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Personal Luxury Top Ten Luxury Items for 2016
Apartment
BATN Luxury Flats
Hotels
You Can Blend Your Own Wine At The Table Bay
Style
Inside Heveneiress London
Editorial Publisher/Managing Editor Funke Osae-Brown Staff Writers Lara Oladunni Beatrice Isola Creative Director Peter Ehigiator Web design Fortune Williams Advisory Board Mrs. Abimbola Wright Mr. Femi Adefowope Mrs. Mercy Omoyeni Mr. Ogbeni-Tope Awe Mr. Julian’s Luxury Mrs. Bola Balogun Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo Dr. Phil Osagie 4
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Features
Classy Rolls Royce Dawn
Interview
The Supremely Delicate Job Of Dj Jimmy Jatt
TLR is published by FTI Communications. D104, Omisore Lane, Oniru Millennium Estate, Lekki Website: www.luxuryreporter.com.ng Twitter: @luxuryreportng Facebook: The Luxury Reporter Advert hotlines: 08033540883, 08116759771, 08023165438
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Editor’s Note
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Happy New Year!
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elcome to a big and better 2016. In the New Year we are putting our best foot forward as we are starting off with a fascinating package that will arouse your interest for a great while. And so, in our first story in this edition, we list Top Ten Luxury Items to eye in 2016. From the lovely Kiki McDonough pendant to Ralph Lauren Home limited-edition mixologist set, there is something for everyone. Yo u c a n ’ t a l s o ignore our new find, B AT N ’ s L u x u r y Flats. With the flats, it is the first time the concept of work and living space will come to fruition in Nigeria. You can be a part of this by living in a safe, clean environment.
When next you are in Kenya, you should visit The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi where you will meet the amazing blind Rhino, Maxwell. We have a story on him on the Travel pages. Of course this edition will be incomplete without our cover story on the 2016 Rolls Royce Dawn, an elegant convertible car that will change the concept of luxury automobile. Our personality interview with DJ Jimmy Jatt is a must-read as he opens up on his life, career and endorsement as the brand face for Remy Martin. Why not turn over the pages to read more? Do have a great 2016! See you in February. - FOB Follow me on: Instagram: funke_osae-brown Twitter: @funkeadetutu Facebook/LinkedIn: Funke Osae-Brown
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Personal Luxury
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Top 10 3
Luxury Items for 2016 The year 2016 is here. There is no better way to start the year than knowing what luxury items come in handy. Below, LARA OLADUNNI puts together an interesting list.
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Kiki McDonough pendant
This lovely pendant from the Lola Collection comes in a set of 18ct gold with a stunning fire opal stone and four delicate diamonds. This is a show stopper piece for 2016. Available at: www.kiki.co.uk Price: N771, 171.45 (£2,600)
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Bee Goddess Feather ring
Bring a dramatic style to your look in the new year with this elegant 14ct rose-gold ring with diamonds and emeralds from the Feather collection by Bee Goddess. Available at: www.harrods.com Price: N590, 183.35 (£1,990) 6
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Zenith Heritage Star Moonphase watch
This Zenith Star Moonphase ladies’ watch is made of stainless steel with diamonds on an alligator leather strap. Available at: www.zenithwatches.com. Price: N19, 57, 392.01 (£6,600)
Personal Luxury
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Dior Abstract sunglasses
These Dior Sunglasses come with green reflective lenses. The cut-out top is a fun update to the classic squareframe tortoiseshell style. Get that unique New Year look with these sunglasses. Available at: www.dior.com. Price: N91, 928.85 (£310)
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Marwood tie
This handmade English lace-over-silk tie is a sophisticated option for both casual and formal wear in 2016 for that stylish man. Available at: www.mrporter. com. Price: N38, 555.86 (£130)
Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless headphones
The recently released MW60 wireless over-ear headphones are the new way to listen to music in 2016. These unique earphones combine a patent-pending stainless steel design with a “form-meets-function” exposed all-aluminum antenna to create uncompromised durability, style and bestin-class signal range. Available at: www.masterdynamic.com. Price: N1, 24, 260.57 (£419)
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Personal Luxury
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Ettinger flask
This Etinger flask is a must-have to fulfil your workout goals in 2016. A great-looking and useful flask to take on a hike or long walk. The round stainless steel hunter flask from the Lifestyle Collection is covered in red leather and comes with four stainless steel cups held in a leather top. You make a choice from the seven extra colours. Available at: www.ettinger.co.uk. Price: N54, 867.95 (£185)
Edie Parker clutch
This is a perfectly sized clutch to go with a day or evening outfit in the New Year. It comes in a handcrafted, soft suede body and acrylic ends with a satin lining and available in a great selection of other colours. Available at: www.edie-parker.com. Price: N355, 877.52 (£1,200)
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Simon Orrell jewellery box
