THEWILL DOWNTOWN JUNE 19, 2022 EDITION by THEWILL NEWSPAPER

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

DADDY MAKEOVER 7 Looks for Dad to try

The Musings of Africa’s Proverbial Dad The Musings of Africa’s

Chief Pete Edochie

Proverbial Dad

chief

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

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BOARD LISTED

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Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

EDITOR’S NOTE

remember at some point while growing up, we moved to a new city, so my parents would travel –in the same car – from our new home to work in a different town every day. Interestingly, although all four of us girls are great cooks, my dad wouldn’t have anyone else make his food when they both got home from work. Somehow his taste buds could tell the difference, so my mum went every day from the car to the shower and straight to the kitchen.

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

CONTENTS 16

COVER THE MUSINGS OF AFRICA’S PROVERBIAL DAD, CHIEF PETE EDOCHIE

REVIEW STRANGER THINGS 4

04-05

FASHION DADDY MAKEOVER

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE ILI EXHIBITION

That’s what their generation knows marriage to be, and Chief Pete Edochie seems to be of that school of thought. Born Peter Edochie, he was inspired by a foreign broadcaster called Pete Myles, so he dropped the ‘R’ in his name to answer Pete. While he maintains that they too were influenced by the west, he does not believe we should adapt their culture fully. For him, we owe ourselves the responsibility to, in his words,” pick from sources and strengthen your own culture. Then you throw away the aspect you feel doesn’t compliment think is anachronistic.” He went on to cite an example of the ‘white man” believing a man and his wife are equals, and because we tend to emulate them, the new generation husband would ask his wife for some water when they get home, and she, in turn, would remind him that they both just walked in. In his opinion, it shouldn’t be that way. While I’m old-fashioned, I also believe that times have changed. While some things should remain, others should undoubtedly be treated as what they truly are; passé. If you remember, there was a time it was commonplace to kill twin children, but it was the western culture that stopped that cruel practice. As for getting home with your partner and being asked to perform a chore? In my experience, when you love someone, you look forward to doing those things for him, even if you both just walked into the house. I also think the couple understands each other and knows exactly how they are comfortable conducting their affairs. Happy Father's Day! 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 Interns: Sophia Edisi, Abdul Auwal Graphics/Layout: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

Photography: Lucas Ogo @lucasugonna Style Support: Ezeh Tobechukwu Nelson @tobynelson_ For @stylebytn_

ODDBOD & THE CITY A DAY IN THE DIARY OF AN EASY FOODIE

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL SO MY DAD READ MY STORIES AND…

BEAUTY LIVING FATHER-SON RAISING A GROOMING ACTIVITIES DADDY'S GIRL THAT BOND TODAY

Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity

- Contributing Editor Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.

Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm - Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you. 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.

WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM @black_teenah

Tee @zion.oa

@theloaflimited

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.

So unique

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VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

FASHION

Daddy

Makeover BY ABDUL AUWAL

one are the days when dads mostly looked drab; these days, dads are looking like a million bucks and a half. Although your dad might be used to wearing clothes that don't exactly say modern dad, you can always help bring him up to date with styles that upgrade him. Come to his rescue and update his wardrobe, taking the several possible trends that he is open to exploring. But keep his personality in mind while selecting outfits for different occasions, and please choose style over trend.

Mai Atafo

The Red Carpet Look

You can't go wrong with a classic black tuxedo. Every dad should own one; he can wear it for years.

Traditional Look

There's something about a dad in a well-tailored traditional outfit. Be sure to get the right fit; we promise he will look smouldering hot.

Steve Harvey

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Paul Adefarasin

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

FASHION Stay-At-Home Look

Who says dads can't look hot even while lounging at home? A really sexy look for dads is pairing joggers with a shirt or a shirt and shorts.

Timini Egbuson Eyimofe Atake

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

The Semi-Formal Look

Play around with this look. It's perfect for dads in the creative space. Go as wild as an aso oke suit paired with a denim shirt. It's also a great look to visit a gallery or attend happy hour with his friends

Tony Elumelu

Knowing what to choose for work wear could be tricky, depending on his occupation. Play it safe by getting a suit. He can go without a tie or his suit jacket in less formal settings, but please get him a suit. He will need it someday.

The Casual Look

When attending a casual event, fitted trousers, shirts, knitwear, and cross bags are ideal, as are other less fancy options such as unstructured coats, jeans, sneakers, or garment-dyed goods. We particularly love the new laid-back vibe we have noticed on the men these days.

Uti Nwachukwu

The Formal Look

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VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

ODUN OGUNBIYI

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

ODDBOD & THE CITY

A Day in the Diary of an

Easy Foodie almond butter, toasted seeds, sliced banana, honey and maple syrup. She said it was delicious and filling; she had no reason to lie, so I will believe her story for now. I started (yes, started) with a yummy eggs Benedict, a chai latte, and for dessert, I had homemade scones, warmed and served with clotted cream and jam. Quick question, am I the only person that likes to mix this whole matter with butter? My server always seems surprised when I request some. I won’t be shamed; that’s the way I like it, and as I walk down memory lane to write this up, I am wondering how I will convince Lola to take me back for some more.

elcome to the day in the life of a foodie who is literally planning her next meal while inhaling her current one. Luckily for me (despite being a Monday morning), I convinced my dear friend Lola Maja to come along for the ride, staying local for brunch by hitting up Bluebells of Portobello in Mill Hill. When it comes to high street cafés, this place has the ambience down pat. Family-friendly, magnificent, sunlightstreaming windows and warm customer service. The clientele was absolutely what you would imagine for the area; yummy wellington boot-wearing, gorgeous setter-toting mummies and “we work from home” MacBook-accessorised CEO types. The menu boasts a full range of breakfast options, sandwiches, and drinks. Lola was trying to shame me with her healthy (don’t worry, she received plenty of grief) smooth porridge oats soaked in coconut milk with homemade

