Category: Articles

Obaba: In liberal democratic systems, there are two modes of mass representation. One is Political parties (and the electoral process) while the other is pressure groups. For the purpose of our discussion we would be focusing on the latter (pressure groups). So what are pressure groups?

Joan: A pressure group is an organization that tries to influence the policy of the government to the interest of it’s members. It can also be regarded as any group of people who attempt to influence the government or government decision making in certain ways. Pressure Groups usually attempt to influence the government not only on existing legislations but also on proposed legislations.

Actually, the concept of pressure group originated from the United States as a subset of the group theory pioneered by David Truman and Arthur Bentley.

Obaba: This is really getting interesting.

Joan: (laughs) Yes, before you can understand the concept of pressure groups, you have to understand group theory.

Obaba: (cuts in) What is group theory?

Joan: Group theory is concerned with the study of how individual political actors assemble to form political groups that participate in politics and influence government. Pressure Groups are created by focusing on various social, political, economic, religious, vocational and other interests of the people.

Obaba: Thank you so much Joan. What are the attributes/features of these groups?

Joan: Well some of the features of pressure groups could be seen in the functions it performs.

• It plays a vital role in establishing public relations with the government: through all these groups, the people’s scarcity and demands are brought to the notice of the government.
• It keeps a close watch on the activities of the government.
• They promote and protect the interest of their members: they seek to gain widespread public support in favour of group interests by influencing the government.
• Pressure Groups also play a vital role in political socialization/education thereby arousing the consciousness of citizens. You know, they help to educate their members on the fundamental human rights and the implication of policies of the government.
• They also serve as a platform for articulation and integration of different interests.

Obaba: Interesting. So what qualifies to be a pressure group. What are tips for recognizing a pressure group.

Joan: You know, like we said earlier on that the modes of mass representation are Political parties and Pressure Groups. So the first thing we should do is to distinguish between the two.

A political party is established with the major aim of contesting and gaining political power. Pressure Groups are however not concerned with wielding political power but simply influencing the government. As the name implies, they simply apply pressure to the government in the process of policy formulation and implementation for the benefit of it’s members.

And, mind you, there are various types/categories of pressure groups, such as Economic, Professional, Religious, Promotional and Anomic pressure groups.

The workings, I mean operation, of pressure groups may differ depending on the category.

Obaba: If I may ask, Joan, what’s an Anomic pressure group?

Joan: Anomic pressure groups usually originate from a particular event, mostly in a bid to express their dissatisfaction in the country’s political system through protests, riots, assassinations, and so on.

Obaba: So, the #endsars movement could be regarded as an Anomic pressure group, right.

Joan: Oh, yes. And pressure groups have a lot of techniques which they use to achieve their aims and objectives. The most popular and universal of these is lobbying, then you have the use of ultimatum and strikes. In India, you have the Bandh and Gherao which are variations of strike.

Obaba: Thank you Joan, it’s really been an enlightening conversation, I know our listeners also gained a lot from the discussion. See you next time.

A season of gifts and expression of love; exactly what humans need to remind them that there is still someone that cares about them. I would like to get something right, is February 14th only for lovers or to show love to people who lack a feeling of love around them?

Come to think of it, in secondary schools, well at least my secondary school, we were usually made to pick random papers to get a Val (the boys would pick from a ball filled with the girls’ name and vice-versa). What we understood then was that you had to give gifts to those you knew nothing about to make them feel special. Now outside my school walls its entirely different, so different if I must say, it is no longer a gift to make a stranger happy but a must do gift for your lover.

Don’t get me wrong it is a nice thing but don’t you think it would have been nicer to make it a time for gifting the stranger to make the person feel loved. Let’s go back in time a little, to settle our doubt and at least find out the true meaning of “VALENTINE”.

I know that it has something to do with one of the many St. Valentine’s we have but the one that I am considering is the one that has February 14th as his feast day in the catholic church. So I made some research to confirm my doubts and of course put everyone in the light. There are a lot of stories surrounding this saint but this is the one that people hold on to till date. The day takes its name from a Roman Bishop, who was martyred {someone that died for the cause of Christ} about 270CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus.

So the story is that marriage was against the law in Italy under Claudius who was against it, but valentine on the other hand believed in marriage and love, so he married couples who were in love in secret. The emperor believed that marriage made his soldiers weak, moreover, he also felt his soldiers were small in number and wanted to recruit more but he found out that St. Valentine had been wedding couples. He became very furious, and he jailed St. valentine.

While in jail, Valentine became friends with his jailer, a judge, apparently the judge was interested in his faith and also learnt from him, he and his household were converted, he brought his blind daughter and asked him to teach her and read to her. The Emperor too became close to  him and told him to renounce his faith, instead of doing so he asked the Emperor to convert and told him he would not change his faith. Again the Emperor became very angry and condemned him to death, before he died he wrote a letter to his friend the jailers daughter and signed it “FROM YOUR VALENTINE” as it got to her he prayed to God that she be able to read it and not to be read to, guess what? The miracle happened, and so began the sharing of letters, heart shaped chocolate, flowers and teddy bears.

I feel like I just wrote the story of how I was born and cleaned, but that’s by the way, so this story clarifies everything, but why is it that from this Saint people only pick out the aspect of letters and love? what about the sacrifice of himself for the sake of the gospel? Not that I condemn the fact that love is in the air, as people say, but I just feel from every story there should be a lesson learnt not just from one side but the two, at least that is why the story is told in full and not in bits and pieces.

I also feel that the season should not be characterized by much pressure, as you all know people, most especially girls, await this day like the judgement day or their second birthday. They expect a lot, and when disappointed some break a relationship of two to three years. Now if we were to follow the origin, then you should expect nothing more than the letter “from your valentine”.

As time went on it changed from just letters to flowers and letters, then from then it went to chocolates and then to stuffed animals and other things, so I ask after this what next? What other gifts or actions would be added to this day? Anyway, the day is to show love and care for each other that’s why the day is there, all I ask is that the day should not be used as an excuse for your actions. This year I think there should be a change, or what do you think?  

January 15! A day we pause to pay tribute to our fallen heroes in the Armed Force. Year in year out, various monuments and cenotaphs across Nigeria are adorned with colourful wreaths placed solemnly and with much caution, lest the rugged souls be alarmed. To many, this is just another day set aside to honour the departed and living soldiers who have paid and are paying the supreme price to keep the national peace and territorial integrity. However it is also a day when we pause to remember the first intervention of certain military officers in politics which left a number of senior military and government officials dead in a bloody coup. Of course the silver lining is that it also symbolise the official end of the Nigerian Civil War, an intranational conflict which threatened to destroy the country’s unity.

Being a former British colony, Remembrance Day was formerly celebrated on 11 November as Armistice Day marking the end of the First World War. Upon the surrender and renunciation of Biafran by Gen. Phillip Effiong, (Ojukwu’s deputy) on 15 January 1970, the holiday was moved off the calendar of the Commonwealth of Nations and was changed to 15 January in commemoration of the conclusion of the Nigerian Civil War that sought to tear apart the unity of Nigeria.

Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD), is observed every 15th of January not only to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces (both living and dead) but also to honor veterans of World War I and II as well as the bloody Nigerian Civil War.

It is a day set aside for sober reflections on the significance of the armed forces to the country.

Tribute to the rugged men and women of the Armed Forces who sacrifice their safety and comfort so that we might sleep peacefully.

