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TRUTH & REASON<br />
be all of you.<br />
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 ...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE<br />
Kehinde Bankole<br />
OMOTU BISSONG<br />
LINDA OSIFO<br />
MARCY DOLAPO ONI<br />
Michelle Dede<br />
Desperate!
OLUSUPO SHASORE<br />
FEMI ADENIYI-WILLIAMS<br />
OLANIKE<br />
DE SOUZA<br />
OLUWOLE ROTIMI, EVELYN REWANE-FABYAM, MRS. REWANE<br />
OLU FALOMO<br />
MODELE SHONIBARE<br />
& SUPO SHONIBARE<br />
SAM AMUKA<br />
YINKA SAMUEL & KEHINDE DINA<br />
BAMBO ADESANYA<br />
KEHINDE SMITH<br />
YEMI ADEOLA<br />
MODUPE SAGOE<br />
YEJIDE AYENI<br />
GROOM’s FATHER, ALABA SHONIBARE; BRIDE’s MOTHER, ATEMA AKINDELE;<br />
GROOM’s MOTHER, OLUWA KEMI SHONIBARE & BRIDE’s FATHER, BODE AKINDELE<br />
SENA ANTHONY &<br />
DAISY DANJUMA<br />
BISOLA<br />
GIWA-OSAGIE<br />
BODE RHODES-VIVOUR<br />
MODUPE OGUNTADE<br />
BISMARK REWANE<br />
The new couple,<br />
MOJISOLA & SIMI SHONIBARE<br />
STEPHEN & TAIWO<br />
KOLA BALOGUN<br />
MOJISOLA & SIMI BECOME ONE<br />
By Alexander Oviazee<br />
Recently the Akindele family (parents of the bride) and<br />
the Shonibare family (parents of the groom) came<br />
together to celebrate the wedding engagement of<br />
their children Mojisola Akindele and Simi Shonibare.<br />
The event took place at the Landmark Events centre<br />
and Lagos came to a standstill on that day when all<br />
roads led to the venue of the event.<br />
Both families are large so it came as no surrpise that<br />
the hall was filled to the brim with the creme de la<br />
creme of society. Both families left no stone unturned<br />
to ensure the engagement of their children was an<br />
evening beffiting of kings and queens. There was<br />
a colourful array of exquisite fabrics displayed not<br />
to mention the jaw-dropping decor of the venue<br />
and the tastful dishes served. It was a delight for the<br />
guests who shared the wonderful experience with<br />
the newly wedded couple and their families. All<br />
together, it was a beautiful event for both celebrants,<br />
the hosts as well as family and friends that graced<br />
the occassion.<br />
photographed By Mubo Peters<br />
SIMI SHONIBARE<br />
MOJISOLA AKINDELE<br />
EBISAN REWANE<br />
SOJI ADEBOWALE & TAYO AYENI<br />
AYONA TRIMNELL<br />
JOHN ABEBE<br />
LADUN SIJUWADE<br />
DERIN DISU & FOLAKE<br />
ST. MATHEW DANIEL
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
Everyone’s Wearing…<br />
Shift Dresses<br />
BY Konye Chelsea Nwabogor<br />
It’s always tempting to try the latest most elaborate trends, but sometimes you<br />
just want to slip on a dress and head out the door--without sacrificing style, of<br />
course. If you’re interested in a fashionable, easy-to-execute option, get ready<br />
to rejoice because we’ve found the perfect piece: the Shift Dress.<br />
To achieve<br />
a simple, yet<br />
fashionable and sweet<br />
aura, compliment your cleanstraight-cut<br />
dress with minimal<br />
accessories, and combine the<br />
outfit with sandals and a<br />
tiny clutch.<br />
To enhance<br />
the glamorous look of<br />
the dress, choose a neutral<br />
coloured dress but complement<br />
the look with some fun or<br />
sparkling accessories. Added to<br />
this, elegant high heels and a<br />
clutch are all you need to<br />
complete the look.<br />
10 Ways to get Happy<br />
BY Edirin Okumagba<br />
Practice kindness<br />
Do something nice for someone else, whether it’s<br />
someone you know or a stranger. It can be spur of the<br />
moment or planned out. You can do the good deed<br />
anonymously or help the beneficiary directly.<br />
Get spiritual<br />
There’s plenty of research showing that people who<br />
participate in church, synagogue, mosque or other<br />
preferred spiritual community are happier. Even reading<br />
spiritual literature can be helpful. Not religious? There are<br />
also ethical societies and movements that get people<br />
thinking beyond themselves.<br />
Keep a gratitude journal<br />
People who keep a weekly gratitude journal actually<br />
do more exercise, have fewer physical problems and<br />
feel more optimistic about the coming week and life in<br />
general. according to gratitude researcher Davis.<br />
Buy experiences, not stuff<br />
A vacation with loved ones or buying tickets to a<br />
show or concert will make you happier than buying<br />
another gadget. Those gifts help you feel closer to others.<br />
Instead of buying the jersey of your favorite football<br />
player, for example, buy a pair of tickets to a game, which<br />
will allow you to spend time with a friend or a loved one.<br />
Buy stuff that creates experiences<br />
So you still want to buy something? How about gear<br />
that allows you to have experiences in your areas of<br />
interest, such as games or music? Experiential products<br />
such as sporting equipment or musical instruments<br />
are a special class of material items that allow you an<br />
opportunity to engage with people you care about.<br />
Even board games count, since you can play them with a<br />
friend.<br />
Stop hanging out on<br />
social media so much<br />
People who spend more time on Facebook and other<br />
social media report lower self-esteem, less connection<br />
to others, fewer positive emotions and even more<br />
homesickness . Social media also evokes upward social<br />
comparison, often leaving us feeling worse about<br />
ourselves,.<br />
Stop checking your email<br />
SUIT UP!<br />
People who check their email or phones all the time<br />
are more stressed than people who check do so less<br />
often. We know it’s hard to do. People find it difficult to<br />
resist the temptation, and yet resisting this temptation<br />
reduces their stress.<br />
Focus on time, not money<br />
Although people typically focus on money, focusing<br />
on time often helps people realize that time is a precious<br />
resource. That knowledge helps them be more deliberate<br />
in how they spend it. This leads people to spend their<br />
time in ways that are more fulfilling and that make them<br />
happier, like connecting with the people in their lives.<br />
Lose yourself in your activities<br />
Do you remember the time you “lost” yourself<br />
because you were having so much fun playing tennis,<br />
football, sailing, learning a new musical instrument,<br />
woodworking or baking mince-pie? Increase the number<br />
of opportunities to “lose” yourself in a new or old activity<br />
that occupies your brain and body.<br />
Embrace failure<br />
People who succeed often fail many times before<br />
they succeed. Success requires acquiring experiences<br />
and learning lessons. Very often, the best way, and<br />
sometimes the only way, to acquire that experience and<br />
learn those lessons is through failure: trying things one<br />
