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  • Our parents have gotten older now, and it’s our turn to make them happy. But Nigerian parents make it tough to surprise them. Nigerian mums always want to know what you’re doing; they’re always in your business. 

    We’re going to help you with a few tips on how to successfully throw a surprise party for your Nigerian parents. 

    1. Tell them to follow you to a religious event

    Nigerian parents are often very religious and won’t hesitate to follow you to a religious event. They’ll be impressed that God has finally touched your life and will be a little to enthusiastic about the trip. 

    2. Don’t tell their friends about the party till the night before

    You don’t want anyone ruining the surprise you’ve spent months planning. If you tell your mum’s friend early on, the invitation to the event will end up on her Unique Sisters WhatsApp group chat. Wait until the night before to invite their friends to the surprise. 

    3. Don’t live in the same house with them

    If you don’t live with your parents, you’re safe. But if you live in the same house with your parents, one of your parents is going to sniff the information out from you. Move out of their house until you let the cat out of the bag. I don’t know where you’re going to live in the meantime o, but sha move out of their house until it’s over. 

    RECOMMENDED: Every Nigerian Parent’s Search History Probably Looks Like This

    4. Tell them you’re taking them out to see their favourite actor 

    Tell them you have tickets for them to hang out with their favourite actors. You think Nigerian parents don’t care about things like this, but they really do. Alternatively, you can also try to have that actor at the surprise party.

    5. Drive around your area and attend any party you see going on with them

    You didn’t throw the party or plan it, but you attended it with them nonetheless. If they’re not even disappointed by your action, they’ll be surprised you decided to be a “mogbo, moya” (translation: “I heard, I turned”). 

    6. Surprise them by getting married 

    If you’re unmarried, find a boo and get married. That’ll def surprise your parents. Give your parents a reason to celebrate, be happy and also surprised. If your parents are still not surprised after all this, then we don’t know for you again. 

    ALSO READ: 10 Things to Be Prepared for When Planning a Wedding in Nigeria

  • Do you know how to plan parties? What if we told you we could guess your dream vacation destination based on how you plan an owambe, would you believe us?


  • We’ve shared a first timer’s guide to attending a Nigerian wedding in case you’re new to the Owambe lifestyle. If on the other hand, you’re the one wedding please pray these 6 things don’t happen.

    They can seriously ruin your matrimonial plans.

    1. If your caterer decides to be a witch

    Never underestimatetbe power of a Nigerian caterer to ruin your wedding. Never, ever.

    2. If you have been deceiving people’s children

    You have finished deceiving your three side lovers that they’re the absolute loves of your life. Now, you want to get married in peace? You lie!

    3. If you don’t share souvenirs

    Ehn? After buying Aso-ebi 25k, you will leave people empty-handed? You want to see crazy. Share something, even if it’s a roll of tissue

    4. If you don’t share Jellof, small chops or Amala

    Is it even an Owambe if small chops or Jellof rice isn’t on the menu? Mama Rasheeda literally skipped meals just so she can eat four plates of Amala. So come correct.

    5. If you hire a mad DJ

    Imagine expecting a playlist containing classic wedding bops, only for the DJ to play a recording of their last sexcapade… To the hearing of all your 500 guests. Ah.

    6. If you hire an anyhow photographer

    Beautiful moments at your wedding are documented so you can revisit and cherish the memories. Videos of that you-may-kiss-the-bride moment nko? Sweet. But everything can go wrong if the person you hire for the job does anyhow.

    In the spirit of Nigerian weddings and the culture surrounding it, bCODE will be rewarding a Nigerian couple will full video and photography coverage of their wedding ceremony.

    How to Win: ​

    • Create a 1minute clip telling about your love story.​
    • Upload on social media using the hashtag #HavaianasOWAMbe​
    • Tag @shopthebcode​ on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

    Submission of entries starts on Saturday August 1st and ends September 11th, 2021.​

    Voting of shortlisted entries commences on 11th of September, 2021. ​Couples with the most engagement will be entered in a raffle and a winner picked.

  • Corona is outside and we can’t party as hard as we want. But that does not stop us from daydreaming about all the things we miss, right?

    1. The aso ebi.

    Or even colour codes for the party. We miss being genuinely excited to dress up for an actual event.

    2. The live band.

    And good music that will make you throw away your home training. Whew! God when again?

    3. Spraying money.

    The face you make when the music enters your bones. The face you make when you’re really ready to spray that dollar. The face you make when you want to show them that you mean business. Just what we miss!

    4. The food.

    Nothing beats the taste of party Jollof. Nothing at all.

    5. Showing off.

    Because really, what is the point of an owambe if you don’t show off and oppress your haters with your slay?

    6. The souvenirs.

    Those really fabulous parties where they share anything and everything from matches to tomato paste to Mama Lemon soap.

    7. The premium fun that only a correct owambe can give you.

    We really miss owambes. Can Corona please pack her load and be going? We have heard your message ma, and we are sorry. Please come and be going.

