VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
BOSEISOGULU MUCH MORE
IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ‘MAMA BURNA’
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
EDITOR’S NOTE
CONTENTS Photo: @HairByUgo
8-10 COVER STORY:
BOSE OGULU is much more than just ‘Mama Burna’
The Strength And Identity Of Certain Women Are Made Evident By The Fruits Of Their Womb. In Other Words...Lion No Dey Born Goat! The month of March here at Downtown has been a resounding celebration of womanhood with every issue and it is my great pleasure to close out Women’s History month with the inimitable Bose Ogulu- daughter, mother of 3, wife, linguist, lecturer, businesswoman, talent manager and more recently, proud manager to Grammy award winning artiste Burnaboy. You see, women by our very nature are the doyens of multitasking and multi accomplishments and when given the opportunity, often instinctively understand the urgency of what needs to be done and how exactly to do it! The thing is you don’t get to be a woman as strongwilled, ambitious and established as Burna, Ronami and Nissi’s mum without a strong sense of self and an unwavering belief in what you are capable of. It is clear that her children come from strong and exceptional stock and that legacy was handed down too from her parents before her. This interview is one you simply cannot afford to miss as she lets us into her home and life, sharing many nuggets along the way.
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CAREER 5 Female Influencers Give Us A Peek Behind The Curtain
We also talk to 5 female social media influencers who have found love for the unique work they do in this digital age. Women are no longer bound to the old ways and with each new frontier, more opportunities are emerging to express oneself while making an honest and sometimes bountiful living out of it.
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ODDBOD & THE CITY
The Downtown team truly outdoes itself with every edition and this one is no different. Beauty EditorOnah Nwachukwu writes about some of the new methods of skin rejuvenation while we are joined by a new columnist, Uzo Orimalade for conversations around food and the delicious recipes required to make a nice treat. Enjoy your read and you’ll see us next week!
POSITIVE VIBES ONLY
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WEBSIGHTS
LATASHA NGWUBE
Has Quavo Been A Nigerian Man All Along?
@latashalagos
THE TEAM Publisher/Editor-In-Chief: Austyn Ogannah Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahgram Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writers: Boluwatife Adesina, Uzo Orimalade House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Sophia Edisi Tobiloba Olakolu Kehinde Fagbule Tilewa Kazeem
Guest Photographer: Tosin Akinyemiju Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’
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BEAUTY: MICRONEEDLING: SKIN RENEWED
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
DOWNTOWN ZODIAC BY TILEWA KAZEEM
UNDERSTAND THE ARIES SEASON With these 3 STARS March 20th - April 21st
As we bid this month adieu, we will be looking at the stars (both literally and figuratively) to help you understand the Aries zodiac sign. An Aries can’t resist the urge to be the best at anything. Ninety per cent is just not good enough, it’s a hundred per cent or nothing for the ram. They are bold and challenging individuals who make passionate, motivated and confident leaders. Aries are always cheerful in their disposition but don’t cross them; these rams with their fire element can be quite fiery when angry. The good thing is, they cool off just as quickly as they get angry, so it’s best to give them some space if you get on the other side of their emotions. In the love department, Aries sign always look out for attraction from the first instance, and they are not afraid to go after what they want. They love being self-sufficient so try not to take offense when they get bored or frustrated. Heads up, don’t try to control an Aries because they like to go by their rules. Some examples of Aries celebrities are Diana Ross, Chance the Rapper, Leonardo da Vinci, Tony Elumelu, Chaka Khan, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey.
Lupita Nyong’o
Simi The Nigerian singer and songwriter reflects the passionate side of Aries Zodiac sign. One of the country’s r&b heavyweights, her voice chiming through your speakers sets the scene for a romantic ambience. Her lyrical dexterity paints a vivid picture of how passionate she is about her craft. With the voice of an angel, she shows her support and implores women to be proud of their bodies with her song Duduke. The song lauds childbearing as well as messages of childbirth. The matrimony of her lyrics and love for her then-unborn child sparked the Duduke challenge that saw women of all colors express and flaunt their baby bumps.
The Late Maya Angelou Intelligent, free-spirited, self-reliant and fearless barely scratches the surface of the personality traits that the Aries-born Maya Angelou possessed. A lifetime that places her by a hair’s breadth with some of the biggest names in literature and history. Growing up in a time that didn’t do women any favours, she had ten different job experiences from being a cook to a waitress, to being a teacher. During her activism years, she met Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. before becoming one of the greatest writers that ever lived.
Oscar award-winning actres Lupita Nyong’o is an embodiment of the courageous trait found in the Aries star. Courage is born through the dancing flames of fear and this is something she understood very early in her life. Her travelling across continents to Mexico at the young age of 16 is a story that takes a back seat to age. Her role as Patsey in the movie 12 Years a Slave was her first major movie role. Despite her fears, Lupita was able to push through and deliver one of the best performances in cinematic history. Now she has become the first woman of colour to play Juliet in a film.
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
CAREER
Female Influencers Give Us A Peek Behind The Curtain BY CHISOM NJOKU
We live in an era where you are only limited by your imagination as far as careers are concerned with many examples of professional content creators and video gamers who make millions of dollars annually but that doesn’t take away from the difficulty and uncertainty of venturing into uncharted territory. We caught up with five hot influencers and social media personalities across various niches and urged them to share their unique stories as well as give insight into what it means to be part of the first generation of digital professionals.
