THEWILL DOWNTOWN April 02, 2023

Otunba Adejare

Wellness has become crucial in living our best life, and every year there is a new wellness trend. This week, we share some trends that will make rounds this year. From face massages to digital detox, micro workouts to sleep syncing, check out the various new quick ways to keep the body and soul in a wellness state.

It’s Ramadan season, so what better time to bring you an article about the dos and don’ts of undertaking a fast this season? It might seem like you know what to do, but trust me; you will learn a few things.

Human beings develop differently. Some are faster than others, while others have conditions that affect brain development. One such condition is with neurodivergent people, otherwise known as autistic persons.

It’s interesting to learn that one in every one hundred children is autistic, with the highest percental being boys. And two of every one hundred people are autistic. Even more interesting about neurodivergent people is that although they may say very few words or not speak at all, they understand you and can hear what you say. As I learnt from an article on page 14 of this week’s magazine, some may even repeat your words to someone else and, in some cases, in the exact same tone you spoke. This article makes for such an enlightening read on the subject.

As today is World Autism Day, make time to learn more about people— children and adults, who are neurodivergent or in the Autism spectrum.

And don’t forget to scan the QR codes on page 16 for music that will get you dancing.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

AUSTYN OGANNAH PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya

Writer: Kehindé Fagbule

Graphic Design: Oludemilade Aremu ‘Remus’

Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun

Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’

Dorcas Akintoye

Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with more than 2 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty.  She has a National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.

Onwumere Churchill Ikenna

- Contributing Writer

Onwumere Churchill Ikenna is a writer, poet, digital and social media content strategist. An Afro gen z clan member of kenga media. He is a movie critic who was amongst those who birthed the first movie brand; Feeem house brand. A full fledged member of the writers space Africa, Nigeria district and was part of the editing team of the second anthology issue by the writers space Nigeria.

He has written so many articles, stories and e books. An avid reader and a freelancer. You can check out his literary editing page @coidencreatives on Instagram and twitter.

His personal socials for both Instagram and twitter are : @ikennachurchill

The TOP SIX Best Outfits

By Black Celebrities At The Vanity Fair Party

BY ONWUMERE IKENNA CHURCHILL

TheOscars vanity fair party was really a heated one this time around and we got to see beautiful black celebrities embodied in exquisite fashion wear that speaks loud of our culture. The annual event, a rite of passage for Oscar nominees, first-time winners and everyone in between, was held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

The customary after-party witness a quick wardrobe change after the Oscar red carpet and event is said and done. We got to see some of our beautiful black celebrities in the best outfit of that night. It was really a great night and with the videos, pictures we saw on the internet, it was indeed flawless. But, there are always a few who make our jaws drop with the outfit they showcase to the world. Here are the best dressed celebrities.

2Yara Shahidi in Bottega Veneta. The Oscar after night party wouldn’t have been complete without this fuzzy cozy look from Yara. It is so elegant and on point.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Balmain. No more gowns by Tracee. The millinery, the cloche cape, that sateen wrap slung so nonchalantly over her trousers, the gloves! She really came heated just as Beyoncé said in her song from the Renaissance album.

FASHION

Donald Glover looks super cool as ever in this Alexander McQueen suit! The vanity fair can’t be it if there isn’t a McQueen in the building, And no one would have styled it better than all-round entertainer Donald Glover.

Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci. The British actress turned up the heat with this dress with a touch of red glitter lipstick. The vanity fair party needed this!

Michael B Jordan in Louis Vuitton. The handsome actor stormed the party rocking a perfectly crafted black suit from Louis Vuitton’s closet.

Lucien Laviscount wore this corset on top of a sleeveless vest, chunky bedazzled neckline, gloves, velvet pants, and chunky shoes. He really came bold that night.

As a Blue Print TemsIN LEADING AFROBEATS TO THE WORLD

BY ONWUMERE IKENNA CHURCHILL

Temilade Openiyi popularly known as “Tems” or “Big Tems” is a Nigerian Afrobeat singer and songwriter. Right before she got into the prominence, her song, “Try me” was what we were jamming and vibing too. It was so pleasing to the ears and it really meant something. Tems has grown into the A-List star artists in the music industry globally. Born with a zeal and a beautiful unique voice, she shares this gift to the world.

future. Her music has also been featured on popular streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, helping to expose her to new audiences globally. Furthermore, Tems has been a vocal advocate for Nigerian and African music, and she has used her platform to highlight the diversity and richness of the continent's musical culture. Her willingness to collaborate with artists from different backgrounds and her ability to blend different musical styles have helped to bring Afrobeat to a wider audience. The song which gave Afrobeats its stand was “essence” by her and wizkid. Argument are still on that wizkid was the one who brought her into the limelight but we are thankful to whoever did it.

a lot and she wrote the song: “lift me up” for Rihanna which is for the black panther album. It was nominated at the Oscars and is predicted to be nominated at the Grammys next year.

Tems has also been a trailblazer in other areas, such as fashion and style. Her unique sense of fashion, which blends traditional African styles with contemporary trends, has helped to shape the image of Afrobeat as a genre that is both modern and deeply rooted in African culture. Her appearance at the Oscar night award with her outfit caused a huge drama online but was praised for her because she is deeply rooted in African culture.

