VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
On Amplifying Magical African Stories
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
EDITOR’S NOTE
I
’ve often wondered what it would feel like to breastfeed. As exciting as it seems, the act has been known to come with some form of pain. And then there's the weaning phase where the mother also has to deal with lumpy breasts, which sometimes is painful because of a blocked duct. Jeez, the many truths that mothers hardly tell their daughters before they have a baby. What we often hear is, ‘labour is painful, but the minute you hold the baby, you forget all about the pain’. No one talks about breast engorgement from your body storing milk for the baby. And let’s not forget the sleepless nights during your first few months of becoming a mother because babies eat every three to four hours. In some cases, especially with boys, you might feed them every two hours. Yes, that includes nighttime until dawn. I think mothers should have such discussions with their daughters from a certain age. When they have ‘the talk’ about menstrual cycles with their daughters (oh, we have a controversial conversation about this and sex on the downtown confidential page this week), the discussion about having babies and what to expect should follow at some point. And because we don’t have first-hand information, women tend to follow so many myths about breastfeeding, most of which aren’t exactly true. So, as we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from the first to the seventh of August, we bring you some myths about breastfeeding and the truths about them. Happy Breastfeeding Week, mamas, don’t forget to stay hydrated and exercise when you have the time.
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
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CONTENTS
COVER DR BUSOLA TEJUMOLA ON AMPLIFYING MAGICAL AFRICAN STORIES
03
16
CAREER 5 SKILLS YOU CAN LEARN AS WE CELEBRATE WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY
MOVIE REVIEW EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE
04-05
15
FASHION SWEAT ‘N’ SLAY FITNESS MEETS FASHION
06
RELATIONSHIP LOVE IN A SWIPE
LIVING 6 TYPES OF FLOWERS TO GIVE YOUR MISSUS
07
DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL BLOODY MARY
12-13 BEAUTY BEAUTY GAME CHANGERS
Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity
Speaking of exercise, staying fit has become quite the trend, so more and more people are hitting the gym to sculpt their bodies naturally in the hopes of looking like Greek gods and goddesses. But it isn’t just their bodies they are ensuring looks good; they go all out with their exercise ensemble too. Everyone is so trendy in their outfit; it almost feels like you are at the new season’s sportswear fashion show. Who says you can’t look good while trying to get your body to look good? See pages 4-5. Until next week, enjoy your read.
Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa +2349088352246
AUSTYN OGANNAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Writers: Kehindé Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Intern: Sophia Edisi Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown
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- Contributing Editor Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.
Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm - Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you. David Nwachukwu @ebube.nw - Contributing Writer David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television. His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design.As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.
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HEALTH FEED THEM KIDS
WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM @bangalee__
@elizabeth_elohor
Thank you
@lisafolawiyo
Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs
- Contributing Writer Uzo Orimalade has a background in Law and Business and spent over a decade working in Corporate America and Nigeria in the management consulting and investment banking sectors. She switched careers to pursue her passion for baking, cooking and home entertaining. She is content creator and host of shows in various media platforms. She has been recognised by local and international media outlets including a feature on CNN’s African Voices.
Thank you
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
CAREER
2. Pretty Hurts, But Beauty Pays The beauty industry has been around forever and is not going anywhere soon. People must look pretty, so there will always be a market for it. You can learn to wear people their makeup professionally; be a makeup artist. The better you get, the higher your rates. And the best part is it’s not a profession strictly for the ladies.
Banke Meshida Lawal
5
3. Style Your Way To Success
Skills You Can Learn As We Celebrate
Just like the beauty industry, fashion is another industry that will never go into extinction. In fashion, you can either learn to sew apparel from scratch or how to style it. Channel your inner creativity and run with it.
World Youth Skills Day BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
O
n the 14th of February this year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, widely known as ASUU, embarked on an indefinite strike. This time next week makes it half a year since then, and absolutely nobody has a clue when students will return to school. This is not a rare sight, however. As a matter of fact, the union has embarked on strike 16 times since 1999. It is almost as if experiencing a period of strike is a rite of passage for anyone who dares to pass through the government education system. We would say “focus on the positives,” but we understand just how difficult that is. However, it looks like the only option helpless undergraduates have. After all, we must learn to make lemonade whenever the government throws lemons at us. In that light, a few young people have taken advantage of the time-out to develop one skill or another. To celebrate World Youth Skill Day this month, here are five skills you can learn with a good return on investment.
Ohimai Atafo Founder of Mai Atafo
4. Try A Vocational Skill For so long, vocational education has taken a backseat to formal education. In Nigeria, a silent stigma is placed on handiwork such as auto mechanic or carpentry. However, having these skills handy is a privilege. Don’t worry; the world won’t end if you change into an overall and crawl under a car to fix it. With proper branding—thanks to the little education and exposure you’ve garnered—you can do tremendous things fixing generators. Register to a vocational school today.
Sandra 'Lady Mechanic' Aguebor
1. Become A Tech Bro You must have heard “tech bro” around. That is because every day, more and more people are populating the tech industry. Can you blame them? Some might say tech is the new oil. They have not told a lie; it is one of the most lucrative industries in the world. And you don’t even need to learn how to code. Programs such as Product Design and Product Management require zero coding knowledge. Take that step today.
Odun Eweniyi, Co-founder Piggyvest
5. Improve Your Digital Presence Last month, we discussed influencer marketing and society’s perception of it. Trust us when we tell you that it is a viable career path. But you must do the groundwork. To become an influencer, you must have a vast knowledge of your chosen niche. However, knowledge will not come to you out of the blue. You can start by breathing whatever you plan to influence people on. Learning several digital marketing skills will also give you an edge. Start your journey today. Noble Igwe
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THEWILL THEWILL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN •• www.thewilldowntown.com www.thewilldowntown.com
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
FASHION
SWEAT ‘N’ SLAY Fitness Meets Fashion BY ABDUL AUWAL With more and more people embracing workout routines, gyms are filled with celebrities and everyday citizens trying to get the right body. And what’s more? They are not leaving any stone unturned as they ensure their workout clothes are as fashionable and sexy as they want their bodies to be.
1. TANK TOPS Tank tops are an ideal choice for workout apparel due to the way they are designed and produced. They often have big armholes and neck openings for added durability. They also allow air to circulate through the cloth during a strenuous training session. Stay trendy while you exercise in new tank top designs.
Longsleeve Cropped Top ADIDAS
2. LONGSLEEVED TOPS Long-sleeved shirts and tops provide several advantages as useful sportswear for ladies. They are frequently composed of high-tech polyester, a moisture-wicking fabric that takes moisture away from the body and does not hold on to your perspiration.
