VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
Women's “Professional” Dress Code That Encourages Bias
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Desire Onyema @desire_makeover
EDITOR’S NOTE
D
ress the part is a phrase we often hear especially for women in corporate or political spaces. But what exactly does that mean? For some women (especially the really attractive ones), dressing in anything other than a suit when she attends a business meeting automatically means 'do not take her seriously.' Could it be a case of being more comfortable doing business with someone with who you share a common ground; someone who looks( in this case, dresses) like you and so you trust them?
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
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CONTENTS
COVER THE POWER DRESS: WOMEN'S “PROFESSIONAL” DRESS CODE THAT ENCOURAGES BIAS
16
04-05
REVIEW THE ADAM PROJECT
FASHION 4 LOOKS TO MAKE YOU FEEL POWERFUL
14-15 CAREER
I honestly do not believe that the way a woman dresses -to a reasonable extent- should determine whether or not you take her seriously. Why do we have to be dressed in an uptight manner before we are deemed worthy or intelligent enough, and thus able to deliver on the job at hand? I had this conversation with my team the other day, and I pointed out that most times, men will not take a woman seriously when they want to talk business until she speaks and every word that comes out of her mouth is an intellectual goldmine. I buttressed my point using Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a case study. I don’t think she has ever been in a trouser or skirt suit - at least I haven’t seen one of such pictures- and yet today, in her signature ankle-length Ankara skirt, and blouse with headgear to complete her look, she is one of, if not, the most respected woman in the world. This week, our cover story discusses how women’s professional dress code encourages bias. Read about it on pages 8 through 10.
A WORK OF ART
06
DOWNTOWN ZODIAC UNDERSTAND THE FIRST ZODIAC WITH THESE 2 ARIES
07
DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL BEFORE YOU TALK DIRTY…
11
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN WITH A GOOD BACK SHOT, ACCESS BANK POLO DAY...
In support of Women's History Month, our fashion pages feature a combination of looks- skirts, dresses, even denim, that can make a woman look powerful. Downtown confidential explores ‘dirty talking' while we share some body-boosting tips on the wellness pages. NFTs have become quite popular, so pages 14 and 15 feature some women in the art space who sell their works as NFTs. Don’t miss the movie review page. This week, we analyse two movies from Netflix: The Adam Project, and Pieces of Her. Until next week, enjoy your read.
Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity
- Contributing Editor Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.
Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm - Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.
12-13 WELLNESS BODY BOOSTERS
WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM @maryjaneohobu
Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa
AUSTYN OGANNAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Writers: Kehindé Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Interns: Sophia Edisi, Abdul Auwal Graphics/Layout: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown
Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs
- Contributing Writer Uzo Orimalade has a background in Law and Business and spent over a decade working in Corporate America and Nigeria in the management consulting and investment banking sectors. She switched careers to pursue her passion for baking, cooking and home entertaining. She is content creator and host of shows in various media platforms. She has been recognised by local and international media outlets including a feature on CNN’s African Voices.
Efua Oyofo @efuastar
- Contributing Writer Efua has always enjoyed telling stories. A writer and cultural storyteller, Efua Oyofo helps clients tell their most compelling story. She focuses on social impact storytelling, and hosts a podcast: This African Love, exploring the culture of dating - and helping people develop more effective ways to navigate relationships in today’s world.
@shollycutie
@elliot_milli
Nice
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
FASHION BY ABDUL AUWAL
LOOKS TO MAKE YOU FEEL L
POWERFUL
H
aving an attire that makes you feel good about yourself makes it easier to get things done in any situation. It's a way of expressing who you are and what you believe in. It's simple to achieve this when the dress code is whatever you want, but finding a balance between professional looks and more personal or interesting fits at an office can be difficult. It's great to be wearing something that makes you feel confident and powerful amid all the hustle and bustle, possibly even resulting in a performance bump. And the good news is that you don't need an endless wardrobe to generate new and exciting looks—the key is to build work outfit formulae that you can repeat without getting bored. Here are workplace-dressing ideas to try for that confidence boost you're looking for at work.
