THEWILL DOWNTOWN March 26, 2023

Created These Life-changing

Beauty

regimens can take up a lot of time, so if, like me, you are a gal on the go, you want a quick beauty routine that also leaves your skin radiant. Our beauty page has the right solution for this in our Skinimalism article. You have to read it.

In a rather insightful article, we share inventions by black women. At the same time, the fashion and décor pages discuss fashion as a social phenomenon and ways to incorporate colour trends into your bedroom décor.

We have all missed Davido, and so with his new album releasing in a few days, we couldn’t be more excited to do a little something on his album.

Was Angela Basset snubbed at the Oscars? We have an op-ed about this that makes for an exciting read.

We round up Women’s Month with this week’s issue. As is tradition, throughout March, we celebrated women’s month with female covers, except for Gbadebor Rhodes Vivour’s one, which featured just before the gubernatorial elections that will be forever marred worst conducted since the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. It certainly brought bigotry to the forefront. Among the many things we noted is that we cannot trust INEC to do its job, period! And although we have now recorded the lowest participation of women in the parliament, we have chosen to focus on women who got, retained a seat at the table or even have inconclusive results.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Dorcas Akintoye

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

Onwumere Churchill Ikenna

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya

Writer: Kehindé Fagbule

Graphic Design: Oludemilade Aremu ‘Remus’

Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun

Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’

- Contributing Writer

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

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

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

FASHION AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON

BY ONWUMERE IKENNA CHURCHILL

Fashion is a social phenomenon that has been a part of human culture for centuries. It refers to the prevailing style or trend in clothing, accessories, and other personal items that people wear or use to express their identity or social status. Fashion is not just limited to clothing and accessories, but it also includes hairstyles, makeup, and even body modification.

Fashion has a significant impact on society as it reflects cultural and societal changes. It is a form of communication that enables people to express themselves, their beliefs, and values. Fashion has also been used to challenge social norms and conventions. It has been a platform for social movements, such as the feminist movement, where women started wearing trousers to challenge traditional gender roles.

Fashion is also a reflection of economic, political, and environmental factors. For instance, during times of economic prosperity, fashion trends tend to be more luxurious and expensive. However,

during times of economic downturn, fashion trends become more practical and affordable. In addition, fashion has also been influenced by political events, such as wars and revolutions.

Yes, fashion is indeed a social phenomenon that is influenced by various cultural, economic, and historical factors. It refers to the prevailing styles, trends, and aesthetics that are popular in a particular time and place. Fashion encompasses clothing, accessories, hairstyles, makeup, and other forms of self-expression that people use to create a personal identity or convey a message to others.

Fashion is closely tied to society because it reflects the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a community. For example, certain clothing styles may be associated with particular social groups, professions, or subcultures, while others may be seen as more mainstream or acceptable in a given context. Fashion can also be influenced by factors such as technological advancements, globalization, environmental concerns, and political movements. Moreover, fashion is not only a means of self-expression, but it can also be a form of social status, power, and influence. High-end fashion brands, for example, are often associated with wealth, luxury, and exclusivity, and wearing their products can signal one's social position and identity. On the other hand, fashion can also be a source of creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange, as designers and consumers alike draw inspiration from different cultures, traditions, and experiences.

Overall, fashion is a dynamic and

multifaceted phenomenon that reflects and shapes the social and cultural landscape of a society.

Furthermore, fashion has become more accessible due to advancements in technology, particularly in the field of e-commerce. Social media has also played a significant role in fashion as it has enabled people to share and consume fashion content at an unprecedented rate. This has led to the democratization of fashion, where anyone can participate in creating and consuming fashion content.

In conclusion, fashion is a social phenomenon that reflects cultural, societal, economic, political, and environmental factors. It is a form of communication that enables people to express their identity, beliefs, and values. Fashion has also been used to challenge social norms and conventions and become more accessible due to advancements in technology.

Ways to Recreate Fashion Colours IN YOUR BEDROOM DÉCOR

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

Colours are influenced by the habits of the times we are living in.

Moreover, the perceptions of the home environment and its use have changed over time. The fashion colours for interior design have been curated to meet the specific needs of the inhabitants of the home, regardless of whatever it is. There are many of them, ranging from colour palettes that convey serenity, calmness, relaxation, joy, and even energy.

