I’ve got it. I am working on a lot of projects but I’m going to wait until I am sure about them before I can discuss and put them out there.

Advice to young people who look up to you?

If you are reading this right now be inspired, be great, put God first. I know it sounds like a cliché but it actually works. When you hear a lot of successful people talking about ‘put God first and be great’ it does work. So if you follow that formula you would be great. Wait for your time and don’t rush anything, be very patient. Timing makes a lot of things work in your favor. If you rush it then you might mess it up, if it comes too early, you might not be able to handle it. So wait for your time and keep praying. Dream big and achieve your dreams and (laughs) definitely follow DJ Obi on Instagram and Twitter @DJOBIENT

Creative Team

Photography: Kola Oshalusi

Styling: Henry Uduku

Outfits from DJ Obi’s wardrobe.

The post Spin. Set. Record: Global DJ Obi appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics in Nigeria, youth unemployment rose to 21.50% in the first quarter of 2016. And it’s not just Nigeria that has an unemployment problem. At the 51st annual meeting of the board of governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) that took place in Lusaka in May, 2016, the AfDB president, Akinwunmi Adesina, stated that Africa has “a job crisis”.  Everyone agrees something needs to be done to curb the rising rate of unemployment, but what have we done beyond agreeing?

In a technologically-driven world, a company like Andela has sprung up to do its part in closing the unemployment gap. The company recruits Africans that are gifted tech-wise, trains them, and places them in international companies as full-time employees. The best part is that Andela pays these recruits to learn. What better way to utilize the continents untapped talent?

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, is the co-founder of Andela. Born and bred in Nigeria, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, or ‘E’ as he is fondly called, lived in Lagos, Abuja and Warri at different points in his life. He studied at the University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada and graduated with a degree in Legal Studies. Despite his law degree, Iyin is a technology entrepreneur who has been mostly focused on new innovations in education technology and pedagogy over the last couple years. In that time, Iyinolowa has co-founded and worked with few companies in the field – like Bookneto, Fora and Zanbato. Of all his endeavours, Andela has by far been the most successful. So successful in fact, that it has been dubbed a company “harder to get into than Harvard” by CNN and is backed by both Google and Mark Zuckerberg.

GL had a chat with Iyinoluwa Aboyeji to talk about his company and his journey to positively impacting the lives of so many young Africans.

Can you briefly tell us about Andela and what it hopes to achieve?

Andela is founded on the simple truth that brilliance is evenly distributed, while opportunity is not. We recruit the most talented software developers on the African continent, shape them into world-class technical leaders, and place them as full-time team members with companies like Microsoft and IBM, working remotely from our offices in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya.

What we are really trying to achieve with Andela is prove that brilliant young people, who can be groomed into world class technologists, exist in Africa. The case for this is simple; Over the next 30 years, Africa will be home to more than half of the world’s working population. We want young Africans to be part and parcel of building the world they will live in. This begins with exposing them to the companies and people that are building the future today so they can gain the requisite skills they need to do the same.

 What was your inspiration to start up Andela?

First of all, Andela was not my idea alone. My co-founder Jeremy Johnson and I sat down together and thought up this brilliant idea to train young people to be world class developers. We hoped to achieve this by leveraging some of the lessons he had learned from building 2U, a highly successful online education company in the US. For me, what inspired me to tap into this vision and really push it forward was seeing how unemployment, partly fuelled by an inadequate education system, was destroying young people. I remember seeing the NIS recruitment scandal on television and seeing hundreds of thousands of unemployed young people literally stampede themselves to untimely deaths because of youth unemployment. I resolved there had to be a better way.

What was the most difficult challenge you faced setting up Andela?

There were several challenges in Andela’s early days. Some of these challenges were wiring funds and moving equipment across continents, finding the appropriate space, power outages, long commute times for our developer, and even getting catered lunch to the campus on time. Considering all this, it is hard to say which the most difficult challenge was. However I am really glad to say we look on all our challenges very fondly today because they have made us the formidable operational juggernaut we are today. We have learnt a lot and grown from those challenges.

How did it feel to have Mark Zuckerberg and Google as strong backers of your company?

It certainly feels amazing. These are some of the greatest technologists and technology companies in the world who are saying, “Yes! We believe the next generation of world-class developers who will build the future will come from Africa”. Not just that, they are putting their money where their heart is. I couldn’t think of a better endorsement. The rest of the technology world is clearly rooting for African developers. Now we have to rise to the challenge and prove them all right.

Considering the limited access to certain resources we have in Africa, how would you describe the talent you have sourced thus far?

Amazing talent. I’ll tell you one thing; Jeremy and I have applied several times to the fellowship and we couldn’t even get in. Every single one of our developers went through a pretty gruelling 180 day recruitment process with a 0.7% success rate and got in. Now I might be dumb but Jeremy got into Princeton so I’m sure he’s not. I think that’s just a testament to the incredible talent we have sourced so far. I remember really early on, I think in the second class, we worked with a global psychometric testing consulting company to assess our applicant pool and they point blank told us these are among some of the most intelligent people in the world. Period.  No doubt, there is amazing talent in Africa; we just have to invest in developing our talent to its fullest potential.

What would you say is your strongest motivation?

My greatest motivation is my desire to build the future of Africa. I wake up everyday thinking about it. I really believe it is what God placed me on earth to do. The truth is we really don’t have a choice. We can sit here and moan about how disadvantaged and poor we are today – or we can roll up our sleeves and really start to do the hard work of building the talent, systems and infrastructure we need to make this continent better for future generations. I think we need more people doing the latter and all I think about everyday is “how do we build the future of this continent?”

At this point, would you consider yourself successful?

Well, firstly, I am definitely nowhere near successful by any objective measure. And, more importantly, I care a lot more about impacting the lives of others by building the future of this continent than I do about being personally successful. Being “successful” – whatever that means – isn’t really a thing for me.

Looking towards the future, what can we expect from you?

More building. Andela is on a great path to building a movement of young people with the skills to leverage technology to build the future of this continent. However, there is a lot more work to do. Expect to find me in the trenches doing that kind of work.

What advice do you have for people who look up to you as a source of inspiration?

I have a lot of advice but I would say everything really boils down to finding your mission in life. The world needs missionaries – people who live with an incredible sense of mission. Mine is to build the future of Africa. What’s yours?

We believe Iyinoluwa is absolutely right.  In as much as we need visionaries, we need missionaries who are willing to get their hands dirty and do the work. We all have our own roles to play, and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is lighting the path for others by fulfilling his part as best he can.

The post Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: The Tech Missionary appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Beauty is never really considered a serious subject in an open discussion, unless it is between those already deeply involved in the field. Speak even less of how it is considered as an industry in Nigeria. According to Franchise Help, the American beauty industry generated $56.2 billion in 2015. And I’m not just talking about makeup – which seems to be the first, and sometimes the only thing that comes to mind when beauty is mentioned. This revenue was spread across hair care, skin care, cosmetics, perfumes and colognes, deodorants and feminine cleaning, and oral hygiene. Of course, one cannot pull up the statistics of the Nigerian beauty industry to even begin to make a comparison because no one is paying enough attention to measure growth and revenue statistics in the first place.

There’s no reason why the Nigerian beauty industry cannot also pull in millions annually as revenue. It is left to us to actually begin to look at the industry as more than just people painting their faces or selling powders and lipstick. This is why GL sat down with three leading women in Nigeria’s beauty industry to discuss insights of the present situation and our hopes for the future.

Vanessa Onwughalu

Vanessa Onwughalu is not your average 23-year-old graduate. Having acquired a B.A in Politics and International Relations, and also a Masters of Law in International Law, she went on to do some short makeup courses with the AMF Academy in the United Kingdom. Vanessa was also privileged to have worked with Josie Maran’s consulting department for about three months. After some time in the UK, she returned to Nigeria to officially launch Taos Cosmetics, a line of luxurious and affordable cosmetics.

What was the motivation behind starting Taos Cosmetics?

Taos cosmetics was born out of a pressing need to have makeup for women like me. My aim for Taos Cosmetics was to be a go-to brand of cosmetics for women of colour all around the world. I wanted the everyday woman to have a relatable brand; one that people feel some sort of connection to while using.

What are the challenges you faced in starting up your brand/company?

Taos Cosmetics first started in the UK, and I have to say it was much easier there. UK consumers are more willing to give new products/brands a chance. I believe this is because they appreciate quality more than they do brand name. After that, bringing Taos to Nigeria was a difficult transition for me. Open arms weren’t exactly waiting, and a lot of marketing had to be done for people to be aware of the product. We wanted people to get to know the quality because, at the end of the day, a brand is known for its quality.

So, what would you say really made Nigerians warm up to your brand?

Well, a lot of marketing and word of mouth advertising had been done. Also, at the point when the brand was really coming up, the strobing trend also was a thing. We had this highlighter that was amazing in quality, and that really just put Taos Cosmetics out there. Everyone was talking about ‘The Taos Glow’ and ‘Taos Hollywood’ and that was a really big thing for the brand. It didn’t stop here; our highlighter became popular in other countries as well, and that sort of made us a pioneering brand for highlighter in African countries.

What would you say the reception of Taos Cosmetics has been like as regards getting people to buy more Nigerian products?