Wantor Toryem @thewantor (Travel & Lifestyle Influencer) It has been a great but challenging journey. Firstly, it wasn’t an easy decision. You always feel like you are going against societal norms. It wouldn’t have been easy without my mum’s support, good brand deals, supportive friends and a safe mental space. The truth is you’ll be criticized, called names, underpaid, belittled but the ability to still deliver under all these circumstances is what makes you unique and that’s my power. I’ve never really been faced with gender-equality problems but one thing I know is that females are securing major seats in the influencing industry and this makes me so proud. Personal lows are always when I make bad decisions that land me in depressing situations and not to mention months with nothing coming in but you still have to deliver because “Fake it, till you make it” if you know what I mean. Every time I see people applaud my creative content, it gives me joy and encourages me to do better and of course good brand deals go a long way.
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Anne Nonye Udeogu @thisthingcalledfashionn (Fashion Influencer & Content Creator) It’s quite exciting and nerve racking at the same time because you know your ideas and what you want to create but you’re not sure how people are going to receive it. It’s also rewarding knowing your talent/ passion can make you a lot of cash which can sustain you as a full time career. It hasn’t always been like this in Nigeria not until last year. Corona did open a lot of Nigerian brands to the idea of influencer marketing, they’ve come to realize that we are not just wasting our time online but we also have a trusted brand that these businesses can tap into to connect more to their target market. There’s still room for improvement especially in the aspects of locations; finding and using locations to tell a story.
One perk is you have the ability to go global cause the internet is your runway. I would advise you to leverage on your own influence and not just make money for other brands but find a business you can start and use your own influence to build that brand. I should also say no one during my time started out with the intention of being an influencer but for me it was about dominating the fashion industry either as a designer, in marketing or working in a fashion magazine. Hence, I started a fashion blog and told my own story and with time through honesty, authenticity, growth and quality content, I built an audience that trusts me and enjoys the content I create.
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
CAREER
Stephanie Douglas @itz_estefania (Lifestyle Content Creator) The role of a professional influencer is conceived as a new age phenomenon and rightly so. Having it as a source of income is very exciting, I cherish every second of doing what I love and earning from it.
Dodo Babs @dodobabs_ (Fitness Coach & Artist) First, I don’t think I’m an influencer (at least not yet)—I’m just doing what I enjoy and what comes naturally... although it feels amazing that people are “influenced” especially as I’ve worked with thousands of women already in such little time. Since I’m doing many things at once (fitness, art, school, etc) I don’t think of any of them as full-time or as a career yet. They’re all parts of me, and many more parts will reveal themselves as I go on. The only thing I do full-time is me. My life as an artist has been full of highs. I’ve sold all my pieces; some even more than once and I’m currently working on a commissioned piece. I’m having my F.R.K artwork used as merch and even album art too and it genuinely just feels so good to have my work loved and appreciated. The best part about everything I do concerning fitness is how useful all of it has made me feel. It’s all the women (and men) that have sent me messages thanking me for helping them feel better in one way or the other. I don’t like to think of lows in my life, they’re gone.
I have to admit that sometimes it’s scary - like with every business, there’s that risk factor; and with influencing/digital marketing, the risk factor is inclined towards sustainability. Here are a few things I enjoy in this line of work: Work doesn’t feel tedious, it’s fun and this is a major win for me. I get to tap into my creativity and be fully expressed while inspiring others with the content I create. Furthermore, the need for digital marketing cannot be overemphasized, and being an influencer allows you to utilize this marketing technique. If I had to state a downside, it’d be that not everyone has opened their mind to conceive this as a viable source of income and while some might think that this is a Nigerian factor, I can testify to having received an exciting job offer as head of digital marketing from a Nigerian based company to establish a solid digital presence thereby increasing their marketing reach. I’d end this with a tip for anyone who’s trying to establish themselves or their brand in this regard, “you are your biggest supporter thus hold the vision and take steady strides towards it”. What started off as sharing insights on my instagram page itz_estefania is now Steph’s Acumen on itzestefania.com, there are growth stages to being a professional influencer and I look forward to having you tell yours someday.
EtoroAbasi Michael @kiing_judah1 (Content Creator & Influencer) Being an influencer isn’t easy, and it was not something I actually planned for. However, I’ve embraced it and it has its perks and advantages just like every other job. Some of the lows are due to the backwardness in Nigeria. Influencing isn’t regarded as a job because it’s not an office or professional field. Hence, most brands feel they are doing you a favour by wanting to send you their items for free in exchange for a post without the intention of paying you for your creativity and the ability to publicize their product. When they eventually recognize you, they would want to pay way less as they don’t even believe in the idea of influencing.
For the advantage, I would say exposure. This itself is also a disadvantage as everyone has an opinion of you and actually get mad if you aren’t bending to their will. However, exposure can be very good. It could help you work with brands and meet people you never thought you could meet or work with. If taken seriously and managed well, you could become international.
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
websights DOWNTOWN FASHION
Has Quavo Been
A Nigerian Man All Along?
L
ast week, American rappers Quavious Keyate Marshall also known as Quavo and Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper popularly referred to as Saweetie reportedly broke off their relationship. The relationship which had lasted three years was called off on social media right before our eyes when Saweetie took to social media to post this: “I’m single. I’ve endured too much betrayal and hurt behind the scenes for a false narrative to be circulating that degrades my character. Presents don’t band-aid scars and the love isn’t real when the intimacy is given to other women,” which strongly suggested that Quavo had cheated on her. Quavo would go on to respond with a tweet saying “I had love for you and disappointed you did all that. You are not the woman I thought you were. I wish you nothing but the best.” A relationship that started with Quavo sliding into Saweetie’s Instagram DM with a snowflake emoji back in 2018 and caused an instant classic “God, when?” moment for romantics all over the internet had been seemingly strong until the public breakup and the infidelity claims.
BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
A Twitter user got the ball rolling with this tweet...