way, realizing what doesn’t work and then making the<br />
appropriate changes.<br />
BY Karen Eloke Young<br />
toke makinwa<br />
bolanle olukanni<br />
The good thing<br />
about straight mini<br />
dress is that the cut works<br />
for all women, as long as it is<br />
combined with the correct shoes<br />
and accessories. Remember that the<br />
length of the dress has to end up at<br />
or above the knee to enhance a<br />
more flattering silhouette.<br />
ezinne akudo<br />
Bright Okpocha<br />
Basket Mouth<br />
Uti Nwachukwu<br />
Mike Ezuronye<br />
Praiz<br />
Ebuka Obi-Uchendu<br />
Seeing a beautifully designed suit on a good-looking man elevates<br />
my spirit, gives me that tingle in places I would rather not discuss and<br />
helps me identify a man to whom details matter. My kind of man. It is<br />
nonsensical to think that what a man wears doesn’t really matter and<br />
he can wear whatever he wants and get away with it. Most men don’t<br />
take clothing as seriously as women do and I find this a very dangerous<br />
thing. It is important for both sexes to understand that whether<br />
we like it or not, clothes speak volumes and we generally make<br />
decisions based on people’s appearances. Although clothes do not<br />
essentially make the man; but when he is made, his clothes greatly<br />
improve his appearance and sense of worth. Here’s to these dashing<br />
fellas rocking their blazers/suits in the different ways they know how!<br />
Ay Makun
Lifestyle<br />
Your Personal Wealth<br />
with Ononuju Irukwu<br />
Reactions to Married Finances & Should<br />
you declare all your assets?<br />
Last week, we looked at the topics Should<br />
You Declare All Your Assets To Your Spouse<br />
and some thoughts on Managing Married<br />
Finances.<br />
I would like to share some of the<br />
responses I received on the articles so we have a<br />
robust perspective on the issues<br />
My dear Ononuju,<br />
I have been following your column on Personal Wealth<br />
and I must say your insights into Married Finances are<br />
interesting to say the least. When I remember a past<br />
article about a wife who earns more than her husband<br />
and how to cope, I felt that they were speaking to me<br />
personally. Ladies my advice from the perspective of<br />
hindsight is as follows.<br />
When you as a woman earns a lot of money NEVER<br />
NEVER EVER let your husband know how much exactly<br />
you have made. If it is N200,000.00 tell him you only<br />
made N20,000= or less! The day he realises you have<br />
made big bucks is the day he begins to abdicate his<br />
responsibilities.<br />
Invest your money wisely on physical assets. Property<br />
especially. Buy in the name of your children or in your<br />
maiden name that way he cannot claim it for his own<br />
in case you suddenly die before him. Many women<br />
have died suddenly and their husbands have either sat<br />
on their property to the detriment of their children or<br />
disposed of the said properties to take a new wife and<br />
not pay school fees.<br />
Even if you earn big bucks make sure you continue to<br />
ask for your entitlements, housekeeping and payment of<br />
school fees. Also payment of domestic staff salaries. If you<br />
have a sincere husband and he is experiencing a shortfall<br />
and he tells you, you can then make a contribution to<br />
either the school fees or domestics salaries, however let<br />
him know that it is a temporary arrangement.<br />
As a mother I took over school uniforms, books and<br />
lunch and that has been my contribution. Sometimes I<br />
have had to pay fees but other times, it was a joint effort<br />
though lately, it has been two thirds: one third. I leave<br />
you to imagine where the ratio falls.<br />
The situation differs from household to household. On<br />
Hajia and Kunle, maybe all Kunle does is pay rent. We<br />
don’t know the full story.<br />
Have a blessed week.<br />
Mama Ola<br />
My Dear Ononuju,<br />
I read with interest your column in THISDAY STYLE<br />
today and decided that it is because it’s April Fool’s Day<br />
that the joke is on women. I observe that in your tips for<br />
the Groom you are silent on”sharing income with your<br />
Bride”.<br />
You bravely include it as a tip to the Bride. Hello? So<br />
many women suffer through marriages totally unaware<br />
of the streams of income their husband has (or doesn’t<br />
as the case may be). Worse still, some men die and a<br />
big chunk of their assets, insurance policy proceeds,<br />
entitlements, landed property and other worldly goods<br />
are lost because these were a secret from the spouse in<br />
their lifetime. So, what was all the sweat about?<br />
Conversely, many women live in blissful ignorance<br />
of the family’s financial liabilities. Women are a very<br />
intelligent gender, almost intellectually superior to men<br />
and even more financially savvy than many men. Yes we<br />
may wish to submit to our husbands, but it is a two-way<br />
street.<br />
I am recommending quarterly AGMs in every marriage<br />
to review goals and achievements and ensure the<br />
marriage, children and homestead is on track. You must<br />
address directly the duty of FINANCIAL INCLUSION in<br />
marriage; the onus is on both parties to be transparent<br />
and accountable to each other. All other planning is<br />
futile if this bridge remains uncrossed.<br />
Apart from which the article was very interesting and<br />
covered many salient points. Keep up the good work.<br />
Regards<br />
Mabel<br />
Good afternoon,<br />
My name is Angela, I’m 30yrs old, engaged. My fiance<br />
is 35, a banker. I’m in between corporate jobs at the<br />
moment. I currently own a small hairdressing salon to<br />
keep me busy and improve my cashflow. I just read your<br />
page in last sunday’s ThisDay Style and I must say you<br />
One thing is clear from<br />
the comments: one rule<br />
cannot apply to all as each<br />
relationship is different. You<br />
must learn about your spouse<br />
and determine what you want<br />
from the relationship and<br />
what platforms will help you<br />
achieve that.<br />
are very correct. Your article really touched home and I<br />
really had to send you this email.<br />
First of all, in your first paragraph, talking about roles,<br />
I daresay most men these days don’t want to accept<br />
the financial aspects of their roles. Here is why I said so<br />
(please, please, please correct me if I’m wrong or share<br />
your opinion where you disagree). My fiancé believes we<br />
should split the costs of rent and furnishing right down<br />
the middle, 50-50. I was so shocked! All I kept thinking<br />
was, did he plan to live with his parents forever if I never<br />
came along? I thought the ideal thing was for a man to<br />
get an apartment and prepare it to bring in a wife, and<br />
