Cover, Edition 195, July 26 - August 1, 2009

PANORAMA: Medisense

BY REBECCA AKINMOLAYAN
SINCE time immemorial, man has been battling with diseases. In days gone by, our forefathers depended solely on herbs and animal parts to make potions, poultices e.t.c to fight them. The diseases they did not understand they resorted to ostracisation of the patients. With the modernity came orthodox medicine, which believes that diseases are caused by germs and must be combated with drugs, surgery e.t.c.. This idea is what the pharmaceutical industry is founded on. The herbal practitioners maintain that there is an herb for every disease. It gets to a point when one gets confused on what side to choose when one is in need of treatment. When I am down with fever, I am to decide between taking panadol and agbo iba. Before choosing, it is best to understand what drugs truly are. It can be traced back to Paraclesus, the father of toxicology who said that all substances are either medicines or toxins. Those that cure are medicines while the ones that are harmful ate toxins. The word ‘drug’ is a new word for an old thing. While herbs are natural, the orthodox drugs, which include tablets, injections, syrups, ointments are chemically processed. But the orthodox drugs most times derived from plant extracts, hormones and so on. They are just chemically synthesized and formulated. For example, chloroquine ad quinine tablets used for treating malaria was derived from the quinine tree, even the injections given to infertility patients are from animals. They both have their side effects (i.e. effects that occur later on while or after using a drug even if the disease is treated). The natural herb, if not prescribed by a trained herbal practitioner pose a problem because they do not have a particular dosage. Those who drink scent-leaf (effirin, nchaanwu) juice, beware because excess of it wipes off red blood cells! Pharmaceutical drugs especially when abused and lead to a host of problems too. CHOOSING between orthodox and herbal medicine, it is actually your choice. Nonetheless, understand that the body has an in-built mechanism to heal itself (check out when you cut yourself) and to protect yourself itself from the ever-present germs. When the germs overpower, it succumbs to the disease giving out symptoms caused by the poisons of these germs. But before you take any drug, except in severe cases, try to remember that most diseases have an underlying cause. Unfortunately, because of the mindset of taking something (thanks to adverts) once we feel pains, headache or weakness, we rush to buy over–the–counter drugs or agbo. These drugs whether orthodox or herbal are non living, so taking them without purpose would land you into other health problems. Most people are experts at manipulating and suppressing their body systems. CHECK your lifestyle and health habits: Do you eat well? Do you sleep well? Are you fit? Do you drink clean water? If you answer no to of these questions, then the body cannot be blamed for the SOS signals it sends for its unjust treatment. Even when you fall ill, take responsibility when you seek medical help. There are many options of treatment today, find out the root cause of the disease, read the directions of the drugs given, be free to ask questions. I remember a time when I was down with typhoid fever, the doctor prescribed the usual, antibiotics (ciporfloxacine) and iron(blood) tablets. But on reading the manual I found out that the particular brand of ciprofloxacine I bought warned that it should not be used with any iron tablet. Imagine! Finally, take time to rest and allow the body to repair itself. Nature does her work slowly but she does it well. rubystar@yahoo.com






Testimony Time
(GOOD MANNERS)
BY MIKE EKU
I WAS ecstatic when I heard the name of the lone survivor of the Yemeni plane crash, Baya Bakari. The way Western media on-air personalities pronounced the name sounded like Bayo Bakare to me. That made her a Nigerian. It was not until I saw the name in print that I confirmed she is not one of us. But no matter, I was still over-joyed and happy for her and her father (mother perished in the crash with 151 others). What made me so happy with such a distant event was its sheer miraculous nature before the whole world. The 12-year old girl was, according to reports, found clinging to debris in the sea two hours after the crash. She was promptly rescued with minor injuries. According to her, an unseen hand or force held her to the debris of the plane and she heard voices around her on the sea but saw no one. Now what’s my drift? Lately I’ve been thinking about our testimony manners in churches. Testimony as part of worship service became fashionable with the Pentecostals. It has now pervaded conservative Christendom; which is good. But like most good things, it is also undergoing mutation of the pejorative type. Testimony used to be an opportunity to share news of something remarkable God did for the testifier. It may be miraculous or ordinary but the common denominator is that the testifier would be confessing his powerlessness and God’s grace. This is no longer always so. Now, some testifiers come out for the ego trip. Others testify tongue-in-cheek. They couch their testimony in so much indirect references that you begin to wonder whether they were forced out in the first place. You’ve come to share the story of what God did for you and you go: “I had something I was believing God for and bla…bla…bla…, He did it for me. Praise the Lord, alleluia!” You leave more questions than answers in the minds of the congregation members. THERE may be a place for discretion (I hit a jackpot of $5 million); or shame (got healed of an STD). But in such cases, one needn’t bother to go for public testimony. It is surely disrespectful of the congregation for one to couch one’s testimony in parables. Knowledgeable ministers of God advise that miracles in the making shouldn’t be testified about until they are fulfilled. By this they mean that the fear of church witches (!) is the beginning of wisdom. Those ones may hear the thing and move to abort the unfinished business. But who can say “No” when God has said “Yes”? The other terrible manners about testimonies concern the clergy. Most times testimony time is virtually the only church activity that makes the ministers time-conscious. And that is because it is the only time they are not behind the mic. The times they are behind the mic, it is usually “as the Spirit leads.” They make such restrictive rules for testimony (no singing; straight to the point; one minute each) that shy people prefer to stay out entirely. Who told ministers that the congregation is enamoured of everything they say from the pulpit or alter? And who said it is only testimony sessions that should be timed? Apart from the subtle insult it represents for the testifier and the congregation, we can hazard a guess as to how The One above views this impudence of Man. In Malachi 1:8 He challenges us to give to our governor what we dish to Him and see whether they’d be acceptable. Can the moderator of a town hall meet hush somebody praising the handwork of the governor in the governor’s presence? COMING back to the Bakari girl’s divine rescue, her father gave an exemplary testimony confessing to his daughter’s “timid” and “fragile” nature. This makes the divine intervention more understandable. But hear the French International Cooperation Minister, Alain Joyandet: “She is a courageous young girl. She really showed an absolutely incredible physical and moral strength.” Sounds like the Nigerian coach talking about the Damman Miracle of 1989.




