The Unspoken Words

#RealTalkwithGeorgie is LIVE!

2015-01-15T14:41:00.000+00:00

Hey guys!

It is finally here, yaaay!

I am so excited to announce that the new blogisite that I've been working on for months now is now LIVE!

Head over to #RealTalkwithGeorgie and be part of my crazy world -http://www.realtalkwithgeorgie.com

Enjoy #realcontent - we are talking, #realinterviews, #realpoetry #realarticles and so much more!

Thank you all so much for being part of my creative journey, and here's to so much yet to come!

New Year, New Beginnings - #RealTalkwithGeorgie

2015-01-10T11:28:00.000+00:00

Hey guys!

Happy New Year!

I don’t know about you, but I am still very much in the New Year spirit.

There is so much to look forward to this year, especially my new blog #RealTalkwithGeorgie!

You guys have known for the longest time that I have been working on a new blog. I have so many creative projects and I have managed them on many different mediums. However with RealTalkwithGeorgie, you will be able to see all that I do all in one space! Amazing right?

The best part is that you will gain access to amazing content: articles, interviews, poetry and more!

Don’t be sad my Unspokenwords93 followers, I would like to thank you so much for reading all of my posts and engaging with them over the past 3 years. It has been an amazing journey and everything is not at an end. I hope that you will continue to follow me on my creative journey.

Additionally, I am happy to announce that there are only 5 days left until #RealTalkwithGeorgie! Yayyyy! Are you excited? I hope you are!

2014 Reflections, 2015 Wishes

2015-01-01T11:17:00.002+00:00

I was supposed to have published this earlier, forgive me, Christmas and New Years has been crazy! Enjoy!

Every year, at this point, we reflect on all that has happened. We sit and reminisce about the fights we had, the friends we made, the love we had and lost.

This year in particular has been incredibly eventful and enlightening. I thought it might be nice to share with you a couple of experiences I have had.

Going back to Nigeria in the summer and at Christmas, I had a social re-education. I learnt more about Nigerians as a people, how we relate with one another. How judgmental we can be, how materialistic, how opinionated, how short sighted. However, I also learnt how generous, loving and happy go lucky we can be. How much we love to celebrate each and every positive moment we have. The turn up is mad real! That is what I will remember, that is what I choose to have remain with me.

I graduated this year! All Glory to God! I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it felt knowing that it was all over, even if all the stress started up again a short few months later. Strangely enough, my friend and I were talking about this, the day of graduation isn’t the day you feel you have accomplished anything, in fact it is such an anti climax, all those many hours and months of studying like crazy, writing essay after essay isn’t what magically transforms into this amazing relief. No, the relief comes the day after your last exam, graduation day is just the day, but the celebration of it, now that is definitely one I personally, will never forget.

My 21^st Birthday party was a night to remember, till this day I will say it was special. I was in a room filled with all my favorite people, laughing joking, teasing one another. The food was amazing, and the music was on point thanks to my favorite DJ, DJ Loyalty (contact me for his details). And anyone who has followed this blog or knows me personally will know that food and music are my number one loves. That night was blessed.

I was panicking throughout the year, thinking about what I was going to do next. Do I move back to Nigeria, stay abroad? If I stay abroad, how will I secure a job, what do I want for my life? This has been a big struggle for me, but these days I have learned to let go and let God, and it has done wonders for me. I am more sure about who I am as a person these days, what I want and what I don’t want. What I plan to do. The greatest lesson I have learnt this year is that you cannot plan everything; everything is not in your absolute control. It is great to have a plan, a life plan, targets you want to meet, but don’t forget that life throws you curve balls and sometimes those curve balls, are exactly what you need to help you grow.

Filter! In fact I am still learning to filter. The single most important thing I have learnt is to know how to filter! It’s not everything you say to everyone. Some people cant handle the information you give them, or know how to react, always remember to gauge the people you are with. With that, you can then know how to proceed in divulging information.

Lastly, you are blessed. Do you know that? I believe we sometimes forget how much waking up in the morning is a blessing. So many people have died this year, including one of my favourite grand aunts. She died after a long but miraculous battle with cancer. She is in heaven now, resting, but Lord knows it was hard to come to terms with the fact that she is gone. One moment her eyes were open and the next, they were closed forever. Be thankful for the people you have in your life, make sure you treasure and appreciate them.

I will do another post soon, because there is so much in store including my new blogisite – #RealTalkwithGeorgie! I hope y’all are ready, because you are going to be in for a crazy ride! #2015baby!

Happy New Year darlings!

Exclusive Interview #3: Unwrap your Christmas Gift!

2014-12-15T10:37:00.000+00:00

It’s ten days to Christmas guys, and I honestly can’t wait! To be back home with my family, digging into some amazing food, juicy gossip and banging music is definitely going to bring me such joy this Christmas. So I thought what is the best way to share some of my Christmas joy with my readers? Well, you guys are in for a treat! What are you waiting for? Go unwrap your Christmas present!

A couple of months back I was watching Gidi Up and the characters attended a friends open mic performance. As soon as their friend started preforming, I was transfixed. I loved the sound, the lyrics, and the cherry on the top was the fact this young man was playing a guitar! I quietly enjoyed his music, playing the few minutes of his performance over and over again. Flash-forward to a few months later, I see on YouTube that Ndani partnered with him to release a video for Valentine's Day using the song that I placed on repeat. At this point I was too excited! I told all my friends about this gem, Bemyoda.

I proceeded to check out where he had more of his music and found his Soundcloud page, click here. I fell in love with his music and I knew I had to reach out to him. Luckily for me and you, I have had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Bemyoda. With all my interviews, I usually construct a piece from it. However this time around, I felt that the interview would be better left in its original form. Check out Bemyoda's interview, I hope you enjoy it! Merrry Christmas!

1. Where in Nigeria are you from?

“I’m from Benue State, my dad is. My mum is from Kogi State.”

2. How did you grow up? What was life like?

“I’d say it was pretty simple. I remember playing with my siblings a lot, but I generally was a reserved kid. I was the typical bookworm. My dad started to take my elder sister and I to the state library when I was about 7 or 8, and we read as much as we could handle. By the time I got into secondary school, books had a firm hold on me. My family moved a bit because of my dad’s job. We lived in Enugu and Owerri, but most of my growing up years I spent in Makurdi.”

3. Where did you go to school and University? What did you study?

“I studied Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. And yes, I feel like a contradiction.”

4. What inspired you to become a musician?

‘‘I don’t think that I ever had this super amazing dream to be a singer. I think it was more like a journey to realisation. I wrote my first song when I was about fourteen, and then I got into one choir or group or the other from then on. I actually never seriously saw myself singing by myself outside of a group. Maybe because I was too timid to even entertain such a thought. I think I came to the realisation that I could do it by myself after my friend/group member died. At that point I had to decide whether to give it all up or to go ahead by myself.”

5. How do you describe your style of music? Do you write and or produce your songs?

“There’s a lot of Folk influence in my work. I like the simplicity of Folk. There’s also some Jazz and Soul influence as well. I’ve written all the songs I’ve put out so far. The first song I tried a collaboration on was ‘No No,’ one of the songs on my EP, Sketch. I wrote the first verse and then co-wrote the second with my friend Adebola Rayo. Overall, I thought it turned out good.