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We rolled out with some vague notion that we would go to the park and have a little walk around, but I got distracted house stalking, and we ended up on Totteridge Lane, the road I grew up on. Have not been in the area for at least 20 years, so we decided to see if the local pub, the Orange Tree, was still standing. Naturally, we had to stop over for a quick glass of pinot and a laugh before I had to get back home to get ready for my evening plans. When you love food like I do, thank God for friends that can throw it down in the kitchen. It’s not by accident that Paul is known as the @thehalfbakedbanker. The man takes food seriously (is there any other way?), so I looked forward to dinner. I was greeted with hugs, air kisses and a perfectly executed Moscow Mule (you may recall I had my first ever Moscow mule at their house a few years ago). Dinner consisted of

chicken pistachio and dill kofte, which Paul whipped up on his posh green egg BBQ, with dukkha (an Egyptian mix of dry roasted spices, nuts and herbs), flatbread, roasted tomatoes, herb salad and rice cooked by Golnaz’s mother in a traditional Iranian manner. You start making white rice as you usually would, then when it’s done, you add oil at the bottom of the pan and potatoes and crisp up to form the tahdig, which translates to ‘bottom of the pan’, spanking gorgeous. For dessert, we had an exceptional fruit salad. The strawberries were from a local farm shop from Paul’s village in Norfolk, Alphonzo mangoes from Pakistan, grapes, and pineapples with a drizzling of lime juice. Thank you, Paul and Golnaz, for helping this foodie live her best life.

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

So My Dad Read My Stories And… BY TILEWA KAZEEM

“W

hen I was your age, the ladies ran after me” seems like something our fathers could say when he’s trying to get you to spill some secrets about your sex life. “Are you sexually active?” sounds too much like an attack and nosy. God knows you’re not getting anything out of me phrasing the question that way. Wrap the question in a cloak of disguise and innuendos; that way, it comes off as a friendly inquisition, not you being nebby. Anyways, several times since I started writing this column, people have asked me, “do your parents read what you write?” and I’ve more often than not, laughed it off. Well, I guess today is the day you get your answer. Consider it my spin on the whole Father’s Day theme. Having been brought up by traditional African parents, you know sex has always been discussed in hush tones. You never even imagined your parents had sex; all you knew was your mum was heavy, and your siblings were born. Thinking about it alone can make you cringe. At some point, I’m sure most people got sent into their rooms when characters kissed on the television. And if you were caught watching canoodling scenes without adult supervision, your bum might not be spared. So sex is never a comfortable conversation to have with your parents. But when the dad is asking, the awkwardness is through the roof. They dread it. As for the sons, it is equally as awkward. How do you want to tell your dad that you enjoy the warmth of the female privates on your face, or you enjoy it when your tongue is nestled in her juices? Or worse, your dad reads about it. Now he knows. From the first story, he was as invested as a dad is supposed to be, which was nice. I never really thought about what it would be like for him to read it; I thumbed my nose at it. Why, you might ask? Well, although my dad was one of the last to read my pieces, he suspected I was creative, albeit late. I started off writing poems. Regular poems, emotions I didn’t understand, I tried to make sense of them with haikus and verses. It came very handy when I started talking to girls, but I soon got bored. It restricted me. If you’ve read my oeuvre, you’d realise–if you haven’t already– I’m very descriptive. I gradually gravitated towards prose because it allowed me to flap my creative wings. But before that eventual switch, I remember writing some morbid stuff, and somehow, my dad got a hold of one of them. I recall him reaching out to know if something was wrong with me, if I was okay, and whatnot. And I was, even though I had just broken up with whom I thought was the 'love of my life', I never thought about offing myself, but I was in a dark place. After that, he became more

interested in what I wrote. Being in love with English, he gave his fair and honest opinion about them and critiqued them here and there.

“I’d like to think these stories are fiction; you can’t be having this amount of sex?” With a smug look, I replied, “you’d never know now, would you?” followed with suggestive laughter.

I don’t know why the thought that he’d have an opinion never crossed my mind. He’d seen me write for a considerable time; perhaps he thought it was just fiction, you know, make-belief. But the descriptions, the details, surely that part couldn’t be falsified. It was only when he asked in the most hilarious way possible did it dawn on me that he indeed hoped it was fiction. The day he did, we were on the phone like every other day. I had just gotten back from work, and I was trying to take off one shoe with the other foot by pressing it against the heel of the other when my phone rang. I picked it up, answered, and we exchanged pleasantries. We talked for a while about work and living in the big city of Lagos all alone. At the time, it was hard adjusting financially but not so much mentally; I didn’t miss home that much. At the tail end of our conversation, he casually slid in an “eh-ehen” before talking about a sex story of mine he had just read– perhaps the one from that week. He went on about how well-written it was and added, “I’d like to think these stories are fiction; you can’t be having this much sex?” With a smug look, I replied, “you’d never know now, would you?” followed with suggestive laughter. He was quiet for a while before casually responding with an “okay,” saying his goodbyes and getting off the call. I woke up the following morning with a ton of messages about being careful and using protection; that was the last time he spoke about it.

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER Let’s start from the very beginning. You were 20 years old when you started a career in broadcasting, and you did this for 31 years. What would you say is the difference between journalism then and now?

Photography: Lucas Ogo @lucasugo2 Style Support: Ezeh Tobechukwu Nelson @tobynelson_ For @stylebytn_

A lot. The journalists we have today have access to all the information they require, but they never attempt to access it, which is why it is very painful. You see, during the All Africa Games in 1973, we were the people who formed the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria. We were taking commentaries; unfortunately, most of us are dead now. Ishola Folorunsho was our master, Ernest Okonkwo was there, Yemi Fadipe was also there, and of course Yinka Craig. While the commentary was going on, you found out that we had details verified of each athlete. But I don’t see it anymore. People just talk; there’s no depth or conviction in their communication, and it’s painful. When people listen to you, they want to learn. A guy like Ernest Okonkwo, for instance- God bless his soul- when he is taking commentaries, and someone is about to take a penalty, he would give you the person’s full football history, how many penalties they’ve taken in the past, those he scored, the ones he lost, etc. That is the work of a broadcaster.

