Movie review (Nollywood)

I can see all my Nollywood fans jumping for joy after pleading with me for so long to do this (Nigerian Movies’ Review). Unlike my skeptics, I do not intend to bash the millions of Nollywood home videos ever produced, I simply just want to tell of the few Nigerian films I have actually enjoyed or have left an indelible mark on me that I can never forget.

I’ve never been a fan of Nollywood Movies though I admit we do have some fantastic actors and actresses in the business whose names are enough to make me sit down for at least 30mins of whatever film they act that I stumble upon (because really I don’t go out of my way to watch Nollywood Movies), people such as Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Desmond Elliot, Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Pete Edochi, Omoni Oboli, just to mention a few. I have even had the pleasure of organizing a photo session for Tontoh Dikeh back then when she was just starting out and parted away with a $100 gift from her. Lol.

All these to prove that I do respect the work of our Nigerian Movie Industry even though I’m among the few Nigerians who aren’t entrapped by tribalism, the glory days of culture before colonization or a definitive art form. I was raised in an environment of whites, exposed to western cultures at an early age and in turn, I have a wide appreciation from a variety of art forms. Well, enough about me, back to my review.

Nigeria is rated among the top three movie producing industries in the world within the likes of Bollywood and Hollywood in terms of quantity of movies churned out so it means we must be doing some things right. Here are a few impressionable movies I’ve encountered:

1. Last Flight to Abuja – ‘stroked’ by many for the heavy dependence on green screen effect (weak explosions and flying simulated scenes) and multiple flashbacks, I find this movie interesting. Its inspiration was drawn from the multiple aviation mishaps that had shocked the Nigerians into focusing on the need to improve our aviation sector (e.g. Sosoliso and Arik airline crashes as far back as 2007/2008). Directed in 2012 by award winning director Obi Emelonye (a Nigerian who studied Theatre arts and film in Nigeria before going to the UK where he studied and practiced Law then ventured back into film making in 2008; who also became one of the few Nigerians whose film (Mirror Boy) was a critical and commercial success as well as one of the few to be seen in a film festival outside Nigeria), starred the likes of Hakeem Kae-Kazim, a Nigerian born who has made great strides in Hollywood and is best known for his roles in the movie Hotel Rwanda and the Jack Bauer series, 24. The film had good casting; believable dialogue, meaningful scenes which made the film feel rich and I must say it was full of ingenuity. Kudos.

2. Ije (the journey) – from the minute I saw the preview of this movie starring Nigerian’s top 2 actresses (Genevieve and Omotola) I knew I would love this film because my curiosity was stirred. Released in 2010, this film won Best Editing at Treasure Coast International Film Festival and Best International Student film at Swansea Bay film festival in Wales, that same year. It wasn’t edited by Nigerians but it was directed, co-written and co-produced by Chineze Anyaene (a Nigerian) and had one other Nigerian actor in it (Clem Ohameze) alongside many foreign actors. Most of the scenes were shot in America but for me the movie stood out because of the social issues it subtly dealt with (the pitfalls desperate Nigerian girls fall into when in Diaspora) without being preachy. Staged around a murder trial and the justice system as it affects Africans in other countries, I found the beginning a bit boring because the narrator sounded like someone reading a script rather than someone facing the camera to tell a story. Yet I found the balance between the romance and actual criminal case to be quite refreshing. Well done.

3. Figurine (Araromire) – I have a weakness for the supernatural and when someone recommended I watch this film, I had no idea this film was about that and that Nigeria could pull of the storyline as well as they did. But why wouldn’t they when they had a good script written by Kemi Adesoye and a fantastic cast starring Ramsey Nouah, Omoni Oboli, the director himself, Kunle Afolayan, and Lagbaja as the narrator. This film grossed over 30,000,000naira at the box office and was met with wide critical acclaim when it was released at Rotterdam International film festival in 2009. It went on to win multiple awards (5 out of its 10 nominations) at the 6thAfrican Movie Academy Awards organized also in 2009 - and was held in Gloryland Cultural centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State- including Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Effects and also Best Picture. The idea of basing the story around University friends going off to NYSC as well as life after National Youth Service Corps, gave the story an originality that allowed the actors transform on screen as multiple angles and timelines were shot. This movie reminded me of the kind of stories I like to write and inspired me to work harder on my supernatural thriller genre.

4. TV Dramas – Well, I couldn’t stop without mentioning a few TV dramas that made way for Nollywood industry which began to bloom in the 1990s with home videos like Living in Bondage, Sacobi the snake girl, etc. Without the likes of Hot cash - popular remembered as Willy Willy - (a supernatural suspense drama on a nephew whose aunty killed him in a ritual to make money and his spirit came back to haunt her till her demise), Village Headmaster (a comedy series about school life in post colonial era), Behind the Clouds (adrama series about a family and how they adjust to changes in life), Tales by Moonlight (a children’s program that brought folklore to life with drama), Ripples, New Village Masquerade, CheckMate, etc as well as recent TV series like Clinic Matters (a comedy series based on life working in a Nigerian hospital), Super story (a drama collection of different stories of happenings in Nigeria in form of fiction), Everyday People, Family Circle and so much more, Nollywood would never have come to be. These TV series exposed us to the talents and variety of genres that Nigerians embraced and made it possible for us to not view our movies as second rate products not worthy of purchase. Through these dramas, acting talents are discovered like Ego Boyo, Richard Mofe Damijo (aka RMD), Carol King, Ignis Ikwe, Ireti Doyle, Nkiruka ‘Kiki’ Omeli, and a few others.

There are many more great works out there and as I expose myself to them, I’ll keep you informed. I have a ton of writer/director friends who are doing amazing things in Nollywood and I can’t wait to tell their stories. The likes of Ejiro Onobrakpor who has taken his stage dramas to movie level with his hit movie, A Few Good Men starring Kate Henshaw, and created the TV show e-box inspiring; and Stanley Ohikhuare who has put his animation projects (like Lifespan – the tale of some Niger Delta Mosquitoes) on hold since 2007 *weeping* to become a household name in creating award winning short films like Loop, Verdict, Oblivious and the comedy skit, Horn-Free Day which right now has earned him 11 nominations in the upcoming African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2014. Particular Kudos to the TV series (Tinsel, Dowry and Bachelors) created Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, as well as his internet web series #howsheleftmybrother, which proved that Nigerian writers are capable of producing so much more than we’ve enjoyed in the past. Even an old secondary school buddy who I used to party with back in the day, Jay-Franklin Jituboh, has done some remarkable work worthy of note like the movie, Caught starring upcoming actors like Tamara Isibor and Henry Ohikhuare (yes, Stanley’s younger brother) and IBK Spaceshipboi’s video, Loving you.