I have good enough ideas of how I want most of my work to sound, but I won’t call myself a producer. I worked very closely with Atta Lennell on most of the songs on Sketch. He’s one producer who gets me, and I’m usually not worried about whether or not he’ll interpret my music the right way.”

6. Why the name ‘Bemyoda?’ Is that your actual name?

“My name’s Bem Iordaah. Iordaah’s pronounced yoda. I just took that and joined it up with my first name. So, Bemyoda is both my name and surname together.”

7. How long have you been in the Industry? How did your journey begin?

"I don’t know that I’m in the industry like that yet. But I’ve been singing unofficially for at least 10 years now. After years of having my father sing with and teach us kids songs during devotion I got into a group called All for Him as a teenager. It was a Christian youth group based in Makurdi. It was there I actually started to do any real singing. Then I got into a trio called Project X with Peter Adole and Terver Akindigh. After that I got into a choir in university called The Living Vessels, and I’ve been in a couple choirs since then. The last group I was in was the one with my late friend Daniel Newking. We didn’t have a name yet at the time he died. He’s the one I wrote the tribute song ‘Always’ for.”

8. Have you received any formal vocal training?

“No I haven’t. I will, but I haven’t yet.”

9. Considering that quite a few Nigerians seem to cling to Afrobeats, how are you finding the ability to push your music in Nigeria?

“The easiest answer to that question is only one. It’s tough here. I’ve had well-meaning people advise me to conform, but I don’t think I can. I’d rather not sing than have to force myself to be what I’m not. I’ve also had people advise me to focus on the larger world market where my work will be better appreciated, and I’d say that’s what I’m working towards. I don’t mean that there are no people in Nigeria who appreciate what I do, but it’s such a small niche audience. We’re working still anyways.”

10. How was it working with Ndani TV? I see you have an Ndani Session with them and your song featured on Gidi Up.

“It was mostly fun, in fact, besides the long hours, it was all fun. Plenty of laughter, plenty of takes…we had to shoot the same scenes over and over and over until the crew was satisfied. Those few minutes that made it on the show took many hours to create. The whole experience made me respect filmmakers more though. Their work requires a high level of attention to detail and a lot of dedication.”

(Listen from 20 minutes in)

11. What would you say is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you?

“Craziest bad thing or craziest good? I’ve jumped out of a plane before. I don’t know if that qualifies as a thing that ‘happend’ to me. I took my sane self there, paid, and only thought about what I was doing when the plane took off.”

12. Do you have a special someone in your life right now?

Bemyoda cheekily declined to answer. Don’t worry guys, I’ll get the truth out of him soon enough.

13. You are young and have achieved a quite a lot, what’s next for you? New album, new video, concert?

“There’s so much to do. I really don’t think I’ve done any thing yet. I’ve spent the past year working on my album and I recorded most of it in the past few months. That’s the biggest project I’m working on right now. I’m also working at putting out a few videos early next year.”

14. Where can people get hold of your music apart from Soundcloud? Can they see you perform?

“It’s mostly on Soundcloud and my website right now. At the moment I’m more in Lagos than anywhere else.” (I'll keep you guys updated on any future shows)

15. If you had the chance to do a feature with a Nigerian Artist, who would it be and why?

“I’d love to work with Brymo, and Asa, and Seal and Sade. Brymo because I like his sound and emotion, Asa because she’s just special, and Seal and Sade because they are simply classic.”

16. Are you an independent artiste, or are you signed to a label. If so which one? If not, why not?

“I’m not signed to a label, not yet. I’ve been approached a couple times by Nigerian labels, but it didn’t seem like the right fit. It’s good that people want to partner with you so you all can all make money, but there are also values that you stand by that you want the people you work with to at least respect and not try to change just for the sake of business.”

17. What is your favourite song on your EP and why?

“‘Always.’ It’s a tribute song to my friend Daniel Newking as I said earlier. We were a duo and were planning to start recording songs when he had an accident and passed away. We only got to perform once together. But he was such an amazing friend and singer.”

18. What is your message for any Nigerian artist trying to make it in the Industry?

“I think that everyone trying to do something, anything, needs to believe that their work can and will make a difference. There are a lot of naysayers, and sometimes even we ourselves can be doubtful, but there must be something, somewhere inside, a depth of faith that isn’t easily displaced. I think.”

I am in love with Bemyoda, aren’t you?

He’s so honest and open. If you want to get more frequent updates, click on the links below!

Website: http://www.bemyoda.com

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bemyoda

Instagram: http://instagram.com/bemyoda

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bemyoda

RealTalk - How often do you take risks?

2014-12-04T21:15:00.000+00:00

Hey guys,

Happy last month of 2014!

Although it is the end of the year,

it is never too late to rethink, restrategise, and try something new!

There is this photo being shared around various social media platforms,

so I thought I'd share it too.

I hope you enjoy this article I wrote, and I hope it inspires you!

Recently, I made the decision not pursue an LL.M. I had acquired a lot of legal knowledge during my undergraduate degree and due to my long-term interests, I was eager to gain business knowledge. Knowledge that I could apply to my own company someday, or be of use to my future employer. However in the UK and the US, unless you plan to study an MBA, you are really not left with much choice in terms of degree options.

After an extensive search, I decided to undergo the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in the UK. The course allows me to be one step away from qualifying as a lawyer in the UK (the last step being a training contract), and I could also graduate with an MA in Business and Management. This is brilliant because I would kill two birds with one stone!

A couple of months ago I signed into my University blackboard and I realised that as part of my course, I have to take three electives. This was great news because I have been given the opportunity to study areas of the Law that I previously contemplated studying as a Masters as an elective! I was beyond excited! Ultimately the risk I took paid off! Now I get to learn more about the areas of Law I would have liked to, be one step closer to being a qualified lawyer in the UK, and be armed with amazing business knowledge in the form of an MA. I have successfully thus far, managed to have my cake and eat it too.

Choosing to do the LPC seemed like the best choice at the time, and I am glad I trusted my instincts. I did have a few doubts, as it is human nature to, looking at what others are doing and comparing yourself to them, or listening to people’s opinions about your decision. However, I sometimes forget that God has a plan for me; a unique construct, and I need to remember that.

So as I am learning to let go and let love, it is working in my favour!

Why don't you do the same? Dare to take a risk!

RealTalk: Love - What is it?

2014-11-18T17:53:00.002+00:00

I’ve been overwhelmed the past couple of days with the definition of love. Love is such a subjective concept and I call it a concept for that exact reason. As most of my friends and I are young adults, trying to find our way in the world, we sometimes can’t help thinking about our future life partners. Overwhelmed with hashtagged weddings, elaborately decorated celebrations, juxtaposed with the failed marriages that come to light soon after those grand events, these discussions come hand in hand with the discussion of love. What is it, and how does one maintain it?

My mains and I have completely different ideas on love, relationships and how they should work. Seeing as we have all been raised by different people who have gone through their own life experiences, that is perfectly natural. Because we all have different opinions, it again highlights that there is no one way, or right way.