We can all agree that creating an energising and mood-boosting bedroom can be so enticing and pleasing to look at, and one of the ways to achieve that is by using colours and light. Furnishing your bedroom with warm colours can satisfy this need for comfort, warmth, and affection.

This article will show you a list of fashion colours you can recreate in your bedroom. It doesn't matter whether you introduce those pops of colour with paint, bedding, or artwork; the important thing is to go for the one that works best for you.

(1) DELICATE PINK

This fashion hue awakens the spirit and, at the same time, inspires much-needed optimism. It's a colour you can work with all year round as it combines the desire for comfort and relaxation with

(3) BRONZE

It's a bold, understated, yet neutral natural colour, and it has the unique ability to enliven a space with organic appeal while conveying a sense of meditation and serenity.

(5) DENIM BLUE

Denim blues work with white or simple stripes to give a more calming and enticing look. For a touch of vibrancy against these saturated blues, you can add a highlight of soft Orange.

(2) BROWN

This colour allows you to feel closer to nature and creates a sense of harmony with nature. Combining them with soft natural shades like sandy beige and grey, among others, helps create a sense of stability and tranquillity.

(4) GREEN

Shades of green work beautifully with each other, so do not be afraid to mix the light and dark shades or the blue and yellow-based tones for a look that absolutely energises your bedroom.

(6) YELLOW

Add a touch of yellow to the interior decor to make your bedroom full of sunny, positive vibes. The colour gives any bedroom a unique kind of bright, welcoming feel with uplifting, mood-boosting primrose. Yellow and grey are a great combination, and they work well together.

Binani

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Although the 2023 elections may have come and gone, the bitter pill it left in the mouth of Nigerians lingers. With very few headlines bringing solace to grieving Nigerians mourning the death of democracy as we know it, the news of renowned Senator Aishatu Dahiru, widely referred to as Binani’s emergence as the elected governor of Adamawa State, provided a muchneeded boost. Binani’s win makes her Nigeria’s first elected female governor, an announcement that couldn’t have found a better timing than last week’s mothering Sunday. Representing the All Progressives Congress, Binani’s hard-fought historical win came at the expense of the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintri of the PDP, but it doesn’t come as a shock.

Born on the 11th of August 1971, Binani represented Adamawa Central senatorial district in the 9th Assembly. She was formerly a member of the House of Representatives for the Yola North/Yola South/ Girei federal constituency as a member of the People’s Democratic Party in the 7th Assembly between 2011 and 2015. In 2021 an appeal court sitting in Yola declared her as the APC governorship candidate in Adamawa. She had defeated several influential male politicians, including former presidential candidate and pioneer executive chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, during the party’s governorship primaries. The Higher National Diploma holder in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southampton, UK, is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Binani’s victory comes at a time when the country experienced its lowest female political representation since the 1999 General elections, her first-ever election of the 4th Republic.

As Nigeria Records The Lowest Women Representation Since 1999

MEET AND THE WOMEN OF THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS

NIGERIA’S WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION PLUMMETS

Projections

from the 2023 elections indicate a decline of women seats in the 10th assembly, 18, in comparison to the 9th, 21, which saw Nigeria ranked 184th out of 192 countries in the world for women’s representation in the national parliament according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Women in Politics Report 2022. In Africa’s 54 countries, Nigeria ranks the lowest, coming 54th with a 5.45 percent female representation, while Rwanda ranks first with 47.95 percent. This came despite a visible increase in the number of voters. According to figures from INEC, the total number of eligible voters rose by 9,464,924 or 11.3 percent from the 2019 general elections. Of the total registered voters, 44,414,846 (47.5 percent of total voters) are female voters.

Although the Commission has only declared winners for 423 legislative seats, it directed that supplementary elections would be conducted in 46 other constituencies. Of the federal lawmakers elected so far, women got three seats in a Red Chamber of 98 seats (accounting for just 3.1 percent), and 15 seats in the Green Chambers of 325 seats (only 4.6 percent). Meet the women of Nigerian national politics.