Tems is also paving ways for other Afro beats artist that are on the rise. Likes of: Arya star, libianca, crayon, etc. We can’t wait to see what Afrobeats has installed for us all. You might as well, put on your seatbelt and your headset to go on this beautiful journey with Afrobeats.

When asked about her genre on twitter, she said: “It’s called “Spirit.” It’s new to y’all, some are currently tryna tap into it, creating fusions of it. Which means it’s growing ��. She’s really an amazing artis t and she’s taking Afrobeats to the world. We are getting that visibility. Afro beats was birthed from the Nigerian music industry and now we are being mapped world wide.

Tems is a leading figure in the Afrobeats genre. Her unique sound and style have earned her critical acclaim and a growing fan base around the world. As a blueprint in leading Afro beats to the world, Tems has achieved several notable feats, including collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Wizkid, Khalid, Beyoncé, Drake and

Essence was a smash Afro beat song and got a feature remix with the great Justin Bieber and a Grammy nomination which was snubbed. Before Tems came into the music industry, we had other Afrobeats artists like: davido, burna boy, wizkid, tiwa savage and rema. These artists also paved the way for Afrobeats to be on the music world map.

With Tems on it, we have been invited to shows globally and to perform on big events. We got to perform at the NBA. Tems has given us

In conclusion, Tems has played a pivotal role in leading Afrobeat to the world. Her unique sound, collaborative spirit, and commitment to showcasing African culture have helped to make her a key figure in the global music industry.

SEXUAL EXPLORATION

FOUR MEN SHARE REASONS WHY THEY WOULD DO CERTAIN THINGS IN BED

With Their Girlfriends But Not With The Missus

Indifference to sexual exploration has been one of the major issues in marriages nowadays, and it has led many people to explore new sexual experiences outside their relationships. Many men find it difficult to communicate their sexual needs and desire with their wife, which may lead them to seek those experiences and adventure with their girlfriends. Due to this inability to communicate their feelings, they have anal sex, spank, and do all sorts of things with their girlfriends but won't do it with their wives even though she, too, might want it.

When it comes to sexual exploration, it is crucial to have open and honest communication with your partner. Even if she is indifferent, trying to understand her perspective and working together to find a solution that works for both of you is essential. You both can start by exploring small changes or trying new things in a lowpressure environment and build up to more significant sexual exploration over time. So we interviewed four Men in their late forties and early fifties and asked them to explain why they would do certain things with their girlfriends but won't do it with their wives.

Even though they chose to be anonymous, their responses were intriguing and honest, and they served as an eye-opener for women to see why their men cheat on them. Here’s what they had to say.

Men in their 40s

“It depends on the individual. I’m liberal, so there’s nothing my wife and I don’t do. For some men, if their wife goes all wild, they ask where she learnt it. They do just missionary position. We at mine try all sorts. As I said, I’m a liberal, and it depends on the man.”

“My wife is quite inexperienced, so I don’t try. I could position her in a certain way, and she says, “what are you doing?” It’s not a case of her being treated as holy it’s dependent on the person in question.”

“There’s a certain entitlement that comes with a wife...respect. When dating, you can do crazy stuff, but it's different when you are married. If you decide to have sex on a balcony, you wouldn't want anyone, much more your friends seeing your wife’s naked body if you get caught, but with

a girlfriend, it’s different.”

Men in their 50s

“The simple answer is: There’s nothing I’d do with my girlfriend that I wouldn’t do with my wife.”

You garnered a reputation as a security expert…

Securityis very wide. You have from personal protection to gadgets and equipment to the paramilitary and military. I have been doing it now for close to 17 years. I can’t tell you anything about the clients that I work for, but I do a lot of security consultancy and security gadget supplies. And I’ve worked at both national and state levels.

Why did you decide to go into the security line?

My first job when I left the university was at John Holt. After that, I formed a company called First Planet with a childhood friend of mine, Osa Asemota. We were selling phones and starter

Redefining Security

Conversations around security are as sacred as they come. On the human scale of preferences, the security of lives and properties deserves the laser-focused attention of any government. In Nigeria especially, where there have been recurring insecurities, the answers, as well as the diligent implementation of security measures remain an unsolved conundrum. How do we tackle this perpetual national insurgency? Who better to ask than one of the leading names in Nigerian security business, Otunba Adejare Adegbenro.

Having been brought up in a politically rich household, Otunba Adegbenro is the product of two very prominent families. His paternal grandfather is the late Chief Dauda Adegbenro, former Premier of the old Western Region, while his maternal grandfather is the late Pa Alfred Rewane, the pro-democracy crusader and financier of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). His reputation as a security expert was garnered through the establishment of his company, Balmoral International Limited, a company with deep roots in international trade and the importation of security gadgets and equipment to cater to both individuals and the government.

Speaking to DOWNTOWN’s Writer, Kehindé Fagbule, days before his 50th birthday, the Otunba Laje of Owu Kingdom in Ogun State bared his heart on everything security in Nigeria including the welfare of its personnel, his thoughts on the 2023 elections, philanthropy through his foundation, Otunba Adejare Adegbenro Foundation (OAAF), and major life lessons as he celebrates his golden jubilee.

and high-end security gadgets. I represent a few companies based in Israel and Toronto, Canada, so it’s going pretty well. He says with a smile.

