THEWILL DOWNTOWN October 30, 2022 EDITION

CONVERSATION

Hearinga loved one say they tested positive for cancer isn’t the sort of news anyone wants or expects, but sadly many people receive such calls at some point in their lifetime.

I was one of such people when 12 years ago, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Oh, how my world shattered after the news. I remember calling a close friend to say, “You have to pray for him; you have to get daddy GO to pray for him.”

He responded saying, “Onah, while we try to do that, you must stand in the gap and pray. I know it’s stage four, but anoint him and pray.” With my hands trembling, I did as instructed while we continued treatment. He passed a few months later.

Cancer generally seems to be the most difficult of the diseases for pharmaceutical companies to crack. At the same time, we are still determining if this is a case of politics to keep people spending money on medication which in turn means more money for them, or it is an honest case of not being able to find a cure yet. If the latter is the case, what then has become of the several breakthrough drugs produced with tests proving that people who took those drugs were cancer-free but after they sold those to the pharmaceuticals, we never heard anything about them again?

It’s impossible not to think that, like the issue with power in Nigeria, these big pharmaceuticals will never let a breakthrough without sabotaging it.

We discuss more on this in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month as we bid October goodbye.

It’s also World Vegan Day on the first of November, so we have a piece about veganism. As we draw close to the end of rainy days in Nigeria, the rains seem to be coming in very heavy bouts, so we list some foods that are perfect for a rainy day. The ombrè lip trend is quite popular, so our beauty pages guide you on how to achieve it seamlessly this week.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’

Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Contributing Editor

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

Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm

Contributing Writer

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

David Nwachukwu @ebube.nw

Contributing Writer

David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television. His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design. As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.

Dr May Ikeora @mayikeora

Dr May Ikeora is an academic researcher, Author, and ex-beauty queen cum entrepreneur. She is a specialist in Human Rights, Gender and Peacebuilding, consulting for organisations like the United Nations, African Union, World Bank, Mission89, Governments and the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Institute. She gained a PhD in Law from the University of Hull, UK, and has received numerous awards for her work, including that within African diaspora communities in the U.K. received at the House of Lords. As an entrepreneur,

The

Pink Bias

UNDERSTANDING THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN COLOUR AND SEXISM

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Right

from birth, we are conditioned to colour-code gender.

In baby stores, the girl section is often overtly pink, and the boys’, far from pink. As we grow older, we associate that colour with femininity, fragility and weakness. Women in the corporate world have to wear dark colours like men, in a styling phenomenon that is popularly referred to as “power dressing.” When men wear or own pink apparel or accessories, they are often considered effeminate and sometimes have their sexuality questioned. But who made pink such a feminine colour?

The colour pink is named after the Dianthus Plumarius flowers, also simply known as “Pinks.” In many languages, the word for the colour pink is based on the name of the rose flower; like rose in French; roze in Dutch; rosa in German, Latin, Portuguese, Catalan, Spanish, Italian, Swedish and Norwegian. Because of these flowers’ obviously beautiful features and overall perception of calm, pink is the colour most often associated with charm, politeness, sensitivity, tenderness, sweetness, childhood, femininity, and romance.

Years later, there was a contrary association of pink with boys in 20th-century America. An article in the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department in June 1918 said, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger colour, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” In the 1920s, some groups had been describing pink as a masculine colour, an equivalent of the red that was considered to be for men but lighter—as it was considered a watered-down variant of red—for boys. But stores nonetheless found that people were increasingly choosing to buy pink for girls, and blue for boys, until this became an accepted norm in the 1940s.

The thought process then becomes evident. When pink was considered masculine, the reason was that it was such a strong colour. When it started getting a feminine connotation, it took on a soft and ultimately weak anecdote, usually subconsciously. This shows that, as humans, we ascribe meanings to things to fuel whatever agenda we have. With the agenda, in this case, sexist.

Being far gone in the belief that pink is feminine and tender is not the problem, its association with weakness and fragility is. In fact, the phrase “pink-collar worker” refers to persons working in jobs conventionally regarded as “women’s work.” This colour-code segregation has for so long been detrimental to the careers of women looking to break the bias in the corporate world. However, this month, we are bringing power to “the pink.” Here are times that Nigerian women have been absolutely stunning in pink.

