So you and your siblings have already established that your parents see y’all as the family’s black sheep. But how do you know for sure who the family’s golden child is?
We know all the signs to look out for.
They get the biggest servings
Your parents will try to justify it by saying they need the most nutrients, especially if they’re the last born.
They always get the benefit of the doubts
With you, your parents will swear you did that shit. With them, they’ll refrain from making assumptions because there has to be a genuine reason why they did that shit.
They’re your parents’ personal adviser
Your parents rate their opinion AF, and that’s why they’ve made them the household’s official PA. And low key, you know this because if you need your parents to do shit, you know they’re the key to making it happen.
They run the most errands
We all know sending a child on multiple errands is the love language of Nigerian parents. So if your parents never wake you unprovoked to grab a purse that’s right beside them, you’re probably their least favourite child.
They snitch
Your secrets are never safe because they have no issues confessing y’all’s sins, and your parents LOVE them for that shit.
They hardly get scolded
Even if their sin is as flashy as Joseph’s coat of many colours, they’ll most likely get a bombastic side eye and a “Won’t you come and eat your food?” in rapid succession.
Their date of birth is your parents’ password
What other proof do you need if their D.O.B. is what unlocks laptops and phones or holds the key to their emails? They could have chosen any of y’all, but you know, golden child treatment and stuff.
As if dealing with T-Pain’s shenanigans isn’t enough pain, the association of “God, when” people went through it this year.
And they have these Nigerian couples to thank for reminding them that they’re still far from finding true love.
Veekee James and Femi
Veekee James and Femi met through a mutual friend, and after nearly two years of dating, they decided to make a lifelong commitment. They had their traditional ceremony on February 9, followed by a grand white wedding at the Harvesters International Christian Centre the next day.
Veekee’s $30,000 diamond and pearl-encrusted wedding gown was one for the books. Nancy Isime, Toke Makinwa, and Eniola Adeoluwa, among others, were at the wedding.
Dimma Umeh and Obinna
Beauty and lifestyle YouTuber Dimma Umeh set the internet on fire in June when she shared her wedding photos online. The influencer married her soulmate, Obinna, in a private civil ceremony in July.
“Got legally married to my lover last month. Everything was beautiful and went just as we’d hoped. It was the civil wedding of my dreams tbh, and I’m grateful to God for how perfect it was,” Dimma wrote on IG.
The couple followed up with a traditional wedding ceremony in August in Enugu.
Davido and Chioma
Davido and Chioma had internet users running from page to page to keep up with updates from their official wedding hashtag, #CHIVIDO. The two exchanged vows on June 25 in a strictly by invitation ceremony at the Harbour Point Event Centre.
At the end of the carnival-like ceremony, the internet had just one question for the couple, “Why didn’t they get a bigger space?”
Kunle Remi and Boluwatiwi
A together-forever might not have happened with his onscreen boo, Bimbo Ademoye, but Kunle Remi pulled a “They never me coming” on us when he married Otedola’s niece.
The Nollywood actor and his partner, Boluwatiwi, tied the knot in a stunning two-day ceremony that combined traditional and white wedding celebrations. Bimbo Ademoye, Bisola Aiyeola, and many Nollywood folks joined the couple to celebrate their union.
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Moses Bliss and Marie
Moses Bliss and his fiancée, Marie Wiseborn, tied the knot in March 2024.
The sweetest part of this union? The gospel singer released an EP, “Love Testament”, just before the wedding, and it set the perfect emotional tone for the wedding ceremony—goals for real.
Sharon Ooja and Ugo Nwoke
Nollywood sweetheart Sharon Ooja dated her boo for two and a half months, and it was just about enough time for them to switch things up.
Sharon and Ugo tied the knot in a star-studded traditional ceremony on June 27, 2024, followed by a grand white wedding two days later. The ceremony happened a few days after #CHIVIDO.
Priscilla and Juma Jux
Although some people thought their engagement announcement was a PR stunt, it’s safe to say the influencer and her Tanzanian boo are walking down the aisle later this year or sometime in 2024.
Priscilla’s mum, Iyabo Ojo, never misses an opportunity to remind everyone that the wedding party is coming soon. Fingers crossed!
Taye 9ja and Toni Tones
Nigerian content creators Taye 9ja and Toni Tones had their internet fans teary-eyed after they got engaged in June. Tones returned to quote a 2022 post in which she tweeted, “I’ve met my future husband, guys. I’m going to retweet this tweet one day and quote “I knew it”…because yeah.”
They’re walking the aisle this year, and the internet in-laws are hyped AF.
Kaper Jesse Legacy, 2024, by Fred Ebami. Presented by Galerie Mam
Lagos, Nigeria –ART X Lagos, West Africa’s leading international art fair, returns for its highly anticipated ninth edition fromOctober 31st to November 3rd, 2024. Since its inception in 2016, ART X Lagos has showcased artists from over 70 countries, firmly establishing itself as the leading hub for African and diaspora creatives. This year, the fair will continue its commitment to highlighting African art, culture, and community, while fostering critical conversations on the social and political transformations shaping the continent.
Against a backdrop of challenges being experienced in Nigeria, with political and socio-economic difficulties across Africa and further afield, this year’s theme will explore, “Promised Lands,” – places, real and imagined, that offer hope and a vision of greater freedoms—prompting a critical examination of where Africa and its diaspora aspire to go.
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, founder of ART X Lagos, shared:
“We are thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of artists, exhibitions and galleries for our ninth edition, representing the diverse and dynamic voices emerging from all corners of Africa and the diaspora. ‘Promised Lands’ is a theme that resonates deeply with our collective journey—reflecting on where we are and envisioning where we aspire to be. It was crucial for us to create a platform that not only anchors the African art movement but also drives meaningful conversations about the social, political, and cultural landscapes of our continent. We remain dedicated to creating an absolutely cannot-miss experience for our artists, cultural partners, gallerists, collectors and visitors from Africa, and around the world.”