So what is love in the context of a relationship? In my opinion, love is the complete unconditional acceptance of another person. To give a few examples, you accept their strengths, weaknesses, flaws, fears, hopes and dreams.

I have realized that more often than not, we forget that people change over time, the man you love today might be completely different in the next few months, or next few years. Love dictates that you will accept him as he presents himself to you regardless of how he might have changed. The reason why we generally run into difficulty is that we get so used to a person being a certain way, that when they change you need to learn to accept them all over again. Not only that, but there might be tastes, values, opinions or personality traits you might not see coming. Further, you are going to have to realign those changes with your ‘self’, which also changes over time. In a sense, you choose to fall in love with that person again.

Why did I just say choose? I ran into an amazing saying a few weeks ago, it stated that you cannot help who your attracted to, but you do choose who you love. Scientifically speaking, when we are attracted to someone, our body releases certain chemicals that cause us to feel, act and think in a certain way. We don’t consciously tell our body to release those chemicals we just do it, naturally! That sounds amazing doesn’t it? However, why is it that the case is different when it comes to love? Why is it that people say they are no longer ‘in love’? That is because often times we mistake attraction, or sexual tension for love. Love as already depicted earlier in article goes much deeper than just surface attraction. It is about the complete acceptance of another person. This crosses physical barriers into the emotional, and mental. Which although still involving chemicals, it is controlled by our conscious thought. Therein lies the key difference. We choose to say yes, to be married to this one person for the rest of our lives. We choose to say yes to the fact that when things go wrong, we will stay by their side. That is a major commitment that should not be taken lightly.

I believe (myself included), that we are guilty of allowing the media (books, movies, series, adverts) to affect our perception of love. It is depicted generally speaking, as either love at first sight, or love during a weekend, that involved some trial that was overcome. Or it was a whirlwind romance, that ended in tragedy. These movies are created to entertain. Whilst they make us feel all giddy and inspired inside, they do nothing to help us with the real world. In my opinion, more often than not, that concept of love does not exist, if it does, it does not last, and even then, only very few people have been able to attain it, especially in the 21^st century with our changing morals, perceptions, technological advances and various other distractions.

Therefore, as much as love can mean different things to different people, something has been made very clear to me - love is a major commitment. If people focus on the fact that love is a choice, they will realise when the chips are down that they chose to love this person, to be with this person, to share a life with this person, and they might just try a little harder to make things work.

All pictures are taken from Google. Georgette Monnou reserves no rights to the images used.

#BlogTag: 20 Things About Georgette!

2014-11-04T14:45:00.000+00:00

Hey guys!

Recently, I was tagged by Ediyemade to reveal twenty facts about myself. I did a similar post for the Sunflower Blogger Award not too long ago, you can view it here. However Ediyemade gave me an offer I could not refuse. I love being asked questions, so I’m uber excited to share more about myself.

Here we go!

I love God, and appreciate the love He has shown me over the past 21 years. I am by no means a perfect person, but I aim to be more like Him.
My family is everything to me.
I love music. I mentioned it in the last post but it is that important to me. These days I have realized how much music is a huge part of my life. I listen to music everyday! It’s also the main reason I love to dance.
People think its weird when I say this, but when I dance, it’s the music that moves me. I move according to the beat, to dance moves I have practiced before at home, or seen people do in the village, or girls at school when growing up.
I adore dogs, I hate cats. There is something about cats that I really don’t like. I have had about three dogs in my lifetime, all of whom taught me how to love, how to care for a defenseless being, and how to train (almost like raising kids).
I look exactly like my mum did when I was her age. So dear future husband, take a look at your mother in law, she will be what your wife will look like 40 years from now. Haha!
I detest it when people take my friendliness for granted.
I am a very passionate person. Passion is what started this blog two years ago and it is what allows it to continue to thrive. I have been told that I do everything with passion: speak, dance and make decisions based on it. Every time someone says that to me, it makes my heart smile – because it is truly who I am.
I am an excellent multitasker. Anyone who has been around me will tell you. I am involved in a wide range of projects almost all of the time. Sometimes self–development related, work, or University related.
I love to keep myself busy. I cannot stand not having something to do. Being challenged in different ways makes me really happy. It gives me a huge sense of achievement.
I am in love with love. MASSIVE romantic. But it is unfortunate that the love depicted in the movies doesn’t exist. Alas the real world beckons…
I have realized today I should not drink tea before bed, it keeps me awake! (How silly, I am such a muppet sometimes).
I have become more fitness conscious and I love it! A few weekends ago I ran for 40 minutes from one end of Central London to the other. I was beyond proud.
There is nothing I detest more than people not answering my texts in a timely manner. It is so infuriating! *Take note*
If you want me to love you eternally, buy me a pair of heels. I love, love, love ‘em! I currently have over thirty pairs! *Covers face*
My next big purchase will either be a pair of Loubs to add to my shoe collection or a new belt.
I love writing. It allows me to express myself. Check out some of my Guest Posts here, here, and here.
Friends are a huge part of my life. They are with me every step of the way. My mains mean so much to me.
Food, glorious food! I love to cook, I love to eat, and I take it very seriously, haha! One of my favorite ways to bond with people is over a hearty meal somewhere nice, or in the comfort of my home.
I love Hillsong Church. If you want to go to a place that teaches you more about God’s love in a contemporary and fun way – that’s the place to go on Sunday!

RealTalk: Perceptions

2014-10-29T10:47:00.003+00:00

I am finding it really hard to write this post. There is so much to say, so many ways to say it, and yet I cannot find the words. Forgive me as I ramble on in a desperate attempt to convey this message.

I never realized until recently, how many people watch me. They listen to what I say, witness how I act, and form a conclusion. A conclusion about me, that may or may not be the truth. The question that follows would be, the truth according to whom?

Due to the fact that perception is so subjective, it is hard to say whose truth is the right analysis. However in life, I believe that we form our own opinions about ourselves based on our current characteristics, which constantly evolves, and is counterbalanced by what others think of us. The truth, subjectively speaking, will be based on who we believe we are, which usually is a reasoned opinion unless one is grossly delusional.

It is not until someone comes up to me and tells me something about myself. ‘Oh Georgette, you are really good at these things that’s why I have come to you,’ or ‘Oh, you remember you said this, so after I applied what you said, I did this…’ I then realize that people do listen to me, and sometimes form opinions about myself that I never considered to be true. It may sound stupid and funny but I’m serious. I talk, you talk, but people do really place weight on your words and actions.

Over the summer, being back home in Nigeria, I was shocked by what people took literally, the questions people asked me, the specific idea they had of who I was.

I felt unreasonably judged, and or misunderstood.

I talked to some of my girlfriends (as you do), telling them about my experiences, and they reminded me that people come from different backgrounds and may have a certain opinion already, of how a woman with my background should act or speak like. I was amazed. I keep forgetting that people come from different walks of life and sometimes one has to remember to be patient, to give them time to realize that you are not who they think you are, or that you will not do certain things they expect you to do.

However, I questioned myself. Should I be different? Should I turn into one of those hardened Lagos babes that all the men complain about, but secretly enjoy the challenge these women give them? Maybe that will be the only way they will understand my intentions? My friends loudly echoed, ‘No!’ You are who you are and they will just have to understand and accept that, and you might just have to be a lot more explicit about your views, who you are and what you stand for. It all just sounded exhausting, constantly having to make yourself clear. However, if it saves confusion down the line, maybe it is all for the best.