Cuppy

Tiwa Savage

Toke Makinwa

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

Erica

Temi Marcella Awogboro

Liquorose

Maria Chike Benjamin

Yemi Alade

Mercy Eke

The Entire Magazine Was Deleted; what am I going to do?

and my laptop went off. I might have forgotten to charge my MacBook, so I plugged it into a power source, but it still wouldn’t come on. I was running late, so I quickly made a call and went off to my sibling’s home. He turned on his system, and I opened the file and started making adjustments. He asked for my laptop to see what was going on, and surprisingly, it came on immediately after he turned it on. While he checked for updates I ignored on my laptop, I began making adjustments using his system and guess what happened? Yes, his MAC system went off as well. It was crazy; what was going on? At that point, as a Nigerian Ibo woman, I switched to prayer mode, and 10 minutes later, his system was back on.

Ican’tbelieve the month of October has come to an end. Interestingly, we had five covers this month, which hadn’t occurred to me until I began writing this diary.

We started the month with the Independence Issue featuring Falz on the cover.

And Falz was a no-brainer. I had reached out to his team a while ago, and when they got back to me, it was perfect timing for that issue. You know what they say, ‘all things work together for good...’ It was a simple thought: Which young Nigerian speaks not just for their generation but the country? Falz was the answer.

“It’s in the Digital folder”, I responded. “Nope”, he said.

I made design corrections, and everything was ready for my final presentation. Presentation done, the file was saved and sent for the QR code creation. That done, the magazine was ready to be published that Sunday, so imagine my surprise when my publisher called on Saturday morning asking me for the Tonye Cole file. “It’s in the Digital folder”, I responded. “Nope”, he said. “There’s nothing in that folder”

“There’s nothing in that folder” I was pretty tired from production, but I sat up immediately. ‘I placed the file in that folder myself; how could it disappear?’ I thought out loud. I quickly logged into the account to access the magazine’s folders; alas, the digital folder for that week was empty!

We had planned for Tonye Cole next but had to push his forward because we still had the Home Design cover story, which was dropped for Queen Elizabeth’s issue following her passing. The Home Design cover story was already a month in waiting because we had other time-sensitive cover stories that had to feature. All this time, the Fashion issue was already baking, but last minute, the writer assigned the story backed out due to pressing issues, so naturally, I reassigned the story, and Mr. Fagbule did a great job.

The most interesting thing happened when the Tonye Cole issue was finally ready for my review. I opened the file to make adjustments,

I was pretty tired from production, but I sat up immediately. ‘I placed the file in that folder myself; how could it disappear?’

I thought out loud. I quickly logged into the account to access the magazine’s folders; alas, the digital folder for that week was empty! I could not believe my eyes. How did that happen? I quickly went to my email to retrieve the copy I sent to the Editor of the newspaper, and that email was no

longer in my box. Shocker! What in the world? Don’t panic, Onah, and don’t think about anything; call the people you shared the magazine with and get their copy. Problem solved.

Next step, take every single person off the account and unravel the mystery of the deleted file.

DOWNTOWN

STUCKONYOU

Immediately, he slipped his arms around my waist, and I felt an intense warmth in my body. He flipped me around to face him, and he started kissing me- all the way down my neck and into the plunge of my neckline while swirling his fingers around my nipples. He raised my gown and stopped at my waist, then rubbed my underwear with his hands until it became soaked. Gently, he started helping me off with my dress; I was teased through the ticking, rubbing and kissing all over my body, leaving me begging for more. I had never felt anything more euphoric like that before. I was so engrossed in the moment that I didn’t notice when he knelt in front of me. The moment he pulled my coochie to his mouth, I turned my brain off and was ready to let things roll. Feeling his soft and wet tongue inside me made me feel out of control; I became swept up in whatever he was doing. My mouth was wide open, and I couldn’t help but moan out his name with pleasure.

Pulling me to the side of the bed, he went down on me from behind, thrusting in and out as slow as he could. The warm, tingling and sharp wave of temperature building in my body became an intense, dizzy tornado of sensations and feeling consuming me. We reached the Big O slowly and intensely as he thrust into me while we held on to each other, shaking with the intensity. Phil and I lay together on the bed as he stroked my hair and body, simultaneously telling me how much he loved me. I couldn’t help but blush as so many happy hormones flooded my brain.