With a diverse selection of curated galleries, thought-provoking exhibitions and special projects, dynamic live performances, and insightful discussions, the fair continues to push boundaries and foster cross-cultural dialogue. Below are some of the key highlights:
ART X Lagos 2024 will feature 10 specially curated galleries from cities like Lagos, Harare, Accra, and London, showcasing a diverse mix of emerging and established artists from across Africa and its diaspora. The galleries will present a cross-section of artists making unique contributions to the visual arts ecosystem, reinforcing ART X Lagos’ mission to promote artistic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration. The 2024 galleries include: Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Gallery (Nigeria), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Affinity Art Gallery (Nigeria), Kanbi Projects (UK), kó (Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), ODA Art Gallery (Nigeria) and Tiwani Contemporary (UK).
The Speakers’ Corner: The Crossroads, is a participatory experience that seeks to invite attendees to reflect on Nigeria’s current challenges, creating a collective tapestry of shared voices and hopes. Curated by Papa Omotayo in collaboration with Haily Grenet, Fikayo Adebajo, and Dike Anthony, this space invites meaningful engagement on pivotal societal questions. TheMark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers exhibition honours extraordinary individuals who redefined what was possible for Africans in science, art, and social activism. Through their legacy, we are reminded that greatness stems from courage, collaboration, and the audacity to challenge the status quo. This exhibition was curated by Missla Libsekal, Fikayo Adebajo and Haily Grenet, with historical consultancy by Ed Keazor celebrating figures like Jonathan Adagogo Green, August Agboola Browne and Nana Asma’u.
In Restless Cities: From Lagos to the World, Andrew Dosunmu, the celebrated Lagos-born photographer and filmmaker, presents his first-ever solo exhibition in Africa. This exhibition invites viewers to explore Nigerian cities as living, breathing hubs, mirroring the connections shared in everyday life. Other major exhibitions include Marcellina Akpojotor’stextile art addressing sustainability and Williams Chechet’s Afro-futurist “Breaking Barriers,” both contributing to the fair’s theme of creativity driving social change.
Beyond the visual arts, ART X Live!curated byLanre Masha and Ayo Lawson, will return with a live music experience connecting the dots between Nigeria’s past, present, and future sounds. Attendees can expect a concert experience where traditional Fuji music meets contemporary genres, and other multi-hyphenate African artists, with creative direction from visual artist Niyi Okeowoand producer Odunsi (The Engine).
ART X Cinema will showcase a selection of 13 films by African and diaspora filmmakers, while the Access ART X Prize2023 winners, Julius Agbaje (Nigeria Award) and Shabu Mwangi (Africa/Diaspora Award), will host solo exhibitions around the concept of “What May Come”, alongside a retrospective on previous winners of the Prize, curated by Jumoke Sanwo.
In collaboration with Afreximbank, ART X Lagos will also present Art Across Borders: Where to Go, an exhibition featuring six mid-career African and Caribbean artists who explore ancestral connections and future possibilities, aligning with the fair’s theme of “Promised Lands.” Curated by Jumoke Sanwo, this exhibition delves into the African imagination. ART X Talks will further enrich the fair with engaging discussions, including a conversation with filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu, a collaboration with Native on the influence of African music genres on contemporary pop culture, and insights from Ed Keazor and Missla Libsekal, curators of the Mark-Makers exhibition.
Educational and engaging programs such as the Schools’ Programme and the Development Forumwill nurture the next generation of African talent, ensuring that ART X Lagos continues to serve as a platform for creativity, cultural dialogue, and community building across Africa and the diaspora.
ART X Lagos has rapidly become a fixture for African art, culture, and creativity. As a key moment on the continent, the fair will continue to redefine held views of the African narrative while also building bridges between local and international audiences and their communities.
Galleries at ART X Lagos 2024
Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Gallery (Nigeria), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Affinity Art Gallery (Nigeria), Kanbi Projects (UK), kó (Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), ODA Art Gallery (Nigeria) and Tiwani Contemporary (UK).
About ART X Lagos
ART X Lagos was created to showcase and support the breadth of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, the fair has since become a cornerstone of the African art sector. The first of its kind in West Africa, ART X Lagos goes beyond the traditional bounds of an art fair, and has become renowned for its ambitious programme that includes ART X Cinema, ART X Talks, ART X Live! and specially curated projects which have featured an array of emerging and established artists from over 70 countries across the continent and diaspora.
ART X Lagos 2024 will take place from October 31st – November 3rd at The Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos. The private Collectors’ Preview will be held on Thursday, October 31st, followed by the VIP Preview on Friday, November 1st. The fair will be open to the public on Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, while virtual audiences can also engage with the fair on Artsy.net.
For more information, visit artxlagos.com, Instagram @artxlagos.
There are different ways to trick your parents into giving you money, and for Chidi*, it turns out catfishing is one of them.
The 23-year-old talks about discovering his dad’s womanising side and why pretending to be a woman was the perfect punishment for his dad’s actions.
As told to Boluwatife
You should know two things about my dad: He’s an unrepentant womaniser and as stingy as they come.
I only learned about the womanising a few years ago, but that stingy part? I’ve always known that about my dad. Or, more accurately, I knew that my dad was often reluctant to spend money, but I thought it was because he didn’t have much of it. It wasn’t exactly a far-fetched idea, considering he’s a building engineer with a wife and six children to feed.
Plus, he was hardly around due to working on one construction site or the other. I assumed that he constantly had to hustle to provide for us.
I grew to understand that getting money from my dad didn’t just happen; it involved serious planning. Several times, I’ve seen my mum sit across from my dad at the dining table to discuss after we (the children) had cleared the plates.
Those discussions were often about money — how much she needed to sort out a bill and why exactly the bill was necessary. It was like a budget presentation and approval meeting. My dad wouldn’t drop anything if she didn’t “defend” her needs well enough.
