Fifth Chukker Vol 2 Issue 13 by The Magazine Production Company

VOL 2 ISSUE 13

Adventures in Luxury

The Queen The Baron and a Centennial City

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Contents VOL 2 ISSUE 13

EDITOR’S LETTER Yasemen Kaner-White

SPECIAL FEATURE

10 THE QUEEN, THE BARON AND A CENTENNIAL CITY

LAST SEASON AT FIFTH CHUKKER

20 AFRICAN PATRONS CUP Leighton Kings and Almat raise the trophies – and more awareness about breast cancer. 21 FIFTH CHUKKER UNITING PEOPLE AGAINST BREAST CANCER Every October since 2011.

INTERNATIONAL POLO HIGHLIGHTS

LAGOS INTERNATIONAL Under sometimes tempestuous skies, teams battled for trophies in 2 weeks of fierce competition.

24 HABTOOR POLO CROWNED WINNERS OF THE DUBAI CUP 2018 Habtoor Polo win the highly coveted Dubai Cup 2018, in a grueling final against the winners of the Julius Baer Gold Cup 2018.

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

WATCHES TO LOOK OUT FOR By Backes and Strauss, the world’s oldest diamond company, since 1789.

34 THE ART OF FUSION Hublot becomes one of the first Swiss Luxury Watch brands to open a mono-boutique in Nigeria. 58 ART ON WHEELS Sometimes we call old cars vintage, classic or antique. The top marques ooze elegance and head-turning swag.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

38 EMAAR EXEMPLIFIES THE BEST IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer.

BUSINESS PROFILE

46 DILMAH DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF ORIGIN IN BUSINESS Sipping tea in Sri Lanka with Malik Fernando, son of Dilmah’s founder and world-renowned tea maker Merrill J. Fernando.

54 FOUR SEASONS THE WESTCLIFF SPA For travellers to Johannesburg, the suburb of Westcliff is an unexpected pleasure.

ART IN FOCUS

65 ART X Compelling cultural highlight of Africa’s largest city.

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

72 RACE FOR THE PERINI NAVI CUP Superyacht experts Frances and Michael Howorth sample first hand, Sardinia’s most exclusive superyacht racing event.

ADVENTURES IN FASHION

CULTURE IN COUTURE The runway is a stage to an audience that goes beyond the famed front row and privileged pilgrims of fashion.

TRAVEL

92 M OROCCO medley of magical adventures A waiting to be had. 98 V IETNAM Rupert Parker Trains and Boats and Planes. 106 MALTA There are a multitude of reasons to visit Malta.

CUISINE SCENE

112 THE CUISINE OF GEORGIA

BOOK REVIEW

GOOD BOOKS – BOOK REVIEW 118 Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance 119 A Full Life - Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter 120 GLOBAL EVENTS No matter what month it is, somewhere around the world there is an event not to be missed, here are a few to tempt you to travel… 123 WHO’S READING FIFTH CHUKKER

UNICEF MESSAGE UNICEF private sector partnership has remained one of our strategies towards expanding collaboration to deliver more quality results for children in Nigeria. In the light of this, we have found a robust and vibrant private sector partnership between UNICEF, Access Bank and Fifthchukker now running into twelve years of result – oriented collaboration delivering quality results for children in greatest need. I wish to appreciate the strategic and equitable approach towards focusing on supporting the education of children who are mainly orphans and vulnerable children. Indeed, education is the way to ensure providing every child the opportunity to live, thrive and develop to his or her full potential. The opportunities this partnership has brought in the lives of many Nigerian children is very commendable. Moving forward, I commit our readiness to continuously, strategically and judiciously utilize the annual N10 million (about 28,000 USD) donation to achieve greater results for the less privileged children of Nigeria. We need to continue to promote the agenda of the children of today and tomorrow as central to sustainable development and the future of our planet and all its inhabitants. All too often in practice, however, the issues of children and young people are relegated to being only a “social” issue -- and their health, safety, education and rights are not seen as being inextricably linked to ensuring economic growth and shared prosperity, a protected natural environment and more stable, safer societies. Overlooking their role is to the peril of us all, the communities in which we live and to the planet. To address issues such as above, UNICEF works with a wide range of development partners, government, individuals, businesses, foundations and civil society organizations to help children realize their full potential. In Nigeria, UNICEF supports the government of Nigeria and its partners to protect the rights of all children across the country and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for children. UNICEF Access Bank and Fifthchukker partnership has over the past eleven years helped UNICEF to support approximately over 25,000 orphans and vulnerable children with scholarships, construction of bore holes in communities, toilet facilities in schools for boys and girls and renovated dilapidated class rooms, school uniform for boys and girls, furniture and instructional materials among other interventions support all resulting in increased enrollment, retention and completion rate of children. Six communities also benefited from small scale women entrepreneurs to help them with a means of income to support their orphaned children. The partnership has continued to generate public awareness on issues affecting orphans, and created opportunities for community members to discuss issues that affect children especially those from the poor families. Therefore, UNICEF, as always, appreciates Access Bank and Fifthchukker for coming together to impact on the lives of those children in need. On behalf of UNICEF, I would like to reiterate our commitment and readiness to take this partnership to scale, focusing on equity and to make education as the central theme, more specifically focusing on girl’s education, and make deliberate efforts to promote the rights of children through children related special events as frequent as possible every year. We take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our donors and partners for providing funds and other forms of support to our work in Nigeria. Let us continue to invest in children to save the future.

Mohamed Malick Fall, Representative, UNICEF Nigeria

EDITOR’S LETTER

As always, to read through a copy of Fifth Chukker is to explore cultures and delve behind the scenes into leading businesses, as well as keep up to date and be inspired by the world of luxury. This edition shows you there is more to Malta than first imagined, Vietnam can be taken in via trains, boats or planes and Morocco has it all from marvellous mountain hikes to tasty tagines. I divulge the best Georgian cuisine has to offer, from my meetings with their leading chefs to cooking classes high up in the hills - my ‘greedy’ trip to Georgia last September left such a lasting impression, it seemed unfair not to share it with you. Our regular feature, Global Events around the world, offers yet more tips on where to go, when and what to do. What better way to travel than on a superyacht? The Howarths tell us all about the proclaimed Perini Navi Cup, as well as a glimpse into what to expect from life aboard one of these floating beauties. If you don’t have sea legs, then a read of the classic car article within is one for you. The question of how to remain stylish whilst cruising in a car or indeed a superyacht is answered in our ‘Culture in Couture’ article, whilst Backes and Strauss, the oldest diamond retailers in the world, share some of their most treasured bespoke horological designs with us; after all,

To read through a copy of Fifth Chukker is to explore cultures and delve behind the scenes into leading businesses, as well as keep up to date and be inspired by the world of luxury

a watch’s role is more than just telling the time, it is an item of splendour. As Kaduna, the birthplace of this magazine, celebrates its centennial, our feature within looks back nostalgically to when the English monarch paid a visit in 1956. In more recent times, Kaduna-based Fifth Chukker shares its latest happenings from polo to charity, in our ‘Last Season at Fifth Chukker’ section. We also look at polo further afield in Lagos and Dubai. On the business front, Emaar, one of the world’s largest real estate companies is in focus, whilst I savour my recent Sri Lankan tea trip, where I met the man behind one of the top tea brands - but more importantly family business - Dilmah tea. For the pleasures in life we have art covered with the Art X article, showcasing the latest in contemporary collectors pieces, as well as our regular Good Books section by Frances White, suggesting what to read next and why. Whichever section you start with…enjoy!

YASEMEN KANER-WHITE Editor yasemen@parmuto.com

Editor - YASEMEN KANER-WHITE Editorial Team - YUSUF SAAB, FRANCESCO FIORILLA, HAFSAT AMBURSA Contributors - YASEMEN KANER-WHITE, FRANCES K WHITE, JANETTE GRIESEL, ERNEST EKPENYONG, MARYANNE NJERI MAINA, LILBY SKAZ, HAFSAT AMBURSA, DAN AMIS, RUPERT PARKER, FRANCES AND MICHAEL HOWORTH Photography - IMAGES OF POLO, KLEARPICS, additional contributors credited Design - TONI BARRINGTON, THE MAGAZINE PRODUCTION COMPANY www.magazineproduction.com

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

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The Queen inspects a Guard of honour on arrival at Kaduna airport

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

THE QUEEN THE BARON AND A CENTENNIAL CITY Lilby Skaz

Fifth Chukker profiles Kaduna through two of the most transformative political and socio-cultural forces that shaped its first 100 years

ew people outside Nigeria would have heard of Kaduna when the Queen came to the Northern Nigerian capital in February 1956 at the start of the northern leg of a national tour. It was a very significant moment; the British Empire was falling apart and London was on course to disengage as colonial overlord and create a more cosmopolitan commonwealth of nations. But the Queen was always popular in the sometimes volatile colonies, not least because of her demonstrated respect for the tribes and affection for all her commonwealth subjects. This mutual admiration was fundamental to the future relationship between Britain and the soon-to- be independent territories. As the largest part of Britain’s biggest colony in Africa, a successful Northern Nigeria tour was viewed as crucial, even critical. In all, Her Majesty visited Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos and Kano, but it was in Kaduna that the legacies of the visit continue to resonate to this day as the city commemorates its centennial as the political capital of Northern Nigeria. Yet Kaduna could have been celebrating a much grander status than a regional/state capital had the city’s visionary founder The First Baron Lugard had his way. After searching for a more central, more accessible and more ideal location to move the Northern Protectorate capital, then in Zungeru, the Governor eventually settled for Kaduna in 1912. The Zaria plains in which it was located were well served by two major tributaries of River Niger; River Kaduna, which gave the settlement its name, and River Gurara. But for a few scattered settlements, it was also a fairly virgin territory, without any large indigenous population that could be prone to restiveness as habitually experienced elsewhere. Lugard rightly reckoned that those were the perfect conditions that would mould the character of the new capital as a land of opportunity, tolerance, and perpetual growth. Work began almost immediately on housing and infrastructure, including a new government lodge from where Lugard ruled as Governor of Northern Protectorate

and Southern Protectorate respectively. The historical and global significance of Lugard’s inspired enterprise illuminates the same creative context out of which Abuja was conceived as the new capital of Nigeria. But the wily Lugard also had his focus on the impending amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, and the ultimate objective of making Kaduna the capital of a unified Nigeria which he was to head as the first Governor-General. His antipathy to Lagos was well known then. “Government House, Lagos,” he wrote in one of his memos, “would make an excellent hotel if the transfer to Kaduna was achieved. Incidentally, the political and financial costs of this vision were considered prohibitive. The Colonial Office in London thought Kaduna was too far inland for effective communication and that such a transfer would be too expensive an exercise considering Britain’s exertions in world war I. Victor Williams, an assistant to Lugard recalled the decisive effect of the war on the fledgling capital: “When we came to Kaduna we met few permanent building, offices and quarters for senior and junior service staff. They were the burnt bricks buildings. They were erected sometime between 1913 -1914, the war held up progress.” Regardless, the movement of the now Northern Region capital from Zungeru was finally completed in 1917 when Lieutenant Governor P.W. Goldsmith formally resumed at his new offices in the government house even as successive waves of people from across the country poured into the city. Kaduna remains famous not only as the political headquarters of the North and one-time leading centre of the country’s textile industry, it also home to a large concentration of educational institutions including Universities, polytechnics and the Nigerian Defence Academy, a degree-awarding military training institution. Today, One hundred years later as the successive capital of Northern Nigeria, Northern Region , North Central state and Kaduna state respectively, Kaduna is a thriving metropolis of more than 2.5 million people and the core of a socio-cultural fabric that has weaved together the disparate

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

The Queen arrives a post-durbar garden party at the Government House through a line of dignitaries

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

Lugard Hall

The Queen Knights the Sultan of Sokoto Sir Abubakar Sadiq as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

cultural strands of over 250 Muslim, Christian and atheist ethnic nationalities. And despite cycles of crisis that continually reshape the city’s tumultuous political, economic, cultural, and social life, Kaduna’s resilience and capacity to recover from conflicts is primarily due to the diversity of its inhabitants which has acted as a counterbalance to divisive tendencies. The Queen’s visit couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time too; precisely between the eras of Lugard and his colonial successors on the one hand, and nationalists across the country who couldn’t discard the vestiges of colonialism fast enough on the other. But in Kaduna and the north, the Royal tour, rather than alienate, cemented those political, economic, cultural, and ideological connections that ultimately linked the two eras. Additionally, the royal durbar in honour of the Queen, then the country’s biggest ever cultural experience led directly to the introduction of the Northern Nigeria festival of Arts and culture, and its subsequent adoption at national level by the federal government. It was this cultural momentum generated by the Queen’s visit that ultimately peaked with Nigeria hosting FESTAC (World Black and Africa Festival of Arts and Culture) in 1977. Lord Lugard is immortalized by the most important symbol of Kaduna’s political importance; the Lugard Hall Complex located at the heart of the city and covered in the national colours of green and white. It has served as the legislative chambers for the entire North and Kaduna state assemblies, as well as the House of Chiefs since it was built in Lugard’s memory. The foundation stones for the edifice were laid in July 1947 by Nigeria’s Governor-General, Sir Arthur Richards and the Sultan of Sokoto Sir Abubakar Sadiq. A metal royal dispatch box was cemented in the concrete in a recess below the council chambers. The box contained coins and postage stamps of the value 1/2 pence, 1 pence, 3 pence, 6 pence, 1 shilling, a copy of the Hausa language newspaper “Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo” and a small scale plan of Kaduna. Kaduna rounded off its centenary celebration with a grand durbar at the city’s main square which attracted royal contingents from a dozen emirates. The troupes entertained the huge gathering with flashy and colourful displays of cultures and symbols. The venue was also festooned with the portraits of Lugard - and the other very big name that will always be associated with Kaduna; Sir Ahmadu Bello, the builder of present day Kaduna. Bello’s legendary initiatives to redefine the government, economy, and urban development profoundly transformed the city between1956 and 1966 when he was assassinated in a military coup. Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

Lord and Lady Lugard

Lord Lugard (National Portrait Gallery, London)

Lord Lugard (middle) is flanked by the Sultan of Sokoto and the Emirs of Gwandu and Kano who called on him in London, 1934

Lord Lugard; an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impression

Lord Lugard and the Emir of Katsina in 1907

Lord Lugard in Lagos on Amalgamation day, January 1 1914

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

The Emir of Kano at the Kaduna Centennial Durbar

SPECIAL FEATURE - KADUNA CENTENARY

The Sultan of Sokoto lays a foundation stone at the commissioning of the Lugard Hall, 1947

Northern Nigeria Regional Premier Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello welcomes HRH Princess Alexandria to the House of Assembly in Kaduna,,,

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, addressing the nation through NBS (Nigerian Broadcasting Service) at the end of her state visit to Nigeria, 12th March 1956

Team captain introduces English Division One side Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Park Rangers to Northern Nigeria Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello at the opening of the Ahmadu Bello stadium in 1965

Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris receives Prince Charles in his palace, 2006

Her MajestyThe Queen, flanked by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Sultan of Sokoto at an official reception ceremony in Kaduna

Head of State General Yakubu Gowon about to drive off the first car off the production line of Peugeot Automobile Assembly plant, Kaduna, 1974

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

SPEED. SERVI

CE. SECURITY.

LAST SEASON AT 5TH CHUKKER

AFRICAN PATRONS CUP

Leighton Kings and Almat raise the trophies – and more awareness about breast cancer Lilby Zaks

or seven years the African Patrons Cup has been aligned with breast cancer awareness as an important part of Fifth Chukker’s corporate social responsibility projects. These charitable initiatives and community enrichment programmes are central to the mission of the club despite the razzmatazz surrounding its high profile polo tournaments and the lifestyle associated with the game. Other organisations that partnered with Fifth Chukker this time included Medicaid of Abuja, Raise Foundation of Minna and Friends Unite of Kaduna. The year’s breast cancer awareness campaign in Kaduna was rounded off with the Fifth Chukker Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October the 28th. At the conclusion of the African Patrons Cup, Lagos Leighton Kings defeated Keffi Ponys 7-6 to win a thrilling, free flowing match that could have gone to any side and was notable for the many scoring misses, especially by Keffi. Though both teams started more cautiously, tying 3-3 after two chukkas and scoring no goals in the third, the game opened up towards the last stages with Leighton (Martins Juaregi; Babangida Hassan; Bowale Jolaoso; Manuel Crespo) dictating much of the play in scoring three un-replied goals in the fourth chukka to go 6-3 up. Remarkably, Keffi Pony’s (Leroux Hendicks; Polito; Bello Buba; Ahmed Wadada) bounced back, scoring three of the four goals - while missing as many - in the intensely contested closing two chukkas. They trailed 7-6 as the Kings saw off the match, adding the African Patrons Cup to the Charity Shield they won in May to become Fifth Chukker’s Team of the Year. In the General Hassan cup, Abuja Almat retained their title by defeating STL Titan 5-4 in another tension-soaked final. In what was initially shaping up to be a possible upset, STL Titan (Tata Ali; Sheyi Tinubu; Ibrahim Musa Dantalab; Khalifa Ibrahim) led the match from the second chukka and looked in control to finish it off until Almat (Idi badamasi; Maurice Ekpenyong; Nura Suleiman; Rabiu Mohammed) equalised in the dying minutes

Leighton Kings Bowale Jolaoso recieves the African Patrons cup from Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Idowu Thompson of First Bank

General Hassan cup winners and runners-up, Almat and STL Titan

of the fourth and final chukka, before inflicting a coup de grace; scoring the winner with the very last shot of the game. Mr. Idowu Adebayo Thompson is Head of Private Banking Group & Assistant GM, First Bank, one of the tournament’s major sponsors. His reflection on the tournament: “This is our first partnership with Fifth Chukker and the outcomes have met our expectations. We are happy to continue to associate with them to deliver even greater values to all sides.” Other sponsors included MRS, Coronation Merchant Bank, Rico Gado, Daviva and Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The African Patrons Cup tournament was opened by the Governor of Kaduna state

Mallam Nasir El Rufai, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex, and was closed by the Governor of Kogi state Alhaji Yahaya Bello, represented by the Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole. Other dignitaries that attended the weeklong event included the former Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ramallan Yero; former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the Emir of Lere, Alhaji (Brig-Gen) Garba Muhammad; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, represented by the Magajin-Garin Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; and the Counselor of the British High Commission, Mr. David Miller. Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

LAST SEASON AT 5TH CHUKKER

FIFTH CHUKKER UNITING PEOPLE AGAINST BREAST CANCER Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Argentine Ambassador Gustavo Dzugalla present the Argentine Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trophy to Ahmed Wadada of Keffi Ponys.