WOMEN OF THE SENATE (III)

WOMEN OF THE ASSEMBLY

1. Morenike Witherspoon – APC, Owo 2 State Constituency (Ondo)

2. Annah Fayemi – APC, Ilaje 2 State Constituency (Ondo)

3. Oluwatosin Ogunlowo – APC, Idanre State Constituency (Ondo)

4. Omotayo Adeleye-Ishaya – APC, Ijumu State Constituency (Kogi)

5. Comfort Nwuchola – APC, Ibaji State Constituency (Kogi)

6. Olatundun Alanamu – APC, Ilorin North/West State Constituency (Kwara)

7. Arinola Lawal – APC, Ilorin East State Constituency (Kwara)

8. Mariam Yusuf Aladi – APC, Ilorin South State Constituency (Kwara)

9. Rukayat Shitu – APC, Owode/Onire State Constituency (Kwara)

10. Olagbaju Bolaji – Ado 11 State Constituency (Ekiti)

11. Okuyiga Eyitayo Adeteju – Aiyekire/gbonyin State Constituency (Ekiti)

12. Olowookere

13.

14.

15.

Bosede Yinka – Efon State Constituency (Ekiti)

Ogunlade Mariam Bimbola Funmilola – Emure State Constituency (Ekiti)

Okiemen Fakunle Iyabode Lydia – Ilejemeje State Constituency (Ekiti)

Solanke Christiana Abimbola – Moba I State Constituency (Ekiti)

The deputy governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo, was elected the representative for Rivers West Senatorial District under the PDP.

Ipalibo Banigo (PDP, Rivers)

Kingibe Ireti (LP, Abuja)

Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos)

Idiat Adebule of the APC from Lagos West District, too, won a seat at the senatorial table.

Kingibe Ireti was also elected the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator under the Labour Party.

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4 10

Before the election, she was the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

EBIKAKE MARIE ENENIMIETE – PDP, Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency (Bayelsa)

An experienced politician, she is a former chairman of Brass local government area of the south-south state.

ZAINAB GIMBA – APC, Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency (Borno)

The 50-year-old politician is currently the chairperson of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians.

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OGBARA KAFILAT - APC, Kosofe Federal Constituency (Lagos)

The former commissioner of the Lagos State Audit Service Commission polled 44 votes to beat her closest opponent, who scored one vote.

NNABUIFE CHINWE

CLARA – YPP, Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency (Anambra)

A royalty, she is aptly named Adaejiejemba, and with her victory, she has cemented her reputation as a political colossus.

AKUME REGINA – APC, Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency (Benue)

Mrs Akume was the state’s First Lady from 1999-2007, when her husband, Dr George Akume, was governor.

IBORI-SUENU ERHIATAKE – PDP, Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency (Delta)

The daughter of James Ibori, former governor of Delta, defeated Ben Igbakpa, incumbent lawmaker representing the area, in the 2023 polls.

ADEWUNMI ONANUGA - APC, Remo Federal Constituency (Ogun)

Popularly known as “Ijaya”, Onanuga will be retaining her seat in the House of Representatives for the constituency.

GWACHAM MAUREEN CHINWE – APGA, Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency (Anambra)

Before venturing into politics, Gwacham was widely known as an accomplished businesswoman and a trade economist.

ONUH ONYECHE BLESSING – APC, Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency (Benue)

Although she is the daughter of former Senate President David Mark, she has carved a niche for herself as a formidable politician.

ONUOHA MIRIAM ODINAKA – APC, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo Federal Constituency (Imo)

She returned to the green chambers after winning the 2023 National Assembly elections.

BENI BUTMAK LAR – PDP, Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency (Plateau)

She will be returning to the green chamber for the fifth term. Hon. Lar is also the daughter of a former PDP national chairman, Late Solomon Lar.

GOODHEAD BOMA – PDP, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru Federal Constituency (Rivers)

Hon. Boma is the daughter of the Late Justice Melford Dokubo and a younger sister to freedom fighter Asari Dokubo.

BUKAR ABBA IBRAHIM KHADIJAH WAZIRI – APC, Damaturu, Gujuba, Gulani, Tarmuwa Federal Constituency (Yobe)

The 56-year-old politician is a former minister of state for foreign affairs.

FATIMA TALBA – APC, Nangere Potiskum Federal Constituency (Yobe)

She had previously occupied the position and was voted in for the second time.

WATCH PARTY Lahira

It was a night of combat chic fashion, emotional reactions, and great entertainment as Africa Magic unveiled its brand new drama series, Lahira, at a watch party held at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi.

Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, gave a speech about how dear the series is to the team and its significance to Nigeria. The military, which supported the production from start to finish, also had representatives at the watch party including Brigadier General O. Adegbe who represented the Chief of Defense and gave a short speech, commending Africa Magic for telling the very challenging story of Lahira.

As part of the festivities at the watch party, popular media personality Wana Udobang also did a spoken word performance of a poem titled Lahira. The event had notable guests like Zeb Ejiro, Norbert and Gloria Anozie-Young, Bovi, Yemi Cregx, Sandra Essiene, Bade Smart, Sunday Afolabi, and more in attendance.

MultiChoice Executives

Norbert Young, Jemila Akinsanyan, Justice Atigogo, Busola Tejumola, Peter Fada

Norbert Young(Right)

Jemila Akinsanya

Brigadier General O.Adegbe

Gloria Anozie Young

Jaypee, Yemi Cregx, Sandra Essiene, Jenni O

Wana Udobang

Dotun Oloniyo, Yemi Cregx, Boma Akpore

CAREER

Invented by Her WOMEN CREATED THESE LIFE-CHANGING INVENTIONS

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Celebrating women’s day, and by extension, the month is all about showcasing a holistic experience of womanhood. The journey and milestones, pain and strife, glory and gore, accomplishments and setbacks, all the micro experiences peculiar to women. Of all the terms that have been used to describe them since the first woman, an inventor is not readily associated with women. Think about all the inventions we read about in science class growing up; how many are not men? Well, it turns out a rather large number of women have actually simplified our lives with several inventions. And although we are all familiar with these everyday items, most of us have no idea that, in fact, they were the brainchild of women. Here are some of the biggest women inventors in human history we possibly couldn’t have lived without.

Fiber Optic Cables and Caller ID (the 1970s)

Inventor: Dr. Shirley Jackson

Dr. Shirley Jackson is the first Black woman to graduate with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her research in telecommunication led to the invention of technology such as fibre optic cables. She is also a leading developer of call waiting and caller ID on mobile phones. As you use a faster internet or receive calls, always remember that a woman is responsible for that.

Home security system (1969)

Inventor: Marie Van Brittan Brown

With New York City police being notoriously slow to respond to calls in her neighbourhood, Brown took matters into her own hands and created a home security system with closed-circuit television.

Technology Systems (1998)

Inventor: Kofoworola Akinkugbe OON

One of the most innovative women in Nigeria, Kofo Akinkugbe founded three different solutions: a security management and biometrics company, Interface Technologies Limited, in 1998, SecureID Limited in 2005, and SecureCard Manufacturing in 2012. Her group of companies owns Nigeria’s first SIM card production plant, in operation since December 2016. Certified by Visa, Verve and Mastercard, the company exports SIM cards to 21 other African countries.

Laser cataract surgery (1981)

Inventor: Patricia Era Bath

Patricia Bath is the first African-American woman to receive a patent for medical innovation as an ophthalmologist. In 1981, she invented and received a patent for a medical device called a Laserphaco probe. The medical device uses a laser to dissolve cataracts in the eye quickly and painlessly. It then sprays and cleans the eye, which makes inserting a replacement lens much more effortless. The Laserphaco probe is now an internationally safe way to remove cataracts that could cause blindness.

Hair Care Products For Black Women (1900s)

Inventor: Madame C.J. Walker

Madame C.J. Walker invented hair care products for African American women and travelled the country promoting her brand. Through calculated marketing, Walker became one of America’s first self-made female millionaires.

SKINIMALISM SKINCARE ROUTINE

- Everything You Need To Know About The Minimalist

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

As we all know, there is a place and time for everything, and as much as we love diving deep into all the skincare goodness, it’s high time for us to lean into a minimalist approach.

If you don’t have the time, interest, and funds to manage a massive skincare routine but still want a consistent and reliable routine, a minimalist approach should be your go-to. You only need a few essential products to cleanse, nourish and protect your skin. With them, you can create an easy four-step process that’s low fuss and, at the same time, highly rewarding. Depending on your skin, a minimalist skincare routine should include a cleanser, a serum, a moisturiser, and SPF. Use a facial cleanser and a moisturiser with SPF for a simple two-step routine. Since sunscreen is not needed at night, you can increase your routine into four steps, saving the SPF for daytime use. A minimal skincare routine includes the list below.

