THEWILL DOWNTOWN AUGUST 29 EDITION

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

THE CROWN, CURSE &CROSS Ogiame Atuwatse III The 21st Olu of Warri

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

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Call us immediately on 01-2712005 or send an email to contactcenter@accessbankplc.com to report any suspicious phone call, SMS or email. #BanksDontAsk

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

It’s no news that Nigeria is a country with a myriad of selfinflicted problems, which is why we must all use whatever platforms, resources and tools that are available to us to challenge the status quo.

Last week, THEWILL did an in-depth analysis on the kind of President the country needs because this is the type of serious conversation we as a people need to be having. In the cover article captioned “2023: Finding Nigeria’s Next President”, my editorial team discussed some likely key players in the 2023 elections. However, some of these players are the ones that have been in this system that is not working for us. The question I keep asking myself is “Are they what this country truly needs?”

Recently, I had the opportunity to be on a radio and television programme, where I discussed the qualities the next President of Nigeria should have. From my vast experience of over 25 years working in the media space and interacting with policymakers and influencers, I truly believe we need to look beyond the political elite in finding the country’s next president.

We need an individual that has excelled in the private sector, who has successfully managed a big and complex organisation with a track record as a problem solver, wealth and job creator.

Not only this, he or she must understand how to tackle complex socio-political and economic challenges. We have to get Nigeria working again and it is imperative that we start having these conversations now within our homes, places of work, churches, mosques, social circles and communities.

While you take time to ponder the above, do not forget that insecurity in the country has reached an alarming rate with the recent attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the country’s premier military training institution in Kaduna State, by audacious bandits often referred to as “unknown gunmen”.

If a premier defence facility can be attacked, leaving at least two soldiers dead and one abducted, then is any of us really safe in this country? Let that sink in…

Away from the woes of the country, some things are still worth celebrating. This edition of DOWNTOWN honours the coronation of the 21st Olu of Warri in Delta State Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko as Ogiame Atuwase III. Our cover feature “The Crown, Curse & Cross” takes a deeper look at how the newly crowned king has embarked on the journey of marrying the Itsekiri Monarchy and Christianity. You surely don’t want to miss this interesting read and the captivating photos that portray the rich and elegant culture of the proud Iwere people.

This edition also features our usual pieces on Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, and in honour of Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, our TechTalk page features technology for the disabled.

Enjoy your read, stay safe, and have a great week ahead!

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CONTENTS Image From IG @bighstudios

COVER STORY: THE CROWN, CURSE & CROSS: OGIAME ATUWATSE III THE 21ST OLU OF WARRI

FA SH ION

@thisisogannah

Here’s Why Linen Remains The Ultimate Men’s Summer Staple L IVING Exotic Car Brands You’ll Find In Nigeria & How Much They Cost

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Contributing Writers: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

B EAU TY The Benefits of Adding Glycolic Acid To Your Beauty Routine T EC H TA L K

Technologically Abled

R EVIEW

Movie Review: Free Guy

W E B S I G H T S D O W NTOW N

The OnlyFans Dilemma

04-05 06-07 12-13 14 15 16 PAGE 3

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

FASHION

Here’s Why Linen Remains

The Ultimate Men’s Summer Staple An enduring staple with each spring/summer season, wearing linen is now cooler than ever

W

hen it comes to great summer style, comfort and texture both take center stage and linen perfectly embodies those two key components. Although this enduring, centuries-old textile may have seen a pattern evolution over the years, its presence in men’s wardrobes remains intact. Finely woven linen in clothing gained a lot more popularity after World War 1, back when the 1920’s were roaring

Gatsby Suit INSTITCHU

BY DAVID NWACHUKWU and the sweltering summers were derbyfilled. Some of the earliest sartorial cues can even be traced back to the golden age of Hollywood, in movies highlighting escapism and pure thrill. With global temperatures at an all-time high, what better way to stay cool than a breezy linen piece? It’s no wonder fashion designers and influencers alike are opting to create entire collections dedicated to the stylish look and supple feel of linen.

Here’s how you can make this trend your own before summer winds down.

INVEST IN A LINEN SUIT Probably one of the most obvious ways to incorporate the trend into your wardrobe, a linen suit is a stylish winner. Besides keeping you cool on very hot days, it also makes for a strong summer workwear essential. You can pair your linen fit with ties and squares in multiple shades of the same hue just like basketball superstar Dwayne Wade. Find inspiration for a slightly more casual daytime look in this latte-hued suit worn by global men’s lifestyle influencer, Igee Okafor. Like Igee, you can pair with darker-toned moccasins and a sleek black shirt.

Dwayne Wade Igee Okafor

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

FASHION Linen Trousers PAUL SMITH Linen Shorts ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

THE NEW WAY TO WEAR SHORTS Take advantage of the breathability and comfort of linen by sporting a well-tailored pair of shorts. Casual enough for cookouts yet upscale enough for fancy brunches, linen shorts offer versatility as much as ease. 87 Origins pair their shorts with roomy linen shirts, a look that can either be worn with leather sandals or raffia moccasins for daytime.

Linen Shorts 87 ORIGINS

Okunoren Linen Collection

GO FOR COLOUR CONTRASTS JAZZ IT UP WITH A HAT

The great part about wearing linen is not having to take yourself too seriously. Take a cue from Okunoren and venture out from completely monochrome looks by wearing contrasting colours for punchier outfits.