Hafsat Ambursa

Kaduna State First Lady Hadiza El- Rufai Niger state First Lady Dr Amina Abubakar Bello

very October since 2011, Fifth Chukker has been steadfast in promoting breast cancer awareness in northern Nigeria. Now it is pushing to extend the importance of this month beyond just awareness by practically providing help to women to overcome the barriers of fear, cost and misinformation surrounding the disease and breast cancer diagnosis. Early last October the Fifth Chukker team commenced its breast cancer outreach by visiting the Primary Health Care Agencies of the host communities of Rigachikun and Mararraba, intimating them of the breast cancer awareness campaign going on worldwide and the events lined up at Fifth Chukker on October the 28th. During these visits, contact was sought with known breast cancer patients and special invitations extended to them alongside other women. On the scheduled day, hundreds of women from all works of life trooped into Fifth Chukker, among them the First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello, who is also the Fifth Chukker Breast Cancer Ambassador, and the First Lady of Kaduna State, Hajia Hadiza El-Rufai. The wife of the Vice President and the First Ladies of Sokoto & Kebbi were represented. Also present were the Managing

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Director of WAPIC Insurance, the Executive Director of Coronation Merchant Bank, The Commissioners for Women Affairs, Justice and the Head of Service of Kaduna State. The event began with a lecture forum under the Patronage of First bank, Coronation Merchant Bank & Sen. Ahmed Makarfi. It was held in partnership with Raise Foundation and Medic Aid Cancer Foundation. Dr. Bilkisu Farouk, a Consultant Radiologist from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health enlightened the audience on the relevance of early detection, diagnosis and the various stages of breast cancer, as well as treatment of the disease. Testimonials were also shared by breast cancer patients and survivors. One was Shamsiyya Yahaya; a 30 year old mother of 3 who narrated how she noticed a lump in her breast during breastfeeding went to a hospital and was told it was mere fluid retention which was subsequently extracted. But this did not help her much hence she reverted to traditional medicine. Upon further clinical examination at the forum, doctors present confirmed the cancer was already at stage four and advised immediate Specialist Hospital care which Fifth Chukker facilitated. Another patient, Amina Usman also recalled how she noticed a lump during breastfeeding,

went to the hospital and was asked to return for a biopsy, which she could not afford to pay for. The doctor then referred her to the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welfare department for support which she never got even after four visits. She went back home and decided to revert to traditional medicine. A survivor, Mrs. Hilda Egboh emphasised the importance of more research into breast cancer cure and insisted on the imperative of more concerted support from friends, family, society and government as it is so emotionally and financially draining for victims of the disease. Professor Abdulkadir Tabari, the Chief Medical Director of Barau Dikko requested to have the patients visit the hospital the next working day, an appointment Fifth Chukker facilitated as well. After further examination, Amina Usman was discovered to be suffering from a chest infection, with no lumps or cancer in her breast. Prescription drugs were given to her, she is now healthier and Fifth Chukker is still in contact with her. The 2017 Fifth Chukker Breast Cancer Awareness Day was another highly interactive, educative, emotionally charged and mindblowing affair, and we continue to look forward to helping as many women as we can with their breast health.

INTERNATIONAL POLO

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 12

INTERNATIONAL POLO

LAGOS INTERNATIONAL Under sometimes tempestuous skies, teams battled for trophies in 2 weeks of fierce competition. Ernest Ekpenyong

agos Polo club welcomed thousands of people to its annual International tournament held from February the 13th to the 25th. From seasoned players and aficionados to the uninitiated, everyone joined in the fun as the crowd was treated to an entertaining display of quality polo and horsemanship, when rain allowed play, that is. Thirty four teams competed for four main cups, namely: Silver Cup, Open Cup, Low Cup and Majekodunmi Cup. Many squads were pivoted from an ample contingent of foreign professionals including 7-goalers Manuel Crespo and Juan Gustavo. For the third year running, Natalie Alan featured as the only female player in the mix. In the opening week, 12 teams contested the Open Cup while another 14 were locked in the Silver Cup battle. The Open Cup pitched in-form Leighton Kings, formed by Bowale Jolaoso, Yemo Alakija, Martin Juaregi and Juan Cruz Guebera; and A-Plus Bluechips, fielding Luqman Adebayo, Kwame Isa, Mario Gomez and Abdulrahman Mohammed. The Kings defeated the Chip for the second time in four days, this time 8-4 to grab their third straight major tournament trophy, after taking the Charity Shield and the African Patrons cup at Fifth Chukker. Leighton Kings also retained the Oba of Lagos cup in the previous day’s subsidiary final to add to their impressive trophy haul. The Silver Cup decider saw NRT (Tomi Ojora, Yasin Amusan, Dantala Ibrahim and Tata Ali) emerge winners following their 7-4 triumph over Kano BUA (Abdulsamad Rabiu, Muritala Dankaka, Abba Dantata and Selim Dantata) NRT were a tight and cohesive squad, always getting to the ball first, and had a fairly comfortable run to the final before dominating BUA from start to finish. The second week was equally packed with entertaining polo and high drama. Fourteen teams contested the Low Cup to a very close final match where A-Plus/DDSS (Luqman Adebayo, Mohammed Dangote, Kwame Isa and Abdulrahman Mohammed) edged Kano Hamdat (Tata Ali, Muritala Dankaka, Siyudi Abdullahi and Muritala Aliyu) 6-5½ to emerge champions.

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

What turned out to be the high drama of the tournament was saved for the finale when the Majekodunmi cup, the most coveted prize in Nigerian polo, was ferried to the club by helicopter on the last leg of its return journey from the UK where it was taken for refurbishment courtesy of the Majekodunmi family. The trophy had been presented to the club in 1962 by then Administrator of Western Region Dr. Moses Majekodunmi Three-time defending Champions Fifth Chukker Access Bank (Babangida Hassan, 3; Adamu Attah, 3; Manuel Crespo, 7; and Augustine Canale, 6) and perennial rivals, Keffi Ponys (Ahmed Wadada, 1; Idris Badamasi, 3; Patricio Cieza, 6; and Juan Cruz Guebera, 7) were the two contenders for the shiny silver cup. After losing the first leg of the final three days earlier, Keffi went into the six-chukker tie with more intent than hope to turn their fortunes around. Starting 2-0 up from handicap advantage, they quickly took a 3-0 lead but Fifth Chukker pulled a goal back by the end the chukka, and leveled the score 3-3 after two chukkas. The next four chukkas ended 5-5, 6-5, 8-6 and 9-6 advantage Fifth Chukker for a record fourth successive victory. It was also the team’s 7th title in ten years, making it the most successful in the cup’s fifty-five year history. For team patron, Adamu Atta, the victory was a record 10th individual title in Lagos. Trophies and prizes were handed out at presentations by dignitaries including Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, the tournament’s main sponsor for several years. Babangida Hassan and Martin Juaregi were named MVP of the Majekodunmi and Open cups respectively. Commenting on the bank’s sponsorship of the 2018 tournament, Agbaje, said; “We love the game of polo because it reflects quality, competitiveness and fair play; some of the values that have made GTBank a ‘Proudly African and Truly International Financial Institution.” Other major sponsors included WAPIC, BUA, Coca-Cola, Chapel Hill Denham and Bell Oil and Gas.

INTERNATIONAL POLO

HABTOOR POLO CROWNED WINNERS OF

THE DUBAI CUP 2018 Habtoor Polo win the highly coveted Dubai Cup 2018, in a grueling final against the winners of the Julius Baer Gold Cup 2018, Bin Drai Polo

3th April 2018, DUBAI, UAE: It was a double action day at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, with the Zedan Wolves walking away winners of the subsidiary final, scoring 4.5 goals to 4 against A.M Polo and Habtoor Polo achieving a great victory, scoring 9.5 goals to 7 against Bin Drai Polo. The final was a neck-to-neck fight, with the two strongest teams demonstrating vigor and great skill. The last chukker saw Bin Drai Polo catching up, however Habtoor Polo won back the game and scored two amazing goals sending the crowd into a roar. Mohammed Al Habtoor, Patron of Habtoor Polo said: “We are extremely happy to have won the last tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. I would like to thank everyone who has participated in it thus far, without you patrons and teams we would have not reached this level of polo in the UAE.” “Many people are saddened by the fact that the series is coming to an end which brings me to the good news. We will be playing at the resort until 13th May, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday; everyone is welcome to come and watch.” These two matches have concluded the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, paving way for the 2018-2019 edition. The calendar will be announced at the end of May, so follow the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club social media channels for updates.

About Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series was founded in 2009 by Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of The Habtoor Polo team. Each year the tournament reaches new heights. In 2012 the Gold Cup was recognised by the World Polo Tour (WPT), and in January 2014 the WPT committee credited The Dubai Polo Gold Series Cup tournament as the highest competition in terms of points within The Challenge Cup category, elevating it to 50 points for the winner. The certificate of entry was presented by the Federation of International Polo. 2015 marked the first time ever that the WPT upgraded the tournament from ‘Challenge Cup’ to the highly coveted ‘WPT Cup’, resulting in winners receiving 60 points. In 2017 the tournament was ranked up to ‘WPT Championship Cup’, with winners now receiving 80 points. The McLaren Cup, also known as The Silver Cup, is ranked under the ‘WPT Challenge Cup Category’ with winners receiving 30 points. The Dubai Gold Cup Series is proud to be the only tournament series with this exclusive accreditation in the GCC and MENA region, ranking it among the best polo tournaments worldwide.

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TRAVEL

Piccadilly Duchess

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

WATCHES to look out for...

by Backes and Strauss, the world’s oldest diamond company, since 1789

CRAFTED BY MASTERS OF THE TRADE

On the outside, the face and case evoke the geometric symmetry of the ideal cut. On the inside, the handcrafted movements are often described as jewel-like. The simile is perfect. Not only do their movements have a jewel’s brilliance and complex perfection, but the intricate workings and the interplay of one piece on the next are suggestive of the way light moves within their diamonds. THE MEANING BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

Backes & Strauss is honoured to be the partner of the Franck Muller company, the Master of Complications that shared with them the passion of creating unique and high-quality timepieces. Franck Muller is internationally acknowledged for being one of the best inhouse movement manufacturers in the world of watchmaking. They both share the same value about what a Backes & Strauss movement has to be. Creating a timeless icon is the aim of the Backes & Strauss designers. With their designs, they must evoke emotions and show respect to the incredible Franck Muller movement themselves. Each timeless classic has a soulful story behind its creation… THE REGENT BEAU BRUMMELL

In the heyday of the magnificent dandy Beau Brummell, telling the time involved more than a mere glance at the wrist - it was almost a ceremonial occasion when a gentleman gave a gentle tug on his fob chain, slowly drawing a timepiece from the depths of his waistcoat pocket

before cradling it in his palm and perusing the hour at length. That sense of tactile enjoyment which is an intrinsic part of old-world timekeeping is now revisited by Backes & Strauss in a the form of the Regent Beau Brummell Tourbillon pocket watch with a white gold case set with two rows of Baguette diamonds, with further rows of Baguette diamonds being set concentrically on the dial. The hand wound tourbillon movement features hours and minutes, as well as a date display and moon phase indication. A mere five examples will be made, each with a bespoke chain set with Ideal Cut diamonds. But who was ‘Beau Brummell’? For a start, his real name was George Bryan Brummell, and he was born in 1778 in London, the son of the future Lord North, the High Sherriff of Berkshire. It was at Eton that Brummell began to display a penchant for dandy dressing, where his daring decision to perk-up the regulation college cravat with the addition of a gleaming gold buckle won him the instant respect of his peers, whose admiration turned to adoration in the face of his quick wit and repartee. His reputation grew during a brief spell as an undergraduate at Oriel college, Oxford, to the point that he was presented to the Prince Regent who was so enchanted that he gave the 16-yearold Brummell a regimental commission in his regiment, the 10th Royal Hussars - which, with its array of elaborate uniforms designed for different occasions and famously indulgent mess behaviour, could almost have been formed with him in mind.

Meeting the Masai

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ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

Royal Jester

By the age of 24, Brummell - with considerable influence from the Prince - had reached the rank of Captain, but resigned his commission on hearing that he was to be posted to Manchester, a city he considered lacking in culture and sophistication. Soon afterwards, however, he inherited a useful fortune of around £30,000 which enabled him to live stylishly in a Mayfair apartment where he claimed to spend five hours a day simply getting dressed in his understated, yet exquisitely fitted, uniform of dark coat, full length trousers and elaborate cravat - a look which is said to have been the precursor to the modern suit and tie. The Prince became fixated by Brummell’s attitude to dress, his meticulous attention to bathing and shaving and his resulting immaculate appearance. And, when he began to imitate it, the ‘Brummell style’ was quickly picked-up by other members of high society. THE ROYAL JESTER

In days of old, the jester was no fool. A key member of a ruler’s inner circle, his role was considered vital to the smooth running of the royal court, his humorous antics

Empress Rose

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ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

were often seen as the fruit of divine inspiration and his position was one of privilege. He was even required to criticise his master. The Backes & Strauss ‘Royal Jester’ is so named because of its circular theme, in the centre of which a sparkling routine is performed by our very own version of the jester in the form of a single, round, Brilliant diamond weighing above 1.01 carats. But the magnificent ‘jester’ diamond is not the only amusing aspect of this small and very special line of watches, each of which will be a bespoke piece with a different central bespoke stone, or indulge in courtly colours with a central stone of intense blue, intense pink or fancy vivid yellow. Around the outside of the case, there are a further 80 diamonds weighing 10.50 carats, with the dial being masterfully invisibly set with two rows of baguettes weighing 2.40 carats. Each distinctive timepiece has a single diamond hand set in the crown, the Backes & Strauss signature “Jewel in the Crown”. A further 201 baguettes (9 carats) can be seen between the discreet, crimson hour and minute markers, which are ingeniously mounted on crystal discs to create the impression that they are simply floating, unconnected to any mechanism, in the great tradition of the mystery timekeeper. In reality, they are driven by a superb mechanical movement with 36 hours of power reserve.

The Berkeley Prince

THE ROYAL BERKELEY EMPEROR TOURBILLON

A truly unique piece that joined the collection of Emperor timepieces within the Royal series. This exceptional timepiece is an unrivalled masterpiece from both the inner workings to the outside casing of the watch. The diamond encrusted case of this timepiece is inspired by London’s Berkeley Square, a constant reminder of the quintessentially British heritage of Backes & Strauss and also a celebration of nature. Nature is visually resonated from the 1,080 diamonds subliming this bejeweled timepiece; a miracle of nature by their pure essence. These diamonds have each undergone hours of rigorous selection and have each individually been polished in a bespoke cut that mirrors the case in the form of Berkeley Square. For this extremely special timepiece, a hand-winding skeleton tourbillon movement has been hand-crafted to demonstrate the precise and meticulous work of the master of complication, Franck Muller. THE BERKELEY PRINCE

This illustrious horological jewel is adorned with 265 diamonds weighing 18.45 carats and boasts 264 bespoke cut baguette diamonds, which are invisibly hand-set. Requiring the skill of the master craftsmen, the invisible setting of these baguette cut diamonds epitomises the essence of Backes & Strauss. Whilst John Nash opulently cloaked London in aweinspiring architecture, Backes & Strauss has, with the Berkeley Prince, set Time in the world’s finest quality diamonds. The meticulously crafted case is adorned with 100 baguette cut diamonds weighing 8.13 carats and the dial with 164 baguette cut diamonds weighing 10.20 carats. With one round Ideal cut diamond, the heart of The Berkeley Prince is demarcated by the Backes & Strauss signature, Jewel in the Crown.