As far as security goes, insecurity has always been a conundrum in Nigeria. Despite this, the elites in the country have personalised security.

packs to MTN, and a lot of money was made. Then I formed Balmoral to start selling armoured vehicles. After selling one vehicle, I realised how profitable the business was, so I decided to go ahead with it. Yes, there were hitches along the way, stepping on people’s toes, people misreading you, ‘how is he making his money?’

‘is he dealing drugs or into fraud?’ They don’t know anything because all they want to do is pull that person down, and I refuse to lie on that floor because God is still making me stand.

Tell us about your organisation Balmoral International Limited and what services you provide

We provide many services to security agencies in Nigeria, banks and personal security, equipment,

Well, I will say half and half. First, you have to look at security based on what we have on ground before going personally to the situation of the elites. First and foremost, the total workforce of Nigeria’s security agencies is 1.3 something million. So if you have 1.3 million security personnel guarding over 200 million people, that’s where your problem is. You have the federal government, ministers, governors, VIPs, and so on. By the time you take all that, how many are you left with to actually go and fight insurgency, herdsmen or terrorists? So we are pretty much limited, and this present set of service chiefs that we have are actually trying their best. This is the best I’ve seen so far since PMB’s regime because they are not talking, they are doing actions, and I can say so. You don’t see the chief of defence staff every five minutes on the news saying what is not. He is actually fighting for Nigeria. I remember there was an incident that happened when the president released the so-called ex-service chiefs and the NSA came out and said they didn’t find any security gadgets which the president had approved billions for. So for me, that is one aspect. The second aspect is the way we buy and source our security gadgets. For instance, for you to supply a gun to any agency, you’ll put in a tender. From the tender, you win the bid (if you win the bid). From the bid, the minister takes it to the exco. From exco, if the president approves, you give the job out. If you look at all the realms going around, everyone knows what you are buying. That’s one problem. The second problem we have is when you buy these things, you now advertise to the whole world by taking pictures and celebrating them. You don’t see them do that in the UK or America, in the pentagon, you don’t know what they have. So if you are losing

your security and showing the so-called bandits that you have a particular shotgun, they will know what you have and get something better. So how do you intend to fight them? We are losing a lot of men, and nobody is talking about that. It is so easy to blame the security architect, but that’s not the big issue. We Nigerians ourselves have to put in our efforts to these people because if you look at it today now, army, police, civil defence, navy, air force, if you die on duty, three days later, they evict you from the barracks. What incentive do you give these people to go and actually fight for your country? Let me make you laugh: the last car scheme was done by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, which was when he gave them 306 Peugeot and deducted the money from their salary. Today, nobody has a car. They don’t have cars or housing, so how do you expect somebody to be a full patriot in Nigeria when he’s thinking “if I die today, where will my wife and children be?” The psyche that you’re thinking of is actually not rocket science. I’d have believed that since the president is an exmilitary man, it is something that he would have looked at. Even if it’s his parting gift, give these people morale, give them things to fight for the country. And right now, whether we like it or not, it’s the military, the army, that still has that respect. Remember that police are the first response to any civilian case, but now, people would rather go to the army than go to the police. Critically speaking, for the new government coming in, we need an agency that is created solely to reorientate Nigerians’ thinking because Nigerians are very smart. Let me give you an example. On a flight from Lagos to London, everybody is orderly. However, on a flight from London to Lagos, 15 minutes before the flight, everybody is standing trying to grab their bag, everybody is a big man. If you go to London, can you slap a traffic warden? Forget a policeman. Can you drive on a one-way? No. So that system collapsed. You have to put the right people and teach them. It’s a bitter story, I shouldn’t be saying anything good about Abacha’s regime; my late grandfather was Alfred Rewane, who fought for Nigeria’s democracy through NADECO and was assassinated. However, irrespective of that, leaving sentiment out of it, he did not tolerate anything from the western world and within Nigeria. They had a team called Strike Force. If you see the Strike Force Chevrolet van pass, everyone takes off because security was bare to a minimum, not what we have today. And I’m throwing our President-elect, who I have so much respect for, has seen the battle of what

he started then in NADECO, that he will make sure my grandfather is sleeping well because my grandfather believed in him and I believe in him. Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, people will be shocked at what he will do. It’s not a money thing. You know Nigerians like to pull others down; he’s accommodating. So we now need the right people to join hands instead of that pull-down syndrome. Even the billionaires who have a lot of foundations and charities, why can’t they donate things to the military or the police? Let these loved, so they are passionate about what they are going out there for. But we are so dependent on the Federal government for everything. They can’t do everything.

The relationship between the police and the people took a different turn during the EndSARS.

The EndSARS was politically motivated; I’m sorry to say. You started something good and then turned it into a laughing stock. I was in Lagos at the time; people started drinking champagne and throwing parties. We Nigerians start something good but don’t know how to finish it. EndSARS, if they ended the way they started, I’m sure today would have yielded a much better result. Being that I lived in England, do you know that if you put one Pound on any product, what you will see you will think it’s you have put. Have you ever wondered that in the UK, you’ve never seen any round figures; it’s usually around 9.99. That is so that the average Brit will know when they switch the numbers. Because if you look at 9.99 and 10.99 they are totally different, so it’s easy for them to see. If you go through your own bank statement and see what is being deducted, if they deduct 10 Naira from your account, you will never know. So my vision for Nigeria is we individuals also need to embrace the federal government, both

the youth, sem-adults, adults and elderly, we all need each other. Even a 4-year-old can give advice, and as my grandfather would say, you’d listen to that advice because you don’t know if God is speaking through that person.