Everybody is free to wear sunscreen
(Strictly for the young)
BY TOSYN BUCKNOR The first time I listened to Everybody Should Wear Sunscreen by Baz Luhrman, I thought to myself, “What sound advice this is!” I suppose anyone can sit down and give you nuggets of wisdom, but every line here seemed to make sense. And if only one could take it all in and apply it! Okay, it starts off funny, and straight away, you know this is not a song that sits on its own high horse! But each line, each phrase, each paragraph, comes with sound advice. For example, when he says, “Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth”,“You are not as fat as you imagine.” One of the reasons I try to do almost everything my spirit and soul lead me to do, is because I do not want to wake up when I am 50, and regret not doing something. A lot of times, we forget how powerful we are, what strength lies in being young. The mind stays active forever i believe, as long as you keep stimulating it; but the body will shut down. So while the mind and the body are active, why not give them something to talk about? Oh, and this is so right. When I look at pictures of myself in secondary school or university, I really have to ask myself, ‘Kini Big Deal?’. Because back then, I might have thought I was not looking great, but the pictures tell me I was fab. And no, you are never as fat as you imagine! “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Every. Single. Day. It is not that easy oh. Not just something you are uncomfortable with, but one thing, every day that totally scares you? Wow! I have tried to obey this instruction. It might be saying stuff that scares me, doing something that scares me, or going somewhere that scares me. But I broaden that; I do not focus on ‘fear’. Sometimes, I do one thing that I would normally not do, or react in some way I would usually not react. “Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts; don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours”. Never. Be. Reckless. With. Peoples. Hearts. And please o ye people, Do not allow other people be reckless with yours. For we allow people have control over us. We allow them hurt us, we allow them break our hearts, we allow them make us feel small, we allow them do anything. But if we do not give them that power, then they cannot take it! But remember, don’t go around hurting people either. “Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.” Jealousy just kills you, you know. It is like this black ball in your heart that won’t move. And when you let go, you realise that you don’t know why you took yourself through all that. And as for the race being only with yourself that is the ultimate truth my friends. I mean, why are you trying to be richer than... as opposed to rich? Prettier than... as opposed to Pretty? Why do you want to get the promotion before... Instead of just getting your promotion. Life might be a competition and a race, but it is with only yourself. And here is a quote I live by. If I live my life according to their pace, what’s my prize in life’s meaningless race? “Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.” When you do something right, enjoy it. Then move on. When you make a mistake, rue it, then move on. Stop hanging on to every victory and every setback. Since we can never be certain, any decision we make could have gone either way, and you do not know what lies further down right? So remember, there are no good or bad or perfect decisions; just choices that work. “Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft”. Since I live in Nigeria, I will say this for I firmly believe it. Live in Lagos once, Live in Abuja once. I however fear that neither city lets you go once they get a hold of you! “Accept certain inalienable truths: prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old; and when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders”. We always sit around and talk about how the kids growing up now aren’t going to enjoy certain things, and are more exposed than we were. We remember NEPA fondly, and think about when coke was N20. And then we listen to our parents talk about their time. Brother, let us just say, that conversation happens from generation to generation! Respect your elders. In some situations, it is not that easy, but respect your elders. Google the song, by Baz Luhrman. Or listen to me play it from time to time… I love it and it is almost an anthem. Sound advice, even when it is from a song always helps us have some form of compass! But do something today that scares you… right now! tosinornottosin@yahoo.com



De-Clutter your Life
(LIFE COACH)
BY AGBOLADE OMOWOLE NATURE encourages clutter. When you work in an office for months, for instance, without making a conscious effort to keep your workplace clean, it will be cluttered. Clearing clutters in your environment saves you a lot of time, as you won’t bother yourself searching everywhere for an item. You can free up space quickly by shifting unwanted items. You can also remove clutters from your mind. Few decades ago, the great scientist, Albert Einstein dipped his hand into his pocket, and ransacked it, until he came up with a piece of paper where he wrote his telephone number. He doesn’t clutter his mind with information that he considered not very important. Do not forget that paper does not lose its memory. You can incorporate using a daily planner, or you can even use reminders on your mobile phone. Refresh your mind. Contemplate where you feel most relaxed — most at ease and consider why. Often it is a clear, open and airy environment with minimal distractions; somewhere you can really unwind. Most times, when you de-clutter your mind, new ideas will come. Dispose items that are not needed. Human capital development experts have discovered that there are many ways you can start de-cluttering. You can donate to charity or give unwanted stuff to other worthwhile causes; you can sell it or auction it, give it as presents (ask first!) it’s not really fair to off-load things to people who don’t really want them or perhaps are de-cluttering too! De-cluttering improves your health. De-cluttering can affect your health positively when you have less dust and more space to breathe. When your house is really clean, you can find things again and know where they are when you need them. Becoming organized can lessen unnecessary stress and allow you to feel calm rather than rushing around or getting flustered trying to locate something you have mislaid. You can be running 100 metres dash in your room when it is messed up. Save your time by de-cluttering. Furthermore, health problems can be caused by clutter. Take for instance, mosquitoes breed in swampy areas. Respiratory problems such as allergy induced asthma can be caused by clutter it makes breathing difficult. The term suffocating is quite appropriate to describe this! De-clutter your house. There may be some materials that you don’t really need. You may check your wardrobe for clothes that are worn out and shoes that you don’t wear again, and every other item that you are not using often. You can check every nook and cranny of your house for things you can’t get rid of that, because it is still in good shape, and dispose it. Ask yourself the right question. When you ask the right question, you will get the right answer. “What am I keeping this for?” Investigate the reason, and then ask yourself “Can I live without this item?” If you can live without it, what are you waiting for? Dispose it. Do you really need 20 shoes and 50 shirts, 15 televisions and seven diaries? Answered truthfully. Put your workplace in order. A business consultant once counseled that, “ dirty environment is the first sign of acute disorganisation. Routinely de-clutter your office, or you can pay someone to do it for you. At a seminar recently, I was told about a woman who earns a living from folding clothes for busy business executives. Clutters can lead to emotional problems. Have you ever felt confused on what to do when you have a hundred and one thought flowing through your mind? When you are thinking of too many things at the same time, you may begin to forget some other things. There are times that you can get confused because of clutters. You have to de-clutter your mind. There is an emotional burden and responsibility that comes with the ownership of too many things. Additionally the many decisions that need to be made to clear clutter may be weighing heavily on the person’s mind. You might have spent a lot of money to purchase an item, but if you don’t really need it, dispose it. Meditation helps to remove clutters from the mind. Here is a simple meditation exercise. Go to a serene environment and sit on your two legs or lie on your back. Then focus on a single thought. This may seem hard the first time you try it. Breathe in air through your mouth for about eight seconds. With your mouth closed, breathe out slowly through your nostrils. You can do this for 15 minutes before you sleep at night, or early in the morning. Removing clutter is easy. To de-clutter your life, do every thing orderly. Don’t forget that success has an order. There are some steps that people take that make them successful. Take for instance, Michael Joseph Jackson started singing at the age of five. His success recipe include: hardwork, persistence, giving and being passionate. More about that next week.