The Royal Berkeley Emperor Tourbillon

Regent Beau Brummell Tourbillon Pocket Watch

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ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

In a dazzling celebration of regal elegance and a Meeting of Masters, the master diamond setter and polisher, and the master watchmaker combine their shared passion for mathematical precision to create a unique Masterpiece both inside and out. THE EMPRESS ROSE

Piccadilly Renaissance Diamond Bracelet

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Heralded as an Empress, Queen Victoria is today celebrated as the unshakable symbol of youthful sovereignty. At only 18 years of age, Queen Victoria began her ruling as Queen. From the portrait of Queen Victoria aged 14 dressed in Royal jewels and a floral rose motif, to her coronation diadem garnished with diamond bouquets of rose, the famous ‘Rose of England’ came to be the leitmotif of Queen Victoria’s purity and strength during her long reign. To such an extent that husband Prince Albert designed the Buckingham Palace Ballroom wallpaper with a rose in celebration of Her Majesty’s delicate essence. As “a trophy of the glory and strength of [Her] Majesty’s Empire”, Backes & Strauss has created ‘The Empress Rose’, an exquisite time-telling jewel, set with a total of 608 diamonds weighing 30.02cts. We find two pear-shaped diamonds weighing 1.01ct each which are set at 12 and 6 o’clock to celebrate the mutual and everlasting love between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. At the time of Queen Victoria’s reign, the city of Geneva was experiencing an artistic Renaissance which gave fruit to skills and craftsmanship that were to set a precedence in jewellery and watch making. With its vivid colours and unrivalled technique, Swiss enamelling came to represent the new pinnacle of adorning the world’s Royalty in the most impressive of jewels. Founded in 1835, Millenet established an unprecedented know-how in this art form which was, and still is today, reserved exclusively for the finest of watches. An ultimate luxury.

That sense of rare beauty and transcendent luxury of Queen Victoria’s jewels is now revisited by Backes & Strauss in a historical Meeting of Masters. This highly complicated dial is the result of hundreds of hours of Millenet enamelling technique, a skill which is handed down from one generation to the next. Firstly, the rose motif was hand engraved into the gold. Then the leaves and petals of the rose were precisely cut out and then covered by a grey gold gold-leaf. The leaves and petals were then filled by a green enamel and pinks of five different colour hues. Meeting the Master enamellers with the Master diamond polishers and setters, this Royal creation was then set with three different cuts of finest quality diamonds. Like the diamonds found on Queen Victoria’s iconic crown, the round brilliant, modified square emerald cuts and pear-shaped diamonds are carefully placed to scintillate in perfect harmony. With a border of round brilliant-cut diamonds, the flower motif of the bracelet renders this piece an exceptional creation which, like the resounding allure of the Empress, is eternal.

WWW.BACKESANDSTRAUSS.COM

THE ART OF FUSION

The Art of Fusion ‘Hublot becomes one of the first Swiss Luxury Watch brands to open a mono-boutique in Nigeria with an international shopping experience’

mbodying vitality and verve. Hublot is renowned for blazing its own path for growth and longterm success. Fusing traditional watch making with the intricacy of new materials and modern technology, Hublot is a remarkably innovative brand and with this inventiveness, has managed to stay ahead of their peers and even the older more established watch brands. Their core philosophy is summarized in the phrase “The Art of Fusion”. For a brand so, there is a clear direction to the very pinnacle of premium watch making and luxury lifestyle. By entering the Nigerian market with the first Hublot mono boutique in Africa, the brand has again shown its boldness. When Hublot CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe was asked the reasoning for being one of the first premium watch brand to enter the Nigerian space with a boutique, his response was firm. “We go where our clients are. We see potential in Nigeria and also Hublot’s philosophy is to always be First, Unique and Different.”

It’s clear that Hublot has very many clients in Nigeria ranging from the sporty brigade to the more classic folks, both men and women. So, the band of buyers and collectors will definitely be delighted to visit the new beautifully appointed Hublot boutique located in the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja and the brand new just opened shop in shop located on the Lagos waterfront of the prestigious Wings Tower in Victoria Island. With these magnificent points of sale, Hublot intends not only to inspire but grow its Nigerian customer base through innovative time pieces and a comprehensive understanding of Nigerian rich colourful culture! “We are not trying to break with the past, we are in fact paying tribute to it by combining the past with the future. The strength of Hublot lies in its ability to innovate a way of thinking that matches off the beaten frack”. Jean Claude Brier, Chairman & President LVMH Watch Division, Chairman Hublot SA.

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THE ART OF FUSION

Jean Claude Brier (left) and Ricardo Guadalupe

Jean Claude Brier, today seen as one of the living legends of the swiss watch industry, and Ricardo Guadalupe, its fast-rising star are extremely passionate about Africa and strongly believe Nigeria has what it takes to become the luxury retail hub within west Africa. With official retail points of sale in both Abuja and Lagos Hublot fans can now shop easily at home, spending naira instead of dollars at most competitive prices. They can now also be sure that they are purchasing the original product, enjoy the strong Hublot warranty and the legendary Hublot hospitality, “The Art of Fusion”. In a short interview Ricardo Guadalupe shares his thoughts on the brand and Nigeria. Q. For such a young brand, Hublot has moved at Ferrari speed. How has this been able to happen? Thanks to the passion we put in our work. We are continuously growing, but our structure remains flexible therefore we can easily create and develop products in a short time as we have that facility in our 2 manufacture buildings. Q. We hear “The Art of Fusion”. Can you expand on this? What would you say is the DNA of the brand? The Art of Fusion definitively is Hublot’s DNA. Combining tradition with innovation, the past with the future. Q. Hublot, among a few other great watch brands, are part of the LVMH group. How closely do you work with the group and what global advantages does this give you? Each Maison is independent, but of course we have pragmatic synergies. Like for example with Berluti, where we developed a timepiece fusing both brands’ DNAs.

Q. You are about to open your first Hublot boutique in Abuja, Nigeria. How excited are you about this? This is of course a new milestone for the brand as we open our first boutique in Africa. I am of course proud of this new step for Hublot. Q. Have you ever visited Nigeria or any other country in Africa? Unfortunately, I had never visited Nigeria previously, but I was in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2010, where I also enjoyed a safari tour. This was wonderful and unique! I look forward to visiting Nigeria soon. Q. What are your plans to continue to develop the movement in Nigeria? With a population of over 180 million people, just one percent (1%) of that gives you an interesting market. Do you have plans to develop the brand here as you have done in other parts of the world? We believe that there is an important potential in Nigeria. This boutique and SIS are major milestones, and we will continue to build our strong image in Africa. Q. What was your positive reasoning for being one of the first to enter the Nigerian market with a boutique? We go where our clients are. We see potential in Nigeria, and also Hublot’s philosophy is to always be First. Unique. Different. Q. You’re known in the industry as dynamic and fast to the table, what do you make of those comments? What do you consider to be your best attributes? Hublot is a leader in innovation and creativity. This is our DNA, and we constantly continue to push the boundaries further and further.

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

FIFTH CHUKKER POLO & COUNTRY CLUB

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MAGIC Luxury Accommodation

Fine Dining

Polo. Live it. Love it. www.fifthchukker.com

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Events

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

EMAAR

exemplifies the best in property development

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer and provider of premium lifestyles, with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. One of the world’s largest real estate companies, Emaar has a land bank of 170 million sq m in the UAE and key international markets. With a proven track-record in delivery, Emaar has delivered over 45,900 residential units in Dubai and other global markets since 2002. Emaar has strong recurring revenue generating assets with over 838,000 square metres of leasing revenue, generating assets and 18 hotels and resorts with 3,490 rooms. Today, around 53% of the Emaar’s revenue is from its shopping malls and retail, hospitality and leisure and international subsidiaries. Burj Khalifa, a global icon, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among Emaar’s trophy developments. Emaar has now launched a magnificent new tower that will serve as the centrepiece of the Dubai Creek Harbour development. The group owns and manages a portfolio of hospitality assets and brands including Address Hotels + Resorts, a premium luxury hotel and residences brand; Vida Hotels and Resorts, an upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand; and Rove Hotels, a contemporary midscale hotel brand. Emaar Hospitality Group is expanding its portfolio to international markets with projects already announced in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey and The Maldives. The group plans to introduce its brands in key gateway cities and tourist destinations in Europe, Middle East, India and China. Emaar Hospitality Group was created in 2007 and owns and manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets in addition to its hotel brands including serviced residences, golf retreats, a yacht club, a polo and equestrian club, and a comprehensive portfolio of Lifestyle Dining restaurants.

AT A GLANCE

• Hospitality and leisure subsidiary of global developer Emaar Properties • Strong footprint in Dubai and expanding to international markets including Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and The Maldives • Three distinctive brands, Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Rove Hotels o 11 operational hotels in the UAE o 3 serviced residences operational in Dubai o 31 upcoming projects in the UAE and international markets • Emaar Leisure Group assets include Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club and Dubai Marina Yacht Club • Lifestyle Dining includes At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa, La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie, Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera and Toko • Launched U By Emaar, a distinctively rewarding loyalty programme

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PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

BURJ KHALIFA Creative artists from Japan and Mexico win Burj Khalifa’s design contest; winning concepts go live In a global competition that received hundreds of entries from creative professionals around the world, Emaar selected the design concepts by two artists from Japan and Mexico for the Burj Khalifa Open Call. Emaar had offered the opportunity for creative professionals to submit designs that will form the theme of the spectacular displays at the global icon’s new LED façade. From the entries, the first two winning concepts for the month of April have been selected by an expert jury. The winners are: Pedro Narvaez from Mexico and Hiroyuki Hosaka from Japan. Their winning designs will form the theme of the spectacular illumination on Burj Khalifa displayed every hour from 6.15 pm to 10.15 pm on weekdays and every 30 minutes from 6.15 pm to 10.45 pm on weekends.

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Pedro Narvaez submitted a design concept titled ‘Luna’, which centres on the moon, which the designer noted, reigns the night. The design resembles a night garden that flourishes under the moonlight with crystals, flowers, diamonds and pearls weaving the light that shines at night. Hiroyuki Hosaka’s theme titled ‘Sylo’ uses geometric design and optical illusion patterns to create a stunning show that will mesmerise viewers. Both their creative works will also be featured on the tower’s social media channels reaching a wider audience globally. In the coming months, more winning concepts from the submitted entries will be selected for display at Burj Khalifa. At 828 metres (2,716.5 ft), the 200-plus-storey Burj Khalifa has 160 habitable levels, the most of any building in the world, and the new LED façade is the worlds’ single largest display surface.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

REEL CINEMAS INTRODUCES DUBAI’S FIRST HOTEL-CINEMA IN ROVE DOWNTOWN Emaar Entertainment, the leisure and entertainment subsidiary of Emaar Properties, announced in April that its leading cinema brand, Reel Cinemas, is further expanding its local footprint with a brandnew concept – the first hotel-cinema – located in Rove Downtown, the contemporary midscale hotel in Downtown Dubai. The hotelcinema will add to the convenience of hotel guests, catering to the needs of contemporary travellers and urban residents. Rove Downtown is the first hotel under Rove Hotels, a contemporary midscale brand, developed as a joint venture between Meraas and Emaar Properties PJSC. Highlighting Rove Hotels’ intrinsic focus on design, the new cinema – Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown - will build on Rove Downtown’s ornate charm with stylised seating and a distinct inner-city vibe – providing an unapparelled level of casual-chic sophistication. With ticket price covering popcorn and a soft drink, the new location is set to be the go-to location for urban travellers and discerning residents, as it screens blockbuster titles as well as alternative content such as football and regional cinema. Damien Latham, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Entertainment, the operator of Reel Cinemas, said: “Reel Cinemas is altering preconceptions of what movie-lovers expect from a cinema while diversifying the cinematic offering to suit every mood and occasion. By pioneering innovative trends, we’re changing the face of entertainment in the region with the new hotel-cinema concept. We are committed to delivering exceptional entertainment experiences and in taking the region’s cinema landscape to the next level.” Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Rove Hotels is for the contemporary traveller who values culturally

inspired settings in a vibrant social hub. As the first hotel under Rove Hotels, Rove Downtown has defined its niche in an exceptional location and effortless connectivity to business and leisure destinations in the city. With the addition of the first hotel-cinema, Rove Downtown is raising the bar in its offerings and delivering addedvalue for our guests.” Paul Bridger, Corporate Director of Operations of Rove Hotels, said: “The opening of Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown by region’s leading entertainment provider brings a new dimension to the hospitality industry. It marks the integration of all the leisure choices that modern traveller seek, and reflects the brand values of Rove Hotels to deliver memorable social experiences. As a social hub that connects the young and trendy, the new addition to Rove Downtown will further position the hotel as among the first choices for the new generation of travellers.” Scheduled for completion in the first half of 2018, the boutique Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown will have only 49 seats underpinned by the standards Reel Cinemas have set with state-of-the-art audio-visual technologies. The addition of Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown to Emaar Entertainment’s growing portfolio follows the recent launches of Emaar Entertainment’s pioneering VR Park in The Dubai Mall, and Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar and Dine-in Cinema by Reel Cinemas at Jebel Ali Recreation Club. Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown will also cater to group events and corporate gatherings, with the lobby lounge providing the perfect precinema meeting area, and the relaxed seating and effortless sophistication of the cinema becoming an idyllic location for private functions.

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PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

REEL CINEMAS PARTNERS WITH SUPERSTAR CHEF GUY FIERI TO LAUNCH MIDDLE EAST’S FIRST ‘DINE-IN CINEMA’ IN DUBAI Reel Cinemas, the dynamic cinema brand under Emaar Entertainment, has teamed up with international superstar chef Guy Fieri to launch the first stand-alone Dine-In Cinema featuring his highly acclaimed American Kitchen concept in the Middle East. Truly unique, Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar and Dine-in Cinema by Reel Cinemas at Jebel Ali Recreation Club redefines the cinematic experience in the region. Restaurant-prepared meals from Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen are delivered to the table of cine-goers, as they enjoy blockbusters with Dolby Atmos and Barco Flagship Laser projection that assure exceptional audio-visual quality. The Guy Fieri cuisine will be available at three locations of Reel Cinemas in Dubai, with the first open at Jebel Ali followed by Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Reel Cinemas – The Pointe in The Palm Jumeirah. Combined, the theaters will have 14 dine-in screens, with session tickets covering not just the film but also a sumptuous meal comprising of an appetiser and main course. The Guy Fieri cuisine adds an extra flair of excitement to cinema outings, with the focus being on the food; for a change, none of Dine-In Cinemas will serve popcorn. The Guy Fieri menu will reflect his signature style, taking inspiration from his most renowned dishes, such as his signature Mac & Cheese Burger, Trash Can Nachos, New York marbled Cheesecake and more. This is the first partnership in the Middle East by Emmy Awardwinning chef, restaurateur, TV personality and New York Times bestselling author, Guy Fieri. With 45 restaurants located across the United States and Mexico, and forthcoming restaurants in South Africa, this marks the next step in Fieri’s international expansion. “We are bringing the best of my American restaurants to Reel Cinema’s best-in-class theatres, the concepts that we are building are truly a first of their kind venture for both of us. I know how to give guests a real-deal food experience and I know that Reel Cinemas has the expertise to apply it to the theatre space – so it’s a great partnership. We’ve been working hard on this, with my team coming back and forth from the US regularly and we’ll be on site to make sure that these

restaurants are impeccable from day-one, giving guests an all-round good time in this first-for-the-region experience – people are going to dig it!” said Guy Fieri, Restaurateur. ABOUT GUY FIERI:

Guy Fieri, chef, restaurateur, author and Emmy Award-winning host, began his love affair with food at the age of ten, selling soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his father called “The Awesome Pretzel.” Supplementing the pretzel income with six years of dishwashing wages, Guy earned enough money to pursue his dream of studying abroad as an exchange student in Chantilly, France. There he gained a profound appreciation for international cuisine, the rigor of technique and the importance of fresh ingredients, and the experience further strengthened his passion for food. After graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a degree in hospitality management, Guy launched his culinary career in 1996 with the opening of Johnny Garlic’s, his first restaurant based in his hometown of Santa Rosa, CA. Since then, Guy has created a thriving culinary empire as the host of top-rated TV shows Guy’s Big Bite, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Guy’s Grocery Games; author of five New York Times bestselling cookbooks; and owner of 45 restaurants across the country. Recent restaurant expansions include Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse in Louisville, KY, and an upcoming location in Norfolk, VA; two namesake restaurant concepts on Carnival cruise ships; and outposts of Guy’s Burger Joint in Live Nation amphitheaters nationwide. In 2017, Guy will continue to expand internationally with restaurants opening in South Africa and Dubai. Guy released his sixth book, Guy Fieri Family Food, in October 2016, and continues to steadfastly support the charity he founded, Cooking with Kids, which is dedicated to teaching kids to cook while instilling self-esteem, self-reliance and a healthy lifestyle. Guy lives in Northern California with his wife, Lori and two boys – Hunter and Ryder. www.emaar.com

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

dilmah demonstrates the importance of origin in business Yasemen Kaner-White

BUSINESS PROFILE

“Dilmah is unique; a brand founded on a passionate commitment to quality and authenticity in tea, it is also a part of a philosophy that goes beyond commerce in seeing business as a matter of human service” Merrill J. Fernando