LOOK 2
Brown Bag KURT GEIGER
LOOK 1
Brown Dress JLUXLABEL
White Crepe Sleeveless Duster Coat NEW LOOK
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Brown Pumps CASADEI
Yetty Ogunnubi
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
FASHION LOOK 3
LOOK 4
Black B Bl ackk Le Leather eatthe h r Bag
YVES SAINT LAURENT
Vest Top JOSEPH
Black Coat ZARA
Veronica Ebie Blue Jeans ASHISH
Black Stiletto ASOS
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
DOWNTOWN ZODIAC circle, check again; you do. Rams make friends easily though it's not uncommon for them to lose touch or have one leg in and the other out of friend groups, as they like to keep things interesting and experience new things. The likes of Pharell Wiliams, Lady Gaga, Halle Bailey, and Mariah Carey are notable Rams to acclimatise yourself with.
Understand The First Zodiac With These
2 ARIES
Banky W The former EME label owner and artist falls under the Aries zodiac. He was born March 27.
BY IDOWU LAMI
12
months later, and we are back to where it all began, the Rams. They are ruled by Mars; a planet of desire, action, war, and heat. Aries are individualistic, brave, and bold but that also makes them impatient and reckless. Diving first and asking questions later is one way to describe how rams are when they are passionate about something. 'Now' and 'Go' are words that live in the vocabulary of Aries. There's no time to slow down, pump the brakes, and process. The flame that burns brightly and fiercely in them also needs to be fed, fanned, and nurtured because of how quickly it burns out. Anything that moves must surely come to a halt and the rams are no different. They too become stuck in a rut of negativity. Relax Aries, if you keep jutting forward you miss out on things that could be of help on the way. As far as leadership goes,
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ZODIAC SYMBOL: RAM ELEMENT: FIRE RULING PLANET: MARS FALL: SATURN CONSTELLATION: ARIES
Rams have all the makings of a confident leader. Their burning passion, ambition, and motivation help them build a community with their cheerful disposition and relentless determination. When it comes to their sexual proclivities, these rams like it just the same way; fast-paced and at high bursts of intensity. They get riled up by the opportunity to take charge and get down. When it comes to relationships, Aries usually need a partner who will allow them to be their boldest, most fiery selves. Aries/Mars energy is also fiercely protective of loved ones and is all about advocating for those they care about. They are a good teammate or partner to have on your side. This means you've subscribed to their solicited and unsolicited two cents. If you don't have one of them in your friendship
Simi It just makes sense that this woman singer is also a Ram. She was born 19th of April.
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL
BEFORE YOU TALK
DIRTY… BY TILEWA KAZEEM
A
s a young kid, I was privileged to look retrospectively at the Nigerian music scene as a sultry vocabulary builder; a Collins Dictionary of unsanitary words. Of course, now the diction has been updated but back then, a song like Kerewa by the musical duo, Zule Zoo hugely impacted the sexual language at the time. Being super young at that time, I was barred from ever listening to it. The problem here was, the chorus was singed into my brain and it had the entire country in a choke hold. The possibility of my ears coming within proximity of its raunchy lyrics was very high. Anyway, like Kerewa (which translates to the vulgar slang, f-k) I was also banned from uttering words like b-t-h, sl-t, and every other unsavoury word you could fathom. But you know what, I still said them anyway. Fast forward some years later, and I understand the magnitude of those dirty slurs and why kids had no business using them. But one thing I also learned about those words is; when it is acceptable to utter such and how they help stimulate sexual pleasure. Before you run off calling your partner names, you should understand that unlike other things said during lovemaking this is more fragile. Introducing this into an already brittle relationship can blow it up to smithereens. Even strong relationships as well aren't out of the waters yet.
Boundaries:
You need them. If you don't have them, you need to set them. Every facet of your life needs boundaries so different parts of your body know the right response. In the world of sex, having boundaries informs you what is a no-no. And as a partner conscious of those boundaries, you are now aware of what to bring to the bedroom and what not to.
Communication:
The heartbeat of it all. Beyond sex, being able to sit down and listen to your partner without getting defensive and acknowledging all they've said isn't advertised enough. With sexual conversation, we humans tend to shy away from saying it as it is. There's this secrecy around sex-which I think shouldn't be by the way- hindering people from being wholly open about their sexual desire. And I get it, not everyone deserves or is emotionally mature enough to handle your truths but I think, at the end of the day if you're with someone you don't mind slutting you out-pardon my language- then, I think he or she deserves to know, for the benefit of all parties.