I guess what I have been slapped in the face with, is how quickly certain people form an opinion with absolutely no concrete evidence. How easily people assume you are a certain type of person based on one conversation.

You know someone once asked me if I ate Okoro soup at home, another was shocked when I said that I could cook, (I can bake too)! I was shocked when another confused my friendliness for something else. I believe I am a nice person, I am very open and I speak freely with almost everyone that I meet. I joke and laugh a lot, however, that does not automatically mean that I dig you romantically! Nigerian men will not kill me oh!

What about you? Have you been a victim of quick judgment?

Album Review: Ayo

2014-10-12T11:01:00.001+01:00

Happy Sunday guys!

Those who have been around me the past few weeks will know that I am obsessed with Wizkid’s new album, Ayo.

Taken from NotJustOk

About a year ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine about Wizkid’s talent. At that point I was not convinced of it, because even though he brought out tune after tune, it was full of the same things in relation to his beat, sound, and famous ability to manipulate a track. However Ayo has shown me how wrong I was.

What I love most about the album is that it musically diverse. You can hear that Wizkid has been influenced by Jazz and Soul with tracks like:

‘In Love’ feat Seyi Shay

and

‘One Question’ feat Yemi Sax (so good).

It also contains the well-known tracks, ‘Jaiye Jaiye,’ ‘Show You the Money,’ ‘Caro,’ and ‘On Top Your Matter.’ When listening, you’ll be taken aback by how emotional and honest he is on the album too with songs like:

‘Joy’

and

‘Ojuelegba.’

His album is worth a listen and certainly a buy. I bought it with blind faith and I was not disappointed.

I am so excited to see where Wizkid goes from here.

The 80/20 Rule: Why Do People Cheat?

2014-09-24T23:15:00.001+01:00

A few weeks ago I had a four-hour long conversation with a couple of people about the reason why men cheat. I heard everything from needing to be sexually involved with a new person because they are used to the landscape their current partner provides, to it is in a man’s nature to cheat. However, what is the real reason?

In my opinion the 80/20 Rule explains it. In a relationship you will only ever get 80 percent of what you want from your partner. There will always be that 20 percent missing. It could be anything from different sleeping patterns, which means that you never spend enough time together, to untidiness, inability to effectively communicate, impoliteness, inability to cook, or explore certain practices in the bedroom…the list is endless. The question however, is that after identifying the 20 percent that is lacking in your relationship; do you choose to go elsewhere to obtain it?

In Tyler Perry’s Why Did I get Married, Mike leaves his wife for another woman. She sexually satisfies him but she does not cook, clean or care for him the way his ex-wife used to. She stereotypically spends his money shopping 24/7; Mike later regrets his choice. Toke Makinwa talks about the 80/20 Rule on TokeMoments, and comically terms it ‘Big Eye Disease.’ She argues that those who constantly compare themselves to others, or go looking for what is not theirs, fall prey to the rule.

Being back home and looking at the Nigerian landscape, Nigerians need to learn to work on their relationships. There are too many weddings but not enough long-lasting marriages. I see many couples choosing to divorce, or separate (Nigerians handy break up tool which doesn’t involve the Law). At the other end of the spectrum, some couples lead unhappy lives, choosing to stay with a partner who does not bring them any peace.

Going back to the conversation I had earlier this week, I was beyond shocked when someone said to me, “He is coming home to you, taking care of you, loves you. The other side chicks do not matter.” Call me naïve, but I rather not sentence myself to life with a man who ends up cheating on me, only for him to say, “but you’re my main chick now.”

Do you agree with the rule? Does it explain cheating? What would you do if your partner cheated?

Album Review: V

2014-09-09T12:16:00.003+01:00

I love how adventurous this group is. They keep tweaking their sound, allowing it to develop, never forgetting their melodic roots. I remember being in Nigeria at the age of twelve getting my hair braided, and the hairdressers and I would sing along to ‘Sunday Morning,’ boy has their sound changed since then!

At this point you should know that I am speaking about my current faves, Maroon 5. They recently released their new album ‘V’ with their hit single ‘Maps’ already making waves globally. However, the other night, I listened to their whole album and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Currently, my favourite songs are ‘In Your Pocket’, ‘Unkiss Me’, ‘Feelings’, and ‘My Heart is Open’ feat Gwen Stefani. In fact, from ‘My Heart Is Open’, the album goes into this melodic transcendence. You’ll be listening to the kind of songs you and your crush can slow dance to on the dance floor or in front of a dimly lit fire. (I watch too many movies!)

Hope you enjoy listening to it!

Friendship and New Adventures

2014-09-06T14:40:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I went to a bar with a few good friends of mine. It was a place I had found by accident with another friend when we went to eat at a Restaurant down the road. That night we went into the bar a little nervous because we were not sure if we had to book a table or if we had to be on some guest list, but luckily for us, we didn’t need to. We walked in and were taken aback by how relaxed the environment was, and we knew we definitely wanted to come back.

Going back to yesterday, I went to have drinks with a few friends and I didn’t even realise that this bar had so much more than just the one room. Every room had its own theme and naturally a different effect on the visitor. I fell in love.

However, todays post isn’t going to be about this lovely hideaway that I found but rather about friendship. It is amazing how we walk through this journey called life and we cannot get out on the other end without forming relationships with people. Call it human nature; call it what you want, but I would like to think that friends are the people that add color to your blank, seemingly dull canvas.

There are times in my life, I could not have gone through without friends that have become sisters or vice versa, and it is truly interchangeable with the deep friendships I have formed with a few male friends of mine.

There was a time in my life where I didn’t have one friend to hang out with. It was the culmination of a lot of things, after effects of being bullied, being more comfortable hanging out by myself, and I was also very young. My days consisted of very many classes learning at school, going home and then back to school again. However, I got out of that phase luckily, and God blessed me with another gift, the ability to let things go and the ability to forget. Some of my closest friends will tell you that honestly, I might be a bit sensitive, but if you hurt me, I might remember that something happened between us but not remember exactly what you did or said. It is so much easier to let things go when you cannot remember/choose to forget and move on with your life.

The friends that have remained a constant in my life truly have been through hell and back with me. I found this neat quote, and as a foodie, I quite liked it:

What has your road down Friendship Lane been like?

10,000 views and #BringBackOurGirls

2014-09-02T08:46:00.002+01:00

We have gotten to 10, 000 page views! I don’t know what else to say but thank you for reading!

I want to use this post to go back to why I started this blog two years ago. At the heart of this blog is one of my biggest passions – Nigeria, my country my home. At the moment, even more than before, my government is failing in more ways than one can imagine. Let us put aside the corruption complaints, poverty issues, lack of electricity and water distribution, poor educational systems, bad roads and infrastructure, our girls are still missing, our girls are still not back.

About 140 days ago, Boko Haram (BH), an Islamist terrorist group that started terrorizing Nigeria some four years ago, took 276 girls in Chibok. Some have escaped, some have been sold, some have been used as suicide bombers but many are still missing.