In 2016, keep your most treasured possessions is this pretty shell black-lip jewellery box. It has a suedette interior and consists of two trays each divided into six parts. This is one of many of Simon Orell’s exquisite range of jewellery boxes. Available at: www.simonorrelldesigns.com. Price: N263, 951.36 (£890)
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Ralph Lauren Home limitededition mixologist set
This Italian-made rosewood Vanderbilt mixologist box is a great way to enjoy your blend of whisky, brandy or any kind of wine this year. It comes in handy while hosting friends or business associates to party season. It is fully equipped with everything you need to mix up a few cocktails and refreshing drinks. This includes a crystal ice bucket and an embossed croc-leather mixology book Available at: www.ralphlauren. com. Price: N994, 254.75 ($4,995)
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Apartment
BATN Luxury Flats FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
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itting delicately at the very top of the new British American Tobacco (BATN) new office space is a block of interesting luxury flats. Located on the calm Olumegbon Street at Ikoyi, the flats offer a good view of the busy Alfred Rewane Road. It is a great way to get immersed in the entire city view of the posh Ikoyi. It is also the first time the concept of work and living space will come to fruition in Nigeria. The building by BATN is a new way to redefine the concept of office and living space. It is a combination of office space, residential apartments, penthouse, swimming pool and gym. “A lot attention was paid to detail. A lot of attention was paid to building the structure. Even the car park was important to us. We are the first to be given a license in Nigeria to combine an office and residential place in a facility,” says Seyi Ashade, area head, West Africa, Corporate Affairs, BATN Graham Barr, facilities manager and Andrew Davies, project manager and Ashade took TLR on a tour of the new office space and luxury flats. Nicknamed the Rising Sun, the office complex project commenced in 2011 and it took one year for the planning of the building. “The building proper started in 2013,” explains Barr. “The offices are designed in an open office culture concept. It has 11 floors. Apart from offices, there are conference rooms and meeting rooms. There is security system with CCTV.” We took the elevator to the first floor to see the first space before we went to the fifth floor to see the luxury flats. Here the culture of open office is laid bare. From the
first floor, I could see clearly what goes on at the reception through the glass partition was used to separate the workspace from wall. Usually in a setting of this kind, a brick wall would have been used for the demarcation. But this designs adds beauty to the space giving it a unique architectural appeal. The designed was finished with an exquisite chandelier dangling above. In addition, each work station is fully equipped with comfortable chairs, desktops, tables with drawers. The layout kind of makes it possible for each staff to customise his space. There are nine luxury apartments in the building including a penthouse. Each is a three-bedroom flat with walking shower and closets. The living room is very spacious with the kitchen located right in its heart. The kitchen comes with fitted amenities including cooking stove, fridge, Zink, storage cupboards and more. In addition, to make a truly space, Davies says there are rest rooms on every floor, which has been built to be accessible to the physically challenged. There is UPS power backup, ample parking space, sewage treatment system and water processing unit. There is a separate entrance for occupants of the flats. Read Full Story on: www.luxuryreporter.com.ng The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Hotels
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You Can Blend Your Own Wine At The Table Bay LARA OLADUNNI
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un International’s prestigious Table Bay hotel has added yet another discerning, South Africainspired experience to its collection – wine blending. Wine enthusiasts now have the opportunity to explore the art with a renowned, local winemaker, Rikus Neethling, in the surrounds of the exquisite Stellenbosch wine lands. After a sumptuous breakfast at The Table Bay, guests will travel to Stellenbosch where they will get to create and bottle their own blend of wine under Neethling’s expert guidance. Neethling, responsible for The Table Bay’s house wine, “Captains Table”, is an accomplished winemaker. He completed B.Sc Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch in 2006 and went on to establish Rikus Neethling Wines in 2008. He is a passionate winemaker who shares his love for wine, his beautiful country and the people
close to him in every bottle of wine. During wine blending experiences he teaches guests to do the same. Blending involves an insightful journey of different cellars, tasting various mixes of cultivars from barrels, before blending a wine to the guest’s individual taste and preferences. Guests will be given their own bottle of wine to take back with them to The Table Bay whereChef/Sommelier will pair their wine to a suitable dish from the