And last but not least, rising stars Xavier Ighorodje, writer of the documentary Will of Iron that won the Short Film Challenge and may get a chance to be shown at the Sundance film festival as well as the movie script Them and Us recently produced by themandus.vhx.tv; and also Greygon Avwokuruaye (who has worked with Entertainment Afrique and Amoeba 3), whose works are going to blow your mind. If you haven’t taken an interest in Nollywood, now’s a good time to start.

THE “THEY” MENTALITY (Part 2)

This is so much more than just the judiciary system. It is connected to the ‘they’ mentality possessed by most of us - the belief that ‘others’ are the ones responsible for everything while the rest of us are exempt from and therefore free of any obligation to act. This mentality is what is killing us as a people. We show no interest in the crisis in Egypt, Syria, Liberia and other nations because we believe it has nothing to do with us. We raise our noses up at the plight of others because it has not gotten to our backyards yet. The Ebola issue is a classic example of this attitude; where thousands were dying and we did nothing for almost 6 months after its initial outbreak until Patrick Sawyer came into the country and we lost 20 lives. I applaud our rapid response but this same attitude I’m referring to is why America, Spain and other countries did nothing until it got to their shores. No more digression, back to Nigeria. If we are to be a people, we need to work together to ensure all parts of our society is working so our future generation can be secured.

Below are a few suggestions & recommendations on how to right the wrongs in our society so as to build better systems to sustain us as a nation:

1. Enlightenment Campaigns - these can be done by anyone (bloggers, journalists, activists or even concerned citizens) on any platform or medium be it on TV, print or social media. We need to educate people on how to be value oriented, emphatic as well as sympathetic towards the plights of humanity all around us. But most especially to be compassionate (which takes empathy and sympathy to the next level which is action!), doing something about the issues around us. Only then can we see the change we seek that can restructure our failed national systems.

Isioma lamented, “Sometimes it seems like all we do is talk, protest and speak plenty English” and who can blame her when you put all our efforts of #bringbackourgirls on the scale of protest versus actions. But I believe that in speaking regularly through every medium about issues plaguing our nation and their solutions, we not only create awareness that these problems exists and needs to be solved but also encourage more people to be solution oriented and proffer better solutions that can be implemented if the right people get wind of all our chatter.

2. Laws and Sanctions- it’s not enough to create laws but there needs to be mechanism in place to ensure that these laws are carried out and sanctions are emitted on those who do not. This is where law enforcers come in, not to victimize the populace but to ensure law breakers are actually knowledgeable about the laws they are breaking and the penalties for them before executing sanctions.

3. Accountability – this is where you and I can play a very active role. We can hold our leaders accountable by holding protests (street march/sit downs & hash tag online campaigns), calling in to ask questions during televised debates with our leaders or engaging in PRO debates. We can also be effective if we knew who the people representing our constituencies are and call them out of they fail to do their jobs.

4. Think and Act - I don’t know about you but I am tired of reading articles that point accusing fingers at everyone else as the blame for the failure of Nigeria as a nation. If we all do what is right, raise children who believe in doing right, then we would have raised a generation of thinkers whose passion is to act on what they know is right to do. Don’t just sit and complain; ask yourself, what can be done? Who can help make my ideas reality and what can I do to ensure the solutions I’ve come up with are heard and implemented? It doesn’t matter who takes the glory for the solution you provide, what matters is if it’s acted upon.

It‘s time we get off our high horse and get rid of this ‘They’ mentality that absolves us of any responsibility towards the improvement of Nigeria, our nation. @grandverve said, “the sort of change we need requires critical mass” and I agree. Only a few good men can’t change our systems no matter the significant position of power they hold. If we won’t do it, who will? Let us not be like those who live in the moment and forget to keep an inheritance or leave a legacy for generations unborn. If our heroes past did not stand up and fight for our independence, we may not be here as a country 54 years later. If we truly believe in the unity and posterity of this nation, then it’s time for us ALL to cast aside all forms of segregation especially the ‘they’ mentality and embrace a ‘We’ mentality approach to Nation Building.

You can follow me on twitter @annkite0 or on my facebook page Life, Love and Anything Goes or Ann Esievoadje (for writers tips)

THE “THEY” MENTALITY (Part 1)

On the 9th of June this year, I was drawn into a conversation on twitter about a nameless woman who was raped to death by some cattle rustlers in Ovia North East LGA about a week prior to this discussion. News report had it that the only witness to the crime was the woman’s 18year old son who fled the scene and reported the matter to Ekiadolor Divisional Police headquarters. In the news report that sparked up the conversation on twitter, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) to Edo State police Command confirmed that three suspects linked to the crime had been apprehended. The possibility that justice would be served if corrupt police officials aren’t paid off to release the suspect pending a court case was what stirred the conversation on twitter. This conversation was by a few concerned Nigerians (not necessarily those living in Edo State) and it went from on how the criminals should be prosecuted and sentenced to how flawed the justice system in Nigeria is. The cases sited to support the latter claim were the ALUU4, Cynthia Osisogu Facebook murder case, and a few other high profiled cases in which there has been no closure despite the years gone by. I recall sharing their sentiments when the Oscar Pistorius Trial in South Africa, came to a close within a year of the suspect’s arrest with every detail of the court proceedings covered by BBC Africa and other international journalists.

Why does it seem like the judicial system in Nigeria is non-functional? Why do cases go on forever with no closure even when the accused or suspect has been granted bail? It hurts to see a guilty suspect go on living a normal life as though nothing ever happen just because the court is yet to decide appropriate punishment for the crime. Why does it seem as though Lady Justice is not only blind but sluggish? It is because our legal system is broken.

It is filled with everyday people like you and I whose basic instinct is first survival before a high desire for seeing justice served on offenders. It’s not like lawyers don’t have a sense of moral indignation that fuels their desire to protect the vulnerable in society against perpetrators of crime, it’s just that practicing law is first a job that meets their basic needs of food, shelter, etc before it can become a form of social activism. That is why most lawyers hardly take on pro bono cases because for them to do that or for them to become vigilantes, they need a steady source of income that won’t be affected by their passion for justice. This is no way an attack on lawyers but a way for us to see how each individual element contributes to the breakdown of our justice system. Starting with the law practitioners is simply my attempt to explain why cases would rather be adjourned forever because each court appearance is factored into the fees to be paid by their client -the guilty, innocent, victim or accused.

