Category Archives: ARTS

Nigeria’s Martins Lawrence Akande Wins The International Galileo Galilei Prize

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Martins Lawrence Akande is one of the exceptionally talented Nigerian artists doing the country proud in the international community. Just recently, Mr Martins was awarded with the International Galileo Galilei prize/award and MOST valuable recognition, one of the biggest art prizes in the world.

The “Galileo Galilei” International Award is an exclusive prize which is conferred to artists that stand out for the recognized value of their work.

GOLDEN INTERNATIONAL GALILEO GALILEI PRIZE.

Martins who is also an accountant is well know for many of his profound artworks as a visual artist.

The artist who took to his Instagram Page to announce his award also has this to say;

On this day 22nd January 2017, in Pisa, ITALY at the Congress Palace, the Event in Honor of The World’s Greatest Scientist and founder of modern day Science GALILEO GALILEI (1564 – 1642) was held and to honor deserving Artists with a prestigious prize, I am very humbled, proud and honored to be a recipient of the International Galileo Galilei prize/award and MOST valuable recognition. Thank you Dott. Francesco Saverio, Dott. Salvatore Russo and the entire Organization for finding my work worthy of this highest honor. Thank you and God Bless.

 

I've always wanted her to get as far as possible, its beautiful to see her here. #GalileoGalilei This amazing photo was taken by @fotovangelist I love it everyday. Thank you for the time.

Some of his works which include a pencil art of a little girl with braided hair is one of the most fascinating freehand drawings made by a Nigerian.
Below are some of his artworks:
#featuredpalette.

#featuredpalette. Cc @fahd_non

Today I share with a friend and a brother @Omojuwa. His vision and ability to see things before they happen is pretty scary ? "in a good way". Thank you for being a true friend and a brother.

                   Martins Lawrence Akande is pictured here with Blogger and Media Mogul, Japheth J Omojuwa

‘Left Behind’ Co-Author, Tim LaHaye Dies at 90.

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Timothy LaHaye, the evangelical minister and co-author of the “Left Behind” book series, died Monday in San Diego following a massive stroke. The 90-year-old minister, the son of a Detroit autoworker, had a stroke while walking down his driveway Thursday to retrieve a newspaper and did not regain consciousness, his son Larry LaHaye told CNN.

 

LaHaye, along with Jerry B. Jenkins, wrote the blockbuster “Left Behind,” a series of 16 novels dealing with Christian “end times” from an evangelical perspective. In the novels, which reportedly sold more than 65 million copies, true believers have been taken to heaven in the rapture, leaving others behind to battle the Antichrist.
“Thrilled as I am that he is where he has always wanted to be, his departure leaves a void in my soul I don’t expect to fill until I see him again,” Jenkins told Christianity Today.

 

San Diego Christian College, which was founded by Timothy LaHaye, expressed grief over what it called the passing of a remarkable life.

 

“Dr. LaHaye has been a friend to me like no other,” said college President Paul Ague. “The impact the LaHayes have had on the students since founding San Diego Christian College in 1970 has been remarkable. Dr. LaHaye was known on SDC’s campus as a constant encourager, a champion of the next generation, and a scholar of biblical wisdom. I have been blessed to call Tim a dear friend, and he will be missed greatly by the SDC Community.”
LaHaye was born in Detroit on April 27, 1926, to Frank and Margaret LaHaye. His father died when LaHaye was 9, and the son credited the pastor’s eulogy at the funeral for giving him confidence they would be reunited in the rapture.

 

“All of a sudden, there was hope in my heart I’d see my father again,” LaHaye told the Christian Science Monitor, according to his ministry.

 

He married Beverly Ratcliffe in 1947, who founded Concerned Women for America in 1979 as a conservative counterweight to the National Organization for Women. “Their union prompted Time magazine in 2005 to name them ‘The Christian Power Couple,’ ” according to LaHaye’s biography.”The proclamation came as the magazine named Dr. LaHaye as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.”

 

As a couple, the LaHayes hosted a radio show and, later, a TV program called “The LaHayes on Family Life.” In keeping with their faith, the show promoted Christian values, according to his official Facebook page.
Services are still in the planning stages, according to Larry LaHaye.