In this case, a classic blue button-down shirt paired with burnt orange trousers makes the perfect transitional outfit from daytime activities to nighttime dinner parties.

Street Style, Pitti Uomo Courtesy Gianluca Senese

A lot of people forget some of the linen looks and styling choices we find super cool today were the unofficial lifewear uniforms of jazz players and musicians in the 1940’s and ‘50’s.

Crisp shirts with revere collars and relaxed fit pants were never complete without the crowning piece. Finish off your look with a fedora or wide-brimmed hat for a vintage feel.

Linen Shirt NN07

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

LIVING Burna Boy

Exotic Car Brands

You’ll Find In Nigeria

And How Much They Cost

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

T

here is an element of excitement that comes with seeing exotic cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Bentleys on our danfo-infested roads.

Seeing one of these luxurious automobiles probably pulls more attention than seeing the president of the country because these cars are so ingenious, rare, and EXPENSIVE! Such vehicles, as alluring as they may be, usually cost a considerable amount of money, and repairing one isn’t a cheap fix either. A Lamborghini’s side mirror is twenty thousand naira more than the national minimum wage of Nigeria.

Given that the mantra of every Nigerian is there’s no money on ground, you would be shocked to discover how many of these vehicles are on our soil.

Here is a list of the foreign cars you might see tearing through Lagos’ streets, as well as how much they cost.

Bentley Starting Price: 100 Million Naira

Tesla

The island part of Lagos is swarming with different variations of the Volkswagen subsidiary.

Starting Price: 50 Million Naira

It would seem logical that an entirely electronic car would repel Lagosian but I guess with Nigerians where there’s a will, there’s a way. I can never forget when I saw one of four models galloping majestically through the GRA parts of Ikeja. I was mesmerized by both its beauty and our resolve as Nigerians.

Tesla Motors doesn’t have a dealership in Nigeria, which means there are no charge stations. What happens when this car runs out of electricity on the Third Mainland Bridge? Do Nigerian Tesla drivers commute with generators in their cars?

I had 50 million questions to ask. The exact amount of naira it would cost to get one.

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Bentley is synonymous with high-end luxury cars and their active model line-up includes the Mulsanne, the Flying Spur sedan, Bentayga SUV and the New Continental GT.

Linda Ikeji

Tiwa Savage

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

LIVING

Brabus Mercedes

Rolls Royce Starting Price of all models: Over 100 Million Naira

Starting Price: 145 Million Naira

Wizkid

Rolls-Royce is the world’s most prestigious super-luxury marque, offering a cabin of supreme luxury and a focus on craftsmanship and material quality.

With its latest masterpiece, the Brabus G V12 900, the tuner is a household name when it comes to modified MercedesBenz vehicles.

In addition to its impeccable build, its models literally ooze with opulence, with names like the Dawn, the Phantom, the Wraith, the more luxurious Ghost, and its aristocratic SUV the Cullinan.

Named after the world’s largest diamond. BMW’s inexplicable je ne sais quoi makes this marque the definition of automobile grandeur.

Toyin Abraham Don Jazzy

Ferrari

Lamborghini

Starting Price: 137 Million naira

Dino Melaye

Owning a Ferrari in Nigeria comes with bragging rights and maybe the personal satisfaction of owning one but that’s all there is to it.

Starting price: 80 Million Naira

Lamborghinis are restricted to the fanciest neighborhoods in Nigeria and only make short-distance cameos due to the economic climate. It’s unlikely that you’ll see one on a crowded street.

Considering the state of the roads and the hugely uneven speed bumps in Lagos, the best place for this exotic supercar is in your temperature-controlled garage.

Runtown

Ownership of exotic supercars in Nigeria reminds me of the scene in Furious 7 where some wealthy Arabs had supercharged automobiles tucked away in a penthouse due to their rarity, as opposed to Nigerian owners too scared to drive theirs because of the terrain.

These cars are so close to the ground that they are one pot-hole and a speed bump away from a custom Flintstone and Ferrari remodel, and millions of naira in repairs.

Davido

Phyno

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

COVER

THE CROWN, CURSE &CROSS Ogiame Atuwatse III The 21st Olu of Warri

Image From IG @itspuffy

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

COVER

BY MICHAEL JIMOH & KEHINDE FAGBULE

W

hen Prince Ginuwa hoofed it from the ancient Benin Empire to become the first Olu of Warri around 1480, he probably left with a dozen or so sturdy men from the royal household. The firstborn son of Oba Olua, 14th Oba of Benin, it would have been inconceivable to allow the prince to embark on that journey all by himself. There would have been provisions for food and other necessities for the journey to an unknown destination.

Equally handy was a coral beaded crown in the prince’s possession, proof of his regal bearing, if he needed to show it, explain to anyone or people along the way. By the time he reached and settled in a place called Iwerre, Ouwerre, and became lord of all the settlers he met there, there was something to place on his head as their newly-minted ruler- his crown from Benin was readily available.

For centuries, the beaded crown has morphed from a rudimentary symbol of authority to a more dignified headpiece worthy of royalty - gold and silver crowns – that has adorned more than a dozen monarch’s heads since Ginuwa’s reign.