Images: BashirAhmad/twitter

It’s a full moon tonight, it means we have the liberty to stay out longer and perhaps listen to a tale or two from grandpa. Grandpa Sam is well over a hundred years, his calm and croaky voice gives him the persona of a sage, dad tells me that grandpa was born in the late 19th century when there were no gas cookers, airplanes or smartphones. I wonder what life was like then.

Vershima, my maternal cousin has just completed sixth grade, however her knowledge in history and science rivals that of first year undergraduates. She once made my uncle rethink his education when an innocent conversation got him mixing up a cow with a bull. Funny story it is but mum instructed me to speak no more about it. ‘Grandpa’ she says ‘what was life like before electricity?’ Tofunmi whispers to the other kids, ‘omo it’s really going to be a long night’. Though he openly denies it, we know that Vershima is grandpa’s favourite. It is understandable that they seem to blend well, she is very inquisitive and asks a lot of questions and those are the kind of people the elders love – I think there’s a Yoruba adage that talks about children dining with elders after they have properly washed their hands. Moreover in Tiv language her name means ‘the focused one’.

My child you know a lot has changed in my lifetime, there has been quite a lot of changes in the way we eat, worship, dress, talk and even pass time. In fact the rapid rate of technological advancement is so overwhelming. Electricity generation started in Nigeria in 1896 but you know it was mostly confined to some select places where the British imperialists had established a foothold especially in industrial cities like Lagos, Jos, and Calabar, so not much Nigerians had access to electricity. In fact, it took many years after independence before majority of the cities in Nigeria were connected to the National grid.

Well, since your question isn’t about history of electricity let me go back to your question, how was life like before electricity? Hmmm before electricity we had better sleep quality and a much simpler life, in fact, it is easier than can be imagined to live without electricity. I would suggest you try to live this way for a period. You will learn a lot about yourself and the practicalities of simple living we did a lot of innovation. Moreover with every advancement comes a new problem, the rapid rate of technological advancement seems to threaten interpersonal relationships. Today, despite having easier means of communication and connection, families appear to be more divided and distant. You’d probably agree with me that we had more onsite games and outdoor events to attend than you have today. I wish we could ditch our cellphones for sometime and appreciate the joy of physical touch, care and fellowship.

Welcome to 2023, it’s always a privilege to bask in the joy of starting the year on a clean sheet – quite a lot of people already prepared lists of things they would achieve or stop doing. As much as I may support the new year resolutions and all, I feel it shouldn’t come from a place of compulsion – either because it’s trendy or because you don’t want to be left out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to set goals, the focus however should be personal growth and development. The issue with this is many of us use those around as a yardstick to measure our progress the truth is many people around may not say it out loud that they envy certain aspects of your life so don’t let anyone or social media post/trend take your joy.
I would like to share with you certain tips which would guide your engagement on the streets of Twitter, Facebook and the others.
• Focus on Quality
It’s better not to post at all than to post the wrong information, so before you post or retweet a thread, think through it and verify.
• Be Charming and warm
Do social media trolls come to mind? Lol, no one enjoys being disrespected or humiliated so maintain that calm and charm in your comments. Engage others respectfully and the sensible ones will reciprocate, you do not need to give popularity to those chasing clout.

A special bonus for my business owners who want to boost following online. You know your account needs to be engaging and sharing constantly, you don’t need to share contents everyday but you should respond to relevant comments promptly. Mind you, your brand must relate with the common interests and challenges of your audience.
Utilise social media analytics to make informed decisions on your brand.

Thanks for reading through. Let’s know what you think in the comments.

Welcome to 2023

If you live in Nigeria, You might be familiar with the two types of lamp in the images below.

While having a conversation with Aunty Margaret she discussed with us two types of christians as relating to this lamps and with her permission we are making this post on it.

The two lamps shown above are kerosene lamps but are erroneously called gas lamps. With one being called The Shakabula and the other simply called Gas lamp. They are used by small stalls or tabletop sellers as they are easy to afford and cost less than any other form of providing lighting.

The Shakabula is housed in a bottle and has a wool attached to the mouth which the torch lights on. It starts instantaneously after being lit but releases a lot of CO fumes throughout. It’s bright only about a few metres for just a table and dies off quickly. It’s most noticeable feature are the fumes it releases so a lot of people stay far away from it.

The Gas Lamp on the other hand is housed in a lantern-like metal. It has to be pumped for minutes before it eventually starts. It’s bright enough to light a room and lasts for hours. The light from it can be seen from metres away. It has a very clear and pure flame and releases no fumes. It is bigger than the shakabula by a lot and is mostly used by Mai Suya(Suya Men)

Relating this to Christian life, not a lot of christians are like the gas lamp. These christians who are like it would have undergone in depth training in the word of God and biblical principles(time used to pump it and start it up), developed a life of purity (pure flames), influence a lot of people without making noise (bright light without smoke), are very valuable to the kingdom of God(More Expensive) and have increased their capacity to receive(larger size hence more kerosene). All these qualities enable the to be strong in the faith and hold on to the word for a long time.

The shakabula Christian on the other hand are Christians who do not patiently indoctrinate the Christian values and principles as stated in the bible(starts up immediately), has an impure life and makes a lot of noise(pungent fumes), don’t influence a lot of people(dim light), are usually praised on earth but have no value in the kingdom of God (widely used little output).

The difference in this christians is because most people just see Christianity as something to do not as a personality or way of life. Like our personalities ans our présent behaviours grow overtime with practice, our Christian life also grows over time with us practicing biblical values.

Christianity to the Shakabula christian is like the seeds planted on a rock, the seed grows for a while and is very visible because it’s on a rock, but withers and dries eventually because it’s roots are not fully tied to the soil. In their later lives people tend to say of them ‘He/She used to be very active in the work of God’ but their fire has died as it is not well fueled.

We can decide to be either of the two
types of christians. The Christian who quickly catches fire without being fully rooted in principles of the scripture and dies out quick
 or 
we can be Christians who take time to grow and understand biblical principles and continue to grow in the faith. 
Which are you?

Although the proverbial half bread is better than nothing, one must not be disillusioned to the fact that the enthusiasm shown by Nigerian youth in mobilising for registration for permanent voter’s card (PVC) does not necessarily mean that the much acclaimed ballot-revolution is imminent. In the aftermath of the EndSars movement that took place in October 2020, the Nigerian youth have shown an increasing inclination towards politics and governance—something that was hitherto alien to them. This, one must concede, influenced the PVC registrations a great deal as youth-driven NGOs sprang up in different parts of the country, with the purpose of mobilising Nigerians, en-masse, for registration. This in itself is very commendable and is a further testament to the benefits of youth’s involvement in politics. However, this is not yet Uhuru.

Travelling few months down memory lane, precisely to the primaries conducted in preparation for the 2023 general elections, one easily remembers the discrepancies that plagued that very exercise. We witnessed the blatant financial inducement of the celebrity status delegates and the indiscriminate manipulation and bypass of electoral laws and processes to favour particular individuals. Now, considering that the crop of gladiators going at the hierarchies of political offices in the 2023 general elections was projected from such a process riddled with such overt flaws, one cannot help but look to the future with little hope.

Against this backdrop, Nigerian youths—and Nigerians in general—might fall victim of a phenomenon called “voting without choosing” where citizens exercise their democratic franchise but still end up shortchanged as a result of the largely similar array of persons they are allowed to choose from. This is particularly because the indirect primary system that many political parties adopted saw delegations—without the interest of Nigerians at heart—cast their vote for the highest bidders.