  • Nigerian owambe‘s are always a vibe. They are the classic cocktail of music, people, and party Jollof. If you’re lucky you meet your future husband/wife at one. If you’re unlucky you run into your ex with their new bae/boo. But hey, no pressure. Asides the ex’s and the next’s there is another special demographic of owambe attendees we would like to recognize today- our precious Nigerian aunties.

    You have definitely met one of the Nigerian aunties on this list if you have been attending owambes for a while. If you haven’t met any then you have not been attending Nigerian owambe’s, don’t argue plix.

    1. The ones that will end up fighting for souvenirs.

    zikoko- Nigerian Aunties

    You see them and you think they came to celebrate with the couple like everyone else. But they manifest their real purpose when the souvenirs start going around.

    2. The ones that will ask you when you will marry.

    zikoko- Nigerian Aunties

    The busy body ones. And they also do well to add a mini-lecture on why marriage is good and how your time is going.

    3. The ones that become your food and drinks plug.

    zikoko- Nigerian Aunties

    And the almighty God will bless them for their selfless service.

    4. The ones that came to gather amebo facts and figures.

    zikoko- Nigerian Aunties

    These ones have been hearing and spreading all sorts about the couple so they just came to fact check and gather more amebo data. They came for the jollof too.

    5. The ones that will scatter the dance floor.

    A.k.a the life of the party. They’ve got moves and they came to prove it.

    6. The ones that came to slay.

    They have their makeup on fleek with their gele looking like something a machine tied. Their outfit also looking like they are hitting the red carpet next.

    7. Some might even dash you money

    And may the almighty God bless, keep them for us and keep helping us bump into them at parties.

    What’s up, Zikoko Fam? It would mean the world to us if you spared a few minutes to fill this Reader Survey. It’s so we can bring you the content you really want!

  • Maintaining a social life can feel impossible when you live in a city as stressful as Lagos. Finding a balance between work and fun is basically an extreme sport, especially if you are on a tight budget.

    The struggle is real.

    To help you navigate this, we thought long and hard to create this list of 6 suggestions. If you no longer want to be a hermit in Lagos, only leaving your house to go to work, then this post is for you.

    1) Crash with a friend who lives close to your office:

    There’s a feeling of peace that comes with living close to your office — even if you have to squat with a friend. This way, you don’t spend most of your life in traffic, giving you more than enough time to catch up with friends.

    2) Attend free events:

    There are numerous ticket-free events in Lagos that give you a chance to mingle in a nice atmosphere. Some of these events include; Eyo festival, Fanti festival, Lagos Trade Fair, Adire festival, GTBank Food and Drinks and more.

    3) Splurge on Sundays:

    The best time to have a traffic-free and budget-friendly outing in Lagos is on a Sunday. Most people stay indoors and everything is slow-paced and serene, which gives you a chance to fully enjoy hanging with your squad.

    4) Go to parks with friends:

    Freedom Park and Jakande J Tinubu Park are some of the places to have fun with friends and family. To have a great time, just grab a book, some board games, cheap snacks, mats, sunscreen and some cash.

    5) Avoid public holiday outings:

    They are simply the worst. The malls, cinemas, parks, beaches and everything in between are often packed with people — mostly wailing children — and everything is so much more expensive.

    6) Be deliberate about parties you attend:

    It’s not every owambe you should attend, considering how expensive they can be. Having to buy an asoebi, sew new clothes, get gifts and all that jazz should guide you towards choosing the most budget-friendly parties.

  • Owambe is the real deal in Nigeria — the ultimate Nigerian experience. Every other Saturday, the average Nigerian looks forward to attending a party.

    People tend to go to parties for three major reasons: to slay, to feel among or to eat. Amongst the people who go there to eat, there are levels and this includes the nitpick eater, the always-asking-for-more eater and then there’s the hoarder. The hoarders are a different breed. They are so different, we’ve made an entire post about them.

    These five behaviours will prove if you’re a hoarder or not:

    • When considering the outfit to wear, you always put in mind the fact that you might need to bring food back home from the party. Maybe take a bigger bag that matches that black dress? You might even take disposable plastics or nylons with you. The more the merrier. The hoarders are forever ready.
    • Feeling like a G when people at your table start complaining about how the prawns didn’t get to them. Haq haq haq. They don’t know you have the direct line to the kitchen. In fact, there are about four servings worth of prawns in your bag. The way you’ll do asepo tomorrow ehn, no be for here.
    • Getting pissed when people come back from party empty handed. What’s the essence of going nigbayen?
    • Not being able to deal with the fact that you are expected to bring some edibles or drinks when going to a party. What’s now the point? I can’t deal, is my presence not enough?
    • How you laugh so hard in your mind when you hear people referring to you as someone who never hoards food at parties. Haq haq haq. They don’t know you have the key to hoarders gate, in fact you could give them a few lessons. Like, how to be an hoarder at parties without seeming like one.

  • You’ve been to an owambe and really had fun, abi? In fact, you ordered for extra small chops and more of that jollof rice with pepper chicken and Star to wash it all down.