of course, unofficially the woman makes the place more<br />
comfortable.<br />
Something else that worries me is his belief about<br />
weddings. My guy wants a proper full blown affair.<br />
Funny enough, I want a quiet gig, maximum 50 guests<br />
but he insists and has asked if my parents would make<br />
any financial contribution. I prefer to focus on the home,<br />
making it as comfortable as we can afford without<br />
breaking the bank while we have sizeable savings to<br />
start us off with a good financial plan. Any contribution<br />
would be a windfall, and it would automatically go<br />
towards savings!!<br />
I told him, if he is demanding so much financial<br />
contribution from me, then he should wait till I get a<br />
very good paid job, but he insists that me tending to my<br />
small business is good because it would give me time for<br />
him and kids, when they come.<br />
I’m just totally confused, please help me out. What<br />
do you think about all this? Am I wrong to have these<br />
opinions? What advice to you have for me.<br />
Angela<br />
One thing is clear from the comments: one rule<br />
cannot apply to all as each relationship is different.<br />
You must learn about your spouse and determine<br />
what you want from the relationship and what<br />
platforms will help you achieve that.<br />
Determine where you want to be. Know your<br />
spouse as best as you can and ensure your values,<br />
thoughts, aspirations and career goals are well spelt<br />
out to avoid ambiguity and disappointment. Insist on<br />
a plan that you both have drawn up and the specific<br />
roles each person will play barring any unexpected<br />
events. It is better to have a plan to guide you, than<br />
to be blown away by every whimsical and foolhardy<br />
trend<br />
Remember, you are the driver in the vehicle that’s<br />
is your financial future and no amount of fasting,<br />
praying or witchcraft will give you an enduring legacy<br />
if you do not prepare, work hard and remain focused.<br />
Please send an email to ononujui@yahoo.com with your comments<br />
or contributions or follow me on twitter @ononujui<br />
Have a great week.<br />
Ononuju Irukwu is the Managing Director, Chapel Hill Denham<br />
Management Limited and the Chief promoter of the Women’s<br />
Investment Fund, Nigeria’s first gender mutual fund. She is<br />
passionate about increasing financial literacy and investment<br />
participation levels of women and youths in Nigeria.
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
Fashion Mistakes That Make You Look Older<br />
BY Edirin Okumagba<br />
You’ve ditched the outdated jeans, but there are several<br />
other ways your wardrobe might not be doing you any<br />
favours. Here are a few things to look out for.<br />
Fashion is about Trends and Dates<br />
There’s nothing wrong with you wanting to keep up<br />
with current trends. But when it comes to incorporating<br />
trendy pieces into your wardrobe, you should look for<br />
a classic style that includes some part of the trend: Try<br />
soft floral prints on a silk sleeveless blouse, embrace<br />
coloured denim in dark shades such as hunter green<br />
and burgundy or muted pastels instead of loud hues.<br />
You’re Hiding Out<br />
If you’re trying to cover your hips, arms or stomach<br />
underneath a shapeless blazer, you’re actually making<br />
yourself look bigger. A well-cut jacket that nips in at<br />
the waist and is shorter in length showcases the most<br />
flattering parts of your figure and creates a smooth line<br />
down your torso.<br />
Your Skirt Length Is Moving<br />
Lower and Lower<br />
Just because your age is increasing doesn’t mean<br />
your hemline has to as well. A skirt that grazes close<br />
to your ankles may hide slightly saggy knees, but it<br />
also tends to make women look wider and frumpier.<br />
You should find the most flattering skirt length for<br />
your shape, look in the mirror and note the slimmest<br />
part of the area around your knee—right above,<br />
Revamp<br />
Your Style with<br />
Box Bags<br />
right below or in the middle, and that’s where your<br />
hemline should be. If you want more coverage, try a<br />
fitting midiskirt, which comes to the middle of your<br />
calf. This is a tricky length.<br />
Your Glasses Are Too Geek Chic<br />
Dark, thick frames underscore wrinkles and undereye<br />
shadows. Delicate plastic frames that have a bit<br />
of sparkle or jewel embellishment will reflect light.<br />
Another approach? Experiment with neon colours—<br />
on the inside of glasses’ arms—which has the same<br />
brightening effect. One more thing: Most women try<br />
to camouflage bags under their eyes or wrinkles on<br />
their face with bigger frames, but the older you get,<br />
the smaller and more delicate your frames should be.<br />
BY Edirin Okumagba<br />
Stay stylishly up to date with box bags. This trend here to<br />
stay and are taking centre stage. A slice of fashion lovers<br />
and trend pacesetters have been seen rocking these fab<br />
bags. Revamp your style and remain flawless with<br />
box bags, and you won’t be disappointed.<br />
Chloe Leopard skin<br />
and metal Drew bag<br />
Jessima Macson<br />
Emporio Armani Crocodile<br />
print, leather bag<br />
Dolce & Gabbana<br />
chanel<br />
Beauty classics: 10 essential red lipsticks<br />
Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance<br />
12-Hour Lipstick in Wild<br />
Sephora Collection Rouge<br />
Cream Lipstick in It Girl<br />
Nothing takes a simple look up a notch like classic red lips. And there<br />
are a few red lipsticks we never grow tired of, no matter the season.<br />
Check out our curated top 10 red lipsticks of all time...<br />
COVERGIRL<br />
LipPerfection in Hot<br />
Bite Beauty Crème<br />
Lipstick in Zivoli<br />
MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in<br />
Ruby Woo<br />
Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick<br />
Collection in Legendary<br />
Chanel Rouge Allure in Pirate<br />
BY Mojisola Allen<br />
DIOR Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Princess<br />
Revlon Super Lustrous<br />
Lipstick in Love that Red
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
ANNUAL BANKING<br />
AWARDS<br />
14<br />
20<br />
BUSINESSDAY
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015
COVER<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
COVER<br />
OMOTU BISSONG<br />
Michelle Dede<br />
As Tari Gambadia<br />
(Susan Mayer)<br />
Tari Gambadia, divorced mother<br />
of 12 year old Aisha Gambadia,<br />
competes for the attention of<br />
a hunky new plumber who has<br />
moved across the street.<br />
The Desperate Housewives Africa<br />
series is quite a feat. How does it feel<br />
to be a part of such a phenomenon?<br />
The week we began filming felt surreal<br />
initially, especially as I was going to be<br />