Some argue that politicians are behind the rise of Boko Haram, which was recently confirmed by the Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis when interviewed recently. President Goodluck Jonathan brought him in to advise on the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. However, it is more than just our politician’s involvement now. ISIS, a British Islamist terror cell group, is giving Boko Haram tactical training and Al Queada is funding them. Nigeria frankly does not have the manpower or adequate skills to deal with this issue. The International community especially America have tried to help Nigeria stop Boko Haram by providing funding but for some reason their efforts are not making much of a difference because thousands of Nigerians are still dying and children’s lives are still at stake.

Therefore, there must be more that meets the eyes. With Dr. Davis’ recent confirmation, if our politicians are funding this group then this saga is never going to end. Even if these supposed politicians wanted to stop funding BH, the situation has become even larger than they anticipated. The genie is out of the bottle. It is incredibly sad that certain people’s thirst for power and sheer greed has and will continue to cause millions in Nigeria to suffer.

What can be done to stop them? Who can come to Nigeria’s aid?

At this point as a citizen of Nigeria, all I can do is pray, pray for the families whose lives are being affected by this group. Pray for some kind of divine intervention and that every enemy of the state, every politician or silent investor funding this group or involved with this group should find a way to stop this monster they have created. Too many people are dying, too many children are being raped, witnessing absolute horror, all because of what? Money?

Please do not forget to keep talking, keep writing, keep rallying to #BringBackOurGirls

Nomination: The Sunflower Blogger Award

2014-08-30T11:59:00.000+01:00

I woke up Thursday morning and like I usually do, I checked all my messages, emails and social media TL's. I came across Detuke's post, on her new blog, where she speaks about being nominated for The Sunflower Blogger Award. At the end of her post I see that TheUnspokenWords93 was nominated as well! Isn't that amazing? I am incredibly humbled.

So thank you Detuke for the nomination, it means a lot that you thought about my blog.

The Rules for the Competition are as follows:

1. Share 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the questions set by the blogger that nominated you

3. Nominate 11 bloggers

4. Set 7 questions for nominated bloggers

So here we go! #11ThingsAboutGeorgie 

1. Hi, my name is Georgette Monnou and I was born in Lagos. No, my surname is not pronounced or written as Monu because my dad is from Benin Republic. My mother Linda, is both French and Nigerian! "#Intanasional huh?" *laughs*

2. I have lived in many countries: Benin Republic, Senegal, Nigeria, Togo and London! I love the fact that I have friends from all over the world. The fact that I have been raised everywhere is why my best friend says, "Georgette can speak to virtually anybody! If Georgette was to speak to a dead body, the dead body will respond!" I would like to think of myself as approachable and friendly, (I hope).  

3. People wonder why my handle on Instagram and Twitter is: gum_101. My initials are GUM, because my middle name is Uche! 101 was a childhood thing that just stuck! *embarrassed face*  

4. I realised recently that I have been a relationship commitment phobe for many years. I thank God for self discovery and change!

5. I love music, I mean all kinds: Jazz, Latin, RnB, Afrobeats and soft Rock. I ran away from Techno for many years but Avicii and David Guetta have converted me - slowly. My favourite song at the moment is an Oldie - What Now by Rihanna, and Korede Bello's - Cold Outside, it's a Tune!

6. I love pictures, they really do capture a moment, a memory. I also enjoy taking #Celfiés

7. I have been dancing salsa and the electric slide ever since I could remember. My mum would listen to Santana (I love him) and would salsa across the living room. I would watch her and sometimes join her. Once I got the hang of it, I would choreograph routines that my sister, her friends, and I would perform at our family Christmas do's or when my mothers friends would come over to jist. The electric slide on the other hand was tradition! Mum said to me, "you cannot not know how to Electric Slide Gigi, it's ludicrous!" So I learnt the electric slide and enjoyed dancing it at every family party we had, including my 21st Birthday Party in July.

8. I can speak French fluently. It's amazing being able to speak another language and connect with a wide range of people. I am currently learning Spanish, something about Spanish is so alluring.

9. I taught myself how to play the guitar. I have been playing for almost two years. One of these days I might post a video up.

10. I hosted my own radio show #RealTalkwithGeorgie for a while. However, during my final year of University, it became too hard to keep posting. It will be back up and running soon as I explained here - promise.

11. I love acting, it is my true passion, it honestly makes me the happiest. Being able to bring written prose to life is so satisfying. I have been acting in school plays ever since I was five - there are pictures as proof! If I could be an actress working in Tinsel or the equivalent of Jacobs Cross or by some act of God work in a Hollywood production, I would be complete. Baba God I leave it to you oh! The closest bet at the moment is being involved in Broadcast journalism in Nigeria - TV, Radio etc. (Thats the dream)

12. I love writing, it became a habit throughout University, me being inspired by something and then conjuring up a poem or a written piece. I also write scripts, in fact so many of my stories have been described as descriptive scripts. I don't know how to explain it, when I write I can visualise the characters on the screen or on the stage, so in a way my love for movies (I am a huge movie buff) and acting flows into my writing. Maybe I'll be a famous scriptwriter one day.*

Questions Detuke asked me!

1. If you could represent any brand, which one would you choose and why?

I would say either Clinique or Maybelline. I started using Clinique when I was 17. Their products have kept my face smooth, moisturised, toned and reasonably pimple free. When people compliment my skin, nah Clinque oh! I even managed to convince some of my girlfriends to start using it. Maybelline because there is nothing else like it. I use a lot of their makeup products: foundation, eyeliner and lipstick and I love it!

NoMakeupCelfié

2. What's one interesting thing you've learnt about me from reading my blog?
I had no idea you were afraid of Chickens, thats hilarious! Also, I love how you have the hookup to so many cool events in Lagos and that you choose wear Ankara in such creative ways.

3. Do you have a phobia?
I do not have a phobia per say, but I stay away from horror movies, I hate bugs especially roaches, and I really get turned off by obnoxious people.

4. If you were offered an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere in the World, where would you go and why?
Bora Bora or Thailand. I love being by the beach and listening to the waves crash on the sand. Ever since watching The Bachelor where the contestants went to Bora Bora as their final destination before the big proposal, I knew I had to go there, it was so beautiful. Thailand because I have never been to the far East and people that have gone have had such an amazing time, with incredible self-discovery stories and mind-blowing pictures.

Thailand

Bora Bora

5. What is your greatest achievement/What is that something you've achieved that you are most proud of?
At the age of 17 at Woldingham School I became the first African and new student in the 6th Form to ever become House Captain. As a prefect I had the general responsibilities: organising school assemblies, attending meetings with the administration staff to speak about currents events etc. However, being House Captain meant that you were uniquely in charge of some 200+ students, being their support unit amongst other things. I loved it, and I was so honoured the school entrusted me with such a role.
In terms of personal development, I am so happy I decided to learn to play the guitar. It was incredibly hard at first but I feel so blessed. Playing the guitar has given me peace and the ability to find another way to express myself. Also, I am Googlable! The day I found out, I almost passed out!

6. What is your dream job/career?
Working in Broadcast Journalism. Connecting with people via music on the Radio, or on TV, by interviewing key figures. Or like I said earlier, acting on TV!

