Head of CommonwealthThe APRIL 21, 1926 SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Contributing Editor
So it was no surprise when the news broke Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II had passed 17 months after her beloved Prince Phillip. If you read a little about their relationship, you will know they were together for over 70 years. That’s more than the lifetime of some people. Theirs was a romantic relationship in which he was her all, and I, like most of the people I know, feared she wouldn’t be here much longer after his death.
- Contributing Writer
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
WHATSAIDYOU @anthonyjohn2513@sstephenadeymi@nikkilaoye INSTAGRAM So BeautifulNiceWoman
AUSTYN OGANNAH Editor:PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Writers: Kehindé Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Graphic Design: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’
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
MAIN COVER IMAGE BY CHRIS LEVINE
Dr May Ikeora @mayikeora
Now, that’s the true meaning of romance. Until next week, enjoy your read.
Romance is different for everyone. Some people like elaborate gestures, while others prefer simple private gestures. The kind of romantic you are often depends on your personality. But some people are always in love; they call them hopeless romantics (Read Page 6). One relationship ends, and 10 months later, they are in a new one professing the same feelings for the current partner as they did with the previous one. The question, though, is: Are you really in love or in love with the idea of love? That was the question a friend posed to me when years ago, I was in a new relationship after what could have been termed a devastating breakup previously and was in love with this new person as much as I was with the ex. A hopeless romantic is what I thought I was.
But romance also reflects in death. If you think about it, like Romeo and Juliet, they couldn’t live without one another, so they took their life when one thought the other was dead. This kind of romance is also common in couples who have been together for a very long time. If you think about it, they usually have spent more years with this partner than they have, even with their family, and so when one dies, a literal part of the remaining couple goes with the one who is gone. And more often than not, after a few months or a year, the one left behind joins their beloved. I think that’s really romantic.
@insignamediaOshalusiKolaPhoto:Makeup:Zaron CONTENTS ECHOES 0706 14-151612-13 CONFIDENTIALDOWNTOWN MOVIE ENTERTAINMENTREVIEWWELLNESSRELATIONSHIP ARE YOU ROMANTIC?HOPELESSA OPEN IT UP ENTERTAINERS...ENTERTAININGREGARDLESS:SIXNIGERIANREPLENISHYOURAURAWITHTHESE4SPIRITUALCLEANSING EDITOR’S NOTE 04-058 FASHION STYLISH BEHIND…FROMTHESCENES COVER HEAD OF QUEENCOMMONWEALTHTHEELIZABETHII 03 ONAH'S
VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 PAGE 2 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa + 2349088352246
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, May founded a cosmetics company called L’Avyanna, based in the U.K. and Nigeria and possesses numerous beauty licenses from the U.K. EDIT ONAH LOVES
David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television. His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design. As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.
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ONAH’S EDIT
PAGE 3 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
Vine Harvest Fragrance Luxury Diffuser PATRICKROW MAISON
Yinks Damask Blazer MOOFA
This issue features items, some oldies but goodies, others not so old, which are worth giving a try. So whether you want a new scent for your home or you would like to revisit an old tale about life’s lessons in a book, this selection is worthy of attention. The Patrickrow Maison luxury scented candles and diffusers are great for calming, uplifting, and reducing stress after a long day. I particularly love that it’s a citrusy blend of bergamot ylang- ylang, grapefruit and musky woods. And when next you dine, maybe even at home, try a Purcari wine. This Pinot Grigio pairs perfectly with sushi and other fish menus. Trust me, you’ll love it.
onah
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Popular projects: King Boys, Wedding Party,
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Stylish From Behind… THE SCENES
It is no surprise what Nollywood and the Nigerian entertainment industry have grown to become. From box office premieres to chart-topping debuts on streaming platforms, the film industry has seen an improvement in production. And although actors on screen get the majority of the spotlight, some filmmakers have often stolen the spotlight on several occasions. These are some of the biggest names behind the camera that certainly look the part in front of it.
1. Kemi Adetiba (Director)
of
3. Mo Abudu (Producer)
BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
Popular projects: Blood Sisters, Chief Daddy, Oloture, Castle & Castle, and The Wedding Party.