Having established the problem, one is left with the task of proffering solutions. First, we must realise the certainty that Nigeria’s problems will not automatically fizzle out after the 2023 elections, regardless of which candidate emerges. Therefore, whatever devotion expressed in the build-up to the election must remain intact after because being partisan does not and should not end at the polls. Electorates must prepare to be conscious of the activities of any government it elects into power so it can hold that government responsible when it falters. They should continually listen in on ongoing conversations about government polices and take opinions on them. Taking a step further will be to organise into political parties and also aspire for offices.

Nigeria’s problem has largely been poor leadership as well as an apathetic citizenry. It has, therefore, been encouraging to see Nigerians wake up to their civil duties in recent times. The core message of this article, however, is that the youth must brace themselves for further involvement in politics and governance because only such participation can ensure good leadership in the country.

Have you ever seen a blood moon? I saw one last week Thursday, the 8th of December 2022. It was a full reddish full moon. When I browsed the internet I discovered it is also known as a lunar eclipse, and is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, causing it to appear reddish in color. This effect is usually caused by the way that sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere is scattered, casting a reddish glow on the moon. Makes more sense when you picture the difference in the appearance of your room at night when you use the white bulb versus when you use the colored bulb.

Blood moons are a fascinating and beautiful sight to behold, and they have been observed and studied by astronomers for centuries. In recent years, there have been several notable instances of blood moons, including the “super blood moon” of September 27, 2015, which was visible across much of the Americas, and the “super blue blood moon” of January 31, 2018, which was visible across North America, South America, and parts of Europe and Asia.

During a blood moon, the moon can appear to be a deep, reddish color, and it is often said to have a eerie and otherworldly appearance. A lot of myths have been constructed around this phenomenum. Of course we know it is due to the way the light from the sun is refracted and scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a reddish hue on the moon’s surface.

Despite their eerie appearance, blood moons are a completely natural and safe phenomenon. They occur when the moon passes directly behind the Earth and into its shadow, and they are visible from anywhere on the night side of the Earth.

If you want to see a blood moon for yourself, the best time to look is during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon is completely immersed in the Earth’s shadow. These events are relatively rare, but they can be predicted and observed from any location on the Earth with clear skies.

Overall, blood moons are a fascinating and beautiful aspect of our natural world, and they offer a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the moon and its relationship with the Earth. So the next time you hear about a blood moon, be sure to take a moment to appreciate this amazing natural phenomenon and take clear pictures like I did.

Last week’s blood moon happened to be the second this year. However, it was said to be full to some parts of the world, partial and penumbral to the other parts. This red beauty usually lasts for thirty minutes to a couple hours. You can see one form wherever you are in the world every two years.

So next year whenever it’s a full moon watch out it could be a blood moon or not.

Many years ago, I attended a leadership training conference where a psychiatrist spoke to us about the benefits and adverse effects of stress, he however concluded by saying that stress is what we define it as. Stressors differ from person to person and could simply just be a motivation for someone else. I would define it as the normal changes that occur with everyone either physically, emotionally or psychologically. How you respond to stress makes a big difference to your overall well being.

Stress can be positive, a certain amount of it is required to stimulate productivity, it keeps us alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger however it becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation.

TYPES OF STRESS

Acute stress: This type of stress is short term and usually the more common form of stress which often happens when a person feels tensed about a recent argument, spending hours in traffic or meeting up with deadline.

Chronic stress: this type of stress develops over a long period and is more harmful. It occurs when a person is having a daily hectic pace of life filled with lot of stressors.

HOW CAN STRESS BE DIAGNOSED ?

Stress is not measurable with tests. Only the person experiencing it can determine whether it is present and how severe it feels. However there are certain pointers to stress such as:

• Headaches
• Heart health
• Depression and anxiety
• Obesity
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Mood changes
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness
• Frequent sickness
• Headaches
• Racing heartbeat
• Low sex drives, etc.

A major sign of stress is feeling of anxiety. Most people feel anxious at times, but this can become a concern, especially when it sticks around for too long a period of time thereby affecting their quality of life.

There are however a lot of useful tips to coping with or managing stress:

1) Maintaining positive mental attitude
2) Making time for hobbies and interests
3) Spending enough time with those you love
4) Engaging in exercises such as dancing, swimming, jogging,etc
5) Maintaining a healthy diet
6) Seeking professional help
7) Accepting the fact that there are events that you cannot control

Thanks for reading through, we pray you always triumph over life’s fortitude. Feel free to

Have you ever wondered why Philomena always behaves that way when she is ‘ON’? All those mood swings and incessant change in behavior, abnormal food cravings and massive appetite . I’m sure you have been wondering why your woman changes towards you in those particular days of the month . Don’t worry I’m here to take you on a journey where you understand what happens behind the scenes.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. It’s estimated that as many as 3 of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome.

Symptoms tend to recur in a predictable pattern. But the physical and emotional changes you experience with premenstrual syndrome may vary from just slightly noticeable all the way to intense. Still, you don’t have to let these problems control your life. Treatments and lifestyle adjustments can help you reduce or manage the signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Symptoms
The list of potential signs and symptoms for premenstrual syndrome is long, but most women only experience a few of these problems.

Emotional and behavioral signs and symptoms:
•Tension or anxiety
•Depressed mood
•Crying spells
•Mood swings and irritability or anger
•Appetite changes and food cravings
•Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
•Social withdrawal
•Poor concentration
•Change in libido

Physical signs and symptoms:
•Joint or muscle pains
•Headache
•Fatigue
•Weight gain related to fluid retention
•Abdominal bloating
•Breast tenderness
•Acne flare-ups
•Constipation or diarrhea
•Alcohol intolerance

For some, the physical pain and emotional stress are severe enough to affect their daily lives. Regardless of symptom severity, the signs and symptoms generally disappear within four days after the start of the menstrual period for most women.

CAUSES
There is no exact hint as to what causes premenstrual syndrome, but several factors may contribute to the condition:
• Cyclic changes in hormones. Signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome change with hormonal fluctuations and disappear with pregnancy and menopause.

• Chemical changes in the brain. Fluctuations of serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that’s thought to play a crucial role in mood states, could trigger PMS symptoms. Insufficient amounts of serotonin may contribute to premenstrual depression, as well as to fatigue, food cravings and sleep problems.
Depression. Some women with severe premenstrual syndrome have undiagnosed depression, though depression alone does not cause all of the symptoms

• Life style factors : Certain habits might affect the severity of your PMS symptoms. Potential lifestyle factors that could worsen PMS symptoms include: Smoking, eating a lot of foods high in fat, sugar and salt, a lack of regular physical activity and a lack of quality sleep

IS THERE A CURE?
NO, There is no specific scientific cure for PMS, but there are treatments and coping strategies that may help. They include:
– daily exercise
– limiting caffeine
– reduce stress with yoga
– meditation
– massage
– listening to music
– hot drink
– taking analgesics
– taking a hot shower and a lot more.

Thanks for reading through let’s hear about your thoughts and experience in the comments.

If you live in Africa where Malaria seems to be a fundamental part of our immune system, one of your symptoms before or during the physical show of the illness might be having a bitter taste. This is usually a pointer to local(homemade) doctors that you have Malaria Fever or in a rare case Typhoid Fever.

However, if you live in other parts of the world and you feel a bitter taste the reasons for you having it might be completely different. It could range from a temporary body reaction or allergy to a lifetime illness.

Having a bitter mouth doesn’t necessarily have to mean bitter. This could also salty or metallic feel on the tongue even while eating. The medical term for any persistent alteration on the sense of taste is Dysgeusia. While there might be a lot of reasons for it, we would be looking at the major reasons in this post.