I remember almost missing the deadline to pay my WAEC registration fee in 2015 because I accidentally gave him two different dates as the payment deadline. He assumed I was lying about the money and refused to pay until my teacher came to see him.
University wasn’t any better. My dad never picked up my calls, just in case the call was for money. He only responded to my texts to inform me when he’d sent the usual ₦5k he sent once or twice a month. I didn’t think much about his attitude because it wasn’t strange — the whole family knew he hated spending money. But, I made an interesting discovery in my final year.
My university was in the same state as my family house, but I hardly ever went home because the distance between home and school was too great to visit regularly on my meagre allowance. But one day in 2022, I left school to attend a party at a nightclub not too far from home and surprisingly found my dad at the same nightclub.
Thankfully, he didn’t see me, but I had a good view of him from where I sat across the club. This man was dancing with a hot babe and holding her like his life depended on it.
I couldn’t tell my mum what I’d seen because I worried it would cause problems at home. But I had to tell someone, so I called my younger sister instead, and that’s when I realised I was even the least informed in my family.
Apparently, my dad had a thing for pursuing everything in skirts. My sister was still in secondary school, so she lived at home and had front-seat access to the multiple times my mum accused my dad of spending all his money on different women. Those times he wasn’t home that I thought were due to hustling? Oga was actually enjoying his life with women.
From what my sister shared, I realised the womanising had always been there, but my mum never made noise about it. I think she thought he’d grow out of it but had no choice but to vocally complain when he continued after almost all the children had grown up and left the house.
I was quite disappointed to learn that about my dad. This man struggled to provide for his own family, but he spent money freely on girlfriends. I know how often my mum had to borrow to support her provisions business when we were younger. I was angry, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t confront him and risk losing financial support for school.
But then, some months later, I found an opportunity to hit back at my dad.
I can’t remember what I was doing on Facebook that day, but I unexpectedly found my dad’s second Facebook profile. I say second because he already had one that we all knew about. This new profile only had his middle name and a shortened version of his surname, but I was sure it was him from the profile picture.
My female friend, Ada*, was in my hostel room that day, and I showed her the profile while complaining about how my dad had probably created a secret Facebook account to lie to women that he was single.
Ada jokingly suggested opening a fake account to trick him, and what started as a joke quickly became real. I opened a new account pretending to be a girl and uploaded Ada’s pictures to make my claim realistic. I sent my dad a friend request, and by the time I woke up the next day, he had accepted it.
Over the next week, I was in a “talking stage” with my dad — of course, he thought it was a fine babe. Whenever he asked for pictures or video calls, Ada took over. By the second week, I started billing him. Surprise surprise, he sent money. The first amount my dad sent was ₦50k. He’d never given me ₦50k as his actual child before. I shared the money equally with Ada.
The scam lasted three weeks, and my dad sent a total of ₦250k to his “mystery woman”. It was that high because I made him send ₦100k for the supposed flight ticket to bring his babe to our city so they’d finally meet.
Ada and I had claimed the “babe” was a university student in another part of the country, which was why we could stretch the meeting to three weeks. The “babe” was supposed to travel down to our state for semester break and meet with my dad. Of course, we blocked him immediately after that and shared the money.
After we blocked him, I called my sister and tried to get a sense of what things were like at home, but she said everything was fine. My dad didn’t act like anything strange had happened and just continued normally.
Of course, he had to continue normally. How do you tell your wife, “My online girlfriend scammed me”? It was the perfect punishment, and I don’t feel bad at all. I’d do it again if I had the chance.
That was over a year ago, but I still smile secretly anytime I see my dad. I’m tempted to one day tell him I was his “online girlfriend”, but I’ll keep that secret a little longer.
*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
Forget waxing lyrical in love messages, if you’ve ever struggled to express your feelings or send butterflies into the tummy of the LOYL, romance-speak is where it’s at. That’s why we combed through the internet for these deep relationship quotes that’ll have the LOYL weak in the knees.
Whether you’re looking to strengthen your relationship, or simply remind your partner how you give several fucks about them, these lines are tested and trusted.
2. “You’re perfect. Everything about you is perfect” — Isoken, Isoken
3. “You bring me more joy than a public holiday.”
4. “Nigeria may not give me peace of mind, but you do.”