The
Popular projects: Irapada, The Figurine, October 1, Mokalik, and Citation.
and Across a Bloodied Ocean
2. Kunle Afolayan (Director)
PAGE 5 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 FASHION 4. Bolanle Austen-Peters Popular(Producer)projects: The Man of God, Collision Course, 93 Days, Bling Lagosians, and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens. 5. Charles Popular(Producer)Okpalekeprojects: Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, Rattle Snake, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, and Glamour Girls. 6. Yolanda Okereke (Costume Designer) Popular projects: Blood Sisters, Chief Daddy, King of Boys, Shuga, and The Set Up 7. Bunmi Popular(Director/Writer)Ajakaiyeprojects: The Smart Money Woman, Glamour Girls, Skinny Girl in Transit, and Up North 8. Ifan Michael (Producer) Popular projects: Foreigner’s God, Lotanna, and Singing Sin 9. Arese Popular(ExcutiveUgwuProducer)projects: The Smart Money Woman,
a kid, doodling hearts in your notebook around the name of your crush or playing the game “Flames” with your friends to determine if your crush is “the one” could be argued as onset traits of a hopeless romantic. Also, it could be played off as participating and creating fond childhood memories. But as the hands of time turn, you experience the tsunami of feelings, and only then can you fully decide if you are truly a hopeless romantic. And if you still can’t, this article is here to help. But first, let's clarify who a hopeless romantic is.
The emotions of hopeless romantics are frequently on display. They suffer breakups worse and may express affection more easily. If you’re not a stranger to being called ‘too much,’ ‘clingy’, or ‘emotional’, then, you just might be a hopeless romantic.
IMAGE RELATIONSHIP
BY IDOWU LAMI
For you, cupid’s love arrows are never far away. Whether it’s passion or love, at first sight, hopeless romantics frequently get struck with that enticing initial bolt that binds individuals. And although love at first sight is common, hopeless romantics are more or less target practices for cupid. They are hardwired to want a connection.
Romance is The Bed You Lie on
Colour Blind to The Red Flags
The Relationship is One-sided
VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 PAGE 6 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
All flags are green for hopeless romantics. Even though you are aware of possible red flags, you choose to ignore them because you believe your love will always triumph, throwing caution to the wind while you’re at it.
Hopeless romantics aren’t referring to the Jet Li movie, The One. When they use it, they are talking about the feeling that this could be ‘their person’ more often than not. They not only fall in love quickly but also deeply, even when the relationship isn't the ideal fit for them.
There’s a huge probability you’ve entered hopeless romantic land if you start saving wedding inspiration to Pinterest boards, you have notifications turned on for Bellanaija Weddings or coming up with cute pet names for lovers even when you’re a single pringle.
You’ve Been Called “Emotional” One Too Many Times
You Believe in Love at First Sight
FROM GETTYIMAGES
In essence, a hopeless romantic is someone who, despite past heartbreak, continues to believe in love. These people are obsessed with romance and prioritize finding “true love” above everything else. Usually, their preferred movie genre is rom-com; if the movie isn’t pregnant with love scenes and the guy doesn’t eventually get the girl at the end, they aren’t super invested—like me, they'd have watched and read Fault in Our Stars till umpteenth just doesn’t cut it anymore. If you frequently have dreams that rival the romantic declarations of love and butterfliesin-the-tummy relationships of your favourite fictional pair, you may be one of them.
One Too Many “The Ones”
As
Here Are 6 Signs To Look Out For.
ARE YOU ROMANTIC?HOPELESSA
Do your relationships typically feel unbalanced? This is one of the telltale symptoms that you’re a hopeless romantic. Due to your need to implement your fictitious vision, you wind up emotionally dominating the partnership. As a result, you get less and find yourself in a one-sided relationship.
Open relationships fall under the larger category of non-monogamousconsensuallyrelationships. They are relationships in which one or both partners can pursue sex and sometimes emotional attachments with other people. For some, this means going on casual dates and having ‘friends-with-benefits’type relationships with people other than their primary partners. For others, an
open relationship just means that occasional “free pass” to have a one-night stand or brief sexual fling. And for others still, the arrangement could look more like swinging— such as having sex with other couples as a couple, but not going on dates separately. Another variation that has been brought up a few times is the “don’t ask, don’t tell”-style of open relationships, in which both members of a couple permit the other to have sexual relations with other people—they just don’t want to discuss those experiences together.
hide my raging hard-on, I caught a glance of Jide who had been watching us all along. He raised his glass of wine to cheers from a distance, basically confirming all that I’d heard. I raised my glass too and smiled back as if I wasn’t completely weirded out by what had just happened.