The Musings of Africa’s Proverbial Dad

chief

f you grew up watching home videos, even before the formation of the now booming movie industry (Nollywood), chances are that Pete Edochie has imparted you. Popular nationwide for perpetually playing the role of a father, Chief Peter Edochie has lived an exemplary life as a renowned broadcaster, having trained at the BBC. He is a veteran actor involved in some of the biggest productions in the world and, most importantly, a father figure — the most traditional one you can think of. Now 75-years-old, Edochie’s life and career have remained relevant, ensuring that, unlike his peers, he is still a force to be reckoned with, and his antics are regurgitated even today. His eloquence, assertion, and unrivalled wisdom, which becomes more apparent with every word that comes out of his mouth, are some qualities that make him a good father, both on the screen and off it. To celebrate Father’s Day, DOWNTOWN’s Editor, Onah Nwachukwu, speaks to the father of six—and national father figure—about his career in broadcasting in his youth, his midlife transition into the movie industry, and being a father; not only to his biological children, but also to everyone in Nollywood and beyond. As I walk into his home in Enugu, he is sitting on his chair. A throne of some sort. It is elevated and much higher than other chairs in the house, with a footstool at the base. It certainly gave the aura of power. I greet him in the traditional African way, knees to the ground, and he motions me to stand up while extending his arm in an embrace I walk into. He asks a few questions about me, and in no time, we are talking about culture; then, he teases me about coming to see a chief without kolanuts and how a man knows not to do that. In my defence, I knew this, and had made prior arrangements for Igbo kolanuts, especially for him. Thankfully, they arrived during the interview.

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If you send me to go and interview a Gynaecologist, I will, first of all, go into the library and read up all I can on gynaecology. So that if you are talking to that person, there is some measure of authority in your comportment, your delivery, and your questions are incisive. In fact, the person will ask, “did you study medicine?” I don’t see it anywhere anymore, except for a few people like Ruben Abati, a friend of mine in AIT, Gbenga Aruleba, some on Channels TV, and very few individuals who still do that. Outside that, generally, the performance is very poor. And of course, with language, their presentation is weak, so in the process of asking questions, you insult the person you’re interviewing without knowing it. If you will tell somebody, “On so, and so day, you went to so, and so place and did this…” How are you, sure? Were you there? You did not even investigate. So you don’t throw it at him like that, no. You can quote your source, “so and so newspaper claims that….” Then you have given him some latitude to manoeuvre; let him now say whether it is true or not. So, I’ll tell you the truth; I think we worked harder in our own day than people who are practising now. As a broadcaster, I spent a lot of money collecting records, music, etc, I wanted to make sure I was not found wanting in any of those departments, so I worked extremely hard on my own. Even when I went to train in the BBC, I spent a lot of money collecting classical works because I had made up my mind that if I came back from the BBC, I would start a programme called Music From The Masters where I would feature classical music from the masters; you know them, Mozart, Schubert, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and so on. When I got back and started it, the response was unbelievable, I had listeners like judges, permanent

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

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COVER secretaries - people in authority. I rose fast as a broadcaster. I don’t get inspired listening to them (broadcasters) these days. I mean, somebody came to my house and saw the photograph I took with Zik (Nnamdi Azikwe) when I interviewed him on his 90th birthday. The only observation she made was that I was so handsome in those photographs. She didn’t even know the person I was with. It’s not a surprise, but that’s what we get. Someone saw a picture of me in a suit and was shocked that there was a time I wore suits, but the person standing beside me in that photograph was Chinua Achebe. I don’t know...I am disappointed in the broadcasters of today. They don’t work on their own as we did in those days, and because of that, their knowledge on issues is stunted. There is no depth in their questioning and no conviction in their reporting. Everything is on the surface, and that’s not good. I am not running them down; I’m telling you the truth. When I listen, I want to learn because you never really stop learning. They should research more so that you are some form of fountain of knowledge.

What was it like to transition from a seasoned administrator and broadcaster—an industry you got into at just 20 years old—to the movie industry and become one of the foremost actors of all time? I think I was lucky to have covered the entire gamut of broadcasting. I did a lot of Shakespeare while I was in broadcasting. In fact, in my third year in secondary school in Kaduna, I did The Merchant of Venice. I did quite some Shakespeare; excerpts of it. I remember when I played Marc Anthony in Julius Caesar.

So you transitioned quite smoothly then.

It wasn’t a problem, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. While I was in broadcasting, I did a lot of drama sketches on television; Sons and Daughters, Every man, and so on.

Would you recall your very first movie on television — Nollywood, as we know it?

First of all, Things Fall Apart is older than Nollywood. When I did it in 1985, Nollywood still slumbered in the womb of time. It had to come on board seven years later. Most of what I did, like Ikuku for Nkem Owoh, was the first one I did after Things Fall Apart. When I did Things Fall Apart, it had been translated into over 53 languages, so it introduced me to the entire world. There was nothing like Nollywood. If you read the compliments the president paid me on my 75th birthday, he said that my performance in Things Fall Apart drew the world’s attention to Nigeria. That’s the biggest compliment I have been paid in my life. I really wish they could give me a copy of it so I can frame it. So Things Fall Apart; that’s the first and the biggest as well. I’ve done other things. And I thank God that everything I’ve done has ended up a smashing success. No production of mine can be referred to as a failure.

Interestingly, you are always portrayed as a father, or a father figure, mostly a strict one. Your typecasting is not shocking, you look the part and play it so well. Thinking back, would you change a thing about that—to play more diverse roles? Or do you think the father role was predestined?

First of all, by the time I left broadcasting and joined Nollywood, I think I was either in my late 50s or early 60s, so I didn’t get in as a young man to start playing lover boy and all sorts. I went in as a father. Again, outside the movie industry, I am, by marriage, the oldest father in the industry. I got married 53 years ago, on the 19th of March, 1969, in St. Finbarrs Catholic Church, Umuahia. There is nobody with that record in Nollywood. I have five sons and a daughter, and a lot of grandchildren. It’s only natural that I play the role of a father, whether a good one or diabolical; it’s a question of detail.

people don’t have that experience, so when they play father, their inexperience shows.

And in playing movie roles?

