VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
FADE OGUNRO:
A Feminist in Tech!
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
EDITOR’S NOTE
Photo: @HairByUgo
CONTENTS
8-10 COVER STORY:
Christ Really Tried! He Died For People Who Didn’t Like Him, People Who Didn’t Even Know Him Like That And On Top of It All Was Betrayed And Denied By A Few Closest To Him. Wow, I00 Percent Certain It Could Never Have Been Me To Pay That Price!
Fade Ogunro: A Feminist in Tech!
H
appy Easter to you all! The spirit of forgiveness and letting go of things is a level I aspire to everyday because the amount of micro and maxi aggressions alone, one has to deal with daily is staggering in its enormity. As a Nigerian woman, I work a million twice as hard to prove to a lot of men I have to deal with, that I even have a voice worth listening to. “They” say we should be seen and not heard, but the real question is Do they even see us? On our cover today, is Fade Ogunro, a millennial woman who is not backing down on being seen or heard in tech! Her career journey is a true metamorphosis from ambitions in fashion, to forays into writing, stints on radio and television, commercial production within the creative and corporate world and finally, launching Bookings Africa - a solution for African women and men to monetize what they know and are good at, right from their smartphones. Her interview by one of our interns, Tilewa Kazeem, (I’m mighty proud of you for this one kid!), shone a light on questions I didn’t even know existed. For instance, if a company is owned by a man and said company hires only men, then goes on to create a product built by twenty men, chances are they tested it on themselves (men) and therefore everything about this product would suit men just fine. There’s just one tiny little problem though... the world also happens to have women in it and if we too have to use this product, it probably wouldn’t work so well for us now would it? This is what conversations about gender parity and inclusion seek to address and in Ms Ogunro’s words, “We can take tangible actions that can be measured; things like equal pay, but a bus driver can hurl the word Ashewo at me and that kind of mindset is what will take longer to change. Not the financial nor legal inclusion but rather the cultural shift”. It’s a powerful interview not to be missed.
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THE EDIT
“THE HOLY TRINITY” OF SUSTAINABLE NIGERIAN FASHION DESIGN
What else can I add except to say- Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
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LATASHA NGWUBE @latashalagos
FASHION: 3 Times Nigerian Celebrities Have Struck A Religious Nerve Through Fashion
THE TEAM Publisher/Editor-In-Chief: Austyn Ogannah Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahgram Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writer: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Sophia Edisi Kehinde Fagbule Tilewa Kazeem
Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’
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14-15 BEAUTY: Scent from Heaven
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TECHTALK
Gift Ideas for your loved ones this Easter
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
WORDS to EAT by
DOWNTOWN EATS
UZO ORIMALADE
The Easter Bird
Easter Sunday. This year, the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord is extra special. After 8 months of marriage, I get to host my first big lunch event in our new home. I have my menu planned out – traditional frejon, seafood stew crammed with crabs and fresh fish, white rice with scent leaf, smoky jollof rice, baked salmon, seafood okra, oha soup with periwinkles, stockfish and dried fish, real pounded yam, a seafood pizza with a cream white sauce base topped with shrimps, smoked salmon, and a lot of cheese. I also have seafood linguini, a green salad, tapioca pudding, a triple chocolate cake and fresh fruit bowls with Greek yogurt and ice-cream. I have taken my time to plan this menu to ensure that the spread is not only impressive but has something for everyone. To ensure I can play hostess with the mostess, I will make some of the dishes ahead, Be a Star caterers arrive at 8am with the rest of the dishes I will not make with a retinue of wait staff in tow. I have unboxed new dinnerware, serving bowls, cutlery and glassware. My husband has water, juice, beer and wine cooling. I have Chill arriving at 9am to set up to mix and serve mocktails and cocktails. My monogrammed napkins and crystal encrusted napkin rings are laid out – a little bling is always a good idea. I have boxes that contain chocolate truffles, gourmet chin chin and a bookmark as gifts for every guest to be handed out as they leave. Fresh flowers from my garden are in vases all over the dining area. A vanilla berry scented candle burns discreetly. I have gone all out to make sure all 20 of our family members feel special and enjoy their time with us. To channel effortless glam, I am wearing an agbada boubou made by my friend Temi, my hair is in a bun, earrings, mascara and lip gloss complete my look. My husband watches me in amusement. He thinks this is a little much but a little much is next to my name in the dictionary. I am nervous.
Not about the food or playing hostess. This will go perfectly; this I am sure about. I am nervous because this is the first time I meet Aunty Mommy. My husband’s mother passed away when he was 10 and her sister stepped in to raise him. She convinced his father that a young boy needed a maternal figure in his life and my husband went to live with her family. With four children of her own, Aunty Mommy worked harder to make sure my husband was treated the same as her children. The bond between Aunty Mommy and my husband is so strong and I find it endearing. A few years before I met my husband, Aunty Mommy moved to Australia at the behest of one of her sons. Her son wanted her to enjoy her retired life with his family – given the distance, Aunty Mommy’s trips to Nigeria are few and far between. Throughout our relationship, I have talked to Aunty Mommy countless times on the phone, video calls once a week and endless WhatsApp chat messages. My husband made a few quick trips to England whenever she visited her daughter, but work commitments made it impossible for me to go with him. She did not make our wedding as she was unwell, and it was heart-breaking to see her cry about it. So even though I know Aunty Mommy well and she is fond of me, I have never met her in person. Aunty Mommy is in town and is the unofficial guest of honour at today’s Easter Sunday lunch gathering. My husband’s excitement is contagious. He tells me I have no reason to be nervous and I know that. Still… Everyone arrives at 1pm. Hugs and kisses all round. Lunch is to be served at 2pm. Our families are excellent at keeping to time. Everyone is here except Aunty Mommy. 1.30pm. Aunty Mommy’s car arrives. Our family rushes to the door. A receiving line of sorts forms. My husband rushes to the side of the car where she is seated and opens it. An elaborate head tie is what I see emerge first. There she is. Aunty Mommy. Dressed like a queen in a gold lace wrapper and blouse with that tomato red gele. Coral beads and gold jewellery, A smile almost as bright as the sun when she sees me. ‘My daughter’ she says. My husband is right. I have no reason to be nervous. She walks towards me with my husband holding her hand. I step forward to give her a hug when she says ‘Wait’. She says ‘I have a gift for you my daughter. In our tradition, you must take it from me and use it to make a meal for your husband. Not today of course. You can keep it in your backyard until you are ready’. I am confused. What is she talking about? From the corner of my eye, I see Aunty Mommy’s driver open the trunk of the car. I see movement but my brain refuses to acknowledge what that movement is. I am frozen. The driver hands Aunty Mommy the biggest live chicken I have seen in my life. This is a rooster because of the cockscomb on its head. I know that much. It is huge, squeaking and fluttering its feathers frantically. Aunty Mommy says to me ‘Take it’.