I walked jelly-legged back to my car as he saw me off. Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrating in my bag, so I picked it up to see who the caller was. I saw “MINE” on my phone screen; I pushed my phone back into my bag because I knew picking up that call in the presence of Phil would lead to a conversation we wouldn’t be able to finish.

Immediately I got home, I dialled his number, and he picked up almost immediately, “Babe, where are you? Why are you not picking up my calls?” he asked calmly. “I’m so sorry, dear; I was in a meeting, so I couldn’t pick up your call; you know how strict my boss is.”, I replied immediately, trying to maintain my normal voice. “Sorry dear,

BY AKINTOYE DORCAS

have you gone to see my mum? Remember she said she wanted to see you before our engagement?” he asked. “I will see her before this week runs out, don't worry”, I replied reluctantly.

We talked for a while about the progress of our wedding preparation and some other stuff before Jeff finally ended the call. Choosing between the both of them is like being stuck in the middle. I know the limbo and indecision were nothing but mistrust in myself. I couldn’t get myself to leave any of them because I equally loved them both.

Phil and I dated back in our university days; he was my first love. It was a slow-burning relationship. We spent all our free time exploring the city and each other. I couldn’t stop thinking back on that night he deflowered me in his hostel and how naughty it felt. We shared a beautiful, supportive, thrilling love for four years before it dissolved. When we realised we were posted to different states for our NYSC program, somehow, we knew our love wouldn't last forever, but we didn’t let it stop us from revelling at the moment. Eventually, after two months, we lost each other’s contact; I tried everything I could to reach him, all to no avail. That period was so painful and gut-wrenching for me. I couldn’t get myself to move on. I tried to stay in his life, hoping he would return for me. I did that for a whole year I still didn’t hear from him. After some time, I got over the mourning period and stopped thinking about him. I decided to move on.

Then I met Jeff, and I fell in love with how he snatched me out of the bleakness of my depression and into the light again. The way he makes me genuinely smile and happy was everything to me. I never knew one person could make such a difference, but he did. We dated for a while, and surprisingly, he proposed to me at my 26th birthday party. I was so happy and elated when he placed the ring on my finger that night. Everything was going smoothly; I met his siblings and parents, who were so lovely. Our wedding preparation was going smoothly, and I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle. Suddenly everything changed when I met Phil again after two years.

We met on a night out for my friend’s birthday party. I was so surprised to see him. It was a mixture of emotions; I was both happy and angry. He explained everything that happened to me, and I believed him despite my massive grudge against him. We couldn’t deny the energy between us. We left the party together, and things started to get a little frisky in his car, which turned into him kissing me all over. A part of me wanted him to stop, and the other half yearned for more. Before I knew it, he was on top of me, and I was moaning his name with pleasure. That night, we both came crumbling and collapsing with so much passion. I knew I was wrong, but I couldn’t resist him. Every now and then, I promised myself I'd stop seeing him and focus on my wedding, but I couldn’t get myself to. I was surprised by his response when I told him I was engaged; he said he would wait for me to decide whom to choose between them.

It’s been three months, and my wedding is in a month.

I knew I couldn’t eat my cake and have it, and I had to choose between them.

I knew Jeff was the perfect guy for me; how his family treated me with love and care made me feel guilty.

I knew I had to end things with Phil, but whenever I behold him or even hear his voice, I lose control, and before I know what’s happening, I start doing things I’m not supposed to do.

The last time I went to Phil’s house, I intended to break up with him, but before I could say ‘Jack Robinson’, I got carried away again. Every fibre of my being responds uncontrollably to him. It started with his hands on my leg, then we started kissing intensely, followed by more kissing and licking, and then the inevitable. The rest, as they say, is history.

From ages ago, man has had to combat several ailments.

Think about a thousand years ago, before western medicine came to the fore, people found a way to stay alive. There’s no questioning how clever we humans are, so we turned to herbs to solve some of these infirmities at every turn—they kept our forefathers alive. Western medicine then came along and made living much easier. Well-researched scientists and medical practitioners over the years have not only found the reasons why our body malfunctions sometimes in the form of a diagnosis but also discovered different ways to rectify them. A particular ailment has managed to go unresolved, however— cancer.