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menu at the Camissa Brasserie. “To put a personal stamp on a bottle of wine, to decide how it touches the palate, to create something that tells a story of who they are, and to be able to share it, is a special treat for any wine lover. We are delighted to work with one of the Western Cape’s expert winemakers to deliver this exceptional opportunity to guests. Read Full Story on: www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Resort
Have An Ultra-luxury Experience At One&Only Resorts LARA OLADUNNI
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or a well relaxed 2016, the iconic luxury retreat in the Caribbean, One&Only Ocean Club offers the ultimate luxury experience with the seclusion of what feels like a private residence, overlooking the best beach in The Bahamas. With new enhancements and the introduction of a new ultimate beachfront experience with the new Ocean Pool and bar and grill, the resort will welcome guests over this festive period to enjoy exciting experiences. The resort which offered a variety of activities for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including an exclusive 6-course dinner at Dune restaurant and an After Glow Party on Christmas Day. Special entertainment with activities provided for children by the playful and friendly KidsOnly team, still has more in stock for the New Year. You can enjoy the terraced steps of the Versailles-inspired gardens which was the background for the Havana Night Gala Dinner for New Year’s Eve, with a cocktail reception around the pool followed by a seated dinner and after party. Why not reserve a Garden View Room located in the newly renovated Hartford Wing to rejuvenate your body for task ahead in the New Year? Rate starts from US$ 675 per room, per night. Also, the award-winning One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives as it celebrates its tenth anniversary offers unique themed nights, events and surprises for guests of all ages who always look for-
ward to return and celebrate the festive season on this idyllic island. During the day, you can admire the jewel-like atolls of the Maldivian islands on sea-plane excursions or dive deep into the calming crystal blue waters and discover the buzzing underwater world below. Bask in the Maldivian sun, unwind at the One&Only Spa or indulge in a private beach barbecue in front of your villa. Every year, new activities, tournaments and surprises are prepared to amaze guests staying at One&Only Reethi Rah. You can reserve a private Beach Villa starting from US$1,500 per night, per villa. The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Style
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Inside Hěveneiress London FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
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he striking images of the handbags will surely arouse the interest of anyone who adores quality leather goods. That was my experience the first time I encountered the luxury hand crafted leather bags by Hěveneiress London. Established in London, England in 2014 by Creative Director Olajumoke B. Bamigboye, Hěveneiress London is a life style brand that was created to fulfil a unique and singular vision: “provide premium products and services which give “The Hěveneiress Woman” a visually competitive edge.” She tells me the vision for this brand was conceived many years ago, but steadily came to fruition in 2014 when Hěveneiress London became a trading entity. In 2011, 12 The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
while completing her Post graduate degree at Oxford University, Bamigboye spent time learning about entrepreneurship and developing a success brand in fashion. During this time, the vision of a lifestyle brand for women was born. As a lifestyle brand, Hěveneiress London is not just about leather goods but also make up for women with taste for quality. “Hěveneiress London aims to be a life style brand for the modern woman,” she explains, “and offers products and services beyond Luxury leather products. With client satisfaction at the heart of the brand’s service provision, Hěveneiress London understands the importance of creating bespoke themes to enhance the beautiful features clients already possess and goes beyond makeup application and hair styling to create an in-
Style
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dividual advisory platform for its vast clientele. “We provide makeup and personal styling services for all occasions and our clientele has grown exponentially since inception through recommendations. What sets us apart from other service providers, is our service quality, our willingness to go the extra mile and most importantly the lasting power of our creations, giving women the “MADE” look many hours after application. We believe in the “makeup as if you were born this way” philosophy and use the best brands in the market for every client.” With a large customer base in London, UK, Hěveneiress London since it was launched, has sold strongly in Nigeria. Bamigboye says the Hěveneiress’ collection’s aesthetic direction and themes are inspired by various fashion and historical pieces across board. These are then translated into mock pieces by Bamigboye herself. Her leather products are sourced and crafted in Europe as well as Africa. For Bamgboye, the UK market isn’t enough as she is rapidly expanding the Hěveneiress brand into the Nigerian market. She says her growth strategy in Nigeria includes driving efforts towards making the brand and its products and services readily accessible to the Hěveneiress Woman. “Our goal is to increase our platform presence starting with Lagos, and then penetrating other major cities. We are also building an online showroom and shop for our clients to enjoy the flexibility that comes with a relationship with us. “Our experiences so far have demonstrated that there is a niche within the market that has a robust appreciation for quality coupled with distinctive design elements over famous brand names with little product quality - that is our target demographic - dubbed “The Heiress”. Read Full Story on: www.luxuryreporter.com.ng The TheLuxury LuxuryReporter Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Travel