Original illustration from wikihow
Relationship Dynamics: The dynamics of the relationship is also something to consider should you choose to talk dirty to your baby. In a relationship where you both don't have jarring personalities or low-esteem issues or insecurities, using a derogatory word(s) during sex can fly. You both understand that it's just a spice; the chilli and seasoning of consummation nothing more. However, a relationship struck with deficiencies would react differently and can be volatile if rushed into. At the end of the day, we like what we like and when I found myself in this situation, I handled it with the same decorum used in writing this article. The day began like all the rest; cajoling her to come to my house like there was something more than a penis waiting for her. She showed up and we talked for a bit before we proceeded with the day's program. Before that day, I hadn't had a girl wrap her hands around my neck in a bid to choke before. And while she did it she looked me dead in the eye as she passionately rode me. When I flipped her for a doggy style, she kept mumbling, “f--k me like your h—-.” I'm not going to sit here and lie that I didn't enjoy it or that it didn't butter up my ego as I delivered powerful thrusts, but a little part of me felt off when she told me to call her derogatory names. I just stuck to baby and ignored her. Maybe I'm not as sexually mature as I think I am or it's a form of benevolent sexism where, yes, I believe women are fragile and shouldn't be called such names or the lack of understanding in the dynamics of the relationship. But one thing I'm certain about is to ascertain where you are in your relationship before bringing dirty talking into the mix.
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
THEWILL www.thewilldowntown.com THEWILL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN •• www.thewilldowntown.com
COVER
Women's “Professional” Dress Code That Encourages Bias BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
T
he age-old saying; “Dress how you want to be addressed,” has been effective since its inception. It is no surprise that as humans we have preconceived notions of what people should look like. We go about our day constantly profiling people, judging each book by its cover. Think about what goes through your mind when someone comes to market a get-rich-quick scheme to you whilst looking shabbily dressed, you are most likely not going to give them your attention. In the 70s, women were beginning to get into top positions in business and politics, two traditionally male-dominated industries. As expected, they struggled to command the respect of their male colleagues and even subordinates. They had to fix this. What were the men doing that they weren't? It must be the appearance.
Molloy's Book On How Women Should Dress To Work During the late 80s, a fashion style that empowers women to assert their authority in a professional and political environment was developed. The idea was simple: de-sex their feminine look to have a more masculine appearance to be accepted as equals in the professional sphere. It was called “Power Dressing.” This concept was made popular by author John T. Molloy. In 1975, Molloy, who conducts research and training seminars for many major corporations, wrote a book - Dress For Success - on the effect of clothing on a person's success in business and personal life. It quickly became a bestseller and two years later, he wrote a sequel titled; The Women's Dress For Success Book. Molloy's advice was unusual because they ran actual tests by showing drawings to people and compiling their perceptions of the impact of the clothes. In The Women's Dress For Success Book, he stated, "This is the most important book ever written about women's clothes, because it is based on scientific research, not on [the author's] opinion." What was discovered is still included in "advice" articles today: Dress like you already have the job. Respondents subconsciously judged the clothes to see that the wearer fit in with other employees. Molloy frankly stated that the attempt to "look like" current employees posed a special challenge for women and minority applicants in the contemporary reality of a white, male-dominated workplace back in the 70s. Molloy’s manuals which suggest a gender-specific professional dress code addressed a new kind
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Illustration by Fashion Illustrator, Inara Alazigha of female workers entering a typical masculine environment recommending them a "uniform" that would help them to acquire authority, respect, and power at work. Together, these manuals popularised the concept of “power
dressing.” Initially, power dressing involved a conservative style recalling the male wardrobe, which included tailored suits, jackets with padded shoulders, roll-neck sweaters, and knee-length
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
COVER
Dupe Olusola
Owen Omogiafo
skirts. With this uniform, the female body was divided into two parts: The upper part covered by a jacket to de-emphasize breasts, and the bottom covered with a skirt that was a reminder of femininity. These outfits were usually matched with feminine accessories, discrete pieces of jewellery like pearls, diamonds, gold necklaces, earrings, scarves, and ruffs. Elaborate patterns such as floral prints were usually substituted by polka, pinstripes, and hound-tooth ones. As far as colours were concerned, more sober ones such as blue, black, navy, and grey were commonly preferred to feminine ones like salmon pink and red. As time passed and more women populated and established their authority in the work environment, the women's suit was remodelled: no more feminized imitations of men's professional garments but suits different in fabric, cut, colour, and ornament, helping women to show both their authority and their femininity. Wearing a suit did not represent an effort to camouflage with men but an effort to stand out and define a clear visual