… you can never find words to describe the ecstasy you experience seeing your first child. To imagine that you are responsible for this child you’re looking at, you really can’t describe the feeling. There is something celestial about what you experience looking at your first son and knowing that he’s going to carry your name wherever he goes; it’s a wonderful feeling." You’re a national father figure. In Nigeria, people think father and think Pete Edochie… Yes, I’m happy about it.

Do you also share much knowledge on fatherhood with people on the movie set?

Of course, what else would I be doing if not that? If you ask the people in the industry about me, they will tell you, “oh Peter, that’s my father.” For someone like Genevieve (Nnaji), Genny played my daughter in the movie I love most. There was a production we did, and I was hard on her; I had to hug her at the end and say, “look it’s just movie oh.” We became very close, and then we did her movie, Lion Heart. I love her a lot, she took me as a father from day one, and I’ve never forgotten that. Each time people feature pictures of Genevieve, they will always show where she’s leaning towards me as I’m sitting. There was a time on Father’s Day, that was the picture she posted. Now I hear she’s not well and all sorts; I think that’s nonsense, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her. Other people have played my daughter, but none of them is as close to me as Genevieve. I once asked a young man, “if your son took your car out on a pleasure binge and came back late, what would you do?” He said, “I’m going to show him that I’m his father.” I said to him, What’s my reaction to what he’d just said? “You’re a bloody idiot.” If you’re a father and your son takes your car for some pleasure ride, you wait. You’re very angry that he took your car and didn’t tell you. When you wait for a particular period, and the car and your son do not return, your anger becomes anxiety. As the night wears on, your anxiety converts to fear. What you’re now asking God is, “let anything happen to the car, but let him come back safely.” That is what makes a father. Many

You see someone playing Igwe, and he is running after a girl and asking her to sit on his lap. When I see things like that, it makes me very angry. That’s a desecration of our culture. There is some sacrosanctity attached to a traditional stool which you must not, under no circumstances, defile. Doing that is defiling that stool. Do you know what that means? There is a saying in hausa; after God, it is you. This is why you will not see an Emir with his wife outside; no. Such expressions are for the weak, and the Emir should not be identified with any form of weakness that characterises mortality. You don’t see a king in bed, etc. It is a demonstration of mortal weakness which should not be identified with somebody who enjoys that kind of aura. Of course, the woman should be there to complete the house, but not while you are The King. You don’t see an Igwe running around singing love songs. As a King, you are entitled to many privileges and mustn’t allow anyone to desecrate them.

How come we’ve never seen a photo of you and your wife together. Does this have anything to do with what you have just said? Do you mean my wife in real life? There is no need for that now. If you want our family picture, you will see it there. If you want just my wife and me, there’s one that was hanging around there; I don’t know if it’s still there [points to an area in his room]. My wife is a lawyer; she’s been a lawyer for so many years. We don’t go around taking photographs and posing like most of what you see in our industry. It doesn’t make much sense. Then you’ll later see a headline, ‘Pete Edochie and his wife going for shawarma’ or what do you call that nonsense? I don’t have time for that. I agree that some websites use certain headlines as clickbait. They have even said I have a place where I record my proverbs. Most of what people attribute to me has absolutely nothing to do with me. For instance, when you asked

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VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER

You see, you have to stand for something. If you’re talking about the culture of a people, you are referring to their way of life. There is some sacrosanctity about it that you must not desecrate no matter the age (generation) you belong to. That is what marks a people out… We are not saying that the young men shouldn’t exercise their own franchise, but there is always a need for some rationale behind everything you do so you don’t go astray.” that we have the interview over the phone, I said, “No, I want to see the person I am speaking to”, so that I don’t get misquoted. If there is no genuiness about your person, I will tell you I am not prepared, I don’t want to interview. With you, when you walked in , I spoke to you about your background, and I was satisfied and knew we would have a great interview. The only thing is you didn’t come with kolanuts (he said with a burst of light-hearted laughter. I responded, saying the kolanuts I arranged for had just arrived).

Moving on from fatherhood in the film industry, let’s talk about fatherhood in real life. Take us back to when you had your first child. How did it feel?

It’s indescribable. You can never find words to describe the ecstasy you experience seeing your first child. You ask yourself, ‘this is an extension of me?’ To imagine that you are responsible for this child you’re looking at, you really can’t describe the feeling. You can’t. It’s ecstatic (his voice wandering off while he spoke as if going back in time to that day). There is something celestial about what you experience looking at your first son and knowing that he’s going to carry your name wherever he goes; it’s a wonderful feeling. You get to a stage when he’s no longer your son but a friend. I got married at 22 and had my first son, Leo, when I was 23. He received a title recently, so we speak as titled men.

You brought up your six children in a different time and age. Surely, things are very different nowadays with the influx of social media, which amplifies western culture. Is it possible to merge that western culture with the traditional African parenting style?

Culture is eclectic and dynamic; you pick from sources and strengthen your own culture. Then you throw away the aspect you feel doesn’t compliment or think it is anachronistic. Now, in our culture, women do not lead us. Therefore, you have no business stepping down on one knee and offering a woman a ring. There’s no sense in it. It is the woman who takes a cup of wine, looks around for the husband, identifies him, kneels in front of him, and that is one thing that is being messed up with our productions. First of all, the person giving that cup to the girl sips from it and gives it to her, saying, “show us your husband.” Then she looks around, and when eventually she identifies him, she goes down on her knees, drinks from that cup, and gives it to him, then he drains it. The significance of that is saying, “this is my husband; everything they came with, you can now consume.” Our forefathers were not mad when they instituted most of these things. Today look at the young men wearing earing.

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But the Maasai men, who are African, wear earrings.

For the Maasai, it is part of their sartorial expression; for it to be complete, they were large earrings. It is not our culture. I’m not saying they (the new generation) must be like us. Still, you see, the white people wanted to introduce homosexuality into every part of the world but met a brick wall of resistance in Nigeria. Hence, they presented something innocuous and came up with the earrings. Most young men wearing earrings don’t even know how or why it originated. The white people wanted to weave in a very subtle aspect of homosexuality. Even when you see young men with trousers over their lower bum; they don’t realise that it started from when some people were sent to prison and on their return, their trousers couldn’t balance on their waist anymore because they had lost weight, so they wore their trouser below their bum. Our children copy what they don’t understand.