Historically, men and women have been studied to approach sex differently, bar a few exceptions. Open relationships are often plagued by perpetual miscommunication between the couple surrounding who is having sex with who and the many emotions—especially envy—that are involved. Most people don’t even understand it and continue to condemn sex outside of a union as infidelity. Make no mistake, although open relationships are similar to polygamous relationships in terms of the number of sexual partners, they maintain a common premise across their many variations that are quite different from the technicalities of a regular polygamous relationship. Unlike a polygamous relationship, the extra bodies in an open relationship often come with a temporary tag. In fact, most couples, in a bid to spice up their sex lives, involve people and ultimately decide to open up their Imaginerelationship.myshock
story; we tried to make our relationship work. For me, throughout my undergraduate days, it was either Cynthia or no one else, and so like a stray dog searching for its next meal, I clung to the friendship, even though I clearly wanted more—sex and, or romance. After school, Cynthia got posted to Kano for her NYSC, we lost touch, and then she met Jide. On my end, I am a lot different now too. And even though I still haven’t been able to commit to a romantic relationship, I have a few female friends who lay claim to my phallus every other weekend. After Cynthia and I reconnected, she thought it would be cool to plan a vacation with old schoolmates. It’s three days in a city I’ve never been to, and my natural instinct is already plotting which of my old female friends to do quick reconnection and have tourist sex with. Of course, Cynthia, who had come on the trip with her boyfriend, Jide, wasn’t on my list of potential mates, so I had to have that conversation as she appeared to be cockblocking me and ruining my chances of getting laid on the trip. “Jide and I have opened up our relationship to refresh our sex lives. He has so far been with three women, and I have not been able to follow through with one,” she said with an unusual smile on her face. I smiled back. She continued, “I know you’ve always wanted to f**k me since we were in school; I’m sorry I shut down your advances then. If you are still into me, I want you to do to me what you do to your other girls.” She then whispered in my ear, “I’ve discussed this with Jide, and we’re sleeping in separate rooms tonight. I’ll be waiting in Room Struggling402.”to
CONFIDENTIAL
OPENITUP BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
Last month, we discussed vabbing as a concept originating from the animal kingdom. Another popular concept that has been around since time immemorial and has been documented to draw similarities from animal sexual behaviour is polygamy. Polygamy is a ‘marriage’ in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time. Modern culture tells us that each person has their ‘one,’ a perfect partner to share the rest of their lives with. Although polygamy is practised in various cultures, humans still tend toward monogamy. But this was not always the norm among our ancestors. Other primates—the mammalian group to which humans belong—are still polygamous, too.
when Cynthia—who everyone on social media, and our friendship circle, is fully aware is in a 4-year committed relationship with Jide—was incessantly flirting with me through the course of the 3-day vacation we were on, including Jide. Okay, guys, relax; here is a quick backstory. Cynthia and I go way back to our University of Lagos days when I had a bit of a crush on her, and she friendzoned me. No, it’s not a sad
IMAGEGETTYFROMIMAGE
DOWNTOWN
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When
we were in secondary school, we were taught about human evolution. If you are reading this, there’s a mighty chance that you are familiar with the name Charles Darwin. If you’re not, he basically said we all have a common ancestor, apes. Don’t get offended now, I know your religion tells us differently, but Darwin’s theory, which has since been proven as a fact, has some sense. Yes, we think of animals as dumb sometimes, but according to Darwin, that’s because we obviously have much higher neuro proficiencies. According to science, we are higher animals, as we share similar traits and life cycles. Throughout history, scientists have solved many health issues using animals as lab rats, literally. Because of this relationship that exists between animals and us, several sociobiological theories have been put forward to explain some of our human behaviours, especially sexual.
According to Kit Opie, an evolutionary anthropologist from University College London, “The modern monogamous culture has only been around for just 1,000 years.” Whether we are monogamous or polygamous by nature is an age-old debate that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Today, although the gospel of monogamy reigns supreme, some people have found a way around having their erotic cake and eating it. It’s called open relationships.
VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 PAGE 8 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com COVER
On Thursday afternoon, Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral, aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. She died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer. As expected, the entire world was alerted by this news, rightly so, as she was one of the most influential people in the world. But just how much does her demise mean to us as Nigerians? Who exactly was she to us? To trace the queen’s relationship with Nigeria back to the start, we have to revisit our colonisation, the formation of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the brief period of Monarchy government between gaining our independence and becoming the Federal
BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
TheRepublic.Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. All members recognise the British monarch as Head of the Commonwealth, a position Queen Elizabeth II held for 70 years as the elder daughter of King George VI, the inaugural holder.
anduringPalaceBuckinghamtoIlElizabethQueenwithridesGowonYakubuStateofHeadNigerian Images)Getty-(Credit1973.JuneUK,London,tovisitofficial
Head of CommonwealthThe
PAGE 9 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 COVER
Road to Commonwealththe Crown Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the United Kingdom for seven decades, was such a longstanding institution that it’s easy to forget she wasn’t supposed to have become queen.