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A Rhino Named Maxwell FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
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axwell!” Julius Shevarigha, the animal keeper at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust conservation, called out to the big Rhino lying at the far end of his expansive stable. The animal didn’t bulge. He called out again, this time with a little caution, “Max—we—ll!” the Rhino only managed to give a lame nod without looking in the direction of the voice. “He is not in the mood today,” Shevarigha explains to our little group of the Google Gulliver Travel, as we stood outside the gated barn. Maxwell growls at our presence and the familiar voice of Shevarigha, his keeper.
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“He would have stood up as soon as he heard my voice,” Shevarigha tells us. Apparently, it wasn’t the best of time to pay Maxwell a visit. Curiously, Maxwell laid on the ground staring straight ahead, his front limbs folded inwards. One could tell something was wrong but what it was we all didn’t know. Our little group from the Google Gulliver’s Travel, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2015, arrived at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust a few minutes past midday. The The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust takes care of orphaned animals like Maxwell. Few animals have suffered from the hands of poachers as elephants and rhinoceros. In recent decades, rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970, the world rhino population had declined by 90 per cent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered. The rhino is prized for its horn. It is, however, not a true horn, but thickly matted hair that grows from the skull without skeletal support. The major demand for horn is in Asia, where it is used in traditional medicine and ornamental carvings. In partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the trust safeguards the natural environment, as well as provides veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescues and helps in rescuing and rearing orphan elephants and rhinos. “Maxwell is a blind Rhino,” Shevarigha explains to us. “On one of our patrols in the park, we found him roaming aimlessly in the park on February 6, 2007. We were cu-
Travel
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rious at first because of the way he was running into things in his way. We later discovered he was blind. He was a baby Rhino who was left behind by his family because he couldn’t put up with their pace. We found the park’s forest about 3 kilometres from our headquarters,” says Shevarigha. Compassionate with animals, Shevarigha and his team took the baby Rhino into the care. They never knew he was blind. They built a stall for him to live in can immediately invited experts to attend to his needs. “The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Rhino Unit was summoned, and together they and our keepers monitored the little rhino until dusk from a good distance so as not to disturb him or the possibility of his mother returning, and when there was still no sign of the mother, something had to be done to prevent him from being taken by predators during the night,” explains Shevarigha. After careful examination, they later dis-
covered he has a challenge with his sight. “By now, it had become obvious that he was completely blind in both eyes. He was physically overpowered, which took all the strength of about ten men, though, just a year old, he was immensely powerful. With legs tied, he was carried on the Elephant Rescue Tarpaulin to a vacant stable, but when he was released, Maxwell almost demolish the timbers of the stable,” he explains further. The Rhino was later christened Maxwell as a way of given an identity which he never had until he was found roaming in the park. After he was rescued, for three days, no-one could set foot in his stable, he was so wild and fierce, but he soon understood that milk and water was available at the stable door. Maxwell was later given antibiotic injection by Robert Carr-Hartley, a specialist animal physician, to forestall problems brought about by trauma and shock. His assessment of the cause of Max’s blindness shows that he was suffering from bilateral cataracts, which required surgery. And on March 21, 2007, the cataract operation was performed on Maxwell’s left eye. Dr. Dieter Rottcher handled the anaesthesia while Kenya’s top eye specialist, Dr. Peter Schwendemann, performed the surgery. In spite of all these, little Maxwell was yet to regain his sight. Read Full Story on: www.luxuryreporter.com.ng The TheLuxury LuxuryReporter Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Features
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Classy
Rolls Royce
dawn
The newly unveiled Rolls Royce Dawn at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show comes with striking silhouette and an inviting interior billed to change ultraluxury driving experience writes FUNKE OSAE-BROWN.