You raised five boys, two of which are now top actors too—Yul and Linc. If you were to give one strong piece of advice to parents today raising kids in this generation, especially fathers, what would it be? I think Ecclesiastics said if you spare the rod, you spoil the child. If your son does something that’s not proper, flog him. I flogged my children when they were growing up. My father flogged me. My father had seven boys, and he beat the daylight out of us. An incident occurred when he gave us an assignment as he was leaving the house, and the moment he left, we disregarded it to go

play football. When he returned, my mother brought out bitter-leaf soup for him to eat. The bitter-leaf was not cleaned at all, so he just took the first morsel and managed to swallow it. Tried the second one, and it was as if he was eating poison, so he dropped it. Then he called me and gave me money to buy a bottle of beer, which I did. When he finished, he called my mother, sent her into the bedroom, locked the door, and brought us out. Listen, I have never forgotten the experience of that day. My father beat the living daylight out of us, and from that day on, we all changed. On one occasion, my father pretended to have forgotten six pence in one of his shorts. So when we were washing his clothes, we saw that money, and we convinced ourselves that he forgot it, and went and bought sweets with that money. When my father came back, he called us out. “Who took the money that was in my shorts?” (spoken in igbo). So we all looked obliquely at the person who brought that money. The way my father beat us ehn? Because of our experiences growing up, I sometimes applied the same to my children when I remembered what my father did with us. We also had some beautiful experiences growing up in the north and all what I saw informed my attitude to my children. I don’t howl at them. Yes, I was harsh, and I used the cane when they were in secondary and elementary schools... for instance, but when they got to a point when they started putting on trousers and all that, it became a conversation. You’re no longer howling at them; you are now discussing with them, and this is how all my kids got married. I never told any of them, “don’t marry this woman, over my dead body.” I never selected anybody for any of my children, and I never discouraged any of them. There’s a way you raise your children; they become your friends. My traditional title name is Ono n’enyi (the one sitting on top of an elephant) it means contentment, abbreviated as “Enyi,” which is an elephant, and that’s what all my children call me; none of them calls me daddy. There’s a nexus linking you and your children; it’s a consanguineous bond that nobody can break. So when they refer to you as enyi, everything about you is reflected in that salutation. It is why after my first son took his title, I no longer call him by his name, Leo; I call him by his title Chinemeze, he calls me Enyi, and we talk as titled men. There’s a way you bring your children up; they become your friend at a stage. If I need money now, I call

Pete Edochie (L) Kolanuts Presented To (R) s & One of His Award

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER my son, and we talk about it as friends. When I was raising these kids, I left no stone unturned. For you to put five sons through the University..., I never borrowed a kobo from the bank, never swindled anybody. Somehow, the good Lord provided me with the money with which I raised these kids and saw them through the University, and I promised each one of them that if any of them graduated, I’d buy them a car so that they don’t snort their lives out as a result of peer group influence. Beginning with my first son, I bought cars for all five of them. They don’t forget these things. So whenever I say ‘I need this’, all I have to do is let them know, and they all provide it immediately.

What would you advise fathers generally?

If your daughter or son wants to get married, you owe them an obligation to find out all you can about that family. If a woman, for one reason or the other, is not living with her husband, her daughter is most likely to do the same. It is always like that, I don’t know why. No matter the excuse your son gives you, once the father and mother are alive and they’re not living together, don’t go there. You see, women have more influence on their children than men, and it begins from birth. You’re carrying a child and breastfeeding them; that child is looking at you, so the first face that registers in their memory is the mother’s. Mentor your children, allow them some freedom to express themselves, then call them and say, “you did this well; it would have been better if you did it this way.” You respect that they’ve become an adult. Some of our people who are old in the industry, the way they talk to the younger ones doesn’t encourage them to aspire, and it’s not good. When I’m on set, I correct privately. If I correct you, you’re the only person who will hear what I say. But some of you scream at the top of your voice to correct the person, forgetting that it took you time to get to where you are. Create the circumstances that will encourage them to aspire, don’t discourage them. This is why I’m a father in the industry: I always try to encourage everybody in the industry as much as possible. I mean, I’m at the very top, make no mistake about it, but when you’re there, call that person quietly. When we are talking about mentoring, I think we should learn to talk to our children properly because they have their own perceptions.

There’s a nexus linking you and your children; it’s a consanguineous bond that nobody can break. ”

How about the grandkids? Commonly, grandparents who were firmer in raising their children tend to be much softer with their grandchildren. Is that the case with you? The women; mothers, not the men.

You are not soft on your grandkids?

I don’t believe in doting. Sometimes I indulge, I allow my grandkids be and go upstairs, but ordinarily, I don’t indulge children; it is not my style. You do something wrong, I howl at you. You know grandchildren are not used to sitting in one place. Women indulge children a great deal. If you hear that children are spoiled, most of the time, the women are responsible for it. There’s a saying in my dialect: when you overpamper children, they become useless. They will be useless if you have lots of boys and don’t flog them when they misbehave. When my children are talking to me, for instance, they don’t put their hands in their pockets; that’s rudeness. If you’re standing before me, put your hands behind you. You don’t sing in front of your father; that is disrespectful. You don’t put your cap on when you’re talking to your father.

Generation Z thinks the older generation’s ideologies are out-dated. You’ve been the subject of a lot of controversies online as a matter of fact, due to your views on society and family dynamics, as not a lot of young people agree with your often conservative and patriarchal views. How do you respond to that?