Flesh For Hearts

By Fabian Odum
There is every need to watch the heart; it is the livewire of life and the blood pump station. The type of meat you eat determines the amount of care you give your heart – white or red.
Consuming tons of flesh is just appropriate for a nation that is behind in the recommended daily protein intake. However, there are cities and towns where more meat is eaten than others; the same goes for individuals.
In an age when people are becoming conscious of their diets and the impact of saturated fats on the arteries and overall cardiac health, there has been a shift from eating more red meat to eating white variety.
Nutritionists have shown that red meat with its attendant higher fat is not as healthy as white meat. Chicken, turkey, rabbit and fish are sources of white meat. The component myoglobin is a storehouse of iron atoms, which reacts with oxygen to provide a whole lot of energy to the muscular structures as well as provide energy to the animal for its activities. Chickens and turkeys as also rabbits, do not require so much of energy as such and are able to do with short bursts of energy from the stored glycogen in the muscles.
Other bigger animals that come under ‘red meat’ need more energy and support and thus have more of inbuilt myoglobin. The difference in the proportion of myoglobin is what sets the two meats apart.
With chicken, care should be taken to skin the animal as this part contains a heavy amount of fat; this is not nutritionally healthy. Deep-frying the meat will cause you to return to what you were trying to eliminate; the meat will pick up.
Saturated fat taken into the body do clog the arteries on the long run, impeding blood flow and raising blood pressure consequently.

A parley with ‘Paparazzi’

By Chiemerem Umenne
SADDLED with the responsibility of creatively repositioning photography profession in the country, Photographers Association of Nigeria (PAN) was recently inaugurated. The event, which held at the Camara Studios, Ikeja, Lagos, was aimed at uniting its professional members, as encouraging upcoming photographers. It had in attendance professionals such as Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Michael Inyang, Yetunde Ayeni- Babaeko, amongst others. Highlighting on the association’s activities, Amadi-Obi, who is PAN’s spokesperson, said, “it seeks to bring together top level professionals and creative artists with integrity in service discovery.” According to him, it is a home coming for photographers with the same idea and pictorial concepts from West Africa. He added creative photography could be used in the re-branding project. “In embassies, it appears there are clear representation of other countries’ images, but in Nigeria’s case, it seems they are always trying to represent us. Here, a creative portrait image can be used. Besides, such re-branding can also come in various artistic forms,” he noted. Also speaking, the Creative Director, Camara Studios, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko noted the field of photography as “beyond commercialised works.” Recopying a photographer’s work without credit recognition is a major challenge in Nigeria, which she terms as right infringement. She said efforts of the association would be channelled at curtailing such conduct would also encourage upcoming one, she quips. Other participants urged that more time be invested in workshops, seminars and exhibition centres. Photography departments have already been set up in Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State and Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduana State with intellectual and equipments facilities, PAN informed.






The ‘Wife’ Hosts Couples at a Dinner
By Chijioke Iremeka
IT was a fun-filled weekend at the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos, as women from all walks of life with their husbands gathered to celebrate the ‘Wife’s Couples Dinner, and launching of a special book dedicated to married couples, titled: “Enriching Marital Sex.” The Wife as a ministry ensures the sustainability of marriages in the society with the aim of creating close ties with the husband and their children. Speaking on the theme: “The Changing role of the 21st Century Family,” Mr. Bode Osunkoya said woman earning more than her husband does not change her role in the house as she has to play her supportive roles for the betterment of her family. Osunkoya noted that if the woman does that to change the living standard or improve the situation of her family, it becomes a different ball game and entirely crucial and acceptable, but it must not be to undermine the activities and the place of the man in the house. He said, “whether the man is a good father to his children as a result of the changing role or not, is not a good enough reason to make the woman take his place in the home. We work to live and not live to work.” Citing Ephesians chapter five, he called on all married women to be submissive to their husbands. MORESO, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Chinwe Okafor, said God has bestowed a lot on women. “Wise woman builds her home, but the foolish one destroys it.” She stated that women should always know that change in role has nothing to do with disrespect to one’s husband. Wife and husband should build their home together. Justice Jumoke Pedro, who spoke on the book said, “It came at the right time. It has come to strengthen relationship between husband and wife. Couples should not be ashamed of themselves because this is the topic people don’t want to discuss, yet causes a lot of troubles in the home.” “Many people have approached the court to annul certain relationships, based on this.” She added, “so, there is no need to be ashamed of the solution to ones problems because this has parked up several marriages.” HOWEVER, the Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs. Salamatu Sulaiman, who was represented by Mrs. Beatrice Epelle, the Chief Social Development Officer, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, described the book as a holistic approach to family problems. According to Mrs. Nkem Okoro, the Chief Co-ordinator and Director, Inspectorate, Federal Ministry of Education, the book was born out of the need to address, revive and resuscitate dead marriages, which she discovered during her one-on-one counseling with a number of couples. Guests were thrilled to nice tunes by several artistes, which include SPAN President, Sarah Boulus and her group.