Yes it is true that sometimes the police does make mistakes in their arrest and accuse innocent people of crimes they did not commit. [As can be seen in the story of Cynthia’s Murder where an innocent pharmacist, a graduate of Igbinedion University Okada, IUO Benin, was framed by the police and wrongfully accused. In his case protests and petitions from friends and well wishers both on social media and otherwise was what saved him from the 15count charges.] These suspects are held in prison cells till the case has either been taken to court or settled out of court at the police station since it is usually up to the judicial system to decide the suspect’s fate – guilty or innocent.

In the case sparking this discussion, it was agreed that in every state there is a legal aid who should be responsible for taking up cases like this nameless women’s case as pro bono and fight till justice is served. As of right now, i'm unaware of the existence of a Public Defenders Legal Aid office (where the lawyers' fees are covered by the Government to enable the poor get justice if they can't afford the normal legal fees for court proceedings) in any State in Nigeria. We are most certain that one of the reasons a lot of crimes go unpunished in our system is because most victims cannot afford the legal fees associated with fighting for justice and if that’s the case why bother reporting to the Police when a crime is committed?

If the system has failed to maintain order and protect citizens, who then should be held responsible for restructuring the system? By the justice system, we are referring to the lawyers, judiciary, the executive and the legislators. @adeken01 said, “So far the current system allows the inept to thrive while good men are labeled as whistle blowers?” Whose job is it to ensure that something is being done when criminals are said to be tried and sentenced under the Law? Who is to follow up and ensure due process is achieved?

LEAD THE CHANGE: THE EXECUTIVE SQUARE

Remember the Brian Tracy seminar organized by Leadership 300 (an arm of Benson Idahosa University aka BIU) I attended a while back that I blogged about and you loved? Well, I had the similar privilege of attending another powerful seminar held on the 23rd of August and organized by BIU’s Knowledge Development Centre, only this time I paid so don’t expect me to spill all the goodies I learned.

This seminar was titled The Executive Square and the Guest Speaker was Julian Kyula, the CEO of Mo-DE Africa (Mobile Decisioning) and the winner of IBM’s 2012 Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His company is the owner of the Telco, “Borrow Me credit” feature so whenever you borrow any amount from your network he gets richer, hehehe.

I had never heard of this Kenyan before but I felt a strong urge to hear what he had to say. Most millionaires make their money silently away from the watchful eyes of the paparazzi, while improving different sectors of countries economies. Enough of my philosophies, here’s an overview of what he taught or shall I say what I learned from my two hour session with him.

Starting out as an entrepreneur
The world of e-commerce is going global due to the value placed on people to share information e.g. Facebook - pictures and stories. The saying that entrepreneurship is not for everyone is a lie. We are moving into a world of partnerships, no one can do business alone, so anyone can become an entrepreneur. The world of entrepreneurship is one no one is prepared for. It feels like a lot or responsibility thrown at you very quickly once you decide to start a business. You don’t have to do it alone. The world is full of people that have the potentials to make your dreams come true.

Your passion/business is personal; nobody else is as passionate about your vision as you. Don’t confuse it for other people’s passion when talking to people like future investors/partners. Do not personalize your business plan; make it factual because people are driven by bottom-line (aka profit). Study who you are speaking to – what excites them, what their passion is, how your passion can be relevant to them and listen when they speak. Investors are serious about investing in people who will bring result and they spend a greater percentage of time assessing the risk factors associated with your business. Be ready to rewrite your business plan over and over again.

On your journey as an entrepreneur
Look at your business like a science, do your maths, get experts to partner with you, know your market size, get statistics on the sector you are venturing into to enable you position your business and break into the market. Get an accountant, history of your longevity in the business, a clear analysis of your competitor and outline the risk factors associated with your business in your business plan. Deliberate planning for positioning is vital for the survival of your business and it prevents you from being sidetracked by success when you’ve not attained your ultimate goal. Have a structure for your business and put people into it, people who will question what you do not yes men. Failure is part of your journey; it teaches you when you don’t get it right. You need to be resilient when venturing into business and plan to live off the interest of your interest. E.g. let’s say your seed is 1 billion and your interest is 10% (100 million) take 10% of your interest (10million) and live off it then invest the remainder or save part of it in Trust funds for your future generation and invest the rest.

What you must do today:
1. Take Charge of your dream because no one else will care about it until you’ve made it. Your passion is more important than your enterprise.

2. Take responsibility. Your time is very precious; don’t waste it on things that won’t add to your life. Find your compass and your true north, you’ve been inspired enough.

3. Take the fire. Don’t let your dream be crushed by external forces. What you have will be rejected so many times but you must have the fire to keep your dream alive.

4. Study your dream. Is it the solution to a problem that a bigger company is looking for? Start looking for global problems to solve. Whose problem are you solving?

5. Pray over your plans.

Lessons of Life
 Relationships are paramount for your next level. Ask yourself, who is my introducer? There will always be someone that will take you to your next level so be careful about ‘burning bridges’.

 Be grateful for the sacrifice of your parents but ensure you are living your dreams not theirs so you don’t pass yours on to your children.

 Spend time writing out your plans. Think trans-generational, let the legacy you leave for your children, their children and their children’s children be your focus and motivation.

 When people say you’ve changed, it means you simply stopped living life their way.

 Stop trying to perfect things, get it out there. There are people out there who are willing to put money into what you started that isn’t perfect.

Now that you have all this information, what do you do with it? Position yourself.

Movie Review & Spoiler

I haven’t done this in a while because I have been enjoying too many cinema movies, Japanese anime and TV series as well as mobile downloaded movies. After so much, I’m in the mood for some spoilers. Here goes:

1. Godzilla – In one sentence, it is a glorified mock-buster on a larger production scale than its counterparts e.g. Sharknado. It is the story of two ancient creatures that woke up to mate but are being stopped by a dinosaur while humans scramble around trying to obliterate them with their military prowess which just happens to be the creatures’ meal. I’m glad I didn’t waste hard earned cash watching this in a cinema. I advise you to watch this only when you are bored.

2. Transcendence – The story of the pros and cons of using technology to explore the potentials of the human mind alongside a tale of undying love among scientific-minded lovers. For all its hype it is more sci-fi than drama (genre); it reminded me of Tom cruise’s Minority Report. This movie opened my eyes to what blind faith in those we love can cause (it creates a monster that cannot be tamed) and in the end I couldn’t tell if the lead character was human or computer generated. I advise you watch this at home with a large flat screen TV.