You see, you have to stand for something. If you’re talking about the culture of a people, you are referring to their way of life. There is some sacrosanctity about it that you must not desecrate no matter the age you belong to. That is what marks a people out. The young men don’t have direction; they get influenced a lot by the west. And that is not in their own interest. My name is Peter, but because I was listening to a broadcaster on the BBC called Pete Miles, I dropped the “R” in my name and used Pete. I had plenty of hair on my head, and I was cutting my hair like a musician called Elvis Presley, and so I was being called Elvis Presley. Just to let you know that we were being influenced by the west then as well. We felt that we knew next to nothing. That whatever it was that we stood for meant nothing compared to the values of their own culture, which they are portraying on screen, so we decided to emulate them. But you get to a stage in your life where you discover yourself and drop all those things. I don’t quarrel with young men who are experimenting with western culture like we did. But when you consciously debase manhood by wearing earrings. First of all, you ask yourself what you want to achieve by that? We grew up knowing that earrings were meant for women. To be honest with you, most people in our age group find these habits execrable. What do they stand for? It is very easy to say generation gap, we are doing this and that. Those of them who are doing it, what are they trying to prove? Ok, right now in my house, there’s no kind of drink Pete Edochie does not have. The one given to me by the governor of Rivers state, which I hear right now is up to a million Naira. I have others that cost between 250,000 and 450,000. All these things were given to me, and they are still upstairs. Now, I haven’t brought them out to serve my guests. But because I’m a titled person, each time people come to see me from outside the country, I bring out palm wine. If a white man comes to your house and you give him palm wine, he has tasted something that is indigenous to you. Going to give him champagne and all that shows that you have nothing to be proud of. Again, the white people see themselves as equal

The journalists we have today have access to all the information they require, but they never attempt to access it, which is why it is very painful... I am not running them down… When I listen, I want to learn... They should research more so that they are some form of fountain of knowledge.” with their women, right? It is not our culture. That’s what you people want to imbibe. When your husband asks you to get him some water, you remind him that you both just walked in together. That’s not what it ought to be. This generation gap you people talk about, it’s just that your own generation is misguided, that’s all. It’s just like you buy a car, you mustn’t overspeed to let people know that you’re driving. Let us have a civil society, let us bequeath some legacy onto the succeeding generation, so that they can say we learnt this from so and so people, this is what they left us as a legacy. We’re not asking the young men not to use their initiative or their preferences must be some facsimile with ours, but whatever it is you’re doing, let there be some reason behind it. You are doing something, and the people around you are not learning anything, so what is the essence? That’s what I feel. We’re not saying they’re not doing anything; after all, they belong to

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VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

COVER Let’s quickly talk about your son Yul. You publicly endorsed him for the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, and then he was found in a lot of controversy surrounding his marriage. What do you think about all of that?

Yul is old enough to take care of his problems. That’s all I can say about that. He’s been living by himself for a long time and married for 17 years. He is a mature man; he is old enough to run his life.

Let’s talk about your chieftaincy. You are a proud Chief and also a proud Catholic. How do you merge both worlds, seeing that tradition and religion don’t exactly see eye to eye?

You people should try to read. Knowledge is buried in books. If you don’t research and arm yourself with this knowledge, you find that wherever you are, people will begin to discuss, and you can’t contribute… People should be moulded. Whatever your interests, some degree of tutelage will help guide you. If you give yourself the impression that you know it all, you are a wiseacre, then you can’t learn anything.” the computer age. In our own time, there was nothing like computers. In fact, right now, I am very computer illiterate, and I am very happy about it. But I know that I have a lot of books that I enjoy reading. One thing is that I read extensively; I don’t like somebody to keep telling me about something. When you discuss, you can discuss with compulsive authority and not flirtatiously.

So what is your advice to the young ones?

You people should try to read. Knowledge is buried in books. If you don’t research and arm yourself with this knowledge, you find that wherever you are, people will begin to discuss, and you can’t contribute; you will just be looking at them. We are not saying that the young men shouldn’t exercise their own franchise, but there is always a need for some rationale behind everything you do so you don’t go astray. People should be moulded. Whatever your interests, some degree of tutelage will help guide you. If you give yourself the impression that you know it all, you are a wiseacre, then you can’t learn anything. But every day in your life, you are always learning until you get into your grave.

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What is the difference between religion and tradition? I have never been asked to worship or involve myself with any rites. I’m a titled person. If you go to England, there are people they call Barons, they also have social stratification, everybody has where he belongs. It is the same thing. We stratify our cultural society. You don’t have to go and kill a human being for you to be an Ozo-titled man. Essentially, what does it mean? Simple: You have lived a life worthy of emulation. You have represented your society at home properly. You are old enough to be identified as one of those who stand for the truth to now tell things the way they are; you are a titled man. This is why Pete Edochie is sitting here today relaxed. I’m a titled person, and I have a very big title. I have Ogbuefi and Ogbuinyinya. What these traditional medicine men do is exactly what we do as Christians. Yes.

brings a script, wants to feature Pete Edochie, and another young man; if you offer the young man 150,000 Naira, with Pete Edochie, you start with 1.5 million Naira. You know that once you put Pete Edochie’s face on the billboard, everybody wants to know what Pete Edochie did. So there is no way you will compel all of us to charge the same. It doesn’t make sense; it doesn’t happen anywhere in the world. They did it because they enjoyed the monopoly, but it is no longer the same today. Today, we have an appearance fee. If you are doing something in Asaba and want Pete Edochie to be there, you get me a ram first and then pay the appearance fee. And the appearance fee is quite heavy. Ordinarily, announcing to the audience that Pete Edochie will be here on so and so day, there will be a very unhealthy crowd there. Many people want to see me, take photographs with me, you can’t help it now. It happens everywhere. There’s nothing you can do about it. People touch you, and they are trembling.

It’s been 17 years since then. What will you say is different in terms of remuneration and perception (from producers and your colleagues alike) now that you are considerably older? Today we get paid what we charge. What I want you to pay me is what you will pay. If you can’t pay, you can go look for some other person.

How so?

Our Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for us, right? If you meet a native doctor, he must necessarily use blood —chicken or ram, because it is a life source. It’s the same thing. Go and interview a native doctor; whatever he does, he always ends it by saying, “akwa ma Chukwu kwe.” (translated to mean: if God almighty agrees) So the white men condemned them out of ignorance. One thing about me is that I don’t discriminate. If I come to your house and you are a native doctor, if you kill a ram or chicken, we shall eat it. I think it was Peter in the bible who said everything created by God is clean.

