It is not uncommon to find successful Nigerians in the diaspora making efforts to give back to their home country and now Skepta has decided to be one of them.
Out of the spotlight, the British-Nigerian grime artist and MC is known as Joseph Junior Adenuga.
Born in Nigeria and relocating to the UK with his family at only 3 years old, Skepta launched his musical career together with his younger brother JME in 2005.
Skepta is one of the note-worthy names in the world of British grime and he is also a songwriter and record producer. He has also performed with top rappers Drake and Kanye West and was also on the remix of Wizkid’s Ojuelegba alongside Drake.
After spending so many years away from home, 34 year old Skepta decided to give back to his home country, more specifically his home town in Ijebu Ode.
He started building a children’s playground in his father’s village in Ijebu Ode.
On February 29, he shared pictures of the unfinished playground on his Instagram page. He explained that he’s building the playground to engage children in fun activities that will further enable them explore or develop various talents.
He stated that the playground had to be launched by his mother in its unfinished state because she had to leave Nigeria for London the following day. Skepta believes the completion of the project will go a long way in inspiring the children.
Hian! Why ‘launch’ an incomplete playground? Why not just wait? In fact, where is the playground?
As far as we are concerned Skepta’s lovely mummy rocked iro and buba with red beads to cut a yellow ribbon for a red dunlop tyre storage facility. Because we see no playground.
Nigerians responded to the story of this unfinished playground on social media.
— AdaEZEnwa Chinanu (@Chynanu) March 1, 2016
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There are over 500 different tribes and three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The Igbo tribe, which is made up of approximately 32 million people is one of them. The Igbo are made up of one of the most illustrious and industrious people in Nigeria.
Today, I’ll be debunking some of the common misconceptions associated with this tribe, things shared in common with other tribes and other great things you don’t know about the Igbo culture.
1. It is not “the Igbos”.
You don’t say “the Englishs” or “the Frenchs” do you? Exactly. So saying the Igbos is wrong. Simply say “Ndi Igbo” or “the Igbo” or “the Igbo people”.
2. Some of us who have never left the shores of Nigeria still speak good English.
Yes, this is true. Each tribe has a unique accent, rather than try to change it, everybody should own their accents and be proud of it.
3. All the Igbo do not prefer business to education.
That there is a generalisation; the believe that all the Igbo people do is chase money. Yes it’s true that a lot of young boys learn apprenticeship work from their ogas and go on to start their own businesses. But if you look at it logically, isn’t that education in itself? They know how to read and write and do mathematics (calculating daily earnings and expenditure), which is more than can be said for those that were in the four walls of a school. But moving on, we do love education and progresion and can be found in all career fields. Some of the best African writers are Igbo. *hint* *hint* Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Flora Nwapa, Chika Unigwe… I could go on and on.
4. Ndi Igbo do not eat human flesh.
Well, unless there’s a famine going on. Just kidding. But desperate situations do call for desperate action — as some Biafrans resorted to to ward off starvation.
5. Igbo people have not fully recovered from the effects of the civil war.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book Half of a Yellow Sun deals with this. Their are adults that are known as Biafra’s lost children who will never reconnect with their families because of the war.
6. Not every Igbo wants Biafra to secede from Nigeria.
As bad as the country is right now. and with all the brouhaha that’s been happening, most Igbo people see secession as a disaster. Especially those who are aware of what happened in the Nigerian-Biafran civil war. Nobody wants a repeat of that.
7. The Igbo love money.
This is like the most common thing all Igbo people hear. I’d like to ask, who doesn’t like money? Be truthful.
But some will say that the Igbo people love money more than other tribes and will go to any length to get it. Like sacrificing their family members. Nollywood movies are to blame for that.
8. Igbo people do not perform human rituals.
Again, blame bloody Nollywood. Most people say ndi Igbo are ritualists because Okija. But contrary to popular opinion, it wasn’t money rituals that took place there, but a place where the bodies of those who messed with the gods were dumped.