Born in 1926, Elizabeth was the daughter of King George V’s second son and had little expectation of succeeding to the throne until her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. After her father’s death, King George VI, 25-yearold Elizabeth, was called upon to assume the throne, beginning a momentous reign. In February 2022, the United Kingdom kicked off a series of celebrations for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee—marking 70 years of her service to the British Commonwealth. Although the role involves no part in the day-to-day
Queen of Nigeria (1960-1963)
From 1960 to 1963, Nigeria was a sovereign state and an independent constitutional monarchy. Nigeria shared the monarch with Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and certain other sovereign states. The monarch’s constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the governor-general of Nigeria. Elizabeth II was the only monarch to reign during this period. As such, she was officially titled Queen of Nigeria, although short-lived as the monarchy was abolished on 1 October 1963, when Nigeria adopted the President of Nigeria as its head of state.
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her. On 1 October 1960, the Princess presented Nigeria’s instrument of independence, also known as the Freedom Charter, to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who became the Prime Minister. Although now an countryindependentin1960,NigeriastilladoptedthemonarchybeforebecomingaRepublic in 1963.
The Queen sent her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Kent, to the independence celebrations to represent
governance of any member states within the Commonwealth, it used to be quite different.
The Government of Nigeria was officially known as Her Majesty’s Government. The Nigerian parliament constituted The monarch, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, with all executive powers
The Queen sent a message to Nigerians during their independence celebrations which read:
The Queen’s Government
“My husband and I return the happiest of memories of our visit to Nigeria, and our thoughts are with you on this memorable day. As you assume the heavy responsibility of independence, I send my good wish for a great and noble future. It is with special pleasure that I welcome you to our Commonwealth family of Nations. ... May God bless and guide your country through the years to come.”
“As Nigeria becomes a republic, I send you, Mr President, and to all the people of Nigeria my sincere good wishes for success and prosperity. During the past years, I have shared in the hopes and aspirations of your great nation. I have happy memories of the warmth and splendour of your hospitality and the many friends I made when I visited Nigeria. I am sure that in the future, the common memories of our long association will strengthen and increase the friendship of our countries as fellow members of the Commonwealth. I wish you all good fortune in the years to come and pray for your country’s successful achievement of the great tasks you have undertaken.”
state on 1 October 1963, when the Federation of Nigeria became the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.
The Queen’s Laws Within traditionallyherrenderingisrealms,Commonwealththethesovereignresponsibleforjusticeforallsubjectsandisthusdeemedthe
COVER
criminal offences. Nigeria’s highest court of appeal was the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and criminal prosecution was instituted in the monarch’s name. The monarch, and by extension the governor-general, could also grant immunity from prosecution, exercise the royal prerogative of mercy, and pardon offences against the Crown before, during, or after a trial.
PAGE 11 THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
fount of justice. In Nigeria, criminal offences were legally considered offences against the sovereign and proceedings for indictable offences were brought in the sovereign’s name in the form of “The Queen versus [Name].” Hence, the common law held that the sovereign “can do no wrong”; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in her own courts for
resting with the sovereign. All laws in Nigeria were enacted only with the granting of Royal Assent, done by the Queen’swaseverythingGovernor-General.atministersdiscretion.dismissofandtheParliament.andproroguing,forwasinmostGeneralTheofGeneralGovernor-onbehalfthesovereign.Governor-wasthepowerfulmanthecountry.Heresponsiblesummoning,dissolvingHehadpowertochooseappointtheCouncilMinistersandcouldthemathisAllNigerianheldofficethepleasureoftheButthathedidessentiallyinthename.
The Queen sent a message to the PresidentnewAzikiwe,:
Abolition of The Queen The
Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria twice in her lifetime; in 1956 and 2003, the latter time to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2003. May her royal soul rest in peace.
asmonarchywasunpopularwithNigerians,andallpoliticalpartiesinNigeriaagreedthatthecountryshouldbearepublic.NigeriaadoptedthePresidentofNigeriaheadof
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Without your knowledge,
WELLNESS
Replenish Your Aura With These4 Spiritual Cleansing Rituals
Sasha Exeter
Have you ever slept well one night but didn't feel refreshed or like yourself the next? Or do you walk into a room where there's just a horrible vibe? After meeting someone, you can experience a wave of bad karma. You try to go back to sleep, crossing your fingers that when you wake up, the unpleasant feeling will be gone, but it doesn't, and, to make matters worse, you feel exhausted or overworked all day.