playing a character from a TV series that I<br />
was a huge fan of. I distinctly remember<br />
rushing home like a crazy person in time<br />
to see what Bree, Susan, Gabrielle, Lynette<br />
and Edie were getting up to. It’s been a<br />
baptism of fire and an unforgettable and<br />
exciting journey for me as I’ve learnt so<br />
much. Hats off to the actors around the<br />
world and especially Nollywood, now I<br />
understand how hard they work.<br />
For someone who was never an<br />
actress prior to acting in Desperate<br />
Housewives Africa, what was your<br />
initial reaction when you knew you<br />
made it past the obviously very<br />
competitive auditions, and what<br />
part of you did you tap into for the<br />
emotions of the character of Tari<br />
Gambadia?<br />
When I got the call that offered me<br />
the role, it honestly came as a complete<br />
shock! I was so happy, and then suddenly<br />
I thought, “What have I gotten myself<br />
into? I’m not a trained actor!” I asked her<br />
if they were sure they wanted to give<br />
me the part. I guess the fear set in at<br />
that point, with the realisation that I<br />
would have to portray another<br />
person unlike when I’m<br />
presenting and can be<br />
myself. Tari Gambadia is<br />
the complete opposite<br />
of my personality. I’m<br />
outspoken and very<br />
expressive, I certainly<br />
don’t think I would<br />
ever ask my 12-year-old<br />
daughter for relationship<br />
advice. Playing a mother was<br />
also quite challenge as I don’t<br />
have children yet, nor have I ever been<br />
married, but I realised while filming that<br />
in order to do justice to the character I<br />
had to behave like a slightly ditsy adult/<br />
child who is awkward when it comes to<br />
romance and life in general. So I found<br />
the emotions by remembering what<br />
my friends and I were like as teenagers.<br />
The only thing I’d say Tari and I have in<br />
common is her inquisitive nature, which<br />
came naturally to me.<br />
From TV presenter and MC to<br />
actress, where do you see yourself in<br />
ten years?<br />
I’ve realised that when we make<br />
plans on this journey called life, there are<br />
always unexpected detours. Years ago I<br />
thought I’d be a fashion designer living<br />
in Paris, New York or Milan, and then life<br />
happened and I ended up in Lagos as<br />
a TV presenter for Big Brother Nigeria<br />
instead. I then said in an interview two<br />
years ago, when asked if I would consider<br />
acting, that I enjoyed talking into a<br />
microphone directly, to a camera far too<br />
much to ever act, as it would be difficult<br />
pretending to be anyone other than<br />
myself. Again life happened<br />
and I spent four months<br />
pretending to be Tari<br />
Gambadia. Who knows<br />
what will happen ten<br />
years from now. I have<br />
dreams and goals I<br />
want to achieve, but<br />
life will undoubtedly<br />
happen again and I<br />
could either be making<br />
an acceptance speech for<br />
winning an Oscar award, or I<br />
could be the next Simon Cowell, creating<br />
and ‘executive producing’ TV shows and<br />
formats.<br />
teri hatcher<br />
(susan mayer)<br />
If you could magically play another<br />
TV character for one day, who would<br />
that be?<br />
Fantastic question! One of the<br />
characters in the TV series ‘Heros’, Olivia<br />
Pope in ‘Scandal’, definitely a marvel<br />
character in the ‘The Avengers’, ‘X-Men’<br />
characters like Storm, Mystique or even<br />
Domino from the comics. Zoe Saldana’s<br />
character in ‘Colombiana’, Taraji P Henson’s<br />
character Cookie Lyons in ‘Empire’ or<br />
even Charlize Theron’s character Aileen in<br />
‘Monster’ , the list is endless. I’m sure you<br />
are thinking it may have been a mistake<br />
asking me this question, as I have a vivid<br />
imagination and could list at least twenty<br />
more characters.<br />
Michelle Dede<br />
Kehinde Bankole<br />
As Kiki Obi<br />
(Gabrielle Solis)<br />
LINDA OSIFO<br />
Kiki Obi, married to handsome and<br />
successful Chuka Obi wants to eat<br />
her cake and still have it.<br />
Kehinde BanKOle<br />
MARCY DOLAPO ONI<br />
How did the role of Kiki Obi come<br />
to you?<br />
I was asked to come in for an<br />
audition to read three different parts<br />
including Kiki! The reading went<br />
smoothly but it took a while for a<br />
decision to be reached as they kept<br />
trying and switching everyone’s parts to<br />
be sure of the perfect pick. I had a bit of<br />
fun trying out some characters I never<br />
thought I’d have enjoyed so much and in<br />
the end, I got a call back to play Kiki.<br />
Eva lOngoria<br />
(Gabrielle Solis)<br />
In partnership with theWalt Disney Company, and powered by<br />
Airtel, Snapp, Oral B and Ariel, EbonyLife TV has produced Desperate<br />
Housewives Africa, based on the multiple award-winning ABC Television<br />
drama series. Behind the smokescreen of an elitist and picture perfect<br />
Nigerian neighbourhood, at the ficticious Hibiscus Lane, reside six<br />
women whose lives are anything but tranquil.<br />
The series is the first international drama format ever to be made in<br />
Africa. Like its maiden version, the series is full of twists and turns not<br />
to mention intrigues that would hold its audience spellbound. Assistant<br />
Editor KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR, takes a walk down Hibiscus Lane<br />
and gets to know the housewives on TV’s most talked-about show.<br />
What the first shoot like?<br />
It was very interesting because the<br />
ladies were all so unique and different!<br />
Getting to meet, understand and enjoy<br />
everyone’s personality was basically<br />
what Season 1 was all about. They are<br />
all absolutely amazing actors. Nothing<br />
beats a superb working relationship.<br />
What is your favourite moment from<br />
this first season?<br />
Chuka, my character”s husband,<br />
humming happily to some native tune<br />
as he waits for Kiki to show him some<br />
affection. That bit was hilarious!! And so<br />
many other sweet moments.<br />
Considering you are playing the role<br />
of extremely vain Kiki Obi, there<br />
must be a lot of pressure to look<br />
good on the show. Do you have a<br />
workout regime?<br />
To play a role to perfection, looking<br />
the part is top priority. Oh, there was<br />
a lot of pressure but the wardrobe<br />
designer, studied our bodies and<br />
characters well enough to portray us in<br />
the best possible and most flattering<br />
light from all angles of shooting.<br />
They did a great job keeping up with<br />
demands and I looked fabulous in all<br />
that was supplied. We would fit and fit<br />
clothes until we were satisfied.<br />
I don’t have a serious workout routine<br />
though but I regularly do sit ups and<br />
squats.