There has been a clamour for state policing for a while. What is your take on that?

Indirectly, every state has their own security trust fund, but you cannot take power from the federal government because that means you are leaving politicians to do whatever they want. How do you control them? If you don’t get it right from the top, let’s say we have put a system in place, then we can start talking of state police. If we had state police right now, do you think the election would go on like this? It is whatever the governor says is going to happen. That is Nigerians for you, you don’t joke with power, and you don’t give it to somebody that doesn’t know how to use it. We have to have a system first of all. That is why it goes to our reorientation; we have to change our psyche and the way we think. It is until we do that we can start implementing things slowly.

But the federal government doesn’t make it easier for the people to embrace them.

Yes, they do. What have the people of Nigeria asked of Buhari that he has said no to? For the president of a nation, the bulk of his work stops at his table. He has ministers, permanent secretaries, directors of the NBA, and service chiefs, everybody brings their plights to several executive council meetings, and he has been approving them. There is nothing that is meant for Nigerians’ sanity that this president has not given. He has spent the most on security in the history of Nigeria. During COVID, there was no money he did not allocate. A lot of people did not know the amount of money that went down in COVID. That was a pure sham, and they scammed the president and the COVID committee that was set up, and they didn’t do the right thing. The COVID test, for instance, was meant to be free, but they charged 50,000 Naira from Nigerians. The president doesn’t hear everything because they prevent him from outside events, even the news. They close you to certain things that they are eating from. The question should be asked: I approved this thing; who did this thing? Now if the president did not ask, what happened to civilians that are being charged? What did they do? Why did they have to wait for EndSARS? I lost people. People did not only die from COVID, they were dying from hunger. I know what I did through my foundation for Abeokuta. What the federal government spent the relief from, you’ll be ashamed. And God will punish those people,

my part and encourage other people. But we Nigerians are too selfish to ourselves and wash our hands off government affairs. If EndSARS came at the time they were needed, they would have made a tremendous movement because do you know how many people we lost to COVID? Nobody knows the real amount. Do you know how many died in Festac? My friend was one of the COVID doctors; he was crying when he saw dead bodies. The media did not carry it; they didn’t release the information. Then you have jokers, the so-called committee members. Nigerians should stop this hate game. Whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, Delta or Hausa, we are all one.

We saw that heighten during the election. What did you make of it?

Remember, Lagos is the third largest cosmopolitan city in the world. Constitutionally in Nigeria, if you’ve stayed in Lagos for over ten years, you can aspire to whatever political office you are now a Lagosian. It’s just like with BREXIT, the core Brits are now a minority in the UK today; that is what Lagos is about. But don’t let us forget our heritage. When they banned History from schools is where we got it wrong because these youths are misinformed. Because if you look at the history, you would know that Lagos has been accommodating to everybody. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu started by giving them two commissioners. In the whole of Nigeria, which Governor has done that for the Igbos? After all, everywhere they go, they are the biggest landowners. Are they going to take it back to their village? Look at what the man did; you have to be fair to him. A lot of critics that were being thrown at him I do not subscribe to. Pound for pound, neither of the presidential candidates is in the same category as Asiwaju because the hardest thing in Nigeria is to fight the military. June 12 was the only election that many regarded as free and fair, and it was a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and people still voted for him (MKO Abiola). Also, for the first time, we are going to see a Senator as the First Lady. It is a good combination because Sister Remi is halfYoruba half-Itshekiri like myself, she will not let any cabal materialise. She will tell her husband, whom she loves, she’s a tough woman, and that is why the Senate goes against her. But she is a principled woman.

What is your foundation, the Otunba Adejare Adegbenro Foundation, about?

My foundation is called Otunba Adejare Adegbenro Foundation, and it is to help the less privileged. In total, I’ve done close to 38 boreholes in Abeokuta, Lagos and Abuja. It actually started on my mum’s fifth-year

remembrance. They wanted to have a party, and while I was sleeping, my wife woke me up while I had a dream. The dream was that I should do boreholes. I tried Lagos, and they gave me a huge amount of money, so I called my dad, who advised me to do it in my village, Ewekoro (in Ogun State). I went there, and that was the first borehole I did. The second borehole I did was at the barracks because they did not have water. We are saying these policemen should guard us, meanwhile, they don’t have water. How much is a borehole? The second one, I was on a flight to Abuja when I saw in ThisDay magazine a caption of a small boy in his underwear taking water from a pothole. So I got my manager to go and investigate, and they sent him back saying they didn’t want any politician intervention in their village. It was in Akpo, so if you are driving out of legislative Quarters, you will pass it. And nobody ever did a thing. My manager then told them that I wasn’t a politician but a businessman. It wasn’t until I went to meet the head of that village in person before they allowed me to do the borehole. If 10 percent of well-to-do Nigerians do their CSR for their states, we will not be in a position where we are reliant on the federal government. For my foundation, I feed 100 people every month and give them palliative regardless of the season. I’ve done scholarships and so many things. It’s God I’m pleasing, not any human being. It’s not that I don’t need my own money, but that blessing is coming. As you give your 10 percent in tithe as a Christian, do another 10 percent to help people. I don’t drink or smoke, so what am I using the money for? I’m not a perfect human being, my life has been a rollercoaster, and it is God that has brought me to where I am today. I’m living up to 50, and I thank Him for that.