5. “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want that moment to start as soon as possible.” — Harry, When Harry Met Sally
6. “I love you. I’ve said it more times than I can count under my breath. I’ve wanted to say it for a while. But I knew you needed time. I know you think you’re not wired for it and you claim you have this big black heart and are incapable of love. But I see you. I see all of you.” — Jenn McMahon, That First Date
7. “I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope and every dream I’ve ever had.” — Noah, The Notebook
8. “Your love is like the wind. I can’t see it but I can feel it.” — Lola, A Million Tears
9. “I’ve come here with no expectations, only to profess now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is, and always will be, yours.” — Mr Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
10. “I would rather have had one breath of your hair, one kiss from your mouth, one touch of your hand, than eternity without it.” — Nicholas Cage, City of Angels
11. “I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.” — Rose, Titanic
12. “You jump, I jump.” — Rose, Titanic
13. “I like living alone, but would rather live with you. I like sleeping alone, but would rather have you in my bed. I like having friends over, but would rather it just be the two of us.” — Christina Lauren, Love and Other Words
14. “You are the one. Took me a long time to realize that. When you left, you were still here. Like a damn ghost haunting my every step and thought. I never really moved on. Wasn’t going to. You had a piece of me.” — Jennifer L. Armentrout, Till Death
15. “I have loved you since before I knew I loved you. I have loved you since before I was supposed to love you. And I will continue to love you ever single day for the rest of eternity.” — Aly Martinez, From the Embers
16. “Loving someone means risking your heart being broken. But those moments you are together triumph over any hardship.” — Astrid Scholte, Four Dead Queens
17. “I wish I could live a thousand lives so I could fall in love with you a thousand times.” — A Sky Sabaa Tahir, Beyond The Storm
18. “Love is not always smooth and easy. Love can be piercing. Love means exposing yourself—all of yourself, every tender part—to being hurt. Because true love is not only the flower, true love is also the thorns.” — Mia Sheridan, Grayson’s Vow
19. “People get over love. They can live without it, they can move on. Love can be lost and found again. But that won’t happen for me. I won’t survive you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted or needed, everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I live and breathe you. For you.” — Sylvia Day, Reflected In You
20. “I didn’t know enough to dream you, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen? Who read my mind and knew exactly what I wanted, even when I didn’t?” — Mia Sheridan, Archer’s Voice
21. “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” — When Harry Met Sally
22. “So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard, and we’re gonna have to work at this every day. But I wanna do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever. You and me. Every day.” — The Notebook
23. “Love isn’t patient, and kind, and humble. Love is messy, and horrible, and selfish, and bold. It’s not about finding your perfect half. It’s the trying, and reaching, and failing.” — The Half of It
24. “Love isn’t easy; that’s why they call it love.” — The Big Sick
25. “Because it was us. We were magic.” — Someone Great
26. “You complete me.” — Jerry Maguire
27. “I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.” — Dirty Dancing
28. “Why me?” “Because you saw me when I was invisible.” — The Princess Diaries
29. “To me, you are perfect.” — Love Actually
30. “People do fall in love. People do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance that anyone’s got for true happiness.” — Breakfast at Tiffany’s
31. “What I’m trying to say, very inarticulately, is that, um, in fact, perhaps despite appearances, I like you, very much. Just as you are.” — Bridget Jones’s Diary
32. “I’d rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you.” — Pocahontas
33. “I knew that when I kissed this girl I would be forever wed to her. So I stopped. I stopped and I waited. I waited for a moment longer. Then I just let myself go.” — The Great Gatsby
34. “I’ve come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is, and always will be, yours.” — Sense and Sensibility
35. “My love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.” — The Fault in Our Stars
36. “I don’t want to sound foolish, but remember love is what brought you here. And if you’ve trusted love this far, don’t panic now. Trust it all the way.” — If Beale Street Could Talk
37. “I wish I knew how to quit you.” — Brokeback Mountain
38. “I love you through the perfect moments, and there are so many, but I will always love you through the imperfect ones too.” — Becka Mack, Consider Me
39. “For my entire life, my heart has only beat for one person. That’s you. Even without knowing if you’d ever be mine, I knew I was yours.” — Kat Singleton, Rewrite Our Story
40. “I want only you. Whatever of you I can have. I’ll take one night. One hour. One minute. Whatever you want to give me. I’ll have it.” — Six Carissa Broadbent, Scorched Roses
41. “I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.” — Ella Maise, Marriage For One
42. “I could spend the rest of forever with you and it still wouldn’t be enough time to finish everything I have planned for us.” — Lauren Asher, Terms & Conditions
43. “I don’t feel alone with you. I feel like I have a family and a home again. You’re my home. All of the dark shadows seem to disappear when we’re together.” — R.K. Lilley, Mile High
44. “I will be here, every day. I’ll be right by your side reminding you that you matter, that you are needed, that there is a reason to have hope and a reason to live. I’ll be here reminding you that for me? You are that reason.” — Kandi Steiner, Quarterback Sneak
45. “I loved you even when I hated you. And that’s how I knew I didn’t hate you at all.” — Charleigh Rose, Bad Habit
46. “You were the missing piece of my soul, the breath in my lungs, the blood in my veins. I want you to know that even in death I’ll always remember you. I’ll always love you.” — J. A. Redmerski, The Edge of Never
47. “It’s easy to love someone when times are good. Real love is about holding on to one another when times aren’t.” — Devney Perry, Timid
48. “You’ve opened my eyes to the world and shown me what I was doing before wasn’t living. I’ve never felt more alive than when I’m with you. You’re not my second choice or my first choice. You’re my only choice.”
49. “Every time I close my eyes, I see you. I’ve always seen you. Even if you tell me you don’t feel the same. Even if I walk away knowing there’s not a chance in hell of us ever being something, I’ll wait for you.”
50. “Maybe the two of us were like the sun and moon, always passing each other, but never actually meant to be together.” — Eva Winners, Alexei
If you think that’s all the knee bending deep relationship quotes we’ve got in store for you and the LOYL, wait till you read the rest.
51. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” — Emily Bronte
52. “Your words are my food, your breath my wine. You are everything to me.” — Sarah Bernhardt
53. “You are every reason, every hope and every dream I’ve ever had.” — Nicholas Sparks
54. “A heart worth loving is one you understand, even in silence.” ― Shannon Alder
55. “Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses.” — Lao Tzu
56. “Oh, how a quiet love can drown out every fear.” — Jessica Katoff
57. “It can only be true love when you enable your other half to be better, to be the person they’re destined to be.” — Michelle Yeoh
58. “You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” — Dr. Seuss
59. “We loved with a love that was more than love.” — Edgar Allan Poe
60. “Where there is great love, there are always miracles.” — Willa Cather
61. “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” ― Thomas Merton
62. “Love has nothing to do with what you are expected to get — only with what you are expecting to give — which is everything.” — Katharine Hepburn
63. “Love is the answer.” – John Lennon
64. “Love understands love; it needs no talk.” — Frances Havergal
65. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu
66. “I love you—I am at rest with you—I have come home.” — Dorothy L. Sayers
67. “People leave traces of themselves where they feel most comfortable, most worthwhile.” ― Haruki Murakami
68. “Love alone can rekindle life.” — Henri Frederic Amiel
69. “My love for you is past the mind, beyond my heart, and into my soul.” — Boris Kodjoe
70. “Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.” — Peter Ustinov
71. “Love, like rain, doesn’t choose the grass on which it falls.“
72. “No physician can cure the disease of love.“ — Unknown
74. “Love never gets lost, it’s only kept.”