That crown is still the symbol of authority for whoever becomes the Olu of Warri, as was witnessed on Saturday, August 21, 2021, when Ogiame Utieyinoritsola (Tsola) Emiko became the 21st king of the coastal city of Delta state. But there was something else that is significant and has been among the paraphernalia of the office of previous kings. The cross!

The emblem of the cross was right there on top of the crown placed on the new sovereign’s head on that weekend. Like the sign of the cross you find in most cathedrals anywhere in the world, the cross was atop the gold and silver cylindrical crown worn by HRH Atuwatse III. And if the sign was lost on all present, the monarch himself quickly made it clear that, though he will perform all the mandatory duties as the overall traditional ruler of the Itsekiris, he will also not forsake his religious belief/ persuasion – Christianity.

It was no surprise, therefore, that soon after performing all the obligatory traditional rites and after his investiture as the 21st Olu of Warri, the new king led attendees at the coronation in a praise and worship session, something close

to what religious scholars might call syncretism.

How Atuwatse III balances the cross, a symbol of his pentecostal Christian faith and the cultural-religious beliefs of the Itsekiris will be an important thing to see.

A man of peace with malice towards none and charity for all, Atuwatse III used his coronation to reverse a centuries-old curse placed on Iwere Kingdom by two of his ancestors, Erejuwa II and Oba Akenzua II. In his telling, Erejuwa II was treated badly by some of his powerful kinsmen who used the might of the federal government to humiliate and banish him from the throne and his kingdom following the outcome of the 1960 election in the area between the now defunct National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the defunct Action Congress (AG) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The AG won the election in the area but these powerful subjects felt Erejuwa II supported the AG and thus moved against him. The aggrieved Warri king went to Benin to complain to Oba Akenzua II, who gave him shelter for the period he was banished.

Both of them, it was said, pronounced the royal curse saying that Warri and, by extension, Nigeria, will never know peace.

Atuwatse III reversed the curse at the coronation that Saturday: “Today, in our capacity as Olu, we hereby avow: as the spiritual, cultural, political and traditional leader of this land, I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, grandson and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II, who was offended on this throne, I reverse the curse placed over this land.

In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the Federal Government of Nigeria, whose might was used to propagate that offence, and I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, and development upon this land. I bring down the

Image From IG @itspuffy

Image From IG @bighstudios

I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, grandson and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II, who was offended on this throne, I reverse the curse placed over this land. In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the Federal Government of Nigeria, whose might was used to propagate that offence, and I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, and development upon this land. I bring down the government of heaven unto this land, and direct it to flow as a force that can neither be sabotaged, slowed nor stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect, emanating from this kingdom to the rest of the Niger Delta, to the rest of the Nigerian nation, and even the African continent.”

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

COVER

Our Yoruba brothers have an expression: when the palace of the king burns down, it is because a more beautiful one wants to be erected in its place. The taboo that was done by the desecration of our most prized crown jewels made a way for a more beautiful one...By the special grace of God, we have the privilege to introduce a new pair of gold and silver crowns, to the already rich and beautiful history of the attire of the Olu of Warri. And as the progression of our crowns is symbolic for all to see, from coral, to silver, and now to gold, so shall there be a spiritual, physical, social and economic manifestation of the progress of our kingdom and people.”

government of heaven unto this land, and direct it to flow as a force that can neither be sabotaged, slowed nor stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect, emanating from this kingdom to the rest of the Niger Delta, to the rest of the Nigerian nation, and even the African continent.”

Laying curses or revoking them is not peculiar to any one religion of the world and any person of means – prophets and kings, shamans and witches, and even parents, can pronounce them. By whichever name – of his forbears or Christ - Atuwatse III revoked the curse placed by the two monarchs, it is an ample demonstration of his readiness to wear the crown as well as carry the cross.

As it sometimes happens after the passing of a king, choosing a successor presents its own difficulties. For one, court intrigues and succession squabbles are common, pitting formerly comradely brothers against one another. Even kingmakers are known to have their own candidates, plumping for one potential successor against another just like political godfathers backing their own man during elections.

Following the sudden death of the 20th Olu in December 2020, the ruling house in Warri was almost torn apart because of disagreements over the departed monarch’s successor. On one side were those who rooted for the 19th Olu of Warri’s son, Tsola Emiko, to be made king. On the other divide were those who made a case for the 20th Olu of Warri’s eldest son to become the next monarch.

Tsola Emiko was heir apparent after his father’s death in 2015. Due to a controversial Edict, so it was said at the time, he was disqualified and his uncle, Ikemwoli was crowned Olu of Warri.

One of the conditions for ascending the throne of Olu of Warri according to that proclamation, for instance, is that a future king must be born of Itsekiri parents or have a mother from Benin. The current Olu’s mother is Yoruba, from Ogun state. The battle royale among the ruling houses of Warri revolved around that clause soon after Ikemwoli’s demise late last year.

Chief Emami Ayiri, the Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) of Warri Kingdom unsuccessfully cajoled the ruling house to follow the rules of the Edict and disqualify then Prince Tsola from contention for the throne.

Such was the acrimony among the kingmakers that a faction of the dueling princes and chiefs purloined even the original crown worn by

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generations of Olus. Chief Ayiri himself was later invited and questioned by the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, Zone 5 headquarters, Benin City, Edo State in connection with the theft.