Tank Top CONSCIOUS Nashida
Jazzy Ogaga & Uti Nwachukwu
3. LEGGINGS for
HER
Leggings are excellent for active ladies who are constantly searching for comfy pants that look great.
4. JOGGERS Due to their tendency to be fairly loose, they entertain a more “baggy” style. However, they are now offered in formfitting silhouettes that guarantee increased comfort and flexibility, particularly during jogging or exercise sessions.
5. SNEAKERS All year long, expect to see them worn with joggers, tights, and tees.
Low Loop Sneakers STELLA MCCARTNEY
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Osas Ighodaro
High Waisted Running Tights ON RUNNING Cynthia Nwadiora
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
for
HIM
FASHION
1. OVERSIZED SLEEVELESS TOP This attractive sleeveless shirt will highlight all the effort you’ve put into developing your shoulders, bis, and tris.
2. SHORTS
Enyinna Nwigwe
3. LEGGINGS Typically paired with shorts, they provide a firm grip on the skin while being comfortable and combining superb aesthetics to display your toned muscles.
Grey, the most wearable colour, is used for a monochromatic colour scheme and some of the highlights. Although you may assume the dark-ish shades will let you blend in with the jogging throng, the all-black ensemble is everything but subtle when paired with the matching tights and shirt.
Compression Leggings UNDERARMOUR
4. SNEAKERS Grey Shorts TEN
Go all out with your sneakers. Choose something comfortable and soft to avoid blisters when you work that body.
Odsy-2000 Sneakers OFF-WHITE
5. LONGSLEEVE TEE Opt for a black top is made from a blend of nylon and polyester for a lightweight, elastic top that will quickly wick perspiration away.
Praise Emmanuel Umoh Jr.
Drysense Mesh Tee LULULEMON
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VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
RELATIONSHIP
Love Swipe
in a
THE PROS AND CONS OF THE DATING APP EXPERIENCE BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
ORIGINAL IMAGE FROM ISTOCK
T
he dating scene has always been one with an element of surprise. Remember what dating looked like in the early 2000s before the advent of technology and the spread of various social media apps? At the time, meeting someone new mostly required going outside and having real-life conversations, mentally taking notes to see if your date, whom you had little or no background information of, was going to earn a second date or you’d shake hands never to see each other again. There was no instant messaging and so every time that we made plans to see each other, it was an occasion. Nowadays, the digitalisation of practically everything has seen a huge lifestyle change, and the dating scene is not exempt from it. The instant gratification that has engulfed our generation’s online attitude has seen us get a lot of things done in just one click. The once arduous dating process that usually starts from deciding what local drinks bar to visit, profiling one’s subject and ultimately approaching them to try and form a connection has been overly simplified. Today, just like how
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we can pick up our phones and buy virtually anything from across the world, we can also meet anyone. Thereby skipping all the steps that would have otherwise proven a stumbling block. But has it really simplified the dating experience as we thought? Meeting new people can be fun. Depending on what you are searching for, forming a connection with people with similar interests is quite exciting. However, it is a different ballgame on dating apps. Tinder, the most popular dating app in the world, uses a matching prototype. On the app, users swipe right to like or swipe left to dislike other users’ profiles, which include their photos, a short bio, and a list of their interests. It uses a double opt-in system where both users must like each other before they can exchange messages. Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has quickly become a hub for people searching for quick casual sex, contrary to its original vision of providing people with the potential of a romantic relationship.
Pros: First-option background check It is almost common knowledge just how messy the dating scene is in most parts of the world. For most people, there are fewer datable people around each day. The unending tales of badly behaved dates and the level of ingenuity are at an all-time high. In a sense, the merits of dating apps as a first-option background check are clear to see. Think of the ridiculously high-security gamble involved in going to the bar to meet new people. Dating apps serve as a platform to meet virtually and be comfortable for a while before planning a proper date, ideally armed with most of the information you need to base a judgement on. Although there is still a security risk, as seen in the case of the Tinder Swindler—a man who conned women of their money on Tinder—it is significantly lower. Cons: Normalising a sexist hookup culture Because of the ease of swiping, most people approach dating apps with a gaming mindset. The options are limitless, so the chances of forming a genuine connection with one person are usually very slim. The traditional chase pattern of most heterosexual relationships on dating apps—a man identifying a woman and making every necessary move to gain her attention—is non-existent. This has caused a domino effect that has seen a lot of men become lazy with the ‘chase;’ ultimately breeding a generation of sexist men who see women as an item on a shopping rack that can be easily added to a cart or discarded in a click. Most people’s perception of dating apps is also very casual and sex-focused—many are only on Tinder for a quick hookup. This clearly further pollutes the dating scene and even the traditionally thrilling one-night-stand experience. Love is a beautiful thing; it is important not to get it twisted. And although the criticisms of dating apps outweigh their appraisal, it has the potential to lead to something genuine and long-term. However, there is no questioning how different it has made the dating scene. If you are looking to get back on the dating horse, go out like we used to. Do some living!