No! No! No! My husband looks at me in horror. He knows about my fear of birds. It is a debilitating fear. They make me break out in hives, my eyes water, my throat closes up and I have been known to scream when I see a bird flying in my direction. I take a step back. Then another. I cannot say a word. I stare at the rooster that has morphed into a killer bird that I know is out for my head and take another step back. ‘Take it’ Aunty Mommy says. I hear some members of my family saying ‘Take it our wife’. I hear my husband saying to Aunty Mommy ‘Let me take it. She is afraid of birds.’ I hear Aunty Mommy say to him ‘What nonsense. She is a Nigerian girl. She must take it. It is tradition’ I think to myself. Maybe this is what I need to get over this fear. Maybe it is not so bad. Aunty Mommy is holding it. I can just take the monster bird and drop it immediately. That will work. This is the first time Aunty Mommy is meeting me. You can do this. I take a step forward as Aunty Mommy does the same. She stretches her hand out. She has the bird by its legs. I reach my hand out. My husband says, ‘You do not have to’. Aunty Mommy snaps at him ‘Yes she has to. It is tradition’. I stretch my hand towards the bird. It feels my approach. Raises its feathers in striking position, looks straight at me and I swear its eyes say to me – touch me if you dare. I turn around screaming the Lord’s name, I trip over my boubou but I must get away. I run into the house, up the stairs, into our bedroom and lock the door.
Herb Roast Chicken You will need: • 1 whole large chicken • 1 tablespoon salt • 1 cup mix of herbs that you like – Thyme, rosemary, parsley, bay leaves. • 1 tablespoon white or black pepper • 1 head garlic • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 large carrots – chopped into large pieces • 150g salted butter – room temperature
How to: • In a large pot big enough to hold the chicken with space left, fill halfway with water. Add the salt, ¼ cup mixed herbs and pepper and bring to a boil. Add some cold water to bring the temperature down and put in the fridge for 2 hours. • Bring pot out. Submerge chicken in the brine. Cover pot and put back in the fridge overnight. • Pat chicken dry and place on a roasting pan with foil underneath • Preheat oven at 350 degrees or gas mark 3 • Season inside of chicken with salt and pepper • Stuff the chicken with the head of garlic and the carrots • Mix the butter with the rest of the herbs and rub mixture gently under the skin of the chicken. • Rub the rest of the mixture all over the chicken and place the bird breast side up in the pan. • Bake for 30 minutes. Cover with aluminium foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes. • Take the foil off and check chicken for doneness. Bake until done and golden brown. • Let the chicken stand for 10 minutes before cutting.
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
FASHION
FASHION TRENDS THAT SHOULD BE RESURRECTED IN 2021 BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE Fashion trends have been in existence since time immemorial. For Christians, it dates back to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve had to cover up with leaves. As the name implies, trends -howbeit some last longer than others- are bound to eventually die out. Unfortunately, there’s no museum to preserve the memories that come with these trends and the only thing we tend to fall back on are images from said periods. Over the years however, we have seen some trends come back to mainstream acceptance as people who revel in them often do it because of nostalgia. We look back at some fashion trends and scoff like “what were we thinking?” Some of them, in contrast, get a softer reaction from us. Most people have no idea why this happens so they just chalk it up to the only constant thing in life; change. For this year’s Easter celebration, we are looking at five fashion trends we hope would make a resurrection in 2021… CARROT PANTS Made popular by Wizkid in the 2010s, carrot pants were on every young man’s waist. They were very comfortable pair of trousers tapered atthe bottom. They scream casual as all you need to rock them with are simple tee-shirts, fancy sneakers and a snapback to boot.
SUPRA Founded in California by Angel Cabada in partnership with professional skateboarders, Supra was one of the biggest fashion items of the 2010s. Nigerian rapper Ice Prince was a big endorser of these shoes. As comical as they might look because of the size, Supra shoes were very light and comfortable.
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Originally called bell-bottoms, bootcuts are perhaps the most significant fashion trend of the Baby Boomers as they were in all our parents’ photographs from back in the day. In 1996, women’s bell-bottoms were reintroduced to the mainstream public, under the name “boot-cut” (or “bootleg”) trousers as the flare was slimmer. By 1999, flared jeans had come into vogue among women, sporting a wider, more exaggerated flare than bootcuts. The boot-cut style ended up dominating the fashion world for 10 years. By around 2006, the bell-shaped silhouette started to fade as the skinny jean rose in popularity. Sharon Haver, the founder and editor-in-chief of an online fashion magazine, was quoted saying “It’s as if all the girls wearing premium boot-cut jeans threw them away one day, and the next day began wearing skinny jeans and flats.”
TIMBERLAND The Timberland boots were probably the ‘hardest’ footwear a man could own in his collection at some point in history. The trademark design made sure it was identifiable and it sort of symbolized a tribe that included young boys and adult men alike. The weight and huge build is reminiscent of military boots and it subconsciously demands a level of respect from whomever it stood in front of. All of this however, would change due to the emergence of street wear and designer sneakers such as Nike and Adidas.
BOOT-CUTS
TOMS Also based in Los Angeles, California, Toms are comfy footwear founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie. The extremely simple design makes it the easiest to wear of all the fashion items on this list. Toms became a trend in Nigeria around the time carrot pants were trendy and both items immediately became married off in the fashion heaven.