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eboye loves to live the good life. He has all kind of exotic cars lined up the garage of his Victoria Island, Lagos home. He had acquired about two of the latest cars in 2015. However when he got news of the new 2016 Rolls Royce Dawn, he told his friend it must join the list of cars in his garage. “The sight of these cars excites me,” he says. “I love well-crafted bespoke cars. The fact that the 2016 Rolls Royce Dawn is a convertible makes me love it. I just told myself that I must get it. It is the next car I am eyeing.”No doubt, the 2016 Rolls Royce 16 The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
Dawn is an elegant convertible car at the height of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ world of bespoke automotive luxury. Unveiled at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show for the Africa and Middle East Markets, the automobile is a narrative of elegance, ferocity that comes with a contemporary finesse. One could tell that a great deal of craftsmanship went into fashioning the shape of Rolls Royce Dawn. Its outline comes with a unique and bold brightness which show the car is always ready to be on the road. Its styling is sensuous. Its slender roof proportions and a strong, sweeping shoulder line give a sensuous yet contemporary look. When stationary, the Dawn has an opulent look that makes you fall in love with it immediately. The powerful front end points towards new frontiers, creating a vision of dynamism and progress. Dawn’s alluring presence is unmistakable,
Features
right from the very first encounter. Striking and assertive, its charm and charisma draw you in. With the top up, the mood is powerful. With one touch, its sensuous appeal is unveiled as the roof silently folds away, revealing a seductive interior that one will surely adore. Brett Soso, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia & South America said at unveiling of Dawn at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show that Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date, and begins a new age of open-top, super luxury motoring. This beautiful new motor car offers the most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world, and is the most social of super-luxury drop-head motor cars. “It is with great pleasure that we display four of our models at this year’s Dubai In-
ternational Motor Show. Dawn, the perfect blend of timeless yet contemporary luxury… showcases the scale of personalisation available through our Bespoke programme, our presence at this year’s show demonstrates the sheer diversity of our portfolio perfectly,” he said. One could tell that in all its range of luxury cars, Rolls Royce Motor Cars Limited continues to strive for perfection in everything it does. It takes the best that exists and makes it better. When it does not exist, it designs it as it is the case with Dawn. With the new Rolls-Royce Dawn, the world’s only true modern four-seater super-luxury was birthed by Rolls Royce Motor Cars Limited. It is truly a car that stands out from an array of other luxury cars as it features 80% unique body panels. Amazing is the fact that the tyres that connect the new Rolls-Royce Dawn to the road are new. Dawn has an effortless yet exhilarating The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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Features
feel when seen on the road. It comes with a sleek 6.6-litre V12 twin-turbo engine, engineered to deliver an outpouring of seemingly infinite power that will awaken your senses as you drive. A sensation that is heightened the very second the roof quietly opens. You can say it is an open-top driving as never been experienced before. In addition, Dawn offers uncompromised comfort with the four individual seats that gives matchless ease and elegance. Its exceptional space is tailored for the ultimate passenger experience. The deck and rear are finished with handcrafted veneers that waterfall forward to meet the driver. You can carry tranquillity with you while driving Dawn as it comes with superior noise isolation. The interior is very welcoming, it is 18 The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
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like a sanctuary in motion. The banks of leather create a soft line, fusing inside and out. The interior is also a destination in itself. Crafted from wood and leather, the cabin is indulgent. Roof up or down, Dawn wraps its passengers in comfort, providing a cosseting private haven and uplifting spaciousness. A good reason it is a must-have car.