Concerning the invasion of the palace, Chief Ayiri, and Macgrey Richmond, a senior palace chief were both questioned at the station. Ayiri told the police he was ignorant of the theft, insisting that he was out of town when the said invasion occurred.

“I was invited based on an incident in Warri,” Ayiri told reporters afterward, “which happened to be the invasion of the Olu’s palace, and I told them I knew nothing about it because I was not in town at the time; so, I know nothing about it and I told them I know nothing about it.”

The next most important person to the Olu of Warri Kingdom said: “As a person, I, Ayiri Emami, cannot say that I am in support or not. We have laid down rules and procedures that the Itsekiri normally operate with. So, as Ayiri, the issue has nothing to do with myself.

“The person in question (Olu-designate) is my brother; he is my friend, so, I have no personal issue. When you say Ayiri is not in support, whatever we are doing as Itsekiri, there are laid down procedures and that is what I am trying to do so it is not that I am not in support of whatever they are doing. I don’t have any issue with anybody. It is not about Ayiri; it is

about the people of Warri Kingdom. If they are happy, I am happy; that is why I am the custodian.

“I don’t have any personal issue against anybody. If they feel they are happy, mine is to keep the heritage and that is what I stand for. But if they are happy about it, I am happy.”

The crown has not been found or returned ever since, leaving us to wonder if someone is determined to deprive Tsola Emiko the most important symbol of office that generations of Olus wore as kings. But, as they say, a crown is a crown.

After all, Ginuwa had nothing more than a coral beaded one.

Thankfully, at the coronation on August 21, 2021 (the only Saturday in the entire 2021 calendar that has the date 21 and coincidentally on the coronation of the 21st Olu) the new king let it be known that though the original crown remains missing a new one made of gold is just as good, or even better.

Making a veiled allusion to the sacrilegious act and quoting a Yoruba adage, Atuwatse III said: “Our Yoruba brothers have an expression: when the palace of the king burns down, it is because a more beautiful one wants to be erected in its place. The taboo that was done by the desecration of our most prized crown jewels made a way for a more beautiful one, fashioned by our own royal person while staying true to the inspiration of the one that came from Portugal way back in the 17th Century.

“Before then, however, Olu Ginuwa I, brought a coral beaded crown from the source in Benin, and that crown adorned the heads of the first six Olus.

Olu Atuwatse I brought a pair of silver crowns that would adorn the heads of the next 14 Olus. By the special grace of God, we have the privilege to introduce a new pair of gold and silver crowns, to the already rich and beautiful history of the attire of the Olu of Warri. And as the progression of our crowns is symbolic for all to see, from coral, to silver, and now to gold, so shall there be a spiritual, physical, social and economic manifestation of the progress of our kingdom and people.”

The coronation itself was a stunning success, judging by the dignitaries that attended and the overall mood of the Itsekiri people. President Muhammadu Buhari sent a representative in the Deputy Senate President, Ovie OmoAgege. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, bowed before the new king when he paid a visit a day after his crowning and prayed that he never see another Olu in his lifetime.

His co-first class traditional ruler, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, posed with Atuwase III and later shared the picture on his Instagram page, following up with a congratulatory epistle to the Itsekiris.

“I must pay a special tribute to the newly crowned Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, for his positive disposition and dedication to the unity of the Itsekiri nation,” Oba Ogunwusi said. “As the 21st Olu of Warri, your noble mission of heralding a new dawn of socio-economic transformation in Itsekiri nation is an indivisible value that we all must respectfully pursue. May the centuries

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

COVER wisdom of your forefathers be your unquenchable passion.”

Ogiame Atuwatse III was born on April 2, 1984 to the 19th Olu of Warri, Godwin Toritseju, Ogiame Atuwatse II and Gladys Durorike Emiko. Tall and handsome like an A-list movie star, Tsola has a Bachelor of Arts degree from a university in the United States. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of a string of businesses in oil and gas and much more. But what was glaring to all on the coronation was his regal poise and carriage.

Surrounded by his chiefs and subjects, while standing, Atuwatse III spoke extempore and brilliantly without as much as a punctuation error.

His delivery was flawless, looking straight ahead at the dignitaries in attendance.

In 2015 when the 20th Olu was crowned, he sat on a settee and addressed his subjects from a distance. This time, Atuwatse III stood with his subjects on the podium, a precursor, perhaps, of what his reign will be like.

Also giving a hint of what is to come during his reign is his acceptance of his Christian faith despite his traditional role as the Ogiame of Warri Kingdom. Indeed, it was the monarch himself who led the audience in a prayer and worship session soon after his coronation. For some traditionalists in Warri, it is already a sore point, a throwback to the path his father took eight years ago.

Yes, the coronation of the new Olu of Warri has come and gone. Still, there are apprehensions in some quarters. Before his father died in 2015, Atuwatse II surprised the Itsekiris when he declared that he was done with his “fetish” royal name Ogiamen which he himself chose as title in 1987. In Itsekiri language, Ogiamen means “king of all the sea gods and goddesses.”

As the monarch told his subjects then, he was now a ‘born-again’ Christian determined to follow his lord and savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth. What?