Himalayan Bath Salt CLARITY BLEND
negativity can cling to your body like a leech and your surroundings, such as your house or place of employment. An energetic field, commonly referred to as an aura, surrounds your body. You and your energetic body are shielded by it, much like a force field. However, our aura might get congested if we frequently come into contact with low energies of unpleasant emotion. As a result, it is no longer able to protect us from future bad things. Hence the need to replenish it.
Naturally, it has long been understood that water is beneficial both within and outside the body and has therapeutic characteristics. It has been used to perform rites of purification on individuals since the beginning of time. Your body is not the only thing that water can clean. The harmful energy that is lodged in your spiritual body is absorbed and carried away by it. To perform a spiritual cleansing bath ritual, you'd need things like; sea salt, epsom salts, or pink Himalayan salts. Preferably, you could add some essential oils, flowers or teas, and crystals in or around your bath water.
Baths
Sometimes in life, things just feel off, and you could feel physically, mentally, and emotionally bogged down. You might just need spiritual cleansing to get out of that funk when that time comes. Some people might find it unusual to hear this; even assuming it is related to religion wouldn't be out of place. After all, it's frequently used simultaneously with spirituality, isn't it? The practice of performing a spiritual cleansing, which purges the energy space of unfavourable energies, has everything to do with this spirituality and nothing to do with that (religion.)
Relax Sea Bath Salt MORTE
The spirit, soul and body are all components of a single, integrated machine. And when one part doesn't function properly, it disturbs the balance of the body and causes disruptions in the flow of events. You will experience a resonance across your entire existence if one aspect of you begins to malfunction. That's why a spiritual cleansing ritual is like a shower, except that it's for your aura.
BY IDOWU LAMI
Smudging
Palo Santo Sticks
Image From Pinterest
IMAGE BY ABHEET GIDWANI Sage have
Crystals
Custom Infused Auric Sprays
PAGE 13 VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com WELLNESS
Smudging can be compared to having a purifying smoke bath. A braid or bundle of dried herbs is all that is required for a smudging process. Light one end of the bundle, then slowly wave it in a circle around you. This ritual would help you corn off the negative energies around you. Burning a garden or white sage is the most common herb used for smudging,
CleansingWithCrystals
a quartz,crystalsattraction.energycapacityremarkableforabsorption,repulsion,andUseyourtomeditate,orplacetheminstrategiclocationsaboutyourhometodispelnegativeenergyorattractpositiveenergy.Theabilitytocarrycrystalsinapocketorbackpackismuchgreater.Roseamethystandselenitearesomeexamplesofauracleansingcrystals.
A spiritual bath can cleanse your aura and vitality but with a multipurpose spray, you can accomplish two goals at once. It can purify the energy in your home as well as your aura. A spray container, roughly 60% distilled water, 40% unscented witch hazel, and any preferred essential oils are all you need.
Aura BULIPURASpray
garneredsongproducedCobhamtheinfluencethatwouldProductions,BAADbothhadcompanyandEntertainment,EmpirerecordBankylabelRnBhersinglereleasedshetheunderhusband,artistandCEO,W’slabel,Matesamediatheyrecentlyformed,Mediaitappearhehadlittleonrecord.TheAsuquo-hassofarmixed
much critical acclaim that it prompted a partnership between Basketmouth and Empire Music record label to assist with marketing and Hisdistribution.sophomore album, Horoscope, is another star-studded project that tells a story of his standing in the music space so far. His well-blended features on each track have already set him up as one of the best A&Rs (Artists and repertoire) in the country. All these while hosting shows globally to make people laugh.
Seven months ago, veteran comedian Bright “Basketmouth” Okpocha released his sophomore album, Horoscope, which came as the first project he has so far put out since he signed with the international record label, Empire Music, last October. Fans of the comedian knew when he signed the deal that their favourite comic would now have to divide his creative attention between humour and music. This would be a smart choice since the digitalisation of comedy has seen stand-up comics take a backseat to social media skits.
BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE
THEWILL DOWNTOWN • www.thewilldowntown.com
In an interview, the ace rapper revealed that he arrived at the film set to shoot his first two scenes on his birthday, and after seeing the lead Sola Sobowale do what she does, he felt he couldn’t go ahead with his role. He said, “So, yeah, I took up the challenge and on my first day on set, I saw aunty Sola Sobowale in her full element. It was my birthday, and Olamide was waiting for me at a nightclub, but I had to shoot some scenes. So, I saw her in her full element, and I told Kemi (Adetiba) ‘I can’t do this’. She asked why, I said, ‘look at this woman na, I can’t do this. This woman is in another world;
Bright Okpocha, professionally known as Basketmouth, has always had an interesting approach to entertainment. Before he became ‘our friendly neighbourhood funny guy,’ he was a drummer, rapper and the founder of two rap groups. Basketmouth would go on to quit the band in search of his breakthrough as their brand of rap was not acceptable by
Different art forms take different skill sets, so for every Banky W who transitions from the recording studio to film sets seamlessly, there is a Tonto Dikeh who was reminded never to leave our movie screens for music video shoots ever again. These are six entertainers that have transitioned between art forms very recently.
reviews from music lovers; some of them asked her to return to acting, while others commended her for having the sheer courage to delve into uncharted territory. The next couple of moves will decide just how serious this transition is.
Although necessary for some, transitioning in entertainment is not exactly as seamless as Basketmouth has made it seem. Whether merging two art forms as he continues to do— releasing an album the same day he hosted fans to a sold-out comedy show in indigo at The O2, London—or completely jumping ship like Segun Arinze did when he abandoned his dreams of being a music star to become a mainstay in Nollywood, navigating the entertainment waters is a rather common sight that we have seen for ages past. Not every entertainer has found it easy, though.
One of the country’s leading Hip-hop artists, Reminisce, added ‘actor’ to his résumé when he starred in one of Nigeria’s biggest movies in recent times, the political thriller, King of Boys In casting that no one saw coming, Reminisce executed his role in Kemi Adetiba’s blockbuster brilliantly.
Nigerians at the time; the breakthrough was in comedy. Recognised as one of the biggest names in Nigerian comedy, Basketmouth fulfilled his early dreams of becoming a music star after the release of his debut album, Yabasi, which served as the original soundtrack of his web series, Papa Benji, in November 2020. The 10-track highlife album, which featured top musicians such as Flavour, Bez, The WajePhyno,Cavemen,LADIPOE,andsoon,garnered
On the same day Basketmouth released his sophomore album, Adesuwa made her entrance into the music scene. Susu, as she has adopted as her music name, released a song titled So Natural Adesuwa who has starred in just one movie since 2019, took Nigerians by surprise with her decision to explore music. Although we are yet to see what happens with her acting career, Susu’s introduction into the music industry still feels like a temporary one.
Bright Okpocha“Basketmouth”
“Reminisce”Remilekun Khalid Safaru
Adesuwa Etomi-Wellington“Susu”
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so
Although
Six Nigerian Entertainers That Have Transitioned Between Different Art Forms Recently EntertainingRegardless
ENTERTAINMENT
Olubankole “Banky W” Wellington
PartyWeddingThe2.
Not many people can boast of being a top name in both worlds like Falz can. His music career which took off on the back of a comedic online persona he had created through Instagram skits, has soared to unimaginable heights, placing him firmly as one of the biggest names in Nigerian hip-hop. In retrospect, it feels like Falz had acted as a part of the plan all along. His first acting gig came a year after the release of his debut music
His movie run was put on withhowever,holdhislast
are expecting a return of Dakore EgbusonAkande in the music scene. Exciting times are ahead with this incoming transition.
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Her music side is also still very active—on new year’s day, she released a 10-track album, two years after she had joint voices with leading gospel artist, Tope Alabi, on a critically acclaimed album.
album Wazup Guy 2014—hein had a opera,Akindele’srolerecurringinFunkesoap Jenifa’s Diary.
Blaqout, and characterher is a musician. This means that we
Toyin “TY Sokefun-BelloBello”
R&B Superstar and label CEO, Olubankole Wellington, professionally known as Banky W brought his love songs to life when he starred as a lead character in the 2016 rom-com, The Wedding Party, which was the start of an onscreen chemistry with the co-star that would end up taking his last name, Adesuwa Heoftenoutcapableshowedcountry,thespianscaughtperformanceWellington.Etomi-InathattheeyesofacrosstheBankyWthathewasofactingtheromancehesingsabout.wentontostarinthreeothermoviesinthenextthreeyears,includingasequeltohisdebut,
appearance on our movie screens coming at the same time his wife, Adesuwa Etomi-Wellington went on a hiatus. They both starred in the 2019 movie Sugar Rush Banky W, who had taken a break from the entertainment scene before the birth of his son in January 2021, returned with an album titled The Bank Statements last November. Just like his wife, we don’t know if he will be back on movie screens, but if he never acted in another movie ever, he can be regarded as a really good actor.