75. “There is one who loves you after seeing you, and there is one who loves you unseen.”
76. “The greatest pain is not to be loved, but to love and not be reciprocated.” — Marcus Aurelius
77. “Love is a battlefield, and sometimes you lose.” — Unknown
78. “Love is the greatest gift of all.” — Unknown
79. “All that you are is all that I’ll ever need.” — Ed Sheeran
80. “You’re mine. I’m yours. We don’t belong with anyone else. I don’t stand in front of you, or run after you. I walk alongside you.”
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Picture this: your partner pulls you closer and whispers these words into your ears. Sweet, right? Anyway, we’ve got more emotional relationship quotes guaranteed to make your love stand the test of time.
81. “If something happens, know that I will find you in every lifetime. You are mine, and not even death can keep you from me.” Emily McIntire, Scarred
82. “I’ll choose you. No matter how hard it is. No matter what people say. Every time, I’ll choose you. It’s up to you to choose me back.” — Tess Sharpe, Far From You
83. “I’ve been swallowed up in sadness and pain and every different kind of self-hatred that exists. But you’ve been my bright spot. You’ve pulled me through. The only good thing this broken heart of mine can feel is love for you.” — Helen Hoang, The Heart Principle
84. “You have me. Until every last star in the galaxy dies. You have me.” — Amie Kaufman, These Broken Stars
85. “So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” — Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
86. “You are my blue crayon, the one I never have enough of, the one I use to color my sky.” — A.R. Asher
87. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller
88. “To be your friend was all I ever wanted; to be your lover was all I ever dreamed.” — Valerie Lombardo
89. “True love is not a hide-and-seek game; in true love, both lovers seek each other.” — Michael Bassey Johnson
90. “Happily ever after is not a fairy tale—it’s a choice.” — Fawn Weaver
91. “Wherever you are, no matter if it’s right next to me or a thousand miles away, I’m tied to you with a thread that can’t break. We’re connected by something stronger than time or place.” Krista & Becca Ritchie, Wherever You Are
92. “My eyes have really only been opened since you came into my world. You gave me everything. You made me really want to see what was around me, for the first time in my life. You made me want you. You made me want… a life.” — Raine Miller , Eyes Wide Open
93. “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” — Victor Hugo
94. “Whether it’s a lifetime or a moment, not a second of what’s between us could ever be a mistake. Love is moment to moment. It’s not dependent on how much longer you’re together, and I fucking love you. It’s going to hurt like hell, but it’ll have been worth it.” Jessa Wilder, Rule Number Five
95. “You have my heart. I don’t know if you deserve it or not. I can’t tell if you’re a hero or a villain, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Either way, my heart is yours.” — Marissa Meyer , Heartless
96. “Your dark doesn’t scare me. It only makes me want to hold your hand and be your light until you can find your own again. That’s what people do when they’re in love.” — Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward, Dirty Letters
97. “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride.” — Pablo Neruda
98. “I love you so much it’s like a constant flow spilling into my soul. You taught me how to live again, and in a world without you, I would merely be surviving.”
99. “Your heart was always safe with me. It always will be. There is nothing I will protect more fiercely or with more devotion. Trust in that, in what you feel from me. In me.”
100. “Be mine. Be mine right now. Be mine forever. I’ll give you anything you want. All I want in return is you.” — Julia Quinn, An Offer From A Gentleman
Love Life is a Zikoko weekly series about love, relationships, situationships, entanglements and everything in between.
What’s your earliest memory of each other?
Obinna: We met at a church event in July 2022.
I wasn’t supposed to be there. During a visit to my mum, she practically dragged me to help her out in her small family church. So I was setting up chairs when Emem came in with her family. She was with her sister, and they were joking about something. She had this vibe—confident, but still a bit shy.
Later, I found out she lived near my mum’s shop. We started chatting whenever I passed by the shop every other week or so, and eventually, it turned into longer conversations.
Emem: I was waiting outside his mum’s shop on the day we really talked for the first time. I was bored, scrolling through my phone, and he just showed up. He was talking to our mums about some local council thing—I barely paid attention. But after a while, he started showing up more, and we’d talk casually.
About what?
Emem: At first, I thought he was just being polite, you know, those older guys that are nice but never look your way. But he started asking about me—like what I wanted to do after school, what I was passionate about. He wasn’t pushy either, just…interested.
Obinna: I remember Lagos was in that usual rainy season mess. I’d stop by whenever I was in the area, and we’d talk about the weather and how it’ll affect so many things—traffic, electricity, laundry.
By the end of the year, we were seeing each other more often.
How did you feel about this, Emem?
Emem: I was still 18, entering into my second year at uni. I wasn’t even thinking of him in that way when we started talking. But he wasn’t playing games. By the time I turned 19, it just felt right to be together, even though I knew some people wouldn’t get it.
Tell me how you got together
Obinna: We got into a routine. I started picking her up from school whenever I could. We’d go for lunch or just drive around town. Lagos traffic was a blessing in disguise—the long car rides gave us time to bond without interruptions. And I started inviting her over to my place just to hang out, watch movies or talk. Nothing serious at first, just enjoying each other’s company.
Emem: He’d sometimes drive me and my sister home from school. Eventually, he started picking me up more often, especially on weekends. I wasn’t really going out much before that, but with him, I felt like I could experience more.
We didn’t want people getting the wrong idea, especially early on, so we kept it low-key. But as we got more comfortable, it became more open.
What wrong idea did you think people would get?
Obinna: The obvious one—people would assume I was taking advantage of her because of our age difference. Once people see a younger girl with an older guy, the first thing they think is, “He’s grooming her” or “She’s too young to know what she’s doing.” They don’t take the time to understand that it’s not like that with us.