The reaction from Nigerian women…
Then the news broke in less than 12 hours...
...and the gloating session commenced in full flow
Quavo & Saweetie
How it started...
How it ended...
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Of course, this started a debate on social media with Nigerians picking sides as the story unfolded. Just like every other gender war on Twitter, some of the women picked up the “men are scum” rhetoric whilst the men could only settle for a defensive rebuttal in “we don’t know the full story yet.” This went on for hours until someone tweeted suggesting Quavo take back the Bentley he got for Saweetie as an early Christmas present only last year. This singular tweet took the conversation to a whole new level as Nigerian women came out enmasse. “You think he’s a Nigerian man?” The women responded to imply that only Nigerian men were capable of such petty deeds. In a sharp twist of events, within less than 12 hours of women dragging Nigerian men through the mud, reports surfaced that Quavo had ordered for the Bentley to be repossessed. The report sparked the beginning of a relentless gloat session across social media implying that perhaps, OgheneQuavo was a Nigerian man all along.
Reports, however, have surfaced online that Quavo did not send people over to Saweetie’s to repossess the Bentley disregarding the initial report to be a rumour but it was too little too late to stop the banter. It is still unclear how both parties will handle the breakup and life after it but we know for a fact that if Saweetie has to cry, she can do that from her private jet.
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
ODDBOD & THE CITY ODUN OGUNBIYI
POSITIVE VIBES ONLY
I
t is said that the first sign of madness is talking to yourself and I have to tell you that these days, there has been a lot of that going on around these parts. To control your mind and your thoughts is to control your life and that is the real flex. I am constantly reminding myself to stay on the positive vibes gravy train and be the kind of mother and friend that I wish I had. This week has been a total nightmare and this, dear reader, was when I had to dig deep to maintain my attitude of gratitude. This is Oddbod and the City, my Lagos adventure.
take a paracetamol tablet before I headed in for my jab to mitigate any side effects. I went with a group of people and we waited about three hours before getting registered and vaccinated which seems to be the average wait time. Effects seem to kick in about six hours later and ranged from nothing at all, pain, and weakness in the arm of the injection, headaches… and well, we did have one young chap who was convinced he was not going to make it to the morning.
In reality, we know a fair bit about what to expect—he came from a wrestling family, had a quick two-step flirtation with American football and then he became WWF’s The Rock. The execution is what makes it worth a watch though. If you were a fan of Ballers or the Jumanji movies you will be familiar with the Rock’s brand of humour.
There is unfortunately so much suspicion around this vaccine that I would say about 50% of the people I know are planning not to take it if they don’t have to. I must admit the real deciding factor for me is that I am convinced that slowly over time they are going to make it almost impossible to live freely in this world if you have not taken the vaccine.
To Jab or not to Jab I am sheepish to say (after my disparaging comments) that I went ahead and got vaccinated and suffice to say, this is the first time in my career as a human that I have had to take what feels like an experimental drug. There is no seeming rhyme or reason to
that can relate to the average Joe.
how Nigerians are prioritised to receive the vaccine; it’s basically over 60s, health workers and the rest. Worse still, the quantity of doses we have received is miniscule relative to our population size. I decided to go ahead and
They are still working on a paediatric version and I was glad that decision was taken out of my hands and I dread the responsibility of having to make that choice for my daughter. Let’s hope when it’s time to take the second jab in three months there will be enough stock.
Young Rock Currently chilling on good old DStv. Set in 2032, Dwayne Johnson is running for president, intending to prove to the American people that despite his successes he is a down to earth chap
Very clever, very shiny, very polished, tongue in cheek. This is a man that is not afraid to make fun of himself and for that, I say thank you. Wholesome and very entertaining.
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
COVER
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
COVER
BOSE OGULU
IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ‘MAMA BURNA’ Spending an afternoon with Bose Ogulu will probably go down as one of my best days in 2021 simply because I’ve always been fascinated by the sheer strength she exudes. Whether she’s creating a viral moment on social media from a profound speech given or receiving an award on behalf of her son and client, Burnaboy, there’s just something about this woman that begs for deep, insightful questions but beware…she doesn’t suffer fools gladly and isn’t afraid to let you know it! She is currently the CEO of The Spaceship Collective that houses a record label and publishing business and also employs her first daughter, Ronami, as overall Creative Director. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and speaks French, Italian, German and Yoruba fluently. She also has a Masters degree in Translation, enabling her pursue a career as a translator for the Federation of West African Chamber of Commerce. From 1997- 2015 she ran Language Bridges- a music and language school, where she organized cultural immersion trips to non-Anglophone countries for thousands of young people. Add to that a ten year stint as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. These experiences would unwittingly prepare her for the journey she is on now as manager and chief strategist of her son- Burnaboy as well as several other promising acts and creatives. Of course, one cannot at all discount the fact that her father- Benson Idonije who was Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s first manager- was a huge source of inspiration in her formative years. His passion for his work, love for music and adept skills were passed on without a doubt and though she picked up the mantle a little later than her father, she has proven that she is more than capable of producing and managing an A-list star and leading said star {fully Nigerian, no foreign passport} to win big at the BETs, BRITS, Coachella, Grammys and so much more. As we speak, she draws me into her world of family, language, legacy, education and the early music scene years. The photoshoot is over so quickly because being in front of the camera is not Mrs Ogulu’s idea of fun but the chat that ensues is my forte and as she quickly senses that my energy is one of warmth and near adoration, she relaxes. We talk for over two hours- something that from the reaction of her executive assistant and daughter is a bit of a phenomenon- I guess I did something right and in this case, it is to me, an endorsement from the Momager of the Year! Enjoy excerpts of our conversation. Interview By DOWNTOWN Editor, Latasha Ngwube, Assisted by Kazeem Tilewa, Photography by Tosin Akinyemiju, Styled by Ronami Ogulu, Makeup by Olamide Omoyele
I’
ve read so much about you and your dad. You talk about him being the best parent but not a lot about your mum. Why is that? Where is she? Are your parents together?