Tea Trails - Summerville

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ipping tea in Sri Lanka with Malik Fernando, son of Dilmah’s founder and world-renowned tea maker Merrill J. Fernando, the business behind their beverage was unveiled to me. Dilmah diligently demonstrates the importance of roots, both family and origin. The process of tea making in Dilmah hasn’t changed during the last 100 years, with a lot of the equipment used today from the early part of last century. I saw this with my own eyes on their fascinating tea tour, enthusiastically lead by their tea estate manager Bernard, a man who has worked in tea for the last 59 years. The tour took me from the rolling hills where I saw the jewel coloured clothes of the ladies among the lush green tea plantations positioned around Castlereagh Reservoir, picking each leaf by hand, sacks on their backs to carry their consignment, to inside the factory itself. Adorned with vintage tea posters, colourful 150-year-old rustic metal tea sample tins, placards packed with information, the factory is an exciting testament to all things tea. I learnt how James Taylor the first to plant tea in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka after independence from the former British colony) would roll the leaves on his thighs, until he acquired bespoke

BUSINESS PROFILE

Mailk, Merrill and Dilhan Fernando

Merrill J Fernando

Yasemen, leaving Summerville, about to cross the reservoir to the tea factory

Malik at Cape Weligama

Bernard at the Tea Factory Tour

machinery from Belfast. Fun facts didn’t end there, I learnt that Orange Pekoe is named after the Dutch Royal family aka the House of Orange, and Earl Grey after Charles the second Earl Grey from Newcastle. Furthermore, teabags were commercialised in 1904 when tealeaf samples sent in silk packets to customers by Thomas Sullivan, resulted in the customers preferring to brew the tea in the bag, instead of the intended removal of the leaves. Above all, I gained a greater respect for tea, more so, and justly so, for Sri Lankan tea. Unlike factories in East Africa, Japan and Turkey for example, all tea in Sri Lanka is handpicked, therefore the quality is controlled by eye as opposed to undiscriminating machines. “Selection is the name of the game”, Malik proclaimed. Every 8-10 days, 30-35 times a year, only the top two young leaves are taken from the plants when reaching 2-feet. Withering troughs filter the leaves, tea grade sorting machines separate leaves from fannings and dust, before they go to auction, are bought, packaged and sold. Dilmah conducts the entire process in Sri Lanka itself, and always has done. “Ceylon tea has sadly been commoditised; my father’s mission has been to take single origin Ceylon tea back to the world”, Malik explained. In fact, Dilmah’s tea is the only brand of hot beverage from any third world country; coco, coffee and other tea brands are Western or European multinationals. In 1952, Merrill was the first Sri Lankan to be selected in a group of 6 by the British to be a tea taster, enriching his knowledge and planting the seed in his mind for his own plantation. When he went to Mincing Lane, London, the old tea trading hub, he saw inequality, Ceylon tea was taken in bulk and blended with other tea from India, and although it was a primary ingredient it wasn’t single origin, nor was it packaged under a Sri Lankan name. “He vowed that one day he would come back and create his own brand of pure Ceylon tea and package it in Sri Lanka”, Malik explained. Proving perseverance pays off, the next 30 years he worked for the British until he bought the company and became one of the biggest exporters of Sri Lankan tea. He created Dilmah in 1988, a combination of his two sons names; Dilhan (also instrumental in the business) and Malik, when he was 60 years old. Dilmah now ships to 100 companies around the world, including Harrods and Selfridges and is Sri Lanka’s most recognised Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

BUSINESS PROFILE

Opening of Kaytes hospital Koulara School of Inspiration

international brand of tea. Dilmah refuses to compromise on quality, resulting in being the most expensive tea but consistently good. Interestingly PG Tips was once 100% Ceylon, but no more, due to keeping costs down, it is a blend of cheaper teas. Being strictly single origin “Dilmah is bringing back the taste of tea” explained Malik. A cup of Dilmah now would remind someone of what the big brands, for instance PG Tips, used to taste like. Which is why discerning customers are turning to artisan and trustworthy producers like Dilmah. The company goes well beyond fair trade, all the profit stays in Sri Lanka, with 10% going towards the Dilmah family funded MJF Charitable Foundation, the largest private sector foundation in the country, touching the lives of 10,000 people every year on tea estates and beyond. Funding over 150 projects annually, initiatives include a community centre for women teaching them arts and crafts, entrepreneur programmes, as well as education centres. Dilmah offers help to children with special needs, enabling people with hardship to learn gastronomy and hospitality skills, caring for the natural habitat; they are soon to open a leopard research station with 5 full time researchers in situ. When Merrill began his tea venture, little did he know how much it would evolve. Malik, when walking around the tea bungalows, thought to himself ‘why not use them’, and so Resplendent Ceylon, the most in demand boutique properties in the country, was born. Describing himself as an accidental hotelier, Malik and his team have created a circuit of luxury lodges that take their guests on a journey to the most noteworthy parts of Sri Lanka. ‘Tea Trails’ near Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Restored stream Naalin Perera @IUCN

Cinnamon Tour, organised by Cape Weligama

Afternoon tea at Cape Weligama

Grey Langur monkey at Wild Coast Tented Lodge

â&#x20AC;&#x153;With Resplendent Ceylon and our hotels, I seek to do for Sri Lanka tourism what my father and Dilmah did for Ceylon Tea. To fly the flag and make it a premium, authentic product. To showcase Sri Lanka to its full potentialâ&#x20AC;? Merrill J. Fernando Tea Fields

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Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala

Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala

Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala

Cooking class with Chef Nishantha, Cape Weligama

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Cooking class with Chef Nishantha, Cape Weligama

Hatton - central Sri Lanka, beach resort ‘Cape Weligma’ 30 minutes east of Galle and ‘Wild Coast Tented Lodge’, adjacent to well-known Yala National Park. Opening in 2020 is ‘Sigiriya Resort’ in the Cultural Triangle. Having spent 6 nights, 2 nights in each of the resorts, I had a good flavour of what all had to offer, and yes, you guessed it, delicious Dilmah tea was served in all three as a constant. I stayed in the Summerville lodge in Tea Trails, my bedroom named after tea planter - Goddard, and certainly felt at home. To be in Tea Trails is to experience what life as a tea planter would have been like. Arriving at night, I was met by the chef ready to serve whatever meal I desired. I opted for something local and a cup of light tea; Ran Watte was suggested, a high grown tea, light in colour and texture with delicate characteristics, which ended up being my favourite from their extensive list. I dined outside, with a misty view of the garden, crickets humming and fireflies flitting about like sprinkles of light showering above me. I liked that breakfast was to be ordered the night before - opting for egg hopper, fish curry, fresh local mango juice and a cup of Yata Watte, a low grown tea, high in pigment and tannin, strong in taste, which turned out to be a superb suggestion. Breakfast played out to birdsong and chirpy tunes from the nearby Hindu temple. A walk through the lush green garden, pink petunias lining the path, before a boat across the reservoir, a popular spot for watersports…to the tea factory tour. Later that day I had a cooking class at Norwood Bungalow with their chef, tea took a main role. We used a few Dilmah blends to infuse the prawns and lamb; Tea Trails meals are also served with a tea shot on the side, then the afternoon ended with a game of croquet on the lawn. Around five-and-a-half hours away, a pleasant drive past colourful advert signs, men and women washing their clothes in the streams, banana, coconut and jackfruit trees, men herding lazy cows on the roadside and cheerful children in groups walking to school with the sun shielded by their mother’s umbrella, is Wild Coast Tented Lodge. Futuristic globes dotted among the jungle terrain. Upon entering you are thrown back to colonial safari days, with big leather trunks and a four-poster bed. A few wild boar at the watering hole, water buffalo taking a dip and gregarious, grey langur monkeys watching the new guests

Tea Fields

BUSINESS PROFILE

Cape Weligama - aerial view to east

arrive, you certainly feel the wildness of your surroundings, which is a thrill. After a spot of lunch, a walk along the windy wild coast, afternoon tea, then sundowner cocktails and canapés served on the rocks by the sea, before a dip in the pool, a read of a book in their extensive uber-modern library and dinner – tonight it was a BBQ. Being by the sea, seafood is a given, I opted for the local marinated jumbo prawns, slipper lobster, snapper and cuttlefish, alongside crunchy Olu rice, containing local lotus seeds. Other highlights from this resort had to be the safaris, both the walking one where plenty of plants from Palu fruit trees to prickly pears were pointed out and the drive through famous Yala National Park. I’d never been so close to an elephant and her baby in the wild before not even on previous safaris; magical. A cooking class with executive chef Nishantha on the rocks really is a must-do experience, I’m now hooked on beetroot curry. Next was Cape Weligama, upon arrival was a welcome cool jasmine infused cloth to refresh and a Moroccan lemon ice tea with a mango and basil ice lolly. 12 acres of property meant golf buggies were on hand to take slothful guests around. The moon pool, a moon shaped infinity pool, overlooking the Indian Ocean is the perfect place to lounge by with a bowl of freshly cooked chili-garlic cashew nuts and a fresh king coconut in hand. That evening I had a seat booked at the Chef’s Table, chef Vinnol cooked a 6 course meal in front of our eyes, talking us through the process, a very intimate and visual affair, with yet more fantastic Sri Lankan dishes; varied, flavoursome yet light and healthy. I had a cooking class with chef Vinnol the next day, with a takeaway recipe booklet ensuring I can replicate the cuisine at home. I even bought some cooking utensils just like his - made from coconut shells from a nearby market store, to add the authentic touch. There are plenty of things to do from snorkelling to scuba diving you can do a PADI course at their Dive Centre, to surfing or whale watching. I opted for a bike tour and visit to the cinnamon workers residence, to get a feel for local life. The last lunch before leaving was a piquant prawn kottu roti – one of the best street foods I’ve had, akin to a roti put through the shredder, interspersed with veg and prawns – a spicy sambal on the side, was a good note to say a difficult goodbye…

Cape Weligama - the moon pool Cape Weligama - Grand Ocean Villa

Cooking class with Chef Vinnol, Cape Weligama

Cape Weligama - bar

Cooking class with Chef Vinnol, Cape Weligama

Cape Weligama - Private pool

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

The Westcliff Spa

or travellers to Johannesburg, the suburb of Westcliff is an unexpected pleasure. A departure from the urban landscape that the city is best known for, this lush area overlooking the neighbouring suburbs is a welcome surprise for many visitors who are expecting something a lot more urban. Although slightly removed from the primary business districts of Sandton and the city, this area is centrally located with easy proximity to either, giving you the best of both worlds. It is here you’ll find Four Seasons The Westcliff, a hotel beloved by locals, and frequented by visitors for its picturesque architecture and perfect position. A few years ago the hotel underwent a dramatic renovation and is now part of the Four Seasons family of internationally renowned hotels. A multifaceted leisure destination, for the business as well as the leisure traveller, Four Seasons The Westcliff offers an impressive social and lifestyle experience, beyond its excellent accommodation, which translates into an escape from the busy city streets below. Whether that means meeting a friend for a glass of fine South African wine and enjoying the panoramic expanse of trees below you – Johannesburg is the largest manmade forest in the world, and is home to more than 12 million trees including the famous jacarandas which bloom in October – enjoying a meal at one of three fine-dining restaurants on the property, or recharging in the spa, you’ll be spending your downtime well.

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

BUSINESS PROFILE

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

BUSINESS PROFILE

A veritable urban oasis, Four Seasons The Westcliff Spa is perhaps the best place on the property to recharge. A world-class facility with eight treatment rooms (including a double’s spa suite), a beautifully appointed pool, serene chill area for pre and post treatment relaxation, and dedicated manicure and pedicure studio, it offers a full spectrum of beautiful spaces, and is one of few spas in Johannesburg that can boast such a remarkable setting. The menu itself spans treatments of every type, from specialist facials and massages, to essential grooming for hands and feet. If however you can’t find exactly what you want on the set spa menu, your therapists will tailor make an experience according to your exact needs. Four Seasons The Westcliff Spa uses a variety of luxurious products – both local and international – including ranges from Terres d’Afrique (ethical and botanical focused), Omorovicza (from Budapest, known internationally as the spa capital of the world for its famous thermal baths) and Biologique Recherche (a French spa brand known for its customized approach to. This ensures the best possible experience both physically and mentally. Once your therapist has finished your chosen treatment you’re welcome to use the sauna, steam room or pool to decompress further. If refreshments are needed, head to Après Spa, the spa’s dedicated restaurant, and enjoy a meal from the new carefully curated wellness menu, created in collaboration with Christine Phillips and designed to continue the nourishing and sensory Four Seasons experience. Guests can make the most of the extensive wellness offering by opting for Four Seasons The Westcliff’s special room spa package – which includes a spa treatment as part of a stay at the hotel. https://www.fourseasons.com/johannesburg/offers/spa-package/

For the full treatment menu, visit https://www.fourseasons.com/johannesburg/spa/ Phone number +27 11 4816450

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

Wheels ART ON

Maryanne Njeri Maina

Sometimes we call old cars vintage, classic or antique. The top marques, ranging from Mercedes Benz, to Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin, ooze elegance and head-turning swag. They are akin to art on wheels. Comparable to a glass of very rare Chateau Lafitte, they sooth your soul and command a moment of respect.

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ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

ut the words classic and vintage have been overstretched and used inappropriately. Not every old car is extraordinary or a thoroughbred. “A car without a story, history or reputation isn’t extra-ordinary, explained Dr. Julius Kruta, Head of Tradition, Bugatti. We are discussing haute couture, cars of rarity, specially built. For example, Bugatti only built 8,000 cars in 30 years. Also, human beings love competition, we compete and the most sought out brands are known for racing and speed such as Lamborghini and Ferrari,” he added. “Antique is a phrase used largely in America to describe any old car. By stricter definitions this is how we can define these cars,” stated Poppy Smith, Motoring Press Officer, at Bonham’s. “A veteran car was made before 1918; a vintage car was made between World War I and World War II, while a classic car is any collectable car aged more than 30 years old,” she added. Some of the famous collectors include the Sultan of Brunei whose collection is speculated to be between 3000 and 6000 cars. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has one of the largest Porsche collections in the world. He loves Porsche so much that at one time he owned a record 46 models, ranging from a 1949 Porsche 356/2 to a Porsche 959, which is one of 333 ever built.. Mercedes are some of the most collected cars in the world. One of their models, the 300SL Gullwing became world-renowned and widely regarded as the first true supercar, even if the term wasn’t really coined until the late 1960s. The 300SL (1954-1963) was beautifully styled with unmatched engineering and gull-wing doors. Other models such as the S-Class (1965 - 1972) was big, elegant and in the form of a coupe, and the S Class Coupe (19651975) was also elegant and revered. The US, UK and other European countries such as France and Germany are the leading countries for collectors. Classic American Muscle cars are popular in the US, British marques like Aston Martin and Bentley are popular in the UK, and Mercedes are

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

1932 Delage D8-SS

Mercedes-Benz

HDK 2658

jagheritage57collectionimage02091404

Bugatti 57SC

Mercedes-Benz SSK

HDI 7685

popular in Germany. From Africa, the leading buyers are from South Africa and Nigeria. The most sought after cars depend on what the collector desires, increasing the market value. The Ferrari 250 GTO is considered to be one of the rarest and most desirable cars, as only 39 were ever made. In 2014 Bonham’s auctioned one of these Ferraris at a world record breaking $38,115,000. Other sought-after cars include Lightweight Jaguar E-Types, Blower Bentleys and Aston Martin DB4GT Zagatos. Different aspects are taken into consideration during the valuation of these cars to arrive at the price. It depends chiefly on the rarity of the model, the desirability of the marque, its condition and its history such as the entering of certain races like Le Mans 24 Hours by a celebrated racing driver or special ownership, for instance a celebrity ownership. Enthusiasts who collect cars or intend on collecting cars can attend global car events,

museums or join car clubs where they engage and interact with the other car enthusiasts and car specialists. The Concours d’Elegance which means a “competition of elegance” refers to an event where prestigious vehicles are displayed and judged. It dates back to 17th Century France, where aristocrats paraded horse drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during summer weekends and holidays. Every month of the year there is an event globally, including the USA, Switzerland, Germany Kenya, Australia, Belgium and the UK. Other popular events for aficionados include Oldtimerfarm (Belgium), Chantilly Arts & Elegance (France), and Porsche Classics at the Castle (UK) by the Porsche Club of Great Britain. Museums are also an option for one to immerse into the lives of these prestigious vehicles, such as the Porsche museum (Germany), Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum (UK), Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

jagheritage57collectionimage02091404

Mercedes-Benz W196R

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione -

HAV 5267

Porsche- HAV 601

Ferrari 250 GTO

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ADVENTURES IN LUXURY

Aston Martin DB5 Convertible

V8 Vantage 05

Veyron 16.4

(Italy), Museo Lamborghini (Italy) and BMW Museum (Germany). Bugatti has 125 cars in Musée de la Chartreuse in France. In Stuttgart, Germany, on a ground of 16,500 metres is the Mercedes Benz museum which takes you through a journey of more than 130 years of the Benz universe invented by Carl Benz in 1886, showcasing more than 160 vehicles ranging from the oldest automobiles ever built to racing cars and futuristic research vehicles; from the 1885 Daimler Riding Car, the world’s first gasoline powered vehicle and the record breaking Lighting Benz that hit 228km/h at Daytona Beach in 1909. A collector can now purchase a car directly from this classic car museum in Germany instead of buying from a private collection. The Porsche museum in Germany has more than 550 cars in its collection with approximately 80 of them being on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. For collectors, auctions are a good place to engage with the cars and the specialists and also learn how to collect cars. There are several events such as the Sotheby’s global auctions, According to Sotheby’s, the most-expensive cars sold in 2018 at a public auction were a Ferrari 275 GTB Special, a Porsche 550A Spyder, a Ferrari 500 Mondial and three Bugattis: a Chiron, Type 55 Roadster and a Type 57C Atalante Coupé. Bonham’s holds auctions at exclusive and glamorous motoring events. “We have 20 auctions a year, across the globe, some are at classic races such as our Monaco sale in May, and some take place on site at our flagship salesroom on Bond Street in London such as the London to Brighton Sale in November,” said Smith. The top price paid this year for a car at a Bonham’s public auction was $8,085,000 for a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciate. The second most expensive car in 2018 was a 1958 Porsche 55A Spyder that finished Le Mans fifth overall as a works entry and sold for $5,170,000. A 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series 1 sold for $4,455,000 while a1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster at $4,070,000 is the most-expensive pre-war car thus far in 2018.