Falz’s status in the movie industry became solidified after he unveiled his film production House21TV,company,inAugust 2020.
Dakore Egbuson-Akande
One-time DOWNTOWN cover personality, Dakore Egbuson-Akande tried her hands in music just over a decade ago. The Nollywood actor, renowned for her ability to interpret difficult roles, released a song titled Don’t Make Me in the early 2000s before going on her hiatus. Just like her colleagues—GenevieveNnaji,OmotolaJalade-Ekeinde,TontoDikeh,andsoon—Dakoretooattemptedtomakehermarkonthemusicscene.Itwasnevertobe,however,ashersongsnevergothalfoftheacclaimthathermoviesgother.Speakingtouslastyear,themultifacetedmoviestarrevealedthatshewouldbereleasingamoviesheproducedthisyeartitled
The production company has so far produced the web comedy series, Therapy, which stars him in the lead role alongside actor and media personality, Toke Makinwa.
Folarin “Falz” Falana
Best known for her nationwide hit, Greenland, TY Bello took the music industry by storm before sharing her time with photography.
Her photography became very mainstream as she told the story and eventual success of hairstylist/bread hawker Olajumoke Orisaguna whom she discovered in the background during a photo shoot with British rapper Tinie Tempah in Lagos.
The entertainment industry is very broad and too often we see these crossovers take creatives out of their perceived comfort zone. Although movie and comedy stars like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem “Osoufia” Owoh, Julius Agwu, Tonto Dikeh and so on, didn’t enjoy sustained success in the music industry, likewise music stars such as Simi, Cynthia Morgan (now known as Madrina), Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, and so on, didn’t stick around the movie industry long enough to become a force in Nollywood. One thing remains constant amidst the journey from the studio to the set—they stick to the job description as entertainers.
TY Bello, renowned as a seasoned music artist, was also at the very top of the photography industry as she was the official photographer to former President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure in office.
In an blockbustersincludingandovertohascareer,balancedevenlyFalzgoneonfeatureintenmoviestwoseries, MenDaddy,ChiefMerry and Quam’s Money. twoSupportingAwardsViewers2016recognition‘BesthasexcellentHisactingearnedhimActor’attheAfricaMagicChoiceand‘BestActor’yearslater,
Although it took eight long months to convince him to make the quick transition to the film industry, he showed up like he was born to do it. He said, “I wasn’t so sure I could do it because I had so much going on at that time, but Kemi Adetiba was able to convince me, and this took about eight months. Though there were a lot of other names flying around but she said no, that she wanted Reminisce to do this.”
I don’t want to mess up. I can’t do this’. But Kemi convinced me and said she believed I could do it, and I went back home and returned to give my best as you all saw in the movie”.
making him the first Nigerian musician to win the prize twice.
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now been 20 years since Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy took Tolkien’s fantasy epic and made it into a cultural behemoth. The Lord of the Rings was such a gigantic success they even dragged his much shorter book, The Hobbit, out into a trilogy a decade later. There’s certainly an appetite to explore more of that world, and while The Rings of Power might be a brand new story, it still has plenty of authentic Tolkienesque charm to go along with the best production value money can buy. There are probably better things the richest man in the world could do with his massive pile of gold, but there are definitely worse.
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they’re a tight-knit group of “Harfoots”, an evolutionary predecessor to the creatures we know and love. It’s the harfoots that really make The Rings of Power work. Maybe it’s just the reassuring presence of comedy icon Lenny Henry among the cast (playing elder harfoot Sadoc Burrows), but these pastoral scenes manage to capture the magic of The Chronicles of Narnia, an enchanting series which never had quite this budget. There are another couple of stand-out performances from Megan Richards and Markella Kavenagh
to access the playlist (Apple Music) Scan this with your
Stretched over seven episodes, with a number of distracting subplots, Echoes over-complicates its initially intriguing premise. This mystery thriller is preoccupied with secrets both past and present, including but not limited to a church fire that caused the death of an unknown man and the hidden irregularitiesfinancialconnected to the theft of a horse.
It’sall.