Lady Gaga Covered In Blood On EW Magazine Cover

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Following those paparazzi shots of her shooting American Horror Story: Hotel in a magenta evening gown, Entertainment Weekly has an official look at Lady Gaga as the Countess on the cover of the new issue.

She’s wearing what appears to be a white silk dressing gown as well as that creepy glove with attached fingernail.

Also, she’s covered in blood, as you tend to be when you’re on ?American Horror Story.

Read More: cosmopolitan

International Tattoo Festival: Extreme Body Modification (Viewer Discretion)

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Tattooed eyeballs, forked tongues and tunnelled flesh were on display at the Caracas International Tattoo Festival as body modification aficionados gathered for the annual event.

Reuters photographer Jorge Silva photographed some of the participants and asked them what inspired their interest in the art form.

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“My motivation is the freedom to do with my body whatever I want,” said Carlos, pictured above. “Not everyone can enjoy this freedom.”

Tattoo and body modification artist Kala Kaiwi is a Guinness World Record holder for the largest non-surgically made stretch earlobes, which measure 109mm (4.3 inches) in diameter.

“I pride myself on constantly learning new techniques and procedures in order to be on the forefront of the modifications culture,” said Kaiwi, who began his career 20 years ago when he moved from Hawaii to Las Vegas.

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Body modification artist Henry Rodriguez, also known as “Red Skull,” said he had his first tattoo when he was 12.

“I have always loved body modifications. Now I have a project: I want to be included in the Guinness World Records as the most modified man on Earth,” he said.

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Luciel sticks out her bifid tongue as she poses for a portrait and says her motivation is to “break the laws of beauty.”

“I like to express genuineness, originality,” she said. “Women love to modify their bodies with breast and buttocks implants but nobody questions them. It’s widely accepted.”

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“Vampire Woman,” a Mexican body modification and tattoo artist, is motivated by the drive to be different.

“I don’t want to be just another number. I’m an individualist,” she said. “I want to express freedom, beauty and tranquillity.”

 Credit: reuters.com

Are You in Abuja? International Fashion Expo(BIG SALES) & Miss Democracy 2014

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tobi_expo_A5 MISS_DEMOCRACY_FLEX

Abuja had been invaded as of yesterday, 16th December, as the International Fashion Expo 2014 has began and will run through Sunday, 21st December.

This event was created for fashion enthusiasts and fashion inclined individuals who are receptive to rare edginess in fashion and also appreciate African fashion. International Fashion Expo 2014 is a fashion train that has taken off in Abuja and will move to other African countries. The Fashion Expo is featuring ace African designers from across Africa with countries like Ghana, Togo, Benin, Morocco, etc, who will be exhibiting their newest collection here in Abuja.

Many other products and items will be leased with huge discounts as all items must go, while the much expected Miss Democracy 2014 will come up on the 19th December. Leading Nigerian and Ghanaian Artists will be entertaining you alongside a world class fashion show with the best models on the runway.

Venue for this big end of the year event is The Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre and Suites, Kado Express Way, Abuja. Don’t miss this exceptional fashion experience… The Mother of all Fashion Shows!

#PhotoNews: Kate Middleton, Prince William Meet Beyonce, Jay Z at NBA Game

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Kate Middleton and Prince William met Hollywood royalty Beyonce and Jay Z on Monday, Dec. 8. The royals, who are in New York City for a three-day tour, attended the Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game and sat court-side across from the fellow power couple, and eyewitnesses tell Us Weekly it was one epic evening.

According to an attendee at the game, the Duchess and Duke walked to their seats seven minutes into the third quarter, and while making their way into Barclays, “got a standing ovation.” Understandably so, fans were “snapping pics of them instead of watching the game.”

 

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Credit: Celebrity Yahoo

Sam Smith Discusses Admitting Being Gay Since Age 4 (Watch Video)

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British crooner and breakout star Sam Smith made headlines earlier this year when he publicly came out, revealing that much of his debut album, In The Lonely Hour, was about another man. But only recently has the 22-year-old singer discussed coming out at length and why he felt it was important to do it so early in his career.

During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Smith tells the daytime host that he knew he was gay when he was just a toddler. “I came out when I was like 4 years old,” he says. “My mom said she knew when I was like three. So I didn’t have to actually properly come out.”