1A CLEANSER SUITED TO YOUR SKIN TYPE

The first thing to reach for in your minimalist regimen is a good cleanser to remove dirt and bacteria on your skin, especially at night. You need to find the perfect cleanser that works well with your skin type. You can skip out on dedicated scrub and exfoliating toner if you will be using an exfoliating cleanser; doing this would pare down the steps in your minimalist skincare routine.

2

A TARGETED SERUM FOR YOUR SKIN NEEDS

Even though trying out different types of serum is fun, using product after product will reduce its efficacy. A good serum helps balance all the right ingredients to achieve results on its own.

SUNSCREEN TO APPLY (AND REAPPLY) EVERYDAY

Once you already have fresh and clean skin to work with, the next thing is to use a moisturiser to keep your skin supple and nourished. Most moisturisers contain vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients that help promote radiance and a healthy skin barrier. While some are suitable for all skin types, others are meant to boost complexions that need targeted care. When getting your moisturisers, try to look at the ingredient list to ensure that the moisturiser is free of potential irritants, including alcohol, synthetic fragrances, and some other harsh additives.

Anything you do in your skincare routine will be considered useless if you skip SPF. Sunscreen is the last and most important step, and also choosing the right one to wear is important when it comes to staying consistent in your minimalist routine. No matter the kind of sunscreen you use, try opting for the one that contains SPF 50 or higher, and make sure you reapply it every three to four hours when outdoors.

As long as you stick to these minimalist skincare essentials and seek out formations that are best for your skin types and concerns, a healthier and more radiant complexion can be attained. If you want to speed up your results and target specific concerns, you can add a step to your regimen- an eye cream, as this area, tends to be the first to show signs of ageing.

Nevertheless, the best skincare routine for you is the one that packs all the right ingredients for your needs and this one that you can stick to consistently. It doesn’t matter whether it is super minimal, highly advanced, or somewhere in between.

WAS ANGELA BASSETT REALLY SNUBBED AT THE 95TH OSCARS?

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

The academy award popularly known as the “Oscars” awards the excellence for artistic and technical merit for the film industry. They are presented annually by the academy of motion and picture arts and sciences in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership. It is a sought-after award of any actor or actress in the industry as well as the other crew.

academy awards didn’t honour Angela Bassett which is long overdue. She is one of the epic leading and phenomenal actresses of all time. Marinated in black culture, her acting techniques are exquisite. Twitter was on rampage with the stunt the academy pulled. She was the biggest snub at the Oscars and the black culture wasn’t having it at all.

Justlast week, the Academy Awards hosted its 95th award night. It got to house the most beautiful nominees ever and what they were nominated for. It was really a spectacular night but not to all, especially the movie lovers and fans watching across the globe. The nomination was an excellent one and was different from this time around. The movie, Everything Everywhere All At Once was an Asian movie which got nominated in eleven categories and took home seven.

Our very own Angela Bassett was snubbed at the Oscar’s award for her role as the best supporting actress in a movie: Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The particular scene which moved the viewers and particularly the Academy members was when she was speaking to Okoye after her daughter was kidnapped. That scene alone was filled with goosebumps and we got to see the other side of Angela Bassett in a movie. Notwithstanding, she outperformed herself in the movie too.

Movie lovers, fans and critics have taken to their keyboards to air their views on why the

When her counterpart, Jamie lee Curtis, was called as the winner for her performance in: Everything Everywhere All At Once. Basset didn’t clap or stand which is custom but her face says it all. Was she really snubbed? The question is still going around and we haven’t gotten a solid response. Angela Bassett is a highly talented and respected actress who has received critical acclaim for her performances in numerous films throughout her career. However, whether or not she was snubbed at the Oscars is a matter of opinion and interpretation which we can’t speak on fully.

It is worth noting that the Oscars are not a perfect measure of an actor or actress’s talent or worthiness of recognition. The voting process is complex and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including politics, campaigning, and personal biases. The Oscar’s doesn’t define an actor or actress and we saw that right after,

That being said, there have been instances where Angela Bassett’s performances have been overlooked by the Academy. For example, she received critical praise for her role as Tina Turner in the 1993 film What’s Love Got to Do with It, but was not nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Similarly, she received acclaim for her role in the 1998 film How Stella Got Her Groove Back, but was not nominated for an Oscar.