3. Divergent – It had the feel of Susan Collins’ Hunger Games adaptation, maybe because it’s an adaptation from a bestselling novel as well. While it is simply the story of a young girl trying to find herself in a class system that kills out anyone who dares to be different, it is also about parents supporting their children in their life choices and being willing to sacrifice their all to save them if necessary. It was a young adult genre with a few popular actors and actresses like Shailene Woodley, Jodie foster and Kate Winslet. I actually enjoyed this movie even though the end left more to be desired. I just pray there’s no part two because I won’t watch it.

4. Blended – Another comedy film by the dynamic duo - Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The tale of a bad date gone wrong that continues on a family vacation in Africa. I would say they at some point the comedy felt unreal like the part where the girl deliberately threw out the rubber slippers false external breast implants. Some funny parts were repeated like the walking down the stairs and certain soundtracks playing in people’s head. My favorite character was Terry Crew and the male singing/mocking choir, they were just hilarious.

5. Half of a Yellow Sun – So far this has been the most anticipated Nigerian movie not only because it was am original Nigerian tale played by Stellar award winning Hollywood actors but also because of its ban. It was the first Nigerian movie I have ever watched in a cinema. But I must say, even though it is a cinema must watch it did come across like a documentary with the use of real life clips from Ojukwu’s speech and so much focus being placed on the historical part of the story and sexual nuances of the characters. It made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Even though I haven’t read the book, I did find a strong need to do so after watching this movie as it is obvious a lot of important details were taken out to make the film as commercial as it was (like why the lead character was called a revolutionary lover – I didn’t think a few heated conversations were enough to brand him as a revolutionary). I must say besides making me angry at Ojukwu’s desire for self preservation at the expense of the many lives of the Ibo people who were lost & torn apart, it left me wondering why he was celebrated in his death.

6. Angriest Man in Brooklyn – This is the story of a pissed young medical doctor who happens to be sarcastic with the diagnosis of an annoying patient and the fear of imminent death makes the patient realize what a messed up life he’s lived as he discovers the infidelity of his wife, comes to terms with non-existent relationship with his son, hatred of his friends and generally the fact that he’s an unbearable someone. In the end he dies in peace as the messed up doctor helps him find the missing pieces of his and her life. An ironic film to watch in view of the recent passing of its main character Robin Williams by suicide, so glad he has three new movies to be released in December that’ll help us remember him in a positive happy light.

Time won’t permit me to share all I’ve watched since my last movie talk. Hope these suffice.

GOODBYES AND SEE YOU LATERS (fiction)

I wrote this isolated piece a while back.

"I’ve never really been fond of saying goodbyes. I would rather say, “See you later” than to ever say ‘goodbye’. I think the word goodbye has a touch of finality to it. So you can imagine how I felt when my eldest son got married. He’s been my strongest emotional support ever since his father’s death, picking up the slack and becoming the bread winner in his father’s stead. I know he deserves to be happy but with all the plans for the wedding, I could sense this was more of a goodbye that a ‘see you later’ celebration. Don’t get me wrong I love his bride and I wish him the best but as the vows were being read, I had the strangest feeling within to jump up and say something, anything, and nothing in particular, that would not only disrupt the wedding but put an end to it permanently. I realized in that moment I was being selfish. I tearfully clapped as the bride and groom kissed. It was not tears of joy, no, not at all, it was tears of sorrow and a resolute determination to stay away, long enough for me to forget that we had such great moments together as a family. I want to be there for my son but I know I need to know better than give unsolicited advice or expect him to still take care of his siblings like he used to because once his wife gets pregnant and has a baby, he’ll have to spend more money on them. Maybe by then I’ll just become a glorified free baby sitter for them, who knows. I have to stay in the present for now, they are just getting married and after their honeymoon, I’m sure they’ll want to hang out with me on occasion. Oh I’m doing it again; drifting into the future. For now I have to put on a brave face, smile, dance, and rejoice with the newlyweds, tomorrow will take care of itself."

If you were the son, how would you assure your mother that being married wouldn't make you love her any less and that her place will always be in your heart?

5 SPECIAL THINGS NEEDED FOR A STAGE PLAY

Bet, you are thinking, I know what she’s going to write. Beyond the usuals which is finance, actors, a script and props, there are a couple of things that are just as important and have direct impact on the success of your play. Over the years, I have featured in numerous stage plays starting from my first pantomime at age 9 and if there is anything acting has taught me, it is that a lot more goes into making a stage performance go smoothly. They are:

1. Mics – as long as you have dialogue, you’ll definitely need these. Not just any regular unidirectional microphone with Chord but clip-on mics and chordless mics that can be strapped on unnoticeably. Of course you can and should use multidirectional and condensed mics which can be hanged or placed above the stage to help actors when they project. Once a scene is done with, the sound operators should ensure that the mics are switched off along with the stage lights so that the backstage talk or noises do not get heard by the audience.

2. Makeup artists, wardrobe assistant and hairstylist – depending on the theme and era your play is staged in as well as the transitions in scenes from the script that may require different looks, you need these people to make your play believable. For instance to make a character look sick, the makeup artist can give the person nude lips and pale skin while the hairstylist can scatter the persons hair to look bedridden and the wardrobe assistant can dress the person in slightly wrinkled/ruffled clothing to show restlessness from all the turns on bed while asleep or damp tops to show the person drenched in sweat.

3. Extras – the actors on stage will delay scenes immensely if there are no backstage helpers to handle things like moving stage props, switching unidirectional mics on actors going on stage for different scenes, setting the stage by building different sets, prompters that help the actors remember their lines or sequence of the script by queuing them in or those handling the stage lights to create ambience. And all these various manpower need to be coordinated by a stage manager who no one will ever see on the stage. These people are so important because their work begins as soon as the script is written, during the rehearsals as well as before, during and after the stage play. They make sure all the little logistical details needed are sorted out appropriately.

4. Sound specialists – having microphones doesn’t guarantee that the audio of the drama is in the clear. Sound specialists are the ones who take into cognizance the nature of the hall and how the types of speakers enhance the sound/voicing from the stage which can affect how drama experience is received. They also make sure the interference from multiple electronics being used is at an all time low and ensure certain scores and sound effects are properly timed and played to give the drama a realist-feel. That way there are no echoes or hollow sounds in the hall being used and the mood of the drama is on point without people’s ear suffering from irritation or partial deafness due to loud/poor volume control.

5. Audience – what’s a drama without you, the audience? All the preparation and work put in by the production team would mean nothing without a sizable crowd that appreciate all that is being done. That’s why so much effort is put into publicity because in the end, the aim is to create a satisfying experience for the members of the audience.

This list is in no way conclusive because as times change, a lot more changes in the creation of a satisfying stage play experience like the introduction of live animation. Feel free to contribute any other observation you have about stage play production.

Half of the year gone already?!