But why did he come out publicly just ahead of his album release? “It felt like a brave thing to do as well I wanted to do it before because if I did it afterwards people probably would have thought I was lying just to sell records,” Smith says. “My aim is to tell people how good it’s been for me so that, hopefully, gay men or parents with gay children can look at my story and think, ‘Wow, that’s how it should be. That’s what we can work towards.’ ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0aGiaiWcT4

Scarlett Johansson Secretly Married, No One Knew???

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American actress,Scarlett Johansson,  secretly weds French journalist Romain Dauriac in a hush-hush ceremony. A clerk for Granite County confirms to The Insider With Yahoo that the couple married Oct. 1 in Philipsburg, Montana.

A rep for Johansson declined to comment. Page Six reported over the weekend that Scarlett and Romain “were married in a very intimate ceremony after the birth of their daughter. They kept the wedding a big secret because they both wanted privacy.”

The 30-year-old actress had the rumor mill buzzing that she may have tied the knot after stepping out in New York City on Nov. 18 with a new band on that finger. Next to her Art Deco engagment sparkler was a simple, thin gold ring.

Dauriac popped the question in August 2013 after nine months of dating, and Scarlett showed off her vintage ring the following month at the Venice Film Festival. Judging from past comments made by the actress, she was no bridezilla ahead of her nuptials. “Oh, I don’t plan anything,” Scarlett told Access Hollywood in March. “I’m terrible at planning. Yeah, I’m not gonna plan anything — I like to wing it!”

Around the same time, it was revealed that the couple was also expecting their first child together. Scarlett and Romain welcomed a healthy baby girl, Rose, in September. The actress never addressed her pregnancy; however, in the May issue of Vanity Fair the she did gush about her fiancé.

“It is [easier being with someone who isn’t famous],” she said, “but it’s more than that. We do different things. He’s in the whole art-scene world. So it’s nice, because we can enjoy each other’s worlds, but we don’t have our crazy conflicting schedules and all that other stuff to contend with. And, you know, of course, actors, in general, they’re obsessed with emotions.” She paused, then laughed: “Although, he’s French, so he’s also probably overly into his emotions.”

Credit: Yahoo News

Denrele Prostrates Before Femi Kuti for an Interview

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Ace TV personality, Denrele Edun, shared a photo of himself prostrating before Femi Kuti because he wants to secure an interview with him. He said in his caption that because he is a sure Yoruba Pikin, he’ll do anything to get the interview done.

He also shared a retro photo of himself clenching to his Dynamix Award for best TV personality, which he won from 2007 to 2010 consecutively.

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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Will Spend Christmas Together

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Despite their marital woes, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey will be spending Christmas together with their 3-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan.

“Gotta keep that going. I want to make sure we have a wonderful holiday together,” Cannon told In Touch Weekly. As for where they’ll be celebrating, the America’s Got Talent host replied, “Somewhere cold and snowy, like Aspen [Colorado].”

After months of speculation, Mariah and Nick’s relationship turmoil came to head over the summer. Although no divorce papers have been filed yet, the couple — married for six years —has been living apart.

“We talk and text every day,” Nick told the mag. “My children are my No. 1 priority. Everything I do is for them. I just want to be the best father I can possibly be.”

After months of speculation, Mariah and Nick’s relationship turmoil came to head over the summer. Although no divorce papers have been filed yet, the couple — married for six years —has been living apart.

“We talk and text every day,” Nick told the mag. “My children are my No. 1 priority. Everything I do is for them. I just want to be the best father I can possibly be.”

Blue Ivy’s Christmas Tree, Same Tree on 7/11

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For some, Christmas cheer comes in red and and green. For others, Blue will do.

Beyoncé posted a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of her and Jay Z’s daughter Blue Ivy — who will turn 3 on January 7 — gazing up at a giant Christmas tree. Naturally, it was decorated with lavish blue, silver, and teal ornaments, as well as elephants and other sparkly trinkets. Think the Carters decorated it themselves?

They definitely got into the holiday spirit early this year. The Christmas tree was also featured inBeyoncé’s video for “7/11” that dropped last week.

In one scene, Beyoncé out of a box and dances around her hotel suite, which has been transformed into a mini winter wonderland. And it looks like Blue even got to open a gift from Santa early. 