    Well done sah! It’s now your turn to throw your own party, and it must bang! Don’t know how? Well, shall we begin?

    Break your bank

    I’m sure you know by now that rice is not cheap in the market. And how much do you think small chops and drinks and the rest cost? You’re going to break that bank, my friend. Unless you’re not on our level… In that case, we’re sorry.

    Aso ebi

    You need to hit your friends with ridiculously overpriced clothing materials in the colours of the season, of course! Your guests must slay in uniformity.

    Hire a famous party planner

    Honestly, this one is for your own sanity. And so your owambe won’t be a complete flop because the party planner’s name alone will make people want to turn up. He who has ears…

    Even if you hire a party planner…

    You still need to personally make sure that there is an abundance of small chops and drinks. Don’t play rough play.

    Hire photographers

    Photographers o, not photographer. At least two, with someone else doing video. All the beauty and slay must live on forever on social media, in every possible angle.

    Invite the right guests

    All your five photographers will be photographing who? You must invite internet celebrities o! So your guests will have something to entertain themselves with, and your pictures will come out looking bad and bougie.

    Hire bouncers

    Gather the biggest, toughest-looking bouncers you can find, because your prestigious guests need to feel safe. If they’re bald, even better.

    Jollof rice must be on point

    If the food isn’t Snapchat and Instagram worthy, have you even served food??? May ‘jollof rice has finished’ not be your portion.

    Drinks must be plenty

    A wise man once said, “the more the alcohol flows, the better your party is.” We don’t argue with wise men.

    Hire a live band or DJ

    Or, you know… hire the two. There can’t be an abundance of good music at a party.
    And don’t forget, even if you break your bank beyond the point of recovery, your owambe will live on forever on social media! 🙂

  • “Hello funke, I’m getting married and I’d like you to be on my bridal train” What? Me? Wow! I’m honoured. I can’t stop crying, wow I’m so happy.

    That’s the first type of bridesmaid you’d find at every wedding. The extremely emotional one.

    While Funke is crying, her friend is thinking of how she will meet Prince Charming at this wedding.

    “And I’m sure her husband has fine friends o. Jehovah this is my time. This is it”

    There’s also the bride’s best friend who is also her P.A throughout this wedding. This is the person who actually gets to decide who is on the bridal train.

    She’s the assistant bride, and if she doesn’t like you. Sorry, your bridesmaid benefit is canceled.

    You know those people you can never go shopping with because they never find anything they like? Yes, you will find them on the bridal train.

    If you like pick 15 different clothes,  they would not like anyone. “This dress is too big o, no no that’s too small, but the colours are too much, lets have that one, too its too dull”

    While the other bridesmaid is being dramatic with clothes. There’s one who just observes, because she has been on her bridesmaid duty for years.

    And she knows the dress everyone picks is what you will still wear. Whether you like it or not.

    There’s the bridesmaid who has suddenly taken the wedding planners job. She is everywhere and in everything.

    Except her actual bridesmaid duty.

    This persons only mission for the wedding is to catch the bouquet. So if they throw the bouquet and this next person doesn’t catch it.

    Let’s just say things won’t end well.

    There’s the one that’s friends with every and any one because she’s not bothered about husband or wife or dress or anything.

    She just want’s to pop bottles and party.

    The last person on this list is at this position because she is always late. For everything.

    “Wait where’s Toke? She’s not here yet”

    If you have ever been a bridesmaid. And you fall under any of these categories.

    You’re a real G.
  • Whether you do it in your father’s village or it’s a destination wedding in Dubai, no Nigerian wedding can be complete if the menu doesn’t include these dishes.

    Small chops

    It’s written in the Nigerian constitution that you must serve small chops as a starter at your wedding.

    Jollof rice

    We’ve not done proper research but it might be a criminal offense not to serve Jollof rice at your wedding. In fact, it’s just unheard of. And if it’s not firewood Jollof it doesn’t count.

    Moin-moin

    What’s jollof rice without spicy leaf wrapped moin-moin to go with it?

    Fried rice

    A standard plate of Nigerian wedding food has Jollof rice on one side and Fried rice on the other. The two just compliment each other.

    Coleslaw and/or dodo to go with the rice.

    Do you expect your guests to just be eating rice and meat like that? You have to garnish the rice with either coleslaw or dodo, and if you are feeling generous you put the two.

    Ofada Rice & Ayamashe Sauce

    Jollof and fried rice are great and all but it’s when the Ofada comes out that the real party starts.

    Amala and ewedu

    This is for your guests who are ready to wash hand and lose their home training. Make sure you garnish the ewedu and gbegiri with assorted

    Pounded yam and efo riro

    Emphasis on ‘pounded’ yam, poundo yam doesn’t count. Hot and fresh pounded yam must be on your Nigerian wedding food menu.

    If you are feeling generous you can add ‘Chinese rice and sauce’ just to give your wedding some international exposure.

    For all your ajebo guests.

    Did we leave anything out?