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Lilby Skaz

Art X Lagos â&#x20AC;&#x201C; second edition consolidates the art fair as a compelling cultural highlight of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest city

ART IN FOCUS

Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe stands by Ben Enweonwu’s ‘Seven Sculptures’ which were commiossioned in 1960 by The Daily Mirror, London

Tafeta

Lemi Ghariokwu

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ART IN FOCUS

he notion that the contemporary art market is becoming more event driven and less gallery based has been bobbing around for some time before art entrepreneur Tokini Peterside grabbed the idea and ran with it. Now her non-stop rounds on the world media circuit espousing her hugely successful Art X Lagos is undiluted attestation the lady is clearly on top of her game. For a second year running, Art X Lagos has been drawing the crowd to see a lot of artwork by artists with different galleries in a very short space of time while socialising in the process. The fair not only provides a portal to African artists but also offers galleries from around the continent and beyond a platform for bringing their quality work to the Nigerian and West African market. Building upon its successful 2016 debut, the latest edition of Art X Lagos opened to rave reviews as His Highness the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II led a parade of dignitaries, including Minister for Information & Culture, Lai Mohammed, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Access Bank Group CEO. Herbert Wigwe and Thisday publisher Nduka Obaigbena at the VIP preview of the 3-day event at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. On loan from Access Bank and welcoming guests to the exhibition hall were the star exhibits, the famous seven wooden sculptures by Nigeria’s greatest modern artist Ben Enweonwu MBE. The works were originally commissioned by the Daily Mirror of London in 1960 and had never, until now, been publicly displayed in Nigeria. This unveiling coincides with the artist’s 100th natal anniversary. The main exhibition floor housed 14 galleries including Art House - The Space (Nigeria), Bloom Art (Nigeria), Foundation Donwahi (Ivory Coast), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Galerie Atiss (Senegal), Gallery MAM (Cameroon), Nubuke Foundation (Ghana), Retro Africa (Nigeria), Signature Beyond (Nigeria), SMO Contemporary (Nigeria), Stevenson Gallery (South Africa), TAFETA (United Kingdom), and Tiwani Contemporary (United Kingdom). The 65 artists on show included the globally renowned Nigerian-British artist and sculptor Yinka Shonibare MBE; Zanele Muholi (South Africa); Jeremiah Quarshie (Ghana); Modupeola Fadugba (Nigeria); Nandipha Mntambo (Swaziland); Virginia Chihota (Zimbabwe); Boris Nzebo (Cameroon); Babajide Olatunji (Nigeria); Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum (Botswana);

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Amadou Sanogo (Mali) and Portia Zvavahera (Zimbabwe) amongst others. In addition, four independent artists - Polly Alakija, Rom Isichei, Lakin Ogunbanwo and Oluseye presented a selection of their works The programme of events also incorporated a series of talks by eminent artists and industry elite. The topics touched on a variety of profound cultural topics relating to contemporary African art. The discussions also explored Africa’s culture and diversity through both historical material and cutting edge works by established and emerging artists. A highlight of the talks was the participation of Nigerian-American artist Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, a 2017 MacArthur “Genius”, who was fresh from selling one of her paintings for over $3m at Sotheby’s in London. The MacArthur Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have shown originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. The Access Bank Art X Prize winner, Habeeb Andu, was also announced at the end of the talks. Speaking at the fair’s closing, Tokini Peterside thanked all the sponsors, the advisory board and members of the public who have made Art X Lagos the success it has become: “Following last year’s turnout of 5,000 people, it is both exciting and humbling to learn that over 9,000 people have walked through our doors these past 3 days. We can now say with confidence that the future is incredibly bright, and that we are on course to deliver on our mission, to magnify the patronage of African artists across the continent, and to inspire future generations of African artists. We assure you of our commitment to maintaining Art X Lagos as a leading light for African contemporary art.” As the 9,000 mostly art novices who crushed through the turnstiles in those three days moved on with their lives, the promoters of Art X can justifiably indulge in the contentment that the show has clearly achieved its fundamental aim of bolstering the visual arts as an important component of the creative industry in Nigeria and positioning Lagos as an emergent cultural hub on the continent. Art X Lagos 2017 enjoyed the support of gold sponsor, Access Bank; silver sponsor, Absolut; bronze sponsors, Stanbic IBTC Pensions Managers, 7Up, ANAP Jets; and of Diversity and Education Partner, Ford Foundation, as well as Chapel Hill Denham, Lufthansa, Leadway Assurance and Metro Capital.

Girma Berta

Chinwe Uwatse

Modupeola Fadugba

Olu Amoda

ART IN FOCUS

Duke Asidere Dipo Doherty

Babajide Olatunji’s ‘Face’ (left)

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ART IN FOCUS

Jeremiah Quarshie

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ART IN FOCUS

Victor Etuokwu, Femi Lijadu, Tokini Peterside, The Emir Of Kano, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Atedo Peterside, Mr Mobolaji Balogun...

Bidemi Zakariya and Denola Grey

L-R; Amaechi Okobi of Access Bank (sponsors of ART X Lagos; 2017 ART X Prize winner Habeeb Andu flanked and Tokini Peterside Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele (L) and Nduka Obaigbena

Atedo Peterside, Nduka Obaigbena, Mo Abudu at the opening preview

L-R; Tokini Peterside, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Mobolaji Balogun during the talks â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;In conversations with Njideka Akunyili Crosbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajamiala (L)

Tom Bouchier, Genevieve Nnaji, Chinny Onwugbenu and Dodos Uvieghara

Artist Polly Alakija (left) and friends

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Race for the

Perini Navi Cup

Superyacht experts Frances and Michael Howorth sample first hand, Sardiniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exclusive superyacht racing event. Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

“I

t’s like driving a luxury villa around the Formula 1 circuit at Monaco, but it’s a whole lot more fun!” says Bill Tripp the American sail boat designer. Bill is at the helm of Helios, a 45 metre long superyacht and every sail we have got on board is set and full of wind. The monstrous super sailing yacht is thrashing her way through the blue waters off Porto Cervo in Sardinia, her white wake froths creamily under her stern as she cuts a path across the sea. The sun is shining, the wind is on the beam and Helios is gently leaning away from it, heeling at about 7 degrees. We are racing and at the time Bill uttered those words, we were leading a fleet of twenty other superyachts in a pursuit race sailing down the eastern coast of Sardinia towards Cale di Volpe. Ahead of us is the iconic The Maltese Falcon, an 88 metre superyacht built for Tom Perkins the co-founder of venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers who provided early financing to technology giants such as Google, Amazon and Sun Microsystems. Elena Ambrosiadou, founder of the hedge fund, Ikos Partners, now owns this magnificent three masted yacht having purchased her from Tom for 120 million US dollars. Behind us, and coming up fast, is our near sister ship Clan VIII, her full time racing crew in their matching blue and yellow shirts are taking what is after all a gentleman’s sport, rather more seriously then we are aboard Helios, and are hanging out over the ships side rail in a bid to reduce the yacht’s in-the-water profile and therefore reduce her drag. Racing superyachts the likes of Helios across stretches of open waters is one of the richest and most elitist sports in the world. It has always been like that even before the millionaire Sir Thomas Sopwith challenged for the America’s Cup with his J-class yachts, Endeavour, in 1934, and with Endeavour II

in 1937. Yachts that race to win The Americas Cup do so in a competition for the oldest trophy in international sport that dates back to 1851. In the 1920’s yachts such as Lulworth and Britannia dwarfed all other yachts and were thrust into the public eye because of those who owned them. Britannia was a 37 metre gaff-rigged cutter built in 1893 for the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. She served both himself and his son King George V, with a long racing career. We are racing for the Perini Navi Cup, a hotly contested trophy awarded for the winner of a ‘by invitation only’ regatta held every two years. With exceptional racing and a busy calendar of social events organised by the yacht builder working with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Perini Navi Cup unites unpredictable racing with excellent networking opportunities to offer an unforgettable few days of friendly competition in a stunning setting. It is a regatta held each September against the

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

wonderful backdrop of Porto Cervo, Sardinia and is reserved exclusively for sailing yachts built by Perini Navi in Viareggio Italy. It is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the superyacht racing season. Yacht owners come to the event for the competitive racing as well as for the friendly atmosphere amongst participants, owners, friends, sponsors and media. Created in 2004 with the idea of gathering some superyacht owners together so that they could get to know each other. The event has, over the years, grown into a highly competitive regatta. The superyachts come with top-level racing crews ready to do battle and to get the best out of the yachts. This is an important event for the yacht builder who not only has to demonstrate their ability not only to build wonderful sailing yachts, but also to organise an event with over 600 participants from across the globe, with the aim of making each of them feel part of a big, but definitely unique family. AROUND THE GLOBE

Besides the Perini Cup, Superyachts race for prestigious cups in regattas held around the world. In a circuit not dissimilar to polo playing, some of the best are in the more glamorous parts of the globe. Typically a superyacht enjoying the racing scene might also enjoy the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta held each year in Virgin Gorda an island in the British Virgin Islands. Not too far away St Barths the French Caribbean paradise playground of the rich, hosts the annual St Barths bucket where they race for: yes you have guessed it, a bucket! Down under the Sydney Hobart race is well attended by these racing megaliths while in Thailand the Stunning Kata Rocks resort, Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top yachting destination, hosts the Superyacht Rendevous each December. Back in the Mediterranean, the Superyacht Cup is held each spring in the waters off Palma Mallorca and Loro Piana reprise their Caribbean winter event each June in the waters of Sardinia. This years Perini Navi Cup will take place from the 19th to the 22th September in Porto Cervo. For those seeking to join in the fun of the regatta without the fuss of owning a yacht, there is the opportunity to charter a Perini Navi, and by doing so, become the beneficial owner of a superyacht for the period of the charter. Helios is available through Perini Navi USA for 140,000 a week plus expenses. While yacht brokers Y.CO based in Monaco offer Panthalasa a 56 metre Daydream â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Yuting Wang

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

ADVENTURES IN SPORT

Perini Navi built in 2010 for e200,000 a week plus expenses. With six double cabins there is plenty of room to bring friends and have fun while a crew of ten, wait on you, hand and foot as you enjoy all the benefits of being a Perini Navi owner. Aboard Helios our race is over, we have done well and are still in the running to win awards at the lavish gala dinner that is one of the many social highlights of this superyacht regatta. The yacht’s owner has broken out the champagne and on the aft deck we toast a successful days racing. Having purchased an even larger yacht the owner has placed Helios on the market for sale. Superyacht broker Bruce Brakenhoff in Newport USA has her listed at e10,900,000 roughly half what she cost new in 2007. He says, “Buy her now and the new owner would have time to sail her to Sotogrande in time for the season at

Santa María Polo Club on the luxury estate of Sotogrande, on the western end of Spain’s Costa del Sol and still get back to Italy in time for the Perini Navi cup.” What is more, Bruce promises that the new owner of Helios will certainly be invited to join the Perini family in September for what is certainly the most exclusive of all Mediterranean superyacht racing events. Frances & Michael Howorth are an award winning photographer and travel writing team whose specialist subject is yachts and yachting. Michael has commanded several significantly large luxury superyachts owned by the rich and famous. Frances holds Yachtmaster qualifications and worked alongside Michael as the yachts Purser. Together they now write about the lavish life at sea while Frances photographs luxury superyachts and the destinations they cruise to. Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

FASHION

Image credit: Yves Saint Laurent

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

FASHION

Culture

in Couture

Janette de Bruin

The runway is a stage to an audience that goes beyond the famed front row and privileged pilgrims of the fashion weeks around the world. Through the media, and more specifically social media, designs are presented to an audience that reaches over so many different races and cultures that, if not careful, a designer can easily put a foot a wrong by being insensitive to a particular heritage. The last ten years and the boom of the information age have shone a spotlight on the issue of cultural appropriation within the fashion industry especially around ethnic African textiles and traditional wear.

ince the early 1900’s designers have used inspiration from their travels and cultural encounters to create their collections. But it was in 1967 that Yves Saint Laurent famously created a series of delicate gowns for his Spring/Summer collection using a variety of natural materials, including wooden beads and straw, celebrating African artisan techniques. Though the show didn’t include any black models then, it wasn’t long before his celebrated muse, Mounia and later Iman glided down the runway, making Saint Laurent one of the first to use black models in his shows. In years to come, many couturiers would follow suit but several would make the mistake of not being more racially inclusive in their choice of models. In most of those cases the reinterpretation of traditional wear, often seen on the streets of Lagos, into high fashion was not as well received - maybe because the African elements in the designs were not mirrored by the representation amongst the models wearing them. Together with this is the debate about whether these designers are exploiting different African

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cultures or merely celebrating them. More recently at the 2018 Spring/Summer Paris Fashion Week, Stella McCartney received criticism from the African community, especially on social media where she was accused for “capitalising on the easily affordable prints traditionally worn by the general public of West and Central Africa and calling it couture”. Another interesting piece of cultural attire that has found its way to the Western world catwalk is the Basotho Blanket from Southern Africa. Reinterpreted by the luxury giants of Burberry and Louis Vuitton, the trend of wearing your blanket as a coat personalised with your initials has taken off and enthusiastically adopted from the runway by the likes of Olivia Palermo and Cara Delevingne. Last year Louis Vuitton released its Basotho Plaid menswear collection, which despite the social media backlash and the shirts sporting a price tag of ZAR 33 000, has sold out in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Perhaps the offence is taken in that local shoppers would pay a premium for a European brand using African inspiration rather than support local

FASHION

designers who create similar products for a fraction of the price. On the flip side there are some that feel the fresh approach of using African prints - such as West Africa’s Ankara, Lesotho’s Basotho blankets and Ghana’s Kente haute couture designers have brought much exposure to African fashion. Many of these couturiers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs have given a new dimension to the familiar vibrant prints by using them in more sophisticated styles and fabrics, injecting a new demand for high quality African fashion. The now global trend, known as Ankara Invasion, has seen the elegant transformation of traditional African prints into luxury must-haves. Whether you are for or against major European designers taking inspiration from the mother continent and its colourful heritage, most will agree that the shift from the stereotype use of animal print and beads is a positive one. Redefining African prints into luxury products shows that the world is looking at African fashion differently. It ultimately opens up opportunities for local and emerging African designers who, when it comes to tribal prints, have something that the European designers don’t: authenticity.

Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier’s fall 2010 collection in Paris celebrated the Frenchwomen’s multicultural identity. Taking inspiration from the Far East, Africa and South America the collection was an unconventional montage of exotic textures, patterns and prints. Image credit: Jean Paul Gaultier

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FASHION

Marc Jacobs The decadent and airy garments from the Marc Jacobs Spring/ Summer 2018 collection at New York Fashion Week showcased bright colours and Ankara inspired prints, each look sporting a turban. Image credit: Marc Jacobs Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

FASHION

FROM THE STREETS TO THE RED CARPET

It’s not just the designers who have developed a palette for African motifs. Burberry’s 2012 Prorsum Ankara collection got the approval of fashion matriarch Anna Wintour as well as Lady Gaga who is always one to make a statement. If anyone can spark a trend it’s Beyonce. Considered by many as the Queen of Hip Hop & R&B, Beyonce is known for championing Black Empowerment and has often been seen wearing Ankara prints and incorporating African regal into her look whether it be casual or on stage. Another R&B star to ad African flair to their street style is Rihanna. Then there is the Black Panther cast, including Lupita Nyong’o, who showed Hollywood how glamorous Africa prints could look on the red carpet at the Marvel movie premiere.

Stella McCartney Though usually praised for her sustainable practices and being an advocate of animal rights, Stella McCartney was criticized for her designs at the 2018 Spring/Summer Paris Fashion Week. However the long time producer of Ankara prints, Dutch company Vlisco, who collaborated with McCartney commended her interpretation of their classic designs as inspiring. Image credit: Vlisco

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FASHION

TEXTILES IN NIGERIA

According to BussinessDay, in the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Nigeria textile market had become the largest in Africa, with over 180 functional textile mills creating over 500 000 jobs either directly or indirectly. However after the ban on textile imports was lifted, the influx of sub-standard textiles from China and India has had a detrimental effect on the local Nigerian textile industry. Though there are efforts by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to promote the industry, the country still has a long way to go to compete with the big players of the global manufacturing sector. But with the Nigerian population nearing 200 million and consumer spending in Africa reportedly heading towards $1.4 trillion by 2020, there is scope to export. With that it can be sure that the Ankara Invasion and the development of New African Fashion will contribute to the revival of the Nigerian textile industry.