Cancer Cells

Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It can start almost anywhere in the human body, consisting of multiple cells. Typically, human cells grow and multiply (through a process called cell division) to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may form tumours, which are lumps of tissue. Tumours can be cancerous or not cancerous (benign).

Cancerous tumours spread into or invade nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumours (a process called metastasis). Cancerous tumours may also be called malignant tumours. Many cancers form solid tumours, but cancers of the blood, such as leukaemias, generally do not. Benign tumours, on the other hand, do not spread into or invade nearby tissues. When removed, benign tumours usually don’t grow back, whereas cancerous tumours sometimes do. Benign tumours can sometimes be quite large, however. Some can cause severe or lifethreatening symptoms, such as benign tumours in the brain.

signals telling them to grow, ignore signals that usually tell cells to stop dividing or to die, hide from or trick the immune system—whose primary job is to eliminate damaged or abnormal cells—into helping cancer cells stay alive and grow, and take energy from nutrients in a different way than most normal cells, aiding their rapid growth and movement. On paper, cancer cells are very aggressive and, as a result, responsible for high fatality and the disenfranchisement of families who spend a fortune in money and time fighting this disease.

Breast Cancer

As the name implies, breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It has gained notoriety as one of the most diagnosed cancers, and although it can occur in both men and women, it is far more common in women.

In Nigeria, where documentation was not the order of the day, breast cancer cases were historically low but are now increasing due to urbanisation and lifestyle changes. It is currently the leading cause of cancer deaths, representing about 23 per cent of all cancer cases, with approximately 18 per cent of deaths attributed to it in the country.

In the case of Nigerian women, breast cancer tends to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the chances of survival are low. Nigerian women are also more frequently diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer than women of European ancestry, with cases occurring at a much younger age. As a result of the late presentation of the disease, the only options available are expensive treatment

Cancerous tumours are much like the weed growing in our garden—plants that are not valued where they are growing and are usually of vigorous growth, especially ones that tend to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have the ability to grow in the absence of disease. In cases where women are aware of these, there is hesitation in seeking healthcare, resulting in untimely death. Religious, economic and sociocultural factors have been shown to play a part in women’s attitudes towards the disease. There is also a lack of knowledge on breast selfexaminations (BSE) and who should conduct them, especially in rural areas. Clinical breast examinations and mammography have been recommended by the American Cancer Society (ACS) for the early detection of breast cancer. However, there is a lack of organised breast cancer screening programmes in Nigeria, with only one state having a structured mammography screening program (Lagos State Government Ministry of Health, 2010). Visiting healthcare facilities to get screened is also low, which might result from cost restraints as many Nigerians have to pay for healthcare out of pocket. Socio-cultural factors might also play a role in women’s readiness to attend regular screenings in areas where it is available.

procedures, which may be unaffordable for the average Nigerian woman.

Though there is a high incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria, studies have shown that the majority of Nigerian women, both in rural and urban areas, possess little or no knowledge about the risk factors and symptoms of the

Not Just The Lumps

The thought of finding a lump in your breast is terrifying, but it’s important to be aware of your breast health so you can alert your doctor to any changes. Beyond lumps, though, other changes could be signs of breast cancer.

“Cancerous tumours are much like the weed growing in our garden—plants that are not valued where they are growing and are usually of vigorous growth, especially ones that tend to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.”

While lumps are the first thing many people think of when they think of breast cancer, breast cancer can actually present as many other symptoms, too. Here are the lesserknown signs of breast cancer that span beyond a lump in the breast.

• A lump in the armpit

• Nipple or skin changes

• Nipple discharge

• Something that appears to be a breast infection

• A change in breast size

• Other physical changes can also be signs. If a well-structured mammography screening program is non-existent, these symptoms will easily slip through the cracks and go unchecked. This is the fate of most Nigerians.

A Glimmer of Hope

A small clinical trial discovered that every rectal cancer patient who got an experimental treatment saw their disease vanish in what looks to be a miracle and a “first in history.” According to the New York Times, 18 patients took a medicine named Dostarlimab for six months in a limited clinical trial done by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and all of them saw their tumours shrink at the end.