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Celebrity Photo of the Day!!!

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Queen Bee broke the internet and guess what? She didn’t take her clothes off. Her new low budget video has won the hearts of even her haters…, well except for one unpopular rapper who claims she stole his video concept.

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Now, Beyonce is one of those celebrities who barely post on their Instagram. Beyonce dropped these photos of her looking fly as usual but quite casual. We guessed it the effect of her new video. Incase you haven’t seen the new 7/11 video, there you have it….

 

 

 

#GhenGhen: Jennifer Aniston Planning to “Fight” Angelina Jolie For Stealing Brad Pitt

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Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up nearly a decade ago, but apparently the actress still has some ill will for the woman who came between them.

 Pitt left Aniston for actress Angelina Jolie back in 2005, and since then Brad and Angelina have started a family, while Jen has bounced from relationship to relationship. Jennifer and Angelina have mostly avoided each other in the years since then, but they appear to be headed for a showdown in just a matter of weeks.

Many believe Aniston will get a Golden Globe nomination for her work in Cake, while both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are expected to get nominations as well (Angelina for Unbroken and Brad for Fury).

Sources tell InTouch Weekly that Jennifer Aniston is planning to confront Angelina at the award festivities. The source said that Jen plans to “look her straight in the eye and tell her how she really feels.”

The latest animosity reportedly stems from an interview Brad did with comedian Zach Galifianakis in which he appeared to mock his marriage to Jennifer Aniston.

But the confrontation has been a long time coming, the source added.

“She is nervous to the point of being sick over the prospect of coming face-to-face with Brad and Angie,” the source said. “But she has waited a decade for this.”

While Jennifer Aniston is planning a long-awaited confrontation with Angelina Jolie, she also has her own relationship problems to deal with. Several media outlets have reported trouble between Jen and fiance Justin Theroux, including rumors that they may not get married at all.

Several times, rumors have indicated that Aniston and Theroux were breaking off their engagement, including a recent report that Jen caught him flirting with other women.

“There are bound to be rumors about their engagement, when they spend so much time apart,” a British magazine quoted a source close to the couple. “Justin’s been caught out referring to Jen as his ‘girlfriend’ or ‘partner’ rather than his fiancée, which has led some in their circles to wonder whether a wedding will ever materialize.”

If Jennifer Aniston does plan to confront Angelina Jolie, she has some time to plan her attack. The Golden Globe awards are still close to two months away.

Credit: www.inquisitr.com

 

ECSTATIC DOCUMENTATION OF REALITY: A Man Like Me by ‘Debayo Coker

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AMLMTitle: A MAN LIKE ME:Noteography of A Father To His Son)

Author: ‘Debayo Coker

Pages: 153 pages

Published: April, 2014

Reviewer: Olutayo Irantiola
There comes a time in the life of a young man when he ascertains his manliness when he gives birth to a child after marriage. As Africans, a man is extremely proud when he has a son. This led to the foray of ‘Debayo’s writing as a father to his son. The 153 page-book is about an expectant father who went on an “adrenaline flight”. His desire was to write a short note on social media pages but the flow culminated into a collection of notes.

Although, ‘Debayo calls it a note, I see it as a letter. Each of the note ends in a sign off. As he wrote in the book, Debayo’s first son was born in 2014 and he wrote this book in a futuristic manner; this book has all the desires of a father to his son.

There are many instructional advices that are essential for living which include continuity of family traditions. ‘Debayo wants his son to teach his children what he has been taught by previous generations. He states that, “My mother was a very positive influence on me, I wish you had met her but don’t worry I will teach you all she taught me” page 9.

Unfortunately, his wife too had lost her father but from her account written by ‘Debayo,“MyPD could not stop telling the story of how her father would come pick her from school, bare her on his shoulders and talked with her as they walked back to his office… I love that act and since your maternal granddad is no more around to do that for you I will be helping him out” page 12.

Another advice for the son is putting God ahead in all things. This he mentioned using Biblical allusion in the book, there were 4 Bible verses mentioned, the parable of the talents, wealth that develops wings, story of Joseph, Pharaoh, Saul, Nebuchadnezzar, Joshua-like courage.

‘Debayo encouraged his son to volunteer for the collective good of the community. This was through his involvement in Environmental sanitation in their locality which comes up on the last Saturday of the month in some states in Nigeria. This is mentoring by examples.