COVER<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
COVER<br />
Nini Wacera<br />
AS Ese De sOuza<br />
(Bree Van de Kamp)<br />
Ese De Souza is the neighborhood’s saucebox,<br />
whose outwardly perfection shields the major<br />
dysfunction and desperation in her<br />
life.<br />
A lot of people are very<br />
impressed with your translation<br />
of the original character Bree<br />
Van De Camp. How easy was<br />
this for you?<br />
Not easy. Bree’s role is an<br />
intimidating one in itself; now add<br />
that to the larger than life magic that<br />
Marcia Cross did in the original series<br />
then you can only get the picture of what<br />
I mean. I tried to take away everything that Marcia<br />
Cross is, and look at the character of Bree in Africa.<br />
I was twisted into knots with her. She is a parody.<br />
I am still recovering from her. She is emotionally<br />
handicapped and needy, she is brittle and maternal,<br />
dominating and delicate as porcelain. Playing her as<br />
Ese was one of my favourite roles.<br />
What are some of the similarities and<br />
differences between you and the character?<br />
I’m not brittle, or maternal or religious. I have<br />
similar likes. I love to cook, spic and span is my way as<br />
well. I have the same adventurous spirit that we see in<br />
Ese as the season continues. I am a lot softer than she<br />
is though, I bruise easily and Ese never really allows<br />
herself to fall apart. She is a perfectionist and so am I<br />
when it comes to my work and relationships. Ese had<br />
a traumatic childhood, which is completely opposite<br />
to what mine was. Her reliance on social order<br />
marcia cross<br />
(bree VAn de KAMp)<br />
and morality can be quite irritating as I am more<br />
into complete self-expression and the freedom to<br />
experience life ... that means, mistakes will be made<br />
and one needs to be able to let go.<br />
How long have you been a thespian?<br />
You should ask how long have I not been a<br />
thespian? I discovered the theatre when<br />
I was 14 years old but got into it fully<br />
when I was 17. So I can’t actually<br />
remember a time when I was not<br />
performing even at six years. My<br />
sister and I would put together<br />
dance routines and perform at<br />
parties around the estate when we<br />
were growing up. I also did some<br />
modelling and was with Karisma<br />
dancers before I started training at the<br />
Phoenix Players in Nairobi.<br />
This choice has had its moments, as does every<br />
choice we make in life. It has brought out the best<br />
of me and even the worst of me. The expression of<br />
dramatic life is what we do...trust me, it spills over into<br />
my life sometimes. It is a process of highly intense<br />
fun explorative moments and also long quiet periods<br />
of no work. Like any form of art, one must find their<br />
niche and evolve constantly. So there is hardly a<br />
comfort zone here. The bending and stretching and<br />
the amount of vulnerability and nakedness required<br />
is a daunting task. As we are seen to possess drama;<br />
we unfortunately have the experience of being<br />
misunderstood by our producers and directors.<br />
Where a thespian demands a safe space to explore<br />
their emotions, producers see a demand for us to<br />
be drama queens. Or even, it is a war sometimes. Yet<br />
there are moments when it can be magical.<br />
If you weren’t acting, what career path do you<br />
MARCY DOLAPO ONI<br />
As Rume Bello<br />
(Mary Alice Young)<br />
But looking down on it all is Rume Bello,<br />
who has taken her own life under mysterious<br />
circumstances but now comments on the lives<br />
of her former neighbours from otherworldly<br />
utopia.<br />
Tell me about your character, Rume Bello.<br />
Rume Bello is probably the most mysterious of<br />
the housewives, as only bits and pieces of her story is<br />
known. She’s a loving, doting wife and mother who<br />
was generous to her family and neighbours, and so,<br />
she was the last person any of them expected to<br />
commit suicide. Rume Bello is the voice of the show<br />
and she sees things she would not have seen in life:<br />
her friends’ vulnerabilities, lies and secrets. She doesn’t<br />
judge them because of their imperfections, instead<br />
she pities them for the ways they manipulate and hurt<br />
those they care about most.<br />
How does this experience differ and stand out<br />
from other TV projects you have been involved<br />
in?<br />
The last TV series I was a part of was Jacob’s Cross<br />
and that was shot in Johannesburg, which involved<br />
me, travelling back and forth. I would say the major<br />
difference was when I got to fully understand the<br />
scope of the project. There were times I was on set I<br />
would come across new cast members which goes to<br />
show the amount of talent needed for such a show.<br />
And of course the fact that Desperate Housewives<br />
Africa is all shot on an estate where everything is real.<br />
And by that I mean we shot in real, livable homes.<br />
How has acting extensively on stage locally<br />
and internationally and also being a celebrated<br />
TV presenter helped you interpret your role<br />
effectively?<br />
think you would have<br />
followed, and why?<br />
Maybe I would be a chef<br />
or a dancer. Those are the two<br />
things I have always loved to<br />
do. Cooking and dancing.<br />
Brenda Strong<br />
(Mary Alice Young)<br />
I would say all my experiences to date cater to<br />
any new project that I embark on. The more you get<br />
to practice your skills the better your work becomes.<br />
Having to play the character of Rume Bello where you<br />
have to convey a story and emotions with only your<br />
voice was a challenging task but my drama school<br />
training as well as past experiences really helped me<br />
overcome that challenge.<br />
While making this series, how were you<br />
impacted on personally by the storylines<br />
depicted?<br />
I think it is great that the show is able to highlight<br />
issues that may not be so widely talked about in our<br />
culture. The fact that an African housewife commits<br />
suicide and everyone knows, is not something you<br />
hear of everyday. Watching the show, I feel people will<br />
be able to identify with at least one of the characters.<br />
You get to see that because although we all try to<br />
portray our lives as perfect, it isn’t always so.<br />
OMOTU BISSONG<br />
As Funke Lawal<br />
(Lynette ScAVo)<br />
Funke Lawal married to Shina,<br />
has to cope with life as a<br />
fatigued, stay-at-home mother<br />
of four rambunctious children.<br />