No known action by any sitting monarch has caused such anguish to any ethnic group as Atuwatse II’s declaration did to the Itsekiris then. Faster than the Warri river overflowing its banks at the peak of the rainy season, hundreds of Itsekiri sons and daughters, masquerades and other chief priests in tow, besieged the Olu’s palace and literally forced the monarch to take up his title or else...

He capitulated in the end. But he also built a place of worship, Four Square Gospel Church, in the palace courtyard.

Now, the son seems to have done exactly the same thing, professing his Christian faith just after his coronation that weekend. It is just possible that a member or two of the advisory council would have cautioned the new king against any such thing. But Atuwatse III was resolute in professing his Christian faith not only to his subjects but also to the rest of the world.

Will the Itsekiris react the same way they did to his father years ago?

It is hard to say. For one, nearly all at the coronation danced and sang songs of praise with the king. Besides, some palace officials see no big deal in the king’s Christian faith.

“We have had Christian kings in the past if you understand the history of Itsekiris very well,” Dr. Toyin Agbolaya, JP told DOWNTOWN. “I don’t see it as a big deal at all. God’s project is at work,” he went on, insisting that the “Itsekiri nation is built on Christian faith.”

Even so, there are dissenters. One of them, Omonigho Keyamo, wrote

Ogiame Atuwatse III and His Wife, Olori Atuwatse III | Image from IG @bighstudios

midweek in an online publication concerning Atuwatse III’s bias for his faith.

Alluding to his father’s choice of Christianity over his traditional obligations, Keyamo said: “With the enthronement of his son as Olu of Warri, who himself seems to be a chip off the old block, one can easily see another repudiation of fundamental Itsekiri traditional beliefs coming considering how he burst into Pentecostal songs immediately after he was crowned. If he is such a gifted singer couldn’t he have sang Itsekiri folk songs? The Olu of Warri is enthroned to serve Iwere land and he should enshrine the culture and traditions of the Itsekiris in everything he does…The king is nothing without the people.

The king must carry the people along in the culture and traditions of Iwere land.”

To be sure, the founder of Warri Kingdom espoused no other faith apart from the traditional religious practice he grew up with in the king’s court in Benin from whence he came. Whether or not historical circumstances had any role to play in the monarch’s traditional religious belief is hard to say.

Five years after Ginuwa left Benin, the first wave of Portuguese landed in the ancient empire in 1485 on a trade and Christianizing mission. (It is just possible that were Ginuwa around in Benin, he may have been one of the early converts.)

When the Portuguese arrived in Warri for the same dual mission late in the sixteenth century, Ginuwa was long dead. (It is also possible that were he alive, he may have become a Christian.)

So, you could surmise that the very first Warri monarch was simply and squarely a traditional religious devotee like his forbears in the ancient kingdom of Benin.

Subsequent Warri kings followed in his footsteps, especially religiously. But, as they say, times change.

Change for the nascent kingdom by the waterside came in the mid-seventeenth century by way of the very first Catholic Olu of Warri, Dom Sebastiao Atorongboye. He was said to have had close ties to King Philip II of Spain. At the time, Spain was a suzerain of Portugal. It was King

Philip II who persuaded Atorongboye to send his son to school, Coimbra in Portugal to study.

The prince did not only return with a headful of things unknown to the natives back home but he also came with a Portuguese wife. Dom Domingo Atuwatse I, as he was known, is reputed to be the first graduate in sub-Saharan Africa. His own son, Dom Matias Ludovico Omoyuliri succeeded him as the 8th Olu of Warri.

From then till the midnineteenth century, subsequent kings of Warri were basically Christians, especially of the Catholic denomination, as anyone can tell from their names: combos of Spanish and indigenous Itsekiri names. A few of them were: Dom Matias Ludovico Omoluyiri, Dom Luigi Abejoye, Dom Sebastiao Abejoye, Dom Sebastiao Akenjoye II, Dom Miguel Omagboye, Dom Agostinho Sebastiao Octobia Akengboye and so on.

For more than 80 years, (from 1849 to 1936), no man occupied the throne in Warri Kingdom. By the time another king sat on the throne, the new ruler had reverted to traditional Itsekiri names. Gone were the Doms and Ludovicos, Matias and Sebastiao’s.

Perhaps out of respect for the original founder of Warri Kingdom, the new king adopted the name Ginuwa II Emiko Ikengbuwa.

His successor, Erejuwa II Ayoronmitsi Gbesimi Emiko reigned from 24 March to 17 December 1986 before Olu Atuwatse II Godwin Toritseju Emiko succeeded him in 1987. A lawyer by profession, Atuwatse II, the current Olu’s father, was almost certain of a very long reign. But he had a domestic accident from which he never fully recovered. He died in 2015.

The rights of primogeniture were bypassed in the same year when the late monarch’s sibling, Olu Ikemwoli, succeeded Atuwatse II as the 20th Olu of Warri.

His reign came to an end in December 2020 after he allegedly died in office from complications from COVID-19.

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

BEAUTY

THE BENEFITS OF ADDING

GLYCOLIC ACID TO YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE

BY ONAH NWACHUKWU

M

ore and more people are embracing chemical peels over traditional exfoliators. If you are one of those beauty enthusiasts who have tried a chemical peel at a dermatologist’s office or at home, then you probably know about glycolic acid. It is catergorised under the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) family.