Many people believe that Bassett should have received nominations for these performances and others, and consider her to be an under-recognized talent in the film industry. However, the decision of whether or not she was snubbed at the Oscars ultimately depends on individual interpretation and opinion.

Michael B Jordan and Johnathan Majors (both villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe cog) came out to present the Best Cinematography Oscar. They made sure to give a shout out to Basset, saying, “Hey Auntie, we love you.”

AND COMES BEARING A GIFT FOR HIS FANS DAVIDO IS BACK

BY ONWUMERE IKENNA CHURCHILL

Nigerians have been dreaming of the day Davido will hit back on the internet and give us the good music we have been craving for long. Last year, Davido lost his son to unforeseen circumstances and he went on a hiatus of grieving, trying to conceal his pain and healing before he came back to the outside world.

This gave utmost joy to Nigerians and to other fans across the globe. Davido has fans all over the world who genuinely love and appreciate the craft of his music. The album is more like a surprise and we are happy he is back on his feet. His fans can’t wait to get hold of this album and everyone is talking about it. It is a trending topic and it brought joy to his fans immediately he posted it online. We are yet to know what artists are on it or have a track list. Either way, they will be streaming and jamming to it sooner.

The video posted showed some visuals which wills definitely be a part of the album and it was a beautiful one. The post on Instagram had over three hundred thousand comments and almost two million likes. We all missed him and are happy he’s fully back to give us that sound. All davido ever did for his fans, is to give them good music and also connect with them on every level. People around him have confirmed that he is a sweet soul to be hanging around with. He is a philanthropist and a great artist. Let’s hang on till 31st March as we get to unveil the Timeless album by Davido. You wouldn’t

Itwas a terrible tragedy and Nigerians and its citizens sent their condolences. Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, is a popular and well recognized international artist. whose songs have filled the hearts of the world. He’s super talented and there is joy in listening to his sound each time it drops for everyone to listen too.

Finally, we get to listen to him sing with a jawdropping surprise of his latest and fourth album dropping this March 31st, Titled, Timeless. He posted a video on all his socials about what the album simply means to him. It’s an album of healing, peace

and love. In his words, “ There is a time for everything. A time to Grieve and a time to Heal, A time to Laugh and a time to Dance. A time to Speak and A time for Silence. Thank you to everyone out there for your love and that has held me down. My next album TIMELESS is here, March 31st. All the love and messages while I was away, the gifts sent, the concerts you all threw! I appreciate it all. Today, I want to remind you all that what is now timeless, was once new. It’s time for something new.”

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

Shazam: Fury of the Gods

MOVIE REVIEW: LUTHER: FALLEN SUN

WATCH OF THE WEEK

How can something seem so big and so small at the same time?

Shazam: Fury of the Gods crammed everything else possible into its 2 hours and 10 minutes so why not a conflicting sense of scope and tone?

The sequel to the 2019 DC Comics superhero caper Shazam is bombastic and cacophonous, a relentlessly overstimulating carnival that relies heavily on CGI and a clanging soundtrack to fake its ambitious scale. But everything also feels slight, as if the movie, like the superheroes, is kids playing dress-up. The stakes might be high – in theory, the destruction of our realm and the death of everyone on screen – but the peril never feels real.

The first Shazam movie was an origin story, explaining how teenager Billy Batson (Zachary Levi/Asher Angel) was given the powers of the gods, chosen as the champion by a wizard. By the end of that movie, Billy had shared those powers with his foster brothers and sisters.

Now, a few years on, Billy is still uncomfortable with the responsibility of being a superhero, burdened with a strong case of impostor syndrome. He doesn’t understand why he’s worthy of wielding these enormous powers, and, honestly, if a 17-year-old boy has the selfawareness to be questioning that, it’s preferential to the overly confident alternative.

Billy’s main concern though, seems to be fracturing of his foundfamily unit. His sister Mary (Grace Fulton) is already over 18 and Billy convinced her not to go to college so as to not split up their crew. And Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody) is frequently off doing his own thing.

Things get even worse when the Daughters of Atlas – Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Ziegler) – find their way out of their dimensional prison and come to Billy’s world, looking for the powers that were stolen from them. The powers that now reside within Billy and his family.