Now that I am turning 50, I will advocate and help. My foundation has been doing its part, I want other Nigerians to play their parts as well. This money is not your money; it’s God’s money, and you are just the custodian. But if you are eating and your brother next door isn’t, and you can sleep well, then you know you have a big problem coming ahead. My resolution at 50 is to embark on government, friends and anybody; let us get out of this slum that we are in. I hope we realise one thing in Nigeria; the more jobs you give out, the more money you make. But it’s the opposite here.

After all of this is said and done, the electoral tribunal and court proceedings, what are some of the key things you are looking forward to post-election in Nigeria?

By the special grace of God, between now and May 29, we still have the tribunal and pray it goes well. Until then, before we know who is going to be sworn in. If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sworn in, I am one of the people that will be carrying the flag for him because I know he will tackle security which is very key to me. I know he has a giving heart which will help the masses, and from time to time, we will constantly remind him because he is also getting old; the hands that he chooses will determine the way the government is tilted. So it is too early to say anything. All I know is that something tells me he will make Nigeria proud. He said “emilokan” (it is my turn) but I say “awalokan” (it is our turn) because it is all of our time. Everybody should bury their hatchet and move on. If you win the tribunal, fair and good. If you do not, it doesn’t stop you from congratulating the winner. I know Nigerians will be extremely happy with him (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu). I am very happy with him because, from childhood, I’ve seen the way my grandfather spoke about him. I’ve never gone to his office for anything before in my life.

In fact, I have never gone to any state office for any contract in my life. 80 percent is private, and 20 percent is government, so I can beat my chest that my support for him is not financially motivated.

Are there any exciting plans for Otunba Adejare Adegbenro? Are any political ambitions in the works? It’s the season. Well, it’s the season of politics, but politics is not like that. If my constituency decides to call upon me, yes I will come on board to do politics. If they don’t, I won’t do it. Neither am I going to pay my way to be a do-or-die politician. Let my work speak for itself. If it comes, all well and good. If it doesn’t, I’m okay. I will continue doing what I’m doing, and my foundation will keep doing what they are doing. My foundation is not based on politics. It is based on helping the less privileged. In total, we’ve done about 6000 eye tests and treatments around Abeokuta, and this year, we are going to face the Ijebu side and let it go around. Whatever I get, I will allocate to that, but let me keep doing my work. Politics is not something you just jump into. Now that I’m turning 50, there might be a rethink. Let us see how it goes. And I’m sure you will be the first to know.

50, the big one. What are the three biggest life lessons you’ve learnt as you turn 50? Trust. Being too trusting is a problem. Because as you trust, they always let you down. The expectation is because you think you’ve done something for someone, they will do it back for you. It’s a lie.

Patience is another lesson. Patience is not a losing game; you always win at the end of the day if you are patient. You don’t have to fight anybody.

Being humble is another lesson. These are the things I want to aspire to change in my life as I turn 50. Everything is to God’s glory. God knows his people, and there is nothing like coincidence with Him. And that’s what I aspire to be, a total

Ramadan Essentials 4

THINGS TO PRACTICE THIS FASTING PERIOD

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Fasting is a big part of our respective faiths. Whatever we believe in, depriving ourselves of food at some point is advised. For Christians, fasting is one of the most significant preachings of Jesus Christ, who practised it from time to time, especially when he went 40 full days and nights without food, in what turned out to be a vital teaching moment—thou shalt not live by bread alone…

For Muslims worldwide, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, is observed as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection and community. A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting during Ramadan carries a high risk of dehydration as food and drink are limited to before sunrise and after sunset. Furthermore, as fasting individuals are encouraged to wake up very early to have their Suhoor (or pre-dawn meal), sleep deprivation and dehydration can lead to headaches. Here are some tips for healthy fasting.

1. DON’T SKIP SUHOOR (PRE-DAWN MEAL)

As the saying goes, ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’. And during Ramadan, it becomes even more important! Although skipping Suhoor to have uninterrupted sleep may sound appealing, you shouldn’t.

Skipping Suhoor prolongs the fasting period as your body will need to rely on the previous meal to provide you with all the nutrients and energy until Iftar (break fast). Due to the long hours of fasting, you are more likely to feel dehydrated and tired during the day. Furthermore, skipping Suhoor also encourages overeating during Iftar, which can cause unhealthy weight gain.

2. DON’T OVEREAT DURING IFTAR (BREAK FAST)

Just as it is not advisable to skip Suhoor, overeating when it is time to break the fast can harm your body. Iftar should be a wellbalanced, nutritious meal and not a feast! Overeating and excessive consumption of high-fat foods in particular, may result in indigestion and weight gain. Slow down and enjoy each mouthful of your food.

3. AVOID EATING FRIED FOODS, SALTY FOODS AND HIGH-SUGAR FOODS

It is not uncommon for fasting individuals to reward themselves with rich, greasy, fried and sugary dishes come meal time. While these foods make you feel good in the short run, they can make fasting the next day more difficult.

Aside from unhealthy weight gain, consuming fatty and sugary foods also cause sluggishness and fatigue. In addition, you should limit your intake of salt, especially during Suhoor, as this increases thirst.

Instead, try incorporating foods from all the major food groups, including fruit and vegetables, rice and alternatives, as well as meat and alternatives. Consuming fibre-rich foods during Ramadan is also ideal as they are digested slower than processed foods, so you feel full longer.

4. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE

Drinking as much water as possible between Iftar and Suhoor reduces your risk of dehydration during fasting. Make every effort to drink at least eight glasses of fluids daily before dawn and after sundown. Fluids include juices, milk, beverages and soups, but water is the best choice. Ideally, you should also cut down on caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and colas, as these have a diuretic effect and promote fluid loss.

CREDIT -GETTY IMAGES

WELLNESS TRENDS 6 To Look Out For This Year

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

On the surface level, the wellness industry sounds like it is just spa and fitness gyms, but it is vaster than that. At the very core, wellness is any activity that helps condition the mind to a place of zen. From acupuncture to dance workouts, humans do several things to destress. This year, experts have predicted a trend of those activities that are bound to be recurrent throughout the year. Here are some of the predicted wellness trends of 2023.

2DIGITAL DETOX

Astudy by Leeds University revealed that, on average, Brits spend about 11 hours looking at screens each day. Our increased dependency on smartphones, tablets and laptops is making many people reconsider their relationship with their electronic devices – and in 2023, this will give rise to the digital detox.

FACIAL YOGA

F1acial yoga, or face yoga, is a routine made up of massages and exercises that help to stimulate the muscles, skin, and lymphatic system around your facial area. It’s thought to soften and relax your facial muscles, relieving the visual signs of tension, stress and worry.

3 5

MICRO WORKOUTS

icro workouts are on the rise, evident in the rise of quick, one-minute dances and fitness challenges you find on TikTok. Removing the time barrier to exercise is a major factor in the growing popularity of this wellness trend. This bite-size, low-intensity format makes squeezing movement into more moments throughout the day easier. It might include a morning dance with your favourite influencer, a quick set of push-ups and squats before lunch, and an evening yoga session to help you wind down and de-stress. These short takes on fitness add up to big results and are a delightful and fun way to get moving.

M

OPENNESS AROUND DIAGNOSIS

While year over year, this has certainly improved, in 2022, more people were taking to TikTok to share their mental health diagnoses—whether it’s what prompted them to get help for bipolar disorder or how ADHD presents in them. While the stigma is not gone, these videos and posts have helped reduce it. They help put a real-life face to some diagnoses that hold a stigma—like autism or postpartum depression. It’s also an excellent way to remind those living with any conditions that evidence-based treatments can change your life. It’s important to remember that you can’t count on TikTok for an official diagnosis; that needs to come from a medical professional. But you can seek out education, community and support on the app.

4 6

SLEEP SYNCING

As the quest for a better night’s sleep continues, we’ll see circadian eating—switching from heavy evening meals to afternoon ‘light’ eating—grow in popularity. Not only will we avoid super heavy food late in the day, but we’ll also see new sleep aid ingredients on the block, like glycine join our bedtime skincare lineup and a big tech switch-off before bed to avoid nightmares.

THE ABANDONMENT OF THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN STEREOTYPE

By no means is the “strong Black woman” stereotype gone, but on social media, Black women are ridding themselves of this idea and the pressure that comes with it. Historically, the strong Black woman narrative has been the reality for many Black matriarchs, but it comes at a cost. That wear and tear can be tremendous, leaving them fatigued, unhappy with their life, and even physically ill. Instead, as proven in this social media shift, Black women realise they don’t have to do it all—you can ask for help, hire help, and say no. Ending this do-it-all attitude opens them to experience vulnerability, softness, ease, and peace—all the things they deserve to have a full life. And this doesn’t mean you can’t pull strength when you need it; it simply means you don’t always have to hold everything on your shoulders with no support.

Autism Awareness

BY IFUEKO KABIRI-WHYTE

TodayApril 2, is designated by the United Nations as World Autism Awareness Day. The Publisher of TheWill has granted me the privilege of promoting Autism awareness and understanding, encouraging and enlightening autistic families, society and Nigerians at large throughout the month of April.

Why me? I’m driven by the desire to make a difference in the life of the vulnerable, especially children. I studied Law, was called to the Nigerian Bar and obtained an MBA from the American University, Washington DC. I’m married and blessed with a set of twins. Having discovered quite early that one of my twins is on the Autism Spectrum, I have immersed myself in the autism community, working tirelessly to ensure my daughter achieves her highest potential and lives her best life. A working mum, I passed the certification exam in 2019 to become a Certified Special Needs Therapist, IBCCES, and I also recently got a Diploma in Autism. A few years ago, I founded the group AMIN (Autism Mothers In and outside Nigeria), a community of mothers offering hope and succour to fellow mothers and Autistic families.

Autistic Families. Doesn’t that imply that every single member is autistic? No, it doesn’t. What it does, is explain that every single member of the family is impacted by autism. This is a fact that’s often overlooked by families and professionals. We will be discussing this next week.

Today, let’s start at the very beginning by explaining what autism is and highlighting some statistics.

Yes. But symptoms start to show by age 1-3 years, depending on the severity.

Who was the first person to be diagnosed as Autistic?

Donald Triplett was the first person to be diagnosed in October 1938 by Austrian Child Psychiatrist Leo Kanner at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Can you outgrow

understand the French language, but I don’t speak it very well. Yet it would be foolhardy for a French speaker to be talking about me in French, expecting that I do not understand. An autistic person in this subset may choose to feign ignorance, respond by behaving in a way that communicates their understanding or better yet, if they have the gift of echolalia they may just repeat verbatim what you said (sometimes in your own intonation and voice tone) to another person. Echolalia is the repetition of words just spoken by another person.