Yes my parents are still together. She is very much here. If you saw her you’d forget about the rest of us and remember just her as she is very boisterous and she’s going to kill me for mentioning her. I’m named after her, my mum’s name is Abosede Habibatu Benson. Both my parents were here for a very long weekend. We were together for the Grammys and she’s in some of the pictures. I think I look like her. She has shorter hair so you’d be able to pick her out. So, yes she’s there she has always been there but I was a daddy’s girl. My mum at the time was a business person and she travelled a lot. She was doing jewelry, laces and she owned restaurants but without her I’d probably be a brat to be honest. She was the one who made sure I learned to clean a home, wash plates and other chores because if it was up to my father…I hated washing plates and I still do. What other ways did your mum influence your life growing up? The languages. The soft ear comes from my mother. She is a Yoruba woman but she speaks four or five Nigerian languages and she speaks each of them well. We became close when I started having boyfriends because that was the part my father didn’t want to deal with. If there was any person you liked the bottom line was nobody was good enough and so I needed an ally and my mum became one. We used to gist about boyfriend stuff and sex education and because of her I didn’t make a lot of the mistakes my mates made. She had me when she was seventeen and she’s blessed to still be married to the same man for over fifty years. At the end of the day she made the right choice for herself but always let me know that this is not going to happen to you and this is how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. So she’s responsible for that part of me. We are close but she’s closer to her grandchildren than she ever was to me and that makes me feel happy. How did you meet Burna’s dad, Mr Ogulu and (how) did you even know he was the one? I went to Port Harcourt for youth service and I got a job working for the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce. They had like a duplex for corpers and one day he pulled up with a friend. I can’t remember if they were coming to see me or another corper but that’s how we met and no I never thought he could be the one however, I did think he was interesting for two reasons. The first was, he had a terrible sense of dressing but he was very confident about it. This guy was sitting in a room full of people, his legs crossed and he had on the most awful footwear clearly not giving a crap. He obviously had no clue they didn’t look nice. I found his confidence and just the fact that he didn’t care interesting. The second thing was that he made me laugh and we just laughed a lot about all kinds of things. So, yeah we were friends for months and then he would ask me out and I’d say no thank you because I’m not going to stay in this system with you. I’m going back home. Home for me was Lagos and there was no point in having a boyfriend here and so he would give it a rest and ask
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
Burna is probably the only one who has the originality, authenticity, rawness and clarity of vision that Fela had and is not related by blood to him.”
again the following month. Then towards the end of my youth service, one day he said “Ok, at this point if you are not going to marry me there is no point even starting to date.” I looked at him and replied “Are you desperate? Who looks at a girl and starts saying if you are not going to marry me…?” So we had a laugh. I finally went to visit him at home and discovered there were two girlfriends looking for this man who had spent most of his nights hanging out in front of my place. I said, “If have all these girls killing themselves for you, why are you looking for me night after night? Then he looks to me and says “Well then, I guess you aren’t that desperate after all!”.. We have banter and we’ve developed our own language even from way back then. He wasn’t a case of chemistry- I see you, you see me…we are shaking. Maybe that’s what it was for him that was not what it was for me. So, yeah I think that was how it evolved and here we are. I, like many other people, didn’t really know much about your marital status until an Instagram post where you refer to him as “your forever boyfriend” and that was when I knew you guys were a happily married couple… Has it been a conscious effort on to keep that part of your life in the background? Well, the thing is I’m on the front burner because of my job but he doesn’t work for our son so there was no point in telling his story. Our daughter Ronami, just a few years ago started to work on the team but until then she probably wasn’t in front either. I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by unnecessary exposure. One thing I know for a fact is Port Harcourt people don’t like to leave just like FESTAC people, they love their soil! So is he more in Lagos or Port Harcourt?
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good friend of yours. How did that come about, what was it about her? I took the children on a language immersion excursion trip to Cote d’Ivoire and stayed at hotel Ivoire in Abidjan. Apparently Brenda was also staying at the same hotel but I didn’t know this. I left the kids with some of my staff and I went out but by the time I came back I couldn’t find my youngest daughter, Nissi, I asked where she was and my son (Burna) came to me and said someone has been kidnapped her and the kidnapper said to tell you her that her name is Brenda Fassie and that Nissi is an African princess. Of course it wasn’t a kidnapping, I found Nissi with her, enjoying herself and she said to me she had needed to meet the mother of this child because Nissi used to have a full head of very long natural hair. Brenda didn’t have a daughter, she had two sons and she said this is what she would have wanted her daughter to look like. From then we struck up a friendship and she literally made herself Nissi’s “fairy” godmother, showering her with gifts and candy. For the rest of our stay in Abidjan at the time I literally saw her every day. She was crazy but then I’m probably not hundred percent normal either but it was fun. She has always been an over-the-top person but she told me her story and she was a survivor. She had two boys early and she brought them up on her own. She loved life, relationships and herself. I hadn’t seen in a long time a woman that felt so confident about herself, her looks and her sexuality. We bonded on some things on somethings we begged to differ. She was that type of person if she struggled with something she said it. I think that’s what I remember the most apart from the fact that she brightened up a room. She walk in her and she becomes the life of the party.