Louis Vuitton The controversial but popular Basotho Plaid Shirts which sold out in Johannesburg and Cape Town, revealed at the Louis Vuitton 2017 Spring/Summer Show in Paris. The menswear range featured small cashmere and wool versions of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesothoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous blankets. The Vuitton shirts show the use of typical colour themes and print styles traditionally worn by the Basotho people. Image credit: Louis Vuitton Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

FASHION

Yves Saint Laurent At the 1967 Paris Fashion Week, Yves Saint Laurent presented his revolutionary Bambara Collection for the Spring/Summer Show, inspired by the tribal dancers of Mali and the indigenous beading crafts of West Africa. In 2002, the master announced his resignation and presented his last haute couture show held at the Pompidou Centre. The show was a true retrospective of all his great classics and carried by no less than 300 models. During the procession a parade of models, including South Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek, emerged wearing designs from the 1967 Bambara Collection. Image credit: Yves Saint Laurent

CMJ

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CAMILLE LACOURT T W O R L D

C H A M P I O N

OURB

S W I M M E R

R E G U TOURBILLON

R E G U L AT O R

53, GANA STREET, MAITAMA . ABUJA TEL: +234 814 000 0265

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Artist in Residence Alter Ego Project Group is the Milan-based luxury brand making waves on the shores of Nigeria. We travelled inland to meet CEO and Founder Julia D Lantieri.

hat’s the secret behind some of the world’s most beautiful homes? Who’s responsible for styling the eye-catching yachts of Capri and Antibes? And just how do you give your Falcon 8X the finishing touches to set it apart from most other jets? We caught up with Julia D Lantieri, Founder and CEO of Italy’s Alter Ego Project Group, to find out. Fifth Chukker: We’ve known the Alter Ego brand for quite a few years now, but you really caught our attention in 2016 when you announced you were opening a Private Atelier here in Nigeria. How did one of Italy’s top luxury design houses decide on laying down roots in Abuja? Julia D Lantieri: “In the past, it was enough for a brand to specialize in one thing, and perhaps focus on a small local audience. But now the whole world feels more like one village. There are fabulous taste-makers right across the African continent — but as a country, Nigeria really seems in the lead. People were flying to our Atelier in Milan, and asking how to bring the Alter Ego approach to their homes. We were coming here more and more, spending time with some inspirational customers. Eventually we just thought ‘you know what, we should be here full time!’ So we looked for a location, and Abuja seemed like the perfect fit.” Fifth Chukker: For readers who may not know Alter Ego yet, how would you describe what you do? Julia D Lantieri: “At its simplest, we’re here to help you live beautifully. Everyone’s life is so precious, and no two Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

individuals are exactly the same. So wouldn’t it be nice if we could express that individuality through the objects that surround us? It could be your home, or a yacht, or even a jet plane. But whatever it is, you want to make it your own. Through our longstanding family links to the best Italian manufacturers and craftsmanship, we can bring that special sense of style and flair to just about anything.” Fifth Chukker: We’ve seen some of your yacht and aircraft interiors, and they’re absolutely stunning — every bit as beautiful as the work you do around homes. How would you describe your aesthetic? Julia D Lantieri: “Thank you — although I certainly can’t take all the credit. People know me as the public face of Alter Ego, and it’s true the first concept was mine. But there’s a big team behind the scenes of hugely talented professionals. When I see some of the designs our architects are creating today, I’m really speechless. They’re the very best working in the business, and we’re lucky enough to be able to realise projects on a spectacular scale. The people who source our land, our décor — everyone has the same attention to detail. We are meticulous over every small facet, and make sure all the furnishings, all the objets d’art, everything you or a guest could see, hear, smell or feel — everything must be exactly just so. Our team controls the production of everything. We manage delivery, we oversee the assembly. These are big projects, there’s a lot of small detail involved. You really have to juggle many things. But ultimately, everything we create must delight the mind and the senses. That’s perhaps at the heart of our brand.”

Fifth Chukker: Well it certainly comes across in your homes. Julia D Lantieri: “Definitely. Over the past 15 years, we’ve worked around the world to create some really amazing projects. What they have in common wherever we go is the wish to produce something beautiful. When you say ‘house’ or ‘yacht’ it can sound very functional. But these are emotional spaces. For their owners and their families, they’re places of sanctity, places of pleasure. They’re where birthdays and celebrations are marked. They’ll see some incredible parties! These are where life’s most important moments are lived. So it’s understandable people want them to feel special. “Whether it’s the physical setting of a new home you’ve commissioned, or a centrepiece painting to decorate your yacht you want it to say something about you. Mass-produced items are fine, and are functional. But often they tend to lack soul. We find that by working with truly skilled craftspeople — by dealing with small ateliers direct — we can provide you with something beautiful. Lovingly handmade, and intended to last you a lifetime.” Fifth Chukker: And how about you personally? Tell us a bit about your journey. Julia D Lantieri: “Well, I’m fascinated by people. I love to help them tell their story — to take a building, or a swimming pool, or even the crest of a yacht — and give it the personal touch. I love to unlock that special something which you know, deep inside, is true and precious to you, but perhaps you haven’t found a way to express it on the outside. I’m also obsessed about detail. One of my degrees is in business, and I learnt how sometimes even the smallest thing can become the most important. A brand like Apple understands this point well. So we make sure everything is always just perfect. Our team is very varied, with people from all over the world. But if there’s one thing that unites us, it’s this obsessive attention to detail.” Fifth Chukker: How much does your Italian heritage play into that? Julia D Lantieri: “A lot, I’m sure. It’s just second nature to me really. Italy is so famous for detailed craftsmanship — not just in the mass-market brands everyone’s heard of, but going right back into history. It’s no coincidence Leonardo and Michelangelo were Italian!” Fifth Chukker: So if we were setting out to create the Alter Ego look in our homes, what would be the best way to do it? You’re famous for supplying custom-made furniture. Who are your favourite makers? Julia D Lantieri: “It’s impossible to name only one. Over the past fifteen years we’ve built up some special relationships: we understand our suppliers and they understand our unique clientele. When you come to Alter Ego, the first thing we do is to listen. If we don’t listen, how can we begin to understand what you need? We are famous of course for Alchymia, which is absolutely unique. It’s one of our favourite brands in the whole Alter Ego portfolio: it harmonises perfectly with what an interior should be.” Fifth Chukker: What is it that makes Alchymia so special? Julia D Lantieri: “They’re a family owned Italian business going back hundreds of years, but their take on design feels

so modern. They have an amazing way of melding the best of the past with a sense of the future, fusing influences from so many cultures and styles. Oriental, Art Deco, opera, Classical literature. It’s a real melting pot, but somehow it all works to create these enchanting pieces that will look great for many hundreds of years more. Fine woods, silver leaf, pretty gemstones — these things have a timelessness about them when they’re beautifully used. But we have more than 300 Italian producers in the wider Alter Ego family. We invite you to co-create with us. So the finished piece is usually something truly original. Then you can honestly say it’s a real work of art.” Fifth Chukker: Yes, that bespoke co-creation is definitely an Alter Ego hallmark. Will you be offering the full service here in Nigeria, all the way from concept to completion? Julia D Lantieri: “Absolutely. When the team first came to me with the recommendation we open a presence full-time in Nigeria, I said I would only do it if we could guarantee a complete level of service. So well before concept, we help you with the consultation phase. We make sure your desires have been understood. And then — to make sure they’re actualized — we offer an incredible level of hands-on client care. You’ll have your own personal manager throughout any project. They’ll be there whenever you need them — you can call up at night with an idea you’ve just had and by morning, they’ll find a way to fulfil it. They live to fulfil astounding projects. So they’ll speak to the contractors, make sure things run on time. Have all those conversations about technical stuff, and details, and the aesthetic, so you can relax and know you’re in the safest hands. We have a saying at Alter Ego — ‘we turn Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

air castles into real castles’ — and it’s true. We’ll work with you to create the idea. And we won’t stop until it’s firmly in place.” Fifth Chukker: What would you say are the benefits of going to you rather than direct to a manufacturer? Julia D Lantieri: “The most important of all is the final result. Our expertise is knowing how to create and combine all the elements. It might sound as if it would take up more time, but actually it’s quicker for you as a client because once we understand your requirements, we can quickly pare down thousands of options to half a dozen very strong choices. It doesn’t matter if it’s a property development or a bespoke carpet: we will quickly find the solution for you. And it’s also worth saying — though this is rarely a critical factor for most clients — that our deep relationships with the artisans and craft workshops mean they offer us very favourable pricing. So even if you were to go to a maker direct, without the benefit of any Alter Ego management service, there is no way they could offer the kind of negotiated discount they provide trading through us. In this sense, our service doesn’t cost anything. When clients appreciate this they realise what we do is terrific value for money, since the savings we make possible more than cover our management fees.” Fifth Chukker: It does sound amazing. What would your advice be to anyone interested in finding out more? Julia D Lantieri: “Get in touch! We’d love to hear from anyone reading this. Whether you’re looking for a very special gift, or seeking inspiration for how to celebrate your successes we can provide you with something beautiful, very often lovingly handmade, and intended to last you forever.”

TO SCHEDULE YOUR OWN PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH ALTER EGO PROJECT GROUP, CONTACT MARIA ANDRIANO AT ALTER EGO PRIVATE ATELIER ABUJA ON +234 908 757 5757 OR EMAIL MARIA@ALTEREGO-GROUP.COM YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO VISIT OUR HEADQUARTERS, LOCATED IN THE VERY HEART OF MILAN IN VIA MANZONI, 43. FOR THE APPOINTMENT PLEASE CONTACT ANASTASIA KOCHETOVA ON +39 392 020 11 95 OR EMAIL ATELIER@ALTEREGO-GROUP.COM

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MOROCCO Dan Amis

A medley of magical adventures waiting to be had

Rabat Bou Regreg

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Rabat mausoleum Mohammed V

Rabat Hassan tower

THE BARTHEL WORKSHOP OFFERS MADE â&#x20AC;&#x201C;TO- MEASURE SHOES FOR ALL ITS BRAND DESIGNS.

Rabat mausoleum Mohammed V

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his north African country, with a middle eastern feel, borders the Atlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea. Mountains and desert are synonymous with visions of Morocco, as are the indigenous tree climbing goats! From the Saharan dunes to the heady heights of the Atlas mountains, craggy coastlines, souqs filled with spice and intricate rugs, forests with concealed caves; the diverse scenery adds to its allure. Aside from natural beauty the country is entrenched with fascinating history, the centuries old trail of nomads and merchants culminates in the majestic medina of Fez, as well as the Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakesh. Architects however have got the balance right by respecting the past whilst looking to the future with plush developments in places such as Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier. This is the country to people watch whilst sipping on a Moroccan mint tea, after a morning of haggling in the souqs, taking in the sights and

sounds of the bustling culture surrounding you. Order a tasty tagine with freshly rolled cous-cous, washing it all down with a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and later relax with a soak in a traditional hamam. WHAT TO SEE - THE HIGHLIGHTS Hypogeum Rabat Unusually, this capital city resides by the seaside, meaning there is a breeze from the Atlantic diffused through the city streets and the beach is accessible. Go further north or south of the coastline for a quieter spot. The centre of commerce is a grand city worth a visit, previously ruled by the Phoenicians, Romans, Almohads and Merenids, there is a plethora of historical monuments to see, for example the ancient ruins of Chellah, and the mausoleum of Mohammed V. Take a rowing boat across the lagoon to its enchanting sister city, SalĂŠ, less visited by tourists but with a true identity of its own. Daniel Defoe even wrote

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Marrakech street restaurant

the city into his renowned work ‘Robinson Crusoe’. Local craftsman are renowned for their wood carvings, be sure to pick up at least a wooden tray as memorabilia.

Marrakech Jemaa al fnaa

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Situated in Marrakesh, this mesmerising museum showcases collections of haute couture clothing and accessories spanning 40 years work by legendary fashion designer Yves St Laurent. A bookstore, cute café and research library means an afternoon whiling away here is easily done. Hassan II Mosque In the heart of the famous city; Casablanca, built to commemorate the former king’s 60th birthday, no expense was spared, resulting in a sight to behold. This sea facing mosque, is where fine examples of Moroccon craftsmanship are clear, handcarved stone and wood, abstruse marble flooring and inlay, gilded cedar ceilings

Marrakech Souk Marrakech Jemaa al fnaa

Marrakech Souk

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Essaouira Port ramparts

and splendid colourful ceramic tiling. It is said to be the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third-largest mosque after Mecca and Medina, accommodating 25,000 worshippers. Spend time in the rest of Casablanca to visit remarkable art galleries, fine restaurants, top fashion designers and to experience the famed nightlife. Essaouira Nicknamed Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s windy city, with beaches, an old port, sparkling sea and constant winds, it is the prime place for adventure holidaymakers wanting to try their hand at windsurfing, kite boarding and other thrill-seeking water sports. The ancient Moroccan trade centre is a walled city, previously a Portuguese fortress, rusting cannons still point out to sea. As you wind through the whitewashed walls past locals going about their business, you cannot help but feel on holiday, there is a certain lightness in the air. Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

Essaouira Port ramparts

Essaouira Place Moulaiy Hassan

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Spices

What to eat Famous throughout the world, inspiring some of the top restaurants, Moroccan cuisine presides. Some argue it is down to the flavour combinations, for example meat with sweet cinnamon and sugar or sharp preserved lemons with a subtly spiced tagine. Nods to Andalusian Spain, Arabia and France create what we know as the Moroccon taste. Street food in Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech must feature on any tourist’s itinerary, sample sheep’s head or snails or for the less curious, opt for makouda; deep-fried potato balls dipped in harissa. During the holy month of Ramadan, people break their fast with a comforting bowl of harira soup. A hearty mix of tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and lamb, topped with lemon juice and chopped coriander, along with an almost sweet tasting chebakkiya bread. One of the most unique tagines would be a kefta tagine, essentially meatballs of beef or lamb, in a rich tomato and onion sauce with a cracked egg over the top to cook just before serving. B’stilla, hailing from Fez, is an intriguing filo pastry pigeon pie seasoned with almonds, saffron, cinnamon, fresh coriander and icing sugar, held together with egg.

Tangine in fez

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WHEN TO GO

Argan trees

The rule of thumb would be to ditch the desert exploring during summer, unless you relish the heat, you would be melting as you meander your way through them. July and August are the hottest months, but anywhere around the coast is the place to be, whilst the mountains range from pleasant to unbearably hot. The Moroccan spring starts mid-April, probably the optimum time to visit, along with May, warm enough for T-shirts with a welcome breeze. Winter time is nice in the south, however desert nights are rather chilly.

A FEW DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sacred World Music Festival 22-30 June 2018 Mawazine Festival, music 22-30 June 2018 Gnaoua Festival, music 21-24 June 2018 Oasis Festival, music 14-16 September 2018 Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Boulevard Festival, music 16-25 September 2018 Cap Femina Adventure, celebrating women October 2018 El Jadida Horse Show, October 2018 Marrakech International Film Festival, December 2018

Hiking High Atlas

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Halong Bay, Vietnam

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VIETNAM Rupert Parker

Trains and Boats and Planes

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Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam

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ully recovered from the war, Vietnam is blossoming and offers a selection of luxury hotels, all offering fine dining. It’s a long thin country, crammed with colonial architecture, sandy beaches, stunning scenery and unique food, so you’ll need to use a combination of trains, boats and planes to see it all.

Hanoi It’s an emotional moment as I descend through the early morning mist to land in Hanoi. As a student I protested against the US bombing of the city, but that era is long gone. On my way into town the streets are clogged with thousands of scooters, some containing entire families, and I pass colonial buildings, constructed by the French. The Old Quarter is the city’s historic heart, with the streets, narrow and congested, lined with noodle stalls. Hawkers offer sizzling and smoking baskets of exotic snacks and I wander the labyrinth soaking up the sights sounds and smells. Nearby is the monumental marble mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, where the celebrated leader lies in a glass sarcophagus. I file past his pale frail body, still remarkably well preserved, apparently due to regular maintenance in Russia. This is a city of lakes and a trip around Tay Ho, the largest, makes for a great 10 mile cycle ride visiting the Tay Ho and Tran Quoc pagodas on the way. There’s no danger of getting hungry as its shores are lined with seafood restaurants and smart cafes. Halong Bay Next day I take a 100 mile trip east to Halong Bay, containing an extraordinary collection of limestone peaks, rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Of course the best way of seeing these is from the sea, ideally on an overnight cruise on a luxury junk. There are more than 3000 islands, eroded by the wind and waves, into startling shapes. As the sun begins to sink below the horizon these limestone peaks assume their true majesty. In the early morning they’re no less impressive, looming through the early morning mist. Hue I travel back to Hanoi and take the overnight sleeper train to Hue, the capital of the Nguyen Empire, from 1802 to 1945. A cruise along the Perfume River takes me to the magnificent seven-storied Thien Mu Pagoda before visiting the ruins of the immense Imperial Citadel on the north bank. It’s surrounded by six miles of walls, pierced by ten gateways and, inside, the Imperial Enclosure houses the ruins of the Emperor’s residence, temples and palace. I catch a cultural show at the Royal Theatre, 30 minutes to rest my weary legs.