I'm tired of apologizing for my writing inconsistencies lately so I won't because there's no excuse for my seeming laziness with my blogging. once again like everyone else i'm shocked how quickly 6months have gone by in relation to all the things i planned to accomplish this year. i decided rather than write on the obvious, i'll share a word of encouragement from my pastor (preached at the beginning of this year) on how it's never too late to START.



A million thanks to my friend Charles who created this brief pictorial summary of the sermon.

THE ISSUES WITH THE MISSING CHIBOK GIRLS

The #BringBackOurGirls campaign is still very much on and alive in Nigeria. This is not a social media stint. It is our reality. Since 2009, Boko Haram have killed no less than 6000 people, destroyed about 750 churches along with schools, vehicles and other properties including the UN national headquarters building in Abuja, and kidnapped more people than we can keep count of. For years the Nigerian populace has been praying for an end to this menace and the kidnapping of the chibok girls was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and sent series of protests all over the country that brought the attention of the international community. Since April 14th, 2014 hundreds of parents go to bed every night crying and wondering if they’ll ever see their daughters again.

Citizens have been and are still outraged at the government’s slow and seeming nonchalant response to this crisis. When the news of the kidnapping of over 200 Chibok secondary school students hit the media, Aso Rock never issued any statement or reacted in any way that showed the masses the Government’s stand on the issue. It was not until Oby Ezekwesili voiced the pain of the people during the International Bookfair held in Port Harcourt in the month of April that the hash tag (#BringBackOurGirls) campaign began. For once people could identify with pain of the affected families and know they were not alone in these feelings of outrage. United with one voice, they cried out in multiple protests in different parts of the country and asked to the government to do something to curtail the excesses of Boko Haram and rescue those innocent girls whose only objective before their abduction was to prepare for their WAEC exams in hopes of having a better future in a place where prosperity is a dream.

When our government finally reacted, it was with plans to set up a committee 4days later that will look into the matter of finding the #Chibokgirls instead of decisive action. Over the years, setting up of committees has become a way for government to pacify the people which usually meant the death of an issue rather than the solution the people seek/demand for. That is why that move did nothing to soothe the pains Nigerians over the issue and only further enrage us. People interpreted it as the President’s lack of concern for its citizenry. In her husband’s defense, the First Lady made a public spectacle of her pain 2weeks too late regarding the abduction and called for the enrollment records to be made available to verify the identity of the girls. Why didn’t anyone have the initiative to do that before she did? Rather than pacify Nigerians, her actions were interpreted as pretentious and insincere. Then came the Presidential chat with Channels TV News where Nigerians expected the President to address the huge media scandal this issue was causing worldwide for his administration. To our gross disappointment, his stance was more on highlighting the good his administration had done so far as well as promote the World Economic Summit to be held the following week in Abuja, just days after the 2nd bombing of Nyanya Bus park in Abuja. Once again Nigerians were infuriated, myself included.

Next on the list of atrocities held by the people against the government was the blame game and the casting of doubt - on if that many girls were actually kidnapped - by politicians claiming it was all a fabricated story, a smear tactic by opponents of the ruling party PDP (People’s Democratic Party) against GEJ’s administration. Desperate for answers, numerous civilians cried out for International News agencies to help inform people with investigative Journalism - which seems to be none existent in our news agencies as many were simply echoes of whoever first had the breaking news of the day - of what’s truly happening in the Country. They showed up and proved that the girls were actually kidnapped and nations around the world were more than willing to help rescue them as well as the origin and journey of Boko Haram from 2009 (way before the GEJ-Sambo administration) till date.

But with the intervention of the international community, a new dilemma arose. Initially Nigerians were afraid that the intervention of world powers like England, USA, France, China, etc would mean an end to our democracy via indirect colonization. America was the first to declare their intentions to assist our military not to take over and with time plus the release of detailed reports of their assistance, Nigerians minds were appeased. The new challenge we face now is the fact that it’s been well over 2months (73days to be precise) since the international community said they were intervening to help find the girls with promises to support our government and still no results, the girls have not yet been found or returned home to their families. Now we are asking, what is going on?

The Writing Process 'Blog Tour'

My friend Pamela Aboga ( blog: ChoWilson.wordpress.com. Nick name: Chocho) invited me to take part in it. I have no idea how it started and i hadn't heard of it prior to when our mutual friend Timendu invited her to join in. But after reading the links below, I felt it won’t hurt to join in. The blog tour is the electronic progeny of the old chain letter - where you used to receive a letter and have to pass it on to ten of your friends to make something wonderful happen- remember?

Anyway, This Blog Tour is a fun way of creating links between writers and perhaps introducing readers to authors they wouldn't otherwise come across.

The idea is, I post my answers to the four 'tour' questions on my blog the week after Chocho does hers. When I do, I name 3 other writers and give their links and bios, and later they post their answers on their blogs the following week. so here are my answers to the four questions about my writing process.

1) What am I working on?
Currently, I'm trying to keep up with my blog posts, writing school assignments, a graphic novel and raising funds to publish my book "The Quilt" in paperback. The Quilt is my collection of stories of different genres and themes. So far everyone's favourite is Tomi's Dairy and Erene's Plea (from Life behind the Family Portrait), which talks about about rape, hurting hurting-people and living in a broken home. A couple of other stories with a bit of dark undertone are The Sacrifice and Before the Tunnel. At the moment, it is available for sale on the Okadabooks.com app.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I've been told my work is an easy read. With so much going on in our world, i guess people like to escape into fictitious worlds but one not too complicated that they get lost trying to find their way. And in so doing, I find myself adding value to the lives of my readers as they embark on the journey through my eyes.
Honestly, I hate answering this question as well as "why should anyone want to read/buy your book?" because, I think it's very limiting/stereotyped. There are so many great writers out there that we'll never know because we stick to reading only what we are sure we are comfortable with. If only we would open our minds and explore different writers' works, we would find some amazing writers who aren't popular but equally have works that colour our lives.

3) Why do I write what I do?
There are just some experiences in life that take a hold of me and won't let go till I've penned them down. this isn't restricted to my fiction stories but also my non fiction pieces that I blog about. Plus, I have a 'darker side' that i fight with all the time but sometimes i can't deny it's presence and it tends to shine through my works of fiction. While i tend to tone down my emotions before i write, sometimes i find emotionally release from getting these stories and issues out of my heart.

4) How does my writing process work?
Well, call me an amateur but once i have a muse or get an inspiration, i usually plunge in and write till it's gone. I know i should draw up an outline but sometimes, that kills my momentum and makes it increasingly hard to get the first draft up and running. once the first draft is done, i tend to struggle to get the second and final draft. that's usually the phase where all the hard work really begins because the work has to be revised and edited till it is coherent and literally perfect. Thanks to wonderful friends who not only proof read my work but also critique it till it makes total sense, grammatically or developmentally, I'm usually able to get the finished product readable for your consumption.