7. What is your favourite post on my blog and why?
The Ankara Inspired post. I loved the pictures that Linguini took of you! It showed different facets of your dramatic personality.

I nominate...

Questions I set!

1. What is the best post you have read on my blog and why? (If you have featured as a Guest Writer on my blog, you cannot choose your own post)

2. Why did you start your blog?

3. If you were asked to replay a certain moment in your life which would it be?

4. What do your parents call you at home?

5. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

6. What is your dream holiday destination?

7. If you were asked to represent one brand, which would it be and why?

RealTalk: What Is At The Center of Your Life?

2014-08-26T13:54:00.001+01:00

I have been asking myself that question recently. With my first degree over and a range of life changing decisions to make, this is the most important question to answer. Anyone who is close to me will probably tell you that I always overthink and analyze everything, from which route to take to University in the morning, how many drinks to serve at a party, to what career choice I should make. Most times, those that counsel me: friends, family, colleagues or complete strangers, soon realise that a lot of what they ask me to think about, I already have – in detail. However, the fact that I have others speaking to me about the problems I face puts things in perspective, which is always useful.

Unfortunately, due to my need to over analyse, I sometimes forget who is at the center of my life - God.

He has seen me through the hardest points in my life by placing the right people in my path to help me, console me, advise me or cry with me. For that, I am eternally grateful. There are also opportunities that have come my way through no hustle on my part or parent’s connections. Rather through me being myself, and God touching people’s hearts to give me the opportunity to learn and listen to their advice.

In a world that is so full of negativity, constant badgering from the haters and other distractions, remember to seek refuge in His love. I do not mean that in a grandiose way, but rather, do not forget to pray, abandon your stress and worries, and have faith.

I know that letting go is sometimes the hardest choice that we have to make. I dare you to try it.

Have a good week!

#celfieoff!

RealTalk: True Happiness

2014-08-22T22:58:00.000+01:00

Are you truly happy?

The problem with love and happiness is that they are purely subjective concepts. You are really the only one that can truly decide for yourself if you are happy. However, no man is an island. The people who surround you will choose to comment and cast judgment on whether they think you are happy and because we all define happiness differently, your idea of happiness might never amount to what they feel it should.

However, do you choose to entertain their judgments, or do you choose to shrug it off? As much as we try to pretend that the opinions of those that matter to us, or those of complete stranger’s, they do. They permeate our subconscious and force us to challenge our perceptions of happiness even if it shouldn’t. We ask ourselves are we happy? Are we truly happy, comparing our definition to theirs.

All humans are different and want completely different things. What I might believe makes me happy might not make any sense to you but then again why should it matter seeing as at the end of the day, my definition is what really matters.

The problem however, will be if you are not happy, and are simply coasting through life, convincing yourself of your happiness. If you find that you keep telling yourself constantly that you are happy in order to recalibrate, then you are probably not okay. What people’s opinions do, is force you to reconsider your life, relationships and career choices and potentially remove yourself from an unhappy situation. That cannot be so much of a bad thing.

What do you think?

Pharell - Happy (I love this song!)

Album Review: Whispers

2014-08-20T12:58:00.002+01:00

So my favorite band at the moment is The Passenger. I am sure most of you know the song ‘Let it Go,’ (it was last summer’s anthem).

This summer however, the band released their new album Whispers in June. I ran into it by mistake on the plane yesterday. I was exhausted, I hadn’t had much sleep, and I didn’t want to watch a movie. Knowing how good their last album was All the Little Lights, I started to listen. Right from the very beginning, (‘Coins in A Fountain’) and I couldn’t stop. I kid you not; the album was on replay for three hours! Excessive? Slightly, but I couldn’t help it, it just captivated me.

What I love about the Passenger is their rich Indie sound. In Whispers, I found Michael Rosenberg’s voice to be full of contradictions - smooth yet coarse, soft yet present, and the use of string and percussion instruments were beyond beautiful. I don’t know about you, but for me there are always a couple of songs that always stand out in an album. This time it was ‘Whispers, Riding to New York and Coins in a Fountain.’

To be honest if you start listening from ‘Rolling Stone’ till the very end, the combination of all the songs is just...

It took me away to some kind of emotional abandon.

Themes in this album range from love to cancer, self-doubt, to freedom.

Check it out, it is definitely worth a listen.

R.I.P. Robin Williams

2014-08-12T13:46:00.000+01:00

It is amazing how we are constantly reminded that life is literally too short. Yesterday the world lost a star. A man who gave everyone another reason to remember that there is always a reason to live – joy, laughter, love.

I remember being about ten and sitting in front of the TV I was riddled with laughter watching this supposed scientist make a fool of himself in his laboratory. He ended up creating this little green blob, called ‘Flubber’ who caused more havoc than expected. As a teenager, dealing with boy drama and enthused by the world of romantic comedies, I saw ‘License to Wed.’ A couple needed to complete pre-wedding classes in order to get married in Mandy Moore’s family church. The priest, who was in charge of those classes, soon became a little more than the couple could handle. He concocted ways to test the couple whilst the audience laughed at the result.

Thank you Robin Williams for being an amazing talent, and whilst we celebrate the joy you gave us we all need to remember one very important lesson. Just because a person smiles and laughs with you does not mean that they are not going through some very deep and dark things. Considering that Robert suffered with depression for many years, which culminated in his apparent suicide, do not forget to be kind to whomever you may come across.

Goodbye Robin.

Genesis

2014-08-07T11:33:00.002+01:00

Lately, I have been reading my blog posts from two years ago (back when my blog first started). I remember the day so well. I was thinking about my country Nigeria, and what I could do to help in my own little way. I thought about reaching out to people by writing about current issues that faced Nigeria, often proffering solutions hoping that it would start dialogue. With so much to talk about and so much on my mind, I began to write. Shortly after finishing my first ‘blurb’ I thought about starting a blog. It has been an amazing experience writing articles and getting my opinions out there, but most importantly hearing people talk about issues I raised. It was the dream and it has been incredibly humbling.

You might be wondering why I have decided to read my old posts. I am thinking about revamping my blog to come up with brand new concepts that can hopefully get more of you involved. I am already bursting with ideas and as a person, who moves quickly and by passion; I am quite surprised at myself.

A) That I haven’t told you everything I have planned (I’m trying hard not to) and

B) The new site wasn’t up yesterday.

I am learning to take my time; there is no real rush… I hope you are as excited as I am! In order to make sure the content I put out there is what you will enjoy, please comment below telling me what you would like to see on the blog. E.g. Lifestyle posts, interviews, vlogs etc.

Lastly, it is amazing how much we grow and evolve as human beings. There was a time in my life when I could not write a letter without a million mistakes, using the wrong word or phrase. No letter was ever sent off without my mama cross checking everything. However, so much changed at University, and I can thank the Law for that. So when looking back at my old posts, it was a crazy feeling, because some of them I would never publish now! My writing style has changed, my opinions have changed, and at the end of the day it is testament to my growth.

P.S. Sometimes in life, you need to learn to appreciate yourself for where you are in your life now, look at how far you have gone. You have gained new skills, experience, talent or emotional strength.