9. Igbo people do marry people from other tribes.
Another fallacy is that Igbo people don’t marry outside their tribe. All tribes have this problem. Most parents from any Nigerian or African tribe want intratribal marriages for their kids. But what is even more important is that most young people are following their heart, because marrying from the same tribe isn’t an important determining factor? Tribe isn’t important in this kind of thing.
10. Igbo people are not stingy.
Again, I don’t know why that is classified by tribe. Stinginess is a human nature, not Igbo nature.
And if you think Igbo people are stingy, then you definitely haven’t been to an Igbo wedding.
11. Bride prices are not always ridiculously expensive.
Most people believe that the bride price attached to marrying an Igbo woman is hefty. But this isn’t common across all the Igbo people. It is peculiar to some places. Also, the price is negotiable. So, if you love the girl, you’ll definitely talk your way into being a member of her family.
12. Igbo people are not disrespectful.
Just because we don’t prostrate and kiss the floor doesn’t mean we don’t respect our elders. If that is an important criterium or actually yielded something important, the whole world would be doing it.
13. Igbo people greatly appreciate good music.
A lot of Nigerias music legends, both dead or alive are Igbo. E.g: Osita Osadebe, Oliver de Coque, Phyno, Flavour.
14. Yam is the lifeblood of the Igbo.
Which is why, the New Yam Festival (Iwaji), an annual celebration, is held to celebrate the yam harvest. During the festival, people show off their yam tubers as a sign of success and wealth.
15. Some school of thought believe that the Igbo, Yoruba, Nupe, Edo, Idoma all share a common ancestor.
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. Umu nnem na umu nnam (brothers and sisters) what are the other things you wish others knew about Igbo people? Share them in the comments.
1. When you finally decide you want to buy that new iPhone.
I am ready.
2. You, when you finally get it.
As I have bought the iPhone, you must all see it.
3. Your charger, a minute after you start using the phone.
What is this nonsense?
4. When every charger you buy after that spoils even faster.
Is it a curse?
5. When an app is not available in the Nigerian App Store.
Where is the respect?
6. You, when your iPhone falls face down.
It’s all over.
7. When you hear how much it costs to fix a broken screen.
Ah! Please, I like the screen cracked like that.
8. When you compare the official price vs. the price here in Nigeria.
Hay! You people don’t have the fear of God.
9. When Siri just completely refuses to understand your accent.
Siri, don’t annoy me today.
10. When someone’s phone rings in public and you think it’s yours.
Ugh! Everybody has THE SAME freaking ringtone.
11. When your auto-correct starts acting like it knows more than you.
Auto-correct, please just leave it.
12. When you’re trying to explain the difference between an Android phone and your iPhone.
Go and argue in your father’s compound.
13. When someone tells you to jailbreak your phone.
Are you drunk?
14. When you haven’t even finished enjoying your phone and Apple announces a new model.
What is it sef?
15. Waiting for the price of the new model to drop like:
Still waiting.
16. When you’re the first one of your friends to buy the newest model.
Na so we see am.
17. The pain you feel when you see this screen:
NEPA, why have you betrayed me?
1. What everywhere feels like right now:
2. You, drowning in your sweat every single night.
Is this how I will die?
3. When you try to take a cold shower and even the water coming from the tap is hot.
What is this sorcery?
4. When you start sweating the second you step out of the bathroom.
Hay God! Who did I offend?
5. When you realize NEPA chose the hottest time of the year to stop giving us light.
You people are clearly witches.
6. When they manage to bring small light but the fan is just blowing hot air in your face.
See me see trouble.
7. When you go somewhere and they don’t have AC.
Please, I’m going. It is not by force.
8. You, praying for even small rain to fall.
God, please do it for your children.
9. When the heat rashes finally attack.
My back oh.
10. When you start missing the dusty harmattan.
Harmattan, we are sorry we complained.
11. When someone tries to bring up having sex in this heat.
It’s like your ancestors are mad.