Autoimmune response. One of the reason for bitter taste could be the bodies white blood cells or antibodies fighting of a virus and causing the bitter taste along with aches in various parts of the body like eyes, head and joints. Release of proteins by the body to capture harmful cells during certain illnesses could also cause bitter taste.

While this is temporary for illnesses, it’s also a lifetime illness for some people and the reasons for it is still unknown. It has no cure for now and can only be managed. People with it go on to live to 80 years or more at times but with regular checkups and use of drugs.

Dental Hygiene. Brush twice daily, with an antibacterial toothpaste. We might have heard either or both parts of this rule from our doctors or from toothpaste commercials. Most of us tend to do it but what we don’t do is brush it well. Some people spend so much time brushing and don’t brush some of the essential spots well, ( mostly the tongues and gums.) Bacteria that hang in there can cause bitter taste. It becomes worse when the patient smokes or uses tobacco. The accompanying dry mouth that comes with this can also double the effect of the bitter mouth.

Pregnant women in their first trimester and women who are experiencing menopause most times have bitter mouth due to hormonal fluctuations.

An unlikely cause of bitter mouth could also be anxiety and stress. The hormones released by the body during this emotional states could cause bitter mouth.

For these of us who don’t like taking drugs, certain drugs might have come to mind when bitter taste is mentions because of their aftertaste. While this may be due to the bitter taste of the medicine, a prolonged bitter taste might be from the chemicals which were released by the drugs onto the tongue.

There are a lot more causes of bitter taste ranging from nerve damage to oral infections and some nuts also (pine nuts, walnuts). However, most of these reasons have immediate cure, discontinuing a drug, better oral hygiene, stopping the intake of some substance, allowing the hormonal phase to pass etc.

So, next time you have a bitter taste, don’t just conclude it’s a fever. Reach out to a medical practitioner to confirm your symptoms and prevent treating the wrong thing.

Being called to Bar is really a great celebration for aspiring lawyers, in Nigeria it happens after you graduate law school (I mean the 1 year law school after the first 5 years). I remember a lawyer friend who was fond of drinking got called to ‘bar’ recently and I wondered if it was an actual ‘Bar’, 😆.

Jokes apart, how did lawyers come up with the term ‘bar’?

By the early 14th century, the concept of the bar referred to a physical railing that separated benchers from the hall of the Inns of Court; the area past the bar held the judge, the barristers (attorneys), the witnesses giving testimony and the prisoners or those accused or liable. Passing the bar referred to the ability to enter that space, and the term barrister (which is what attorneys in England are called) loosely meant “a student of law who has been called to the bar” to advocate on behalf of another.

Apparently, the early courtrooms were often roudy places, and the separation between public viewing and official legal affairs required more than just a physical barrier; in fact, the courtroom was typically overseen not only by the judge but also by a bailiff – an underling of the sheriff – or a similar authority figure (but these are etymologies for another day). So you now understand why judges use a gavel, right? Imagine routinely trying to restore order in a rowdy courtroom and you’ll get the idea.

Likewise, the term ‘bench’, has a different meaning in legal studies.

The historical roots of the term come from judges formerly having sat on long seats or benches (freestanding or against a wall) when presiding over a court. The bench was usually an elevated desk area that allowed a judge to view the entire courtroom. The bench was a typical feature of the courts of the Order of St. John in Malta, such as at the Castellania, where judges and the nominated College of Advocates sat for court cases and review laws.

So you now know who the members of the bar and bench. Let your friends know too by sharing the link with them.

Thank you.

During the weekend, I attended the wedding of a friend and you know there were no ring bearers, just flower girls (about two of them). My mind flashed back to my childhood, when I really featured in multiple weddings as the ring bearer, the role was simple, I dress up like a young groom and present the rings when the priest or pastor asks for them. Back then I usually thought the significance of the flower girl and ring bearer was to symbolise a fruitful marriage.

Many of us are familiar with them, but what is their significance exactly? What do they represent and their roles in English weddings.

This tradition can be traced to the ancient Egyptian era some say Romans, but we’ll go with Egyptians, they’re older. The mini couples were a necessary part of weddings then but for slightly different reasons than now. The reasons, like every tradition, modified with time. So let’s take a look at their peculiarities and what they represent.

The Flower Girl. The flower girl is an earlier tradition than the ring bearers. The Egyptian flower girls carried more grains than flowers. This was sprayed in front of the bride to herald reproduction and procreation for the new couple.

History has it that at a time garlic was used instead during the ages of superstitions to ward off supposed evil spirits in the marriage.

With time, the grains evolved to flowers( I’ll say due to the rising cost of food and increase in human population, we can’t be wasting all those grains no more) sorry Egyptians, you guys had more food than your population, We don’t.

Presently, the major role of the ‘girl that sprays flower’ today is to well, spray flowers or carry floral hoops( to signify endless love). They wear white and move in front of the bride to signify the bride’s innocence and transition, -more like a before and after- as marriage is seen as a transition into adulthood.

Now for our little groom, Ring Bearer. The ancient Egyptians, -yeah we’re back to Pharaoh again- usually delivered the ring with swords. It goes without saying that task was not for a kid. The wealthy ones used pillows, so this is where the kid kind of came in sometimes.

I have a feeling the kids used then are slightly older than our average ring bearer age now. Even wealthy Egyptians wouldn’t want to lose a precious ring, kids are carel… you complete the word.

The Ring bearers are still from the pageboy family only slightly different tasks. So didn’t you wonder why the sword? I don’t know either, maybe we’ll ask Chisisi from Memphis when next we get around an Egyptian tomb.

However, the pillows are quite clear; for the couple to achieve that which we have when we put our heads on pillows(hint: some frighten you to scream awake, some you don’t want to wake from).

The dreams of every marriage at the point of wedding is ’till death do us part, in love and…’ so the significance of the ring on the pillow.

The average age for the ring bearers and his floral counterpart since the victorian era has been 3-9 years of age. So, at most weddings they are usually using faux ring while the real deal is with the best man. The more adventurous and daring couples actually leave it with the ring bearers, though it’s usually tied to the pillow.

Rumour has it, (rumour usually has a portion of truth in it though) that in the last some couples would have a particular number of children, ring bearers, flower girls and page boys. This is supposed to be inn accordance with the least amount off children they want to have.

Recently, some couples give this roles to their elderly ones( mostly because there are going to be PG acts at the wedding which quite frankly kids shouldn’t be exposed to yet.

The roles of this mini couples has been left for our younger family members or kids we are close to but it doesn’t have to be limited to that, so put that in mind when you’re planning your wedding.

Every 10th October of the year is usually quiet and sober for my mom and siblings. It was the day when we experienced our first baptism of heart break. Yeah I’ll tell you more, just hang on a bit.

Nine years ago, while preparing for my SSCE (Senior School Certificate Examination) I was summoned to the principal’s office alongside my kid brother who was just starting secondary school. It was there we were informed that our Papa had transitioned to the great beyond. My mom explained that it was during his normal morning session at the gym that he slumped and didn’t make it to the hospital. Autopsy results show myocardial infarction as the cause of death. You know it kind of scarred my mom who began to develop a phobia for gyms.

Well it’s been almost ten years since Dad left but there’s hardly no conversation at home everyday that leaves him out, such was his impact within the brief period of knowing him. Dad was very intentional about his kids and wife, he really got worried when any of us wasn’t happy and was emotionally sensitive so you couldn’t hide from him. He was just so easy to love and easy to emulate. I would share you some of the greatest lessons he taught me.