Interview
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THE SUPREMELY
DELICATE JOB OF DJ JIMMY JATT DJ JIMMY JATT has changed the face of Disc Jockey in Nigeria. In this interview, he tells FUNKE OSAE-BROWN about his life, career growth and new appointment as the brand ambassador for Remy Martin. TheLuxury Luxury Reporter Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng 19 The
Interview
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T
he warm evening breeze sweeps across the landscape as I drive into Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria. The road has taken on a new form and I wondered at the level of development taking place in the large Lekki Estate. Perhaps the new Remy Martin exclusive membership club located in the axis has contributed to the development Lekki is experiencing. As I halt the car in front of the black gate, the structure before me is secured by a grey wall. Here, I am supposed to meet the subject of my interview at the media meet and greet for the chief executive officer of Remy Martin. As I walked into the well-furnished club, there was the subject of my interview spotting his trademark spectacle and cap, DJ Jimmy Jatt. He has brought glamour to the job of Disc Jockeys as one of the pioneers of modern DJ. Recently, he was unveiled as one of the brand ambassadors of the popular cognac, Remy Martin. It is one of those rare opportunities that comes the way of DJs but Jimmy Jatt has paid his dues. If he is named a brand ambassador of an international brand, it is well deserved. “It feels good because it not your usual kind of brand,” he tells me that evening as he settles comfortably at the club’s VVIP section. “It is based on who you are. What you are as a person is not just the face, they look at how you influence people and how you affected people’s lives. How you define yourself as a person. For me to be picked for a brand like Remy Martin, that is great. Sometimes you do things without you knowing it affects people’s lives that much. So I am excited.” It will not be wrong to say Jimmy Jatt pioneered the art of Disc Jockey in Nigeria more than three decades ago when the trade was largely unpopular. Today, he has not only mastered the art but has popularised it. He laid the foundation for the art in Nigeria. But it has not been all rosy for him. There were nights when his life had been on the line when he refused to grant the wish of a guest at a party to play the music he requested. He recalls a night when the 20 The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng
eight feet stage he was performing on collapsed beneath his feet. “I survived it,” he says, “and it ended being a great night. People were saying it must have been embarrassing but it was not for me. It was embarrassing for the people who constructed the stage. Some equipment fell on my feet. The good thing about it was that I was more focused on satisfying the crowd. I quickly put all together. The music went on and it turned out to be a very good experience, nasty but very good. “The second experience was when someone pulled a gun to me to play a song. The guy had come up to me to play a song and I told him I will play the song in due time, when it is right. He came the second time but I was not sounding too nice. I told him to stop disturbing me, I will play it when it is time. The third time, he came and pulled a gun to my side. I had to play it immediately.” For Jatt, there are days when he feels he never had good outings. Those were days when he had to mask his emotional traumas just to satisfy his audience. Yet on those days, he tried as much as possible to put his best foot forward. In the end, his audience would return to him to tell him how much he killed it for them. “Sometimes, I finish a gig and everyone start coming to me and say: ‘you killed us tonight.’ While I
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was not having the best time. In my mind, I was dealing with some other things and people were feeling happy. Even my worst nights had not really been bad. It is just the way I feel and I know maybe if I was in the best of mood I would have done better than what I did. There are times I feel I wasn’t in the best of mood but this is work. I love music. I don’t do DJ because it a job. I am a DJ because I love music. Even I am not in the best mood, I have to play.” He was on stage once when he got a call that he had lost his mum. Another time, he was performing when he got a call that his father was dead. Yet the music played on and Jatt was there till the end of both gigs. “Those were the worst periods of anybody’s life,” the pain of his loss still visible in his voice as he spoke on the night of our interview. “But that is the strength of music; when you are playing the music at that time everything is equal. But when you are done you may now break down. I was playing at Access Bank’s end of year party when my mum died. I didn’t have any DJ assistant. It was a crucial party. I couldn’t abandon it. “I was playing on stage at the Wet ‘n’ Wild Benson & Edges Golden Tunes when I was called that my dad just passed. I couldn’t get off stage. I still did the show fully without anyone knowing something went wrong but I knew I was not having the best of time.” Jatt says when he started the business of DJ three decades ago, it was seen as a job for people with low lives and school dropouts. Nobody believed in him yet he trudged on. His mother was a teacher, which means he was brought up by a disciplinarian. However, from the onset, he had made up his mind to prove doubters wrong and change people’s perception about the job of a DJ. Hence he never engaged in all the negative habits synonymous with the trade. He is not a smoker. “I was brought up well. I ask myself why would anyone judge someone based on what they do which
Interview is not negative; because what I do is play music. I make people happy. I had parents who would go to the studio and say: ‘next time I see my son here, I will get you arrested. “Many people just assume that for you to be a DJ you must be the worst person on earth, a womanizer, an alcoholic, weed smoker. I was never into any of these things. My parents were not disappointed when I got married. And I will not disappoint my wife. Next I had kids. My kids should be proud of what I do.” All these got Jatt determined to do things differently and be successful. Eventually, his success story was able to change his parents mind about his career as a DJ. Today, he has become a role model and a strong brand whom many young people aspire to be like. And his staying power has been knowing who he is. Finally, Jatt says he is very affordable. So when next you have a party, DJ Jimmy Jatt is just a call way and he will be there to perform himself!
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Film Review Title: The Encounter Director: Tolu Ajayi
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he film tells the story of a moment in the history of the nation and how the events that transpired helped in determining what Nigeria is today. Set in 1967 during the Nigeria-
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Biafra civil war, an imprisoned Ifeajuna is summoned by Biafran Commander-in-Chief General Emeka for one last conversation one last encounter The Encounter goes a step further by not only addressing a highly significant issue of the time through seamless storytelling; the film entertains, educates and also informs the audience on the importance and value of Nigerian history by delving into the subject matter and dissecting and analysing the roles played by pivotal historic personalities. The two defining characters in the short film are critically juxtaposed in order to depict the tension that was characteristic of the time. Their ensuing conversation causes the audience to engage in meaningful reflection. It is a good short film that seeks to rewrite the story behind the personality of late Emmanuel Ifeajuna.
Title: Fifty Director: Biyi Bandele
T
he movie Fifty is about the story of four Nigeria women, Tola, Elizabeth, Maria and Kate, who are at the peak of their careers. The four friends try to recreate their personal lives at midlife. They readjust careers and family against the extensive backdrops of the upper middleclass neighbourhoods of Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Tola is a reality TV star. Her marriage to lawyer Kunle never stood a chance due to an unpleasant family secret. Elizabeth is a famous obstetrician whose penchant for younger men has alienated her from her daughter. Forty-nine year-old Maria has an affair with a married man that results in an unexpected pregnancy and Kate’s battle with a
life-threatening illness has plunged her into religious obsession. The film tells the story of love and lust, power and rivalry, life and loss in 21st Lagos. It is a must-see.
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Title: Dazzling Mirage Director: Tunde Kelani
D
azzling Mirage is an adaptation of an eponymous novel by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, adapted to screen by Ade Solanke. It narrates the story of a young sickle-cell patient and the various social and emotional challenges she’s faced with. Dazzling Mirage features an all-star cast including Kemi Lala Akindoju as Funmiwo, Kunle Afolayan as Dotun, Yomi FashLanso, Seun Akindele, Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Bimbo Manuel, Carol King, among others. Funmiwo finds herself entangled in a love story as her fiancé’s mother, acted by Taiwo Ajai-Lycette would not allow her only son marry a lady plagued with sickle cell anaemia. Hardworking Funmiwo has a seizure during an important presentation that could win her company a big contract. She couldn’t follow through the presentation as she is rushed out of the boardroom. Eventually, love conquers it all as Dotun falls in love with Funmiwo in spite of her poor health condition. Dazzling Mirage his a great film to see.
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24 The Luxury Reporter www.luxuryreporter.com.ng