While it is very popular for your face care regimen, it also works wonders on the rest of your body.

It tackles an array of skin concerns on the body including brightening dull skin and smoothing it. And what’s more? Some of them are mild enough for everyday use.

Face Toner GLOW CODE

WHAT IS GLYCOLIC ACID? Glycolic acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), and as you may already know, alpha hydroxy acids are derived from milk, citrus and sugar cane. It is a chemical exfoliating ingredient that has the smallest molecules of all the AHAs and so effectively penetrates the skin’s surface (the epidermis).

HOW IT WORKS ON THE FACE The process works by loosening the bonds (a glue-like substance known as desmosome that holds dead skin together) to reveal fresh skin. It’s important to note that although you won’t see your skin exfoliating, you’ll later notice smoother, more radiant skin. It has even been known to stimulate collagen production at certain concentrations.

In-office glycolic acid peels mostly have a high concentration of about 30-40 percent glycolic in them, and so are used to address dullness, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and mild scarring. At-home formulas on the other hands, although work to also reveal brighter skin, have a less concentration of about fiveeight percent glycolic acid in them.

May Ikeora

PAGE 12

Moisturizing Renewal Cream REVIVE

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

BEAUTY

Anti-Odorant Pads SURFACE DEEP

WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH?

Steve Mason GETTY IMAGES

Clear Skin Clarifying Back Body Spray URBAN SKIN Rx

HOW IT WORKS ON THE BODY The amazing thing about glycolic acid is that it works the same magic it does for the face on the body. It performs the same function as gently exfoliating and removing dead skin. You might think that because using glycolic acid removes surface cells, therefore it will thin out your skin, but on the contrary, it actually helps make your skin plumper.

Chemical exfoliants in general, help to loosen and remove built-up dead skin so that your moisturiser can penetrate better into your skin. So you see, products with glycolic acid are perfect for treating dry, itchy skin.

A lot of the products we use such as soap are alkaline and as such, alter the natural pH of the skin, which is between 4.7 to 5.7. Using an acidbased product will help neutralize the alkalinity of such products.

These days, many people, in a bid to create flawless skin overexfoliate. You find that they practice a routine that consists of using exfoliating cleansers followed by exfoliating acid toners, acid serums, and scrubs.

Unfortunately, this only makes the skin worse.

Generally, the percentage of active acid permitted in any at-home product should not exceed 10 percent.

That said, with that percentage strength, you only need to do an acid treatment once a week. It is important to note when searching for the right glycolic acid product for your skin, that it’s not necessarily only about the percentage of acid in it. Bear in mind that the higher the acid concentration and lower the pH, the faster the shedding of dead skin.

Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment DR. DENNIS GROSS

HOW TO USE IT ON THE BODY

Image From Healthline

When it comes to using glycolic acid on the body, it basically works to improve skin tone and texture, smooth dry skin, unclog pores and prevent body acne. For instance, in a few months we will be in the dry, hot season; be sure to have a product that has glycolic acid to help fight body acne if you are prone to it.

Because AHAs can help smooth dry, dull skin, it is advised that you use it as a daily moisturiser after a shower. This should be applied while the skin is still moist.

Applying an exfoliating lotion followed by a richer cream will help smooth tough skin on elbows and heels.

Interestingly, a glycolic acid cleanser also helps to prevent razor bumps, so use one in the shower as well.

Resurface+AHA Renewing Cream SKINFIX

Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment DERMELECT

Exfoliating Body Wash GLYTONE

Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA PAULA’S CHOICE.

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VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

TECHTALK

Technologically

Abled

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

W

hether it’s flying cars, solar-powered roads, or live size Tesla robots, it’s safe to say that what we tagged as “film tricks” in movies we watched growing up are looking less like tricks and more like reality.

However, It’s not always about the huge technological feats but the little ones. Those things matter and improve the chance of people who are naturally or biologically disabled.

In the spirit of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, here are some of those little technological enhancements.

Oticon More

The WeWalk Walking Cane

The WeWalk Walking Cane Walking canes just got smarter. As opposed to a regular walking cane, The WeWalk is an innovative spin on walking canes. It employs ultrasonic object detection to spot hazards as well as objects at waist height. When connected to a smartphone, the voice assistant can also answer location questions.

This device could easily pass as a piece of highly sophisticated earbuds by onlookers which is good news for people with mild to severe hearing limitations.

Based on 12 million sounds taken from the real world, Oticon More adapts to your hearing to optimize performance. It stands as the world’s first hearing aid with an onboard deep-learning neural network.

Oticon’s intelligent technology platform, BrainHearing, delivers 30% more sound to the brain and 15% better speech understanding.

The Sony X GiveVision SightPlus 2

RUNNING PROSTHETIC Built from components that include carbon fibre springs and a 3S80 mechanical joint that mimics the human knee, users can partake in races or go out for a casual morning jog.

A lot of these types of products will be used by athletes at this year’s Tokyo Paralympics.

SAM Suit Exoskeleton Tech company Arrow and paralysed F1 race car driver Sam Schmidt are working on the SAM suit. It’s an exoskeleton that would help quadriplegic patients like Sam. The suit will make movements like standing and walking possible but there’ll be the need for an assistant. In Sam’s case, he can walk slowly with assistance and drive as well.