The Fear of God must guide all your actions: My dad introduced us to God everyday, together with mom we were provided a lot of cassettes and picture books with biblical stories talking about certain lessons such as contentment, temperance and self-control, excellence and honour. My siblings and I remember quite a lot of these stories and we sometimes gist about them.

Never Feel Inferior: While growing up I used to be very introverted and was wary of the public. I used to be very shy and doubtful of myself. My mom says it really took a while before I started talking and that I used to keep to myself a lot. It really took a while before I got over what you would call the imposter syndrome. My dad really took special care for me mentoring me and ringing it in my ear that I am a genius and not inferior in anyway. The confidence he instilled in me has made me great at speaking. It is quite surprising that I could stand before a crowd of students to teach.

You can achieve whatever you set your heart to: The number 1 scripture that has stuck with me for years is Philippians 4:13. My dad always used to read out stories to us about ordinary people who went on to do extraordinary things. He would say ‘If they could become great despite their challenges, why can’t you.’ I remember one of the classical examples was Steven Hawkins, one of the greatest scientists who was confined to a wheelchair.

Always be sensitive to other people’s feelings and needs: My mom tells me she was attracted to my dad because of how much he cared for others even when he had nothing. She would recount how he was easily moved with mercy for those in need. He could see through what others couldn’t and respond discreetly. He would meet the needs of others without telling others or broadcasting it (sometimes neither my mom nor I would know). This has subconsciously shaped my daily conduct, I really don’t feel fulfilled if I haven’t made someone smile.

Don’t be quick to judge as you never know the full picture: My dad always warned me about accusing or judging others without making efforts to understand the reason for their actions. While everyone was busy speaking about how bad a person had behaved, he would show you five reasons why such a person had acted in such a manner and his non-judgemental approach won him so many mentees and friends.

Always think through before speaking or acting: Growing up, I used to have a short temper and end up saying hurtful words to people. Whenever this happened, I would expect my dad to punish me but he would say something that would pierce like a needle which is ‘you ought to have grown beyond saying things you would later regret’. This has continued to guide my conduct in life, whenever I feel angry or displeased I just keep silent, pray silently and think.

Thanks for reading through, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Last weekend, quite a number of people joined the presidency to mark the final independence day celebration of the Buhari led administration at the famous Eagle Square, the same venue for inaugurating new Nigerian heads of state since the 1990s. At least we got to see an Independence day celebration at the Eagle Square for the first time in a long while.

This year’s independence day was quite different, all over the country and even in cities at the United Kingdom there were various solidarity marches especially by the ‘ObiDients’. It seemed people were really more interested in voting in the next president than marking the Independence Day. In fact, the current political atmosphere suggests an increase in political participation amongst the adult population. Someone said the youths are now more focused on productivity and nation building so much that a popular reality show in Nigeria lost a great deal of following.

The journey of 62 years has been quite a bumpy ride for Nigeria and Nigerians but as the line in the anthem says, ‘the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain’. Let’s take a trip back in history and consider some facts about the state now known as Nigeria.

In the year 1900, the British Government assumed formal control over the areas now known as Nigeria but to secure this arrangement, they purchased it from the Royal Niger Company at the cost of £865,000, so in Dr. Cartel’s words, ‘Nigeria started off as a business deal.

The nation formally came into being on January 1, 1914 when it was amalgamated into one territory known as Nigeria, incidentally the name was coined by the girlfriend of the Governor General, Flora Shaw who also happened to be a British reporter.

In 1945, Michael Imoudu led the first general strike that almost grounded the economy of the government.

In 1953, Chief Anthony Enahoro, an Action Group member, became the first person to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence, this motion was rejected by the members of the Northern People’s Congress and eventually degenerated into a bloody riot at Kano where a lot of Southerners were killed.

By 1957, the Western and Eastern region were granted self governing status.

On Saturday, the 31st of October 1959, the WNTV, Africa’s first television station was established by the Western region, today it is known as NTA.

On Saturday, the 1st of October 1960, Nigeria was granted Independence although, it would not become a full fledged sovereign nation till 1963 when it became a republic.

The first anthem Nigeria we Hail Thee was composed by Lilian Jean Williams, a British resident in Nigeria. It was changed in 1978 to the current anthem Arise o Compatriots. The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict P. Odiase (1934–2013). The Nigerian national anthem lyrics were created by five people: P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme tim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.

On October 1960, Nigeria became the 99th member of the United Nations, Sierra Leone became the 100th a year later on the 27th September 1961.

On October 1, 1996 the last batch of states (6 of them) were created by General Sani Abacha, they include: Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Gombe and Ekiti. So that means they also celebrated their 26th anniversary over the weekend.

Did you know that Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries?

Yes all four neighbours of Nigeria are French speaking countries colonized by France. This explains why we had to ditch the British Right hand drive for the left hand common with the French to facilitate interstate transport.

Which of these facts did you find interesting? Let’s

If you followed the last post, you already know so much about his sexual prowess and of course, his ascension to the throne at a very young age. Today we would be dropping some bizzare facts you never heard about him. Sit tight and grab your popcorn or chin-chin.

A state in the US is named in his honor

Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France in 1682. The French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier claimed the territory for France and named it in honor of the king. Actually, Louisiana remained a French colony until 1762, when it was ceded to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. However, the Spanish did not make any significant changes to the colony, and it remained under French control until it was officially sold to the United States. The sale was finalized in 1803, and Louisiana became a part of the United States joining the union in 1812. Today, Louisiana is known for its rich culture and diversity. From New Orleans to Baton Rouge, there is much to explore in this fascinating state with a past influenced by its French heritage.

His heart was eaten by an Englishman

About a century and a half after his death, it is said that Louis XIV’s heart became a meal for the eccentric Englishman William Buckland. He was known for his unorthodox methods and strange eating habits. As a geologist and paleontologist, he liked to understand perfectly the specimens that passed through his hands and even used to taste their flavor. While he was dining with company at a country house in Oxfordshire, England, he was presented with the heart. According to the raconteur Augustus Hare, Buckland exclaimed “I have eaten many strange things, but have never eaten the heart of a king before”, and casually washed it down his throat before anyone could stop him. Surprisingly, this event never had any negative consequences for Buckland’s career, and he remained a respected scientist in the UK.

Louis XIV was a great Ballet Dancer

Besides being a great politician and military leader, he was also an accomplished artist and dancer. His passion for ballet began when he was just a teenager. He played the Rising Sun in Le Ballet de la Nuit (The Ballet of the Night). From there, he took the name the “Sun King” which would accompany him throughout his life.

Additionally, he was also a good dancer in social settings. At the French court, it was customary to offer long evenings of dancing. The king could participate, and it was a great honor to be able to dance with him.

He was an art lover

He was one of the most effective patrons of the arts in history. During his reign, the arts flourished as never before, with some of the most iconic works of art being produced during this period. Louis XVI supported a wide range of artists, from painters and sculptors to architects and musicians. Actually, he patronized many famous artists, such as Molière and Jean Racine. Moreover, he encouraged them to push the boundaries of their respective disciplines, resulting in some truly groundbreaking works. In addition to supporting established artists, Louis XIV also invested heavily in the training of young talent. He supported art academies throughout France so that the country could compete with Italy as the artistic hub—and it set the stage for the golden age of French art.

He is rumoured to have had a twin brother

There are many mysteries surrounding the life of Louis XIV, one of the most enduring is the story of his alleged twin brother, who was supposedly kept hidden away and made to wear an iron mask.