Firstly, I believe people should buy products based on quality; whether it’s Nigerian or not. Like I said earlier, Taos Cosmetics became known for its quality. People were able to buy our products confidently because they saw the quality is great, and we happened to be a Nigerian brand. They could also see that our products are more affordable than most foreign brands with the same quality.

What is the philosophy by which your brand operates?

To remain fresh, fun, sassy and luxurious. Luxurious in the sense that we never lose sight of our number one priority – quality. In my opinion, there’s no point in being a cosmetics brand if the quality of your products can’t sell them without a lot of effort on your part. Before we release anything new, we ensure they have been tried and tested repeatedly. In the grand scheme of things, we aim to enhance everyone’s beauty.

What are your thoughts on the Nigerian beauty industry?

I’m absolutely in love with the way the Nigerian beauty industry is going. Nigerians are now believing in Nigerian brands and foreign brands are beginning to see Nigeria as an investment destination. They’re willing to bring their products here to compete on a local level.

If you could change one thing about the beauty industry, what would that be?

I think I would change the perception of the industry. I would love for Nigerian consumers to appreciate and trust Nigerian brands more. Because, when you think about it, the foreign brands they love started out just like the local brands.

What changes do you hope your brand will effect?

My goal for Taos Cosmetics is to be an internationally recognised brand that can compete internationally with foreign brands. It is my dream that we bring a new face to the Nigerian market. We want people to start to think “if Taos can do this, other Nigerian brands can do it as well”.

Kehinde Smith

Kehinde Smith, co-founder of My Extensions, is a fun, easy-going entrepreneur with a burning passion for business. My Extensions is a retailer of completely natural, 100% Fine Virgin Hair. Kehinde had a dream that started in Chicago, and she followed it all the way back home. Being one of disciplined character, she embeds this same trait in the growth and operations of her brand.

My Extensions actually started in America, and then you expanded to Nigeria. Tell us about your experience starting up in Nigeria.

I actually didn’t just come here to start My Extensions. It was the people who already knew about the brand that encouraged me to do it. I didn’t even know My Extensions was known in Nigeria, speak even less of popular, at that point. I mean, I had a few orders from Nigerians in America, but it was never that big a deal. Starting up My Extensions here interestingly wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. As far as building the brand was concerned, a few people here helped us do that far better than I could have imagined – pretty much through word of mouth. You know, when you have a great product, the recognition will come.

Building the actual store is probably where there was a little difficulty. You have to get contractors, make sure they come on time, and do what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to be doing it.

You previously shared with Guardian Life that you started my Extensions in Nigeria to bring quality hair extensions back home. What has been the experience thus far?

It’s been spectacular. Not only are we able to bring quality virgin hair to the market, we’re also able to show different methods and styles of wearing these extensions. The hair market is definitely growing and it’s no more just about just sewing tracks on your head, but now more about how you put the hair on your head, the quality, and maintenance.

What has the reception of your brand been like, in relation to the quickly rising “Buy Nigerian” mentality?

People have definitely been very receptive. I was a bit scared at first, because I know a few people were sceptical about My Extensions as a Nigerian brand because it started in America. The thing is if I had been born and raised in Nigeria, My Extensions would have definitely started here. But I was born and raised in Chicago, and so that is where I started my business. But, it’s been the opposite of what I expected. People, from celebrities to everyday people, patronise the brand quite frequently.

What is the philosophy by which your brand operates?

Transparency. Making sure that our clients are aware of what they are purchasing. A lot of people just sell you hair, and they don’t tell you anything about where the hair is coming from or how it was manufactured, or how to wear it properly and maintain it. When you come to the My Extensions showroom or shop online, we make sure you know what you’re buying. We let people know what they should look out for, even if they aren’t buying from us because everybody should have quality hair. Everybody today claims to have virgin hair, and we all know that’s not true (laughs). For instance, we don’t just get the hair from our suppliers and sell it right off. We have a strict process we follow where we make sure it’s washed and deep conditioned with medicated shampoo and conditioner so that it’s clean and safe enough for you to even touch. We make sure our clients are aware of all this.

What are your thoughts on the Nigerian beauty industry?

It’s definitely growing, but it’s still very much underestimated. A lot of people in the U.S don’t know how big the beauty industry is in Nigeria. Myself for example, I didn’t know how huge the market was until I got back.  Makeup alone is a huge thing out here. I think the beauty industry here, might even be bigger than the industry in America because Nigerians come up with so many techniques and methods, it’s almost unbelievable.

What about the industry would you change if you could?

The one thing I don’t like about the beauty industry, worldwide, is how makeup is applied. I think makeup is only supposed to enhance the beauty you already have, and not make you look like a whole other person. So, if I could change anything, I would change the mind-set of using making to change a person’s appearance totally, and just stick to enhancing already present beauty.

What changes do you hope your brand will effect?

Right now, we are trying to instil a sense of discipline in customers. Some customers, when they have an appointment scheduled for 9 O’ Clock, will often show up around 12 or something like that. So, we have a strict policy where a customer who is more than 15 minutes late for an appointment forfeits that spot to someone else. Because when you miss an appointment, you’re affecting other people as well. If you’re late, it means the person who is supposed to be attended to after you will have to wait even longer. So, we’re doing this to kind of teach the women in the beauty industry to be punctual.

Funke Tonye-Preghafi

Funke Tonye-Preghafi, fondly known as “Aunty Gifty”, is a bundle of light and energy. Her cosmetics retail store ‘Gifty’s Daughter’ is possibly one of the more popular walk-in stores for makeup needs in the beauty circles. Not being satisfied with simply stocking products, Funke decided to start her own line of cosmetics – Blot Beauty – to cater specifically to the African woman.

You first made your mark in the beauty scene with your retail store ‘Gifty’s Daughter’. At a time when a lot of makeup stockists were setting up online, why did you choose to set up a physical store?

I’ve always believed makeup should be an experience, and I liked the fact that I could walk into Sephora and see the physical products. For we women of colour, there’s a colour of the product you see online, and it’s sometimes different when you actually use it. This happens mostly because we don’t get to see what it looks like on different skin shades. So, I’ve always felt it’s better to come into the store and try it on before making a decision; instead of buying it and end up dumping it. For me, it’s, “come into the store, try it, buy it if you like it, and become a customer for life”.

What difficulties did you face trying to become a distributor of some of the foreign brands you sell?

For a lot of them, financing was a problem because they want you to do a minimum quantity order of $5,000 to $10,000. Another issue was delayed responses and sometimes even no response at all. I would get responses like, “Thank you for your interest, but we’re not looking at your region as part of our global expansion strategy.”. So, you know, those kinds of responses could be very demoralising; especially when you know there’s a gap here and their products will do well.

You went from being a beauty retailer to making your own products. What prompted this move?

I just felt the time was right. Being a beauty retailer, I had the opportunity to experience a lot of products and could see how they could have done better with their marketing, packaging, texture and various other things. Our weather is very peculiar, and most products don’t do well with it. No one has actually taken the time to find out which products will do well with our weather and which products will be okay for the average African woman. That prompted me to do my own research, and so I did. I went to a lot of trade shows and looked for manufacturers, until I eventually found one that could do what I wanted.

So what was that like; the manufacturing process?

Manufacturing is a very interesting process. From formulation, to ingredients and quantities. Then there’s packaging, branding, artwork and content creation. It has been a very long and hard process, but the rewards, I believe, are okay for now.

What is the philosophy by which your brand operates?

I always call Blot ‘a progressive niche brand’. Our focus is to solve the problems women are having in relation to beauty and makeup. Blot is for the woman who wants to look on point, and wants her makeup to take her from morning to evening. That’s why we have our matte lipsticks, our face primers, our brow gels and our mascaras. These are key areas where women have issues – face priming, matte lipstick that stay all day, lashes and mascara. So, we are a progressive brand. We actually listen to the customers to find out what their problems are and we try to solve them.

Thoughts about the Nigerian Beauty Industry

The possibilities are endless. I only wish we could step back from our culture of imitation. I would prefer that someone be bold enough to put their own name on a brush set, instead of making cheap imitations and still putting a big brand name on it. If we can break away from this imitation of a thing, the sky is our limit.

What would you change if you could change anything about the beauty industry?

I would change the way we are perceived. I feel the global beauty industry is a billion-dollar industry. But when you come down to the African level, we’re still struggling for relevance. We’re struggling to be recognised as a serious industry where you’ll get venture capitalists coming in to invest in brands they believe can take the beauty industry to the next level. I believe we should be seen as serious-minded people, not just people who sell lipstick and eyeliners.

What changes do you hope your brand will effect?

My hope, and my mind set, is that we’re going to dominate the African beauty industry. Currently, we’ve recorded a single digit increase since we came up; we’re now targeting a double digit increase by the end of 2017. Our focus is to be in every make up bag; everyone should own at least one Blot Beauty product.

So, would you say your brand is developing a more “buy Nigerian” mentality among beauty enthusiasts?

Definitely. My philosophy about the buy Nigerian movement is that if the company is hundred percent Nigerian, the idea is hundred percent Nigerian, and if it’s only the manufacturer that isn’t Nigerian, it’s still a Nigerian product. A lot of buyers on social media are the ones actually comparing for us. We, as manufacturers, may not have taken the time to compare our products with foreign ones, but you’ll realise it’s the people who buy these things that compare it and come to their own conclusions. They may realise what we have here is actually cheaper and better, and end up being the ones to actually push the brand.