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
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DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL
Bloody Mary BY TILEWA KAZEEM
T
he human body’s natural reaction to blood is to recoil; some people even experience dizziness and pass out. The dramatic reaction is known as vasovagal syncope, but that’s not being discussed today, nor is the fear of blood or hemophobia. But I advise you to turn away if you fall into such categories. Look away if you’re the sort to cower behind your hand during scary movies, and you should most definitely turn away if you can’t stomach HBO productions–for obvious gory reasons. The mere thought or idea of this topic caused quite the ado between me, Kehinde (the other only male colleague), my editor, who is female, and Sophia, who is also female. For some reason, they (the ladies) were utterly disgusted by the idea of period sex. As for the guys, not so much. Oh, stop, don’t cringe and contour your face in disgust. It’s not as bad as it sounds, and truth be told, it doesn’t sound ‘that’ bad. It’s understandable that period flows, on its worst days, can look like a murder scene, but nobody knows quite as much as you do. And for a lady to voluntarily consent to menstrual sex, despite her regularly scheduled programming, as a guy, you shouldn’t worry. But then again, it is very subjective. Most ladies I’ve had the privilege of asking if it was something they’d partake in or have partaken in were appalled by it. Whereas the men I asked have partaken in it at least once. A quantitative study carried out by PubMed stated that among the 92 women who said they were sexually active, 37 women said they would never have intercourse during menstruation, eight women said they tried it once but never would again, and seven women said they rarely would and only under certain conditions. The largest group, 40 women, said they do have menstrual sex. In a further study of 12 men, three were virgins, and among the nine sexually experienced men, seven said they did have sex with a menstruating partner. Despite how unclean the holy books have deemed sexual intercourse during menstruation (see Leviticus 15:24 in the Bible and Surah al-Baqarah 2:222 in the Qur’an), a lot of what’s happening today was also abolished and frowned upon sexually, still happens a thousand years later today. Healthline claims sexual relations with a woman during her time of the month offer relief to menstrual cramps, shorter cramps, increased libido and natural lubrication—that’s a no-brainer. In addition, it further states that the mess created by having sex while
BLODDY MARY GETTY IMAGES on your period is its major drawback. Blood may get on you, your partner, and the sheets if she has a heavy flow. In addition to making the bed messy, bleeding might make you feel embarrassed. The fun of sex can be diminished, sometimes completely, by worry over making a mess. I mean, nothing kills the mood faster than blood splattering everywhere—just teasing. While Healthline gives you room to consider your response when your sneaky link says “I’m on my period,” a case study published in the International Journal of Fertility and Sterility leaves rooms for you to opt out of the act. Asides from sexually transmitted diseases, an increase in the flow of menstrual blood, and undesirable pregnancy (which are normal things that occur during sex), there’s a risk of endometriosis; a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. With endometriosis, the tissue can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or intestines. But then again, according to google, this condition is rated as ‘common’ in Nigeria with more than a hundred thousand cases per year and is very treatable. Need I say more? So far, science, medicine and research have okayed menstrual sex. All that’s left is religion, what society knows as taboo, and whether or not you choose to indulge in it. As far as everyone is considered, sex involves various types of fluids and excretions, including arousal fluid (being “wet”), ejaculate (“cum”), sweat, occasionally urine, and even faecal matter (if you’re open to butt stuff). Menstrual blood might seem like a reason to avoid sexual intercourse if it goes against what you stand for. But for the sexually neutral, if you find yourself in such a position, and there’s mutual consent, you’re free to do what floats your boat. When we (Mary and I) found ourselves in a similar situation, we had both just returned from a house party. We had met each other
before through mutual friends and that was it but with the way she grinded into me on the dance floor, it began to feel very familiar. I knew exactly where this was going. The smell of her leave-in hair conditioner and Gucci Bloom perfume intoxicated my pelvis followed by the beat of her waist. And her waist beads followed suit, dancing like those on a shekere. Her thick ass brushed my tumescence with every wiggle and jiggle. The cloak of the night sky is when most unspeakable acts are spoken and that night I was paying attention to what Mary’s body was telling me. Her palm teasingly rubbed the bulge in my pants, before her ass, once again, rejoined the party. Our bodies couldn’t take anymore, they craved for each other like the ear craved sound and like the mouth longed for taste. The words “let’s get out of here,” were snatched from my lips before they had the time to roll out. I liked where her head was at, and another part of me liked where a head would be later that night even more. As we hurried to the hotel across the street, where we both had made plans to spend the night before crossing paths, I faintly heard— who I later found out was her boyfriend—call out to her as we frantically dashed out of the party. Mary couldn’t wait till we got into the room. As I struggled to get the keycard out of my pocket, her tongue was already halfway down my throat. With her heels in her hand and the other grabbing the key from me, she beeped the door open, and we both fell into the room. We were both resting on the door and were too carried away to take a step back before opening it. But we laughed it off as she fought with my belt buckle, and I did the same to her brassiere. She muttered something under her breath which was hard to believe. I played it off at first; perhaps it was a slip of her tongue or my ears playing tricks on me. But then, she said it again, leaving my mouth agape. “I’m on my period.” I was about to retort with “you must be joking, right?” when she added, “But if you don’t mind the blood, we could still do it.” Mind what blood? Please, call me Usher because I Don’t Mind. I accidentally ripped off the latch on my brief hold while getting out a condom before responding, “I don’t mind as long as you are okay with it,” spotting a coy smile.
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VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
COVER
D
Dr
Busola Tejumola
On Amplifying Magical African Stories
STORY BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
“The viewership of Big Brother Naija has been compared to that of the American Superbowl, and that says a lot,” Busola Tejumola says of the most-watched show on African TV. Yes, it does say a lot. Her work as the Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice Nigeria Limited has ushered in a lot of good tidings not just in telling authentic Nigerian—and by extension African—stories but also in exporting them to a global audience. In an insightful chat with DOWNTOWN’s Editor, Onah Nwachukwu, Dr Tejumola discusses her’s and the Pay-TV giant’s role in elevating the entertainment industry by making West African content, especially Nigerian, easily accessible across the continent and the world at large. PAGE 8
r Busola Tejumola’s educational background indicates her professional career’s thorough foundation. Having earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Ibadan, she got her Master’s from the University of Surrey before earning herself a doctorate, PhD, from Brunel University in London. This was at the same time that she began her career at MultiChoice. She talks about how she got the job. “I got a call from MultiChoice; that’s how I got in. They had a gap and a new role: Consumer Insights Manager, and I interviewed for it. I’ve always been curious and always loved data. And based on my education history, and at the time I had started my PhD, I was already research-based.” Now the Executive Head of Content And Channels West Africa, Tejumola’s influence across the West African channels on various MultiChoice platforms cannot be overstated. Her stamp of approval, which usually comes on the back of extensive research, is needed for what we watch on all seven Africa Magic channels dedicated to the Nigerian film industry and two Akwaba channels for Ghanaians. She describes her role in-depth, “the role is really driving the content strategy for Nigeria and the original
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COVER channels in Ghana. By content strategy, I mean, what kind of content are we creating? We rely heavily on data, and invest heavily in research and development, so based on our data, we have the trends and insights; we know what people watch, when they watch it and why they watch it because we commission research as well. What kind of content people like, what we have, how it’s performing, what we don’t have and how it can potentially perform. So it’s really that fine art of balancing what data says, what we have and what we should potentially put on the platform–DStv and GOtv. It all fits into that one bucket of who is our target audience, what is their socioeconomic class, how do we reach them, how do we address them, and what kind of content would they like to watch? What kind of content do we need to produce or acquire across our seven Africa Magic channels and two Akwaba channels. You do know that we target the urban contemporary. Still, we are also very intentional about the hyper-local, which is the content from the regions, and that explains having three language channels that cater to some of those regions. But we know that we cannot commission or produce all the content that exists, so we also make sure that we partner with producers in the creative industry, which again drives what we do in the industry. Asides from producing and acquiring already produced content, we are also an aggregator on a broader scheme. Meaning we also onboard existing third-party TV channels that come onto the platform to help us fill those gaps and help us address the different segments we have identified through our research. The role is taking a holistic view at the business, the content that drives the business, and how we just make sure that we continue to grow that.”