You are also an elder statesman in the industry; you’ve been active in the movie scene since the 1980s. You have seen everything there is to see across generations. What do you think are the most significant differences between your generation and this? Where are they falling short and how can they improve? The biggest problem we have is technical, poor sound quality because the people don’t spend money. If you use a microphone attached to your lapel, everything you say is distinct. And that’s what I do when I go to shoot. Number two, we keep replicating our ideas and plots. You can predict most of what we do. I was watching a film last time; I saw Chiwetel Agwu buy something and wouldn’t pay with a cheque; instead, he gave them cash. I predicted what would happen -he would arrange for that same money to be collected by thieves. And that’s exactly what happened. It is not good for our movies to be that predictable.

In 2005, you and seven of your acting colleagues were placed on a one-year ban by the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria for charging huge fees from producers because of your A-list celebrity status. What’s your comment about that? Nothing. It was done out of ignorance. We don’t all practice at the same level. A man

s Awards

Some of Chief Edochie'

In Hollywood, we see much older people still acting. The late Betty White acted until she was 90, and we still see Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas in movies. How much longer do you think you will keep acting?

Everything depends on God. If He says, “Pete, you keep going on,” I’ll keep going on. But as long as I have my faculty intact, I’ll be on set. I mean, come on, I’m 75 now; I don’t know for how many more years I will be out here; a lot depends on God. What are you quitting for if you are healthy and can take your lines and all that stuff?

What is your take on polygamous homes?

If you can cope with it, it’s your business.

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

Father-Son Grooming Activities

BEAUTY

That Bond BY SOPHIA EDISI

s a dad, you must set an example for your kids regarding personal grooming. Because dad's skin also needs TLC to keep it healthy, sharing this bit of knowledge with your son from a young age is vital. It prepares them for the years ahead in grooming and creates a bond between father and son. In celebration of Father's Day, we share some bonding tips on grooming for father and son to try out not just for Father's Day but all year round.

SPA TREATMENT

We know that men secretly love facials and spa treatments, so why not book a father and son spa relaxing moment at your favourite luxury spa hotel or pick out an easy at-home skincare routine for Father's Day? It could be a round of stress relief massage, fragrant herbal or steam bath, or some deluxe mani-pedi. be sure to enjoy the bonding experience.

SHAVING Play-shaving with your son is an excellent way to bond, but we must remind you here that you should take out the blade from the shaving stick you hand to him for practice. You may be worried about the necessity of this, but kids always love to be involved in activities so having your kid by your side while you shave is a sure way to bond with them. Moments like this create memories.

HAIRCARE & TRIMS A good hair day starts at the barber's shop. It's a great place to get to talk with your son. However, if you can give a good haircut at home, it's also a perfect way to share moments with your son.

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VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

LIVING

Raising A Daddy's Girl Today 5 Ways You Can Bond With Your Daughter

1. Don't Just Enrol, Follow Through

As parents, we work hard to provide for our family. As fathers, the pressure to become the provider can sometimes be overwhelming. And so, because society has based fatherhood solely on men’s ability to provide financial and physical security for the household, we work twice as hard as anybody else to meet our end of the bargain. But that often comes at a cost; we sometimes get too immersed in our work, and we don’t make time for those whose interests we are working so hard to protect. If you fall in this workaholic dad bracket, being intentional about your involvement in your girl’s life is critical. Doing what, you may ask? Well, how about enrolling her to learn a skill? Remember that you already send them to school for hours daily—months if it were a boarding school—so enrolling them is not another reason to keep them distant, no! If you enrol your daughter in a coding class, for instance, you should take some liking to programming, at least enough to spend time and discuss ‘techy’ stuff with her. It is the gestures that show that you actually care.

Noble Igwe And His Girls

2. The Outdoors is Always Fun

As your girl grows older, you begin to get a sense of the kind of person she’s becoming. What does she like? What is she into? Where is she more relaxed? Is she an extrovert and is always warm around people? Or is she closed off, and you have to teach her basic social skills? Think about registering your daughter for swimming classes, and you both go on Saturdays. She makes friends while you meet fellow cool dads. It’s a win-win.

3. If You Can’t Braid Them, Loosen Them

On some weekends, you don’t feel like stepping out; you probably just want to stay home and watch the Premier League. That sounds like fun, but just for you; but what if you learned how to braid hair? Learning to braid hair may sound challenging but loosening them isn’t. On a regular 3pm Saturday, you’re in the living room watching your favourite team play, and your daughter is sitting in front of you as you braid her hair and make small talk. Take one for the team.

Femi Otedola And His Girls, Tolani And Cuppy

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

et’s face it; gender will always affect every decision we make as parents. As soon as babies get on the way, you, as an expectant parent, want to know what their gender is. The thoughts that go into it are enormous; think about it. As a dad, you probably fantasize about having “a Junior,” but that’s only possible if it’s a boy. If it’s a girl, the dynamic is quite different because she can’t be “Junior,” and if you’re intentional about being a good dad, then she is definitely a daddy’s girl.

4. You Are Her Biggest Cheerleader

Timi Dakolo And His Girls

Kids always have extracurricular activities in school that sometimes involve parents coming to watch, cheer and support them. Some of these activities include ballet recitals, science competitions, spelling bees, football matches, track and field events, and so on. It’s very common for fathers to ignore these things and not be a part of them. Don’t be that dad; be there, be punctual, and be very vocal with your support. If your girl does a great job, you did a great job.

5. Learn To Be ‘Gossipy’

Some people don’t believe that you should be your child’s friend. This is because sometimes, parents don’t know how to separate their friendly side from their disciplined side. However, because the importance of communication in any relationship cannot be overstated, you must find a style that allows your daughter to feel comfortable confiding in you. So if a boy, your teenage daughter’s classmate, writes her a love letter, you want her to feel like she can tell you about that kind of stuff. Ask questions, but also create a safe space so you can dole out advice and instructions lovingly. Kids love to talk; you need to learn to listen.

As you make time out of your busy schedule for your princess, you have to fill them with bonding activities that communicate your love, support, and presence throughout her childhood. After all, isn’t that what ‘father figure’ is all about? But what do you fill those time slots with? Here are five ways you can bond with your daughter.