presence. Women saw this new clothing style as a way to detach from the classical feminine meaning of fashion, mainly associated with aesthetics and frivolity. Power dressing locates power at body level giving a message about women and their profession, enclosing at the same time something about self-esteem and confidence. One of the main purposes of power dressing was to reduce the female body's sexuality to gain authority in the workplace. The feminine body has historically been associated with nature, nurturing, and reproduction. something that can be perceived as problematic in most workplaces.Over time, it has been well observed that both men and women take pleasure in being looked at by others, as well as take pleasure in looking at others, in a sexual context; however, it is only the female body that remains overly sexualized culturally. Power dressing thus attempts to counterbalance a woman's natural femininity and inherent sexuality, with the goal of preventing the sexual misinterpretation through her clothes that might otherwise allow. Power dressing, as a new fashion phenomenon, has its symbols in public figures such as Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Folorunso Alakija, Kamala Harris, Ibukun Awosika, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), Owen Omogiafo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels, Dupe Olusola, and several other women in position of power within the corporate world. Margaret Thatcher above all was one of the first to incorporate the
Folorunso Alakija spirit of power suits and had a "reputation as the original female power-dresser". Her personal style was, according to Vogue, reinvented following Molloy's suggestions to make her appearance appropriate for the role of Prime Minister. Margaret Thatcher's style sets the rules on how female politicians should dress, which is a conservative, powerful but simultaneously feminine way. Her typical power suits consisted of a skirt suit with wide shoulders, a bow blouse and the Asprey handbag, which, thanks to her, became famous. Her signature style was to be expressed in the very famous pearl necklace. She was able to pave the way for all those career-motivated women who were trying to succeed in a male-dominated world and like her, they could find support in clothes and accessories to communicate authority and power. Hillary Clinton is a contemporary icon of power dressing: with her pantsuits, she is a follower of the Thatcher style.
But Why Does A Woman Have To Dress Like A Man To Gain The Respect Of Her Peers? When DOWNTOWN’s cover personality, Temi Marcella Awogboro, started her career journey at Goldman Sachs, she was met with the harsh reality that she had to put in extra work—not in her skill as she was the
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
COVER skill development, and intrepidity. For women, it is also very dependent on what they choose to wear during the course of that journey. One woman who has never conformed to this corporate uniform however is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, our very own Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Be Like Ngozi: The Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Plot Twist
Temi Marcella Awogboro
brightest amongst her peers, but in her appearance— to gain her colleagues and superiors’ respect. She shared her experience of how her change of wardrobe accelerated her career growth. She narrated, “So it was an adjustment for me; I would say that it made me tougher. You see it a lot when you start to overcompensate because you're very aware now you're a woman, so I started wearing dark colours only, I was wearing trousers only, I wouldn't wear dresses, and then I was tough, I was hard as nails, I never showed anyone any emotions. And in a way, that helps you rise up the ranks and succeed.” Women, just like their male counterparts, get an education and secure a job to seek a better life for themselves, but their path is much different from their peers. Tales of sexual harassment in the workplace appear too often than they should. In between the side comments, often sexual, that constitutes a very uncomfortable work environment, the mansplaining fuelled by implicit biases that women aren't as smart as men, and sometimes way-too-familiar physical contacts that could pass for groping and assault, women already have their hands full with obstacles to navigate in the workplace. And in a shame-based society such as ours that shames the victim and completely exonerates the perpetrators, women often get asked the question: “what were you wearing?” The quest for clout is an innate human nature. It is why we invest so much in our career and selfdevelopment; to one day get to the top of the food chain where we can have a direct influence in our respective industries. It is a usually long and arduous journey that requires hard work, dedication, constant
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Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has had a 25-year career at the World Bank in Washington DC in the past as a development economist before rising to the second position, managing director, is notably the first woman and first African to lead the WTO as a DG. She also sits on several international boards including Twitter, Standard Chartered Bank, amongst others. She epitomises career women at the topmost level, and she did that never having to wear a suit. Her overtly feminine style, which has since become her signature, consists of an ankara blouse, an ankle-length skirt, a headgear that is always uniquely tied around her low-cut grey hair, and a bead necklace. Immediately after OkonjoIweala's confirmation as the DG of the WTO, the hashtag #BeLikeNgoziChallenge began trending across social media platforms as young girls, women, and even men took part in the challenge, recreating her style. Even the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing also joined the trend. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala would immediately acknowledge the gesture via her Twitter account regarding the challenge’s significance to her. “Oh! It meant so much to me. I was so honoured and so proud to see those little girls and even the British High Commissioner to Nigeria take part in the challenge,” she said. Although Okonjo-Iweala did not invent the now-famous Ankara wear that has always been synonymous with Africans, as we have seen with other notable African women like Nigeria’s former National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) dynamo, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, and Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who have long been known to share the Afro dress sense ideology, she is responsible for taking it a step further in both political and sociocultural contexts. Her signature style, which she steadily cultivated during her undergraduate days at Harvard University, adds a much-needed intensity to the liberating place of women in positions of power with their own unique dress styles. In a corporate world that has been well-fed on the byproducts of systemic patriarchy, her style is not only unconventional, it is ammunition that helps to break the bias against women in power. When asked why she had chosen to stick with her style instead of the culturally expected power dressing, she responded, “As I started getting up in leadership—and I was already climbing in the managerial ranks–one thing I noticed was, ‘as a woman leader making your way, people look at your appearance so much. They don’t look at men as much, they can easily appear in their suit and tie or Agbada and so on. They don’t comment on their attire. But a woman is put up for scrutiny.’” She notes that her unique dress style gives her “a standard look–which I am proud of—which depicts my country and also stops people from wondering what I am going to look like.” Talking about her dress sense, Dr. OkonjoIweala admits she curated her style because she “can do it in two minutes.” Although Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's case is as rare as a purple unicorn, it echoes the bias that most women in the corporate world face whenever they are not taken seriously or accorded the respect that they are due unless they dabble into the male section of a boutique for originally men apparels.
Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
With a Good Back Shot,
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
ACCESS BANK POLO DAY Scores a First in South Africa
A
s polo lovers and players alike know, the defender with a good back shot is the player who gets the ball back to his teammates. On Saturday 12 March 2022 Access Bank South Africa gathered a winning team at Val de Vie Estate in the magnificent Paarl Valley for its inaugural South African edition of the Access Bank Polo Day. With a guest list as regal as the game itself, Access Bank SA CEO Sugendhree Reddy says that feedback has been extremely positive. “With guests from Nigeria to Dubai and in between, the impact of the great game of polo and the overall event bodes well for it becoming an annual one.” The Access Experience in the elegant Val de Vie ballroom took guests on a journey Through the Senses, with scented stations, African face painting, designer fashion and a selection of artfully crafted canapés by South African celebrity and Food Network star Chef Katlego Mlambo. Host of Morocco’s MasterChef and owner of several restaurants in Marrakesh, Madrid and Paris, Chef Moha Fedal, prepared a lunch menu that seduced with its spices, flavours and Moroccan classics. Chef Kyle Conradie later brought out the pastries to complete the Access Bank culinary experience with its variety of influences. “It was a red carpet welcome to the Access Bank Polo Day, and the perfect setting for our esteemed guests from the financial sector, along with clients and partners to eat, meet and reconnect with industry friends and peers followed by a game of skill and majestic horsemanship,” says Ms Reddy.
Access Bank Team, winners of the Access Bank Gold Cup pose with Ajoritsedere Awosika, Chairman, Access Bank Plc (3rdleft) and Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc (2nd right)
LIVING, BREATHING CULTURAL HERITAGE With the theme being a Touch of Africa, Access Bank Group Managing Director and CEO Herbert Wigwe began his welcome by noting the guests’ and the venue’s exceptional display of cultural creativity. “As we work toward our vision of being the Most Respected African Bank, we are building on old traditions with some new events,” he said. “One can’t help but note the strength and speed of the horses and the players – and both of these attributes are cornerstones of Access Bank.” Mr Wigwe said the number of countries represented by the guests at the Access Bank Polo Day is also indicative of a rich heritage across the African continent and beyond.
Access Bank SA CEO Sugendhree Reddy
Herbert Wigwe, GMD/ CEO, Access Bank Plc
NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN’S FUND A WINNER Another highlight of the Polo Day was the presentation of R360 000 to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund NMCF), which has been named the beneficiary for this prestigious event in South Africa. CEO of the NMCF Kone Gugushe said the organisation welcomes this exceptional partnership with Access Bank and looks forward to getting results on behalf of the children that the Bank “will be proud of”. With all the formalities completed, great excitement greeted the players and their steeds as the Gold Cup match commenced, with the final match being the Memorial Cup. Team Access Bank showed their skill and fortitude, taking the cup as the crowd cheered. Says Ms Reddy: “With delicacies from South Africa, Morocco to Ethiopia intricately enhanced by fine wines, top class entertainment and a sporting event par excellence, the inaugural South African Access Bank Polo Day was a huge success. We’ve set the bar high, both in this outstanding event and in our impact on the banking sector.”