The most popular version of the story is that shortly after Louis XIV was born, his father, was presented with a second baby. Fearing that twin brothers would threaten his kingdom, the king ordered that one of the babies be sent away to be raised in secret. The child was then made to wear an iron mask so that no one would ever know his identity. For years, rumors circulated about the existence of the imprisoned twin, and many people believed that the man in the iron mask was actually Louis’s long-lost brother. While there is no evidence that he has family ties with Louis XIV, the story has captivated hearts and minds for centuries. In any case, there will always be doubts about the true identity of this man whom the king forced to hide his identity.

Which of these facts threw you off balance? Let’s know in the comments.

Remember in the last article, we told you that Queen Elizabeth was the second longest reigning monarch in Europe, second only to King Louis XIV. The truth is she would have broken his record if she lived on for two more years, however she still lived longer than he did. While Louis ascended the throne at the age of 4, Elizabeth became Queen at 26. The focus for today is on Louis XIV popularly dubbed the Sun King, and we would be dropping some random facts about this powerful King. Let’s begin!

We already said he’s the longest reigning monarch in Europe – he ruled France from 1643 until his death in 1715 (that’s a total of 72 years and 110 days). After the death of his father (Louis XIII), Louis XIV became king at the tender age of 4 (his father was king at 9). It would have been custom for Louis XIV’s mother, Anne of Austria, to become Queen Regent of France until her son was of age. However, Louis XIII apparently lacked faith in his wife’s ability to rule. In his will, Louis XIII arranged for a regency council to rule on his son’s behalf, appointing Anne head of the council to ease her disappointment. Anne however orchestrated an annulment of the council and took over as Queen Regent with the support of her chief minister, Cardinal Jules Mazarin of Italy.

The royal family was driven out of Paris twice because of Anne and Mazarin’s radical policies, giving Louis XIV a deep distrust of Paris and its people as he grew older that was why he built another one at Versailles. In 1682, Louis XIV officially moved his court to the lavish palace at Versailles, 13 miles outside of Paris. Europe’s grandest palace became a center of political power and a symbol of the king’s dominance and wealth.

Another fact most historians and political scientists are aware of is that Louis XIV believed he was a direct representative of God. His parents christened him Louis-Dieudonné, meaning “Louis, the gift of God.” If that wasn’t enough to go to his head, Jules Mazarin instilled in him the impression that Kings are divinely chosen. Hence, Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, associating himself with the Greek and Roman sun god Apollo. He even played Apollo in a royal ballet. Like the planets revolve around the Sun, Louis XIV believed that France revolved around himself, he commonly uttered the phrase “c’etat est moi”(The state is me). He is known as a despot who held absolute powers as a monarch. He went far to commission scholars like Jean Bodin to convince the people of France why the Sun King should be Sovereign over the land. Of course Bodin’s work further gave an intellectual backing to Louis desire to centralise power in France (you could read more about Bodin in his book, Les Livres de la république).

Do you know that the princess Louis XIV married was his first cousin? The king’s first true love was Mazarin’s niece, Marie Mancini, but both his mother (the queen) and the cardinal frowned upon their relationship. Louis XIV was ultimately directed into a marriage that was a political, rather than a romantic, union by wedding the daughter of Spain’s King Philip IV, Marie-Thérèse, in 1660. The marriage between the two first cousins ensured ratification of the peace treaty that Mazarin had sought to establish with Hapsburg Spain. This may explain why the randy king has countless affairs producing various known kids from different women. In fact, one of Louis XIV’s mistresses bore more of his children than his wife.
Marie-Thérèse (his wife) gave birth to six of the king’s children, but only one, Louis, survived past the age of five. Louis XIV, however, had a healthy libido and fathered more than a dozen illegitimate children with a number of mistresses. Mistress Louise de La Vallière bore five of the king’s children, only two of which survived infancy, while her rival Madame de Montespan, who eventually became the king’s chief mistress, gave birth to seven of the monarch’s children. Louis XIV eventually legitimized most of his children born to mistresses in the years following their births.

In our next episode we would be giving you some more bizzare facts about the Sun King. Stay tuned and on the bright side of life.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the foremost monarch as the Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland , the leader of the Commonwealth and ruler of fifteen sovereign states. It’s been top of the news since she died on the 8th of September 2022. Exactly 214 days after she celebrated her platinum jubilee on the throne.

This makes her not only the longest reigning British monarch but also the longest living British monarch and the second longest reigning monarch second only to Louis XIV of France.

The Queen ascended the throne on the 6th of February 1952, taking over after the passing of her Father King George the VI. King George VI who was the second son of King George V inherited the throne from his Elder brother King Edward VIII who had abdicated the throne in order to marry the two time divorcee American socialite Walls Simpson .

Thus Elizabeth inherited the throne and decided to use Elizabeth also as her Regnal name making her Queen Elizabeth II(Elizabeth the second). Some notable events during her reign are;

• rapid décolonisation from the 1960s,

• being the first British monarch as ruler of Australia and New Zealand to visit the countries.

• Visiting most of Britain’s Colonies

• First British monarch to visit Communist countries, Yugoslavia(1972) and China(1986) and also Post communist Russia in 1994.

• British monarch who has seen the most prime ministers, a total of fifteen.

Dying two days after appointing the next prime Minister Liz Truss in Scotland, Opération London Bridge was commenced in addition to Operation Unicorn because she had died in Scotland.

It might be a bit unfair though but slightly logical to say the Queen’s death although due to old age was hastened by the death of her husband, Prince Philip who died just about a year ago at 99.

Following her death, in order to show respect for the monarch, on the day of her death and the day of the funeral, the British stock exchange, businesses, banks and shops would close for the day. The funeral is estimated to be 12 days after her death.

Prince Charles, the Queen’s first son becomes King on the day of her death (although his coronation will be a year later) and makes his first speech as King on that day. Also, all currencies, stamps and any other national document with the Queen’s name becomes changed to the new King’s

The Queen’s reign of 70 years makes it even older than a majority of British citizens. However, King Charles has been handling most of the Queen’s duties including leading the Commonwealth about a year ago so it’s expected that it would be a smooth -though not completely hitch-free- transition for the people of Britain and the whole world though it would take some time to finally get used to the New Monarch.

With this we can say welcome to the ‘Charlesian’ Era definitely wouldn’t be as long as the Queen’s but hope it’s a peaceful era and pray it brings good tidings.

The singular literary work that popularized the poetic line used as the title of this piece—written by the late Chinua Achebe—addressed the putrefaction that beset the pre-colonial Igbo traditions and heritage upon the introduction of western culture.

Quite contradictory is the role reversal that, in my opinion, occurred regarding education in Nigeria.

It continues to trouble me that the colonials, who enslaved the African continent for selfish greed, still gave a liberating education to the continent, and in a disconcerting contrast, our self-governing Kakistocrats have crippled education on all levels.

In retrospect, the brilliant author of the literary work referenced in the first paragraph was a product of the white-man education in Africa, further buttressing—when placed side-by-side with the average standard of education at each level—that devastating decay—induced by the neglect of education by the crop of leadership in Nigeria—has eaten deep into the same sector.

In truth, the dilapidation has been rapid and consistent since education became relegated in the country. This, in my opinion, solely hinges on the absence of visionary leadership in the state. This is my view. Let’s hear yours!