I think we are sometimes our own biggest critic, learn to appreciate yourself - #selfappreciationday

Exclusive Interview #2: Ify Arinze of Eternity Bound

2014-04-21T20:54:00.006+01:00

A little while ago, I came across a couple of photographs on my Facebook timeline. There was something about the photographs that drew me in. Maybe I was taken by the clarity of the photos, the model(s), its composition, or the fact that I felt like was staring at a reflection of myself. In each photo, I could identify with the mood conveyed, or the actions taken.

Dancers at MHC

I wanted to know who the photographer was. I quickly realised that someone was tagged and credited as the photographer - Ifeyinwa Arinze aka Ify. I added her on Facebook instantly, hoping she would accept, as I was desperate to see more of her photographs. Very rarely do young photographers impress me, partly due to the fact that our generation in the last few years has suddenly become obsessed with being creative. Anyone who is anyone, irrespective of talent, wants to sing, dance, write, or take photographs, but Ify is not that person. Her photographs speak about her truth - her genuine passion and love for photography.

Ify Arinze

Once accepted as her friend, I looked at more and more photographs, not only on her FB page but also on her blog. When her website was launched, I knew I had to interview her!

I hope you enjoy Ify’s interview!

Ify was born in Lagos and spent most of her life there. For eighteen years she moved around with her family, living in Festac, Ikoyi and Ajah. However, if you were to ask her where she is from, she would say Anambra. Her new home now is in Massachusetts. She moved to America a couple of years ago to pursue her dream of being a Paediatrician stemming from her love for kids, and has only recently just graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Neuroscience. However, her professional dreams do not get in the way of one of her major passions, photography.

Portrait: Duy Tien

She explained that she got into photography in November 2010, when she bought her first camera from Amazon. However, the person that really got her photographic juices flowing was a photographer called Andre Wagner from Nebraska. She discovered him through pictures taken of a spoken word collective. Ify loves the fact the he “captures the essence of the moment.” You can sense that his work means a lot to her, because as she reminisced, she beamed from ear to ear.

Photography “is part of [her] everyday life” Ify affirms. “I am constantly editing or taking pictures. It is a means of expression for me, a very serious passion. I wake up in the morning and I have an idea in my head, then I have a model in mind, and I think of how to bring it to bring it all together.”

Ify’s story is quite interesting because when asked her about parental support, (as Nigerian parents can be difficult), she detailed, “My story is different, my situation is unique because photography is not what I want to do full time. It is an art, a passion, and I am honoured that people recognise my work and pay me to do projects for them.” She laughs just as she continues, “My mother knows that I am passionate about photography, and she has always been a big fan.”

For Ify, it isn’t about that one shot, “It is more than a shot, it is a series of photos, and it’s based on my passion for communicating through my photos.” But if she had to choose a favourite photo it would be one from her Gele Series. “Those pictures really stand out because I cannot believe that I took those photos in my room, they came out beautifully.”

GELE: A portrait series

Ify is a genuinely sweet person and very humble. I remember how she was truly amazed at the fact that she was asked to be interviewed, evidenced in her smiles and her remarks. (She doesn't realise that she does me the favour).

Apart from the fun fact that Ify is a very proud Queens College alumni, she playfully recounts the craziest thing that has ever happened to her. “I entered into a Bournvita competition (Nigerians should remember that fabulous chocolate drink likened to Cadbury Hot Chocolate Powder). Forty children would win a flight to Paris or London if they answered two questions, what is the vitamin responsible for dry eyesight, and what are the colours of British Airways.” Hilarious! She won! “It was ridiculous,” she states, “as we were all between the ages of 8 and 10, the trip was insane!”

FALL: A portrait series

After a while, I had to ask, why the name ‘Eternity Bound?’

She replied, “I didn’t want the name to be cliché. I was getting lunch one afternoon and I prayed about it. I asked God what name to use, and the name just came to me. As I am a child of God, not of this world, there is much more to look forward to. This is not the final destination,” she continues, “I am heading to a life of eternity with God, so why not Eternity Bound?” I think it’s an amazing name, what do you think?

To end, when asked about her dreams she stated that, “healthcare and health access has been on her heart for a long time. But at the same time she is a photographer, even though she might not be a professional photographer in the sense that it is not her full time job, she still sees photography being a big part of her life.”

Dancers at MHC

You can find more of her work below:

Blog: http://eternitybound.tumblr.com

Website: http://www.eternityboundphoto.com

New Year, New Beginnings

2014-01-06T16:49:00.003+00:00

It is hilarious how there is always so much hype about the New Year. Everyone is talking about new beginnings. Social media goes nuts with messages like, ‘2014 is my year of excellence!’ This can easily be interchanged to be the ‘year of grace/blessing/overcoming/overachieving.’

There is something about all those messages that carries an element of falsity. I feel like it is almost as if people think that because it is a New Year all their problems are going to magically disappear. Yes, it is a New Year and yes, you have a new start but I have found that if you go into the New Year thinking that all the issues you had in the past are all going to just miraculously fade away, it won’t. At least it won’t just because it is a New Year. There is need for personal reflection and growth for any change to happen.

I find that people also seem to look at the previous year with disappointment thinking about what didn’t happen or with regret at what happened. All the experiences you have gone through in the last year have happened for a reason. In 2013 you cried, you laughed, you joked and loved all for a reason. Embrace that. A person once told me that he doesn't believe in regret because at the time of whatever happening, you wanted it to. Even though the consequences of your actions or your experience wasn't what you hoped, you should see it as a lesson, not regret. I love that.

In order for this New Year to be your ‘year of excellence’ you are going to have to work hard to make sure that it is. You are going to have to push yourself in all aspects: mentally, physically and spiritually. Most important of all, is that you make a conscious effort to learn from your mistakes and change your tactics to ultimately become who you want to be this year.

My prayer, is that you do accomplish all that you set out to this year. I hope that you learn from your past and focus on the future. If anything was made plain and clear last year, is that death is the only thing in this life that is certain. Life is short. As a result, push yourself, challenge yourself to achieve your fullest potential, don’t just brush it off and say, “There is always next year.”

First published on Bella Naija

Tears, Thoughts and Thank You's

2013-12-27T12:13:00.002+00:00

Dear Blog Fam -a- lam,

I hope that this year's Christmas celebrations were amazing! It has been an absolute pleasure writing and when I look back on this year, I am almost brought to tears. I praise God that so much has been able to have been accomplished, and I pray as this year draws to an end, that 2014 will be all you have wished for and more.

As the blog is slowly expanding, I am looking forward to more Guest Writers, more Interviews and a lot more posts!

Thank you for reading!

Much Love Always,

Guest Post: A Letter to my Unborn Child

2013-10-31T14:13:00.000+00:00

2.30 am. The cramps started, intermittent at first then full blown. You see, I was inexperienced, but of course I had to be calm. Although my insides were falling apart at an alarming rate, I eased your mother into the car and sped through the Lagos highways never glancing at the speedometer nor sparing a thought for the other commuters on the road.

I was going to have a baby.

10.03 am. I had now been pacing around the reception room for the last few hours, I was tired, but today sleep was an unobtainable panacea as I was too anxious to even sit down for more than 5 minutes. The doctor was now approaching. You see, I am a lawyer and I have trained myself to detect the emotions behind the faces of my clients, the judges and the jury; but today was different, my emotions robbed me of the calm needed for this skill and I could read nothing from the straight serious face of the doctor as he approached. I could only think of the worst.