r teams th Chukke if F d n a k Ban The Accessgame e th re befo
L-R: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Capital; Ralph Mupita, President & CEO, MTN Group; Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc; Doreen Wigwe; Ajoritsedere Awosika, Chairman, Access Bank Plc; Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria; Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc and Adamu Atta, Founder and Chairman, Fifth Chukker Polo Club
(L-R) Stanle Otubu, Jamey Uzochukwu, Paul Uso ro s Ibori and Id aere Gogo O, Dere gan
e Nelson Mandela Presentation to Th nd Children’s Trust Fu
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
WELLNESS
R
BODY BOOSTERS
BY SOPHIA EDISI
ise and shine beauty lovers, it's a new dawn. Kick-starting the day can be a little slow, but Body Boosters can help you prepare yourself physically and mentally for a long day. With a busy schedule ahead, it’s important to create time for yourself to recharge, clear your mind and be ready to give your day the full attention needed. So WDNH RXW WKH WLPH WR SDPSHU \RXUVHOI DQG LQFRUSRUDWH PRUH VHOI ORYH LQWR \RXU PRUQLQJ URXWLQH b
Green Tea And Amino Acid Start your morning with a daily dose of green tea. It is loaded with antioxidants and formulated with L-theanine, an amino acid that helps reduce anxiety, boost brain function, kick-start a sluggish metabolism and help the body convert fat to fuel.
Nancy Isime
Exercise You Are Gold %5(:(' %< %(/,1'$b
It’s hard work to maintain a strict routine when it comes to exercise. However, exercise helps you de-stress and feel more energised. Whether it’s a simple task like jogging, stretching, running, or breathe work to lift your mood, daily exercise is very important for your health. You can also listen to some energising music or podcasts while you are at it.
Bathe In Salt Infuse bath water wi with Himalayan pink salt, packed with minerals and vitamins to calm the body and mind and comfort irritated ed skin. As the salt dissolves, it gives a harmonious sensorial experience nsorial experien nce c feeling, fee e lin while giving your skin a wake-up boost.
Chil Ch hilll PPi illllss B Ba ath B om mbs Chill Pills Bath Bombs O UAI OUAI PAGEE 112 2
Lights Out Bath Salt THE SACRED RITUAL
Kate Henshaw
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
WELLNESS Supplements Vitamin C One of the main importance of taking vitamin C is that it boosts your body immunity, inside and out (the skin). Being an antioxidant, Vitamin C is vital to your body's healing process. It fights free radicals in the body, thereby decreasing inflammation on and boosting immunity. Some beauty products are also rich in Vitamin C.
For some brands, one capsule contains a blend of minerals, superfoods, and vitamins. Take them to help restore, provide support to the body for radiant and glowing skin from outside and within.
Banana Bright Eye Creme OLE HENRIKSEN
Hair Revitalizing Daily Supplement AUGUSTINUS BADER
Reparative Beauty Dose 111SKIN
Fruits Rich in Vitamin C. Image Credit - yulka3ice
Keep The Body Hydrated Eat Red Food If you are experiencing low energy. You should examine what you are putting into your body on a daily basis. A consistent diet is key when it comes to boosting your body and mind. Some of the best red foods are pomegranate, cranberries, and raspberries.
Pomegranate Fruit
Keep your body protected from toxic build-up, hydrated, and nourished by drinking enough water in the morning. Showering with cold water is also a plus for getting that refreshing boost, making you look healthier, stronger, and more resilient.
Water Infused With Mint Leaves And Lemon PAGE 13
VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
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CAREER
Art Work Of
Chigozie Obi, 25 (@chigozieobi_)
Multidimensional visual artist, Chigozie was the recipient of this year's The Future Awards Africa prize for art and literature. Her work, which focuses on the human aspect of life, the body, beauty standards, and the strive for self-acceptance, has been featured in several group exhibitions and sales.