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
THE EDIT
BY CHALYA
“THE HOLY TRINITY” of Sustainable Nigerian Fashion Design From Adire, to Batik, to Ankara, to Asooke, and all things in between, there are a very few fashion designers that have been able to successfully execute these fabrics used traditionally in the Nigerian fashion culture. While many have indeed put out some creative pieces in their own right, there are three Nigerian designers that have blazed the trail for many to follow. These ones we can call “The Trinity”, aka The Originals. The impeccable craftsmanship and creativity in design, of course the appeal to social consciousness by each of these designers in ensuring sustainability has set them miles apart and strides ahead of many others.
Deola Sagoe pioneered the use and fusion of asooke and adire fabrics to create high fashion and couture garments. Incorporating delicate fabrics such as Chantilly lace. Having been the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004 and the first Nigerian to have her own stand-alone show at the New York Fashion Week September 2014, she continues to lead the way in trailblazing Nigeria on the global fashion map. In 2001, Deola was rated number 37 on the African Almanac scale of 100 most influential Africans in the world. In 2004, Deola marked an important milestone of pioneering the introduction of authentic African infused clothing to the Alta Roma Alta Moda Fashion week. She has three daughters who have joined forces with the House of Deola Sagoe and have created a diffusion Ready-to-Wear line called CLAN. Teni sagoe, the eldest of her daughters is the Creative Director for the House of Deola Brand. We saw Deola Sagoe’s designs begin to incorporate a curiously striking infusion of the Outer-Space with Teni (The New Generation) in more recent collections. One of such collections - SURREAL, “is like a huge drop of the African Rainforest bursting with supernatural energy, gloriously crafted silhouettes and a wild foray of riveting colours. The Traditional Yoruba dress takes on yet another spin with the unlikely introduction of strikingly futuristic colour blocking accents, layered forms and expertly sculpted newage silhouettes” said Teni. Her signature laser cut outs on silk hand woven asooke remains hard to “knockoff”, a technique that has been copied over and over by others, but Deola’s remains undispitutedly unmatched and unapparelled.
AsoOke under hand cut out mesh Vintage Deola Sagoe FW2010
Adire/Batik print on Silk by Deola Sagoe
Lisa Folawiyo has devised the ingenious and clever mix of prints and patterns. The boldness of her designs still resounds deeply as Folawiyo is at the cusp of a new era in design, one which continues to defy and define fashion. With sustainability at the forefront of global fashion, Lisa Folawiyo tackles the idea of excess with the concept that “less is more is less is more.” For the brand, this means that although everything is paired down for wearability, fashion is and still should be an expression of our times, our culture, our freedoms and our fantasies. The timelessness of Lisa Folawiyo designs and prints reinforce the conscious reworking of old to make new. Alongside, layers of traditional batik techniques on familiar African inspired Ankara wax fabrics create a new texture which Folawiyo has coined “Batkara”. The use of eco-friendly cotton is a new but essential addition to the Lisa Folawiyo fabric repertoire and is the introduction of a new type of embellishment that embodies an intricate ease to the age old tradition. Dresses over boubous, skirts over skirts, power suits and tanks that uncover a sudden surprise, all layered to be peeled back and worn again or left just as they are – this is the new way to dress. Folawiyo’s designs most importantly represent what women want to wear; and the more you wear, the less you discard.
Ankara and adire dress by Lisa Folawiyo AW2021
Lisa Folawiyo AW2021
Lisa Folawiyo AW2021
Kenneth Ize reintroduced us to the woven fabrics made using similar technique as aso oke. He did this by bringing in a fresher and more contemporary take on this traditional Yoruba material . Creating geometric patterns. Also using art of contemporary artist in his silk fabric. His first collection debuted in Spring/ Summer 2016, and he has since shown at Lagos Fashion Week, leading him to be nominated for the LVMH Prize in 2019. Earlier this year, Kenneth Ize debuted his brand at Paris Fashion Week S/S20 – as one of three African designers to present during the season – to critical acclaim. Ize approaches luxury fashion through the lens of craftsmanship. Reimagining the tailored suit. The asoke fabrics he uses in his designs, are typically handwoven in flamboyant contrast to the those worn traditionally. “I want to show that we can use our own resources to create fashion,” he said. “This fabric has been abandoned, and I wanted to place my own statement on it.” Ize continues to present creatively designed garments every season by fusing the West and West Africa, drawing majority of his inspiration from Nigeria.
Kenneth Ize AW2020
Kenneth Ize AW2021
Kenneth Ize SS2020
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
FASHION
Times Nigerian Celebrities Struck A Religious Nerve With Fashion BY CHISOM NJOKU Nigerians are unarguably one of the most religious groups in the world with Nigeria standing tall as the most populous African country, where over 200 million people call home. The country is mainly divided between believers of Islam, Christianity and traditional religion. Nigeria also has the largest Muslim and Christian population in sub-Saharan Africa. Although Nigeria is deeply drenched in religion, constitutionally it is a secular state and that allows for freedom of expression outside of the confines of faith. Nigerian celebrities and pseudo-celebrities have utilized their right to expression and many are of the opinion that they’ve gone overboard one too many times with religious-themed shoots and outlandish ‘sacred’ costumes which have landed them in trouble with fans and the general public. Here are a few examples of times when celebrities got the people fired up due to their regalia and creative concepts.
Beverly Osu In 2018, actor and model Beverly Osu covered Taylor Live Magazine’s ‘Confession’ issue clad in a complete catholic nun outfit and this enraged a lot of Christians who felt that the actress had crossed the line with her misrepresentation of reverend sisters. She had also posed with pink lingerie and lit cigarettes which seemed to add petrol to fire. In her defense, the actress stated via insta stories that she was a devout catholic and that the church had not established smoking as a sin and advised critics to focus on other important issues. She further admitted that she has a deep respect for nuns and almost became one herself. “I attended Daughters of Divine Love Convent in Enugu State. I would have been a reverend sister but I didn’t quite finish. I left in my fifth year. In-as-much as I know worldly things, I still fear God and have faith in Him”.
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
FASHION
Mike Nwogu (Pretty Mike) Popular for wild publicity stunts and a strong social media presence, Pretty Mike came under fire for his ‘Maleficent’ inspired look to the 2020 AMVCA. He employed the services of six women who wore black gowns and the pointed horn headgear while he was dressed in a white suit paired with matching white horns. It didn’t take long for Nigerians to connect his look that evening to one of the devil and his demons. Although many condemned the look, others found it fascinating and creative. Nwogu is no stranger to outlandish appearances as he recently got a mention on The Wendy Williams show for turning up to an event with 6 heavily pregnant women who he claimed were all carrying his children.