Now you've heard my answers, here are my nominees for the next blog tour:

1. Ugochi Akwiwu - Ugochi is a smart, beautiful, tall, adventurous, fun loving but hardworking ibo girl who loves English, Writing, Editing and Travelling. She also seeks to change the world by adding value practically to those in her sphere of influence starting with one person at a time. Her blog is a positive delight (http://ugochiakwiwu.wordpress.com).

2. Tope Damilola Oyewusi - esoteric and full of variety, Dami is a dynamic writer that swings between God-centred pieces and fictional stories focused on female emancipation/empowerment. With lots of guest writers on her blog, you are sure to have an interesting read (see http://otdamilola.wordpress.com).

3. Isi Ehize - Isi is an inspired worship leader, writer, teacher of God's word and a certified fashion consultant. She is the creative director of shammys beautiful living with a skin care studio and clothing outlet currently operational in Lagos Nigeria. Her blogs are http://www.isidressforsuccess.com and www.isi-biblestudyseries.blogspot.com

#bringbackourgirls

So I know I have been really quiet this period and a lot of my readers have been checking in on me to see if I have written anything new. Really sorry about my silence. I lost my dad on April 16th, two days after the first Nyanya-Abuja bomb blast (you know the same motor part was bombed twice, with barely a week’s interval, right?) and the very day the Chibok girls were abducted. Loaded with grief for both my nation and personally, I found it hard to collect my thoughts into a coherent meaningful string of words that would say what needed to be said. In my grief I lost all hope but I’m thankful for twitter that allowed me express my pain publicly but still in anonymity.

By the time I had come to terms with my grief, the Nigerian women had decided enough is enough of the government’s nonchalant attitude towards the abduction especially with rumours of the girls being sold off as sex slaves, beaten and being raped repeatedly (link to youtube video of escaped girls recounting their ordeal). Nigerians were enraged because for years we’ve cried for an end to the attacks in the North-Eastern part of the Nation by Boko Haram as we lost churches, police stations, security personnel and families to senseless violence. Somehow all our prayers got answered and the international community was moved to act (with not only the 1.3million retweets for the #bringbackourgirls campaign but also the introduction of technology, intelligence and armed forces). Word has it that the masterminds of the Nyaya bomb blast had been apprehended by the Nigerian army with help from US Special forces. For more on the whole story, follow news agencies. My objective with this post and others to follow is to explain as an inside source what Nigerians are feeling based on the numerous pro and against GEJ information circulating around.

It goes without saying that this can’t be entirely done in one blog piece but I’ll try. First of all, you all know I am pro GEJ, not only because I voted him in but because for once I wanted to say I believe in my government despite their short comings. I applaud the transformation agenda but on the Boko Haram terrorism, just like many Nigerians, I have not been pleased. Before the protests, I spoke to a family member who was in the Nigerian military and what he told me about the plight of our armed forces in the North broke my heart. Tales of how emotionally drained and physically malnourished they were and how greed had caused their superiors to deprive them basic things like brand new uniforms (to cut cost old uniforms of deceased officers were being recycled) and high tech ammunition/arms (old poorly maintained AK-47 was being used by our military to fight radicals with brand new automatic rifles). So rather than say anything, i kept quiet and urged people to pray for Nigeria because the issues on ground involved God stepping in to bring deliverance. This i did through my facebook blog page.

I'm out of time now, the next time i'll tell you more about what led to this campaign and how Nigerians feel let down by their government despite all they've done to improve our nation and bring in foreign investment/attention with their transformation agenda and as seen in the World Economic Forum that still held last week.

5 WEIGHT LOSS CHEAT CODES

Losing weight with a hectic schedule and no gym time can be a bit of a hassle. After a hard day, we all just want to kick up our heels, flop on our sofas, relax and watch a good movie or TV program before sleep takes over. With early office resumption hours, it’s tough to fit in exercise routines into or mornings without encroaching on our much needed sleeping hours.

Under these circumstances, how does one actively work on losing weight? Easy! I call it, ‘cheat codes’. These methods are a cheat because they help you lose weight without feeling like you are working hard at it.

1. Breathing Exercises – These help your core and stomach muscles, that’s why even when working out, you are advised to not hold your breath but consciously work on breathing in and out. Here’s one you can do at any time of the day: deeply inhale while pulling in your stomach muscles and slowing exhale without releasing the muscles. Do this ten times and repeat this set of ten three times. I’m told this is a yoga technique.

2. Staying Active – Take time out to walk for seemingly long distances. When you get used to a particular distance, increase it. Brisk walk for at least 10mins daily covering at least one mile (1,604m) and watch the calories burn off. The faster your pace, the more calories you’ll burn. You can dance every chance you get, even if it means moving your body’s weight to musical rhythm from one foot to the other. Even when you are working on your computer, reading a book or watching TV, try to move your body by standing up occasionally, tapping your feet, doing leg crunches, pull ups, etc. and burn off the fat that would have accumulated from being stationary for too long a time. Any activity that increases your heart rate will help your body use up excess calories faster because your body’s metabolism increases as well.

3. Eating Right – The trick is to eat less foods with have high calories. You don’t need to stick to a three meals a day plan, learn to snack in-between meals on fruits and healthy snacks like plantain or sweet potato chips or nuts like walnut, cashew nut, etc. Cut down on processed, frozen and canned foods. Eat more home-made meals. Also you need to eat the right portions of food e.g. cut down your carbs intake (by carbs, I’m referring to carbohydrate-based meals like white bread, pastries, etc). Try eating your dinner before 8pm and snack whenever you get hungry afterwards. Sometimes what you think is a hunger pang might just be your body’s way of asking for water so be sure to drink water first before opting for a snack. Remember the saying, “Eat like a King in the morning, a Prince in the afternoon and a Pauper at night”? Well, it simply means eat your heaviest meals (like beans and akamu) in the morning and your lightest meals at night. This will prevent your body converting undigested meals into useless fats stored in your under arm, buttocks, abdomen, thighs, etc. This plan is to help you avoid over-eating the wrong foods.