Respect for everyone is also an advice for his son. Everyone has the trait of getting so full of one another but with such advice, the son has been taught humility. This was illustrated in the story of Aunty Kore and Uncle Charles.

Every child must be taught about responsibility. ‘Debayo made his son know some area that he needs to be responsible: in his dressing, in his academic pursuit, in handling properties, to adults and to humanity.

Parental discipline is crucial in the life of a child. ‘Debayo was able to portray that discipline goes beyond caning a child; he checked his son’s school bag to find an x-rated magazine there. He advised him against taking things from classmates. Similarly, he warned his son against unauthorized borrowing out of books from his study, this will be sanctioned by purchasing the missing books from his pocket money.

Realities of life was shown in the book through wrong exposure, loss of jobs, disaster, sickness, drunkenness, suffering, psychiatric challenges, teenage pregnancies, premarital sex, rape of a daughter by her father, gays in boarding schools and stealing of other’s items.

‘Debayo narrated a part of his growing up to his son, which shows the desire of a father that do not want his son to repeat the same mistakes that he committed while he was young. He, thus, laid bare his life before his son and got so close to him. The closeness helped his son to be free to tell his father everything about him. His father was able to detect his interest and helped him to pattern his life towards it.

The chapterization of the book deals with each topic per time, but it would have been expected that the chapters become longer because the young man has matured beyond short notes. It would have been expected that the chapters become longer from the time in which the young man got into Secondary school.

Although ‘Debayo attempted to answer questions that would have been asked by his readers.  The responses of the boy to his father’s notes. “In the meantime, I want to seek your permission to do a compendium of your responses to the notes I have written to you so far.”

‘Debayo knows that writing in another language in a book, the work must be italicized and also have the tonal marks. Yoruba language is tonal; a single word can have different meanings, for a reader of Yoruba language. The tonal mark is very essential. These are the proverbs in the book:

  1. Ile laa wo kato somo l’oruko-page 16.
  2. Ti omode bamo owo we oni lati ba agba jeun-page 103.

Likewise, there are a lot of Yoruba proverbs and sayings that would have embellished the book for global relationship.

Some of the missing gaps in the book also include, details of the siblings are very sketchy, and the detail of the son’s dating, when they met her parents and the eventual marriage. Every man feels greatly accomplished when his son is getting married, the age of the son at the time in which he got married, he is about 18 years old and name of the granddaughter. However, this is allowed for the reader to fill such gaps.

Despite all that has been said, this book is well crafted, direct and engaging. Every growing child should have this as a handbook to guide in the journey of life. As a father, are you true to your son as

‘Debayo made everything plan to his son? There are a lot of lessons to learn from this book which transcends ethnicity or gender.

(c) Olutayo IRANTIOLA

21st November, 2014.

He blogs at http://peodavies.blogspot.com/

 

A Close Look at Kylie’s Lips…

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Kylie Jenner, the last of the Kardashians has been criticised for using cosmetic surgery for her pouting lips.

The Kardashian has repeatedly denied the accusation and claims that it is make up that gives her lips the pouting effect.

She posted this photo of herself, which happens to be a very close face shot, giving us a closer look on her lips. Could it be just make up???

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Another Cosby Accuser…

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A Florida woman who came forward Thursday became the fourth in recent weeks to say Bill Cosby gave her pills that made her feel groggy then forced himself on her sexually.

Therese Serignese, now 57 and a nurse in Boca Raton, said the television icon raped her in 1976 when she was 19 years old following a show in Las Vegas. She said she went backstage and when the two were alone, Cosby gave her two pills and a glass of water, saying, “Take these.”

“My next memory is clearly feeling drugged, being without my clothes, standing up,” she said. “Bill Cosby was behind me, having sex with me.”

Cosby spokesman David Brokaw did not respond to a request for comment. Cosby’s lawyer, in a statement released Sunday, criticized previous “decades-old, discredited allegations,” stating that “the fact that they are being repeated does not make them true.”

Cosby attorney Marty Singer issued statements Thursday denying allegations made by three other women. The women spoke to other media outlets, and their names and accounts have not been published by the AP.