This line most probably resonates with most Africans because of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart which describes anarchy supposedly caused by the infiltration of another race. It may or may not come to you as a surprise that Chinua Achebe himself borrowed it from William Butler Yeats’ Poem, The Second Coming.
The poem chronicles the disarray and pseudo-apocalyptic period after the second world war.

The pillars and foundations holds the house as the beams holds the bridges. What now holds the pillars, foundations and beams?

Education they say is should to be the foundation of any society that would love to develop.
Apparently our foundation has been long destroyed and the educational structure keeps falling.
Our beams have broken, there is no passage to the future we seek.

From underpaid primary school teachers to overworked secondary teachers to underappreciated, underpaid, overworked and underequipped university lecturers. Strikes after strike after strike like a building that is being stopped before any major milestone is completed.

Is the faulty educational system a product of the white man’s influence to limit the development of Africans or mismanagement on the part of the gatekeepers?

Let’s hear your view.

‘🎶🎶Things Fall Apart when the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the land.
Things Fall Apart when the centre cannot hold, Things Fall Apart, Fall apart, fall apart…🎶’

You may be wondering why I started with a song, right?
Well, many of us familiar with the tune probably watched the movie ‘Things Fall Apart’ (An adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Novel) produced in the 80s with favourite Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, starring as Okonkwo (the central character).
Achebe paints a vivid picture of the Pre and Post Colonial Igbo Society. He argues that things began to fall apart when anarchy was released in the land as a result of the white man’s arrival. His(the white man) arrival in any form often symbolized disruption, disorder, disunity and disarray either as a missionary, District Officer or Soldier.

Why all these story? I just wanted to explain what happens when a nation/individual decides to forsake it’s history, culture, norms and values. Change they say is the only constant but you know it’s either for better or worse. At what point did Nigerian citizenship become a disadvantage? Well, just sit tight, grab a popcorn, drink or whatever and let’s find the ‘Y’ in historical timeline ‘X’.

Today we are told if you would love to get a dollar note you should be ready to part with N650 at least but just like yesterday the value of the dollar could really not stand the might of the Naira. Few days ago my dad recounted tales of his days at university where scholarship in a government institution was prestigious, in fact you really would not regard private universities. But today makes it 150 plus days of total shutdown in all government owned higher institutions of learning quite a lot of students have moved on.
Was the white man really the emblem of anarchy or simply a figurehead of a well organized crime to disrupt the centre? It’s left for you and I to judge. Let’s hear your take.

Today our blog turns a year, it’s really a joyous occasion especially when you consider how much we’ve done within a year.
Today’s celebration is low-key but it brings the feeling of nostalgia; feels just like yesterday when we published the first article titled How The Man o’ war began then followed it up with series of bangers.

Going through our blog, you would see quite a lot to interest you be it in the field of technology, history, health, politics, inspiration and many more.
We just want to say a big thank you to all our friends and well wishers, we couldn’t have come this far without your love and support.

Happy Anniversary
It’s our first anniversary, we would like to know your first encounter with Obaba Museum. Let us know in the comments.

According to the Harvard Review, English is the fastest spreading language in human history, the impact can be felt economically, socially and subsequently globally. In fact, the impact made, heighten the language above all other languages, both the ancient and modern mode of expression and communication are being subjected to extinction as time itself, favoured the advent of English language.

Historically, English as a language has come a long way some sources claimed English language itself really took off with the invasion of Britain during the 5th century. Three Germanic tribes, the Jutes, Saxons and Angles were seeking new lands to conquer, and crossed over from the North Sea. It must be noted that the English language we know and study through various English language courses today had yet to be created as the inhabitants of Britain spoke various dialect of the Celtic language. During the invasion, the native Britons were driven north and west into lands we now refer to as Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The word England and English originated from the Old English word Engla-land, literally meaning “the land of the Angles” where they spoke English.

Another source tagged it to have sourced from a family of languages mostly spoken in Europe and western Asia from Iceland to India around 5,000 years ago by nomads that once roamed the European plains.

Many arguments, debates and talks have been watered on English language which had positively aid the growth of the lingua Franca, a status that can be justified since most countries adopt English language as their first choice of foreign language. Currently, it has been estimated that about a third of the world’s population, some two billion persons, now use English as a language.

If you ask me, I believe it deserves all possible accolades, despite its origin (England) it has become the dominant language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is also an official language of India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, West Africa and of course my great nation, Nigeria.

Now, we should bear in mind, as beautiful as it might sounds, phonetically (the Briton can be my judge), English has passed through mutation, change, evolution, and adaptation all due to time.

Why and how does it evolve?
Language changes for several reasons. First, it changes because the needs of its speakers change. New technologies, new products, and new experiences require new words to refer to them clearly and of course efficiently. But the biggest change to ever occur is colonization and migration. Americans would agree with me on that, since they fared well in honouring the pronunciation of English but then, the fact remains they adapt and adopt it from their colonizer which is Britain. And for, migration, the mass movements of English speakers across the Atlantic from Europe, to the Americas, Asia and then Africa all for the purpose of settlements or business ventures. 

Surely, time will always play a vital role in the change, mutation, evolution, and adaptation of English language, because to me, apart from other extinct languages, English language although old, is here to stay.

The first time I heard this phrase a ‘runaway’ uncle had come visiting. It was really surprising and unexpected that dad exclaimed, ‘to what do we owe this August visit?’ Do you remember the first time your heard someone being addressed as August visitor? Let’s know in the comments.

Most times it is usually used as an adjective to qualify people who visit once in a blue moon or those who seldom visit. Before we go into how this phrase came about, let’s burst your bubble – August visitor actually means a distinguished, highly regarded and respected visitor, not just any random person. You’ll agree with me that most visitors actually don’t fall under this category, I guess the phrase became more associated with sarcasm then.

In Nigeria, any visitor that visits without a prior notice is also tagged an August Visitor, because despite not planning ahead of their coming, they are usually treated with utmost courtesy and warmth, as you would every other visitor.

So how did the phrase come about?

History has it that the month of August was named after the first Roman Emperor, Emperor Augustus Caesar because several of his major victories were recorded in the month of August. He was an important and regal person this made people extend warm hospitality to any Guest they received during the month of August. In Europe, August is also the peak of the summer season and is referred to as the most comfortable month of hospitality for them.

When I read this, I began to wonder what was August called before Augustus influenced it’s renaming.🤔

Apparently, August was called Sextilis (also spelt Sextillus) because it was the sixth month of the original ten-month Roman calendar. Another unique thing about August is that it’s not just the name of a month. The word “August” itself has meaning and usage in English; according to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary it means to be ‘marked by majestic dignity or grandeur’. So yeah if you were born in August you sure possess this grandeur.

Thanks for reading, please share your own story in the comments.

Last week we started a gist on the Fascinator trend and how we’ve started hearing about another one called a Hatinator. I wonder if there’s really any difference but be the judge.

The term hatinator became popular in the early 2010s describing a headgear which combines the features of a hat and a fascinator. Think of them more as hybrids between hats and fascinators. They are small decorative hats fastened to the head with bands, combs or clips just like a fascinator. They may not be as big as your regular hat, but are bigger than fascinators. Still confused? Take a look at the image below.

There really are no too obvious different between a Hatinator and Fascinator, in fact some fashionistas would tell you that the so called Hatinators are just another style of fascinators. However we decided to give you some few tips to distinguish between the two headgears.

The Size

Most fascinators are moderately sized to match your outfits but Hatinators almost simulate an actual hat with large rims.

The Circumference

Fascinators are simple and chick designs curated simply to fascinate the ‘wearer’ and the ‘beholder’ as the name implies. Hatinators on the other hand are usually larger than the circumference of the head.