Do Autistic people share any commonalities?

What is Autism?

Autism, Is there a cure for Autism?

Autism is a broad spectrum disorder, they may share similar traits and some commonalities in the way they see, hear and experience the world, but because the intensity of these commonalities and the severity of their individual deficits are different, it is said that no two autistic persons are alike.

Autism

Spectrum Disorder (Autism) is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a diverse group of conditions related to the development of the brain.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USA (CDC) defines Autism as a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioural challenges.

The definition by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the most practical. It describes Autism as a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave. I would also add that Autism can also affect how a person moves and pays attention to conversations and every day scenarios.

A person with Autism is often described as Autistic or, more recently neurodivergent. Neurodivergent describes people whose differences affect how their brain works.

On March 30, 2022 the WHO stated that one in every hundred (1:100) children in the world is on the Autism spectrum.

The African Academy of Sciences on April 9, 2021 stated that Autism affects 2% (2:100) of the world’s population.

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service UK, (NHS) says Autistic people may act in a different way than other people

Autistic people may:

• find it hard to communicate and interact with other people

• find it hard to understand how other people think or feel

• find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable

• get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events

• take longer to understand information

• do or think the same things over and over Ten Common Questions and Facts

Is a person born Autistic?

We are still hopeful, but the answer as of today is NO. However, with the right therapies, their various symptoms can improve over time.

Does Autism affect only boys?

No. They are, however in the majority. Globally it’s four males for every one female diagnosed.

How is Autism Diagnosed?

This can be difficult as there is no medical test, no blood test. Multi-disciplined medical personnel review the child’s developmental history, behaviour and use standardized assessments to make a diagnosis. This should be initiated by your child’s paediatrician at the developmental check-ups, specifically 18 months and 24 months check-up. If the child has no words by 24 months the paediatrician should first order a hearing test to first rule out deafness.

A multi-disciplined medical personnel should include; a paediatrician, speech therapist, occupational therapist and a child or educational psychologist.

The 25-30% 25-30% of persons with Autism are minimally verbal (speak fewer than 30 words) or do not speak at all. There are other modes of communication for this subset, including sign language and various other assistive communication devices. Do not assume that because an autistic person falls within this percentile they do not understand what you say. I

The Most Common Autism Therapies

1. Speech and Language therapy to address communication deficits

2. Behaviour Management therapy to address undesired behaviour

3. Occupational therapy to develop fine and gross motor skills, daily living skills and handwriting

4. Physical therapy to address movement deficits

Is every Autistic person a Genius?

Sadly, this is not entirely true, but the percentage of geniuses on the autism spectrum is said to be about double the number of the ordinary population. That said, every single autistic person has a least one gift, a flair for something. Our job as autism parents and stakeholders is to find this gift and nurture this gift so they can live their best lives.

Why should you be interested in knowing more about Autism?

The world’s population is projected at 8 billion. If 1% of the world’s population is autistic, that’s 80 million people. If Nigeria’s population is over 200 million, it means there are about 2 million autistic persons domiciled here in Nigeria. These numbers mean they live amongst us and are a section of the population that can no longer be ignored.

Our acceptance and understanding of persons with autism will greatly reduce the burden on autistic families. More importantly, it will go a long way in ensuring persons with autism become an integral part of every community and encourage their valuable contributions to the world.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes the whole country to raise an autistic child. Next week, I will focus on the Autistic family and stakeholders.

LUCAS-EXTRA LARGE ARCH FULL LENGTH FLOOR MIRROR

GET THE LOOK A MODERN BEDROOM

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

Are you looking to update the look of your bedroom to a more modern style? We’ll demonstrate how you can achieve a stylish and functional look on today’s Get The Look. Clean lines, minimalism, and a sleek look characterise a modern bedroom. With just a few simple changes, you can create a stylish place that is fresh and inviting. By recreating this modern bedroom idea, you can have a bedroom that

PRICILLASOLIDWOODACCENTSTOOL

ARIZONA FRENCH LUXURIOUS DOORS

ULTRASOFT CHUNKY COTTON THROW BLANKET IN WAFFLE TEXTURE

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

MOVIE REVIEW:

John Wick Chapter IV

Inthe world of John Wick, violence is choreographed with such beauty and momentum that it achieves glorious lyricism, ascending from mere action into a stylized bullet ballet in which fists fly, weapons find their marks, and bodies hit the floor with such a graceful, syncopated rhythm as to evoke the art of dance.

John Wick: Chapter 4, the latest instalment in the franchise, makes this link explicit during one of its many gorgeous, beat-driven set pieces, recalling the Red Circle bathhouse bloodshed of the first film. Keanu Reeves‘ titular hitman pursues a German criminal (martial arts star Scott Adkins) through a luxe Berlin nightclub, dispatching waves of henchmen as clubgoers continue to gyrate, occasionally glancing at Wick’s death blows as if comparing their moves to his. Rather than fleeing, they are unperturbed, acquiescent, attuned to the same fantasy physics and clandestine formalities that have governed this franchise since the start.