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War Remnants Museum

Tank and Presidential Palace

Cai Rang Market

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Hoi An Heading south, the train takes me to Danang and, from there, it’s a taxi to Hoi An. This was a major seaport from the 2nd century until the late 19th century before the river silted up. In the old town I find Chinese temples, ancient tea factories and tottering Japanese houses. It’s Vietnam’s most cosmopolitan town, full of gourmet restaurants and hip bars. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) At first sight the legendary charm of Saigon seems to have been replaced by a bustling modern city, but I still find traces of its colonial past. The Continental Hotel, where Graham Greene set his novel, The Quiet American, still exists, and the rooftop bar at the Majestic Hotel is perfect for my sundowner. Buildings from the French period include the central Post Office, with its counters now dominated by a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh, and the imposing red brick Notre Dame cathedral. I’m interested in the recent past and the War Remnants museum has a clutter of military hardware in its grounds and three floors tell the grim story of the war. The former Presidential Palace has been left as it was when the Viet Cong tanks smashed through the gates and those same tanks still stand guard. A trip out of town takes me to the Cu Chi underground tunnels where Viet Cong soldiers hid before launching their final offensive on the city. Ho Chi Minh Post Office

Cai Rang Market, melons

Ho Chi Minh Post Office inside

Cai Rang Market, pineapples Ho Chi Minh at night

Ho Chi Minh Statue

Ho Chi Minh Cathedral

Ho Chi Minh scooters

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Cai Rang Floating Market and the Mekong Delta The Mekong delta is the rice bowl of Vietnam and, on my way to Can Tho, I pass miles of green paddy fields. The town is the provincial capital, mercifully free of high rises, and the busy waterfront is home to floating restaurants and bars. At dawn I take a boat to Cai Rang Floating Market where the bartering is in full swing. People live on the water here and the houseboats are piled high with fresh produce. I see a canoe loaded with pineapples pulling up to one full of watermelons and watch as they complete their exchange. Phu Quoc In the afternoon, I take a 50 minute flight south to the island of Phu Quoc, closer to Cambodia then Vietnam. The capital, Duong Dong is a sleepy little fishing town, but there’s a vibrant night market, a street of stalls displaying whatever they’ve caught that day. You choose your fish and they cook it for you with rice or noodles, whilst you sip a cold beer. What I’ve come for are its wonderful white sandy beaches, scattered with a handful of luxury hotels. On the horizon is mass tourism but at the moment, you can walk for miles seeing almost nobody. It’s the perfect place to relax. Pho Quoc Beach Making noodles

Peppercorns

VIETNAMESE FOOD

Pho Quoc Night Market

Throughout the country you’ll find a range of regional dishes. Hanoi’s speciality is Pho Bo, wide rice noodles in beef broth, flavoured with ginger, black pepper, lemon, and shallots, topped with thin slices of beef. Hoi An has Banh Va, a delicate shrimp dumpling covered with crispy onions. In Ho Chi Minh City you must try Banh Mi, French baguettes stuffed with roast pork, cucumber, coriander, pickled carrots and radishes. Everywhere in the Mekong Delta, you find sweet and sour catfish soup, Canh Chua Ca Tre, flavoured with pineapple, tomatoes, bean sprouts and tamarind. Great Rail Journeys offers an 18 day tour which also includes Cambodia. www.greatrail.com/tours/vietnam-cambodia-and-the-mekong-delta/ HOTELS

The Melia Hanoi Hotel is located in the heart of the city. (www.melia.com/en/hotels/vietnam/hanoi/melia-hanoi/index.html) Hotel Royal Hoi An looks across the emerald waters of the Thu Bon River. (www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-9574-hotel-royal-hoi-anmgallery-by-sofitel/index.shtml) The Park Hyatt Saigon has a location overlooking the Saigon Opera House. (www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/vietnam/park-hyatt-saigon/saiph) The Victoria Can Tho is a reconstructed colonial building, on the river banks. (www.victoriahotels.asia/en/). Hotel La Veranda sits on the five mile Long Beach in Phu Quoc. (www.laverandaresorts.com/) Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

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Aerial of Yacht in Blue Lagoon, off Comino

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MALTA Dan Amis

There are a multitude of reasons to visit Malta

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Hypogeum

alta is an archipelago in central Mediterranean. Comprising three main islands – Malta, Comino and Gozo – Malta is known for its history, culture and temples dating back over 7,000 years. In addition to its fortresses, megalithic temples and burial chambers, Malta is blessed with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine

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every year. Surrounded by clear blue waters, some say the best in the Med, swimmers, snorkellers and divers see it as a haven. Capital city Valletta has been named European Capital of Culture 2018, which means for 2018 there is a huge programme of cultural events rolled out. More than 110,000 people attended the opening of Valletta as the European Capital of Culture 2018 hosted in the city’s four main

squares in January. Malta is part of the EU and 100% English speaking; although it only gained its independence in 1964, there is a strong Maltese influence and identity to be felt. The archipelago is famous for its diving, which attracts aficionados from around the world, whilst the bustling nightlife and music festival scene attract a younger demographic of traveller, as well as those young at heart!

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WHAT TO SEE - THE HIGHLIGHTS

Blue Grotto

WHEN TO GO

The truth of the matter is that Malta is an all-year-round destination, however, summer ensures clear blue skies and perfect sea temperature. Sunbathing, boat trips, diving and a host of local festivals are readily enjoyed throughout the summer months. Walkers and hikers enjoy the spring and autumn period, a perfect time to explore whilst warm but not baking. Winter months for the budget conscious is ideal, flights and accommodation are less expensive off-season but still sun is a given on most days, with January reaching 15C.

A FEW DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Picasso and Mirò exhibition in the President’s Palace, 7th April – 30th June 2018. Malta Fashion Week, 26th of May to 2nd of June 2018 Malta Music Week, 27th of June 2018 to 1st of July 2018 Isle of MTV Malta Special, 27th of June 2018. Arti Fil-Misraħ, - art festival Every Friday in July Malta International Arts Festival, 1st July to 16th July 2018 L´Imnarja Summer Folk Festival, 29th of June 2018 The Malta Jazz and Rock Festival, TBC July 2018 The Farsons Great Beer Festival, 24th July to 6th August 2018 Victory Day, 8th September Independence Day, 21st September Mdina Classic, TBC October 2018 Notte Bianca, Valletta, 6th October 2018 Birgu Festival, 12th to 14th October 2018 Rolex Middle Sea Race, 20th of October 2018

Valetta It is well worth spending a few days in the historic capital of the Knights of Malta, it is jam packed with culture, narrow winding streets lined with painted wooden balconies and fine restaurants. For one of the world’s finest examples of beguiling baroque, a visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral is a must, paintings by Caravaggio are also on display. Head to the Grand Harbour for sea views and a walk in the nearby Upper Barrakka Gardens. The Grand Harbour is Malta’s principal maritime gateway and a popular port-of-call for ships that are touring the Med, as well as being frequented by luxury superyachts. For an historical insight head to neighbouring Lascaris War Rooms. History buffs will also welcome a wander around the well put together National War Museum inside Fort St Elmo at the tip of the Valletta peninsula. The Grand Master’s Palace, not only worth a visit alone, also houses art exhibitions regularly, it’s worth checking what is on during your visit. Malta’s ancient temple builders revered their goddesses in big, bold ways; they carved statues to celebrate their plumpness and now these ‘fat ladies’ statues, having served millennia, can be found in the National Museum of Archaeology. The City Gate, along with the parliament building and an impressive open air theatre interestingly, has been remodelled by the same architect of the London Shard Renzo Piano. A show at the baroque style Manoel Theatre and a booking to view something contemporary at the Centre for Creativity should be woven into your itinerary too. For a different perspective of the old city, take it all in from aboard a boat, boats leave Sliema Waterfront daily for tours lasting between 60 to 90 minutes.

Valletta Waterfront Comino Cave

Gnejna Tower

Café del Mar Ggantija Temples

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Ġgantija Temples Sitting on the crest of the hill to the south of Xagħra, the otherworldly megalithic Ġgantija Temples have the best views over most of southern Gozo. As the name eludes (ġgantija – dje-gant-ee-ya – means ‘giantess’), they are the largest of the megalithic temples found on the Maltese Islands, with walls over 6m high, the temples together span over 40m, well worth a stop-over. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum The archaeological wonder in Paola; the Hypogeum (from the Greek, meaning ‘underground’) is a subterranean necropolis, accidentally discovered during building renovations in 1902. Thought to date back to circa 3000BC, the halls, chambers and passages, exquisitely hewn out of the rock, span 500 sq metres, a unique fascinating step back in time is guaranteed. Għar Dalam Cave & Museum It is best to book a tour of this prehistoric cave housing Palaeolithic art and a museum of Ice Age artefacts, found in Birżebbuġa. The name translates to ‘cave of darkness’, along this 145m-long cave, remains of animals, all of European extraction, suggests that Malta was previously connected to Italy, but not to northern Africa. It’s also where the first signs of human habitation on Malta, from 7400 years ago, have been discovered. Intriguing remains from pottery dating back to 5200 BC and Neanderthal teeth can be seen.

Birgu by Candlelight

St Peters Pool

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Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta

Three Cities

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WHAT TO EAT

Traditional Maltese food mixes Sicilian and Middle Eastern flavours, whilst making use of local ingredients such as rabbit and honey. Make sure you sample arjoli, the fabulously fishy Maltese paste normally served with bread. Snails are a speciality of Malta, often eaten on Good Friday, but a tasty dish all-year-round. Being surrounded by sea, of course seafood and fresh fish is in abundance, often you pick your fish before being cooked by the chef. Octopus stewed with tomatoes and wine is popular. The most commonly eaten meat is rabbit ‘fenek’, stewed with wine and herbs, roasted, fried or even as a sauce to go with spaghetti. The Maltese do breads and cakes particularly well, the sweet version which perhaps signifies Maltese cuisine the most, would be the delicious honey filled qaghaq ta’ l ghasel, the savoury highlight are the scrumptious cheesy delights qassatat tal-ghid. Qaghaq ta’l Ghasel

Qassatat tal-ghid

Snail Stew

Fenek Aljoli

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CUISINE SCENE

Georgia The Cuisine of

Yasemen Kaner-White

It’s okay to be greedy in Georgia because the food is fabulous With hardly anywhere left in the world to ‘discover’, I am always pulled to countries that in comparison, less people have been to, Georgia being one. Increasingly the country, yes country, not American state! Is on the wish list of many an adventurer. Having visited last September, I could literally write a book on why you should travel there, but for the purpose of this article, I’ve picked some highlights to share, especially of the culinary kind…

Funicular Restaurant

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CUISINE SCENE

T Cooking class at Tabla

Kharcho & Elargi at Keto Kote

ake some time in the capital Tbilisi (meaning warm springs); a city of silk and pearls in the 7th century, base yourself in the centrally located swish and swanky hotel ‘Rooms’, in the prestigious Vera district. Rooms really does do justice to modern Georgian cuisine, I had a fabulous salad comprising of the locally revered churchkhela, essentially a sweet sausage shaped snack originally for fighters to keep in their pockets for a pick-me-up, made from a mixture of flour mixed with grape juice, clinging to a string of walnuts in the middle. This was thinly sliced and served with a salad spiked with delicious in-season tomatoes, punchy purple basil leaves and walnuts in a sour plum sauce. With Turkish Cypriot roots, I’m very familiar with churchkhela, however, called üzüm sucuk, we tend to eat it as a sweet snack, so it was intriguing to see the Georgian savoury flare. Georgians like to mix churchkhela with rice, potato, chestnut and dried fruit, cooked

together, often served in a hollowed out pumpkin half. Known as the country of balconies, for obvious reasons, have lunch at Keto Kote restaurant, traditional architecture with fabulous views and local cuisine, this is the place to try an array of indigenous dishes, for example the irresistible bread filled cheesy treat; khachapuri. I also sampled their kharcho, a hearty meat and crushed nut stew, which to me tasted like a uniquely herby, almost Iranian flavoured (they use dill), ‘korma’ curry, this is served with elargi, a thick polenta mixed with cheese. It is comfort food at its best. After only one meal, I was determined to learn how to cook like a Georgian, so I headed to Tabla restaurant where a chef and bowls of ingredients were waiting for me to take a cooking class. Spatchcock chicken with walnut sauce. First the chicken was salted and fried, then the scrumptious sauce, easy to make but many ingredients; walnuts, almonds, fenugreek, red pepper, salt, coriander,

Khachapuri

Making Khinkali

Funicular Restaurant

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CUISINE SCENE

Dinner with Yasemen and Chef Tekuna Gachechiladze

marigold, puréed garlic, and enough water to bind were blitzed in a blender to produce a thick consistency. Most countryside inhabitants have their own walnut trees, so it isn’t an extravagance using so many walnuts just for one meal, the city dwellers however would have to fork out more. The sauce was left for 15 minutes to intensify the flavour then poured over the hot chicken. Sizzling cornflour breads, sandwiching a layer of sulgani (similar to mozzarella) cheese straight from the clay oven (an influence the Arabs left behind) were served alongside, as well as the Georgians’ answer to Ketchup; tkemali, a tart wild plum sauce. No visit to Georgia would be complete without dinner in Furnicular, having won the prestigious Gault & Millau L’expert Gourmand this year; Tbilisi’s oldest restaurant is a landmark. Take the funicular from Chonkadze St straight to the restaurant indulging in unmatched panoramic views over Tbilisi as you pass. In the main restaurant, a plush room housing a 6 million dollar Koka Ignatov painting, Chef Jorge da Silva, recreates Georgian classics as well as his own superb European creations. After I had my fill of a fascinating fusion of chicken cooked with blackberries and the obligatory tomato, walnut paste and cucumber salad with a drizzle of homemade sunflower oil, I grabbed

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a nostalgic soviet treat from the bakery downstairs – ponchiki (hot crispy doughnut with patisserie cream) they say they make the best. A few meals in, I couldn’t help but notice the dominance of walnuts in every Georgian dish, chef Da Silva, who has taken a real interest in the Georgian culinary heritage, told me Georgians even at Christmas serve turkey with walnut sauce and New Year Eve’s features Gozinaki, a walnut and honey nougat. Chef Tekuna Gachechiladze, is a trailblazer for Georgian cuisine, often on TV with her culinary programmes, she is the owner of both Café Littera and the cooking school come restaurant; Culinarium. She is dedicated to modernising and reshaping the face of Georgian fare. “Georgians used to be open to everything, elements of other worlds, our food is traditionally fusion, the soviet stopped evolution,” she told me. She advocates, understandably, post-soviet times the Georgians wanted to regain their unique identity, by clinging on to ‘Georgian cuisine’, yet, they have always been influenced for example by Persians, Arabs, Mongolians and whomever else passed through or indeed stayed, it is this fusion Tekuna is using as a base to innovate her dishes. Both restaurants begin service with bread and her famed cold pressed nutty sunflower oil seasoned with

Cooking class at Tabla Pheasants Tears restaurant

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CUISINE SCENE

Lunch at Iago Restaurant & Winery

fresh ajika (spicy dip), you can even buy a bottle and take it home. Her pkhali, walnut and various vegetables blended with herbs to make different colourful pates, are a much lighter version to the traditional. She makes her kharcho with shrimp and artichoke unlike the local lamb version, served with elargi croquettes instead of a dollop of it, as I ate in Keto Kote, which works very well, resulting in a burst of unexpected flavour, and if she cannot find an ingredient locally, she pays farmers to grow it for her! like her Chinese white aubergines. I was particularly fond of her spinach with garlic and wild purslane, the often-neglected weed growing between vines, shines in this dish. The restaurant Barbarestan, named after a cookbook, is also an interesting one to dine at, the owner found this antique Georgian cookbook in Dry Bridge market, and now rotates the menu around the 800 old recipes within. One of my favourites was the warm cornel cherry soup. 3 hours drive from Tbilisi, passing imposing mountains and dainty Datcha houses, you are in Telavi (a place of elm trees), the city of winemakers, the largest town in the region Kakheti. Every family here has their own vineyard; there are 2000 in Georgia. Kvevri wine is the local wine which is famous throughout the world, made in clay pots buried

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Tbilisi Churchkhela

Kazbegi Pheasants Tears restaurant

Qvevri to store wine

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CUISINE SCENE

Yasemen and Chef Jorge da Silva

Qvevri to store wine

Buffalo curd

Cornelian cherries

Ponchiki

Yasemen and winemaker - Iago Staue of Tamada (Georgian toastmaster)

neck deep in the ground, the wine is both distinctive and almost dangerously hard to get drunk on, due to the purity. Rich in tannins, this amber wine, traditionally 6 months fermented with the grape skins and a year in the Kvevri (clay pot), produces a peculiarly perfect taste, a curious cross between a red and white. The local food market, open daily, houses lots of interesting Georgian fare to look at or purchase, worth a visit. Go to the Chavchavadze House, housing a wine cellar beneath, one of the most beautiful buildings I have been in. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal; Lali’s house is the place to go, her dolma (stuffed leaves) are divine, even the wine is homemade. Pheasants Tears is another nice place to eat at, owned by an American who fell in love with the Georgian lifestyle, organic wine is on the menu, alongside homemade bread, water buffalo yogurt, and beetroot in plum sauce; typical from Kakheti. He even has a bottle of wine with 417 grape varieties. Lunch and a wine tour at the first Georgian Royal château, Château Mukhrani is essential for the wine enthusiast. It was here that the first mass production of Georgian wine began, I was lucky enough to be invited to their annual wine festival full of fun events from designing your own fresh flower headdress to making a churchkhela, but