Emem: My friends, especially. They’re quick to judge things like that, calling it sugar daddy vibes or whatever. But I know what I want. From the beginning, I knew I liked being with him. It’s always easy to label something “wrong” just because of that holier than thou attitude.
Did you have your parents’ approval to go out with him so often?
Emem: Not exactly. I knew they’d have their concerns about me dating an older guy, especially since I was still in school. So I just told them I was hanging out with a “friend,” which was true to some extent.
Obinna: I wasn’t happy she had to sneak around for us to spend quality time together. But then, I know she’s still young. I get why she felt she had to protect what we had, just like me. It’s not like she was lying about her feelings; she genuinely likes spending time with me.
If anything, it made me want to be more supportive and prove that we could make this work, regardless of how others viewed it.
How did you know for sure that you liked each other?
Obinna: I’ve been with women my age, but it always felt like we were competing—like we were both bringing too much baggage. There was something about Emem that clicked on a deeper level; it felt easier. It wasn’t instant, but I liked that she wasn’t jaded yet, if I’m being honest. She was still figuring things out. She wasn’t trying to prove anything.
I knew I liked her when I found myself genuinely looking forward to our conversations, not just the physical stuff. There was a simplicity to being with her that I hadn’t felt in a while.
Emem: I knew because I felt safe with him. I’ve never felt even a dot of bad vibes or like I’m putting myself in danger. Most guys my age just want to play games, and I was tired of that. He didn’t make me feel like I had to impress him or act older than I was. I don’t feel like just some young girl he’s using for fun.
We talk about my plans, my frustrations with school, and he’d give me advice that makes sense. I liked that he wasn’t rushing anything and let me set the pace. That’s how I knew it was real—he respected me.
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So you didn’t tell anyone at all about the relationship?
Obinna: Not at first. Even my own friends—guys who have no business judging—would’ve had something to say about it. And I was right.
I didn’t want to deal with unnecessary comments before we even knew where the relationship was heading. Eventually, though, I told one of my cousins, and she was surprisingly cool with it. That gave me the confidence to slowly open up to others.
Emem: I didn’t tell my friends at first. I just said I was talking to someone, but I didn’t give too many details. It was only a few weeks after we became official that I told my best friend. And she asked me, “What could you two possibly have in common?” But when I explained that I felt more comfortable with him than with any guy my age, she kind of backed off.
My family found out later when they noticed I was spending a lot more time with him. I was 20, and I think that’s why my mum, surprisingly, didn’t react badly. She was more concerned about whether I was happy than about the age gap.
Did she know you’d been talking since you were 18?
Emem: No. She still doesn’t.
Okay. So how did the relationship progress after this?
Obinna: Earlier this year, we stopped hiding. But the real turning point came when she got pregnant in May. That changed everything. Suddenly, what was just between us became everyone else’s business. It solidified things for me—I knew I wanted her in my life long-term.
Emem: We got more serious when I occasionally started staying over at his place, helping him with stuff and spending weekends together. By the time I found out I was pregnant, I already felt secure in our relationship, but I was still scared. When I told him, he was calm about it, even more than I expected.
We talked about the future, and he made it clear he wanted to take care of me and the baby. That’s when I knew he wasn’t playing. He wants to marry me now, and honestly, I’m ready for it. People will always talk, but I’m happy with him.
What’s been the reaction to the pregnancy and marriage talks?
Obinna: My parents are still warming up to the idea, and a few relatives have made comments about me “rushing things”. Some even suggested that I was being irresponsible, like I purposely got her pregnant to trap her. But the truth is, I’m not marrying her just because she’s pregnant—I actually love her. Is that so bad? I wish we didn’t always have to prove our relationship is pure.
Emem: My friends freaked out when they found out. I’m four months in now and some of them have stopped talking to me altogether. My mum actually discovered it before me. She was shocked at first, but she’s supportive now. She’s been telling me to focus on building my life with Obinna and ignore the noise.
The most hurtful reactions have been from strangers. People look at me like I’m some naive girl who doesn’t know what she’s doing, but they don’t understand us.
And how are you balancing everything with school?
Emem: It’s no joke. I’m in my third year, so classes have been intense, but Obinna is really supportive. He helps me study and reminds me to take breaks. When I feel overwhelmed, he encourages me to focus on my health first, which I appreciate.
I’m excited about being a mum. That keeps me motivated.
Obinna: She’s currently on break, but when school was in session, you wouldn’t even know she was pregnant. We’d use everything from apps to planners to keep track of her assignments and doctor’s appointments. But we’ve agreed to defer her final year for our peace of mind.
Emem: My elder sister has been really supportive as well. It’s just the two of us, and I’m so happy that we’re still so close.
Neat. So what was your first major fight about?
Obinna: We don’t really fight. The only one I can think of is two months ago when I’d put money together to take her away to celebrate our anniversary. But Emem wanted us to spend it all on the baby—clothes, a crib, stuff like that. I felt like she was getting ahead of herself since she was just over two months gone. We had an argument about it for days.
Emem: I thought we should be preparing for the future, not just focusing on having fun. It was the first time I really questioned if we were on the same page, and I cried and cried. But we talked it out. We ended up going shopping for the cot but still having a nice dinner on our anniversary.
It didn’t feel like a fight, though.
Got it
Obinna: That’s how I know I want to marry her.
In our culture, there’s a lot of stigma attached to having a child out of wedlock, and I don’t want that for Emem or our baby. It’s important to me that we do things the right way, even though everyone’s interpretation of that is different. I believe in being a family, and I want to give our child a sense of stability.
Emem: My mum has been dropping hints about how important it is to her, so that’s in the back of our minds.
So what’s the plan?
Obinna: The plan is to propose soon, ideally before the baby arrives. I want to do it in a way that feels special, not rushed at all. I’ve been looking at rings. I want it to reflect her personality, something unique. Once I propose, we’ll start planning the wedding.