One thing all three women have in common is their passion for the growth of Nigeria’s beauty industry. They are using their acquired knowledge and personal experiences to build brands that compete internationally.

At a time when we need to rebuild the value of our currency, it is important that we not just tout the phrase “buy Nigerian” for trends’ sake. We can rebuild our economy by investing locally, and one of the best ways to do this is by investing where it counts. Funke, Vanessa and Kehinde are key players in an industry that rarely takes an economic hit. There may not be any money, prices may go up, but women will always invest in their beauty.

Creative Team

Photography: Niyi Okeowo

Makeup: Jumoke Tychus for Eyesome Beauty

Hair: BeautyAce7

Styling: Henry Uduku

Outfits:

Funke: Top; Tobi Ogundipe Skirt: Amarelis Atelier

Vanessa: Amarelis Atelier

 Kehinde: The Keeper of The Wardrobe.

The post The Beauty and The Brains appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

In honor of the beautiful season of summer and all that it represents, we have created the first G.L summer editorial.

Summer is the youthful season of all seasons; it boasts of fun, colours, happiness and a tale of unending happiness. We should know all about this, seeing as it is forever summer here in Nigeria.

Here is a roundup of our best ocean, sand and sunshine shots.

Creative Team

Photography: Memories by Adufe 

Makeup: Jumoke Tychus for Eyesome Beauty

Styling: Henry Uduku

Models: Tamara and Alice for House Of ZETA

The post GL Summer Editorial – Cool for the Summer appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

What is music to you? Something you listen to in passing, or something that starts in your soul and flows out of you? A lot of musicians will say that the music is in their hearts, but how many of them truly embody this? The answer is not very many, and definitely none like Cobhams Asuquo.

Cobhams Asuquo is undeniably one of Nigeria’s finest producers today, having always had a deep interest in music. Over the years, he has produced albums like Asa’s Asa, and Bez’s Super Sun both of which topped charts worldwide. This musical genius has also worked with several other Nigerian artistes to produce hit songs, and was featured on CNN’s African Voices for his contribution and impact on the African music industry. But that’s not even the greatest thing about him.

As we settled into the dressing room at MUSON Center for the interview, Cobhams is nothing but charming and funny. His personality easily wins us all over, and I can sense it’s going to be a great morning already. As he played the grand Piano in AGIP Hall, I could see how connected to the instrument he was, how happy playing it made him. Every key stroke intentional, every note resonating.

What would you say drives you to continue to produce, write and sing?

I think music in itself has a pull, and when it gets you, there’s no choice but to do its bidding. For me, it starts from there. When you’re musically inclined, and you have an ear for music, you hear things and you feel the need to express them. When you understand the technicalities of proper music expression, you want to express it. Otherwise, it just feels like you aren’t doing what you know you should. The other thing that drives me to continue to make music is the thought of seeing something move from a place of thought or an idea to a finished work; the process of it is exciting to me. I’m also driven by what I hear and what I want to hear. There are certain things I hear and find inspiring and there are certain things I here and wonder how in the world they got to the radio and airwaves generally. There are certain things I want to hear and feel like I have the skill set to create what I want to hear; to influence what I want to hear. I also think that I’m driven to create music because I see music as a tool, you can say and influence so much with the music that you create or produce. I think it’s one of the deepest forms of expression given to man; it’s the one form of expression that man and God share.

You’ve produced a lot of hit songs in the course of your career, but people don’t really read and hear of your production process, tell us about that.

My production process is interesting. Just like everything great, it starts with an idea; with me wanting to know and understand the personality of the artist, breaking down their personalities in my head. It’s a process that’s very psychological as much as it’s musical; we’re talking mannerism, expressions, vocal range, message, musicianship, and persona. We’re talking about all that the musician is, me having to understand this, and using it to create a piece that is a reflection of the person for whom we’re creating the music. It moves from that thought to conceptualizing either by myself or with the musician what melodies that I feel will evoke the right measure of emotion. It progresses from there to building the music [all of this in my head], and getting in the studio and fleshing the music while sitting behind the piano or playing the guitar and then from there we begin the process of sequencing or creating the music either with a band or with a DAW and it progresses from there to getting the artist to the studio to voice on the created music. There’s an interaction with myself and the artist on how comfortable the artist is in the space that they’re voicing, what’s important to them when they voice, creating the right environment for them to voice, getting the right emotions out of them while doing several takes, creating a compilation of the best takes, which is kind of what you do with photography, and sending to the sound engineer to ensure it is properly mixed and mastered and the final work is acceptable.

How would you describe your evolution as producer, singer and song writer?

My evolution is more outward than inward, in the sense that I’ve always been these things. I took to producing and writing because I wasn’t comfortable with my own voice and would often find vocal expression with other people’s voices. But now that I’m finding expression and learning to love my own voice, the evolution is happening so that everyone can see that I’m sort of transitioning slowly from just producing and writing music to performing music. It’s more of an evolution for people to see than it is an evolution for me, as this is who I’ve always been. In terms of my career path and what I’m known for, I’m now consciously letting myself transition from one skill that I’m known for to another that I may not necessarily have been known to do. It’s been a very interesting process. While shocking for some people, some have always known that this is what I do and some have had more faith in me than I’ve had in myself. It’s feels somewhat like starting over, which is a feeling I really like. I’m moving from behind the scenes to being on stage which I think is a better way to tell my story and control my narrative, as well as the narrative of music and musicians in this part of the world, and of Africa. Music is a very strong tool for telling our story and, as a producer, you help someone else tell their story. I’m evolving to a place where I’m now in control of the narrative, and for me it’s very exciting. It’s shocking and it’s coming out of my shell and being very intentional in becoming the person I want to be perceived as.  It comes with its own measure of work but I like it.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career?

I’m scared to consider the highlights of my career. I think the minute you identify with the highlight of your career, you kind of plateau from that point on. The most important thing for me right now is to keep going. I don’t know that it’s in my place to identify what the highlight of my career is. Every day is the same for me, the only difference being that I’m getting better at what I do, and more people recognize me now when I go out.

You recently started the ‘Top 12 Countdown with Cobhams’. What’s been your favorite thing about the podcast so far?

The thing for me about doing the podcast is recognizing that I’ve been able to take the bold step to curate great music. The podcast is about curating great music, because Nigerians are constantly putting out a lot of great music that is often not heard or not given the type of audience that it deserves. The Top 12 Countdown allows me pick the songs that have reached out to me. Music is an experience; it’s got to make you feel a certain way. Sometimes, because of heavy rotation, music that is otherwise average can feel great to you, but there’s music that was intentionally created to be great. It’s like a master’s work of art; it’s like an amazing painting. And I think that that kind of music, because of the effort that’s put into creating it, is deserving of some form of recognition. I’m also excited about the feedback I get from musicians whose music make it to the countdown, and from people who ask if these songs are Nigerian because this isn’t the music we are exposed to on the radio. Watching it grow is another amazing thing as the countdown isn’t one that started with a lot of funding and watching it grow from a dream that has taken baby steps really excites me. The countdown is one I hope will grow a great deal, run for a long time and become a standard for good music and music that isn’t always mainstream but is great nonetheless.

You’re slated as the musical director for this year’s Hennessey Artistry Live RnB and Soul Show. What are your expectations?

One thing that is unique about Hennessy Rnb and Soul that I’m excited about is the bold step to feature artists that are not mainstream. It is bringing the unknown and popular artists together in a brilliant way of mixing and blending genres. I’m also really excited about the unknowns who will eventually become household names, the unknowns who will become stars and those who will get time on the Hennessy Rnb and Soul stage. My expectation is that more stars like Tuface, M.I, P-Square, Lagbaja, Asa, Bez, Ice Prince and all these people who we now regard and respect as household names will rise out of this show.

We can sense that you favor alternative genres of music more, why do you think Nigerians are not as receptive to these sounds as they are to “Jollof Music”?

I think Nigerians are not responsive to a lot of music I feature because we have the radio, and the gate keepers control what we absorb and consider to be music. A lot of the time, what gets heavy rotation is what people want to hear on the radio, and in the clubs, and they become the standard while everything else becomes alternative. For example, Waje released a song Koko Baby with Diamond Platnumz, which is a great song that can sit anywhere with songs from Flavor or anyone else. But because it was by Waje, who people consider to be an alternative artist, it made it to alternative charts as it wasn’t considered a popular or “Jollof” song. I think Nigerians respond to what we are fed by the radio, and TV, and a lot of the people who create the music which is now considered alternative either don’t have the means or don’t know how to put it in the right spaces where they could be heard. If you think about it, Adekunle Gold, Simi, and Aramide, are people who are blessed with the opportunities and means to put their music out there and are doing great things while getting into the “Jollof space” without having to compromise. I think, our gate keepers have a role to play in introducing Nigerians to variety because music isn’t just made of Jollof music which I love and make sometimes if I absolutely must. But I also think that, radio stations, TV stations and people who control the blogger-sphere have a role to play in helping Nigerians who have different taste pallets feel a sense of inclusion but also including the rest of Nigeria to this kind of music. If you think about it, we are one the biggest consumers of ballads besides Korea and a bunch of others. For a long time, we loved Celine Dion, Brian McKnight, West Life and the rest. We are still those people, and it’s just a question of what the media is feeding us as a people and how this is slowly defining us and our tastes.