Experts stated that the malignancy is undetectable by physical examination, endoscopy, positron emission tomography, PET scans, or MRI scans. This shows that Dostarlimab has the potential to be a ‘possible’ cancer cure for one of the most lethal tumours. This is “the first time this has happened in the history of cancer,” according to Dr. Luis A. Diaz J. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Dostarlimab is a medicine made in a lab that functions as a surrogate for antibodies in the human body, according to specialists.

Individuals in the clinical experiment previously received treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgery, all of which could cause bowel, urinary, and sexual dysfunction. The 18 patients expected to have to go through these surgeries as the next step in the research. However, they were surprised to learn that no more therapy was required. Experts were astounded by the trial’s outcomes, stating that total remission in every single patient is “unheard-of.”

Experts praised the study because not all participants experienced serious side effects from the medication trial. Dr Alan P. Venook, a colorectal cancer specialist at the University of California, said that complete remission in every single patient is “unheard-of.” He hailed the research as “world-first.”

“At the time of this report, no patients had received chemoradiotherapy or undergone

surgery, and no cases of progression or recurrence had been reported during follow-up,” researchers wrote in the study published in the media outlet. Cancer researchers who studied the medicine confirm that it appears promising, but a largerscale trial is required.

In Finality

At every point in history, we have been plagued with several diseases. Whenever these pestilences come knocking at our door, a cure has been discovered to mitigate their risk. We don’t have to look too far for case studies. In 2020, after the COVID-19 virus brought the entire world to a halt in a global pandemic, it didn’t take too long for scientists to come forth with a cure in the form of vaccines. Of course, a vaccine was concocted—the world economy was affected. Think about the fortune that American pharmaceuticals make from chemotherapy and every other form of cancer treatment. Playing the devil’s advocate, it is not so far-fetched to tie the lack of a concrete solution to cancer to economic greed.

Cancer continues to be one of the most common causes of death worldwide. A total of 1.9 million new cancer cases and 609,360 deaths from cancer were projected to occur in the United States at the beginning of the year, which is about 1,670 deaths a day. With such ridiculous numbers, one would expect it to be treated as an epidemic. Every year, we have the cancer conversation, give prominence to the colour pink, and spread awareness as much as possible, but at what point do we start discussing a permanent and mainstream cure? When will the apocalyptic nature of cancer become a thing of the past? As Nigerians, we are not privy to these answers, even though we are sitting ducks for this deadly force that has directly affected us and our society. Hopefully, a cure will become mainstream in the nearest future, but until then, watch out for the lumps.

“Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It can start almost anywhere in the human body, consisting of multiple cells.

Marcellina Apkojotor

A Noteworthy Female Artist

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

art began in the 15th century with the Benin kingdom and the death of Queen Mother of Oba Esigie. A few centuries later, other traditions soon caught on, and today, we have different artworks littered around the world, portraying and preserving spatial stories of cultures, norms, and traditions.

Nigerian

To think that the origin story of one of Africa's most coveted art pieces and Nigerian art in its entirety began with the passing of a queen, we thought it right to spotlight a female artist pushing the envelope of art and femininity in Nigeria.

Marcellina Akpojotor

Using discarded pieces of Ankara fabric, this artsy storyteller creates motifs to commemorate the huge community of women of different generations and their experiences. She explores the African context of community, femininity, and womanhood with her emotionally arresting works of art.

Set to Flourish

Romi II

Let's Tie it Like Mama (2019)

The Dining Table( Kesiena's diary) 2021

Marcellina Apkojotor

TIPS TO PULL OFF THE OMBRÈ LIP PERFECTLY

(2) Choose Colours Right

When it comes to ombrè lips, you must choose your colours carefully. It doesn’t matter whether you are going for a bold look, softer look or more subtle finish; just make sure that the colours blend with one another.

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

lips are no doubt beautiful to the point of mesmerising. It is loved by many because of the eye-catching twist it adds to your lips.

Ombrè

In case you don’t know, ombrè lips involve mixing two or more lipstick shades that are monochromatic (a bold shade and the other one with softer tones but of the same colour family) to create a shading effect using a brush. It is so popular among millennials because it helps to create an illusion of fuller lips, saving us ladies from getting lip plumpers.