Singer called one of the women “the latest example of people coming out of the woodwork with fabricated or unsubstantiated stories about my client.”

“People coming out of nowhere with this sort of inane yarn is what happens in a media-driven feeding frenzy,” he said of another of the women.

Serignese, whose claims Singer did not address, says after the alleged rape, she willingly stayed with Cosby in Las Vegas for some time but could not specify how long or whether the two had sex again during their time together. The two also maintained sporadic contact for years after the alleged rape.

In an interview with the AP on Thursday, Serignese said she was standing in a Hilton gift shop when she felt someone approach her, put his arm around her and say, “Will you marry me?” When she turned around, it was Cosby. She said they had a friendly conversation and he invited her to the show.

Afterward, she said she was escorted to the green room, where she said the rape took place.

Serignese said she returned to the hotel sometime after the rape and stayed with Cosby for numerous nights, though she said she couldn’t remember precisely when or for how long. She said she also cannot remember if they had sex again, but recalled other details, including an expansive penthouse suite with a sunken living room, pinball machine and Miles Davis records littered on the floor. She said she eventually thought she might be pregnant and Cosby told her to leave.

Several years later around 1980 or 1981, she said, Cosby invited her to Lake Tahoe, saying he wanted to give her Louis Vuitton luggage, but she declined. Years after that, she said, she reached out to him when he was performing in the Detroit area, where she said she went to his hotel room after the show. She said he had encouraged her to go back to school and could not remember whether the two had sex.

Serignese said Cosby sent her $10,000 via Western Union. A couple days later, she said she received a second payment of $5,000 from his management company, the William Morris Agency. She provided a letter from the management company signed by William Morris agent Tom Illius who represented Bill Cosby at the time. Illius died in 2011.

She said Constand’s attorneys agreed to represent her but she decided not to sue. An attorney involved in the civil case could not comment because of the settlement’s confidentiality clause.

“There’s no DNA. There’s no evidence. There was no cameras. There’s no videotaping back then. There’s no proof,” she said. “It’s just my word against Bill Cosby.”

Credit: Yahoo News

 

 

Agbani Covers Mania Magazine Again!!!

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Ex world beauty queen, Agbani Darego, is on the cover of Mania Magazine. Unlike other magazine covers and celebrities, Agbani is neither nude nor partially nude. Infact she had the shoot without weave as seen wearing cornrows, plus her complexion has remained the same since she came on limelight… it hasn’t been lightened in any way.

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“Surulere” Photo of Annie Idibia & Tu Face (LOL)

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Annie Idibia decided to reminisce on the retro version of herself and her husband, Tu Face. She posted this photo of herself and her husband on Instagram, which appears to be really old, judging by picture quality and by what they wearing.

Tu Face even has cornrows and a head band (LOL). Well it’s throw back thursday and she got this one absolutely right and timely.

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#StyleToday: Mocheddah Rocks!!!

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Today we are learning how to smash looks and magnet eyes with Mo’cheddah’s outfit. She posted this photo on Instagram and we are loving everything about her style.

For starters, she is rocking hair style and shades inspired from the 60s and does the all black clothing mash up with a slightly oversized bold blue denim jacket.

The handbag compliments the distraction, making her an ace showstopper.

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#Wobbled Words: Straddled.- Adeyemi Adeojo

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About The Author.

He writes under the alias HANNIBAL, was born in Lagos, Nigeria; a boisterous city that reflects the dashing picturesque in his iconoclastic stories. He holds a Bachelor degree from the prestigious OAU,Ile-Ife. He is a member of the legendary Orita Ritas. Among his numerous works, mostly unpublished, are his motley poems on Ifepoetryportal.

The Story.

Straddled is a story about the ongoing crises in the North-East of Nigeria but beyond the periphery, it reaches deep into the hypocritical stance of leadership and dearth of courage to question the unchecked propagation of calumny.

Safu is a young adolescent girl that was abducted amongst the many other girls and taken to a camp in the purported Sambisa forest that seems locked to rescue troops. Here, all the girls do is to recite the Quran and learn Arabic from the Sheikh. They girls watched as new recruits were brought into the camp and how young men and girls were brainwashed to the point of offering themselves as explosive rats all in the bid that they are fighting a religious course that frowns at Western education. Safu, a very intelligent and brave girl stood up to ask the Sheikh that was teaching her and other girls the Quran why he is enjoying the benefits of Western education if he is against Western education.