its first season aired, switching homes from M-Net to Africa Magic on its comeback. Head of Production of Africa Magic at the time, Busola Tejumola, was trusted with remodelling the show. She speaks about MultiChoice’s partnership with the format owners, Banijay, and shares the key to the show’s successful revival. “The Big Brother franchise has just proven that it is possible that we as a country, as Nigerians, can produce world-class content that will resonate across the continent, and if I dare say, across the world, because it is also consumed by Africans in the diaspora. The viewership of Big Brother Naija has been compared to that of the American Super Bowl—the most-watched annual sporting event in the world—and that says a lot. The group (Banijay) had licensed Big Brother Africa for almost 10 years, but at some point, it was discontinued. However, we knew that localising the format would revive it and resonate with the local market audience. It was primarily targeted at Nigerians, but we found that it’s now targeted at Africans. It’s been seven years of creativity, and I would say that without creativity, I don’t think the show would even resonate or be as engaging as it is, so we work with the best creative minds across all our productions. It has been a key economic driver for the country in terms of the investments in the studios over the duration of the show; it’s a great contributor to the economy of Nigeria. Suppose you’re looking at the ecosystem that makes up the show alone. In that case, you’d obviously go from the contestants to everyone who works behind the scenes, to the fashion industry because now they have costumes for the weekly parties, food, the sets that are built, the tasks that we watch every day; there’s a lot that goes into it. There are a lot of skill sets that are pulled together to make that show happen. It’s a show we know we have gotten right by localising it. The more we localise, the more we see that it resonates with our audience, and the more we’re able to export the urban pop culture for Nigerians. So it’s a show we are very proud to always produce as long as we keep licensing.”
“I always tell the people I mentor that everyone’s dreams are valid. However, a DREAM WITHOUT an EXECUTION PLAN or knowledge remains what it is, a dream. So yes, I’m a big dreamer and risk-taker. Everything is impossible until it’s done; that is my mantra.”
MultiChoice has grown tremendously over the years, and as a Pan-African Pay TV, one would expect that they have an almost uncountable amount of content. So why do they recycle content so much? “There is a global repeat strategy, so this isn’t peculiar to MultiChoice or Africa Magic. Imagine if any pay-TV worldwide acquired one title and showed it once, and that was it. Because of the way the day parts are measured on TV, you have a whole day and the primetime. We understand that people watch TV at different times of the day, and at those times, we have different audiences. So imagine if it was shown once, and that was it. It wouldn’t even be worth the producer’s while because they produce their work so that people can see and enjoy them. Even our viewers wouldn’t have an opportunity to watch it. And so that repeat strategy is a global one that you’ll find everywhere in the world. We make sure that we always have the premiere slot for any content, and then repeat it because we understand that we have different audiences watching TV at different times.” She says as she breaks down why we all have, at some point, come across the same title one too many times. One show that rarely gets recycled, however, is the highly coveted Big Brother Naija, a localised version of the global Big Brother franchise, which had initially come to Africa as Big Brother Africa, to get the whole continent involved. The show got its sophomore season eleven years after
Big Brother Naija is not the only success story MultiChoice can boast of. Dr Tejumola tells us just how instrumental the pay-TV company has been to the growth of Nollywood for the past 25 years since they came into Nigeria. “We were the first to create the platform that we see now has advanced the exportation of our content to the rest of Africa and the world beyond. If you look at it retrospectively, the growth of Nollywood and that of MultiChoice and Africa Magic go hand in hand. So we continue to invest in the industry, and the industry continues to thrive and grow. Are we the only players? No, but we are big contributors to the creative industries—the film and music industries. Gone are the days when music videos had to be taken with a hard drive to TV and radio stations to be aired. We’ve created that platform for people to be able to deliver their music videos and for people to see this content. A few decades ago, we would wait till 4 pm before we could watch TV if you remember those times. But with the advent of Pay-TV, with MultiChoice coming into the market, we have created that platform that has made our content accessible not only to Nigerians anywhere they are in Nigeria but also to Africans. And now, through our new technology, our streaming services, to the world. We can always see the exploits of Nigerians in the entertainment industry and how Nigerian songs are dominating airwaves within the continent and beyond. We are also seeing now that Nigerian movies are also gaining popularity in cinemas abroad, so you’ll find a Yoruba movie premiering in London. How did it get there? It is because we originally created that platform and accessibility to the content for Africans in the diaspora and by extension, for the global audience to see what we have, and that has put a spotlight on Africa and Nigeria.” As Dr Tejumola mentioned, another route MultiChoice has taken to export local content exponentially faster is introducing a digital streaming platform called ShowMax. Thanks
If you are an avid follower of the show, you’d know how commonplace it is for each season to come with a new plot—last year, wild cards were introduced. This year, there are two seperate houses and viewers can alternate between two dedicated channels. When asked what the fans should be expecting this season, Dr Tejumola didn’t exactly give a lot away, “feel free to let your imaginations run wild, but expect the unexpected. I will say that we make sure that we take the show a notch higher in terms of its creativity and look and feel, so every season is different, and every season has its unique theme. This season already has its unique theme, which will drive many of the creatives we’d see and experience this year. The house, as always, will look beautiful and different as it always does every year.”
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COVER we already had DStv Now, Box Office and Catch-up. You could say it’s not the same as streaming, but then technology has evolved. But you’d see that we have always been ahead of that curve. We’ve always had connected video. What we always will do is also evolve with the advancement of technology.”