The Great Music Debate : Re: Letter to Naija hip-hoppers

By Kehinde Bamidele
As I sit in my living room listening to Majek Fashek’s ‘So Long’ and Lucky Dube’s ‘We’re together as one’, I am taken back in time to those days when artistes such as these sang and it’s either you left whatever you were doing to listen or followed the songs line by line. There are still musicians who I can give such credits to today. For instance, Sola Allison, Beautiful Nubia,Sunny Nneji, Sound Sultan e.t.c.These ones know their onions I must say. How evergreen the musicians of today make their songs to be, is a point we cannot just gloss over. I was walking down the road in my neighbourhood one day and the song of Rasqi just flipped through my mind.Rasqi—-the ‘Soji’ singer—-has since his last release disappeared into thin air.Infact, these days, one would hardly get to hear his songs on the airwaves. After dismissing the thought of his disappearance, I then pondered on how most of these hip hop artistes just release albums/tracks that cannot stand the test of time. I mean there are many of these songs that hit the music charts, stay there for maximum of four weeks and that’s all we get to hear about the musicians or their songs ever again. Message––—-this is another ingredient lacked by many of these artistes. By message, I mean positive, inspirational and challenging themes/points which if adhered to or well made use of can be one’s driving force in life. All we get to hear include ‘hammering’ i.e. making fast money, swagger, bling-bling, profession of undying love which they lack in their lives etc. Many of these songs lack lessons that will make people, especially the youths to sit, have a rethink and redirect their lives along the right paths. Infact, it is not about message but money making these days. ‘Man must chop you know!’....is a phrase common to many of these artistes. Have you seen the stage performances of many of these hip hop artistes? They come on stage most times to mime their tracks. ‘Deejay......give me track 1’....is a usual parlance among them. Back in the days when music was ‘it’, the artistes didn’t come on stage to mime but rather came with their real voices to sing with and a good band that played instruments smoothly. Unfortunately, these days studio mixing, studio effects have taken over the real backbone of music—-good voice, good band and meaningful message.Obviously, some of these artistes do not have good voices. There is nothing to write home about on their voices, you would rather listen to a frog sing than listen to the ‘real’ voices of some of these artistes. But for studio effects: synchronizing, careful mix of artificial voices etc, their albums wouldn’t be played in the slums least of all, on the airwaves. Come to think of it, many of these hip hop artistes are not well versed in the field of music. This is not to say that they should have all gone to the higher institutions to study music rather, as much as possible any artiste should know what his/her field entails. No wonder many of them complain of being exploited by managers, marketers because they know little or nothing about the field. All they are concerned about is having money in their pockets or fat bank accounts. ‘Give me the ganja’ is a line in the lyrics of many of these artistes. It is sad to note that many of these artistes extol virtues/habits that the society has always frowned at. There are some that no head or tail can be made from the lyrics of their songs. Likewise, the noise most of them make about having ‘supposed’ enemies blocking their ways is becoming a nuisance. Who doesn’t have his or her own enemies? Why should this be the main theme of any meaningful song? How are we sure that the musician lamenting in his song about these enemies is himself not an enemy to the progress of some other people? All these rhetorical questions I guess are enough to make these artistes put themselves in check. Listening to well-tailored and educative lyrics in these songs is not asking for too much. I believe though as a true Nigerian that the music industry will not only continue to exist but it will do its best to churn out great musical legends as the years roll by. This goes out also to the music producers and directors to do their best in tutoring, sponsoring and bringing to limelight the right set of people who will make the music industry and Nigeria proud. Bamidele holds a Bachelor degree in Arts History/International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, O.A.U Ile Ife. chatwithbammy@yahoo.com

Marlon backs Michael Jackson’s memorial gig in Lagos

BY WOLE SHADARE AND CHUKS NWANNE
THE conference centre of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was last Wednesday filled with journalists and airport workers, who came to catch a glimpse of Marlon Jackson, brother to the late Michael Jackson’s. He walked into the expansive conference room, full of emotion as he watched the recorded memorial being played on a big screen inside the room. He saw the remains of his immediate younger boy laid in a golden casket in Staples Centre, where the memorial took place a fortnight ago. Dressed in blue, long sleeve sports track suit with yellow stripes and a white cap, Marlon said he had come with a message of hope to the people of restive Niger Delta. He informed that part of his visit to the country was in line with the foundation the Jackson family was putting together to help restore peace in troubled nations including the Niger Delta region of Nigeria . Marlon, who arrived Lagos aboard Delta Airlines addressed a large crowd at the conference room of the Airport, where he made the intention of the family known. Present at the event were Tee Mac, the ‘former’ President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria; Bolaji Rosiji; Stella Monye; and Alfred Dickson among others. Addressing newsmen, Marlon informed that the decision by the family to set up what he called Michael Jackson Peace Foundation stemmed out of the fact that the late king of pop music not only preached peace, he was also a lover of conflict free world. “We are setting up Michael Jackson Peace Foundation to tackle the crisis in the Niger Delta region. We are going to look at the various options available to achieve peace in the region. Michael loved people, he loved peace and we will try everything to achieve that.” According to Marlon, the crisis has been a source of concern to the whole world and it was part of the reasons the family chose to contribute to finding a solution to the troubled area. He urged Nigerian and African leaders to embrace peace and love, saying such remained the only way a true global peace can be achieved. “I want leaders and various groups to love one another. We all want peaceful environment globally. We must spread love, give peace a chance and understand one another. I tell you this will bring solution to the world,” he advised. ON the death of his late brother, Marlon stated: “We express gratitude to the entire world for their condolences. My family is still mourning the death of our brother. Our parents are still grieving, and as you all know Michael had a project at hand. Michael was interested in the Badagry project because he had never been to Nigeria and looked forward to the completion of the project because he wanted to come and see things for himself.” Marlon, who was in Nigeria few months ago on business and tourism in Africa especially in Badagry, disclosed that the Jackson brothers would likely perform in a memorial gig being organised by friends in Nigeria for his late brother. Billed for Lagos on August 29, Jackson’s birthday, Tee Mac said the concert was part of the activities aimed at immortalising the King of Pop music. Presently, the planning committee for the gig is making wide consultation in a bid to make the event a memorable one. ACCORDING to Bolaji Rosiji, a former PMAN president, the concert would involved artistes from different parts of Africa and beyond. “The role of each country will be disclosed as soon as the planning committee receives replies from them. All the regions of Africa are to be part of the event, with at least one or more artistes representing each zone. We also have some state governments, media, airlines and hotels as partners. Invitations have been sent out to colleagues and fans of Michael, and arrangements are on the way for a hitch free event.” ON why the group came up with the initiative, Rosiji said, ‘we share the vision of Michael Jackson’s Heal the World Foundation. I hope the concert will help keep his good works alive; this is what he should be remembered for.” Rosiji, who followed MJ’s music career as a young man, frowned at some negative remarks on the pop artiste. He described the master dancer as a true philanthropist. “I grew up with Michael in my living room; he was the first Afro-American that many in my generation saw as a symbol of a successful African. Those who criticise him for being broke forget that he gave a lot of his money away. Michael Jackson was an exceptional humanitarian. He loved children and took time out when touring to secretly visit sick children.” CITING the Guinness Book of World Record as an evidence to MJ’s goodwill, Rosiji noted that, “he was listed in the 2000 edition of the book for breaking the world record for the “most charities supported by a Pop Star” (39 in all). He was one of the inspirations behind Gauranga Foundation’s Artistes to Kids project.” Charities supported by Michael include Transafrica, AIDS Project L.A., Dakar Foundation, American Cancer Society, Angel Food, Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles, Brotherhood Crusade, Brothman Burn Centre, Camp Ronald McDonald, Childhelp USA. and others. “I do not believe that there is a single Nigerian that he did not give a sense of ‘Yes, We Can’ long before Obama echoed the famous phrase. His We Are The World impacted positively on Africans and set the scene for numerous other artistes to jump onto welfare concert bandwagon including myself,” Rosiji declared. Meanwhile, artistes from different parts of the continent are already indicating interest to perform Michael Jackson’s song at the event, which will also feature MJ look alike dance competition, he informed. A gift from Prophet Temitope Joshua of the Synagogue Church was presented to Marlon at the airport.