Can we expect any projects from you in the nearest future?

There’s a ton of stuff happening and there are a couple of things slated for the rest of the year. I’m not sure if I can talk about them, as they are exclusive events. It’s also in the spirit of promoting variety and encouraging the perfect blend of music which isn’t just one genre. We are going to be running a series, details of which I’ll share when the time is right. I’m also excited about a couple of personal projects that will be coming out. I’m putting out singles as a build up to an album for myself. I am also invested in the albums of Bez, Omawumi and Timi Dakolo, there are also a ton of great stuff coming out and a couple of other things I’m working on.

What words do you have for people who look up to you as a role model or for inspiration?

I would say it’s important that you’re passionate about it. Don’t ever allow money be your motivation. It’s great to have money and you should work towards having loads of it, but don’t let it be what motivates you. Let your motivation be something bigger, and let it come from inside you; the desire to meet a need. If your desire is to meet a need, you not only do that but you get paid for it. I would say you need a lot of patience so you better start building it. We don’t appreciate delayed gratification in this part of the world, and that’s a challenge. If you’re going to do music and you want to stay out there for a long time, build the patience and discipline to create something that is long standing and would outlive you. I would say, as a musical person, you’re most likely to be a helpless creative and creatives are known for putting things off. Check that and make sure you do what you say you will do when you say you will do it. Creative people sometimes live in a bubble where they do things in their minds but not in reality, so ensure you balance the things you think about with how you go about doing them. It’s never enough to think about them no matter how fantastic they are. Remember that ideas are not given to you alone, and the world will celebrate the person who first takes action. Whatever you’re thinking about, get up and go because someone is probably thinking of doing same.

In parting, Cobhams shares with us important principles of life and of music. As he speaks, it’s easy to see the love he has for music is more than just a passing affair, but one that burns bright. For the creatives, he shares how important it is to understand the principles of life and live by them because they don’t take any excuses. Cobhams also shares that his faith and belief in God has played a huge part in getting him to where he is today.

I thought I had an idea of what passion was, and how necessary it was to be passionate about whatever it is you choose to do, but talking with Cobhams opened my eyes to a whole new dimension of it. It’s more about just having deep feelings for something, but relishing what your purpose is and living for that purpose.

Creative Team

Photography: Jerrie Rotimi

Styling: Henry Uduku

Glasses: Dapmod

Bow Tie: The Indulgence Accessories

Location: MUSON Center, Lagos

The post Cobhams Asuquo; For the Love of Music appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Tosin Ajibade, aka Mr. Eazi, is the musical whirlwind that has recently taken over the African music industry and has continued to do so at an incredible pace. He is a Ghanaian – Nigerian World music recording artist whose sound is heavily influenced by a mix of genres that has allowed him to create a totally different sound; pioneered by him.

Why the name Mr. Eazi? He told us that while studying for his B.SC in Mechanical Engineering, he always ended the promo bulk SMS he did for shows with ‘’Be Easy” and it stuck.

Talking to Mr. Eazi was an insight into the new sound that Africa is ready to share with the world; the new class of artistes that we will be serving to the world. These new talents are not just about the lyrics and the beats, but are embodiment of talent, hard work and persistence. They are set on making an impact and are not swayed by the rush of fame.

In this exclusive interview, Mr. Eazi takes us through his background, his motivation, aspirations and the principles that have stuck and gotten him this far.

In a recent tweet, you gave us a run down on your journey to this point so far, can you describe the experience?

The thing is that I went to school to study Mechanical Engineering because I thought that was the only way of making money. When I get into school, I found out that the students there loved luxury, so I used my school fees at the time which was $5,999 to buy a car that was used like an Uber. The taste of that entrepreneurship sparked something in me and I decided that I didn’t want to be an engineer, I wanted to own my thing and control my own flow. I created Swagger Entertainment in Ghana which pioneered the party culture in Kumasi, Ghana and all of this was done in my 2nd year. I did that till my final year and that gave me a strong relationship with top acts in Ghana and Nigeria. That took me from mechanical engineering to events, which took me to the studio and I started recording in my final year. I worked with Schlumberger in Nigeria when I graduated. I was good at it, but it was not for me and I felt like I could do something bigger. I went back to Ghana for my MSc and I knew that was the only way for my parents to give me time to follow my dreams. My classes were on the weekend so that gave me ample time. I started with importing La Casera to Ghana but I wasn’t experienced in business and it became boring because of the profit margin and the stress involved. I got introduced to mining which was influenced by my MSc thesis and it piqued my interest. I was so fascinated and spent most of my time breaking the ground and mining gold which was very lucrative. I felt it could be bigger so I took a loan of $100,000 from a V.C but the V.C became greedy and that ended that relationship. I started the sharwama business because there was no sharwama in Kumasi. I got people to make the sharwarma from Nigeria and that quickly became a huge success. At that time, the gold money stopped because the government legalized it and I didn’t want to get into trouble with the law. The recent development gave me time and some friends took me to the studio and we recorded my first E.P About To Blow in one week which had Bankulize. Towards the middle of 2014, I decided to return to Nigeria and the opportunity came while I was looking for investment for my mining, because I needed $100,000 to do mining with equipment. I started searching the internet and I ran into a fund by 440NG but they only invested in the tech businesses. I met a friend who was doing a phone business and we rebranded it to an e-commerce platform and we got the initial investment funding, but my partner got greedy and we had a falling out. I had to step out of that business and I started my business Phone Trader in partnership with Airtel and by L5Lab. It was in-between starting my own business that Jules came through with what he had done with Bankulize and it was getting massive airplay in Ghana. I didn’t go back to Ghana till December 2015 for Sarkodie’s show where he invited me to perform (between that time we had dropped Bankulize and Skin Tight), so I got on the stage and people were screaming and I was amazed. I was still doing my business, and it wasn’t until we went on our first tour in March that I realized that this was really happening.

I feel like it is still the same entrepreneurship story and the music has paid for itself. We invested about N450,000 in terms of investment and according to the ROI ratio this has been my most lucrative venture. So why not just continue with it.

According to notjustok.com, your music brand is “Banku Music”, can you explain that genre of music?

Banku music is actually World music that is African based. For instance, you want to upload a song on iTunes, you click on Afrobeats but there is no Afrobeats, however you have World music which is generally used to categorize music that does not fall into any category or a music genre that is not big enough to acknowledge. In my case, my influences are from everywhere; RnB, reggae, hip-hop, afro pop. It is a mixture of different influences that combine as world music that everybody no matter the race can relate to.  I call it Banku because Banku (the meal) is a mixture of different ingredients, just like my music. And anytime that I eat Banku, I become sleepy and relaxed and, coincidentally, I recorded most of my tracks after eating Banku and you can feel the lazy chilled delivery with most of my songs.

What has been your major inspiration in life?

It has just been about following my dreams. For me, I always say, once I dream it, I live it. I feel like there is just one life to live so why restrain yourself? If God gives you the opportunity to be multiple things then go for it; there is no loss at the end of the day. When you die, you won’t go with anything, everything is vanity and the only thing that really counts are the experiences which includes your relationships with people, and traveling to places. These are the tangible things and they have weight. For me it has been enjoying life and following my dreams and of course God has been blessing everything I do.

What’s your take on the Nigerian and Ghanaian music industry, since you infiltrated them so well?

I feel the Ghanaian and the Nigerian industry are different. The Ghanaian industry is vibrant but laid back, there aren’t many artists like in Nigeria. The sound is different; a lot of things can work in Ghana that can’t work in Nigeria. Ghana is a very good place to start, especially for an artist that puts out the kind of music that I do because Ghana gives you a listening ear unlike Nigeria were for every genre and sub-genre there are a thousand artists doing it.

When you catapulted into the spotlight, there was an argument as to your nationality. So where is home for you? Ghana or Nigeria?

Right now, I am just a roaming ambassador. I haven’t even been to Ghana in a while. I thought London was my home two weeks ago, then I thought Houston was my home and now I think Lagos is my home. For me, I feel there is no home. You see the Fulani cap I carry, mostly worn by herdsmen, it signifies that I am a Kubolor; I just move like an African gypsy.  There is no home, we just move as the pastures direct us.

We saw some clips from your UK tour and the reception was almost unbelievable. How does being in the limelight feel?

For me, it is just a blessing. I am just observing, I am not going to lie and say that at some point that we did not think of these things happening but there was no real push. Everything has come as a blessing and when you realize that it is a blessing and not as a result of anything you have done, you can only watch and that is what I am just doing at every show, concert and fan meeting. It motivates me to continue.

Future projects you are looking forward to?

For me and my team, we are heavy with on-the-road projects because I am a Kubalor. I like traveling and music has given me a reason to travel. We are on the Life Is Eazi series, my album is going to be called Life is Eazi Vol. 1 and then the tour is like a pre-album tour in London, Ghana and Europe. In November we have Dirty November in the U.K, we have some shows with Lauryn Hill. Basically, it is build up to the Life Is Eazi album and next year we would be doing Life Is Eazi Africa; touring in 14 countries before the album drops. When the album drops, we will start another tour Life Is Eazi Album Tour which will take us to every continent by God’s grace, until we are famous in China.