to streaming, Africans in the diaspora can easily access their favourite titles anytime; and they are not left out of the trend. Dr Tejumola reintroduces the platform as she also shares insight on Nigeria’s acceptance of streaming culture. “Regarding streaming, we have ShowMax, which is our Xbox platform. Will it take the place of Pay TV? In the short term, I don’t believe so. Suppose you look at the landscape of Nigeria, speaking of the number of households who have TV, mobile phones and access to the internet. In that case, I think we still have a long way to go before we get to the conversation around ‘will streaming take over linear?’ At the moment, I think that they will play hand in hand. At some point, as the internet penetration increases in Nigeria, we’d see that there will be an expansion of streaming services and their accessibility. But for now, they are very low in the entry levels, but data is still not as accessible as it should be. ShowMax is already in 50 countries in Africa and the diaspora. We will continue to put our content there, play in the space, and evolve with technology. We have something for everyone; that’s what we say and live by. By that, we mean there is content for everyone and technology for everyone. We are innovation leaders. If you look at our history and trends, you’ll see that we’ve been ahead in innovating and technologically as a business. And obviously, it’s a no-brainer that we are already playing in that space (the streaming space) as well. Even before the streaming industry became what it is now,
Today, ShowMax is in direct competition with several other streaming platforms globally. Although she dismisses that notion, citing that their competition isn’t just the influx of these streaming giants. But how do they intend to keep and grow their subscriber base in this viciously competitive space? “We will continue to remain innovative; this is what we do. It is who we are. It is in our DNA to remain innovative and enrich lives, so in every sphere of what we do, we will ensure that we continue to enrich lives, either through our productions, training, our MultiChoice factory or the many productions that we commission. Streaming services are not the only competition that we have; we don’t view direct competition as just the streaming services. Even airtime is a competition because a subscriber sits down every month and decides whether to pay for entertainment—be it ours or the competition’s— whether to pay airtime, rent, buy food, or pay for something. So you see that we view competition more holistically than just our direct content competition. These are the factors that I believe we need to continue to weave into what we do, continue to assess and to adapt with the environment that we operate in. We will
anyone to any platform. It is the content people are after. So at some point, we know that we will get to a point in the world where the content function will be hardware agnostic. It wouldn’t really matter what platform it’s on; people will follow the content. And so we are very deliberate and are still very grounded in producing and commissioning content as we always have. I believe that we are the single largest Pay-TV company in Africa that has the highest number of content hours in the library. We’ve been doing this for over 25 years, so we have hundreds of thousands of hours banked in our library. So we won’t stop producing now; we won’t stop creating that content.” As a key contributor in the industry, Africa Magic is also known for hosting the biggest night in African film and TV for the last eight years, the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. The gala’s pull power in bringing together the most prominent names in the African film industry is unrivalled. However, for this year’s ceremony, which happened in May, the itinerary was split across eight separate days in a novel programme of arrangement. Dr Tejumola explains what the idea behind that move was, saying, “The idea behind unbundling the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards; I’d call it unbundling because a lot of these things were already happening, but most of them happened on the night and were all moulded into one event. And so yes, we had the opening for our sponsors, and then we had the main award. If you look at how far it’s come, you’d see the role it has played in the industry. When you win an AMVCA, you want to do better. The more you recognise and reward excellence, the more you raise the bar for the next crop of productions you will see in the market because everyone wants to be at the standard of content that wins an award anywhere in the world. If you look at the journey of the AMVCAs, we felt that it was a critical time for us to unbundle it and celebrate the other industries that feature or play in the film and TV industry. The events were intentionally created that way. So we started with the opening, which we always do, and then we had the fashion show. Fashion, we know, plays a very big part in the AMVCAs. The red carpet is one that always sparks conversations and trends that go beyond the borders of Africa. And so we just felt that the festival would celebrate cultural excellence and spotlight these different industries. So for the fashion show, for example, we showcased how fashion has evolved as an industry over the last seven editions—you’d be surprised at what we used to wear to the AMVCAs in 2013. As always, we also had a competition to celebrate and encourage budding designers because, again, we always enrich lives. So we enriched the lives of nine contestants that got selected and paired with fashion industry coaches such as Ohimai Atafo, Lanre Dasilva and Bayo Oke Lawal. These are strong voices in the fashion industry, and anyone they coach knows they are on their way to success. So it wasn’t only about the designs or the fashion; it was also about the business of media. And then, on the next day, we had our ‘young filmmakers day’ that was powered by our MultiChoice Talent factory. The MultiChoice talent factory has a vision to upscale the young talents and the future of the creative industry. And the more they are grounded, the more they have the world-class training that we
"Content is always subjective, so THE CREATIVES need to know who their TARGET AUDIENCE is. They need to ensure that they are going with the industry standards with whatever they produce. I know that for MNet, Africa Magic, we have set the standards at least for entry levels, so there are benchmarks to look out for...YOUR STORY MUST BE RELATABLE, well-thought-out, engaging or compelling, whether in Hausa, Kanuri, Ijaw, or English."
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continue to produce content and ramp up our productions, production values, quality, and volumes. We will continue to provide premium entertainment across all genres and socioeconomic classes in the market. So whilst we know that certain services are targeted at the upper class, we’ve got the whole pyramid to cater to, down to that person who goes out in the morning as a mechanic, has a family at home and values family time on TV. We already know that content is the primary driver; it is what takes
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COVER give them, the better for the industry. So we got the potential young filmmakers all in a room; they had a masterclass on scriptwriting and storytelling by Grant Housley, who is a producer, director, and writer for Paramount Studios in Hollywood. It was a very insightful day for them. For some of them, it got them thinking about what they really wanted to do and how they would achieve it, and just the fundamentals and foundations of storytelling. So we felt that that was very important to cater to that segment of the creative industry—the young. Then we moved to ‘digital content creators,' a new category this year. This is almost a new industry on its own, and as always, we are at the forefront of encouraging and making sure that it becomes an industry that thrives and has the right foundation. So we had a panel that day talking about the journeys of the content creators, why they do what they do, and what the future holds. Our keynote speaker was Mr Emeka Mba, the former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission. He gave very insightful nuggets that day. We started conversations that will be thought-provoking for that segment of the creative industry. What next? What is the future of content creators? Can we transition some of them to TV, and how do we do that? Then we moved to our’ content market day.’ As you know, across our seven Africa Magic channels, about 80 per cent of the content on there is acquired, and they are acquired by producers in the industry. So it was important for us to re-educate them on our criteria, standards, the evolution of the film industry, and the kind of content they should produce. So it was a really good engagement with the producers for the industry. On Thursday, because May was African month, we had to celebrate the diversity of African culture. We had dance troops from different parts of the continent and people who came with poetry from Kenya and other parts of Africa. It was a night of glamour, fashion and culture. On Friday, we had a sit-down with the Hollywood talents that came through for the AMVCAs. There were five of them: Tasha Smith, Sidra Smith, Bayo Akinfemi, Brandon Micheal Hall, and of course, Grant Housley. The reason why we brought them through is that we know that it is time for the collaboration to start. We have been scratching the surface, but it is time to start telling our stories in a way that we want the world to see it. And Hollywood tells African stories for us the way they think they should be told. But bringing them here was really eye-opening for them. It has birthed a lot of collaborations already, and we see that there is a synergy, and that is this wealth of untapped stories that we have and can tell. And so, there will be skills transfer and that amplification of the African content to the global audience. And then finally, we had our AMVCAs which really just recognises and rewards excellence in the creative industry.”