Toyin Lawani Popular Fashion Entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani recently came under fire for her outfit to a movie premiere. Toyin in a post shared on Instagram, wore a racy nun’s outfit with two very daring slits exposing her thighs. Her seemingly audacious look did not go down well with Nigerians as many have called the famed stylist out publicly and some went as far as threatening her with physical harm for supposedly disrespecting their faith. In her defense, she stated that Nigerians have refused to be liberated when it comes to fashion and depicting themes. She insists that an outfit having a crucifix symbol doesn’t mean it’s a sign of disrespect to any religion. In her opinion, people dress like sexy nuns for events such as Halloween. The stylist disclosed that being a Nigerian doesn’t make her sense of style and fashion different from American celebrities like Beyonce and Rihanna which “hypocritical Nigerians” will totally accept and praise. Yet, they condemn her. In a bid to pass her message with evidence, she uploaded pictures of Caucasian ladies in sexy nun outfits.
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
COVER
FADE OGUNRO:
A Feminist in Tech!
Bad Energy by Wizkid, the sounds of crab shells cracking and her subtle chuckle, set the tone for when I eventually got techpreneur and board member of the Cherie Blair Foundation, Fade Ogunro on the phone for an interview. Geeky, intelligent, caring and funny are adjectives that barely scratch the surface in terms of qualities bestowed on the founder of Bookings Africa. A profound two-and-ahalf-hour-long dialogue, saw me drinking from the fountain of knowledge that is Ms. Ogunro. The most introverted extrovert you’d ever come across. We discussed building legacies, the struggles of a woman in the tech ecosystem and the world, her plans for the future, and her energy. Tilewa Kazeem, reports for DOWNTOWN in this riveting chat with Fade Ogunro.
W
hat is Bookings Africa? It’s the future of work. The future of work that I believe and what research has said. The world is going digital so basically, we want to get to a stage where whatever you currently do to earn money, should be achievable from anywhere with your phone. So if you are an accountant you don’t need to have a 9-5 job as an accountant. Bookings Africa offers you flexibility. You can be an accountant and get paid online without having to go to an office. You wouldn’t have to set foot in an office for the rest of your life and still make money as an accountant. The future of work is digital. You need access to the market and that’s the benefit of going digital. It enables you to have the world at your fingertips. Bookings Africa disrupts the geographical restraint with innovation and technology so that whatever skillset you’ve learnt can be offered to people that need those services across the country. We are currently in 3 countries: Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The mission is to get to 10 sub-Saharan countries and currently we only offer 25 different professions on the platform. Ranging from accountants to fitness instructions to dancers. We want to eventually have 80 different professions on the platform. So with Bookings Africa, it’s all up to you. You could cash out from monetizing yourself and never see the four walls of an office or you could do both it’s all up to you. You studied Journalism and Creative writing and you are now in Tech. Can you walk us through your journey to this point that is a road less traveled by women? I am impulsive. I make some crazy decisions that shouldn’t work but thanks to HER (because I identify God to be female by the way), they just do. The trajectory started with me wanting to be the fashion editor of Vogue which was my ideal career path when
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I picked journalism. On the side, I wanted to become a fashion entrepreneur but the cost of running a business in London was too much overhead for a university student. So instead I had an e-commerce store but I didn’t want to build the website and not know how to promote it, so I decided to learn from Google Ads. I took the exam and randomly got a 100% on the exam on Google AdWords. At the time I knew a couple of people working at Google and when they found out about the results they sold Google to me and after I graduated from uni, after a series of tests and interviews, I joined Google and it was my first foray into tech but I was never a techie. A couple of years in, I began to want more from life as I wasn’t going to work there for the rest of my life. “Is this the best I can do” was a question I kept asking myself and at the time, I was going through personal issues. I was emotionally dejected after my partner, who I was engaged to at the time in the UK, and I split up. So, I said to myself, “You know that? I’ve never lived in Nigeria, why not now?” After that decision, I moved to Nigeria after leaving at the age of 7 to create a bond with my parents and get away from the whole ex-fiance wahala while I still had Google as a safety net in case things went belly-up after a year. That was 2010 and I’m still here. When I got to Nigeria, I started as a freelance writer after failed digital marketing pitches to banks. I wrote for AM Newspaper, Guardian, ThisDay and some now defunct newspapers. Shortly after, I moved to radio. I worked for Radio Continental FM and Beat99.9FM. While I was at Beat FM, I was running my production company Film Factory with my brother and we shot music videos and commercials. After five years with Beat FM, I resigned and started working full-time at my production company. While working with Film Factory the lack of being able to get locally sourced professionals like light men, stylists, and makeup artists in other countries due to barriers like language, time, etc birthed Bookings Africa. It wasn’t a deliberate leap into tech but the lack thereof that led me into tech and was more about legacy more than anything. Being able to transfer my energy to people long after I’ve left the earth is something that means a lot to me. Knowing that my work and energy is being transferred to people, impacting them positively, and providing for their families is what I pray to God for every day. Considering that tech was a road less traveled by women did that bother you? I’ll have to talk about mum for a bit because context is important. Have I suffered from it? Yes, I have. But have I let it bother me? No, because mum taught us to look at life through the lens of a cup half full rather than a cup half empty. Mum is half Nigerian and half British. She shuffles back and forth between the two countries so she has experienced both racism and sexism. She never let that impede her and she never let us see it as a problem. So whatever issues other people have I never let it get to me because that’s a “you problem”. Using the UK as a model, in your estimation how many years would it take Nigeria to catch up in terms of gender parity ever being achieved? First off, I think the UN estimates gender parity isn’t going to be achieved until at least 2095. So let that sink in. With that said, we can take tangible actions that can be measured; things like equal pay, but a bus driver can hurl the word Ashawo at me because I happen to be wearing a dress. That mindset is what will take longer to change. Not the financial nor legal inclusion but rather the cultural shift. That is the real problem and the faster that mindset shift can happen the faster everything else trickles down. Put it this way, women make up over 50% of the world population, however, 95% of the world’s economy is controlled by men globally. Sleep with that disparity in your mind and let it guide your actions. For that to be balanced out it transcends legal or financial but that cultural mind shift is going to take centuries to change. So it’s easy for the laws to be amended because those are measurable and tangible acts that can lean towards gender balance but for it to have a long-lasting impact the mindset needs a hard reset.