12. When you see your fellow strugglers complaining about the heat.
You guys understand.
13. When you see someone wearing plenty clothes.
WOOL IN THIS HEAT??? Clap for yourself.
14. When you have to enter public transport and the body odour slaps you right in the face.
What the hell?
15. When you get stuck in traffic in a car without AC.
I was not born to suffer, biko.
1. When the ATM in front of the bank is not working.
Are you people joking?
2. When you press the button for the door before the person on the other side.
I WIN!
3. When you’ve already dropped everything but the door still won’t let you pass.
I should off pant, abi what?
4. When you go to the bank in the middle of the day and the place is still full.
Don’t you people have jobs to be at?
5. When you lend someone your pen and the person disappears with it.
Na me mess up.
6. When you forget to bring your own pen and everyone you ask is using you to catch trips.
Hay God! See my life.
7. When a customer starts causing a scene in the bank.
Well, it’s all free entertainment while I wait.
8. When someone tries to jump everyone on the queue in the name of “in a hurry.”
Sorry oh Dangote, we don’t have where we are going too.
9. “Please, are you last pulzon on the queue? Amatyour back please.”
Every. Single. Time.
10. When one random person appears and says they are meant to be at your front.
Please, gerrarahia.
11. When the cashier tells you “network is down” and then carries face.
I’m confused.
12. When you want to open an account and they tell you to bring NEPA bill, a pint of blood, and your first born son.
Is that all?
13. When the customer service staff starts acting like you are owing them money.
Ah! Am I disturbing you?
14. When you want to change a small detail in your account and they tell you to write a letter to the manager.
Is it his account?
15. When your plan was to stay for a few minutes, but the whole day has already gone.
How am I still here?
16. When you go to withdraw and they pack N20 notes for you.
Please, am I a conductor?
17. When they try to get you to sign up for one of their ‘trend of the week’ services.
I don’t blame you. It’s because I still have account with you people.
Ever stepped foot in any Nigerian hospital? You begin to wonder why you fell sick in the first place. These situations must have definitely happened to you.
1. When you step in and a whiff of hospital smell hits you
Jesus what is this odor?
2. When all the nurses are shouting like it’s a market place
Aunty nurse calm down, it’s never that deep.
3. The people waiting to see one doctor that is ‘not on seat’
Please, excuse me sah amatyour back.
4. The wait before your card number gets called for consultation
I should just have died at home in peace.
5. Nurses asking you the most questions and checking random things
Ahan, aunty is it modelling audition we are doing here?
6. When they try to check your temperature with the back of their hand
Wait, what? In this 21st century?
7. When the doctor asks “what’s wrong with you”
How am I supposed to know? Is that not your job sir? That is why I came here fam.
8. And he proceeds to press the spot that hurts repeatedly
Come on now, are you checking for pain at all? Why are you pressing it like fresh bread?
9. When the doctor goes “I will diagnose you and prescribe some drugs”
Okay now captain obvious.
10. When he finally does his math and says “it is malaria”
After all your pressing and writing story, everytime ordinary malaria or typhoid.
11. Trying to read the doctors handwriting
Why is everything looking like his signature?
12. Looking at your prescription slip
For only malaria?
13. When the nurses say “remove your trouser for injection”
Smh you can’t even sweet talk me small, so harsh so rude.
14. On ‘admission’ and they wake you up from sleep to take your sleeping meds
ARE YOU SERIOUS?????
15. When the nurses sleep off and forget to change your drip and it has finished
Murderers!
16. When you are finally well and they don’t want to discharge you
I SAID I AM FEELING FINE! Please let me go what is this imprisonment????
1. Abba T. Makama is mostly known as a filmmaker and founder of Osiris; a creative group that creates magical ideas for digital and traditional media.
But personally he considers himself an artist and prefers the label ‘creator’. Born and raised in Jos Plateau State. He went to Hillcrest School Jos and St. Joseph’s College before graduating from SUNY Fredonia N.Y. He also studied film at N.Y.U. Ventures Africa listed him as one of the 15 African creatives to watch for in 2016.