It is true, they don’t like moving! Laughs. In the last year he’s been more here in Lagos because we’ve been more here in Nigeria. I’m usually with the team for everything which means tours, performances and I’ve been fully hands on it since 2017. Whether he’s in Lagos or Port Harcourt he is not going to be with me, he is not going to be with his son, he is not going to be with his daughters and so it didn’t matter whether he was although Port Harcourt is where he feels most comfortable, in our home there. We were together in Lagos when the lockdown started. I remember putting five items of clothing into a suit case and I said to him “I’m not going to be locked down here with you for three months. It will be too dry. What are we going to gist about? I’m going to where the action is, I’m going to meet my children” and he responded, “Oh, you think I want to be here?” So we moved and spent the entire lock down at Burna’s until there was some type of movement. You grew up with a lot of big musical personalities coming in and out of your household like Stevie Wonder. Who were some of your favorites from back in the day? Peter King and not necessarily because of his music as I only remember him releasing one album on his own. He was with Bonny M for a long time and he ended up setting up a music school. I think Asa went to his music school as well as a few others. He was one of the people that made me set up a music school just because he was so musically sound. I knew he was never going to be a great musical artist so when he did the album even at my young age I knew it wasn’t going to sell but just the musicality of him was so pure. I remember him with either a saxophone or a trumpet almost all the time as he practiced his craft.
Why do people think you danced for Fela? (She bursts into laughter) That’s your world. That’s the world that you people have created and some people find it hurtful. Burna is probably the only one who has the originality, authenticity, rawness and clarity of vision that Fela had and is not related by blood to him. So, to explain it to themselves, they needed to make up a story that kind of explains him and from the Fela dancer story came the rumor that I probably had him for Fela but didn’t say or it was covered up. When you think about it how old was Fela, how old am I and how old is Burna? For my dad he finds it very spiteful because it’s almost incestuous in his eyes because Fela was the closest thing I had to a godfather, so to come up with that story is just… even the Fela will turn in his grave like Ahan! She’s like a daughter to me. Infact, the last time he saw me in Port Harcourt at one of his very last shows he called me by my mum’s name right till the very end because he says I look exactly like her while my mum - she finds it hurtful that they continue to say it. I think it’s out of some derogatory intent but if woman danced for Fela then she danced for Fela, all the respect in the world to them, that’s what they did. They were part of a movement and culture but that was their reality not mine. Why would people keep making it my story? In their heads there’s a looseness that is associated with dancing for Fela at the time that they needed to bring upon me to defile the role that I play in my son’s life. The best thing that could come out of what I am doing and is coming out thankfully is that you can be different and you can embrace being different and if he is my child and I’m not complaining who are you again? Basically, that’s what it is. A mother who has a child who wants to pursue a career in music and he wants to do it to the extreme with no safety net whatsoever. I saw that and I stood by him not without fights but I stood by him and helped him build it while bringing the knowledge that I have to the table and then
I learned that the late Brenda Fassie was a very
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
Movie Review: BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA
La Femme Anjola Spoiler warning: This review contains some plot elements of the movie
S
tarring Rita Dominic as the titular character, the premise of this movie is immediately appealing: a smart, young, upcoming stockbroker with life at his feet is drawn deep into the seedy underbelly of Lagos by his lust for a mysterious woman with even more mysterious motives. A story of love, bitterness and just how easy it is to throw it all away, La Femme has a lot working for it, but yet leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth with a (quite frankly) terrible final 30 minutes . There’s really quite a lot to like about this movie. For one, the performances are quite good across the board, led of course by Rita Dominic’s star turn as a Femme Fatale. Anytime she was on screen, you could feel her almost magnetic energy pulling you into the scene. Never without a cigarette, she portrayed a woman with a dark secret perfectly and kept me intrigued, wishing to find out more about her past. Co-star Dejare (Nonso Bassey) was quite good too. Bringing a kind of vulnerability quite uncommon in male roles in Nollywood, he’s at his best when falling prey to Rita Dominic’s wiles; his descent into the more hedonistic parts of this world was quite convincing. The initial meetings of Anjola and Dejare are some of the best showcases of the chemistry between the two leads. The antipathy between them could be cut with a knife, but they also quite clearly have an attraction to each other. The other cast members shine as well. Mumbi Maina (of Sense8 fame) is good as Bassey’s fiancé Thabisa. Femi Jacobs, Paul Adams, Bassey Ekpeyong and Chris Iheuwa round out the supporting cast admirably. The movie is also shot quite well. Cinematographer Jonathan Kovel uses a broad color palette to tell his own story, with reds aplenty whenever Dominic is on screen, as if to indicate she is bad news. As Dejare falls into her clutches, he too gets the same treatment. It’s really subtle but great visual storytelling. The production design by Kelechi Odu stands out as well, with each location appropriate and classy. Finally, praise must go to the Director, Mildred Okwo. She weaves the story quite well, with the pacing never feeling rushed. With all the positives listed above, it’s just so frustrating to see all this inventive filmmaking thrown away in the final 30 minutes of this film. I’m still unsure what happened. I was thoroughly engaged by the film and was expecting Dejare to be punished for some of his more heinous actions in the movie and suddenly the film devolved into a D-list action flick. It’s almost as if the original writer of this movie passed away mid-write and a much less deft hand took over. The screenplay loses all rhyme and reason and just tries to ham-fist the conclusion they thought would please the audience. We went from a well-paced neo-noir crime thriller to a film full of literal cliffhangers and car explosions. Dejare is essentially a bumbling idiot who yet gets away with it all by the end of the final 30 minutes. It left such a foul taste in my mouth and I really couldn’t leave the theater fast enough. I would still tell you to go see this, but do be prepared for a really unsatisfying ending to what otherwise would’ve been a fine time at the movies. 8/10 for the majority of the movie. 3/10 for that final 30 minutes.