Considering how ignorant the male society is towards feminism, how do you re-educate men on what it means to be a feminist and what the word Feminism means? Feminism for me is about gender equality. If you are a feminist then you’d want that 95% of the world’s economy currently controlled by men to be split 50/50. You’d want equal pay for yourself and your children regardless of gender. Feminism is the belief that we should all have the same opportunities regardless of gender. So how do you then reeducate a Nigerian man? Once again it goes back to that mindset change which boils down to the curriculum of education we have. We have to be more intentional and so just as P.E (Physical Education) was important for your body, we need M.E (Mental Education) for their minds. A class that teaches you things about sexual harassment and why you shouldn’t do it at the workplace or school or anywhere else at whatever age. This M.E needs to be in place so we are then teaching men and women, young boys and girls, because they are systematically entrenched and don’t know they are being sexist. A clear road map is needed to say what is and isn’t acceptable behavior and what should be repercussions for it. Secondly, those who are in positions to empower women should have a mandate that insists on a 40% representation of women amongst your workforce. We have to be intentional about education and representation in the public and private sectors. Does toxic masculinity rear its ugly head in the tech ecosystem or have you been at the short end of the stick and how have you dealt with it in and out of work? Tech in Nigeria, in fact in most countries is still heavily dominated by men. Fortunately and unfortunately for me, my reason why and purpose for going into tech is deeper than meaning and I can’t let gender play a factor in it. I’ve just focused on the value that I knew I was going to bring. I wanted God to point me in the right direction of people who would see this value and enable me to achieve it my desired way. One of the limitations that I faced was pitching my ideas to investors. Due to the shortage of women in the industry, I was literally the only girl and it was disconcerting. When I was first started pitching Bookings Africa, I had just 7 professions and they were considered “female” jobs. Remember I’m talking to a room full of gentlemen, telling them how to book a makeup artist on-demand but they couldn’t relate until I read the room again and switched the narrative to suit their needs using a barber on demand. However, if I had women as part of the investors it would have resonated with
COVER
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
COVER Put it this way, women make up over 50% of the world population, however, 95% of the world’s economy is controlled by men globally. Sleep with that disparity in your mind and let it guide your actions.”
them instantly because they understand things like having an owambe every other weekend and women need their lashes and makeup done as well as their gele tied and so they’d have seen the value of such a business immediately. I don’t think it’s any secret that many women in the tech industry have felt their gender has affected the way that they are perceived or treated. Have you ever found yourself in situations like that and how did you handle it? I’d refer back to the context of my mum not allowing us to dwell on lack so that’s someone else’s problem. I always believe in the value proposition of what I’m trying to achieve and I feel whether you are a man or woman if you are going to be a blocker then you’re not the right person or it’s just not the right time. Yes, there have probably been instances that I should have paid more attention to but honestly, my mindset is so focused on the end goal that I just dismiss it very quickly and move on. However, I understand that option is not for everyone and a lot of young girls have said the tech space is really difficult for them as they feel outnumbered due to the sheer number of men in that space and don’t feel comfortable in that space. It’s well known in our society that sexual harassment is rife and women are not at ease because in any case of sexual harassment society will turn around and point fingers at them. What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the tech industry? To be honest, I think it’s being able to leave a tangible mark in the world that can mold people. I think that’s the most important thing. If you watch the Social Experiment on Netflix, it buttresses the point that majority of the apps we use daily were built by men. From the flow to the design so we are only experiencing life through the lens of men… we don’t know how subconsciously these algorithms are affecting our mindset as women. Maybe it’s promoting the man’s mindset because we are seeing, living, and experiencing technology from the perspective of a guy. We don’t have the data to show what some of the differences could be if they were created by women. There’s a popular saying, “No war has been started by women” and if that’s the case why not let women try and see how we’d resolve things. We can see in society how trivial things such as likes, followers, and social media validation has increased the suicide results. GenZ has the highest rate of suicide and it’s directly linked to social media. Perhaps if a woman had developed that, she might have built Instagram differently, maybe taken out the like button. That would have directly impacted the rate of suicides but because of the lack of representation at round tables that affect us all e be things. More women in tech will create inclusivity, improve diversity representation and proffer better solutions. Can you suggest some methods or actions that motivate young women to pursue careers in IT? I’ll go to a case study World bank did in Kano late last year in collaboration with Google and Upwork. They were looking to expose tech to women in Northern states. What they had to look at were the nuances in that society and then come up with solutions. Being an Islamic state, they aren’t as liberal as we are in Lagos and some other parts of the country. So what they did was build a female-only accelerator hubs with free training. They then had to go to the leaders of those communities and to get their buy-in they had to get a bus, drive them there, feed them and bring them back. They even took them on a tour around the facility and after getting their support, these women were then able to join. They trained about 50 women on skills like
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graphics illustrations and other digitally lucrative jobs. Now 20% of these women are making income just simply by being on Upwork. Some months prior they had no inkling as to the what and how of these skills. It’s not just on the part of the parents of girls but then the educators to find more inclusive environments for them. How does Bookings Africa help expand the gender conversation in Nigeria and what influence does it have on giving more women opportunities in tech? With the gender conversation, I’d say it helps elevate gender disparity in terms of you being your own boss. Nobody is dictating how much you charge because you put a value on your skills. If you are a girl and you want to charge 2million naira or 1 naira that’s completely up to you. The fact that you can be objective on what you charge or what you earn I think helps balance out the gender disparity when it comes to pay. Furthermore, we don’t necessarily need them be into tech. What we do is, encourage them to utilize tech, enabling them to earn more and in a couple of weeks Bookings Africa will be giving them access to finance. Now a lot of women, especially the freelancers, are young and they don’t have a registered