PAGE 14 Davido And His Girl

VOL 2 NO. 25 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

African Art And Culture Takes Centre Stage at The ili Exhibition BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE The ili Exhibition, an expression of African art and culture, opened on Saturday, the 28th of May, 2022 and ran till the 11th of June at BoConcepts, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition, which comprised vibrant and colourful works by expressionist artist Mary-Jane Minika Ohobu and renowned photographer Hakeem Salaam, featured fascinating artworks using indigenous Nigerian cloth and the human body as a canvas. With each piece spotlighting the beauty, history, processes, and the underlying connections within the Nigerian ecosystem, the

Mary-Jane Ohobu

exhibition featured a cross-section of fabrics, including Adire, Igbulu, Akwo Ocha, Asooke, Ukara, Akwete, amongst others. Ili, which translates to "cloth" in Idoma, denotes the center, a pivotal place connecting all the country's areas. In addition to Ofong in Efik, Akwa in Igbo, Opa in Yala, Aso in Yoruba, Zane in Hausa, and so on, the word has other meanings. Art lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts flocked to see the ili pieces and were greeted with food, drinks, music, and networking opportunities.

Hakeem Salaam

Bernard Akede

Abim

bola

Olatu

nbi

Omohemi Unuigbe & Mercy

Bernard Akede

Victor Esenowo & Uduak Ukpa

nah

Vanessa Ebifem

i, David Nsan &

Yetunde Ebifem

gunde

Femi Abe

Adekunle Ewue

sho

ODODO Onyinye Achom

& Oke Maduewes

Mr & Mrs Eapen

Edward & Blessing Inyang Joy Oyeka

Maryan

n Godfr

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ENE

VOL 2 NO. 2 • JUNE 19 - JUNE 25, 2022

THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

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

Movie Review:

MOVIES TO WATCH WITH YOUR DAD THIS FATHER’S DAY

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

WATCH of the Week

Hustle through shots of Bo sprinting up a Philadelphia hill mixed with images of him working on his basketball skills. Perhaps the best testament to the impact of Hustle is that the movie finds rich, dramatic terrain in some pretty esoteric stuff: the world of NBA front

ather’s Day is the one day of the year that highlights all those special father figures in your life. We’ll be the first to admit that planning for the big day can get a little nerve-wracking, especially if your dad is the kind of person who answers with “Whatever” when asked what gift they want. Once you find the perfect Father’s Day gift, there’s a good chance all he’ll really want is to spend time with the people he loves most. What better way to thank him for all those years than with a relaxing movie night at home? Cue up the flicks, make the couch super comfy and pick the perfect movie that celebrates fatherhood. Whatever adventure you go on with your dad this Father’s Day, what matters most is that he will love the opportunity to spend quality time with you more than anything.

BY BOLUWATITO ADESINA

office negotiating and player development. Hustle is worth seeing, even if you don't like basketball. That says it all. Hustle is currently streaming on Netflix

PLAYLIST FOR THE WEEK

1. The Pursuit of Happiness

Will Smith and his real-life son star in this true story of a struggling single dad who dreams of a better life for his boy. After finding themselves homeless, Will’s character risks everything when he lands an unpaid internship in a competitive stockbroker training program that has the potential to change everything.

2. The Godfather This drama—considered one of the greatest films of all time—paints a chilling picture of life in the mafia that will have every father’s eyes glued to the screen. Marlon Brando’s Oscar-winning performance explores the dangerous struggle between loyalty and power when you’re mixed up in the family business.

3. He’s Got Game

This is the perfect pick for any sports-loving dad. Denzel Washington plays a father who tries to rebuild his relationship with his son, a top-ranked basketball player, after spending six years in prison. The state governor releases him for a week on parole for him to convince his son to play for the governor’s alma mater. If he succeeds, he’s promised a greatly reduced prison sentence.

PAGE 16

4. Logan

Is dad your superhero? Treat him to this surprisingly moving tale of former X-Men member Logan aka Wolverine, who becomes a reluctant father to Laura, the newly-discovered by-product of an attempt to clone Logan himself. Though the movie shares all of the action and adventure you’d expect from a film inspired by comic book heroes, it’s the unexpectedly heartwarming tale of family that will have you teary-eyed by the end.

5. Heat

I have to include Heat on this list as it is, in my opinion, the greatest movie ever made. First of all, the cast: Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The two finally share screen time after a missed opportunity in The Godfather, Part 2, in which they shared a bill but never actually appeared in the same scene. In Michael Mann’s Heat, Pacino, the cop, and De Niro, the crook, face off in an epic, nearly three-hour-long crime drama, which includes unforgettable lines (“She’s got a GREAT ASS!”) and an even more unforgettable shoot-out.

Adam Sandler has a gift for playing people like Stanley, down-on-theirluck strivers who refuse to surrender their dreams of something more even in the face of what can seem like an avalanche of adversity. He's shown this before, most recently as a far less likeable character in Uncut Gems. Of course, he'll always be best known for his comedies. But projects like Hustle emphasise how seriously Sandler should be taken as an avatar for this sort of relatable everyman, excellent at his job but still driving that decades-old car, unable to ascend to the next professional level that he so richly deserves. The star provides this movie with its soul, constructing a compelling relationship with Hernangómez, who is a better actor than one might expect from a professional athlete. As Stanley brings Bo to the United States and fights overwhelming institutional scepticism to get him into the NBA Draft, their bond deepens from one defined by mutual aspirations to the sort of profound affection you don't necessarily expect from a sports picture. The actors capture this through subtle gestures such as reaction shots during the sports sequences and nighttime drives through the city, providing pauses for reflection in a picture that's also very much defined by the dynamic way it captures Bo's training process. The director Billy Zagar takes the template introduced and perfected by another Philadelphia-set classic, a little movie called Rocky, and makes it seem fresh and exciting. Even the requisite montage approach is nothing less than gripping: the movie showcases the pure hard work required to compete with the world's best players

Terrace Martin ft Arin Ray & Smino - This Morning

50 Cent - Many Men (Wish Death)

Cassius Clay_ Muhammad Ali - Coolio_ L.V. - Gangsta's Paradise I Am the Greatest

Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father

Nas - Daughters

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing - Gone Girl

Mac DeMarco - My Old Man

SiR - Satisfaction

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)