Tell us about your character Funke<br />
Lawal?<br />
Funke is a wife and mum of four<br />
who loves and is dedicated to her<br />
family. Leaving work to be a full<br />
time mum and having four kids in a<br />
space of five years hasn’t been easy<br />
for her especially as she was highly<br />
ambitious and driven while<br />
pursuing her career, one in<br />
which she greatly and<br />
perfectly excelled at. She<br />
sometimes feels she is<br />
failing at her role as a<br />
Felicity hUFFMAn<br />
(Lynette ScAVo)<br />
mother. She struggles with this a lot<br />
of times and there are days where<br />
she misses the work environment<br />
but she is a very devoted wife and<br />
mother and she takes her family very<br />
seriously.<br />
What aspects of her character<br />
could relate to?<br />
I can definitely relate to her being<br />
highly ambitious and driven, I share<br />
that with her personally but I am truly<br />
proud of her dedication to family.<br />
Amidst all that goes on in her life,<br />
Funke absolutely loves her family<br />
life and her dedication to being the<br />
best mum and wife she can be is<br />
something to be proud of.<br />
Can you remember like<br />
when you first set out<br />
to be an actress?<br />
Oh yes! I can<br />
remember the first time<br />
I set out to be an actress<br />
professionally although<br />
as a child, acting was<br />
something I always wanted<br />
to do. I remember getting the<br />
role to play a schoolteacher at a<br />
church play. I was super happy and<br />
excited about that! However, in my<br />
later years, I mentioned to a friend<br />
how I would really love to get into<br />
acting. He mentioned an ongoing<br />
audition. He took me there the next<br />
day and I landed my first acting<br />
role, playing the lead on a series! I<br />
was super stoked. It has been an<br />
interesting journey, but definitely<br />
not an easy one. Some days you are<br />
super excited about your career path<br />
and some days you feel deflated, but<br />
that’s life, right? You just have to keep<br />
believing in God and pushing, a lot<br />
has inspired me to get to this point.<br />
I have my family and friends who<br />
encourage and support me, and the<br />
desire to learn my craft more. To be<br />
able to be in a profession that gives<br />
you the opportunity to see life in<br />
different colours is truly inspiring<br />
for me. I enjoy “living truthfully in<br />
a make believe world”. Somebody<br />
out there is going through the<br />
same situation as that character and<br />
being able to connect and touch<br />
that person is truly a source of<br />
inspiration.<br />
Are you hoping that your choice<br />
to be on Desperate Housewives<br />
Africa, will give you more<br />
exposure as an actress?<br />
Every actress hopes to work on<br />
projects that showcase their talents<br />
as well as give them exposure. For<br />
people to see your work and say,<br />
“Yes, you’re doing great”, is rewarding<br />
to every actor. So yes, being on<br />
such a huge project showing across<br />
Africa you do want it to give you<br />
more exposure, and I have no doubt<br />
Desperate Housewives Africa will.<br />
It’s exciting. For me, becoming a<br />
character that is way out of who I<br />
am as a person, is such a beautiful<br />
experience and I enjoyed it<br />
thoroughly and I hope the viewers<br />
will too, as well as love the actress<br />
that I am.<br />
LINDA OSIFO<br />
As Rhetta mOOre<br />
(Edie Britt)<br />
Rhetta Moore is the most<br />
predatory divorcée within a<br />
five block radius; her conquests<br />
are numerous, varied and<br />
legendary!<br />
Tell me about your character?<br />
Rhetta Moore, the African version<br />
of Edie Britt, is what I would describe<br />
as the exotic bold wife. In other words<br />
the woman who doesn’t care what<br />
people say about her or her choices<br />
in life - specifically, her urge for men.<br />
She’s a divorcee of four different<br />
marriages, very open minded, she<br />
is the quintessential promiscuous<br />
woman! She’s a very flirtatious,<br />
self-employed woman<br />
and most times, when<br />
other women are not<br />
reviling her, they are<br />
threatened by her. She<br />
is strong-willed and<br />
goes for whatever she<br />
wants. She is not your<br />
typical wife and nothing<br />
stands in her way. She<br />
would rather hang out and<br />
have the most indiscriminate fun than<br />
stay at home doing chores. On the<br />
other hand however, all she is really<br />
desperate for is to belong and have<br />
real friends.<br />
With the popularity the show<br />
is bound to get, you would<br />
more often than not always be<br />
referred to as Rhetta Moore.<br />
Are you worried that over time,<br />
people are only going to see the<br />
character and not the real you?<br />
I am not worried if over time,<br />
people refer to me as ‘Rhetta Moore’.<br />
My job as a professional actor is to<br />
bring out the utmost best illustration<br />
of a character so well that you would<br />
believe it’s real. This is what great,<br />
professional acting is all about. So<br />
if people see the Rhetta Moore<br />
character in me, it means I acted the<br />
character well and very successfully<br />
too. No actor could wish for more.<br />
It is the ultimate fulfillment of any<br />
professional actor. However, I will<br />
always be myself so that the clear<br />
distinction of who ‘Linda Osifo’ is can<br />
be seen anytime people run into me.<br />
What else can you tell us about<br />
Season 1 Desperate Housewives<br />
Africa?<br />
nicollette<br />
sheriDAn<br />
(edie britt)<br />
It’s a must-watch. A lot of work was<br />
put into it to make sure it fits into our<br />
beautiful African culture.<br />
Itis riveting, it’s enthralling and the<br />
first of its kind in Africa; it’s everything<br />
you want to see in a show, despair,<br />
mystery, murder, comedy, you name it. I<br />
guarantee that there’s no better way to<br />
spend your Thursday evening at 9pm!<br />
What advice do you have for<br />
upcoming actresses looking to<br />
break into the business?<br />
They should never to settle for<br />
anything less than their vision. In other<br />
words, we all have a dream to be<br />
the best in whatsoever we do, and if<br />
something will limit you or even make<br />
you stagnant, don’t ever settle for it<br />
just for the sake of being an actress.<br />
Secondly, to never sell their body/pride<br />
for the cause of fame. If you believe<br />
in yourself and your talent, you would<br />
never have to go tha route. Lastly, to<br />
work very very hard and pray to God.