business so they don’t pay taxes which means they can’t get loans. Since there are no records of a steady income, if they go to banks to apply for a loan there is no validity asides from a couple of credit alerts and hearsay. With the way the technology is set up, we allow for automated bookkeeping so you have an automated track record of all the professional services you’ve offered making you more eligible for loans. We are enabling women to be more financially included through the use of tech. It’s been over a year since Bookings Africa launched. What has the company been able to achieve and how does the company intend on using that as a slingshot to help tackle unemployment in the coming years? First of all, we’ve expanded to 3 subSaharan countries and we are the only digital gig-work platform in Africa with video call services. Over a hundred thousand downloads of our app, over 10,000 approved service providers that are signed up to the platform, Provision of over $500,000 worth of jobs in 2020 alone and we’ve raised just under a million dollars in funding. We have over 36 partners across the 3 countries. We spent the better part of 2020 developing those partnerships and now we plan to take full advantage of them. Some of which are,
Lagos Employment Trust Fund, Access Bank, Quickteller and a lot more that we are going to announce over these coming months as each one of them has a strategy to tackle unemployment. One of my biggest strategies which we are announcing this April is my SMARTPOS. Bookings Africa is launching 1000 branded smartphones which is an Android smartphone and a POS all in one. We are giving these phones away for free in conjunction with LACTF. All the recipients of these phones have to do is sit for a one-hour digital literacy training test, once you pass and you are registered on Bookings Africa you get the phone. To keep these phones, you have to spend 30,000 naira a month on the phone for one year. The device will come with apps of the partners, Quickteller, Access Bank and obviously the Bookings Africa App. With the phones, they can be taught how to become an agency banker. Rolling out with the new Access Bank and Quickteller apps updates, Bookings Africa will become an embedded service on the bookings app. Do you have any other tech startups launching? Yes but I’m holding that close to my chest for now! Having worked at Google in the U.K right after Uni and now running a start-up tech company of your own, it’s safe to say you’ve had the best of both worlds. How conducive is the terrain for women across both worlds and what are the common struggles women in tech face there that you also faced when you became a techpreneur here? The UK has been tackling gender inclusivity long before Nigeria. They focus on nurturing the values and skills you bring to the table to help you perform optimally regardless of your gender. It was a culture shock when I moved over here because the disparity and misogyny between both worlds was so wide. You recently became a board member of the Cherie Blair Foundation. How does it feel being a part of such a prestigious foundation that has done so much for women over the years? I’m still trying to process it to be honest. I’m absolutely honored. Just speaking to them, knowing how much their goals are in alignment with mine is practically a blessing. It helps accelerate the plans She (God) has for me and the legacy I’m trying to impact in people’s lives positively. How do you plan on using Bookings Africa in partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation to elevate less privileged women and educate them on how they can provide more for themselves? There’s actually something in the works that is a feature that will be made available through the Cherie Blair Foundation to educate female entrepreneurs. It’s called Herventure and we are looking for ways to partner with Bookings Africa but that’s all I can say about that With you as a board member on the Cherie Blair Foundation, What do you have planned for women in Nigeria and Africa as a whole? I plan that by 2025 latest if you are on my platform, you should be able to double your earning capacity. To have trained over a million women and distributed over two millions SMARTPOS phones. To be a gateway to provide access to finance and the last one is to be able to pay taxes directly to the government in an automated manner on behalf of these freelancers, that way formalizing the informal sector. The 100,000 women campaign is to raise £2million by 2022 and directly impact the lives of over 100,000 women.
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
Models wearing Naked Ape by Sheldon Kopman, SA Designer.
Dress by For Styles Sake, Scarf by My Q Lady, Sandals by K Aspen.
Outfit by Olode and Thread, Shoes by Keex.
Model’s outft by Ejiro, Bag by Marte Egele.
ANANSE.COM KICKS OFF WITH MASTERCARD FOUNDATION AND DHL
B A Model in front of an art work by South African artist, Themba Shabalala. Model is dressed by Ara Emporium.
Oliver Enwonwu, President, The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Latasha Ngwube & Eternal Lagos.
BY LATASHA NGWUBE
eautiful things, made by Africa, delivered globally- is the slogan for Ananse Africa, a startup e-commerce platform that launched in Johannesburg and Lagos, connecting African fashion designers, artisans and artists with local and international consumers. The platform showcases the rich and diverse tapestry of Africa’s creative talent and simplifies international e-commerce payments and logistics for creative entrepreneurs on the continent. Ananse has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation and logistics market leader DHL, to roll out the ‘most comprehensive, pan-African e-commerce platform’ to support creative entrepreneurs and enable them grow their businesses. The Mastercard Foundation partnership with Ananse will empower African fashion brands to sell over 1 million garments over the next three years with 75% sourced from African suppliers and 70% participation from women.
A Model in front of art works by Themba Shabalala.
Ejiro Amos Tafiri.
TV Anchor and SABC Broadcast Journalist, Desiree Chauke (green dress) poses with models.
Media personality and S.A Event MC, Azania Mosaka (R) wears an outfit from Nigerian Designer, My Q Lady.
Art Curator and Online Gallery Owner, Linda Van Beek (R) poses with Urban Zulu Creative Director, Papy Kaluw. Both are dressed by Urban Zulu.
Ndiana Matthew Ify Igwe - Lagos MC. of Aiteo Group. PAGE 11
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
TECHTALK
GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES THIS EASTER
Fitbit Versa Lite As far as fitness-centred smartwatches go this isn’t the worst. At a pocket-friendly price, solid battery and interchangeable straps, this is an excellent Easter gift for anyone.
BY TILEWA KAZEEM
The Lumens Pixel Portable Mini Projector Tell me a better way to enjoy a holiday with the family than movie night, I’ll wait. Why not make it a tradition with Lumens portable mini projector? You can consider this a gift for the whole family as opposed to a gift for one person. It’s capable of producing crisp high-quality videos across all video qualities. Portable and lightweight, it’s a gadget that is worth giving a second look.
A
nother year of Easter is upon us and although there’s more mobility compared to the last year, this year is already looking up for gift-giving and receiving. We all know the difficulties in fulfilling the material desires of those we love and let’s not get started about the funds that will be hurled at keeping up that favourite sibling or relative status. Well, in the spirit of Easter and everything it holds sacred, here are a few pointers on budget gadgets that will ensure you retain your title as the favourite one.