How would you say being in Star Boy has helped your music career?

I feel like it is chemistry and in chemistry you have a chemical reaction. So, say you set up a chemical reaction, with or without a catalyst it is going to happen. The results are there, but when you have a catalyst, its speeds it up. I feel like Star Boy this year has been that catalyst.

Advice to young people

Follow your heart. The fact is that anything you want to do, be it positive or negative, if you set your mind to do it and ginger towards it, it will happen. So, just focus on the positive. I mean, Hitler did all that he did with just willpower and that shows you what willpower can do. So don’t stop.

It is safe to say that Mr. Eazi is Africa’s Big Thing right now, and this is not about the hype. It’s really more about the personality behind the mic. He is not your average Nigerian musician basking in the euphoria of the spotlight, but a focus-driven and seasoned entrepreneur who sees everything as an opportunity. When you think about it, it is a blessing to the industry. He has created no limit to the feats he can achieve, and this is the mentality of the most successful people on the planet, past and present. Taking a cue from Mr. Eazi, go through life following your heart and, most importantly, take it easy.

Creative Team

Photography: Niyi Okeowo

Stylist: Henry Uduku

Outfits: Orange Hooded Jacket – Maxivive

              Rest of the clothes – Stylists Own

The post Mr Eazi – The New Sound of Africa appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

In recent times fashion has moved from a place of discomfort and suffering to a place where we are comfortable with and love what we wear. In many ways, the Orange Culture brand represents that with the feminine touch that spreads from the patterns, to the cuts and the overall appearance of the outfits.

The last time we featured the Founder of the brand, we mentioned the fact that he was opposing stereotypes and we are glad that he has stayed true to his creative roots as a fashion designer.

  In that same interview with Adebayo Oke-Lawal, when asked on what to expect from the brand this year, he said.

“I can never answer that question. I always say just look out, you never know. Just look out. Anything can happen with Orange Culture. Just expect the most and be excited with us, stay with us. If you love the brand, just continue to support us.”

He has stayed true to this statement – anything can truly happen with Orange Culture. They have taken the step in uniting young designers in the bid to create pieces that hold value to their supporters and the fashion industry as a whole.

The Orange Culture S/S 17 Menswear Collection was a collaboration between the Orange Culture brand and other intriguing and creative brands such as Rokus London (jewelry), Maxivive and Dricky (Slides).

Fashion designing to Adebayo is a “tool for communication”. It is the way the artist voices his opinions and general state of mind!

About the SS 17 Lookbook;

The concept behind the collection is exploring the themes of adolescent rejection. A union of both identity and rebellion, manifested in a playful yet provocative way. The school uniform referred to as the catalyst of the inspiration, Orange Culture asked the question; if they had a uniform, what would it be?

As ever, the pieces continue to push the preconceived boundaries of what the modern man should be – toying with feminine cuts constructed from a rich menu of linens, silks, organzas and coated cottons.

As with the collections before, fabrics are sourced locally by the Lagos based designer – helping to solidify their core brand beliefs for their first season at London Fashion Week back in June.

Creative Team

Photography: @_kyleweeks_

Stylist: @gaviroo and @theorangenerd

Model: @seunlogan of @bossmodelsa @bethmodelafrica

Jewellery:  made in collaboration with @rokuslondon

Slides: made in collaboration with @Maxivive and hand painted by @dricky_

The post A Radical Approach to Menswear appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

A million quotes have been written about the essence of music, and what is clearly important is the importance of music to society. We can attest to being moved by the sound we hear and how the emotions they evoke from us bring us in tune with our inner being. Falana once described her sound as ‘soul fusion’ which is a unique blend of jazz, soul, Afrobeat and RnB but recently her sound can be described as HER SOUND! Unique and encompassing.

Taking the music scene in Nigeria one step at a time, Falana has made appearances in concerts like Afropolitan Vibes and Asa Live in Concert. Recently she took the bull by the horn, headlining a series of pop up concerts titled Falana Uncover’d which started in June and will end in September. Falana has successfully launched her budding career in Nigeria and with each move she introduces the world to the sound that is Falana Music.

How would you describe your music?

My sound is just what naturally comes out of me, what feels right to me. I love jazz, and rhythm, and I enjoy putting myself in different environments, exploring different sounds and then those experiences will naturally come out when I sit down to create music. My music is definitely a fusion of my experiences, and musical influences mashed together into one. Rhythm and percussion is definitely prominent in my music.

If you weren’t doing music what would you be doing?

I probably would have gone to law school, and then followed the wind from there…

You started a series of pop up concerts around Lagos, what inspired that decision?

I think Lagos has such a hunger for great arts, music and culture in general. So its a great place to launch something like this. Each concert is an opportunity to create a new experience for audiences. A live music experience, is just that – an experience. Musicians and musical artists have the privilege of curating an energy, or vibe if you will for their audience through: the space they are in, the songs they chose to play or not play, their interaction with the audience etc.

How would you say it (the pop up concert) has helped with your music career in Nigeria?

I have created the opportunity to headline my own concerts, and interact directly with people who enjoy and connect with my music. I also get to curate the experience from start to finish, the vibe, the energy, the set etc. It is a privilege and I am fortunate that we have had the feedback and the interest in what I do.

What has been your major inspiration?

Wow, well, Lauryn Hill was my first real artistic influence. She is the first artist that I fully and intentionally digested! Lauryn inspires me to be attentive and be honest in my music. Fela introduced me to what it means to be bold, authentic, have fire, have attitude, be distinct and be inspiring in your music all at the same time.

What’s your take on the Nigerian music industry?

Let me keep it simple and describe it in 3 words: Fresh, Vibrant and Evolving.

What can we do to improve the quality of music we absorb?

I think just intentionally seek music that you connect with and relate to. I try to stay out of the school of thought that there is a good kind of music. How many human beings are on this planet?… each with our own story, their own experience, their own roots and history, that will then inform their taste. So should not every person be entitled to find something that resonates with them? Music on its own has the ability to allow you to time travel, relive precious moments, nurse you back to self, excite you, initiate a turn up, it is so versatile, it can serve so many purposes, do so many things. So the key is to find what you need in whatever music you listen to. It is that simple.

You have been likened to some of the greats like Lauryn Hill, how would you describe your own voice and the message you hope to pass with your music?

Wow, that is so amazing…I suppose what Lauryn taught me is to just be yourself in everything you do, and people will connect with your light. So I suppose that is my message, and that is exactly what I hope to do with my music.

Highlights in your career so far.

Highlights? Honestly, I think I am just getting started…

Five things we don’t know about Falana.

1. I speak four languages.
2. My favourite movie of all time is ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ with Gene Wilder (May his soul rest in peace).
3. I used to play competitive football (soccer).
4. It is not uncommon for me to cry when I watch Disney/Pixar movies.
5. My favourite colour is green.

 Future projects you are looking forward to?

I am very excited to be working on putting together my album! So I am looking forward to releasing that.

Advice to upcoming artists.

That one thing that makes you different is your most value resource, asset, weapon! Do not let anyone rob you of your voice, or your freedom to be yourself.

In a country where a certain kind of music garners more appreciation than others, it’s great to see creative, alternative souls carving a niche for themselves. Where many would wait for the opportunity to headline concerts, Falana took the brave step of setting up her own concerts; a great example of building a door, as opposed to waiting for opportunity to come knocking.

When you are absolutely certain of who you are and what you want to achieve, what you create will be an extension of your person, and you will attract the attention you seek. We watch Falana’s growth with admiration as she inspires a new kind of artiste.

Creative Team

Photography: Femi Caution

Makeup: Jumoke Tychus for Eyesome Beauty

Stylist: Henry Uduku

The post The Sound of Falana Music appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

If you’ve been paying close attention to the Nigerian music industry, one thing you may have noticed is that femcees come and go. There was once a time when we had a good number of them standing strong in the game. We listened to their lyrics and smiled because not only were they good, but we could also relate. Femcees were cool, and admired by many, because the rap scene was seen to be something only men fit into. Sadly, our femcees seemed to fade away and settle into a quiet oblivion. Now, we think of them fondly and wonder “whatever happened to such-and-such?”.

In spite of all this, one femcee has stayed true to the scene and her passion. Eva Alordiah has been around for a solid number of years now. After a number of singles, a mix tape that got people not just talking but interested, and more singles and features, rapper Eva is set to take the crown as Nigeria’s foremost femcee with the release of her very first, full-length album 1960.

Guardian Life sat down with the charming, talented artiste to discuss a little bit about her career.

Tell us a little bit about Eva

I am really a very simple a person. I love nature; I literally bask in the wonders of the clouds and seas, I love when I run in the mornings and my body takes in the air in all its freshness.  I am a thinker,  in the sense that I tend to live in and out of my head for several moments in time, analyzing, planning, wondering,  imagining.  I love food but I don’t eat much.  I love cats but I don’t have one yet cause I have a dog now, Frankie, and still haven’t figured out how to introduce Frankie to a cat and have them live harmoniously if I do get one. I have a wonderful family and the best moments of my life are the ones they are in.

Some would say the name ‘Eva’ is in itself a brand. Tell us about the Eva brand.