As Wick fights his way toward his quarry, death-dealing beneath flashing lights, he is at once the aggrieved avenging angel that we first met almost a decade ago, in 2014’s John Wick, and something else: a world-class athlete in his element, putting on the show of a lifetime with the kind of impossible speed, skill, and discipline that marks these films almost as miracles of kinetic pop artistry. At one point, the Marquis de Gramont (a sneering Bill Skarsgård), Chapter 4’s newly appointed archvillain, remarks to Wick, “It’s the killing that gives you purpose,” as plainly logical an observation as one could make of John Wick, but also a dismissal of the spectacularly aerobic ingenuity that arms and armors this professional at work, that propels these movies into the upper echelons of the modern action cinema. The killing might give him purpose, but it’s the movement that brings it meaning.

Orchestrated flawlessly throughout its sprawling 169 minutes, Chapter 4 succeeds in surpassing its predecessors by giving audiences bigger, better action than that on display in the previous instalments, themselves successively bar-raising spectacles that now represent a new class of action blockbuster. The film’s setpieces, which unfold on a world stage, are classically structured and impeccably shot, each establishing dramatic tension and an opulent sense of space before weaponizing both attributes in a mad race toward a dramatic, cathartic climax.

Opening with a horse chase across the sands of Morocco, Chapter 4 then surges from New York to Osaka to Berlin to Paris, finding in these locales open playgrounds for both homage and carnage — to great film artists as distinguished as Jet Li, Akira Kurosawa, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood, John Woo, Shintaro Katsu, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, but also to iconic works of Renaissance art and classical architecture — all generously reflected through the John Wick series’ abstracted-urbanity aesthetic (thrillingly realized by production designer Kevin Kavanaugh and cinematographer Dan Lausten) but enabled by its everdeepening mythology and correspondingly expansive capacity to synthesize inspirations.

As the architect — or, perhaps more aptly, the ringmaster — of the John Wick franchise, returning director Chad Stahelski proves himself an unparalleled master of controlled chaos, the ambitious precision and astonishing cohesion of his vision for the film’s action sequences allowing each to thrill individually while adding to the series’ sense of relentless, game-like progression. One incendiary set piece in a French apartment building, during which Wick wields a “dragon’s-breath shotgun” against hordes of assassins, appears to play out as a one-shot gunfight thanks to dramatic overhead framing that provides a god’s-eye view of the mayhem. Another semi-comic sequence, in which Wick battles up the stairs of the Sacré-Coeur, adds Sisyphus to the litany of Greek myths that the character has embodied throughout the franchise (also see: Odysseus, fatefully adrift from his beloved wife, and Orpheus, seeking to climb out of the underworld), and a slapstick battle royale at the Arc de Triomphe is a Goldbergian collision of cars, guns, bikes, and bodies that puts to shame the theatrics in Tom Cruise‘s more impersonal Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

The unsustainable excess of this fourth chapter, and the kind of fatigue by over-stimulation that can creep in besides such sustained bloodsport, is precisely its point. Even as the world around Wick expands, and the death count spikes exponentially, Chapter 4 remembers well that the body keeps the score, and Keabu Reeves — one of our most sincere leading men, a paragon of gentle humanity and decency in between beating his adversaries senseless with a pair of nunchucks — makes the weariness of this long-anguished assassin more palpable than ever. We recall where this all started, that Wick’s one-man war on everyone is an act of justifiable self-defense.

In the franchise’s florid, admittedly top-heavy lore, complete with an unseen High Table that pulls rank on all the assassins who operate under it and frequent invocations of arcane Latin phrases, the one rule that governs all is that simple fact of mortality: that all men must die. As such, Chapter 4 is the most emotionally affecting of the John Wick films, with a near-operatic sense of finality and weight. (The role of hotel concierge Charon is once more played by Lance Reddick, who died earlier this month, and knowledge of the actor’s passing amplifies the sense of melancholy that would have already pervaded Chapter 4)

The existential sorrow of John Wick, a man who’s known death for far too long and seen it take the lives of people he has valued, drives the film forward — toward a pistols-at-dawn showdown that distills the franchise’s stakes to the path of a single bullet — and backward, during the aforementioned nightclub sequence and through the introduction of new characters (Donnie Yen, as a blind assassin; Rina Sawayama, as a concierge at the Osaka Continental; and Shamier Anderson, as the pragmatic Tracker) whose uniquely aggrieved codes of honor align them with John while reminding us of his spiritual burdens. Amid such introspective moments arrive opportunities for redemption, wrongs that John can right even as the cost of doing so compounds his exhaustion. He even saves a dog.

To invoke another of Reeves’ seminal action franchises, every character in the John Wick franchise believes that they are The One. Inevitably, John proves every last one of them wrong. In carrying John Wick through one last battle, Chapter 4 lays the franchise to rest with a viscerally, deliriously hyper-active extravaganza, sticking to its guns and brandishing its style but achieving also a triumphant parting grandeur that marks this franchise as a model work of action-cinema mythology.

9/10

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Ajebutter22 - King of Parole

Show Dem Camp_ Tems - Tales By Moonlight

BNXN fka Buju_ Wizkid - Many Ways (feat. Wizkid)

AYLØ_ Santi - wys_

Victony_ KTIZO - Jolene

Show Dem Camp_ Tems - Live Life

Show Dem Camp_ Amaarae_ Tems - Too Bad

BNXN fka Buju - Something sweet

BNXN fka Buju - Testimony

BNXN fka Buju - In My Mind - A COLORS SHOW