4. Ambient Temperature Variation – When your body can’t keep up with the change in temperature outside your skin, it does two things: 1.Generates heat to keep warm or 2.Releases sweat to keep cool. How does this help you lose weight? Simple. When you work out in a hot room, you tend to sweat more because your body circulates more blood and the liquid portion of the blood gets sent to the sweat glands as a means of transferring internal heat out through sweat which becomes a container of heat that evaporates at the skin surface and cools the body. This translates into weight loss because you lose your water weight. The down side of this is your blood plasma volume reduces causing dehydration and it needs to be replaced by more in-take of water and electrolytes. A more effective weight loss with temperature variation is staying in a cold environment. Here’s why. With a cooler atmosphere, your body works harder using up body fats to produce heat to keep you warm. But be careful not to make this a habit because after a while, your body can adapt or stabilize and by then there won’t be any weight loss no matter how long you stay in that cold place.

5. Drink Water – So we can’t do without water, but how does this help us lose weight? Many ways. Drinking water can help you feel full and reduce your food consumption hence less calories eaten especially if you take it before after and during meals. Even drinking cold water can increase your energy expenditure rate because your body will work hard to warm the water as it goes into your system. The effect of this elevated metabolism shows up 10mins after drinking the cold water and peaks 30-40mins later. For water to be an effective weight loss tool, cut down salt/sodium intake as this tends to make your body retain water rather than release it through sweat or urination. Water lubricates joints which enable you exercise easily and helps to maintain muscle tone by assisting the muscles contract properly while exercising.

There are other cheat codes for losing weight but you must know that the results from using cheat codes are never instantaneous. So while they may seem like quick fixes, they actually aren’t, get ready for the long haul. They require consistency over a long period of time to yield results but rest assured that they do produce the much needed results. The easiest cheat method is simply having an active lifestyle and eating healthy always.

How to get a copy of My Fiction Book, The Quilt

Post by Life, Love and Anything Goes.

How to get a copy of My Book, The Quilt

Yes, you still need an android device to download the app but once you do, all you have to do is sign up to create an account to store any book you download from their store on the app. To pay for my book and any other book on the app, simply go to any GTB or Zenith Bank branch and pay in a small sum of money to OKADABOOKS LTD (Account nos. 0136442977 and 1013546499 respectively) and enjoy your ability to buy more than just my book from the site. Don't forget to include the email you registered with when you signed up for the okadabooks app under Remarks (for interbank transfer like Paypal/PAGA/Online banking with Nigerian bank accounts) to make sure your okadabooks account gets credited.

Still not interested in getting the ecopy of The Quilt in epub version? No biggie. Just share this info with anyone interested in reading digital books. then you can inbox me your email address on facebook so i can add you to my mailing list and give you updates on the contents of the book and when the book will be available in Paper back.

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6 COMMON MISTAKES WOMEN MAKE IN MARRIAGE

Marriage is meant to be a lifelong institution which one should only remove oneself from by being dead or divorced (due to infidelity or cruelty of an unrepentant partner). Yet it’s amazing how many young people seem unprepared for the hard work it takes to maintain one’s marital home. Hence when they marry, they find themselves making poor decisions because the lacked the basic understanding of what marriage is about and why they chose to get married to that particular person. Rather than playing the blame game, let’s identify some areas in which women who have faulty marital foundation tend to make mistakes and proffer some solutions worth trying.

1. The ‘Babe’ syndrome – Some women get so comfortable with crossing the hurdle of having a partner (who swore to love them for life despite the changes in life) that they feel they don’t need to try too hard to keep their men. Ask yourself, when you were a hot single lady, what were the things you did that attracted the man of your dreams to you? Are you still doing them? Many make excuses that having kids makes it hard for them to pamper themselves or splurge on themselves so they become lazy in the beauty and health department and lose their figure.
Solution:- To remain a ‘babe’ in spite of the aging process, maintain those positive attributes you had while single that drew your spouse to you. A friend of mine calls it, strengthening your strengths. Take time out to ‘work out’, dress well (even if you are at home all day) and look good. As a mother, find that balance between being a mother to your kids and a wife to your spouse and ensure both of their needs are met even if it means foregoing some chores. Make yourself happy; don’t put the burden of your happiness on your spouse. Before you met him, you were responsible for your happiness and you need to continue to do so.

2. Accepting the ‘weaker vessel’ syndrome – Women are in no way inferior to men so suddenly abandoning your career drive or self improvement ventures because you got married is as good as saying, you need to be redundant for your husband to feel in control. Even if your spouse asserts his dominance by refusing your ability to ascend mentally, either by furthering your education or pursuing a career, that is still no reason to become laid back to the point of mental incompatibility with your mate.
Solution:- Build yourself up by reading books, engaging in informative discussions, hang around people who are constantly in pursuit of knowledge and watch relevant TV programs that will encourage you to be objective about issues. Men are logical beings so you need to appeal to their sense of logic by being armed with quality information, this will make you an indispensable asset to them.

3. Fighting the Mother In-law – Not all mother in-laws are evil, even the ones with the best intentions can sometimes get on your nerve and that can cause dissension. Sometimes, difference in upbringing preferences especially during ‘Omugwo’ (the three months after delivery when your mom in-law comes over) can cause your husband to feel like he needs to take sides for peace to reign. This in no way helps the unity and harmony needed in home.
Solution:- Treat her with respect (if not for her, you probably won’t have your hubby), honour her even if she doesn’t like you and apply wisdom when relating with her. Never attack her verbally or physically regardless of who provoked who. Choose how you respond to her; don’t react to anything negative she does. Praise her, acknowledge her input and appreciate her knowledge. Be careful with the choice of words you use when discussing her to your husband especially if you are pointing out her flaws. Pray for her and commit your relationship with her to God.

4. Seeking to change Hubby – If you married him because of whom or what you expected him to become over time, you may be sorely disappointed. Don’t also expect that his personality or preference won’t evolve over time because it’ll shock you when it does. This is not to say you shouldn’t embrace the potential of who he can become with time. It is simply a warning about not being overly content or ambitious with the man you married. Even if he will change to become what you wish him to be, he’ll do so on his own terms, in his own time and not because you want him to be.
Solution:- Be patient with your spouse. Make sure you have the right perception of him and be willing to evolve with him however form the evolution might take. Make sure you have the right perception of him and be willing to be content with your man’s present state while aspiring for him to be more. Gently nudge him in the direction you wish him to go, make suggestions and watch him make the choice to listen to do what you said on his own.