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
BEAUTY BY ONAH NWACHUKWU
THE TRUTH ABOUT
DERMAPLANING
W
hen it comes to beauty treatments, there are many of them that work to reduce dullness of the skin, minimize fine lines and exfoliate, and dermaplaning is one of them. So just what is dermaplaning? It is a form of exfoliating that involves using a surgical scalpel to gently scrape the surface of your skin, removing dead skin cells and vellus hairs-also known as peach fuzz. This should be performed by an aesthetician. Before you go the route of this treatment, there are a few truths you should know. I have discussed them below.
Kiehl’s Skincare Products
What’s The Downtime? The beauty of this treatment is that there is no downtime. You can go about your normal business after your session. Be aware though, that your skin will become sensitive to sunlight, so be sure to use sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Also, avoid products that contain acids for about four days.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cream SPF 30
Can I Wear Makeup Immediately After Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning
As excited as you may be to layer on makeup after your dermaplaning treatment, it is best to avoid doing so for at least a day.
Will My Hair Grow Back Thicker?
Who Can Undergo This Treatment?
Will It Cause Me To Breakout?
It is safe for almost every skin type; however, if you have active acne or highly sensitive skin, or cold sores, then you are better off avoiding this treatment.
Generally, exfoliation helps to get rid of built-up dead skin, which can clog your pores. Seeing as dermaplanning is a form of exfoliation, it helps prevent breakouts and promotes healthierlooking skin.
Does It Hurt? I know that when you think of scraping your face you imagine that it will be painful but that isn’t the case with dermaplaning. It is a rather painless process that almost feels like shaving.
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What Are The Benefits of This Treatment? Expect smoother, brighter-looking skin. Also, your skincare products will penetrate better into your skin because your dead skin cells have been scraped off.
No, it won’t. The hair simply grows back the same texture as before your dermaplane.
How Often Do I Need To Dermaplane?
Dermaplaning is a deeply exfoliating treatment so every four to six weeks is fine. In conclusion, dermaplaning is a safe treatment as long as you do not do it yourself at home. If all you want to do is shave off facial hairs then by all means purchase a blade that you can use to shave your face, but if you want the added benefit of exfoliation which dermaplaning gives, then, PLEASE consult an aesthetician.
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
BEAUTY
Microneedling
T
he beauty industry has come a long way, so much so, that we hear about new beauty trends almost every day. One that I find very interesting is, Microneedling. This procedure involves using tiny needles to prick the skin, making it to generate collagen, which in turn leaves the skin looking smoother firmer and toned. In a bid to answer questions concerning this procedure, I spoke with Medical Aesthetician and Senior Laser Technician at Hello Perfect, Onyeka Michael Ugwu, to get a better understanding of this beauty trend, and here’s what I found out.
It can be performed using either: Microneedle Dermaroller or a Microneedling Pen. The pin-pricks from the procedure cause unnoticeable injury to the skin, the skin, in turn, responds by making new collagen-rich tissues. It is a mildly invasive procedure and so you should consult your medical aesthetician.
Microneedling Procedure
MICRONEEDLING:
SKIN RENEWED WAYS OF INDUCTING PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP): This is achieved by drawing blood from the client, and then processing it by spinning the blood at a high speed until the platelet-rich plasma separates from the other parts. This is known as liquid gold. It is then inducted into the skin. PRP is also great for hair regeneration, acne scars, and stretch marks. SERUMS: Serums such as vitamin c and hyaluronic acid can be inducted into the skin as well. HOW PAINFUL IS IT? A topical anesthetic is applied on the client’s face about an hour before to reduce any chances of pain. Afterward, a calming treatment is also applied on the face, making any chance of pain very low. It really depends on the client’s threshold for pain.
Microneedle Derma Roller
HOW LONG IS THE DOWNTIME AFTER THE PROCEDURE? Downtime for this procedure depends on the skin. On light-skinned people, you will have redness of the skin. There is no bleeding, and infections are not known to happen with this trend. Onyeka suggests you avoid touching your face after this procedure and wash the face with bottled water for that day. If like me, you wondered how often you have to repeat the procedure for maintenance of tighter, smoother, and clearer skin, you have nothing to fear. You can build it into your normal facial routine. It is important to note that people who suffer from keloid, herpes of the skin, ringworm are not advised to try this beauty trend. It is safe for men and women. Close Up Microneedle Derma Roller Microneedling Pen
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Shaffy Bello
Mo Abudu
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor Sanwo-Olu declares Kate Henshaw
EbonyLife Creative Academy Open
Moses Babatope
Lanre Kupoliyi
BY SOPHIA EDISI
I
Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah
Victoria Akintunde PAGE 14
Ify Osineme
Mary Akpobome Vivian Chiologi
t was a day of celebration as the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared the EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) open in a brief ceremony. The academy was conceived by EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu and is supported by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative (LACI), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The world-class facility was set up to improve local film production (which covers all aspects of filmmaking and media content production including acting, directing, producing, editing, sound and lighting), provide job/business opportunities, help film professionals and beginners improve their skills and make them globally competitive in a bid to grow the creative economy and make Lagos the centre of excellence for African creatives.