Lagos… The trouble is the systems

LAGOS faces many problems along its way to become the commercial and cultural centre of Sub-Saharan Africa. The mega city in the self-proclaimed “Giant of Africa” most pressingly needs to reinvent the systems that allow human life in such a densely populated form: systems for drainage, waste disposal, health, public transport and others. On Friday, July 17, a conference of invited experts from both public and government agencies addressed the above mentioned issues and came up with possible solutions. It was coutesy the German cultural centre, Goethe Institut. The conference focussed on urban development in the mega city and assembled a group of 13 experts from different fields, including urban development professionals, journalists, members of NGOs and architects. . The following Saturday, July 18, these recommendations were presented to and discussed with the general public. This presentation of the conference results was accompanied by an exhibition by James Inedu George and Ayo Arigbabu. Their works depict the current situation in Lagos and provide ideas for future developments (like a utopia version of the Fourth Mainland Bridge ). In a combined artistic and architectural approach, they oppose - in form of pictures, models and words - images of the current living situation in Lagos with different approaches on how to improve it. The exhibition runs until Friday, July 31. Full report next week

Adrienne comes for Nollywood to give back

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
Adrienne Karianah, a Ugandan film programmer and charity worker is in Nigeria to put finishing touches to a social responsibility project that will involve top Nollywood celebrities. Karianah, who is here on behalf of Vipaji Africa has been talking to some practitioners including the crew at Stingomania 360; hoping to get these celebrities to contribute to the charities of their choice in her home country. The project, as Karianah hinted, is called “Nollywood Gives Back” and those on the bill include Fred Amata, Uche Jombo and Stella Damasus Nzeribe. She spoke to Moviedom.

I am in Nigeria for a project we are planning to do towards the end of this year dubbed “Nollywood Gives Back”. It’s going to be a charity project where various actors will contribute to the charities of their choice in the country. Vipaji Africa in partnership with Stingomania 360 is bringing some Nollywood actors for the project. We are hoping to grace Uganda with six Nollywood stars: Fred Amata, Omotola Jalade, Ramsey Nouah Jr, Stella Damasus, Mike Ezeruonye and Uche Jumbo. Vipaji is a swahilli word, which means talents so, from that Vipaji Africa means talents of Africa. At Vipaji Africa, we cast and manage all kinds of talents — so we are known as home of talent. How long have you been around? I have been here for almost three weeks. Nigeria is a great country and the film industry has done tremendously well, although there is still this feeling of “Jesus not being appreciated in Nazareth”...(laughs). Not my first visit This is not my first visit and I love Suya. Is that strange... hahahahhaa. As for the music do not even get me started because I will not know where to stop; the music is great. Why Nollywood? We are interested in Nollywood because it is a home cooked meal, African made, and nothing beats that. Nollywood has succeeded in telling the rest of the world that Africa is not all about corruption, diseases, wars and bad leaders.The most recent rating on CNN saw Nollywood becoming the second world film industry; who would not be interested in Nollywood? Generally, I would say, so far, so good; and I am happy that several companies are interested in the project. Moviedom Uganda I think the industry in Uganda is still at a crawling stage and that’s why we want the best guidance from Nollywood and I am happy that our brothers here are willing to give us a lead. I mean we were here during the last AMAA awards, where our film ‘Battle of the Soul’ got a couple of nominations and a few awards; the reaction back home was great. But as I said, the industry is young, so, somehow it was no big deal. However, the winning sent the industry working and we have stepped up. My take home I am taking home the memories of the streets of Lagos. Next on my project is having African artistes work together (I hate using the word collabos). Africa has great stories, so let’s tell them together as one continent.