TEK RMD

TEK RMD

PAGE 14

As part of a new era of VR and augmented reality, GiveVision and Sony have teamed up for a new version of Sightplus glasses that simulates human vision in near-real-time. The glasses would have 100 degrees of field of view. Impressive technology for the blind.

Motorised Wheelchairs

Ottobock Running Prosthetic

Paraplegics and other walking disabilities can gain upright mobility, greater accessibility, and a new perspective with the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device (RMD).

The Sony X GiveVision SightPlus 2

Nike FlyEase These hand-free sneakers require no stress when getting into them. Just slide your foot in and they stretch and adjust to accommodate your foot snuggly.

Since these power wheelchairs were released, they’ve been the go-to option compared to selfpropelled or manual wheelchairs.

With little to no assistance, this chair is highly maneuverable on whatever terrain- as long as they are charged that is.

Karma Motorised Wheelchair

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)

Movie Review:

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)

Playlist for the week

FREE GUY Cast: Ryan Reynolds as Guy, Jodie Comer as Millie Rusk / Molotov Girl, Lil Rel Howery as Buddy, Utkarsh Ambudkar as Mouser, Joe Keery as Walter “Keys” McKeys, Taika Waititi as Antwan, Camille Kostek as Bombshell, Britne Oldford as Missy, Matty Cardarople as Gamer, Mike Devine as Officer Johnny

F

ree Guy, showing now exclusively in theaters, starts by introducing Guy, an NPC (Non-Playable-Character) who works at the bank in a video game world that’s clearly a hybrid between Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite. Guy has an extremely routine life simply because he’s an NPC. Everyone in Guy’s world is aware of the “sunglasses people” who run around and do crazy, violent things all day.

As an NPC, you don’t speak to one of the sunglasses people unless you’re spoken to and you don’t do anything outside of your routine. But when Guy meets a woman in the game one day, all of his programming goes out the window and he starts behaving like one of the sunglasses people to get her attention.

Outside of the game world, we get an explanation for how it would be even remotely possible for a video game character to act like this. Two real-world main characters develop an indie game where

everything in the game evolves organically and characters can do whatever they want.

Their game is purchased by the company that makes the game Guy now lives in, and the two developers suspect that crazy new technology is being used in this popular shooter without their permission. A race against the clock to discover the truth both inside and outside the game sends the story through more laughs than I could count, as well as a number of legitimately touching moments.

The trailers would have you believe the movie is about Ryan Reynolds, but I’m here to tell you we’ve all been deceived. While he does a very good job being Ryan Reynolds (essentially Deadpool without the costume), the cast truly makes this movie shine.

Jodie Comer is flawless in every scene, existing as both a badass assassin in the video game world and a broke, desperate developer with something to prove in the real world. Taika Waititi does a spectacular job being both hilarious and deeply hated as the tech bro owner of this video game company, while Joe Keery nails being the low-risk straight edge.

My personal favorite, though, is Lil Rel Howry as Guy’s best friend, Buddy, who lacks the confidence to join Guy on his adventures at first but eventually comes through. Even the absurdly wonderful cameos, which include Chris Evans casually watching a Twitch stream of the game and Channing Tatum performing all of the most delightfully awkward in-game emote dances, are perfect.

I was ready to be critical of yet another film not really understanding how internet culture and video games work. But by the time the movie ended, I genuinely didn’t care about the stuff it got wrong because it

Big K.R.I.T. - Justin Scott

Ayra Starr - Bloody Samaritan

Silk City; Ellie Goulding; Diplo; Mark Ronson - New Love (feat.

Ellie Goulding)

Smino - Anita

Saba - There You Go

KAYTRANADA; Syd - YOU’RE THE ONE

A.CHAL; A$AP NAST - Cuánto

Nas; Cordae; Freddie Gibbs - Life is Like a Dice Game Anderson .Paak; Kendrick Lamar Spotify Singles - Tints (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

didn’t matter.

Perhaps more important than whether the movie understands how games work, Free Guy has plenty to say about the state of the video game market in the real world. From indie devs getting bought up and silenced by larger companies to the decisions about whether you should make something good or something mindless to the jabs at toxic men with opinions, Free Guy gets it and does not shy away from any of it. Plenty of serious documentaries and explainers dive into these topics in greater detail, but it’s refreshing that Free Guy casually includes so many of them -- and gets them right.

More than anything else, this movie is just plain fun. I loved the nonstop references to fellow Disney properties and the video game worlds colliding in this one space. And frankly, every single actor is an absolute delight. The movie will mean a bit more to someone who gets the references or is even vaguely aware of names like Ninja or Pokimane, but otherwise it’s a movie that everyone can enjoy. You head to theaters for a communal experience and this is

Hiatus Kaiyote; Q-Tip Nakamarra (feat. Q-Tip) the type of film that was made to be watched and enjoyed with a group of friends who will have fun pointing out the film’s many Easter eggs to one another.

If you liked The Lego Movie or Ready Player One, Free Guy shares some similarities with those. Free Guy excels because unlike the others, it doesn’t feel like it’s a giant ad for Legos or all of WB’s movies.