Excerpts:

Among these girls was Safu, thirteen years of age, who had blossomed beyond her age, with Arabic beauty, unrefined as ore in its purest form and an exceptional knack for inquisitiveness. As she recites by rote the ‘Alif’, her eyes settle on the man before her, Sheik, the name he introduced himself by that first day of contact with them, and her mind took a dashing stroll to her world before her present predicament, only allowing her lips to perform the ritual of recitation intuitively. The sonorous sounds of the verses and its words, though not new to her, hold no meaning to her sensibility at the moment. She had been raised a moderate Muslim, with no particular emphasis on hatred or intolerance for others’ views on religion. She had heard quite number of times that the commando type raids conducted by the insurgents were mainly influenced pervasively but subtly by a bias, aimed at forcefully bringing converts to the mode of extreme Islam they practice. It first started like a rumour, orphaned with no concrete validity, then it grew with no restriction, that the Jihadists conquered one town after the other, slaughtering its inhabitants and forcefully abducting its youths for propagation of its evil intention. Christians and other religions were prime target, of course, but Muslims who share none of their putrid beliefs were not spared all the same…

The camp, sprawling makeshift Bedouin tents dotting the face of the Sambissa forest, was a quickly and shabbily assembled tentative empire in its wake. The supposed statehouse where the leader of the band of marauding Jihadists inhabits was not quite different in form or shape, but the distinction was only marked out by the Armoured Personnel Car, one of the numerous armoury looted from the Nigerian Army in their numerous guerrilla raids, parked right at the front ,and also, by the gun wielding Mujahideens who keep sentinel at this particular tent. Since, the arrival of the girls, Abubakar Sekau, has never taken the onus of seeing them. He had delegated Sheik Ibn Haruna, the Mallam, to facilitate their intensive grooming and had made all the Mujahideens aware that based on commitment, they would be entitled to have these girls whom he believed to be mostly virgins, as a reward for waging war against the Kafirs. Abubakar himself was relatively anonymous, his rise to prominence came after the death of the prime leader cum founder of the sect, Mohammed. The sect which was initially founded as a conscious pressure group, had spoken out, during most of its ‘Wasii’ conducted in various villages and towns in Borno, vociferously against bad governance and corrupt leaders. It was then enjoying the patronages of the power brokers, business moguls and politicians, who envisaged that it could ride on its public empathy to perpetuate themselves at the corridors of power. After the death of Mohammed, Abubakar, a reticent but radical Jihadist who was Mohammed’s lieutenant took the reins and assumed the role of a more De-facto leader of the sect. …

‘Howa you my yanriya? Aisalam ai-lekun. I hope you all take your lessons on the Hadith. If you do well and know that we fight for what is good in the eyes of Allah, and help us to fight, you make Al-Janat.’ he said in his gruffly voice laced with unrefined intonation as he prances up and down the length of the tent.

‘Book is a Haram! Do not go to school. Walahi! Yarinya, book teach you not to respect Allah. Book make you wear clothes that show your body’, with a grin on his face, he mischievously lifts the veil off the face of the girl by his side.

‘This’, he said while running his grumpy hands down the face of the trepid girl, ‘is very good for you to dress, my yarinya’.”Allah like it”, he continued,

” Television is no good for you. You see wicked, very wicked things of America. Internet not good for you, phone no good for you. Take your Arabic studies, fight for Boko Haram, fight for Islam”, he ranted for a while and suddenly stopped…

” Al-salam ailekun, my sisters, I come to you all in the name of Allah, the merciful, the benevolent. Islam, our religion is never a religion of violence but of peace. If these people are truly Muslims, how come they visit so much hardship on our people?”. She paused to look around. The girls countenances gave her the impetus.

She continued, “How come they slaughter the elderly and the children alike? Well, if Islam is truly a religion of liberation, how come we are in shackles, you all would ask?”. Without relenting she asks further.

“How come they forcefully took us from our loved ones, exposed us to such trauma and left an indelible feeling of seething hatred in our hearts?”.