The Tribit Flybuds C1 These are one the best budget Airpods Pro alternatives on the market. Punchy bass and clarity in the audio department check all the boxes. Perfect for that loved one that always has to stay connected all the time.
The UE Wonderboom Just as the name implies, Wonderboom is a booming wonder. It’s rugged and just the right type of loud. These two qualities are to be considered when in the market for a speaker and also, it’s the preferred way audio should be consumed. Another upside, there’s a speaker to go with that projector.
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Nintendo Switch This handheld goes to show that you don’t need a tv screen to enjoy the best video game franchises wherever you are and if you’d rather have your gaming experience on a bigger screen then the switch allows you to do so. This way you are able to share this with family.
VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)
Movie Review:
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
For better or worse, filmmaker Zack Snyder treats superheroes, especially those from the DC Universe, not as human beings with relatable problems, but as gods and mythic archetype figures that have to carry the burden of humanity on their shoulders. His films are grandiose in that regard, epic in scale, but also consequently melodramatic, solemn, and sometimes thunderingly overwrought. To that end, there are great myths to dispel about the nearlegendary Snydercut, aka “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” This infamous director’s cut—demanded by fans for several years until Warner Bros. finally acquiesced last year—has seen itself at the center of the online culture wars. The home team puts Snyder up on the same type of pedestal of god-like reverence, idolatry, and worship that he places his heroes. The opposition, often irritated by the slavish loyalty and toxic fandom surrounding the film’s discourse, is often derisive and mocking. So, likely to the disappointment of both warring tribes, rooting for opposite outcomes (though both will claim victory regardless), “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is neither masterpiece nor disaster. At four hours in length, the film is obviously overlong and self-indulgent. But it is more coherent and watchable than its original iteration and is at least not unbearably grim and overblown like “Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” nor as risible and incoherent as “Wonder Woman 1984.”
Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)
Easter Sunday Playlist
1. Gloria In Excelsis Deo (Angels We Have Heard on High) - Andrea Bocelli
2. I am The God That Healeth Thee - Don Moen
3. Lord, I Hope This Day is Good - Don Williams
4. Bow Down / Holy Spirit - Benjamin Dube
5. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
6. Andromeda - Weyes Blood
7. Oh, What a World - Kacey Musgraves
8. Then He Rose - Elevation Worship
9. Next - Emily Rubye
10. He Lives in You - Diana Ross
11. Up Again - Clean Bandit
12. Father Stretch - Sunday Service Choir
However, despite suggestions to the contrary, it’s not much of a radical departure from Joss Whedon’s 2017 “Justice League’’(JOSStice League?)—the theatrically released version of the film that Whedon took over following Snyder’s departure because of the tragic death of his daughter and his warring with the studio over creative control of the movie. ‘ZSJL’ is very similar, the same story, and only really departs from the theatrical version distinctively in the last act. It is essentially the assembly cut of the same story with two hours of extra or bonus footage. If most films ruthlessly trim themselves in the name of story propulsion, the Snydercut does the exact opposite, including nearly every frame of footage they shot, and luxuriating and lingering on every beat and moment. For example, When Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) meets Aquaman (Jason Momoa) for the first time, an Icelandic group of women sings a solemn hymn for him. You can glean (if you squint) that it’s because Aquaman is the savior of this small remote village, and they are singing his praises. But none of this is explained, and it goes on for much longer than is needed. And that’s the Snydercut in general, reveling in breaths and moments that don’t really help the story at all, but are neat texture at best. And yet, as frustrating as that can be at times—four hours for a superhero movie that could be told in about 2.5 or 3 hours can feel interminable—the unhurried pace has its advantages. For one, if you watch Joss Whedon’s version of “Justice League” before or after ‘ZSJL,’ it feels like the hyper speed-dating version of the movie that rushes from scene to scene with little flow or lucidity With two extra hours to play with, Snyder’s version is much more comprehensible for the story he was trying to tell. This means much more backstory and character development for Victor Stone, aka Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Barry Allen, aka the Flash (Ezra Miller), and much more about Stone’s father (Joe Morton) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams). But there are positives and negatives to that too. Most characters get their own “new” solo moment, but Aquaman’s amounts to the character drinking whiskey in the rain in grandiloquent slowmotion to a somber, moody song. So despite character expansion, the same, rather facile story remains. As much as ‘ZSJL’ pads and fleshes-out heroes, it’s still a movie about finding three magic (Mother) Boxes, recruiting a reluctant team, and bringing back Superman (Henry Cavill) to beat the evil invaders that want to conquer Earth. While it feels like cultural factions have been fighting over “Zack Snyder’s Justice League’’ for years, the winners ultimately will be the fans. ‘ZSJL’ is a fan cut as much as it is a director’s cut, with all the indulgence that the notion applies. As for any continuation of the story, as the fans hope, that seems gravely unlikely considering the direction Warner Bros is headed. But for a director who had to abandon his grand superhero project because of a family tragedy and because a big movie studio tried to wrestle control of the film, which was too much to bear at the time, one supposes, this postmortem collectible for ride-or-die fans, is about as good as an outcome as one could get.
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
BEAUTY BY ONAH NWACHUKWU
Getty Images
SCENT from HEAVEN
F
ragrances come in different types and strengths so choosing the right one can be tasking sometimes. From woody to floral, oriental to fresh, knowing your fragrance family is the first step to choosing the right scent for you. So what is fragrance family you ask? Quite simply put, it is the classification of perfumes into olfactory groups, depending on their dominant characteristics. Then there is also the matter of strength- eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and the rest of them. Here’s a more detailed look at perfumes, their family, and notes. WHAT’S YOUR TYPE? When it comes to perfume types, they can be categorized into eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and eau fraiche. These terms simply tell you how strong the fragrance is. Generally, fragrances are a combination of perfume oils and alcohol- the more perfume oil in a fragrance, the longer it lasts. Let’s go a little deeper into it.
La Nuit Tresor Lancome
Gentleman Givenchy
Cartier Declaration
Frederic Malle Dawn
Parfum
Eau de parfum
Eau de toilette
With the highest concentration of perfume oils, (about 20-40%), parfum comes first on the list of perfume strength categories. It is usually the most expensive and lasts up to eight hours after wearing it.