Around and about Nollywood...
Emeka Mba gets his grooves again News reached us at press time that President Musa Yar’Adua has renewed for another term, the appointment of Director General of the National Film and Video Censors Board Mr. Emeka Mba. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Dora Akunyili reportedly conveyed the news of re-appointment to Mba. This will however be his last term in office. The National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has issued a statement to congratulate him on his re-appointment. Through its President, Greg Odutayo, NANTAP said they received the news of Mba’s re-appointment as Director General of the National Film and Video Censors Board with joy. The letter in full: ‘Your first four years as DG has seen great and progressive plans to turn the film and video industry in Nigeria around and provide lasting legacy and structures for the industry. We are excited that you have an additional tenure to further consolidate on the good work you have been doing and wish you the best of luck. The tasks before the Board are daunting and thankless, but we believe in your vision and plans and reiterate our support for your actions and plans for the industry. We enjoin you and your board to continue on the path of dialogue and co-operation to move our industry on the path of greatness’. Workshop on the Artistes’ Economic Rights Development Initiatives Network (DIN) is organising a 2-day intensive training workshop on artistes’ economic rights. The workshop, which will hold at the DIN’s main office, 38 Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, from 9am to 3pm daily for the two days — July 27 and 28 — will treat issues such as understanding intellectual property rights; demystifying copyrights and trademarks; and leveraging economic rights and protecting creative works. Featuring renowned IPR lawyer those wishing to get more information can email dinlagos@yahoo.co.uk. Honour for Alade Aromire again at Abuja Film Fest As part of the 6th edition of the Annual Abuja International Film and Video Festival, which has been scheduled for September 22 – 25, 2009, at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, and Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre, Abuja; Nigeria respectively, the Late Muyideen Alade Aromire, one of the pioneers of Nollywood will be honoured for his efforts via the production of EKUN, a Yoruba film shot and released in 1987. The release of the film signaled the beginning of putting films on video formats. Available records has shown that several films were released before the celebrated Living In Bondage of 1992 by Chief Kenneth Nnebue, who had shot several home video in Yoruba including “Aje Ni Iya Mi”. It will be recalled that Aromire until his untimely date was the founder and CEO of Yotomi Television, an indigenous Yoruba Cable, which was also one of his pioneering efforts. Also to be honoured at the festival is the film Iyawo Alhaji, which incidentally was the first home video film to be classified by the National Film and Video Censors Board. A Nollywood Achievement Award has been created as a yearly package of the festival to honour stakeholders in the industry, who have contributed to the development and improvement of the sector. The comprehensive list of awardees will be unveiled on August 1, 2009, at a press conference. Benemesia, Isong and others receive Women in Media Award At an emotion soaked evening amidst wining, dining and celebration for women advocacy group, Women In Media honoured outstanding women in eight competitive award categories (Lifetime Achievement, Print Editorial, Movie / TV Producer, Movie/TV Director, News Caster, Television Presenter, Radio Presenter and Special Recognition awards) For dominating prime time news casting at the `Nigerian Television Authority (Africa ’s largest television network) Ruth Benemesia – Opia was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award; for consistence, quality innovation Mrs. Betty Irabor publisher of Genevieve — women’s lifestyle magazine dusted four other contenders. With her gripping emotional movies including block buster’s such as Emotional Crack, Games Women Play, Games Men Play and lately Reloaded (which shattered the charts in an era of low DVD sales), writer/producer turned distributor carted away Movie/TV Producer of the Year award. Meanwhile an overwhelmed Pat Oghre signaled the generational shift by winning Movie/TV Director of the year. Easily the most active female director in Nigeria today, Oghre dedicated her award to her baby boy in an emotion-laden voice at hall of Terraculture in Victoria Island, Lagos. Lamide Akintobi was crowned Newscaster of the year whilst talk show host Agatha Amata’s persistence in treating burning issues of our time for over 12 years with syndication on about 17 channels paid off with her being declared Television presenter of the year. Ace broadcaster, Bisi Olatilo, also received a special recognition award from Women in Media Nigeria. High point of the event was the lifetime achievement awards for Chief Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor and Ruth Benemesia Opia. The awards were based on the results of questionnaires distributed and collated around the country. Daisy Madu-Chikwendu, CEO Clout Media, organiser of the event, said: “In actual fact everyone is a winner. This is because the nomination itself is the result of very rigorous pruning down of names. In some cases from over a dozen names to about four, five as the case may be. Like we say in WIM, women got involved and media got better.” The event held under the chairmanship of Mr.Lekan Ogunbanwo, Permanent Secretary Lagos Television. WIM will launch its outreach programme at the Lagos International Film Festival holding from August 11 to 16. Here is ION Film Festival Organizers of the touring film festival — ION International Film Festival (www.ionfilmfestival.com) will, in collaboration with the Rivers State government, hold a press conference and meeting with Nollywood stakeholders to officially launch ION Festival scheduled for Port Harcourt later in the year. ION is a touring film festival, which moves every year to a new location around the globe in an effort to promote global awareness, peace and unity. It went from Los Angeles in 2007, to Dubai in 2008 and after Port Harcourt, it will move to Istanbul in 2010. This is the first time ION lands in Africa and will be hosted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from December 9 to 12, 2009. ION launched the call for entries in 12 official categories on April 1, and submissions are expected by filmmakers before the deadline of Sept., 30, 2009. International submissions should go through www.ionfilmfestival.com or www.Withoutabox.com. Those wishing to make submissions from Nigeria should check submission details at www.omcomm.org. Waka pass… Producer :- Amebo A. Amebo Director: - Mr. Gossip Actors :- Hollywood Celebrities Tribute galore for the acting Princess The notable actress, Chief Clarion Chukwurah got more than she bargained for in terms of tributes and accolades at a special anniversary event organised for her by City People Entertainment last Friday. The deep actress was celebrated for her brilliant career on Nigeria’s acting scene; and for her 30th year on stage. The Bolajoko hall, in Ikeja, where the celebration took place was jam-packed as everyone wanted to be part of the celebration. An elated Clarion while thanking all for their support assured that ‘there will be no light out for her as long as she lives. It was ‘words’ war at Isolo for Norbert With Clarion’s celebration over, ‘feet of friends’ (ala the culture worker critic and poet Ropo Ewenla) invaded the home of Norbert Akpojerharo Macdonald Young in Isolo, yesterday, for what Ewenla who sent out a five line invitation described as a gathering of the clan of potters; who meet to mould words into celebratory poetry in continuation of the activities commemorating Norbert’s 50th birthday anniversary and in praise of his 25 years of exploits on stage. The day also marked the first birthday anniversary of Young’s baby, Anthonia. Kunle moves editing suite home to concentrate If you have not come across the producer Kunle Afolayan at any event lately, please forgive him. It does appear that it is business before pleasure for the producer of Irapada, who is working earnestly to realise his big budget flick Figurine. We understand that to concentrate, Afolayan who is working to beat the deadline for a possible screening at the Toronto Film Festival, had to move a whole editing suite to his Yaba home. A source working with Afolayan on the project disclosed that there is so much distraction in the studio he was using, a reason he moved the editing of the film to his home. Hey, don’t even go there. No neighbour will distract him. We have it on good authority that ‘Figurine baba’ does not live in a face me I face you apartment as some of our actors do! Daisy does my leg your leg with Madu Some waka pass said they have observed that lately it has been “my leg your leg” for the former President of the Association of Movie Producer, Madu Chikwendu, and his hardworking wife Daisy Madu-Chikwendu. They said that unlike before, there is hardly any event that you don’t find the two love birds together. They were together at the premiere of Emem Isong’s Edikan and were also seen together at Mahmood Ali-Balogun’s 50th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service held at the National Theatre, last Sunday. One waka pass told us that what he likes about their outing is their deliberate attempt to always dress to match. One other thing, Madu Chikwendu does that the waka pass likes, is that he occasionally ‘holds hands with madam,’ so that, people will know that they have come a long way. Anyway, Oga Madu, make una carri go with madam. At least with una, the numbers of practitioners wey dey carri … no… take their wives out for occasions don dey swell. We actually use to think that it is the exclusive preserve of Fidelis and Tope Duker, and Zack and Ngozi Orji plus including Norbert and Gloria Young. To God be the Glory!
shaibu70@yahoo.com