5. Punishing Hubby with sexual abstinence – Most men love sex so much, they would have it every day if possible except when they are tired, hurt, hungry, or scared of rejection or poor performance. If you weren’t ready for regular sex, why did you get married? Didn’t you know it was part of the vows you took to endow him with your body? There are many reasons why ladies refuse to have sex with their spouses, it could be they are angry with him, having hormonal issues, are tired mentally or physically, don’t find themselves worthy of his love, are sexually unsatisfied with the whole sex experience or are scared that the way he was in bed wasn’t what they were normally used to and it could probably be because of something he isn’t telling them.
Solution:- Rather than deny him sex, talk to him about whatever it is that is holding you back. If you have unresolved issues and makeup sex doesn’t work for you, spend time with him resolving and put your mind back in the right frame for your body to respond to him. Understand that sex for a man is sometimes more than just intimacy with you or pleasure for him; it could be a way of reassuring himself that he’s not a failure (especially if he feels defeated in any sphere of his life) or comforting himself when he feels down. If you are tired, try communicating it with him and promise to give him a treat soon, make sure you are the one who initiates sex after turning him down.

6. Comparing your spouse with others – Some women have the challenge of comparing their husbands with their ex either in financial, sexual or other matters. Some point to other husbands and families and say, “See what your mates are doing. You dey here dey slack.” This ought not to be. What is good for the goose may not be good for the gander. While you think you might be challenging him to take on more responsibility, you are actually destroying his ego, attacking his identity, disrespecting him or under-appreciating all the good things he does for you.
Solution:- If you like something that someone else is doing, rather than pointing fingers, you can make it a suggestion, “honey why don’t you try doing this and this every once in a while, I’ll really appreciate it.” Try to understand your men’s strengths and weaknesses, his style of communication and his personality then relate to him on that basis. If you won’t like to feel inadequate as a person, don’t do same to your hubby by comparing with someone else.

Now you know, be wiser in your approach to marriage.

Teenagers and Money

I wrote this piece for a magazine that was exclusively printed for a select few. So enjoy:

Being young is fun especially if you are lucky enough to have uncles and aunties who give you money whenever they come to visit or if your parents give you an allowance regularly. It is important however to start learning financial accountability; not because your parents expect you to but because it makes you know how every kobo received was spent. So here are a few tips to help you make the most of the money you receive:-

 Give 10% to God. One good way to ensure your money never runs dry is by paying your tithe. A tithe is a spiritual act that tells God you are grateful that He gave you the money in the first place. It’s the first thing you should do when you get an allowance; it motivates God to give you much more.

 Write down ALL transactions. It’s important to write down not only how much money you received and when but also what you spent it on, how much it was and when you spent it. This way you’ll have a record of all your spending decisions and be better able to improve how you spend.

 Be a smart shopper. Moms are the best buddies when it comes to buying things at least expensive prices so tag along whenever your mom goes shopping or offer to assist her buy things like recharge cards, grocery etc. That way you’ll know how much things cost and where you can get the best deal for your money’s worth.

 Invest. Another way to make sure you never run out of money is to look for opportunities that increase the money you have. Buy something you can sell that you know your classmates will want to pay for e.g. Pencils or erasers or even biros. Tell them about it and make sure you collect the money before giving them the goods.

 Save, save, save. Whenever you receive money, always put aside an amount you won’t touch until absolutely necessary. You could save up for a project like tickets to the cinema once a month. Don’t carry around all the money you have because you’ll be tempted to spend it all at once. Break up your money into bits and promise yourself you won’t spend more than a particular amount. That way the day you aren’t given an allowance, you can actually have some money to fall back on (your savings).

There’s so much to learn when it comes to handling money. Many adults are still learning about it, so go easy on yourself, one day you’ll get it right. It takes great practise to become great with money but once you do, you can handle any monetary twists and turns.

Celebrities and their headgears

Hats and face caps are part of our casual fashion wardrobe. There are so many types of them out there but can you tell the difference?

I’ll name a few celebrities that can help you identify the trendy hats and face caps that you can rock with your casual outfits. You ready? Let’s go:

Lil wayne and P-square – flat brimmed baseball cap (worn snap-back)

Chris Brown and Mo'Cheddah – flat brimmed baseball cap

Paul I.K. Dairo and Brad Pitt – Newsboy cap

Ruggedman and David Beckham – Beanies

Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie – Panama hat

Bez and Bruno Mars - Fedora with rolled up brim

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Indiana Jones – classic Fedora

Adams Oshiomole and Rihanna – Military style cap for the Army.

Now you know, choose the one that best suits you and go do your thing!

VALENTINES DAY CELEBRATION ALL AROUND THE WORLD!

Don’t you just love holidays? From all the goodies of Christmas, we are right back to another mega season of worldwide celebration, the celebration of love (popularly known as Valentine). As a Christian, showing and celebrating love is or should be our daily lifestyle but generally, love is the reason behind every celebration in any year. But the world has chosen Feb. 14th as the perfect time to do this because of the sacrifice of martyr St. Valentines, a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269. But let’s not bore ourselves with his story; I’m sure you’ll be hearing about it all over the radio that day. I’m more interested in how its celebrated all over the world. Now let’s globe trot and see how it’s done around the world.

In Europe particularly in Norfolk, a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. While in Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones. The same goes for Valentine's Day in Guatemala, which is known as "Día del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship) where people do "acts of appreciation" for their friends. In some places St. Valentine marks the beginning of spring. For instance in Slovenia, Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. Also in Asia particularly in Japan, it has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. This is known as giri-choko. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko; from tomo meaning "friend". The men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolate on March 14 which is called "White Day". Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; however, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts.

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of Feb or March, go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles and "mourn" their single life. Poor we *sniff sniff*. Anyway, can u believe that Valentine's Day is currently celebrated in Iran despite some restrictions made by government? Young Iranian boys and girls are seen on this day going out and buying gifts and celebrating. And in Saudi Arabia in 2008, religious police banned the sale of all Valentine's Day items, telling shop workers to remove any red items, as the day is considered an un-Islamic holiday. This ban created a black market of roses and wrapping paper. Hey, you can’t stop love. Enough talk. That’s a whole lot of information don’t you think?

So how should we make this day special in Nigeria? Let’s see. I know the conventional move is to hang out in an eatery joint but come on you’ve got to be more imaginative than that. The beauty of love is it goes to extraordinary limits in its expression (like Jesus hanging on the cross for you). So try to go out of your way and do something really special that says, “I love you”. Material gifts are not the only things you can give, there could be better options. And it mustn’t be for someone you know, could be for a stranger, a homeless person better yet give at-least half of the money you would spend for the gifts, to missionaries, or for the poor. You will have the best of feelings inside you. Many people have different ways they respond to love so get to know what it is and speak their love language in a way they can understand. It doesn’t have to be expensive just look for the person’s love language and speak it!

Ps.
That day is my boo's birthday so... you don't need to know how I'll be celebrating him, that's my secret. *wink* Happy birthday b***. muah!