The ombrè effect is all about playing and mixing preferred shades to create a new shade.

Below are seven tips to pull off this beauty trend seamlessly.

(1) Take Advantage ofTools

You might be used to using the bullet of your lipstick to apply product to your lips; that’s not the right technique for ombrè lips. Ombrè lips are kind of complex, and they require more tools to pull off successfully. Even if you don’t have all the tools, make sure you have a tiny angled brush and a small rounded brush in hand before you attempt to apply ombrè lips. The angled brush creates a defined and precise line around your lips, while the rounded brush is used to blend the multiple shades of lipstick together.

Something Subtle

If you are too afraid to slab different lipstick colours on at the same time with the fear that it won’t fit, you don’t have to worry. All you have to do is choose a more subtle version of the two-toned look by picking two very similar shades of lipstick. Have it at the back of your mind that one of the lipstick colours must be two to three shades darker or lighter than the other.

Using these similar colours will create a subtle ombrè look that adds interest to your lips without stealing the show.

Apply to The Right Place

The philosophy of ombrè lips is that you create a gradient of colour. You can always play around with switching up the gradient and going from light to dark if you desire. Speaking of that, you can apply the darker lipstick around the outer edges of your lips and then keep the lighter shade around the inner centre of your lips to create the gradient look.

(6)Use Lip Liner

If you don’t want to use two different shades of lipstick, you can use a darker lip liner. All you have to do is line your lips with a lip liner at least two shades darker than your lipstick colour, making sure that the line is thicker than you normally would. After that, fill your lips in with the lighter shade of lipstick, blend it outwardly, and you are done.

(7) Apply Concealer

When you are done creating your ombrè lip look, never forget to apply concealer around the outer edges of your lips. This finishing touch helps clean up your look and ensures a smooth and tidy finish. You might think that creating an ombrè lip requires a ton of skill, but trust us, they are easy to accomplish.

One of the tricks to achieving a perfect ombrè lip is by pressing your lips together. To accomplish that, you can start by applying the darker shade of lipstick you want to use all over your lip. But make sure you apply it lightly near the centre of your lips. When you are done with that, apply the lighter shade of lipstick around the inside of just one of your lips, then press your lips together, and voila, you will achieve flawless ombrè lips that require little blending for a perfect finish.

More to it Than MEATS THE EYES?

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

There are subtle cultural traits that are peculiar to different communities of people. These are subconscious traits, and ideologies passed down from generations past. It’s how we almost subconsciously “diagnose” someone incredibly entrepreneurial with an Igbo ethnicity or Yoruba men to be the best lovers in the world. Now don’t get me wrong, these are mere stereotypes that have been allowed to fester for so long, but when you are alone in your thoughts, think about it; it sort of checks out.

The average Nigerian has a weird obsession with meat. You don’t believe me? Try to serve your parents one piece of meat in their meal. They are very likely to feel disrespected, and it’s not just them; it is a large portion of the country. I reckon a tiny fraction of people don’t care about how many pieces of meat you serve them. They would rather you didn’t include any—vegans.

I remember watching a Daniel Sloss standup, and he went on and on about how he hates vegans and their guts. I laughed so hard even though I don’t relate to the joke in a real-life scenario. How many vegans do I know? Have I tried to interact with one on a heart-to-heart?

There are several health benefits of replacing meats and other animal products with plant-based alternatives on paper. Eliminating the former inevitably leads you to rely more heavily on other foods. In the case of a whole-foods vegan diet, replacements take the form of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.

Since these foods make up a more significant proportion of a vegan diet than a traditional or even western diet, they can contribute to a higher daily intake of certain beneficial nutrients.

Several studies have reported that vegan diets provide more fibre, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds. They also appear to be richer in potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E.

In addition to the nutrients mentioned earlier, choosing to be strictly herbivorous also helps you lose excess weight, lowers your blood sugar levels and improves kidney function. It may also protect you against certain cancers (one-third of all cancersa), lowers your risk of heart disease, and can reduce pain from arthritis.