Emem: I’m excited about it. I’m secretly hoping it’ll be a cute proposal I can brag about to my friends! For the wedding, I don’t need anything extravagant, not in this economy. I just want us to have enough to create a home filled with love and support, and marrying him is a big part of that.
Does it still feel like you’re setting the pace, Emem?
Emem: Honestly, yes, it does. I’m excited about becoming a mum and marrying Obinna, and I sometimes feel like I’m the one driving the relationship forward. I’m the one who’s pregnant, and that changes a lot! I’m thinking about our future, how we’ll manage the baby, and making sure we’re both on the same page.
Obinna: I worry she feels overwhelmed with everything, and that’s the last thing I want.
In what way?
Obinna: I just wish she’d relax a little, knowing I’ll support her. It’s a learning curve for both of us, but I believe we’ll find our way as we go.
Emem: I see Obinna stepping up all the time, and it gives me hope that we’re in this together, but I still catch myself thinking about things I want to make sure happen, like expanding my crochet business and creating a loving home for our child.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your Love Life?
Obinna: 8. There are challenges, like dealing with the stresses of an unplanned pregnancy. But overall, I believe in what we have.
Emem: I agree with 8. I know it might sound crazy given our age difference and the baby on the way, but I genuinely feel loved and supported by Obinna. I think once we’re married and start our life as a family, that score might just go up.
Nigeria’s national grid has done what it does best: collapse. But you know how they say there’s a silver lining behind a dark cloud? Well, now’s your chance to show the LOYL how you can be the halogen lamp in the darkness that threatens to swallow them.
Play shadow puppets
It’s simple. Shine a torch on the wall, and y’all can create all sorts of unhinged shadow shapes. Who needs to pay for an expensive silhouette art when you have this DIY option?
A candle-lit dinner
Cooking in the dark might stress and make you swear at PHCN from the bottom of your heart, but it’ll all be worth it when your bae crumbles into your hands at the sight of candles, flowers and a romantic meal on the dining table.
Go stargazing
This one works better at night when y’all are having a hard time going to bed because the room is stuffy and hot AF. Grab a blanket, lie outside with the LOYL and let mosquitoes whisper sweet nothings in your ears. Just don’t ruin it by bringing a mosquito net.
Or stay inside for genital tluf tluf
True OGs know the best sex happens when the weather is hot AF and bodily fluids flow like water. The house might smell funky afterwards, but hey, at least you’ll save your lubricant for another day.
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Play ojuju calabar
Listen, hide and seek in the dark slaps like mad. Y’all might bump heads against walls and furniture, but there’s also a high chance of tripping into an unplanned quickie. And we know those are the absolute best!
Do tales by moonlight
Picture this: you and your partner snuggled under the moonlight, sharing nostalgic tortoise stories from childhood. Sweet, right?
Roast something to eat
There’s no better bonding activity in the afternoon when the no-light situation can really bore y’all to death. Go outside and show the LOYL you could have been a badass boli or agbado seller in another life.
Sleep
Because what even is the point of staying awake when you and the LOYL can enjoy all the electricity you want in dreamland? Just make sure you are in the same bed.
The topic of how young Nigerians navigate romantic relationships with their earnings is a minefield of hot takes. In Love Currency, we get into what relationships across income brackets look like in different cities.
How long have you been married?
It’ll be 10 years in November.
Let’s talk about the beginning. How did you both meet?
We met about three months after I moved to Lagos from Akure in 2013. I was squatting with a friend in his one-room apartment, and Happiness was his neighbour. She came to my friend’s house to charge her phone one day, and I was immediately attracted to her. I kept thinking, “This babe is too fresh.”
After she left, I confirmed that there was nothing between her and my friend, and when he gave the go-ahead, I began pursuing her. It was funny — I didn’t have a job or a house, but I was chasing a woman.
Haha. How did you convince her to “gree for you”?
I had a sweet mouth, or maybe she just liked me. While toasting her, I made it clear that while I didn’t have money, I came to Lagos to hustle and didn’t plan to be broke for long.
Happiness was — and still is — really understanding. My airtime once finished on a call when I was still toasting her. When I told her why the call ended the next day, she just said, “Ehya. No wahala.” I thought she’d be angry.
I wasn’t even looking at a long-term relationship because I wasn’t ready to support a girlfriend or even a family. But Happiness was so considerate and thoughtful. She didn’t bill me and sometimes even cooked food for me and my friend. Me, I was surprised. How would someone I haven’t bought anything for be cooking for me? I didn’t even know when I fell in love, but I knew I was at my last bus stop.
So, when I got a ₦35k/month teaching job a month after we started dating, I started seriously thinking about marriage.
Did you think you were financially ready for a home?
I wasn’t, but I also didn’t want her to go. Happiness is two years older than me, and when we started talking, she told me about the pressure she was under to get married. She was 29, and her two younger sisters were already married. I knew she’d find someone else if I didn’t show my seriousness.
Also, Happiness had a job, so it’s not like we’d rely only on my ₦35k. She was a secretary and earned ₦60k. We figured we’d survive one way or another, so we got married in 2014 and moved into her apartment.
How did you handle wedding expenses?
The wedding was a small affair. We went to the registry and had a small traditional ceremony in my in-laws’ parlour.
Happiness’ parents initially protested. They thought it was an insult for their first daughter to have a small wedding ceremony. But trust my wife. She asked them to pick one: a small wedding or for their child to remain single. Everybody kept quiet.
See now, we didn’t have a big wedding, but we’ve stayed together for 10 years and now have three children. The size of the wedding doesn’t mean anything.
True that. What are both of your finances like these days?
My wife’s brother helped me get a local government job in 2016, and I now earn ₦78k. However, I also get free money — up to ₦15k monthly when a politician shares money at the office or when my office (I work in sanitation) goes on raids at the market.
My wife left her corporate job after we had our third boy in 2022. It was stressful for her to handle the job with the kids. So, she’s a hairdresser now. During the long holidays, she also organises lessons for children in our area.