TEETH 4 TEETH
BY JUSTIN AKPOVI-ESADE

Klint De Drunk.... The Cheeky Devil
COMEDIAN Klint Da Drunk, is a smart dude, the kind of person that a popular cartoonist will refer to as Cheeky Devil. T4T was sitting on his own at the terrace of Ojez, when the comic act joined him at the table. There is nothing wrong with that, but the next thing he did... hmmm, Klint.
Anyway, I have restrained myself from telling the world, but my conscience has not been at ease since, so I have decided to tell. Klint with the speed of light, went straight for a pack (names withheld) and lighter lying harmlessly on top the table. He did not bother to ask who owns the pack (of what sef?), and before you can say bingo, fire was already coming from the comedian’s mouth. Klint, Klint, Klint, how many times did I call you? If that is the way you go about thumbing people’s cigarette without permission,then na court case dey wait for you. Thank God you be celebrity, so you go see money pay when the case reach court. I have a warning for people like you; remember your left. You will understand the warning if you have heard the story of the legendary footballer, Thunder Balogun. By the way, to put records straight, the pack that has its name withheld does not belong to T4To o.

Dele Abiodun Dares Voombastic Uncle P
A major war is brewing between president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Dele Abiodun and Governor of the Lagos State chapter of the association. Reason? Abiodun who was recently reinstated by the court as PMAN president plans to dissolves the executive of all state chapters.
Ran into Voombastic at the car park of the celebrity hangout and the reggae musician was spitting fire like Sango, the god of thunder. “Wich solution im (Abiodun) wan take dissolve us? I dey wait, na dia me with am go take face each oda cos since im enta (the office of PMAN president), I play neutral, I no fite anybody. But as im wan dey talk dissolve dissolve so, ehen...
Bros PMAN president, a word is enough for the wise. Na dia I talk reach o o bcos Uncle P wey openly talk say im nickname na Craze and Area Grandfada, naim you wan follow do?

Mamuzee Twins Are ‘Americans’
DID you see the identical twin brothers, Mamuzee when they paid a visit to Koko Mansion reality TV show on Wednesday, to score the kokolettes on their dance task? Hmmm, how Nigerians ‘form’ when they are in front of cameras. The singing duo was just speaking English like some young African-Americans. In fact, I thought I was watching Chris Brown, Rihanna’s former boyfriend, on television.. Na wa for Naija boys sha. A detractor said they wanted to impress the girls, with their ‘phonetic’, but whatever their intention was, it did not ‘wek’ (apologies to the lady on Idols West Africa judges panel), sorry work, for me.

Leo Mezie Has Hammered
HOLLYWOOD actor Leo Mezie is in money at the moment. The kind of crowd that attended his Tribute to Michael Jackson concert at O’jez, has left many people green with envy. T4T sat watching Leo strutting up and down the hall (some detractors alleged he was counting the people and checking figures) and one could not help but envy the handsome dude. But what will truly confirm if Leo actually made money from the well-heeled concert will come in the form of Chinese rice served in a wooden plate, a delicacy he can afford anytime he has money. We will lie in wait and keep you posted in the days to come if he has actually ‘hammered.’

And Peterson Agu Was Stranded
HIGHLIFE musician and former sideman of a popular music label owner Peterson Agu, was last Sunday stranded at O’jez. The time was 11.30pm, Peterson who lives in Ogun State (Akute area) was frantically looking for a free ride just out of stadium area. He met T4T to take him on his tuke tuke, but sorry, the ‘snooper’ does not live that far from Lagos. If peson ready to go bak to im village, im go just go, no be to go stay Akute, and wen dem ask you, you go say, na Lagos you dey stay.. Peterson, you have learnt your lessons, please leave that bush and come to live in the city, wey you fit see okada wey go carry you go home even if na 1.am.
Help, Howie T’s Always Online
SHOWBIZ promoter Howie T, real names Bayo Odunsami is on yahoo messenger 24 hours. One wonders if that is the heavy weight promoter’s past time. The mini giant (his detractors say he weighs more than a two ton truck) does not seem to leave the side of his computer. If you sent Howie an instant message on his yahoo messenger even at 2am, he replies instantly. This development is giving his close friends and family cause for concern (as if na crime to be mobile in anyway) because they say he hardly sleeps nowadays. Well, Howie, as you make your bed... (fill in the blank spaces).
ogbuus@yahoo.com