The Eva brand spans a lot of things and is not just limited to music.  It is also a beauty and lifestyle brand and I am blessed to be regarded highly by the fans.  My fans follow me because they get value. I am constantly thinking of how best to create value for the people who follow me.  It is why I create the type of content I create online and why I write the type of lyrics I write in my songs. A large portion of my fanbase is comprised of girls within the age bracket 13-24 and this is great for me as I have lived those wonder years and have a real understanding of what these girls want.  It is what inspires me when I create a product.  I am always thinking about their needs and how I can serve.  What do you want and what can I do about it as Eva?

You’ve been in and out of the music scene for a substantial number of years now, releasing singles, doing features, and you even released a mixtape. Can you share with us why you seem to disappear at length?

I never disappear at length.  There is always something going on,  sometimes it’s not made extremely public, but I am always in there somewhere. Life itself is in seasons and there is a time for everything.  As a business owner and an entertainer,  I understand the need to step away a few times to make adjustments, to refocus,  to realign with the purpose for doing what it is that I do.

You aren’t known for your music alone, and dabble in quite a number of creative arts. Why is this?

I guess I must say I have been blessed with quite a number of talents, some not yet developed.  I am conscious not to get myself into too many things however,  as this can rob any creative person of the power to focus.  Asides music and performing which is my core,  I am also a Makeup artist, a writer and a fashion designer. I love Makeup.  I know how to do it and the joy for me is to teach others and this is what I am currently doing on my YouTube page “theEvaAlordiahLife”. The intention is to have connected with at least 1 Million African girls around the world.  Writing for me is something I remember quite vividly that I wanted to do as a child and in the past I have written for magazines and blogs,  but right now I am also writing books. People aren’t reading anymore, especially younger people, and this is the sect that houses my core fan base.  I figured if they followed me then they’d love to read me too and if I can get them to read then I most certainly would keep on writing.

Doing other things asides music is probably how I stay sane you know?

At the listening party for 1960, you shared that you were happy about this album because you were depressed and having the album completed makes you happy. Can you share with us a little bit more about what caused the depression and dealing with it?

Depression is going to happen to each of us at one point or the other in our lives. It is important that we are having these conversations about it, instead of shying away from it like we do every other topic that scares us.

How I dealt, and continue to deal with, depression; Firstly, I understand that I have a choice.  I am powerful enough to choose whether to be happy or sad, whether to create or not create, whether to be filled with gratitude or to complain. The dichotomies of good and evil,  light and dark,  would always exist for as long as the world does and as a human being you are responsible for what’s going on with you at every point. I have found that depression can become the excuse to not create. Instead of sitting in the chair of how badly I might be feeling,  I garner strength enough not to lean in the emotional rut too long that I forget my ultimate purpose.  I pray.

That’s what I do.  It is a calling forth by faith of those things which are not as though they were. It is an expression of a positive attitude and depression fades away when that is present.

Was this phase of your life what resulted in you writing and then publishing your book?

I have always been writing.  This phase of my life was more the time where I realigned with my truest purpose and found a deeper understanding of why I am here.  I was then able to appreciate the downtime and used it to reflect, sit in the silence and I was able to write and complete my first collection of short stories,  “11”. Writing is probably the best thing to do when you are feeling depressed. Reading and writing.  When you are depressed,  your thoughts are clouded by negativity and fear and doubt. When you read you are able to override these thoughts by feeding your mind and soul new positive powerful information that can even spur you to action. And action is the killer of depression.

Speaking of your book? What has the reception been towards 11?

It has been wonderful so far.  Everyone who has read the book appreciates the diversity of the stories and I find that people do want to talk about sex. We do have things we want to say on the subject but don’t because of the society that we live in. I think we have it all backwards if we must continue to go on being hypocritical on the subject of sex.

The book itself isn’t about sex; it just has stories that revolve around the emotions and decisions that we deal with as human beings because of sexual acts.

How would you say functioning as an independent artist has helped your career?

Majorly I have learned a lot about the business, and business in general.  I have acquired skills that I by no means thought I had the capacity to handle.  I have become a more responsible person,  leading teams,  managing processes,  dealing with people and emotions.  It’s a lot of work but I am grateful to do it. I am a music business entrepreneur and the happier for it.

Do you think things would be different (better or worse) if you signed with a record label?

Of course things would be different.  Hopefully in a good way.  Not much would change however in terms of the underlying structure of things but it will be a step that further enhanced whatever it is that we may have going on right now

What’s next for Eva? What should we look forward to?

We are going on a country wide tour to promote my new album 1960, which is currently available to the fans for whatever they want to pay for it on 1960thealbum.com.

We are touring 13 states in Nigeria and then we would go on to the African leg of the 1960 tour. Asides music I am working on my clothing collection for women; a ready to wear, affordable line that I am hoping my female fans would love. My Makeup show on the channel “theEvaAlordiahLife” on YouTube also airs 2 episodes of Makeup and beauty tutorials every week and my fans love when I do makeup so that’s a big project I am focusing on as well. It is going on TV but not just yet.

What advice do you have for other artistes who don’t exactly fit into a contemporary mould?

Do you.  God first.

Listening to the 1960 album is a journey that moves and soothes. To the listening ear, Eva tells the story of her journey, a bit at a time. Admittedly, it’s a new style from this artist, but it’s very reflective of the time she has put into the industry, and creating this album. Hopefully, this really does mark the beginning of greater things for the artiste, and we will be hearing more from her.

The post Eva Alordiah – Last Femcee Standing appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

The best thing about being in this current generation is the fact that we have been given the privilege to witness creative talents and connect with them in more ways than we can imagine. The other great thing is that people aren’t limiting themselves to only one form of creative expression and income generation. We are also blessed with people like Adekunle Gold who spread the joy and love and happiness through what they have chosen to do.

Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and graphic designer. For the longest time, he was known as the ‘Photoshop king’ on social media, thanks in large part to his ability to seamlessly Photoshop himself into trending pictures of celebrities. In 2014, he released his first single ‘Sade’ and became a big hit almost instantly. Soon after, he signed with YBNL and it’s just been multiple success stories after that.

In this interview with Guardian Life, we get to witness the exciting, happy and loving persona that is Adekunle Gold.

Tell us a little bit about Adekunle Gold.

Adekunle Gold is a singer, songwriter, and also known as ‘the King of Photoshop’ when he decides to be crazy. I studied Art and Industrial Design, and majored in graphics. Of course, I’m also signed to YBNL and it’s pretty much been an interesting journey for me.

So you did graphic design for a while and then you started music. What caused this change?

Firstly, there’s no such thing as you did graphics for a while’ because I still do graphics’. When I started working with companies, I was doing music. And even now that I’m focusing on music, I’m still very much into graphics. I design most of my stuff.

What would you say inspired your style of music and what would you call it?

I grew up listening to all kinds of music. I remember my dad made all of us listen to Ebenezer Obe all the time. I actually really loved it. And then as I got older, I listened to a lot of other sounds like pop and indie which I love. The Script is actually my favourite band, and I love Asa as well. I like to refer to my sound as urban highlife; a fusion of pop, highlife and folk music.

You once said you scout for stories that inspire your songs. Still, most of them seem to be about relationships. Is there a reason why?

Firstly, almost all my songs are about me.  And then sometimes I’m on social media looking for gist because you know sometimes you just want something funny to talk about. Almost all the time, whatever is going on involves love. Me, I love love and love stories. I’m a loverboy *laughs*. So, almost always, all I’m thinking about is one girl. So, yeah. This love situation is everywhere. If there’ no Yoruba demon talk today, there will be one guy talking about how he was cheated on by a woman. I’m just easily drawn to talking about and listening to these stories.

Before and after an album release, there’s a wild rush of emotions. What has it been like since the release of GOLD?

Having worked on GOLD for like two years, I did expect there to be a breakthrough. I expected success as well. What I didn’t expect was a huge outpouring of love. That I got. I mean, it’s been amazing. Since July 25^th that I dropped the album, it’s been nothing but love all the way. I was completely blown away by it all. I’ve travelled out of the country as well since then, and the reception was equally amazing. I’m so grateful that people love the album, and that they think it is brilliant work.

Speaking of the album, I was on twitter some time ago and noticed you’d released the video for Ariwo Ko. There was a bit of controversy surrounding that song, where some people suggested you were speaking to someone or some people.

*laughs* Nah. I said it on Twitter recently that the album was already 80% done when I had the idea to do the song. If you know me, you know I’m very active on social media; twitter especially. I’m always online chatting or ranting about something I’m pretty sure I saw something that inspired it. But the song isn’t about anyone, and it definitely isn’t about any of the people that many have suggested the song is about.

I also noticed you are the executive producer of your album. Based on my understanding, when an artiste is signed to a label, the owner of that label is the executive producer of the albums. Can you elaborate on why this isn’t the case with GOLD?

Firstly, thank God I’m with a label like YBNL, and I have an oga like Olamide that understands that you need to do you. Olamide has given each and every one of us the opportunity and liberty to just do what we want to do. Where he comes in is to give approval. He can say what he thinks works and what doesn’t, and point us in the right direction. For GOLD, I pretty much wrote the music myself. During production, I was the one telling the producer which direction I wanted everything to go. Olamide really entrusted everything to me, and was always there to remind me that he knows I can do it. He would say “Just see it as your business. I’m only here to guide you.”. So, based on all this, it really just made sense to put me as the executive producer. And, of course, I got the approval from my oga.