creators looking to someday win the coveted AMVCA. How do they go about it, and who best can provide the how-to? When asked for a guide for content creators looking to find a home in MultiChoice, Dr Tejumola says, “We look out for great stories. There is always a target audience for anything that is created. Content is always subjective, so the creatives need to know who their target audience is. They need to ensure that they are going with the industry standards with whatever they produce. I know that for MNet, Africa Magic, we have set the standards at least for entry levels, so there are benchmarks to look out for. So creativity does go a long way; it needs to be strong. Your story must be relatable, well-thought-out, engaging or compelling, whether in Hausa, Kanuri, Ijaw, or English. We watch movies or series that are not even in English. We don’t understand a word but sit through it because the stories are universal. Continue being innovative. We have an accessible platform, a portal that accepts pitches, and we acquire content for all of our Africa Magic channels. So we have many outlets for the distribution of content that is already produced. Our offices and emails are open, we have our studios, the portal, and there are quite a few outlets from which we can receive stories or produced content, but it starts with telling that one good story.” Dr Tejumola’s role as an African story amplifier has been quite impactful. Her rise through the ranks at MultiChoice is nothing short of impressive too. What has the journey been like for her so far, one might ask? “It has been an interesting journey, one of growth, self-discovery, and just really expanding my capacity—as a person and in my skill sets and experience. Consumer insights is basically research, finding the insights in the market, how they tie into the business, the opportunities, the gaps in the market as a whole, and how we as a business could
and somehow, that took me into the strategy room. And so, from the consumer insights, I became head of strategy, which was basically running with the strategy for Nigeria, making sure that certain projects that did not necessarily fit within any unit didn’t fall through the cracks. An example is what we now know as pop-up channels or holiday channels. We started with Carnival Calabar, and before we knew it, we found that a lot was going on in Nigeria that people didn’t see except for people who physically attended. So it’s been a great journey of showcasing what Nigeria has in terms of content, culture and talent because, really, if we don’t put this on TV, it is difficult to find its way to the mainstream.” When asked about some of the traits and strategies that have helped her through her illustrious career, she revealed, “One is mentorship. I have a few mentors who themselves are really strong in their fields. Everyone needs some kind of guidance in their career. I read a lot, so also reading has helped. But it also starts with just aligning my personal values with that of MultiChoice. I think that’s one of the reasons I even joined the company in the first place; it was because I saw that the values of MultiChoice and mine aligned. So it’s one just always dreaming. I always tell the people I mentor that everyone’s dreams are valid. However, a dream without an execution plan or knowledge remains what it is, a dream. So yes, I’m a big dreamer and risk-taker. Everything is impossible until it’s done; that is my mantra. Those three things have really helped and have shaped me in my growth. My quest for knowledge, mentorship, and just dreaming of what I want to do and how to get there.”
"The viewership of BIG BROTHER NAIJA has been compared to that of the AMERICAN SUPER BOWL—the most-watched annual sporting event in the world—and that says a lot.. we knew that localising the format would revive it and resonate with the local market audience. It has been a KEY ECONOMIC DRIVER for the country in terms of the investments in the studios OVER THE DURATION OF THE SHOW."
Getting their craft on Africa Magic is a significant first step for potential content
maximise some of these opportunities. But as time went on, it became very evident that there were some emerging themes that we weren’t necessarily paying attention to in the market,
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VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
BEAUTY
BEAUTY GAME CHANGERS BY SOPHIA EDISI
The beauty business thrives on new beauty products, but focusing on what’s effective and makes us look and feel better is important. Beauty trends come and go, however, these classics won’t be going out of style anytime soon. These products are so good that they have changed the typical beauty routine and should always have a spot in your beauty cabinet.
TINTED MOISTURISER Tinted moisturisers are lighter than your normal foundation, but they offer just the right amount of coverage. They are super-effective, and the fact that it gives an airbrush-like finish that isn’t thick or greasy, with incredibly impressive medium to full coverage and a natural finish, makes it the best alternative for your make up base. Let’s not forget that it also keeps your skin hydrated.
BROW GEL Brow tamer has completely changed the beauty aesthetic. Whether you are going for a soft or full makeup glam, a clear brow gel will instantly set, shape, and hold your brows intact all day. Get yourself a gel brow gel to perfect your look. It makes even the messiest application look natural. Browbang Brow Gel ZARON
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Beta Brow Mascara NUBAN BEAUTY
Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer NARS COSMETICS
VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
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BEAUTY MICELLAR WATER
DERMA ROLLERS
Using Micellar water with or without makeup will effectively cleanse and tone the skin. The multi-functional use of the products makes it one of beauty’s best game-changers. Micellar water works as a makeup remover, toner, facial cleanser and moisturiser, all in one bottle.
They revitalise and refresh your skin complexion whilst giving you the spa experience without having to pay for expensive treatments in the comfort of your home. Applying a serum or moisturiser before using a derma roller to massage your face for a minute can help tone, lift and relieve facial muscle tension.
Rose Quartz Face Roller SEA SUN
Stainless Steal Massage Roller JADE ROLLER Micellar Water ZARON
True Match Tinted Serum L’ORÉAL
CREAM BLUSH The magic is in how you prep and set your skin. For a natural and soft look, cream blush is your best bet; it looks more natural than powdered blush. They are smoother in texture and melt seamlessly into the skin, adding a natural, skin-like pop blush finish to your makeup.
Liquid Blush ZARON
UNDER EYE MASK Adding an under-eye mask to your skincare routine will help improve the appearance and overall condition of the skin under the eyes. The mask contains ingredients designed to hydrate and lock in moisture absorbed into the skin. While it may not provide a permanent solution, the regular use of an eye mask relaxes the muscles in the eye area and keeps the visible signs of stress and fine line at bay.
Soft Focus Cream Blush MORPHE Hydra Gel Eye Patches PETER THOMAS
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VOL 2 NO. 31 • JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2022
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
HEALTH
Myth #4: Babies who have been breastfed are clingy. Fact: All babies are different. Some are clingy, and some are not, no matter how they are fed. Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for infants and is important for brain development. Breastfed babies are held a lot, and because of this, breastfeeding has been shown to enhance bonding with their mother, United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, explained.