2. While growing up in Jos he attend Hillcrest school and was classmates with Tejumola Komolafe (NaijaBoyz).
They were both the best art students in their class and also best friends. Teju left Nigeria in the early 90’s. The two reconnected in 2006 via Myspace and discovered they both where on the path to becoming filmmakers.
3. His company Osiris has worked with numerous brands.
Directing commercials, digital marketing skits and documentaries for companies like Google, Blackberry, Gtbank Nigerian Breweries etc.
4. In 2010, he and friend/colleague Bolaji Kekere Ekun ( 37th State) created AMEBO at FOUR.
5. In 2010 he wrote, produced and directed the comedy satire on the Nigerian film industry called Direc-toh.
Direc-toh screened at Eko International Film Festival 2010 and won Best Actor at InShort Film Festival 2010.
6. In 2012 he collaborated with fashion designer and close friend Niyi Okuboyejo, to create Party of Minister.
Party of Minister is a satire short film about corrupt African dictators. It screened at the 2016 Black Star Film Festival in Philadelphia.
That same year he also directed a fashion film for acclaimed fashion designer Maki Oh.
7. In 2013 he released QUACKS a sequel to Party of Ministers.
Party of Minister and Quacks were selected for the first Iroko TV online short film festival.
8. In 2014 he was commissioned by Al Jazeera to direct a documentary on the Nigeria Film Industry.
It aired in July 2015 on Al Jazeera world and was well received by key figures in the industry.
9. In 2015 he released a comedy reality TV show, CITY BISHOP, about a journalist from the village of Isoko who explores Lagos city life.
Season 1 aired on SilverBird TV.
10. 2016 will be the release of his first feature length film ‘Green White Green’.
Green White Green is a comedy satire and coming of age story about 3 young boys from the 3 major ethnic group on an adventure to shoot a short film inspired by Nigeria’s history.
11. Abba Makama the painter.
His first solo art exhibition is on February 28th 2016 at the IAMSIGO showroom. Waking hallucinations and sleep paralysis are the inspiration behind the art show.
We’ve said that our Nigerian men can dress for the gods. It seems like the world is realising that as well.
Renowned International magazine, Vogue Italia, made a list of Nigeria’s most stylish men.
The photoshoot was done by Nigerian-American photographer Ike Ude.
They are:
Alex Ekubo
Ozy Agu
Denola Adepetun a.k.a Denola Grey
Nobel Igwe
Uti Nwachukwu
Mai Atafo
Banky W
Julius Agwu
Gideon Okeke
Jim Iyke
We would have loved it if our hot Nigerian brothers like RMD, Basket Mouth, Ebuka, Don Jazzy, Iyanya, and the rest made this list though.
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A lot of Nigerians have been displeased with our honourable president, Muhammadu Buhari and they are not hiding their mouth.
A creative Nigerian has created a mixtape, just like the Ministers List we made months ago.
Twitter user @Dousche_Bag created this epic mixtape about Buhari’s performance so far, using the titles of popular songs by popular American musicians as his inspiration!
Inspired by Kendrick Lemar’s song also of the same name.
6. I Can’t Stay One Place (When I’m With You)
Inspired by The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”.
7. The Blame Game
Inspired by Kanye West’s “Blame Game”.
The West African Examinations Commissions (WAEC), the major examination body for West African secondary school finalists is currently under fire.
As a result of an anti-corruption crack down on the examination bodies in Nigeria, a financial discrepancy was discovered by the minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
And while Nigerians were stilll processing that information, these tweets dropped on Twitter.
This NGO requested the list of best student in each state in Nigeria from WAEC for Scholarship. See WAEC's response. pic.twitter.com/ACWLFHRHr5
As expected, the tweet generated massive reactions from Nigerians. They mentioned how convenient it was for WAEC to announce the failure of the candidates at no cost.