You sing, you sculpt, and you’re a genius with graphic design. What other creative aspects of Adekunle Gold do we not know about?

I like girls. Is that creativity? *laughs* But seriously though, If talking is creativity, then I like to talk. And I mean I like to talk a lot. I think that’s probably one thing most people don’t know. So, yeah. That’s it. I paint, I draw, I do a bit of sculpting, and then I dabbled a bit in ceramics.

What should we expect from Adekunle Gold in the near future? What’s next for you?

I recently announced a US tour starting October 14^th and running through to November 6^th or thereabout. I’m also going to be releasing videos for songs off GOLD and new singles. There will also be a lot of new collaborations. I mean, really just a lot of great stuff. And, oh! I’m already working on a new album.

What would you like to say to the people reading this interview?

Thank you very much for the love because there is no way I would have done any of this without you supporting me. Thank you for all the love for the album. If you haven’t gotten it, go get it and tell people about it. I love you all.

This interview reaffirms the fact that Adekunle has a heart made of gold. And it isn’t just about his album or his name. His music has brought joy to a lot of people, his work as an artist has brought smiles to people’s faces and we know this is just the starting point for him. It’s not often we come across such down-to-earth people who effortlessly remain relatable and humble even when they have a few reasons to see themselves as better than others.

In a world where value is sought after, people who have more than just talent to offer are rare to find. Keeping this in mind, we can say in full confidence that Adekunle Gold is a treasure.

The post Adekunle – A Heart of Gold appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

For the longest time, there has been a clear distinction between the fashion industry and the technology industry. This distinction, if we had decided to dig deeper, would have proven to be unnecessary. Slowly this boundary has begun to fade and these industries have begun to see the importance and relevance of one another.

Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. Fashion is the prevailing style, be it in clothing, hair, decoration or behaviour during a particular time. Over the years, both industries have had cause to synergise and create at different times. The fashion industry often relies on technology to meet certain objectives, and technology has needed fashion to model its inventions.

Little wonder that the super stylish HP Spectre uses the same modus operandi in introducing itself into the Nigerian market. The cover subjects are Mai Atafo and Toju Foyeh, the IT names in the Nigerian fashion industry today as well as Ifeyinwa Afe, a determined woman who has made it her life’s duty to aid sustainable development for the future.

Mai Atafo

Introduce yourself

My name is Mai Atafo, I am a bespoke tailor and fashion designer.

You have a record with the corporate industry why did you leave and how has it affected your M.O as a fashion designer? 

I left the corporate industry to pursue my heart desire of becoming a fashion entrepreneur. My experience from working in the corporate world as a marketing specialist has really affected the way I run my business. I believe marketing is the core of any consumer driven business.

What motivates your creative direction as a designer? 

Life and everything around me motivates and inspires my creative direction. I believe that the more I see the more creative I am.

We are now in a digital age; how best would you say technology has affected your job as a fashion designer?

Technology has affected almost every aspect of my job as a fashion designer. From new machines that provide new and different techniques for garment construction to social media which is the new medium for communication and image creation.

 What are your hopes for the fashion and tech industry? 

Well, technology is already turning my hopes to reality. I mean, with The New HP Spectre, technology complements my skills without compromising performance as a Fashion designer. I hope to see new technologies that would help the fashion industry seamlessly improve creativity, communication as well as garment manufacturing. I mean, looking at the current trends, technology is enormously helping fashion break new frontiers.

What is the importance in this age and time of embracing technology in the Nigerian fashion industry? 

It is so important that it is imperative. Technology holds the key to a successful fashion label. Literally every aspect of fashion has to do with technology, it is almost inevitable.

 How did the HP Spectre inspire the black and gold collection?

They are few things that characterise the HP Spectre; in my opinion, these are Sleek, Stylish, craftsmanship and the obvious one, the colours of the HP Spectre. Majority of the collection was black and gold but beyond that each suit is based on the Savile row craftsmanship and it takes 80 hours for one suit, which gives a clean and sleek cut and fit to every suit.

Toju Foyeh

Hello Toju, introduce yourself?

My name is Toluwaloju Olowofoyeku (Toju Foyeh). Born in the late 80’s, I developed a passion for fashion at a young age. Growing up, I was surrounded by several family members who were into fashion. In the early ’90’s, my mother sold unique fabric pieces and my grandmother was a designer who attended the London College of Fashion. Putting my education as priority, I obtained an LLB Law from the University of Reading, UK and an LLM from the University of Manchester, also in the UK. At this point, I decided to follow my passion by enrolling for degree programmed at the world famous Instituto Marangoni in Milan. After my degree I returned to Nigeria to attend the Nigerian Law School before setting up my business.

You have an amazing record in the fashion industry, what has been your motivation?

God is my motivation; I look to Him for strength and Direction. I also look to my family for support and encouragement. The drive to be successful also motivates me. I also constantly challenge myself to be better at what I do every day.

How would you best describe the effect of technology in the fashion industry?

Technology makes things a lot easier, faster and precise. For example, illustrations can be done digitally as opposed to by hand. You can illustrate a style digitally using the actual fabric, this allows the client see what the outfit would look like before the outfit is made. There are also machines that help make the sewing process easier. For example, with beading, this makes the production process faster. There are also applications that keep us updated with fashion trends and all that’s happening and relevant in fashion today.

What are your hopes for the fashion and technology industry?

To make life easier by creating more effective and efficient ways of doing things.

What is the importance in this age and time of embracing technology in the Nigerian fashion industry? 

As I mentioned earlier, technology makes things easier, especially the whole production process. For instance, advanced machines have been created to make the sewing process easier and faster, applications have been created for digital illustrations. Also we now have applications that can be used for record keeping, inventory and stock keeping and any other customer database which makes it easier to manage the business as a whole

How did the HP Spectre inspire the black and gold collection?

The HP Spectre looks like a piece of art so a lot of emphasis was put in the craftsmanship and detailing of the pieces. Also, focusing on the sleek appearance of the laptop, I made sure the pieces were sophisticated and elegant.

Ifeyinwa Afe

Who is Ify Jennifer Afe?

 Ify is a dynamic woman, bursting with ideas and energy, passionate about making a long lasting positive change to the world we live in. A graduate of Economics and Development Studies from Igbinedion University, I have always aspired towards championing positive contributions towards sustainable development, such that ‘tomorrow ‘gets better every day for our children and generations to come.

Best of all, I am a proud mother to two amazing children, and a wife to the best husband anyone could ever ask for.

You have an impressive resume what has been your driving force?  

Thank you very much. I would say that I am a very determined woman, I have unending knack for learning and unfailing love for humanity.

How does this new Spectre fit into the daily lives of people?

 The HP Spectre is one of the thinnest notebooks the world has seen, and unlike other super thin PCs in the market, this laptop doesn’t compromise power or features. A beautiful edge-to-edge display, Intel® Core™ i processors coupled with Bang & Olufsen sound and a sexy and thin design, HP amazing engineers set a new standard with the Spectre.

So recently HP launched its new Spectre into the Nigerian Market. What inspired the technology meets fashion themed event?

At HP we continually try to reinvent. So in our 77 years of doing business we have constantly tried to reinvent ourselves whilst paying close attention to the needs and desires of our customers.  The event was carefully thought through and planned because it was extremely important to us that people understood the messaging behind it.

The HP Spectre is a unique product that embraces exceptional style with power.

It is a distinct product that compromises on nothing, which is why we needed to ensure that its first official introduction into the Nigerian market was done with two of the style industry’s top designers, and for our distinguished guests to appreciate the rare merger of style and technology.
 

Creative Team

Photography: Kelechi Amadi-Obi

Makeup: Abekemakeovers

Ifeyinwa Afe and Toju Foyeh’s outfit: Toju Foyeh

Mai Atafo’s outfit: Mai Atafo

The post Fashion Meets Technology appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”

― Karl Lagerfeld

In the beginning of the 21^st century, we could count the number of diversified and professional photographers in Nigeria on our fingers. This number has seen some drastic improvement over the years and today, we now have a lot of photographers with different styles, and flourishing in different sectors of the field such as fashion, portrait, and conceptual photography, to mention but a few.

In all the beauty of photography these photographers put out, we would be appreciating all the time, thought, education and resources the conceptual photographer puts into making every project a piece of fine art. Conceptual photography is a type of photography that best illustrates an idea. An example in the earliest staged photographs is Hippolyte Bayard’s self-portrait as a Drowned Man (1840).

The names spotlighted would not be all the popular names in photography, but they would have your eyes nonetheless.

Ima Mfon

Who is Ima Mfon?

Ima is a Lagos based editorial and fine art photographer interested in exploring issues of social and

cultural identity. He also spends his time in the U.S. where he received his undergraduate degree

at the University of Texas and, later, a higher degree in digital photography at the School

of Visual Arts, New York.

His critically acclaimed project, Nigerian Identity, was featured on CNN and prints from this series

have been shown in several cities including Lagos, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Milan. His

project was also exhibited during Art Basel, at the Miami Pulse Art Fair (2015).