Asides from the feeding side of the veganism conversation, vegans, also pride themselves on a heavy clean bio-lifestyle. Many consumers and even environmental experts attribute current ecological issues to animal agriculture, citing flashy statistics about greenhouse gas emissions, water and land usage, waste, labour costs and transportation involved in raising livestock.

The flesh of a mammal or fowl is all we know. Growing up, sometimes we don’t feel like eating, but we pretend to so that we can have a piece of meat. Our parents figured us out quickly and didn’t serve us with them in our meals until we finished eating the whole plate.

Our relationship with meat comes from a long history of culture and traditions. In a rural monarchy system, the hunters are some of the bravest people in society. The ones who could kill the most dangerous and exotic animals were highly respected as the elites. And when fellow elites ate back in the day, the quantity and sizes of the pieces of meat were an indication of how wealthy they were. It adds up to the aesthetics that local dishes pride themselves on.

From a religious point of view, meat is essential to the practice of several faiths. People have always cherished their meat. With Islam suggesting that Muslims should kill a ram every Ramadan and fried chicken becoming a significant component of the conventional Christmas meal, sometimes, it feels like one is performing their religious duties by being an omnivore.

In a world where two of the scariest things that could happen to one are obesity and heart failure, maintaining a healthy diet and clean lifestyle has been marketed as the best insurance policy ever. Both of which are the top talking points of the vegan propaganda.

It is not easy to let go of a habit, especially when it is not exactly considered that much of a big threat. I mean, why would anyone have beef with cow meat, right?

Nneka Lucia Egbuna

These culminate with the moral PR that comes with advocating for animal welfare, further enunciating that there are several benefits to choosing not to be an omnivore anymore, and it is not bound by age or status. So why aren’t Nigerians going vegan?

The community of Nigerian vegans who live predominantly in Nigeria consists mostly of the elites, although small and quiet. There are a few vegan restaurants in the country, mainly in Lagos. If you ever want to go plant-based, don’t secondguess yourself; it’s a beautiful thing —

JUST DOUGH IT!

Peppersoup

A bowl of catfish or

MEALS TO KEEP YOU WARM AND COZY THIS RAINY SEASON

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

Oats

Healthy, light, and creamy, depending on how you make it. It’s the proper meal for a rainy day.

inside—the

meal

a day when it is pouring.

It’s that time of year again when it rains almost all week. With it comes a feeling of lethargy and inertia; all you’d rather do is keep yourself parked in bed, cosy and not with care in the world. And while doing all of that sounds apt, it isn’t complete without the right rainy-day food. Meals that will keep you warm and fuzzy are appropriate for this weather. So with a few weeks left of this season, we profile some meals perfect for a rainy day.

Bread, Eggs and HotChocolate

What’s a morning without this

in the

prefer,

can

way

can enjoy it best in this

Pancakes

Fluffy and warm

Pap and Akara

Pap alone is known to

of

Bread and Eggs

with extra

is one meal you can use to cushion

in this rainy weather.

@minabrasseriedubai

DISCLAIMER

Eating these meals WILL make you want to

in bed all day. It’s best to avoid them on a

unless it’s your

off.

Goat Meat Pepper Soup

From @chef_christee

If the appeal of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is its polished sheen, the appeal of the DC Extended Universe is its scrappy messiness. On both the big screen and the small one, DC’s live-action adaptations often feel designed by committee and held together by duct tape and prayers. And nowhere is that more apparent than in Black Adam, the long-awaited superhero star vehicle for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The messiest superhero movie this side of Morbius, Black Adam nevertheless has a certain charm and even a few intriguing — if not downright radical — ideas on its margins. It’s not an excellent movie in the conventional sense, certainly not when it comes to basic tenets of editing, writing and character development. But it’s compelling in its own way as a kind of weird, earnest crowd-pleaser with a surprising amount of heart to complement its bone-snapping PG-13 action.

By design (although that doesn’t become clear until much later in the film), the origin story of Johnson’s all-powerful Teth-Adam is somewhat convoluted. He lived as a slave in the ancient city of Kahndaq, until he found himself imbued with powers from the same wizards who granted Billy Batson his abilities in 2019’s  Shazam!