Myth #5: Giving the breast a nursing “rest” can help ensure more milk. Fact: The more you nurse, the more milk you make. Breaking your regular nursing schedule to ‘rest’ the breast actually may decrease your milk supply. The only way to ensure a steady supply is to keep expressing milk as regularly as you can. You should nurse at least nine to 10 times a day to ensure milk production.
Myth #6: You should only eat plain food while breastfeeding. Fact: Like everybody else, breastfeeding mothers need to eat a balanced diet. In general, there is no need to change food habits. Babies are exposed to their mothers’ food preferences from the time they are in the womb. If a mother perceives that her baby reacts to a specific food she eats, it is best to consult a specialist.
Myth #7: Breastfeeding will cause your breasts to sag.
TBoss Idowu
FEED THEM KIDS 10 Breastfeeding Myths That Are Just Not True BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
A
t some point in most mothers’ lives, the topic of breastfeeding comes up, and they are made to sit through all kinds of advice and opinions. “If you don’t breastfeed your child for up to six months…” Several things have been said about breastfeeding. In fact, medical practitioners have their work cut out for them as word on the streets can be very loud and convincing when they pose as the facts.
also have decreased appetite, irritability and anxiety. These symptoms tend to get better on their own before the end of the second week. If the symptoms do not improve or worsen, contact your OB-GYN to talk about postpartum depression and anxiety. Caused by hormonal shifts, lack of sleep and the adjustment to becoming a parent, postpartum depression can be treated with breastfeeding-safe medications and counselling.
You acquire a lot of new information just by having an OB-GYN on speed dial. For mums, it is mostly about understanding their anatomy and the child. After all, only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
Myth #2: It’s usual for breastfeeding to hurt – sore nipples are inevitable.
With expectant mums, however, it is a lot of hearsay. For them, and the dads that bother to be a part of the lactation conversation, the noise from outside (read: society) frequently overrides the truth. To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, we are discussing some of the most popular myths about breastfeeding.
Myth #1: All mums feel happy and blissful in the days after giving birth. Fact: Many new mums, up to 80 percent of them in fact, actually feel sad, stressed and overwhelmed in the days after birth—this is called “the baby blues.” A mum with the baby blues may
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Fact: Many mothers experience discomfort in the first few days after birth when they are learning to breastfeed. But with the right support in positioning their baby for breastfeeding and making sure their baby is correctly attached to the breast, sore nipples can be avoided. If a mother faces breastfeeding challenges like sore nipples, support from a lactation consultant or other skilled professional can help them overcome the issue.
Myth #3: Breastfeeding spoils babies if you do it for too long. Fact: Research shows that breastfeeding helps babies and toddlers form trusting, healthy bonds with their mothers. There is no evidence that breastfeeding babies for a year or longer cause any negative effects.
Fact: Droopy breasts are a result of pregnancy because hormonal changes cause the ligaments underneath them to loosen and stretch. As you gain weight and your breasts become larger and heavier, they may begin to sag. When you first begin to nurse, your breasts may become swollen with milk (a temporary process called engorgement) and grow larger; however, they’ll diminish in size once you’ve established a solid breastfeeding routine. After you wean your baby, your breasts will become softer, and you can expect them to return to their pre-pregnancy size unless you’ve gained or lost a significant amount of weight.
Myth #8: You should wash your nipples before breastfeeding. Fact: Washing your nipples before breastfeeding isn’t necessary. When babies are born, they are already very familiar with their own mother’s smells and sounds. The nipples produce a substance that the baby smells and has ‘good bacteria’ that helps to build babies’ own healthy immune system for life.
Myth #9: Don’t wake a sleeping baby to breastfeed. Truth: Unless your baby is older than three months and a wellestablished breastfeeder, this statement is not true. In the first couple of days after birth, your baby will sleep a lot. In order to create a regular breastfeeding routine and provide your baby with the necessary energy, you need to wake up your sleeping baby. Allowing a baby to continue to sleep and have longer periods between feedings could actually make them sleepier, and this can become a problem. In the days following birth, mothers need to wake the baby, provide them with nutrition and establish a feeding routine, chla.org also stated.
Myth #10: Frequent nursing causes a child to be obese later in life. Truth: Obesity results from a variety of complex factors, some genetic, some environmental, social, or psychological. In most situations, it is a result of the body receiving more calories than it needs for extended periods. Because glucose (the fuel our body uses) is actually damaging to our cells if it’s in our blood at too high a concentration, our body stores it as glycogen in fat or adipose tissue. Frequent breastfeeding by babies is normal, with research showing babies will breastfeed 4-13 times per day. Breastfeeding in front of people is sometimes frowned upon and labelled rude. However, there is absolutely no shame in feeding your hungry baby — anytime, anyplace. If you prefer, you can use a lightweight blanket as a cover. The law says you can breastfeed in public anywhere you are allowed to be, including restaurants and parks. Feed the kid.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2022 AUGUST 1-7
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LIVING
6
TYPES OF FLOWERS to Give Your Missus BY IDOWU LAMI
A
side from all the other things ladies are said to appreciate, most women love flowers. If years of pop culture have taught us anything, it is that roses and daisies, real or fake, make women drool with emotion. Although it is debatable whether or not this applies to our women, as far as we are aware, Valentine's Day has been held down for ages by the aesthetics of red roses, accompanied by a box of chocolates, so that must count for something. But you don't have to wait for Valentine's Day to send that special someone a bouquet. It's just one of those ways to say I love you without actually saying the words. Trust us when we say it will go a long way.
Pastel Carnation
Hayet Rida
Tulips
A white tulip is usually presented as an apology, whereas a crimson tulip stands for "love." These bouquets are intended for the upbeat type of person. They are available in various hues, such as red, yellow, purple, white, and pink. The finest occasions for these flowers are a birthday, an anniversary, or a brandnew, less serious relationship.
Roses
The two rose colour options that most women select are red and pink. Red roses are undoubtedly the first flowers that come to mind when thinking of giving your girl flowers.
Art by Abe Odedina
The pastel carnation is a present for the quieter, more reserved person. Pink and white carnations signify appreciation and pure love, respectively. Since the carnation is the January flower, it is a perfect choice for a birthday present.
The Stargazer Lily
For someone who loves bright and lovely things in their home or office, choose bright pink with white accents. This lily is most frequently associated with a sense of abundance and success. The Stargazer Lily is a dramatic and bold choice for a gift.
Lilac
Alstroemeria
The "Peruvian lily" or alstroemeria is another striking bloom that will draw attention in a room. Although it does have a friendship-related sense, it also has a meaning related to devotion that can be viewed as more romantic.