It was a night full of stars from the banking world and beyond as Wema Bank celebrates success, resilience and<br />
longevity at 70 years with a Grand Ball at the Eko Hotel & Suite on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Dignitaries, captains of<br />
industry and other key stakeholders were treated to a night of fun, laughter and good music. Highlight of the event<br />
was the unveiling of the new Wema Bank logo. See event in pictures.<br />
L-R: Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank and Chief Segun<br />
Oshunkeye, Chairman, Lafarge<br />
L-R: Ademola Adebise, ED, Wema Bank and Chief Dele<br />
Fajemirokun<br />
Mr Amin Moussalli, MD, Aim<br />
Consultants Ltd.<br />
L-R: Folake Sanu, ED, Wema Bank, Dr. Remi Oni,<br />
ED, Standard Chartered Bank & Wole Akinleye,<br />
ED, Wema Bank<br />
L-R: Mrs. Abolanle Matel-Okoh, Director and Mrs. Folake Sanu, ED, Wema<br />
Bank Plc<br />
L-R: Oba Kole Ojutalayo ( Laroka of Wanikin - Ife) & Oba<br />
Kolapo Adegboyega Ibiyemi (Alara of Araromi,Oke -Odo Ife<br />
Adeyinka Asekun, Chairman, Board of Directors,<br />
Wema Bank Plc<br />
Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) and Mrs. Cecilia<br />
Osipitan, MD, GNI<br />
L-R: Mr & Mrs. Segun Oloketuyi; Mr. & Mrs. Adeyinka Asekun and Pastor & Mrs. Tunde Bakare<br />
L-R: Mr. Taj Onigbanjo, son of the former MD<br />
(1973) with Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank<br />
Mr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo, MD, Fidelity Bank (R)<br />
being received by Adeyinka Asekun,<br />
Chairman, Wema Bank<br />
Oba Patrick Fafunwa,<br />
the Onikoyi of Ikoyi<br />
Eminent dignitaries during the cutting of the 70th anniversary cake - Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly; Segun Oloketuyi, MD, Wema Bank;<br />
Sir. Kessington Adebutu; Adeyinka Asekun, Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank; Mr. Alaba Okupe; Kunle Adeleke (representing the staff of the Bank)<br />
L-R: Otunba Deji Osibogun; Prince Ade Adefioye; Segun Oloketuyi, MD, Wema Bank; Mr Awosetu,<br />
Mrs Oloketuyi and Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun (President CIBN)<br />
L-R: HRM, Alayeluwa Oba (Dr) Victor<br />
Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo II, the Osemawe<br />
of Ondo Kingdom and Prince Juli Adeluyi-<br />
Adelusi, Chairman, Juli Pharmacy<br />
The new Wema Bank logo unveiled<br />
Prince Adebode Adefioye,<br />
Director,Wema Bank Plc<br />
L-R: Mr & Mrs Folarin Olutimehin & Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) &<br />
Magistrate Yetunde Pinheiro<br />
Chief Festus Ajani, former Chairman,<br />
Wema Bank Plc<br />
Mr. & Mrs Irochie<br />
L-R: Otunba Niyi Adebayo &<br />
Mr Tunde Fowler<br />
Mr. Alaba Okupe, son of the<br />
founder (Agbonmagbe Bank),<br />
Late Matthew Adekoya-Okupe<br />
Right: Mr Yinka Sanni, MD, Stanbi IBTC with other guests at the event<br />
Mr. Tunde Lemo, former MD,<br />
Wema Bank & former Dep. Governor,<br />
Central Bank of Nigeria<br />
L-R: Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun, Chairman, Wema Bank,<br />
Chief Samuel Bolarinde and Chief Festus Ajani (former Chairmen) and Mr. Alaba Okupe<br />
Ms. Tina Vukor-Quarshie, Director, Wema Bank<br />
L-R: Mrs. Asekun; Mr. Ramesh Hathiramani, former Director and<br />
Mr. Adeyinka Asekun, Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank Plc<br />
L-R: Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank; Adeyinka Asekun, Chaiman,<br />
Wema Bank, Dele Momodu, CEO & publisher of Ovation International;<br />
Pastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer, Latter Rain and a guest<br />
L-R: Jide Bello, Regional Manager, Abuja and<br />
Moruf Oseni, ED, North Bank, Wema Bank<br />
L-R: Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank; Dele<br />
Adeyinka, Head, eBusiness and Mr. Mitchel Elegbe,<br />
MD, Interswitch Nigeria Limited<br />
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Durojaye<br />
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, elder statesman<br />
Legendary King Sunny Ade, performing on stage<br />
at the event<br />
Olamide performing at the event
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
Shoes every woman should own...<br />
BY Mojisola Allen<br />
The fun heel<br />
Why we love it: Life is short and fun shoes<br />
make it sunnier. Every woman needs a pair<br />
of shoes that makes her friends do a doubletake.<br />
Famous fans: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry<br />
Designers who make a great fun heel:<br />
Nicholas Kirkwood, Christian<br />
Louboutin, Alexander<br />
McQueen and Charlotte<br />
Olympia who<br />
once designed a<br />
strappy sandal<br />
with a heel that looks like a pink<br />
poodle, complete with gold collar.<br />
The ballet flat<br />
Why we love it: It’s the epitome of ladylike chic. The nude hue also ensures<br />
that it will be the most versatile shoe you own. It literally goes with everything.<br />
Famous fans: First, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, arbiters of sartorial good<br />
taste, swore by the ballet flat. More recently, fans include Diane Kruger,<br />
Taylor Swift and Keira Knightley, who wore a pair of blush pink Chanel<br />
ballerina flats to her recent wedding.<br />
How to wear it: Play up the ballet flat’s ladylike tendencies by pairing<br />
it with a midi length skirt and a form-fitting white<br />
T-shirt.<br />
Expert fashion tips on curating a shoe collection, from perfect ballet flats to classic black pumps.<br />
The pointy toe pump<br />
Why we love it: The pointy toe is one of fashion’s most enduring<br />
trends. Anytime the style pendulum swings to fierce,<br />
feminine style, the pointy toe takes centre stage.<br />
Famous fans: Kate Moss, Rihanna and Kristen<br />
Stewart<br />
Expert fashion tip: Nude pumps can give<br />
the illusion of lengthening the leg because it<br />
creates an unbroken line from shoe to skin. Just<br />
make sure that you choose a hue that complements<br />
your skin tone—err on the side of rosy,<br />
not yellowy, nudes.<br />
The black pump<br />
Why we love it: In a word: sexy. In another: versatile. The black pump takes you from day<br />
to evening (office to patio) and downtown to uptown (art gallery to dinner). Think of it as<br />
your secret style weapon.<br />
Expert fashion tip: If you’re going to invest in any shoe, invest in black<br />
pumps. Take your time choosing one that you love and that makes sense<br />
for your lifestyle. (Suede, for example, is gorgeous, but requires more<br />
upkeep.) If you’re looking for more of a day shoe, choose a rounded<br />
toe. Looking for evening kicks? A pointy toe takes you out on<br />
the town in style.<br />
Iconic designer black pumps: Christian Louboutin<br />
Décolleté patent pumps; Salvatore<br />
Ferragamo Rilly leather<br />
platform pumps; Manolo<br />
Blahnik BBR 105 black<br />
suede pumps.<br />
Inspired by the idea of a dream within a dream and geometric<br />
shapes, House of Marie has created a collection with<br />
strong asymmetry lines, with colours in muted tones of<br />
green, pink and more in a variety of fabrics with different textures.<br />
Exploiting fully the idea of juxtaposing fabrics and colours,<br />
the collection is girly and easy to wear yet chic enough<br />