Teth-Adam didn’t get much time to enjoy his new superhuman skills,

BY

Black Adam

however, as he was almost immediately entombed for 5,000 years. He’s eventually reawakened in modern-day Kahndaq, a fictional nation that’s under military occupation by mercenaries hilariously known as Intergang (say that 5 times without giggling, I dare you).

But wait, there’s more! The newly awakened Teth-Adam soon finds himself mixed up with three opposing forces: a trio of good locals who see him as their protector, a bad local who wants to exploit his powers and a group of superheroes known as the Justice Society who want to send him to superhero jail for his unsanctioned use of lethal force. Throw in a cute kid, some mysterious backstory, a smattering of appearances for Suicide Squad mastermind Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and a literal trip to hell, and Black Adam often seems like five separate movies crammed into its relatively swift two-hour runtime.

Indeed, Black Adam is a movie with a major identity crisis. Reportedly the film had to be heavily edited in order to avoid an R-rating, and the final product is deeply disjointed and tonally all over the place. But the upside is that if you don’t like one of the many films Black Adam is trying to be at that moment, you don’t have to wait long for a new one to take over.

One of those is a fairly fun riff on Terminator 2  as Teth-Adam teams up with archeologist/ freedom fighter Adrianna (Sarah Shahi), her pre-teen son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui) and her brother Karim (Mohammed Amer), who have long been looking for a homegrown hero who can help them throw off the shackles of Intergang’s (heh) occupation by any means necessary. Another is a sort of “Avengers” -lite in which heroes Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) and Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan) join forces to capture Teth-Adam, who they’ve already written off as a villain. Of these, the standout is Brosnan, who delivers a moving portrait of an immortal who is tired of seeing the future and thinking back on his past.

His Dr Fate looks at those who can live in the present with a mixture of melancholy, wisdom, and envy.

MacGuffin-heavy plot mechanics aside, the real stakes here are the battle for Teeth-Adam’s soul and the question of if/how he’s going to adapt his centuries-old ethics about vengeance and violence for the modern world. And where “Black Adam” really springs to life is its willingness to allow multiple perspectives and points of view to co-exist among its supporting players. Though we’re meant to like the Justice Society — who are thinly drawn but charismatically played by an engaging ensemble of actors — the movie’s most cheerworthy moment comes when Adrianna tells them off for ignoring Kahndaq’s plight for decades, only to step in as self-proclaimed heroes when they need something from the region.

If you’re willing to extrapolate from the studio-approved comic bookiness of it all, Black Adam takes a pretty radical stance about the validity of violence as a tactic to end oppression, even as it celebrates other means of resistance and (mostly) avoids glorifying violence for violence’s sake.

Of course, it’s an idea that would work better if Teth-Adam actually felt morally torn rather than just poorly defined. In truth, the Rock is weirdly cast in this role — one he spent over 15 years pursuing. Unable to pull from his usual bag of comedic tricks, he’s stuck in a mode that’s less morally grey antihero than just a nebulous blank slate. But when he succeeds, it’s as an Arnold Schwarzenegger-style straight man in a fish-out-of-water dark comedy with some unexpected pathos snuck into its third act.

Does Black Adam eventually devolve into one of those weightless, CGI-heavy final battles? Of course. But Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collet-Serra has some fun along the way first, showily aping Zack Snyder’s over-the-top slomo aesthetic, even if he only occasionally finds anything truly fresh to add to the mix. (A tightly contained bedroom fight is a highlight.)

Still, for all its messiness, Black Adam has the energy of a movie made by people who are invested in what they’re doing and at least loosely interested in injecting some new thematic ideas into the DCEU. It’s not the best live-action film DC has produced. But it just might be the purest distillation of the cinematic universe’s strange, scrappy spirit.

Rating: 6/10

bLAck pARty - Hotline Stevedreez - STAY UP

Topaz Jones - D. I. A. L.

Sunni Colón - UNIVERSE 4 TWO

Free Nationals_ (feat. Anderson .Paak & T.Nava)

Knxwledge - makeitliveforever Maeta_ Buddy - Teen Scene(ft. Buddy)

KAYTRANADA_ Charlotte DayWilson - What You Need

Free Nationals_ Syd - Shibuya(feat. Syd)

Emotional Oranges - West Coast Love

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