The woman is really trying. Our boys are a handful, and it’s tough caring for them and trying to do anything else, but she does it. I just want to make plenty money so I can spoil her well, and she can relax at home. But we’re just managing the way we can for now.
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But how do you spoil her now? Is there a romance budget?
Ah. Did my wife send you? She always complains that I’m not romantic. She’s not wrong; my own spoiling doesn’t pass buying her ₦3k shawarma once or twice a month. Then I buy her a dress or scarf for her birthday. Sometimes, I send her ₦5k here and there when I get free money from the office.
I think she’ll think I’m more romantic when I start sending her more money. She’s always extra happy when I send her random money. I recently promised her I’d be more romantic, so I’ll try to dash her money more. Having any extra money on a ₦78k salary is difficult, but she deserves it.
That’s sweet. What kind of money conversations do you have with your wife?
We’re always talking about money — how much my children’s school said we should bring for one thing, how much NEPA sent us for the electricity bill, feeding costs, etc. Tinubu has turned most of these conversations into complaining sessions.
For example, my wife will bring one yam tuber and ask me to guess how much it cost. When I guess an amount, she tells me to multiply it by 3 or 5, and we start complaining about how expensive things are.
Things are hard o. I’m sure my wife even adds her own money to what I give her for food because there’s no way the ₦50k I give her monthly for food does anything.
I can relate. Has money ever caused conflict between you two?
I can’t remember. Of course, we argue, but money is hardly a topic. My wife doesn’t complain about whether the money I dropped is enough or not. I told you she’s understanding.
I also don’t hide things from her. A senior colleague at the office always says that women are more demanding when they don’t know how much you have. My wife knows what I have, so she collects it like that. But I still wish to do more for her.
What’s your ideal financial future as a couple?
One day, I hope to transfer to work with the federal government so I can earn more. One of the first things I’ll do is to open a shop for my wife. I’m also considering taking a loan to buy a vehicle I can use as a cab when I’m less busy at work. In a few years, our older boys will be ready for secondary school, and I don’t want them to attend an anyhow school. I really just want a future where we can complain less and enjoy our lives.
Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click here.
*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
If you ask me how my Monday is going, I’ll tell you I’m still smiling over a random stranger on the internet who got the cutest birthday gift from her partner—a curated photobook spanning four years, complete with QR codes to her favourite songs. The real “God, when?” right?
Naturally, I wanted to find out what other viral-worthy gifts people have received from their loved ones. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.
Cooking is my love language. If I care about you, you’ll taste my food at least once a month. But when I lost my mum in 2019, something changed. I enjoyed cooking with her, and the kitchen was our bonding spot. After she died, I stopped cooking as much, and that’s when my friends stepped in. I never imagined they knew how to cook, but for six months, they showed up with a week’s worth of home-cooked meals. They even volunteered to cook in my house on several occasions. It was the best gift I could’ve received during that period. Though I lowkey blame them for the extra weight I gained while grieving.
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Ibukun*
On my 30th birthday, my husband went all out. He hired a chef to do “breakfast in bed” for me. I woke up to the sound of a trumpet and rose petals led me to the dining room, where an IG-worthy breakfast spread awaited—eggs, pancakes, strawberries, chocolates, and toast. When I thought my husband had worked himself off all morning for my sake, a chef stepped out of the kitchen with a cute birthday cake. We ate together while a paranra guy played soft music in the background, and the best part? My husband kept our phones locked away, saying we’d describe the moment to our loved ones with words. It’s been two years, and while I’ve pulled my surprises for him, nothing has topped that day.
Josephine*
I once dated a guy who sold perfumes, so I was always spoiled with nice scents. But the most thoughtful gift was when he tried to recreate my mum’s scent after she passed away. I’d often break down when I caught a whiff of her scent in public, saying, “That person smells like my mum,” but never asked what they were wearing. He asked if I had anything of hers with her scent still on it. I gave him a scarf and one of her clothes, and three weeks later, he gave me a bottle of perfume named after her. It wasn’t an exact match, but the effort and intention melted my heart.
Dewunmi*
People don’t understand that there’s an art to giving gifts. Before I met my partner, I was terrible at it—expensive gadgets, fashion accessories, and money were my go-to. Everything changed after we got together. She curates experiences and gives gifts that leave lasting impressions. I’m learning from her. My favourite gift is a personalised diary she gave me some years back. Each page had handwritten notes—things we’d said to each other, quotes from our favourite movies and songs. The last page also featured a collage of our most intimate photos. No matter what kind of day I’m having, I always leave that diary with a smile.
Busola*
I had a favourite coffee mug that my husband gave me when “glow in the dark” was trending. Everyone had them on shirts, key holders, and accessories. But instead of writing “I love you” or my name, he wrote a sweet note on the mug. I kept it on my reading table because I loved how it lit up in the dark. One day, it slipped and broke while I was cleaning the house. I was in a foul mood for the rest of that week.
Kenny*
In uni, I dated a wannabe singer, and the most romantic gift I’ve ever gotten came from him. While other girls got flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears for Valentine’s Day, he gave me an MP3 player with six R&B song covers, including my name in his version of the songs. He also recorded a poem with my name in it. It was so sweet, and I always took the device everywhere. Although, I never allowed anyone else to listen to it. Even after the MP3 player stopped working, I kept it for years.
Let’s be honest: saving your parents’ names as “Mummy” or “Daddy” is boring AF. We’re not saying it’s wrong, but what’s stopping you from using a name that’ll make you smile whenever they pop up on your screen? If you’re already thinking about hitting the edit button in your contact list, we’ve got some suggestions.
Names to save your dad’s contact
Commander in Chief
If your dad runs the house military-style.
Daddy
This one is simple and straight to the point.
P Man
If your dad is also your guy.
Daddy
If he treats you like a child, even if you’re old AF.