FEATURING SEVEN YOUNG NIGERIAN FEMALE VISUAL ARTISTS BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
T
he gender pay gap has proven to be evident over the years. Its effect on the global economy is so significant, we made a cover story about it to inform you exactly what it entails. For skeptics, the rebuttal is often that perhaps women are just not as hardworking or they don't have the capacity, physical or mental, to survive in a ruthlessly capitalistic and usually male-dominated work environment. However, with creatives, it is different. Although a vast majority of the world's richest fine artists are men and the valuation of artwork is heavily influenced by the artist's reputation, women have recently taken a keen interest in telling stories through several visual art forms. In Nigeria (a country renowned for its great taste in arts and culture), art collection has always been a booming market. But this has taken a different turn in recent times. Like every other sector of our livelihood, fine art has been digitised in the form of non-fungible tokens, NFTs. If you don't know what NFTs are, think about someone buying art on canvas but would rather have it digitally on a screen. Yes, technology is moving at a fast pace, but that's not why we are here. Whether painting with oil on canvas or scribbling illustrations with a pen on a Wacom tab, over the past year in Nigeria, a few young women have made fine art and have been really good at it. Here are seven of them and their art.
Morenike Olusanya, 27 (@iamrenike)
Popularly known as Renike, Morenike works as a freelance graphic artist, traditional artist, and illustrator. Her art, which tells the stories of black women, has gained recognition both here in Nigeria and internationally. She has worked with brands such as Dark & Lovely and Routledge, and recently Kuda Bank for their IWD campaign.
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Chidinma Nnoli, 24 (@chidinma.nnoli)
Chidinma's work, which is predominantly in oil, confronts socially entrenched structures of patriarchal power and misogyny as enforced by the state, familial relationships, and religious organisations. In March last year, she had her debut solo exhibition ‘To Wander Untamed’ at the Rele Gallery, Lagos.
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VOL 2 NO.12 • MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 2022
CAREER Ayanfe Olarinde, 25 (@ ayanfee__)
Inara Alazigha, 25
Ayanfe is perhaps the most popular scribble artist in Nigeria. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions such as the SMO Contemporary Arts at the Wheatbaker, Retro Africa, AAF Lagos, Rele Gallery. Her series “Dem Bobo” has been published on Reuters News, CNN, Euro News, NowThisNews, Vogue, MSN, RADR Africa, amongst others, giving her international acclaim. In 2020, she was listed amongst the 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria.
(@inaraziha)
Inara, whose media ranges from digital art to mixed media and glass art, is also a model, vixen, and fashion designer. Her illustrations, which were heavily encouraged during her stint at a fashion programme run by the British Council, have in the past secured a job as a bridal consultant and designer.
Iman Hassan, 25 (@imani_xox)
Iman Hassan has an introspective approach to art. Her illustrations show black women in their diversities and complexities, giving representation to every group of young women. Her discography series has seen her paint portraits of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela AnikulapoKuti, and heavyweights, Wizkid and Burna Boy, with inscriptions of their respective discography. She sells her work as NFTs.
Chidi O., 27 (@chidi_xox)
Chidi’s art is quite unconventional, she mostly depicts the celestial aspect of femininity. Last October, she held her exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria, while treating her guests and collectors to different stories conveyed by different paintings themed around women's incredible strength to power despite the biases against them. She also sells her work digitally as NFTs.
Background Art by Anthony Azekwoh
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VOL 22 NO.12 NO.12 •• MARCH MARCH 20 20 -- MARCH MARCH 26, 26, 2022 2022 VOL
FASHION
BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Movie Review:
THE ADAM PROJECT
Netflix’s The Adam Project begins with a great premise that demonstrates why time travel is such a natural storytelling tool for sci-fi. The possibilities are always endless. We can get a glimpse of the future, revisit the past or bump into another version of ourselves. The latter is what gives this adventure some of its better charm. The plot revolves around Ryan Reynolds hanging out with a 12-year-old version of himself. This idea alone would make for a great time and it sustains the story in its better moments. The Adam Project opens in the year 2050 as a pilot named Adam Reed (Reynolds) flies above Earth in a futuristic dogfight before escaping through a wormhole. He crash-lands in 2022 where his childhood self (Walker Scobell) is dealing with other kinds of threats, such as schoolyard bullies. Young Adam lives with widowed mother Ellie (Jennifer Garner), who is a great mom but doesn’t know what to do about her rebellious, big-mouthed kid. When young Adam finds older Adam near his crash site in the woods, it’s an understandable shock. Soon enough they become quirky buddies as older Adam explains he’s on a mission to save his wife, Laura (Zoe Saldana), murdered in the year 2018 by Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener). Sorian also drops in with a squad of armed troops from the future. Her scheme to control time travel involves a wider scheme involving Adam’s father, a scientist named Louis Reed (Mark Ruffalo). The two Adams will go search for their father as they attempt to stop Sorian’s plans. The Adam Project marks the second recent