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anyone can come for lunch and have a tour of their fabulous estate. Kazbegi is a backpackers dream, mountainous and awe-inspiring, with idyllic churches, the locals are mainly sheep farmers, the population is 2500, tripling in summer. Have a Khinkali class with a local arranged, as I did, to make these tasty meat filled dumplings, the pleating to hold the tops together is an art form. History buffs will appreciate Upzistsikhe, an ancient stone town, with arguably the world’s oldest wine press, dating back to the 4th Century BC. Have a leisurely lunch at Iago’s Winery, cooked by his wife Mariana, their wine now sells exclusively to the Ritz, the chacha (national spirit), is renowned too. Georgian feasts, as they call it, a supra, is always headed by a Tamada (Toastmaster), after a bronze Tamada sculpture dating 7 BC was excavated, the famous Tamada statue was replicated in Chadin St to celebrate possibly the world’s oldest proof of wine drinking. When it comes to on the ground planning for your trip, I would highly recommend Caucasus Travel, being a foodie, my itinerary was crafted around cuisine, however, Georgia is bursting with eclectic experiences to discover. The locals are exceptionally friendly so if you choose to independently travel, you will be given a generous Georgian welcome…

Yasemen at Château Mukhrani’s Wine Festival

Khinkali

GOOD BOOKS – BOOK REVIEW

Hillbilly Elegy J. D. Vance Frances K White Hillbilly Elegy is a mournful reflection on a passage of time about an area so remote, the inhabitants were termed ‘Hillbillies’, such term inferring a culturally and academically bankrupt community. One feels this American Republican’s memory must border on eidetic, each chapter brimming with reminisces from a very young age, to where the book ends, aged thirty. Vance’s recollections of a chaotic, disaffected upbringing in Appalachia, a southeast American white working-class society immersed in a wretched cloud of poverty, addiction, food stamps and scarce employment, doubtless also plays into Appalachians having a shorter life expectancy than most U.S. citizens. With many young women becoming unmarried mothers, their children; if unable to escape the clutches of their straightened circumstances, often repeat history, and so the struggle to escape the miasma of misery remains, though if one takes out the geographical location of Vance’s story, the foregoing sentence could apply in any country. Vance recalls his post war upbringing was larded throughout with an inordinate amount of ‘step-dads’, his mother having five husbands, and his dad remarrying when Vance was four. He was told his father had been “mean”, and “pushed” his mum around, Vance hadn’t seen that side of him when, as a toddler his father found Christianity (namely, Protestantism), which perhaps reformed his character. That said, at that juncture, his dad facilitated his son’s legal adoption by Bob, a man Vance barely knew, and which precipitated a long separation between father and son. Even now, Vance writes, this occurrence deeply affects him and is one of many reasons he finds it hard to trust anyone. It also resonated in his attitude to early education in that he was so badly behaved in junior school, that twenty years later bumping into an old teacher, she immediately remembered him as being the

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reason she almost gave up teaching. The rivers of alcohol consumed by various family members, most especially his mum, and ‘pawpaw’ (his grandad) and generally frenzied ambience in his home, was only mitigated by Vance running to his paternal grandma ‘mamaw’s’ house. Although hating her son, she gladly gave solace to her grandson, such that Vance credits much of his later success in life to her consistent support and encouragement, remaining with her until he left Ohio to become a Marine. After deployment to Iraq, he thereafter gained a place at Yale studying law, leading to his present profession as a Silicon Valley Investment Manager. Vance walks us through overcoming his young dysfunctional life, helped in great

measure by his grandparents moving from Kentucky’s Appalachia to northern Ohio, anticipating a new start with better prospects. Even so, Vance was the only one to become upwardly mobile, his close family seemingly forever hampered by the collective shackles of their ever declining social and economic predicament. Whilst this book endeavours to provide an in-depth account of the Appalachian culture, often, like Vance, originating from a Scots/ Irish background one should bear in mind it’s a deeply personal autobiography. Vance’s recollections stem firstly through the prism of a child; then teenager and only a decade as a grown man, ergo his remembrances are memorialised from the viewpoint and level of maturity of those three stages of mental and emotional development, which would generate diverse perspectives. Also, his family’s sufferings, markedly, the erratic behaviour and chemical dependency of his mum, still impacts negatively in his life. It is notable when talking about his girlfriend from Law School, Usha, an Indian/American who later became his wife, that he says “…every single person in my family who has built a successful home Aunt Wee, Lindsay, my cousin Gail - married someone from outside our little culture…” The Independent’s front cover quote “Profound … a great insight into Trump and Brexit” attempts to politicise Vance’s highly descriptive overview of his challenging beginnings, by connecting it as to why Trump is now POTUS, though how one is supposed to see a connection to Brexit, is beyond me. The quote is, I feel, a red herring as this is not what the book is about. This book is unique, so deserves to be read simply for what it is, a young man who strove to rise through the ranks to achieve great success. As Mother Teresa once said “Life is a dream, realise it”.

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GOOD BOOKS – BOOK REVIEW

A Full Life - Reflections at Ninety Jimmy Carter Frances K White In this, Carter’s 29th book, we read of his before, during, and after life as the 39th President of the United States of America. Immediately, it becomes clear Carter’s paradigms are deeply ingrained by his faith; religion, the overarching theme that informs and directs him both personally and in business. Alongside this fact in equal measure, is the ever present Rosalyn, his wife whom he first knew when he was a toddler, she was the next door neighbour’s baby. Carter’s father was a church deacon, bible teacher, and a segregationist, as were many neighbours, xenophobia though is anathema to Carter. After his father’s demise from pancreatic cancer when Carter was in the Navy as a nuclear submariner (three of his siblings also died of the same disease) he resigned his commission to the enormous chagrin of Rosalyn, who relished being a Navy wife. Now, they were downgraded to public housing, with sparse furniture made by Carter, three sons and a limited income. This caused a schism in their marriage, which took quite a while to repair. His father’s estate was divided, with Carter and Rosalyn inheriting a fifth of his estate. Immediately they threw themselves into the agrarian life, initially producing corn, cotton, wheat and peanuts, only later concentrating on producing seed peanuts, which became their major source of income. Carter has been philanthropic throughout his adult life, most notably an advocate of non-military resolution, however major a war being faced. This sometimes backfired as happened in his last year of Presidency when in 1979, Iranian militants, backed by Ayatollah Khomeini’s Government, held Americans hostage. Carter, against Secretary Cy Vance’s advice, fearing as he did, loss of life and

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conflict ensuing; mounted a failed helicopter rescue attempt, which indeed caused the loss of 8 crewmen, leading to Senator Ted Kennedy instigating a major challenge to him during the Democratic primary campaign, alongside Ronald Reagan using the disaster in the general election, alleging that being Carter was “an ineffective leader”. Soon after leaving Office, he initiated a plethora of humanitarian assemblages and initiatives stemming from his Atlanta based ‘Carter Centre’, a not-for-profit organisation set up to help those in various contexts, who for whatever reason, cannot adequately help

themselves. For instance, the centre’s ‘Habitat for Humanity’ provides homes for people who otherwise would never be able to afford their own housing. Its conference centre addresses amongst other things, mental health, mainly fronted by Rosalyn. The Centre also advocates for human rights, for instance throughout Southern Africa, and disease eradication, a major one being the global abolition of malaria, to name but two of its diverse elements. This benevolence is far reaching, in that it facilitates humanitarian work to confront human suffering in roughly 80 countries. A measure of its universal success was reflected in Carter being granted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. It would be wrong to assume Carter’s life has been all about peace negotiation and diplomacy with no leisureliness factored in, as Carter speaks of how therapeutic he finds painting; some of which are in the book, writing poetry, going fishing and hunting, and a highlight in his life, his evangelism. Above everything he makes clear he finds huge joy being amongst his large, extended family. It is only possible here to scratch the surface of this easy yet copiously detailed read. It is not just about politics, but a fascinating book about the very long life of a stoical kindly soul who even now, devotes so much time to the comfort of others, and whilst he is obviously now very solvent, it’s plain to see he is self-effacing and modest, using his wealth to bolster, strengthen, augment and sustain the lives of many others, either individually, as a community, or indeed, a country, that alone the aforementioned could not achieve without his support, which brings to mind the saying…‘Money shouts, wealth whispers’.

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GLOBAL EVENTS

GO WHERE THE ACTION IS No matter what month it is, somewhere around the world there is an event not to be missed, here are a few to tempt you to travel… MAY 2018 Distortion in Copenhagen, Denmark May 30th to June 3rd Distortion is often tagged as a week-long spectacle celebrating emerging dance music and orchestrated chaos. What started as an experiment in 1998 is now an annual event with free daytime street parties, intimate club nights, and a closing two-day festival in the city’s industrial warehouse wasteland, Refsehaleoen. Although the line-up is yet to be confirmed, the festival’s 20th anniversary is sure to be a hit with dance fans from around the world.

JUNE 2018 Inti Raymi in Cuzco, Peru 24th June The southern hemisphere’s winter solstice, the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco hosting a re-enactment of the Inca’s tribute to the sun God, Inti. Follow the procession from the center of town to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, and watch the spectacle unfold. Don’t forget that Cuzco – located high in the Andes – is also a good base for visiting the ruins at Machu Picchu. Royal Academy of Arts - Summer Exhibition - Main Galleries, London 12th June to 19th August The Summer Exhibition gives emerging and known artists a remarkable stage to show their work. It is known as the world’s largest open submission show, and every single year reveals a broad view of art in all mediums, a plethora of emerging artists and established ones showing their best work, with more to see and explore

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than most other exhibitions. There is also the opportunity to purchase most of the art on show.

JULY 2018 25m World Swimming Championships, and World Aquatics, Hangzhou, China 7th to 11th July The FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) is commonly known as the “Short Course Worlds”, particularly by the swimmers themselves. This event is for swimming only, and is held between the FINA World Championships currently every two years. The swimming events are contested in 25-meter pool (rather than the Olympic size 50-meter pool), hence it is called a short course International Festival Europa Cantat Tallin, Estonia At the end of this month, in Tallin, Estonia, will be the International Festival Europa Cantat, part of the many celebrations throughout the year, of the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia’s Declaration of Independence and Statehood. Comic Con International in San Diego, USA 19th to 22nd July The mythical Krampus is a horned halfgoat, half-demon who is meant to whip children into being nice at Christmas. Bearing horns, long dark fur, and fangs, the anti-St. Nicholas comes with a chain and bells that he lashes about, along

with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat naughty children. The story being, he then hauls the bad children down to the underworld. In the Austrian Alps, a parade of Krampus take over the streets, their chains rattling as they walk through the snow covered streets, carrying torches of fire and whipping unsuspecting passersby, so be prepared. Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco AT&T Park, USA 20th to 22nd July Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 is in the USA for the first time ever from 20-22 July, 2018. The fastest, most fun team sport in the world will be at the AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. It features 24 men’s and 16 women’s international teams and RWC 2018 is the seventh edition of the showcase event, which was first held in Scotland in 1993. Notably, New Zealand are the reigning champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions, having lifted the silverware in Russia in 2013. Rugby sevens made its Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016 and was an immediate hit. Australia are the women’s Olympic champions and Fiji the men’s.

AUGUST 2018 115 years of Harley Davidson in Milwaukee, USA From 29th August to 2nd September, why not visit Milwaukee to celebrate 115 years of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Whether you’re a die-hard motorbike fan, or have never been on a bike before, the Harley Davidson Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

GLOBAL EVENTS

birthday celebration in the Midwest city of Milwaukee has something for everyone. The ‘Welcome Home’ party will feature field games, food trucks, and a beer garden. Then there’s the option to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Harley Davidson factory, before the final bike ride parade through the city. Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill, London 25th August to 27th August This carnival, Europe’s biggest street festival, dances and sings its way through the streets of west London, filling them with colour and vitality every August bank holiday weekend with a huge Caribbean party vibe. The incredible floats and costumes make this a festival not to be missed.

SEPTEMBER 2018 Octoberfest - Munich, Germany September 22 to October 7th Between September 22 and October 7th, six million people attend the famous beer festival in Munich each year, drinking around six million liters of beer. Following tradition, only beer from breweries in Munich are on offer, with some of the businesses dating back to the 1300s. It’s not just about the beer though: you can eat local foods, listen to folk music, and get dressed up in traditional Bavarian outfits. Braderie de Lille Flea Market in Lille, France September 1st - 2nd The first weekend in September sees Europe’s biggest flea market set up shop in the streets of Lille. Whatever your shopping style, you’ll be sure to find something, as the market attracts everyone from jumble sellers to experienced antique dealers. Don’t forget to enjoy some mussels and chips while you’re there (it’s a badge of honour for a restaurant to have the largest pile of mussel shells outside their door this weekend). Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

OCTOBER 2018 Diwali (Festival of Lights) Mumbai, India In 2018, Diwali starts with Dhanteras on November 5. It concludes on November 9. The main festivities take place on the third day (this year, on November 7). Diwali is celebrated a day early in south India, on November 6. Gymnastics World Championships (Artistic) Doha, Qatar 25th October to 3rd November These take place October 25th to November 3rd and is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines around 30 to 90 seconds on different apparatus like a vault, uneven bars, a balance beam, pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars, high beam, etc. British Champions Day, Ascot, Berkshire, England 20th October On Saturday 20th October, the richest race day in Britain, the QIPCO British Champions Day millions of prize money up for grabs for the finale of the European Flat Race season. Considered a highlight of the Autumn sports calendar, it is often considered the best race day in the world with the best horses lining up to race. Spectators and enthusiasts will be looking for the perfect course conditions to suit their chosen horse and rider and to make for an exciting day of racing at the Ascot racecourse.

NOVEMBER 2018 Baltic countries centennial celebrations - Latvia 2018 is the year for centennial celebrations in Baltic countries; namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for when all three countries declared their statehood and independence. Latvia will celebrate on 18th November. That said, all three countries will be having multiple

celebrations throughout the year, such as the Song and Dance Festival in Latvia and Lithuania in the beginning of July. Loi Krathong – Chiang Mai, Thailand This festival is also celebrated in Laos and other places in Southeast Asia where there is a Thai heritage. The Loy Krathong festival takes place on the evening of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, this year in 2018 the dates are November 21, 22 and 23. In Chiang Mai it last three days. The first day is the lantern festival, the second day is the full moon day. On all three days there are parades that pass through Thapae Road. Most activities take place after dark.

DECEMBER 2018 Mevlana Whirling Dervishes in Konya, Turkey 10th to 17th December Between December 10th and 17th, delight in the dance and spectacle of the Mevlana Whirling Dervishes in Konya, Turkey in December. These Whirling Dervishes, also known as the Mevlevi Order, have been dancing the ‘sema’ on the same date for 750 years to mark the death of Rumi, the Afghan poet who produced most of his work in Konya. There are readings, concerts, and performances in the lead-up to the anniversary of his death, but the main attraction is the religious dance of the Whirling Dervishes on December 17th. Noche de Rábanos or Night of the Radishes, Christmas market in Oaxaca city’s Zócalo or main square 23rd Deecmber Held on December 23rd, this annual event came about when the vendors of the Christmas market in Oaxaca city’s Zócalo or main square decided to attract more buyers to their stalls, and came up with the idea to use radishes. The vegetables are carefully carved and composed into amusing figures, and scenes related to Christmas, and has been going since 1897.

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Amina Mohammed Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations

Look who’s reading Fifth Chukker...

With an ever-growing distributing network spanning international hotels and polo clubs to private jets, Fifth Chukker Magazine reaches more than 500,000 readers. Its pages reveal the lifestyle and spending habits of international polo players and provide an unparallel opportunity for brands to connect with this elite world. For further information on how to promote your brand and become part of the Fifth Chukker story please contact us directly on info@fifthchukker.com Advertise in Fifth Chukker magazine – West Africa’s leading polo andSão lifestyle Paulo publication, produced bi-annually (May & October). The Fifth Chukker Magazine reaches more than 500,000 readers and has a prominent and increasing online following via the Fifth Chukker Website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Fifth Chukker Magazine | Vol 2 Issue 13

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Big Bang Ferrari King Gold. King Gold case inspired by the brands’ iconic lines. In-house UNICO chronograph. Interchangeable strap with a patented attachment. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

B O U T I Q U E

A B U J A

Transcorp HiltonHilton, Hotel Abuja, 1 Aguiyi Ironsi St Transcorp 1 Aguiyi Ironsi St, Abuja +234 9 291 4615 • abuja@hublot-boutique.com +234 814 000 0262 - abuja@hublot-boutique.com B O U T I Q U E A B U J A Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, 1 Aguiyi Ironsi St Wings, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos +234 9 291 4615 • abuja@hublot-boutique.com

hublot.com

Classic Fusion King Gold case. Ma chronograph m developed by Hu reserve. Limited