” Now, I must tell you, daughters of my mother, is the time for us to seek our freedom. But we must first start with our minds. We must first liberate our minds, because the deadliest weapon in the hand of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. As for me, I will never allow anyone to break me down. I will stay strong till the day I gain my freedom”.

As Safu finished her rallying speech she went round to lift the spirit of the girls. Some of them were too weak to be that gregarious but they managed a wry smile to reassure her she had their support….

It is an interesting read and I will implore you to get a copy of Wobbled Words, Stories Inspired by Real Life @ Visit http://www.konga.com, http://www.amazon.com,http://www.kdp.amazon.com,  http://www.smashwords.com,http://www.barnesandnoble.com,  http://www.alibris.com, http://www.waterstones.com,https://www.mightyape.co.nz, http://www.ebay.com, https://www.tanum.no,http://www.wowhd.ca, http://www.fishpond.com.hk,    OR order directly by calling 09096991619 to get a full grasp of this story and other interesting ones..

Thank you.

*For Publishing, Book Reviews, Ghost writing, Editing and Library Services contact  Beeni Global Resources at Ojogun House, 381 Borno Way, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Call us on +2348033225953/ +2349096991619. Mail us at beeniglobalresources@gmail.com. Our titles: Societal Fragments, A Man Like Me: Noteography Of A Father To His Son, and Wobbled Words are available on aforementioned websites and in e-version.

 

#Wobbled Words, Stories Inspired By Real Life

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

I recollect the events of that sunny Saturday morning. I had gone to register a new chip that I just bought in compliance with the new rule of the National Communication Commission that all telephone lines must be registered.

The young lady at the desk punched my information into the system meticulously.  “What is your occupation?” she asked. I looked a bit confused not knowing whether to tell her am a Business Communication Specialist or a writer. I chose the latter.

She looked at me right in the face, befuddled I believe, as it is rare for people in this clime to take up writing as a profession. She went back to punching in my details. Suddenly, she jerked back at me like someone that just got jolted out of her reverie, and she exclaimed, “Ah! You are a writer? I am so glad I am eventually meeting one writer in my lifetime. I will like to be a writer too’. My response was ‘really?’.

She told me she had a manuscript but she wasn’t confident to show it to anyone as she knew her writing isn’t at all good. I encouraged her to bring the script all the same, as we can polish it to an acceptable standard. She agreed.

Few days later she called me up to give me the manuscript which I happily collected, took home and made out time to read. Going through the first three pages of her piece; I could tell she was reeling out her life’s experience; I was touched by the story in there.

Truth be told, her words were wobbled but I decided to straighten them as much as I could. I also agreed to publish her piece in order to raise the needed fund to help her through school.

What she had was insufficient to make a reasonable publication, hence I decided that I will co-write with her , but on a second thought I felt it would make more sense to give the publication a humanitarian thrust  so I contacted few writer friends who saw it as a call to service and gladly took in the idea

We all tell our life experiences by unsheathing our deepest emotions through the words that we choose to let the world read or hear. Many a time, we wobble until we stumble on the right choice of words; hence, the title, WOBBLED WORDS, STORIES INSPIRED BY REAL LIFE.

It is either a writer ventilates the nonsense in the sense or the sense in the nonsense. Either way, there is usually something to say. Just write.

Different writers have come together to tell some of their real life experiences as stories of fact or fiction to serve as your entertainment and enlightenment, regarding different likely issues which one may face in this journey called life.

Find your favorite, there likely will be many.

In the coming days I will be showcasing real life experiences via this blog; excerpts taken from the book. I thank you, the reader, in advance, for finding a moment in busy life to explore the creativity of a breath of fine minds.

My pleasure.

Enjoy Wobbled Words.

For Publishing (and marketing/distribution international platforms like amazon, book depository and other notable bookstores and websites), Book Reviews, Ghost writing, and Library Services contact  Beeni Global Resources at Ojogun House, 381 Borno Way, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Call us on +2348033225953/ +2349096991619. Mail us atbeeniglobalresources@gmail.com. Our titles: Societal Fragments, A Man Like Me: Noteography Of A Father To His Son and Wobbled Words are available on www.amazon.com,www.kdp.amazon.com, http://www.createspace.com, www.smashwords.com, OR visit Patabah Books, Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, Surulere, Lagos  or directly by calling 09096991619. Distributors wanted nationwide.