Chaos ensues as the sisters unleash all hell on earth, including mythical beasts such as minotaurs and manticores. There are some

story beats here and there and everywhere but the core of the story is heroes versus villains, and the hero’s journey of understanding their worth and inner strength.

None of it is surprising and some of it is even fun.

Director David F. Sandberg and writers Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan lucked out with the casting of Grazer in the first film – the young actor gets an even bigger role in this sequel, making full use of talents.

But Shazam: Fury of the Gods is so tonally confused, you never fully grasp what movie it’s meant to be. Even though the story and script are fine, it fails to tie together the cheesy sentimentality and family hijinks with the (albeit PG) violent extravaganza.

Mirren and Liu are pitched somewhere in between serious villains and high camp – and not having as much fun as Cate Blanchett did in Thor: Ragnarok. Mirren is a superstar, she deserves better than this.

Levi is doing a lot in his performance as a teenager in an adult’s body, but his performance doesn’t match Angel’s. In the rare moments Angel is on screen as the physically teenager Billy, he’s grounded, but when Levi is on screen, it’s as if he’s playing an entirely different character, one who seems both dumber and dopier than the one we met four years ago.

And the visual effects are inconsistent. The movie can pull off a semi-decent dragon and lots of citywide destruction, but it’s as if the team ran out of money so that a crumpling a piece of paper looks about as advanced as the same effect in the first Harry Potter movie released 22 years ago.

The first Shazam movie was a goofy adventure that felt like a throwback to kids movies from the 1980s and 1990s, but this follow-up is trying to do too much and ends up not doing much of anything.

5/10

How long have we been waiting for a Luther movie?

The earliest tease for a feature planned around Idris Elba’s ethically and legally compromised Detective, John Luther, date back to 2012. That flick, tentatively titled The Calling, was to have followed the third season of the crime show.

It never happened but then fans got unexpected fourth and fifth seasons of the show instead, so that seemed like a decent trade-off.

When the TV series signed off in January 2019, the idea of a silver screen adventure was back. Elba, by then a much bigger star than when he first donned that iconic tweed coat in 2010, was excited by the prospect. He’s the one who was dropping the hints.

That promise has finally been fulfilled, a feature-length Luther chapter that is larger in scale than a regular episode but with the same darkness coursing through its veins.

Except now, that feature is less of a big screen proposition and is instead a streaming movie. There were limited sessions in cinemas in the past few weeks, but Luther has always been something you watched at home, perversely inviting that sense of dread and paranoia into your sanctuary.

So even though almost every movie is better experienced in a cinema (sorry, Netflix), this is a rare exception. There’s something in how Luther has so successfully burrowed into our subconscious for the past 13 years that the journey should be continued in intimate surroundings.

Directed by Jamie Payne, who helmed the season five episodes, and written by series creator Neil Cross, Luther: The Fallen Sun is a deft

continuation of the beloved show. It has that same grit and menace that’s kept audiences off balance, and it dials up the violence.

And, of course, it has Elba’s blend of charisma and danger, where the line between righteousness and sin is dotted and blurred.

Elba and Cross inherently understand that it’s that duality in Luther which makes him so compelling, and Fallen Sun plays up on this idea that Luther’s effectiveness at catching the worst of the worst is that his own nature skirts a little too close to the predators he hunts. What keeps him from becoming them is that he still believes in the goodness of those he saves and avenges.

In Fallen Sun, that big bad is Robey (a snarling Andy Serkis), a resourceful serial killer who exploits and manipulates the hate within men to recruit them into his sickening schemes.

He taunts Luther in prison, where the now former cop has been holed up since he was arrested at the end of the previous season.

But Luther being Luther, orchestrates a breakout in a pulsating action set-piece that declares Fallen Sun’s insistence that this is more than just a regular episode. Elba’s cerebral action hero cred is on full show and the extravagance of the sequence is matched later on in an elaborate and macabre scene set in Piccadilly Circus. The ambitions here are grander in scope so that it does feel like more of an “event”.

The cat-and-mouse-and-cat chase between Luther, Robey and Detective Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo) is on, culminating in a thrilling conclusion that reminds fans that there is still life left in this 13-years-and-counting ongoing story.

In his career so far, Luther has been Elba’s defining role – he slips into the skin with such ease – and there is a persuasive argument that he doesn’t ever need to be James Bond because what he’s doing here is far more interesting than what that franchise could offer him.

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