This is quite strong too. It usually contains between 10-20 % concentration of perfume oils, making it last up to five hours after you wear it.
The perfume oil concentration in eau de toilette is between 5-15%, which makes it less expensive than eau de parfum. Its fragrance can stay for up to four hours on the body, and it is quite popular as a fragrance worn during the day.
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
BEAUTY
Chance Chanel
Creed
Eau de Cologne
Eau Fraiche
eau de fra
This has the lowest concentration of fragrance oil, (1-2%), and it does not contain a high amount of alcohol, water is added to the mixture, as such, the fragrance lasts only a couple of hours.
It has a lower perfume oil concentration of around 2-5%, and as such, its lasting power is somewhere around three hours.
TAKE NOTES
MIDDLE NOTES
BASE NOTES
When we talk about notes in perfumes, we are referring to the different scent layers that make up the fragrance- the phased scent of the perfume. They are typically the top notes, middle or heart notes, and base notes.
This is also known as the heart note- it is the basis or foundation of any perfume and makes up to 40-80% of the final fragrance. The middle or heart notes start to come up after the top notes fade.
Base notes are the smell you remember the most- they create the final lasting impression of the fragrance. The base notes blend with the heart notes, creating the full body of the perfume. Generally, base notes make up 1025% of the fragrance.
TOP NOTES The top notes also known as the head notes, are the first scent you smell when you apply your perfume. Top notes typically cause you to have your first impression of the fragrance. It is the least lasting of the notes.
To be Continued next week
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VOL 1 NO.8 • APRIL 04 – APRIL 10, 2021
websights DOWNTOWN
Relationship Guru,
Derrick Jaxn Caught Cheating on Wife This love doctor got a taste of his own medicine. Self-proclaimed relationship guru, last week confessed to having multiple affairs after fans uncovered his indiscretions. Jaxn, who preaches “Healing & Healthy Relationships,” took to Instagram Monday to confess in a video in which his wife, Da’Naia Jackson, also appeared. “The truth is Derrick Jaxn was involved with other women outside the marriage,” he said to the camera, speaking about himself in the third person. “All of it falls under the category of cheating, affairs, stepping out.” The video, dubbed “cringe-worthy” by fans, amassed 2.6 million views in one day on Instagram, another 600,000 on YouTube and half a million on Facebook. According to reports, online gossip about Jaxn’s affairs began appearing in early March. A lady, Candice De Medeiros claimed to have had an affair with him, after he allegedly told her that he and his wife were separated. De Medeiros claimed that she and Jaxn texted through the summer of 2020, spent his birthday together and slept in the bed that he shares with his wife. Jaxn gained popularity in 2012 after he started a blog about the missteps he made that led him to lose his college sweetheart, Da’Naia. After they reconciled, the couple started a family together and has made it a priority to share their relationship online. Jaxn has written several relationship advice books and posts videos encouraging men to step up and treat women right. Jaxn originally claimed he and his wife were separated at the time of the affair, and posted and deleted a video stating he didn’t cheat on her. But in the latest video, while holding hands, Jaxn maintained that his wife was not blindsided by these claims: She had known about them for a while because he confessed and even left Jaxn because of it. Da’Naia backed him up. “There’s nothing out there that I don’t already know,” she said. “I agree with people saying that there is no justification for bringing other women into our marriage … when I found out about it, I left,” said Da’Naia. “I did not come back until I saw a shift or a change in his mentality.” She has forgiven him, and they have started “a new chapter” in their relationship guided by their faith. Da’Naia would later post a personal video on her Instagram, likening the situation to a spiritual warfare. Spotted wearing a hair bonnet and a camouflage sweatshirt, she referred to them as her helmet of salvation and breastplate of righteousness
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BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
“She looks like she’s under pressure,” wrote one commenter, of Da’Naia. Several people called out the forced-looking hand holding. On Twitter, viewers also reacted to Jaxn’s betrayal with memes.
Here are some of the best ones…
Derrick Jaxn with Da’Naia Jackson
respectively. No one had an idea what exactly she was trying to say but it looked like a clip we’ve seen played out by church wives a good number of times. “I know I cannot build a platform preaching certain things and then in my real life live contrary to that,” said Jaxn. “Those who are saying, ‘Derrick, I don’t ever want to listen to you again,’ it’s totally understandable.” The event however took a whole different turn when he released a reaction video of him sitting in his car (his signature shooting position) reacting to his confession video and addressing himself in the third person. This incredibly narcissistic display was the tilting point for a lot of viewers as they went from feeling disgusted by him to feeling sorry for his wife for having to put up with him. Commenters weren’t so welcome to take his advice in the future. “After all that talking you were doing, you really did your Queen like this??! I’m done!” wrote one former fan. “Wow, he sounds like a master manipulator. His mannerisms are disturbing to watch. I pray this woman has a support system to lift her up and out,” commented another.
There is no telling what is next for the Relationship Guru but if there’s anything we’ve all learned from the internet, it is that it never forgets and people are going to be on standby to make sure that this haunts him for the rest of his career.
the video starts, Saweetie is swinging on Quavo. He dodges the hit, dropping an orange Call of Duty case in the process... which Saweetie tries to pick up. Quavo grabs it, and as they struggle for the case, he grabs her arm and swings her into the back elevator wall, then they both go down. As Saweetie lay on the ground - possibly injured - Quavo stands there without helping her up. Eventually, the elevator opens with a guy standing outside; but he doesn’t get in and the door shuts again.
Quavo and Saweetie UPDATE Quavo and Saweetie’s issues appear to run much deeper than alleged infidelity because they had a fight in an elevator - before they split - and the altercation was all captured on video. TMZ obtained surveillance footage of the struggle which went down at an apartment complex in North Hollywood. It shows both of them standing outside an open elevator, and when
Finally, the door opens on another floor and Quavo starts to get off with the case, using it to keep the door open; and Saweetie picks herself up and limps off. According to reports, this incident went down in 2020 at an apartment building where Saweetie was renting. This however did not stop Twitter from reacting as some women deemed it to be domestic violence whilst some men saw nothing wrong with Quavo’s reaction and referred to Saweetie’s first swing.