Make sure you stick around and read the credits on this one. You’ll catch the names of some A-list celebrity cameos that you otherwise wouldn’t have caught while watching the film.

8.5/10 Free Guy is now playing in theaters only.

PAGE 15

VOL 1 NO.29 • AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

websights DOWNTOWN

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

The OnlyFans Dilemma

Sex workers helped popularize OnlyFans. Now their future on the platform is uncertain

O

nlyFans announced they will be banning adult content from October 2021. If you are not familiar with the subscriptionbased social media platform, this is like Domino’s deciding to stop selling pizza.

Why would an enterprise choose to self-destruct in that manner? Here is all you need to know.

The Initial Vision OnlyFans is a content subscription service.

Founded in 2016 by British tech entrepreneur and investor Timothy Stokely in London, OnlyFans is a place for content creators to offer exclusive content that their target audience can pay premium prices for. Creators can lock their content behind a paywall, allowing fans access for a monthly fee or one-off tip.

OnlyFans creators can post different kinds of content that appeal to whom they’re targeting. There are not a lot of restrictions in place, so that makes it easy for content creators to post adult material, which is what the site eventually became known for. When people hear of OnlyFans, they normally think about the adult material from sex workers, models who share NSFW content, and more.

However, that’s not what the site was created for. Anybody can post anything they want to their OnlyFans.

The Finances Involved Sex sells, based on reported company financials, but it also scares off venture capitalists.

OnlyFans remains in the market, seeking what a source close to the company refers to as a “strategic partner.”

The Raine Group, a merchant bank focused on tech and telecoms, between March till June 2021, began

PAGE 16

helping OnlyFans to solicit investors.

Several deep-pocketed firms quickly passed, not even engaging in serious due diligence.

The money it’s hoping to raise would partially cash out majority owner and pornography mogul Leo Radivinsky, while providing management with what one venture capitalist calls “more legitimacy.”

Any other company with growth like OnlyFans would be able to raise big money in a matter of minutes. However, this is far from the reality as OnlyFans has a porn problem, even though it never once mentions pornography in its pitch deck (something that multiple investors called “disingenuous.”).

Some Venture capitalist funds are prohibited from investing in adult content, per limited partnership agreements. Several investors are concerned about minors creating subscription accounts, although the company says it has controls in place to prevent that. Some investors say they could get past the adult content, but worry that the company’s reputation would prevent it from attracting brand partners (despite recently announcing a “safe for work” product that features its growing number of clothed creators).

A counterargument is that Snap (the makers of Snapchat) is now plastered with advertising, and valued at $115 billion, even though it began as a way for teens to share nudes.

The bottom line? OnlyFans is one of the creator economy’s largest and most successful platforms; and investors are content to watch its success from afar.

This explains why a user-generated content platform with epic numbers is struggling to secure outside investment.

The Huge Announcement

On the 19th of August, 2021, the Londonbased company took a machete to its business model when it announced it will ban “sexually explicit” material, beginning in October.

“Not all of OnlyFans’ explicit content is going away; simple nudity will still be allowed as long as it complies with the platform’s other policies,” the company said. Only “content containing sexuallyexplicit conduct” — presumably meaning sex acts on camera — will be banned, it said in a statement.

Asides from its ineptitude in swaying investors, OnlyFans’ decision is also a result of a much wider and concerted crackdown in recent years across explicit parts of the internet, one driven largely by a group of powerful and increasingly assertive companies: The payment processors who, behind the scenes, handle every swipe of our debit card whether you’re paying tuition fees, buying groceries, or, yes, tipping a performer on OnlyFans.

In its announcement, OnlyFans said its decision was driven to build a sustainable platform for the long term. “These changes are to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers,” it added, insinuating that this change was due to pressure from credit card companies.

Seth Eisen, a spokesman for Mastercard, has since revealed that the payment solution company was not involved in OnlyFans’ decision to restrict the content it would allow on the platform.

The Perceived Betrayal And Birth Of A Competition OnlyFans, a website with 130 million users and more than 2 million content creators, has become synonymous with pornography. For

many, performing on the app is a lifeline: Some who lost their jobs during the pandemic turned to sharing explicit videos of themselves on OnlyFans to help pay their bills. Many of these sex workers are now expressing outrage at what they view as OnlyFans’s betrayal of a community that enabled the platform’s massive success.

“What sex workers have learned to do is find platforms where the conditions are at least somewhat amenable and make them their own,” Mike Stabile, the director of public affairs at the Free Speech Coalition, an advocacy group for workers in the adult industry, said. “Sex workers really did build this up.”

Other sites, like FanCentro, have remained more loyal to sex workers over time, by more readily embracing their identity as a website for adult content. Since the OnlyFans announcement, FanCentro has seen a massive boom in people registering with their platform. Whereas before they were averaging less than 70 new signups a day, over the last few days that number has jumped to 5,000.

Since the global COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, searches for “onlyfans” have increased tremendously on Google and OnlyFans reports that between March and April the site saw roughly 200,000 new people subscribing to the site each day, resulting in a 75% increase of new users. Only time will tell if this upward trajectory will continue for OnlyFans but what is clear is that subscription-based social media is a viable and thriving answer to social distancing and our increasingly digital world.

At the time of print, OnlyFans announced that they have decided to suspend their decision.