‘Dry bones’ of Awo House rise again

BY ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA
RECENTLY, the Lagos State government officially opened the Institute of Government and Public Policy. Located in the Lekki axis of the state, the facility was once referred to as ‘Awo Jail House.’ It was the abode of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, between June 19 and July 5, 1962 during the crisis of the Western Region. When The Guardian visited the compound some years ago, the colonial guesthouse looked dingy and decrepit. It had suffered abandonment for many years with the wall paints peeling off and some parts of the building crumbling. The compound did not quite command any impressive view, but I was able to see details with the help of a guide, Mr. Ibukun Fakeye, who had just mobilised men and materials to begin reclamation work with the view of transforming the complex, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, into a tourism project. Fakeye, who is the new czar on the Lagos State tourism bloc, had spoken on plans to make the long abandoned guesthouse a Nigerian version of Mandela’s Robben Island: A place where tourists and others would encounter the late sage, with different memorabilia of his on display. In June, I repeated a visit to the site, only to be accosted by an imposing structure. In fact, I missed my way having mistaken the structures ahead for something else until I was properly directed. The once sandy road now has interlocking blocks, which enhance mobility. The entire complex presents a breathtaking view extending to the Atlantic Ocean that now adds colour and panache to the scenery. It is to the credit of Fakeye and others, who worked earnestly to make the place a befitting structure than earlier imagined. JUNE 25 was indeed historic as many came to see the place Awo described in his book The Years of Travail, as ‘mosquito – infested’. The bungalow, which is made up of two small rooms is believed to have been built by a Portuguese merchant and later served as guesthouse of the colonial masters one of the formal occupants, Chief Hannah Awolowo, aka Mama Awo, cutting the tape. The new vision, Fakeye said, “would compete favourably with anyone globally in terms of its structure and purpose. The Institute, he said, “would compete favourably for attention, people and funding with similar research destinations both locally and globally. He added, “this is an educational resort for youths and adults and a post retirement place for people in government, education and private institutions.” In his remark, Governor Fashola stressed the need for an institute of this magnitude that is devoted to training and education. Having benefited immensely from the exemplary live of the late sage, Fashola insisted that the best he could do was to play a role in entrenching his legacy, especially that of good governance, by deploying state apparatus to bring social development and its gains to the people. This principle, he reminded that the late Awo lived and died for. The rapid development that was enjoyed by the former Western Region stands as a tribute to the good governance and social engineering that Awo introduced and nurtured. THE institute, which is funded by the Lagos State government in partnership with Ocean Beach Golf and Leisure Resorts Limited, currently has a museum, resource centre, kitchen, access road, walks path and a beautiful landscape overlooking the Atlantic Ocean However, Fakeye informed that the second phase of the project, which is due to commence soon, will have a multipurpose hall, research library, lecture theatre, offices, in- residence accommodation, 20 suites of boutique accommodation and five cottages. Also on the list are shops and art gallery and three cabanas at the beachfront. The poet Odia Ofeimun, who is known for his long association with the late political icon, is the co-ordinator of the exhibits. Trustees of the institute include the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande (chairman), Dr. Wale Adebanwi, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, Ibukun Akin Fakeye, Professor Segun Gbadegesin, Odia Ofeimun, Professor Sophie Oluwole, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Professor Adebayo Williams, Labisi Silva and a representative of Lagos State government. Tested hands, supervised by the board of trustees that is expected to provide guidance and policy trust, will manage the institute. Funding of its various programmes are expected to come from the Lagos State government and the internally generated revenue from its in –house activities alongside grants, sponsorship and endorsements.

If I were a boy

BY WOLE OGUNTOKUN
I FIRST came across the poignant Beyonce Knowles song, If I were a boy, one day as I sat surfing cable television channels.
A good looking woman, Beyonce herself, was playing the part of a police officer, who did her work well but spent time with the other officers doing what men generally do after hours; drinking, clubbing, and just ‘kicking it’ as men have an inclination to.
All this while, she had a doting boyfriend/partner at home, who would watch the clock and wait for her to come home.
It was a reversal of roles and gave me a lot of food for thought, as the singer must have intended.
Then only a few days ago, I sat talking with the Alli-Hakeem sisters, Toyin and Anike, and one of them said, “if I were a boy,” and she elaborated on the things she would do and get away with, expressing pain that runs deep in women, pain inflicted by the things men do and never have to answer for.
In some ways, men are like the officers’ corps, policemen if you wish, who stand up for each other, whose ranks are closed and who will never testify against a “brother-officer” even at their own detriment.
It is a rare man who tells a woman, “I saw your man with so-and-so”, or “I saw him at so-and so.”
For some reason, the “esprit de corps” code among men also conjures a code of silence. Many men take relationships for granted the way the generality of women could never.
Beyonce sang, “if I were a boy even just for a day, I’d roll out of bed in the morning, and throw on what I wanted and go drink beer with the guys.”
As an aside, that might be the singular advantage men have over women, the ability to wear clothes without thinking if the colours suit our eyes, or whether our eye-shadow is the wrong shade of blue or whether our arms are growing bigger and we cannot get away with wearing sleeveless tops anymore.

BUT back to our song and Beyonce. “If I were a boy, I would turn off my phone; tell everyone it’s broken so they would think I was sleeping alone.”
At this point, many of the men reading should take deep breathes and think of the variations of this lie they have told. Some will say, “But the women do it too.”
The Whisperer agrees but submits that this is a fallacious argument. According to philosophers,“ And you too” does not work very well when you are the one accused of wrong-doing. Today, the Whisperer looks only at the men and the way they take their women for granted.
We turn off our phones and claim there is no network in a world that permits us to do whatever we want to do as long as it is not ‘hurting anyone else’.
When the men sit to reflect, they must remember that the breaking of a human heart is probably more painful than a physical accident.
“I’d put myself first and make the rules as I go, because I know she’d be faithful, waiting for me to come home”.

THE Whisperer is not only in this procession of those who make the rules as they go; he is also carrying a banner. This is said without pride and shame-facedly.
Men often make up the rules of engagement as they move along, much like the way children create new rules to suit themselves in games they have not mastered fully. What applied in a previous relationship will not apply in a new one.
A rule set for the female partner, will not be applicable to the male. We can take long sultry looks at other females as we drive along but a glance from our woman that lasts for more than one second on a passing male is tantamount to fornication.
She has sinned in her heart. The man is confident always that the woman at home is exactly where he wants her to be.
She will not be going anywhere and no matter how long the pursuit took, she has been conquered and he can look to newer horizons.
But do not forget that it is a strange world we live in where there are never any guaranteed fairy-tale endings and it is possible that like in the words of Mr. Ray Parker, “by the time poor Jack returned up the hill, somebody else had been loving Jill.”
Music is the closest thing we have to a time machine, able to teleport you to exact places and times when you first heard the song.
With songs, the situation is created again, the same players, the entire scenario. I can never hear the Oleta Adams song, Get here if you can without feeling pain and Gabrielle’s ‘Dreams’ does the same thing for me.
Madonna’s haunting La Isla Bonita is a victory song for The Whisperer, one that always reminds me of a day I took a major step in the right direction, and All 4 One’s I swear will remind me of my father till my dying days.
The reason is simple. I heard him singing the song in accompaniment one day as it played on the radio and I was brought into reality forcibly, that my father was a man first, before being a father.
The talented Ms. Knowles sang, “You don’t care how it hurts until you lose the one you wanted because you’re taking her for granted” and I agree.
And The Whisperer gives advice to all men wherever they might be, and in whatever generation they might come from, even if they find this article 75 years from now in some dusty archive and they sit to read from yellowing, brittle pages.
As they ponder on how love must have been in generations gone by as they go about their business in a world that may bear no resemblance to this one that we know; all men should remember one thing, times and seasons may change but men and women will always be.
There are many pluses in being a man but it is not a sign of manliness to drag a woman in the mud behind you.
“If I were a boy...” Walk a mile in your woman’s shoes.
laspapi@yahoo.com