to transition the average lady from day to night. It’s time to<br />
show your colours and paint the town with the urban chic<br />
“Ethan Frame” collection from House of Marie.<br />
The leather loafer<br />
Why we love it: The loafer has shrugged off its preppy<br />
roots to become one of the fashion world’s most beloved<br />
shoes. That’s partly because designers are showcasing the<br />
loafer’s range, by pairing them with boho looks and flirty<br />
sundresses.<br />
Famous fans: Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Reese<br />
Witherspoon. How to wear it: Our favourite loafer<br />
look offers a playful take on preppy style. Pair a white<br />
button up (buttoned to the top), light wash denim<br />
cut-offs, bright red lipstick and leather loafers. Result?<br />
Classic, but with a downtown edge.<br />
The strappy heel<br />
Why we love it: They’re a fun, chic alternative<br />
to a classic pump. Plus, they offer the perfect<br />
showcase for your fresh pedi.<br />
Where to wear it: Out dancing! Or<br />
somewhere<br />
fabulous on a<br />
jetset vacation,<br />
like playing blackjack<br />
at the famous<br />
casino<br />
or strolling.<br />
HOUSE OF MARIE’S<br />
2015 COLLECTION<br />
BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI<br />
The running shoe<br />
Why we love it: It’s an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.<br />
Plus, good running shoes are like pillows for your feet.<br />
Expert fashion tip: Skip pale blue<br />
and grey and go for a running shoe<br />
in a poppy colour, like coral or<br />
fuchsia. We guarantee it<br />
will add an extra spring<br />
in your step, even if<br />
you’re heading out for<br />
a run at dawn.<br />
The black flat<br />
Why we love it: It’s the fashion equivalent of a BFF, it’s always<br />
there for you. Heading to brunch in a flirty skirt and T-shirt?<br />
Add a black flat. Going to the movies in jeans and your favourite<br />
shirt? Add a black flat. Commuting to work in cropped<br />
black pants and a coral blazer? You get the idea.<br />
Famous fans: Victoria Beckham, Lauren Conrad, Katy Perry<br />
Expert fashion tip: Wear black flats when you’re travelling.<br />
They add an instant chic upgrade to any look, and<br />
they’re also easy to slip on and off, both in<br />
the security line and on the<br />
plane.<br />
Dear<br />
Watcher<br />
of<br />
TONYE COLE<br />
Times…<br />
Where<br />
does THAT<br />
title go?<br />
Two separate comments this past<br />
week got me thinking once again<br />
about titles. A Ugandan friend<br />
of the family came visiting for<br />
Christmas and asked casually<br />
about the penchant for Nigerians to all<br />
seem to carry an appellate to their names.<br />
Everyone she met was either Engr this, Dr<br />
that, Chief so and so, Surveyor this and<br />
that, Alhaji and Alhajas and a retinue of His<br />
Excellencies, Honorables, Majesties and<br />
Highnesses. The clergy wasn’t exempt with<br />
Pastors, Imams, Bishops, Sheiks, Reverends<br />
and Primates a many. We even came across<br />
a traditional ruler who had the elevated<br />
title of His Eminence. Added to all this are<br />
all sorts of abbreviated qualifications SAN,<br />
OFR, CFR etc with JP being the ultimate.<br />
The second was in a discussion<br />
with a Vice Chancellor about creating<br />
an endowment chair wherein it was<br />
observed that the once revered practice<br />
of bestowing honorary doctorates on<br />
exceptional individuals had now been<br />
so widely abused, it has lost its luster.<br />
Making matters worse is that individuals so<br />
honored carry the title of Dr with so much<br />
ego it leaves actual PhD holders somewhat<br />
ashamed to be classed alike. So pervasive<br />
and common are titled beings in our<br />
society that the simple Mr. starts to take on<br />
an appeal that none of the various plethora<br />
of titles offer. Genuine holders of the Mr.<br />
class, who have excelled in their field of<br />
endeavor display a sense of humility that<br />
comes from knowing who they truly are.<br />
God in His infinite wisdom gave man the<br />
ability to acquire wisdom and man in so<br />
doing devised genuinely honorable means<br />
by which to distinguish on individual from<br />
the other by the titles they were given.<br />
When considered properly, every title is<br />
originally aimed to remind the bearer that<br />
they are in a servant-leader role for which<br />
the people are the ultimate benefactors. All<br />
such individuals are called into service by<br />
God and will therefore be held accountable<br />
for how they used the title so eagerly<br />
awarded them in their service to mankind.<br />
Would your title condemn or confirm<br />
you?<br />
God bless and keep you in Him always
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
THISDAY Style<br />
Vol. 20, No. 7327 Sunday, May 17, 2015<br />
most luxurious<br />
beauty products!<br />
10Think platinum and gold are solely reserved for your jewelry box? Beauty brands are<br />
tapping into this precious market too. And we promise your skin will thank you.<br />
BY Moji Allen<br />
1SK-II<br />
SK-II’s facial<br />
treatment<br />
mask is<br />
loaded with<br />
vitamins, amino acids,<br />
minerals and organic<br />
acids for skin so smooth,<br />
you’ll have to keep your<br />
ID handy during your next<br />
night out.<br />
2YSL OR ROUGE FACE CREAM<br />
YSL’s latest face cream contains saffron, a rare<br />
plant species that helps comfort skin and halt the<br />
aging process. Gold medal-worthy indeed.<br />
3<br />
CHANTECAILLE<br />
This eye cream boasts innovative<br />
nanotechnology that delivers pure 24<br />
karat gold to skin at a cellular level to help<br />
fight the three big woes: inflammation,<br />
bacteria and signs of aging.<br />
4<br />
SISLEY PARIS<br />
SUPREMYA AT<br />
NIGHT<br />
Wake up without the<br />
puffy, tired-looking panda<br />
eyes when you apply<br />
this luxurious serum and<br />
cream hybrid treatment<br />
before you crash.<br />
JENNIFER HUDSON<br />
LA PRAIRIE<br />
CELLULAR CREAM<br />
PLATINUM RARE<br />
Nothing says luxe like a platinuminfused<br />
face cream that helps fight<br />
the signs of aging. Teamed up with<br />
peptides, vitamins and anti-oxidants,<br />
this moisturizer will surely reduce<br />
the appearance of fine lines and<br />
have you looking like a million bucks.<br />
GIORGIO ARMANI<br />
Slather this Crema Nera Extrema<br />
Supreme Recovery Balm<br />
mask on before bed, and wake up to<br />
a whole new you (or at least, a more<br />
luminous-looking you).<br />
5 7<br />
LA MER CREME<br />
DE LA MER<br />
And no luxurious beauty<br />
roundup is complete without<br />
the crown jewel of skincare<br />
products in the beauty world.<br />
This moisturizer brightens,<br />
soothes and rejuvenates<br />
thanks to ingredients like<br />
mineralized sea kelp. #truth<br />
6<br />
GUERLAIN<br />
An Orchidée Impériale Longevity Concentrate<br />
rich serum that works to restore the<br />
appearance of skin’s density and even texture.<br />
DR. MACRENE<br />
910 8<br />
This 37 Extreme Actives High<br />
Performance Anti-Aging Cream<br />
packs 50 potent anti-aging ingredients,<br />
like res veratrol and ferulic acid.<br />
DARPHIN<br />
An elixir of 8<br />
different flowers<br />
packed with<br />
antioxidents to<br />
fight aging.