10.05 am. “Are you Mr. Mitchell Aghatise?” I sought to respond in the affirmative but I couldn’t muster a sound. My body obliged me to offer a slight nod and the doctor broke into the broadest grin. “Congratulations sir, you are the father of a bouncing baby girl; both mother and daughter are fine.” Oh what joy flooded me, “Can I see them?” I enquired, “Most certainly sir” was the reply. As I approached, my eyes saw the most beautiful person. As she looked up, I noticed she had my eyes and her mother’s nose, ‘an overwhelming emotion consumed me – love’ and I knew from that day onward I would always be there for her.

Dear Daughter,
You are a Nigerian; born in Lagos, when people say that you were unfortunate to have been born here, I will make sure that although aware of the challenges that people face growing up in this part of the world, it will be an experience alien to you. I vow to give you the best in life… Oh! But I will be careful; you won’t be proud or spoilt but graciously modest while privileged… My daughter, your dad will work hard. Because of you I will work tirelessly with you as my motivation to change the landscape of this country so that you and the grandchildren you will give me will live in a secure and safe country.

Dear Daughter,
Your experiences in life won’t be limited to Nigeria, but we will travel, I will show you the world; from Kenya to Malaysia from China to India from Atlanta to Indonesia from Argentina to Afghanistan. A well-rounded individual is what you will be, a citizen of the world- versed in cultures and competitive in any sphere you find yourself.

My very own daughter, you are a reflection of me but beyond a mirror, you will be my perfect redefinition, you will be smart, and intelligent, not hanging on any man to be successful in life. Instead of being the video vixen of your life story, I think of you more as the record company director. That you are a woman is not a glass ceiling but a stepping stone to greatness… A pioneer for your generation leading the way for other women…

My Daughter,
I am not happy when your dreams are limited to the heights I have reached. Of course I am happy to be your example and a positive role model, but baby, you shall be even more; if the sky was my limit I need you to understand that the sky is only the starting point for you.

My Daughter,
I will be there for you, through good times and bad, I know I will be difficult when boys start calling you late in the night, but understand that I have your best interests at heart. I pray daily that I set a perfect example for the man you will choose, oh not someone who will devalue you but someone who will help you grow. when heartbreak comes; I see you strong and resilient, skilfully mending the pieces of your heart, with the firm belief that a setback is a set up for a comeback. You will be a lawyer like your dad, but if your passions lie elsewhere, I will not impose a career upon you. Whatever path you intend to chase greatness, that is the least I expect, that you find greatness or be safe in the knowledge that you gave it your all.

My Daughter,
Although I dread it, I accept that you will one day grow old and refuse to be called daddy’s little girl but one thing you should always know is that I will always love you, I will always be there for you…On a final note, life will hit you down but your trust in God will always take you through.Long after we leave this earth, if history is kind to me, my deepest wish is not that you are remembered only as my daughter but the tombstone should read:

“… Here she lies. A trailblazer in her own right”

By Mitchell Aghatise

______________________________________________________________________

Mitchell Aghatise is a final year Law Student at the University of Leicester. He is the past President of the Elevation Networks Society and an avid Debater. Very passionate about politics in his home country Nigeria, in his spare time, he writes poems and essays on political affairs.

Nigeria @ 53

2013-10-01T11:05:00.002+01:00

Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

Nigeria is 53 today! Now so many of you can talk about the fact that Nigeria has not progressed as a nation since we got our Independence all those years ago. However, I would just like to remind everyone that for today at least, let's forget the bad, and remember all the good about the nation and about its people.

Have a great Independence Day!

"For a better tomorrow, start today!"

Exclusive Interview #1: DJ Cuppy

2013-07-21T16:39:00.000+01:00

With the release of her Brand New Single ‘I Love my Country’ and her first-ever EP on the way, DJ Cupcake now called DJ Cuppy is all the hype right now! This twenty one year old show-stopper granted me an Exclusive Interview. Check it out below:

When asked whether she would describe herself as Nigerian, Cuppy exclaimed, “Omo Yoruba le mi oh! I would certainly call myself a Nigerian, more specifically, a Lagosian. My family originates from Epe and I go there a lot!” She spoke about how she grew up in Ilupeju and as an adventurous and mischievous child she stated how her “parents definitely had a handful…and still do!”

Considering that parents and children alike argue that finding good schools in Nigeria is slim- to-none; I wondered which schools Cuppy attended. She informed me that she went to Grange School in Ikeja and the American International School in Victoria Island. However, she lives in London now focusing on attaining her degree in Business Management at Kings College London.

I’m sure some of you reading may be asking why the name DJ Cupcake? Trust me I wondered too. However, this is something that Cuppy prefers remains a secret. My guess is that it could be anything from her love of cupcakes to her wanting a unique name. Regardless of the reason, I like it! Cuppy seems to be in love with music. She has always had a passion for it and was producing music from the tender age of thirteen. For most music lovers, it seems like they are their happiest when playing and creating music and Cuppy is no exception.

Reading various articles, everyone seems to be harping on about the fact that Cuppy is Mr. Femi Otedola’s daughter. I don’t think that has anything to do with her obvious talent. Cuppy stated that that time tells all. ‘‘It’s very easy to get distracted from the music itself and focus on the background “stuff”, but [she] can only hope that overtime [her] talent and music will speak for itself!’’ And I couldn’t agree more.

Cuppy explained to me what inspired her to do the mix of ‘I Love my Country.’ “I have always been a fan of Nigerian Highlife music, so Tunji Oyelana is an artist I’ve always appreciated. The sound I create as a producer is called Neo-Afrobeats. This is best described as a fusion between Electric House and Afro-beats. Deciding to try something adventurous, I started making house remixes of old Yoruba records. Tried out a few, but there was just such an empowerment about Wole Soyinka and Tunji Oyelana’s “I Love My Country” record. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to revive such a meaningful song.”

Is she single? To all the guys out there Oya, remove your eye! This gorgeous young lady is married to her music. Between University work and playing at various events, she doesn’t have any time. Not to worry, if you just happen to see her, she might just give you a second or two; use it wisely!

When asked about her piece of advice to anyone trying to chase their dreams and incite change in Nigeria. She stated, “I'm still learning a lot myself, but it would definitely be to realise that we are all here for a reason. Life isn't just about education, work, consumption or death. It's much more exciting and purposeful than that. We each have unique talents and gifts, things to offer to the Nigerian Demographic. Don't be afraid to try new things and make new mistakes to learn from.”

Clearly she is a strong believer in chasing your dreams no matter what! Cuppy is still on an experimental path and I can see that she hopes to make a difference and inspire others.

Check out Cuppy's feature in Dammy Krane's new banger, Lobatan:

Stay blessed and inspired,

For Bookings: www.cuppy.co.uk (bookings@cuppy.co.uk)

Twitter: @cuppymusic

Like it and want to Download ‘I Love My Country’, check out the link below:

“I Love My Country” Song Download: https://soundcloud.com/cuppymusic/cuppy-love-my-country