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collaboration between Reynolds and Levy. Last year they made Free Guy, an exuberantly entertaining action-comedy about gaming culture. With this adventure they also try to balance some meaningful content with popcorn amusement. Like Back to the Future themes of childhood memories and parents are explored with the time travel gimmick. When we’re not being distracted with shots of digital ships hovering over highways or armored troops firing blasters, the acting is what works most originally. Reynolds and Scobell have an extremely likable chemistry because their job in a sense is to capture each other. We need to believe the older Adam has more subtle features of the rambunctious kid. The performance by Reynolds isn’t anything new for the actor, who ever since Deadpool has been expected to deliver the same tone of ironic, immature comedy. Some of the lines are exactly what we expect from a Reynolds role, yet Scobell wonderfully evokes being a middle school version of that person. For the most part, The Adam Project follows all the expected action movie talking points. It’s also amusing how Netflix is going hard to appeal to certain demographics by building the cast as a virtual Marvel reunion. Mark Ruffalo’s Louis Reed is basically his Hulk on vacation. Levy keeps the on-going trend as well of scoring action to random classic rock songs. The meta spirit gets so obvious that when Reynolds unlocks a weapon that looks and sounds like a lightsaber, younger Adam exclaims, “that’s a lightsaber dude!” The digital work, sound design, and photography are as slick as anything we expect from a major studio. The Adam Project has some genuinely funny moments, like older Adam helping younger Adam face his bullies with very politically incorrect advice. A scene where older Adam takes advantage of finding Ellie at a bar to tell her she’s loved by her son gets genuinely moving. As a momentary escape The Adam Project joins all those other recent Netflix productions audiences will devour before the next option premieres a week after. Approached purely as a movie, it’s a concept with a lot of promise that gets too caught up precisely with action bullet points. This cast is all excellent actors who seem to be truly enjoying the moments where the movie lets them do more. Reynolds may be very funny, yet it’s easy to sense his capacity to express genuine depth. Scobell matches him perfectly and together they elevate this time travel yarn to a better place it couldn’t reach without them. The Adam Project is streaming on Netflix.
Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)
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Playlist for the week
Duncan Daniels ft Mackgee, Lady Albatross & Jamila - Gbedu
GuiltyBeatz ft Nonso Amadi - Uthando
Buju ft Blaq Diamond - Italy
The Cavemen. - Love and Trials
Amaarae - Catching a Wav
Rema ft AJ Tracey - FYN
Zinoleesky - Rocking
Asake - Trabaye
Arizona Zervas - ROXANNE
Watch of the Week Pieces of Her
6.5/10 Pieces of Her assembles another one of those small-boned thrillers that Netflix serves up in abundance, teasing out a fairly disposable mystery just good enough to get you to the end. The twisty mother-daughter tale is derived from Karin Slaughter's bestselling novel, one that operates on twin timelines, a format that's certainly all the rage.
Perhaps foremost, the project serves as a showcase for Toni Collette, opening in a small Georgia town, where her character, Laura Oliver, is living an unassuming life, having raised her grown daughter Andy (Bella Heathcote) on her own. Then, in one sudden flash, a disturbed young man starts shooting up the diner where they're having lunch. Laura leaps into action to save her child, revealing a side of her mom that takes Andy aback. Still, that's just the first of many surprises, as Laura seeks to avoid media attention for her heroism, which, as it turns out, risks exposing her complicated past, sending Andy down a strange rabbit hole to uncover those mysteries. Directed by Minkie Spiro, Pieces of Her cuts back and forth between Laura's younger days and the present, unearthing shadowy figures as Andy begins peeling back the various layers. That includes the younger
Laura's messed-up family situation, her domineering father (Terry O'Quinn), and an earlier mother-daughter dynamic that might help explain their prickly relationship now. In what feels like a common gripe with this genre, Pieces of Her puts the jigsaw puzzle together a bit too slowly, and the payoff in regards to what Laura's hiding isn't quite as good as the buildup. With her steely disposition and haunted stare, Collette helps elevate things to a degree as Laura, though she's absent for large chunks of time as the story unwinds Andy's current efforts while flashing back to Laura's history. Netflix nevertheless seems to get considerable mileage out of these kinds of "You might like" series, which plant enough of a hook to justify the relatively modest (in this case, eight-episode) commitment. Pieces of Her proves reasonably compelling on that level and those terms, but as such series go, still feels as if it adds up to less than the sum of its parts.