It usually appears in a light violet tone, which stands for the early signs of falling in love. This flower would be a wonderful pick for someone in a new or young relationship. Send a lovely lilac bouquet to your loved one—it's the ideal gift for a birthday or just because.
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BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)
WATCH OF THE WEEK:
MOVIE REVIEW:
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Everywhere All at Eof theverything Once exists in the outer wilds imagination, in the realm
of lucid dreaming and liminal spaces. It bounces off familiar representations of altered states, whether it be The Matrix or other phantasmical films while feeling entirely unclassifiable. It’s both proudly infantile, with a running joke about butt plugs, and breathlessly sincere about the daily toil of intergenerational trauma. That curious mixture of tonal extremes will already be familiar to fans of Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, otherwise known as The Daniels. Following the success of their music video for DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What” – in which a guy smashes crotch-first through several storeys of an apartment building – they made their debut feature Swiss Army Man (2016) about the tender relationship between the survivor of a shipwreck and a farting corpse played by Daniel Radcliffe. With Everything Everywhere All at Once, these filmmakers have fully hit their stride. At the heart of its story is an ordinary woman, Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh). In fact, she’s the most ordinary of women, quietly running a laundromat in California, with her sprightly husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan). Tensions are high. Evelyn’s father (James Hong) is visiting from China and has always looked down on her decision to marry Waymond and move to America. Oh, and Evelyn’s being audited. “From a stack of receipts, I can trace the ups and downs of your life,” her assigned IRS agent Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis, delightfully mundane), warns. “And it does not look good.” Then, out of the blue, a version
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of Waymond from somewhere called the “Alphaverse” commandeers her husband’s body in order to tell her that she’s the key to saving all reality. Out of all the Evelyns that exist, branching off from every choice she’s ever made, this Evelyn has fared the worst. That means she’s the only one who still has unfulfilled potential. It’s a beautiful way to look at the world – that life in stasis is one of bottomless possibility. We meet quite a few of the other Evelyns: a martial arts star who could easily be Yeoh herself, a dominatrix, a piñata, a Chinese opera singer, a hibachi chef and a woman with hot dogs for hands. Aided by the frenetic energy of Larkin Seiple’s cinematography and Paul Rogers’s editing, we shuffle through Evelyns like cards in a deck. There’s an exquisitely constructed homage to Kung-fu Cinema, alongside full-blown fight scenes choreographed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Brian and Andy Le. To elaborate any more on the plot would spoil the fun, but the power packed into Everything Everywhere’s punch is that all this elaborate chaos has a distinct purpose to it. The Daniels have fully captured the fractured feeling of modern existence, of never quite being at the wheel of your own life. Evelyn’s task, she’s told, is to “take us back to how it’s supposed to be”. But that proves to be an empty phrase. If every path in life can live side by side, who’s to say any of them is the right one? It’s the sort of philosophy that needs to be tethered to something forceful and absolute – that’s Yeoh, who moves through Everything Everywhere All at Once like she could hold the entire film in the palm of her hand. You could argue the actor, in a way, has lived a few different lives herself: as the Bond girl of Tomorrow Never Dies (1997); the romcom matriarch in Crazy Rich Asians (2018). But the Evelyns she plays aren’t parodies or costumes; they are a set of emotions placed on a gradient. To say this is a showcase for her talent almost feels like an understatement – the same can be said for Quan, who played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and then learned the hard lesson of how little Hollywood cares for the accomplishments of Asian actors. If the industry has really changed for the better, this return to acting should mark the first role of many. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a film of such much-ness. Rich performances (Hong and Hsu should also be included here) collide with big ideas, wrapped in a nuanced understanding of how we treat each other. And there are butt jokes. So many wonderful, dumb butt jokes. What more could you ask for? 9.5/10
Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)
TURNING POINT: 9/11 AND THE WAR ON TERROR
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day that started simply as a beautiful Tuesday morning rapidly turned into one dominated by chaos and fear.
Turning Point is an insightful, enlightening and compelling documentary that not only remembers a dark moment in human history but also addresses the impact and legacy of the action taken in response. With the episode’s finale detailing the series of terrorist plots that took place on American soil and around their interests in the 1990s (some foiled, some not), Turning Point certainly is a riveting, informative and powerful watch that offers plenty of food for thought.
A series of terrorist attacks on American symbols of power left the nation – and the world – stunned. As one of the many contributors to Netflix’s excellent new docuseries Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror puts it, “no one knew who attacked us, why they had attacked us, or what attacks were coming next”. Via a potent cocktail of emotional and insightful testimony from a series of those employed in New York’s World Trade Center that fateful day, heartstopping, jaw-dropping footage of American Flight 11 and United 175’s final moments and audio from both onboard and air traffic controllers, the opening 20 minutes offer gripping, harrowing, unsettling viewing that no Hollywood reconstruction could ever top. After such a bold, bravura and breathtaking start, Turning Point then shifts its attention to the events leading up to September 2001. What follows also doubles as an excellent and perfectly timed primer on what has led to the current nightmare unfolding in Afghanistan. Former officials from US presidential administrations, the CIA and military veterans reveal how, from the day the Soviet tanks rolled into Kabul in 1989, America was determined to drive them out, no matter how much money and manpower it cost. Within six years, one-third (about 13 million) of the Afghan population had been killed, wounded or driven into exile. It would be almost another four years before the Soviets walked away. What changed the war; one commentator says, was the American provision of antiaircraft “stinger” missles to the
Mujahideen, the loosely aligned local opposition to Moscow rule. Amongst their numbers were a group of men from different states around the world who called themselves Al Qaeda. Once the Soviets were defeated, these “defenders of the Islamic faith” then turned their attentions and enmity towards what they saw as the growing global reach of the world’s other selfappointed “superpower”.
Adekunle Gold - 5 Star
Fireboy DML_ Asake - Bandana
Omah Lay - i’m a mess
BNXN fka Buju_ Wande Coal Kenkele
Subsequent instalments focus on the other two planes involved in the 9/11 attacks, the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and events right up until the last few weeks. It’s insightful, enlightening and compelling documentary making that not only remembers a dark moment in human history but also addresses the impact and legacy of the action taken in response. Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror is now available to stream on Netflix.
Burna Boy_ Ed Sheeran - For My Hand (feat. Ed
Mura Masa_ Pa Salieu_ Skillibeng - blessing me (with Pa Salieu &
Spice - Clap Clap
DJ Frass_ Stefflon Don Sweet Bounce
Dabeull; Holybrune - Day & Night
Tifa - BIZNIZ