Richard Mofe Damijo & Dakore Akande
Mimi Onalaja
Omowunmi Dada
Osas Ighoda
Kaline
VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
WORDS to EAT by
DOWNTOWN EATS
UZO ORIMALADE
The Visitors She woke up with a start. Disappointed. She was in the middle of that dream. The recurring one. In it, she had everything she longed for. In it, they were happy, and she felt peace. She felt sure of her purpose. Now awake, was it okay to prefer to live in that dream than her real life? Yes. She would never say that out loud. Her full bladder stopped her thoughts. She felt her way in the dark to the bathroom. Done, she got back into bed. Then sat back up again. She knew that feeling. She felt it. Something else had woken her up. She picked her phone up from the nightstand and went back into the bathroom. She knew. Tears streaming down her face, she pulled her underwear down. There. The sign that this would not be the start of her dream coming true. Pain. Perhaps physical pain would be better. This pain in her heart. Intense. She wanted to scream. Guttural screams. Instead, she went to the nightstand. Opened the bottom drawer. Took one of them out. Mini. Lipstick shaped. Every month she bought another box. Always hoping it would remain unopened. ‘What’s wrong?’ He asked groggily ‘I didn’t mean to wake you. I am sorry.’ She mumbled ‘What are you looking for?’ He asked ‘I just had to get a …..’ She whispered ‘Oh,’ he sat up, ‘come here.’ ‘I am coming,’ she ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She came out and crawled into bed. Composure back in place. ‘Are you okay?’ He asks softly. ‘Of course, my love. I guess it is not meant to be this month. Let’s go back to bed. You have to get up for work in another hour’. She turns away from him. He knows better than to say anything else. As he gets dressed, he looks at his wife pretending to be asleep. He feels helpless. ‘I love you,’ he says and touches her face and leaves. She does not move. She drifts off for what feels like a moment. The doorbell is ringing persistently. She sighs and gets up. Staggers down the stairs and opens the door. ‘My dear’ Her mother-in-law says ‘Good morning mama. Welcome’ She plants a plastic smile on her face and reaches for the basket and cooler the older woman has with her. ‘I did not sleep early so I fell asleep just now. That is why I did not hear the bell on time. I am sorry ma’ She speaks hastily. She is sure the older woman can see through her lie. She turns around and walks into the kitchen to set the items down. ‘My daughter, it is okay. Why don’t you go and take a bath and come down’ Mama says as she begins to unpack the things she brought. She rushes upstairs. ‘Do I smell? Why is taking a bath the first thing mama says to me?’ She pulls her nightie off and notices the red
RECIPE Goat Meat Pepper Soup You will need: • 500 grams goat meat • 2 cloves garlic • 1 large onion • ¼ inch ginger • 1 yellow habanero pepper • 1 – 2 tablespoons pepper soup spice • ½ teaspoon dried Cameroon pepper • 1 cup fresh African basil (scent leaf) • Salt
How to: • Wash goat meat and put in a large pot. • Put garlic, onions, ginger and habanero pepper in a blender or in a mortar and blend/pound until smooth. • Add the mixture into the pot with the meat. Add a quarter cup of water and some salt and set on medium heat. • Stir well and let cook for about 10 minutes. stain. She bursts into tears. Mama saw. How is she supposed to go downstairs now? After a bath, she realises she cannot hide in the bedroom forever. She plants a smile on her face and goes down the stairs determined to soldier through the visit. She enters the dining room and sees that mama has been busy. She has unpacked the food she brought with her. She has dished out the still piping hot fresh fish pepper soup in a bowl. There is a small plate with white rice on it. Mama says ‘Sit down’ She sits. The pepper soup has chunks of boiled yam in it. It smells delicious ‘Thank you ma’ She says ‘Eat. Mama is here. Eat my child’ She closes her eyes as she takes a sip of the soothing broth and thinks of the unwelcome visitor that came earlier. She opens her eyes and smiles at the visitor in front of her who is exactly what she needs today.
• Add 6 cups of water and cook on medium heat until the meat is soft. • Add the smoked Cameroon pepper and pepper soup spice and stir. Cook for 5 minutes. • Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary – salt, pepper soup spices and Cameroon pepper. • Add the African basil (scent leaf), stir, cover the pot and turn off the heat. Enjoy!!!
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VOL 1 NO.7 • MARCH 28 – APRIL 03, 2021
COVER
BOSE OGULU IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ‘MAMA BURNA’ CONTINUED I’ve made it a job and one is making it a legacy and then people think the only thing they can do is to keep bringing back this story that is not true. Right when mothers are waking up and beginning to pay attention to their children who are different. Truthfully I don’t care because the only thing that matters is my immediate reality. I’ve always known who I am. What do you think prepared you for the role that you play now as a Momager and wife? Being a wife, I think that’s just God helping you find your mate and having similar values is what keeps you in it not the public displays of affection because after all the lights are gone there has to be some values that hold you both down and those values cannot be from only one person. Moving on to the mother question I think my easiest answer is that my parents made me feel like their primary job on earth was to be my parents. So as they have told me multiple times I have no moral justification to not be a good mum. I think my parenting has been intentional. My children helped because each of them in their own way was a bit self-centered and I’ll explain. They didn’t give room for the fact that you are everybody’s mum. Each of them expected me to be first their mum. So you’d hear Ronami talking to her brother and she’d say, “Damini my mommy is calling you” and he would say the same. Everyone said “my mummy” not “our” and that was it. As they’ve grown, it’s gotten better but my excuse couldn’t be “I was busy with your brother”. They didn’t force me to have three children so I had to treat each child as an individual first and foremost before anything else. That covers the mother bit. On to the manager role - I got into talent management in the first place because my son asked me to and then I realized having anyone else would destroy him. So for me it was more of a labor of sacrifice than ambition. I manage Nissi as well as other people that are not my children today because I’ve made it a job. I think wanting to see my son succeeded is why I became a talent manager. I read somewhere that after two years studying in the UK Burna said he wasn’t doing it any more and your response was ‘that’s fine, come home and we’ll figure it out from there’. That is not the typical mom response. Not in Nigeria, not in West Africa and many Western mothers too would lose