Ima also periodically collaborates with Bloomberg, covering stories that showcase less reported

aspects of Nigerian culture, such as the thriving  video game and Nollywood communities in

Lagos. Most recently Ima collaborated with Vice Sports UK, photographing a series of young

football players he encountered on the streets, and interviewing them to understand their

passion for the sport.

Ima was a recipient of the 2015  Lensculture Emerging Talents Award and at the esteemed Fotofest

portfolio review (2016)  he received commitments for several solo exhibitions of the Nigerian Identity

series. Ima continues to work out of his home studio in Lagos, and operates under the Instagram handle @Ima_Mfon.

What does photography mean to you?

To me, photography is a form of introspection. Each person produces from the abundance of his or her heart. So, by attempting to understand my mental and emotional processes, I’m able to create work. So, to me, photography is a quest to understand myself better.

Thompson Ekong

Who is Thompson Ekong?

I’m Thompson. S. Ekong, Visual Director of Baroque Age, in Nigeria, and I create visuals using ideologies we live out in our everyday lives. The understanding of humanity is my lust in art. Orchestrating this complexity that swings in the form of human emotion, our minds of curiosity, love, faith, spirituality, and our consciousness has led to so many innovative and creative things in our world. The more we have to give in our ongoing world of proving our black skin keeps me alive every day, being part of the culture and era currently being written down in history, our generation Z, living with the responsibility of taking these shots down visually as I spread not only my world abstractions but also tell the story of minds growing by creating a change. I’m inspired every day to be highlighted with this cause, it’s more profound than anyone can through comprehend. Curating ideas with the conglomerate Baroque Age, their subsidiaries, and other companies, working with the minds of our new age, I’m doing this For the Kids.

What does photography mean to you?

Taking down timelines of life with my digital and conscious lens aesthetically.

Noma Osula

Who is Noma Osula?

Noma Osula is a Lagos based photographer who recently gave in to his maniacal obsession for portraits and art photography. He maintains that Africa is a place rich with ideas and various artistic randomness which in time he has come to accept, embrace and create. Noma tries to maximize his African influence while mixing it up, making it urban and contemporary. “I’m just that guy who tries to incorporate everything he loves into his pictures, plus art has always been my darling”. He describes himself as “proudly Nigerian” and inspired by Nigerian culture. His artistic fervor is driven by integrating the impressions of the expressive combination of colors and textures, giving a fashionable form to the peculiar but awesome gestures of the people. Also, capturing the aesthetic of Africa’s emotionally overwhelming landscape is what drives him.  You can follow his work on Instagram at @noma.o

What is photography to you?

It is my channel of expression. It is my voice. Its where I get lost and where I find myself. Photography gives me the ability put all the abstracts I see and experience into one piece. It’s amazing how the output produces essence, which may or not be relative to everyone in the same way.

Terna Iwar

Who is Terna Iwar?

Terna Iwar is a Nigerian born fashion and fine art photographer currently residing in Abuja. His artistic practice centers around a deep appreciation of the human condition and its ever-transitionary nature. Drawing on his early exposure to the Tiv dance narrative and later immersion in western art history, his work never the less betrays a constant de-contextualization of themes and issues.

Terna Iwar studied Business Computing and Digital Media at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland, where he was exposed to photography for the first time. Falling headlong into this alternate mode of expression he went on to complete a diploma in photography at the New York Film Academy.

He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bantu Studio, a full-service photography studio and media production house and is also Co-Founder of Fashion Business Africa, an online publication delivering data driven, analytical and opinionated information on the fashion industry in Africa.

What is photography to you?

Photography is the story of life within a frame. It is less about what you see than how you see it.

 Niyi Okeowo

Who is Niyi Okeowo?

Niyi Okeowo is a multidisciplinary creative focused on graphic design and photography. His main areas of interest in photography are Portraiture, Conceptual and Documentary photography.

What is photography to you?

Photography to me is a way of capturing moments you see as important, documenting important moments and preserving them for the future.

Lex Ash

Who is Lex Ash?

Chidi “Lex Ash” Ashimole is an all-round artist. As a visual artist, he is passionate about people, his work is inspired by how he feels and the people he meets and photographs. His pictures are consistent in evoking feelings and connecting with whoever sees it. He is about visual storytelling, art directing, poetry and natural aesthetics. His work has availed him the opportunity to influence the international community, and he hopes to be a major driving force in the recognition of Art in Nigeria and Africa. You can follow his work on Instagram at @thelexash

What is photography to you?

I’ve always believed art to be life. It’s how we feel, who we are, what we do. All of life is art, and Photography is to me a form of artistic expression. Photography is powerful. It can create ideas, preserve memories, influence decisions, compel actions and affect emotions. It has the power to bring the past to the present, to preserve the present for the future and to predict the future in the present. Photography means an opportunity; it means a privilege; it sometimes even means control and power. It means the ability to touch lives, to tell stories and to effect change. Photography to me means life.

Romeo Shagba

Who is Romeo Shagba?

I am a visual artist and Associate Creative Director at Bantu Studio currently based in Abuja, Nigeria. I studied Advertising Design at the University of Technology, Malaysia. I am a big fan of dramatic music, indulge a lot in long walks, observing the beauty surrounding me and occasionally marvel at the pure artistry of the blank white ceiling.

In the mist of all this “adventure” I find something called inspiration and that turns into the art I create. Put plainly, the urge to get all these thoughts out of my head drive me to create more of them.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography acts as an anchor to me, a medium in which my dreams and thoughts come to fruition.

The post The Fine Art of Photography appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.

Beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder and we have seen a significant number of people who have made their mark in the beauty and makeup industry here in Nigeria.

Per Statista, the United States is the biggest cosmetic market in the world. It is estimated that its total revenue will exceed about 62 billion U.S. dollars and employ about 63,816 people by 2016.

One thing that has been certain is the growth of this industry, about 17.3 billion U.S. dollars was generated by online shops and mail-order household sales in 2013. Cosmetic sales are estimated to continue to grow in both the United States and other global markets, as many consumers feel that beauty products help in achieving social and economic goals. This is true for the Nigerian market; people are more conscious of their appearances and make extra effort to looks good as they can be.

We also have the professional Makeup Artist popularly known as MUA’s who influence this market with advice of beauty products as well as techniques and looks to create. For this article, we would be looking at different makeup artists who have been united by the power of beauty.

Jide of St. Ola

Who is Jide of St. Ola?

Olajide David Okerayi is a Nigerian makeup artist based in the heart of Abuja, he is also the founder and CEO of ST.OLA MAKEUP STUDIO. Jide is popularly known for his work with top models, celebrities, top government officials and jobs for TV, online blogs and magazines.

Olajide is a self-trained makeup artist who acts as a mentor for aspiring makeup artists. He has succeeded in empowering so many people in the industry. He has organized makeup training for upcoming makeup artists and professional makeup artists.

In 2012, he was awarded the Abuja Young Entrepreneurs Award in the health and beauty category. He is also the first Nigerian makeup artist to come out with a DVD makeup tutorial called “The Makeup Navigator”.  He has been to several makeup shows home and abroad and can confidently be called a key player in the Nigerian beauty industry.

He has been in business for over eight years and is currently working on a project to release his own makeup brand.

What does beauty and makeup mean to you?

Beauty and makeup to me is the ability to still look like yourself after any sort of cosmetic has been applied to ones’ face.

Nsurebeauty

Who is Yemisi Dada?

I am a seasoned makeup artist who has over the years grown into one of the notable makeup artists in Lagos and Nigeria. My journey in the makeup industry spans over 8 years of relentless, never-give-up spirit that has enabled me work with a lot of celebrities and makeup brands like Black Opal, Nouba, Lachea, MAC, Maybelline etc.

I am also a beauty blogger, online beauty influencer and a public speaker. I am an Alumnus of the Lagos State University where I studied Economics as a first degree and a Masters degree in Human Resource Management. I also attained a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Lagos Business School.

My strengths lies in in-depth attention to details; my high level of creativity also sets me apart. We recently started our brand called Beauty Essentials by N’sure (B.E.N) Made in Nigeria beauty products which are basically beauty products that helps makeup artist, hairstylist be more organized and hygienic.

What does makeup and beauty mean to you?

What beauty and makeup means to me is all about being comfortable in your skin.

Olajumoke Tychus

Who Is Olajumoke Tychus?

Tychus Olajumoke is versatile makeup artist that has trained and worked in the Nigerian makeup industry for a total of three years now. She has spent most of this career servicing the film and TV industry in Nigeria where she has acted as a team leader or assisted other teams that were responsible for the creation and maintenance of character looks in TV shows. These works include, Ebony Life TV’s Desperate Wives Africa, and other productions for 12 Stones Pictures.

She has also spent a good time as a freelance makeup artist where she has serviced private and cooperate clients. Her jobs have been featured on over 7 editions of Guardian Life magazine and several other front pages of renowned magazines and editorials in Nigeria. She recently started her beauty company “EYESOME BEAUTY” from her studio in Lagos.

What does makeup and beauty mean to you?

Beauty builds confidence and confidence amplifies beauty. Makeup projects our deepest essence, that interacts with other people when we speak with them, when we look in their eyes, laugh, or show our opinions or feelings through our facial expressions. Our face is where people look when they want to know us or understand us.

The post Beauty Through Their Eyes appeared first on The Guardian Life Magazine.