Simply by restyling their hair, adding or removing a little eyeliner, and altering their speech patterns, they’ve successfully hidden this deception from family, friends, and, now, even their husbands.
proves much more rife for examination than the show’s other mini-mysteries.
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As Echoes winds toward its conclusion, the sisters’ self-inflicted plight begins to feel like mere window dressing. More tightly woven episodes that homed in more precisely on the mystery surrounding the twins’ identities might have provided a clarity of purpose or at least a chance to explore the deeper, potentially darker reasons behind Gina and Leni’s deception.
As for the story itself, so far it seems Amazon were right to entrust their dump truck full of cash to relatively unproven first-time showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay.
ADESINABOLUWATIFEBY
If Gina and Leni have been getting away with switching lives every 12 months for this long, that
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as the young harfoots who encounter a mysterious lost man whose origin promises to be one of the show’s most enticing enigmas. Who might the tall, bearded, magical stranger who falls from the sky and lands among hobbit-like creatures turn out to be? Perhaps we already know more of the characters after
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER
Monaghan’s performance is largely limited to expressions of shock or surprise, while Leni’s husband, Jack (Matt Bomer), is written as something of a lovable victim who doesn’t seem to understand what’s going on around him. The town’s sheriff (Karen Robinson) feels lifted from another show entirely: Her almost stealth-like appearances just as something has happened— or is about to—becomes a peculiar, if amusing, gimmick, and her dialogue, in which she knowingly toys with her suspected prey, is more akin to what you’d expect to hear in a more traditionally styled crime drama. One half expects her to turn to the camera and wink at the audience.
That jump back in time means most fan favourite Tolkien characters haven’t even been born yet. However, there are a few familiar elves, thanks to their remarkable longevity. The early hero of the show is elven princess Galadriel, who finds herself the last lone voice refusing to believe villainous sorcerer Sauron is truly defeated. A grownup (by elf standards) version of the character was played by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here, she’s a headstrong young warrior brought to life magnetically by Saint Maud’s Morfydd Clark. Any resemblance to the crop of blonde, headstrong royal warriors currently going at it over on HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon is surely purely Fanscoincidental.ofhobbits should note that the show takes place so far before The Hobbit that hobbits aren’t even hobbits yet. Instead, camera camera
VOL 2 NO. 37 • SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sets out its sprawling epic fantasy credentials right from the off: even its title seems like it could be split into multiple instalments. Laden with a name as unwieldy as an orc’s battleaxe, the Amazon Prime Video series also arrives under a staggering weight of expectation. In 2017, when Amazon paid author JRR Tolkien’s estate $250m not for the rights to remake Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit but merely to set a story within the author’s fantastical world of Middle-earth, many described the deal as “insane”. Jeff Bezos’ omnipotent empire has reportedly spent a further $462m on this first season, which averages out at nearly $60m an episode. By comparison, HBO’s Game of Thrones, the blockbuster fantasy hit whose runaway success Amazon evidently hopes to emulate, cost a relatively reasonable $15m per episode. For what Amazon’s paying, you at least hope they’ve been able to breed real dragons. Can any television series ever hope to live up to that sort of astronomical price tag?
There are moments when The Rings of Power comes close. If you’re into breathtaking panoramas of fantasy cities soaring across your screen or magnificently shot vistas of mountains and valleys, then oh boy, have I got a show for you. The first two episodes have been directed by JA Bayona, who made his film debut in 2007 with gothic horror flick The Orphanage before moving on to blockbuster fare like 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. You’d have to imagine he encouraged Amazon’s decision to host a night of theatrical screenings the same day the episodes appear on streaming.
As easy (and fun!) as it is to laugh at the vast sum Bezos handed over for the rights to a relatively minor part of Tolkien’s work, the author’s lengthy appendices to The Lord of the Rings naturally make for rich and fertile storytelling ground. Payne and McKay’s new epic takes place in what Tolkien described as Middle-earth’s “Second Age”, thousands of years before the well-trodden events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Every year on their birthday since they were children, identical twins Gina and Leni (Michelle Monaghan) have switched lives.
Echoes
But both the writers and performers appear incapable of such furtive inquiry.
The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Much is revealed about those and other mysteries, but what’s never fully addressed or even adequately questioned is the mental state of the show’s twin protagonists. And there are only hints at the toll that their years-long charade brings to bear on their lives and those around them.
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The cinematography is so sprawling and cinematic, that there’s something bound to be lost on the millions who will inevitably end up watching on their phones.