it. Did you kind of lose your mind? Absolutely! It wasn’t even that simple on the outside. It wasn’t a calm “ok, that’s fine, come home let’s figure it out”, but the difference with him was that I knew he was going to do something with music. Right from secondary school I’d known but like most parents I wanted him to get his degree and then go and do whatever. That was the path that I wanted for him because we had been paying for studio time since secondary school and trading studio time for grades so I knew where that was going and I had seen the talent. The ED of Corona School’s Trust Council called me and told me this child is going to be a star and it is from his music and I was like “call me when he has gotten prizes of prize giving day for the academics I’m paying your school for.” She told me not to deride it. She said “the money of the rapper is different, the fame of the rapper is different, the surgeon is a different breed but mark my words this boy is a star and he’s going to be so rich.” But you weren’t happy… No I wasn’t but I was relieved because he is a very kind child and his reason was “I know you guys are suffering and grinding to get money to pay for me to be here and so I don’t want to do what other people do. They don’t go to school and it’s on my graduation day you’ll know that I did not finish”. So he said to me ”I can’t do that to you, I can’t watch you suffer and pay for something I’m
“Being a mum is my highest degree. I don’t hate being called ‘Mama Burna’ I just have a problem with people choosing to limit me to just that” not gaining from so this is me telling you my truth. I don’t want to do this.” That’s your first child, how do you react to something like that? You decide what’s more important for you. Your child or what society is going to say and come to think of it who is society anyway? So I told him, “Listen, the only reason I wanted you to do it this way is for you own good because I think you should have a safety net and he said “ Well, so I go through life without a safety net” in his words he said “If I don’t make it then I’m going straight to hell no problem” and I said “Well, you are not going to hell so let’s figure it out!”. Now he didn’t actually say “I’m coming back home”, we still had to cajole and everything because the underground music scene in the UK had a lot of turbulence and its own issues that I didn’t want him to be part of. When you are a black teenager there is a tendency for you to be targeted or get caught up because you are reactive and I’m talking about a boy that was a black belt in Taekwondo at age eleven. He’s not going to walk away if you come at him and they had a lot of gangs that I didn’t want him associating himself with seeing as he wasn’t going to attend classes. I said to his father “Go and bring our son. Whatever you need to tell him to bring him back home, tell him but just bring him home”. For me, it’s one of the biggest things he achieved and one of the perks of staying married particularly to the father of your children because when a child has a problem, you have someone to share the weight with and tag in when you need to catch your breath. Anyways, he returned with his father which he didn’t have to because he could have disappeared. By the time he got home and said it again to our faces I said ok but secretly I kept registering in school to retain his credits. I did that for two or three years just in case to keep his name in the books as a safety net. There was some sort of turbulence when the first wave of fame hit. Alleged cases of violence
FROM PG 10
spread like wildfire and the name on everyone’s lips was Burna boy. As a mum at that time how did you feel? I didn’t feel anyhow because again these were the very same reports that claimed I was one of Fela’s dancers. They are even say they can place the date and time of me being a Fela dancer. So the truth is how many of those reports of violence were true? That’s the big question. I wasn’t worried but the one thing those reports did that was negative was that they made him rebellious. It had him wondering why they would think and say these things about him and so if this is what’s out there, then there is no point and it was beginning to stick. I was a case of lets vilify this guy, lets demonize him and till today he doesn’t understand why he was chosen for that role. You talked about the relationship between an artist and his manager or her manager and the kind of dynamic there has to be in other for it to be successful. People have said that Burna is uncontrollable. I feel like it’s a word that has been banded around quite a bit and even his mum can’t control him. Do you feel like there’s a lot pressure on you to sort of tell him what to do in that Nigerian parent-child dynamic? How many parents can tell their children what to do? I see people’s children, I did excursions trips for young people for fifteen years which means I dealt with over five thousand children and at least ten thousand parents and I know things about their children that they don’t know. So how many people really tell their children what to do? Pressure? I feel no pressure. How does it feel to be mother and manager of a Grammy winner? Has it sunk it yet? Yes and no because it’s more than that for me. As the mother of a Grammy award winner it makes me proud. Proud because … the long and short of it is that I very into education and skills. I think the most important thing you can give your child is that. Not a house, not money but that and because he decided to stop I always thought to myself is he prepared for life? Of course I stopped worrying about that a long time ago but the set of feelings I have are because I’m a part of that journey. I co-executive produced that album so whether I’m related to him or not that’s an accolade in itself. His performance at the BRITs was a moment of goosebumps for me to actually see a black African that doesn’t own a British passport perform at the BRITs with his own name above his head and bringing Yoruba and Pidgin to that stage…maybe if I had been at the Grammy’s the surrealism might have been on hyper drive for me but that was…a moment. I’m told that you don’t like the moniker ‘ Mama Burna’ is that true? Being a mum is my highest degree. I don’t hate being called Mama Burna I just have a problem with people limiting me or choosing to limit me to just that. Do you have anything close to a successor in terms of managing him? I don’t know that I have a successor but I do know he is turning 30 in July which is refreshing because there’s maturity, there’s respect from me to him, for him to me from everybody on the team to each other. I’ve realize that it’s not about one person, it’s about the whole team and that is what we are blessed with. When you have people who believe in the product who are committed to it and who make it their priority. I try not to make it about myself because it’s not about me. It about each and every one in the team that makes all that we do possible. How would you like to be remembered? Abosede Ogulu. Period.