Thanks for reading, we hope you’re able to distinguish between the two when next you spot one or are there other tips to distinguishing between them, feel free to share in the comments.

Today, I wanted to get a fascinator for a friend, I got to see various styles from plumes to wide rim hats. Then I started thinking what’s the history behind this fashion accessory? When and how did it become a trend? Well let’s try to get answers. Sit tight and enjoy the ride.

As far back as we can remember head gears have always been a symbol of status be it royal crowns, tiaras, berets or military hats. Women of almost every civilization have recognized the value of adorning their hair with various decorations. Native Americans used feathers, Ancient Egyptians wore gilded wigs, ancient Chinese wore special hair pins and specially shaped combs and ancient Hebrews powdered their hair with gold dust. 

The Renaissance period however introduced a new era of power dressing. Merchants were expanding consumer markets in courts and cities by making chic accessories, including hats and hairpieces. Suddenly, the word ‘fashion’ was gaining usage across languages. And with increased wealth, self-image became less functional and more frivolous.

With the 18th century came the world’s most iconic hair decorator: Marie Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI. This queen craved beauty, prestige, luxury, and most importantly, attention. Her lavish spending habits may have been inappropriate considering France’s financial status at the time, but Antoinette’s hairstyles did succeed in igniting a spark of fashion creativity among the European upper classes. She regularly decorated her hair with outrageous trinkets, including miniature landscape gardens, animals, feathers, and even a scaled model of La Belle-Poule, a victorious war battleship. At this time France was a great influence in European fashion and art, and British ladies began picking up ‘few fashion tips’ in hair adornment from their French counterparts.

The 1940s, saw the rise of ‘doll hats’ – feminine, miniature hats perched on the front of the forehead or nestled into an updo. In the 1980s, London-based milliners (hat makers) Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy popularized fascinators as we know them today within elite circles. Throughout the decade, Jones’s Covent Garden salon attracted royal clientele and celebrity clients like Princess Diana, Grace Jones, and Isabella Blow. Both Jones and Treacy are still renowned and active milliners today.

Fascinators do have a several desirable qualities. For one, they can elongate your silhouette by adding the illusion of height. Being perched on the side or front of your head, they can also preserve a gorgeous blowout (unlike a wide-brim hat). Often made from sinamay or crinoline fabric and embellished with decorative trimmings such as organza, feathers, flowers and beads and for a more dramatic effect, some fascinators may also have a birdcage veil. The fascinator creation is attached to a fixing, usually a comb, clip or headband so it can be easily worn and fixed to the head.

If you get yours custom made, fascinators can be true works of art and expressions of your personality. When understood this way, who wouldn’t want to wear a chic and creative piece of art. 

I now hear we now have hatinators which is almost the same thing but just join us next week to hear the full gist.

Thanks for reading through, cheers🥂.

Decision making is really more complicated than it seems to the eyes.

At certain intervals in life there is always an avenue to make decisions. Most people ended up in their current state based on certain decisions they had made in the past. Emotions are sometimes determined by some decisions you made at some points in life; I mean you being happy or regretful could often be associated with some decisions you made.

Let’s take a student trying to choose an academic field of study for example; there is always a need to choose wisely at this stage and it’s always a very crucial one because it tends to contribute to his or her entire life academically, socially and some times financially. Let’s assume he or she made a wrong decision and chose a non compatible field of study, there will definitely be some anomaly in the career journey which may have adverse effect on the not just the student’s life but the society and world at large. Just imagine a half baked doctor conducting a major surgery, yeah you guessed right.

Most people especially the aged, are victims of regrets due to poor decision making. You would always find the elderly sharing with the young ones several mistakes they made in decision making and trying to advise the young ones to try and learn from those mistakes.

In the country these days several news have been going around especially in regards the upcoming general election to determine the next person that will rule the nation for “4years or more”. That’s really a long period if you think about it! We can say Nigerians are about to witness a crucial decision making, or better still about to choose between several alternatives. Whether their decision will lead to the country‘s growth or downfall within that 4years of ruling is left to choice.

Decision making may sound like a mere matter of choice but it is way more than that. Virtually every aspect of our lives is controlled by decision making. To Succeed or to fail, to be financially stable or ruined by poverty, and many aspects of life are always a result of the quality of decisions made.

Decision making can either change your life positively or negatively, it is all dependent on you. Many youths out there are chosing the wrong priorities which may seem harmless at the moment. Some are so determined to abandon schooling to chose a carefree life. The heavens could not be blamed concerning them, they chose to be that way and sooner or later they realize that they themselves are the architect of their fortune or misfortune.

To the youth, it is high time we started being more intentional about decision making. If for nothing to avoid regret and to serve as a good example to the younger generation.

Recently we’ve seen a lot of controversial views on the recent COVID-19 vaccines; many individuals are suspicious and unwilling to take some few shots of the vaccine, which they feel, hasn’t been too reliable in protecting them from more severe strains of the virus (let’s not even talk about the various conspiracy theories associated with it).

With our basic knowledge in biology we understand vaccines to be useful tools for combating infectious diseases. They generally contain weakened or inactive parts of a particular organism (antigen) that triggers an immune response within the body.

Still confused as to how this works? Let’s explain further.

Most vaccines contain a weakened or docile form of a virus or bacterium, or a small piece of the virus/bacterium that cannot cause disease. This small piece is called an antigen. When a person gets a vaccine, their immune system recognises the antigen as foreign. This activates the immune cells so that they kill the disease-causing virus or bacterium and make antibodies against it. It also activates immune cells – called T-cells and B-cells – in the blood, in the bone marrow and throughout the body. Hence, if later on the person comes into contact with the actual virus or bacterium, their immune system will remember it (so you could actually relate it with training for actual battle). The implication is that the immune system can then produce the right antibodies and activate the right immune cells quickly, to kill the virus or bacterium. This protects the person from the disease.

Different vaccines bring about different levels of protection. How long protection lasts also depends on the disease it protects against. Some vaccines can only protect against a disease for a short period and may need booster doses; for others, immunity can last a lifetime.

Newer vaccines now contain the blueprint for producing antigens rather than the antigen itself. Regardless of whether the vaccine is made up of the antigen itself or the blueprint so that the body will produce the antigen, this weakened version will not cause the disease in the person receiving the vaccine, but it will prompt their immune system to respond much as it would have on its first reaction to the actual pathogen. This explains some temporary side effects you may or may not experience after taking the COVID shot, there really is nothing to worry so, ‘Lets get vaccinated!’

Thanks for reading through. Let’s know what you think in the comments.

It was in 2015, I was in my third year at the university and had earlier gained some weight. I calculated my BMI (Body Mass Index) and it was about 27. The ideal BMI is between 18–24 kg/m². So, I had to lose about 6–8kg and I knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.

I was unsuccessful in my weight loss journey from 2015 to 2017 despite the various exercises I was engaged in during that period. I did lose 2kg at one point, which I later gained back and lost again within that timeline.

It was in 2018 that I realised that by not paying attention to my diet, I would be unable to achieve much result. I made a resolve there and then to work on my diet and I decided to try out three things:

1. To eat with a small plate.

2. To drink more water while eating.

3. To reduce my carbohydrates and eat more proteins.

I was a student then and didn’t have much money to buy lean meat like chicken (not to be fried) and fish,  I resorted to increasing my beans intake. 🙂

Initially, using the small plate to eat (in order to reduce the food quantity) wasn’t easy. For the first 2–3 weeks, I would usually eat one serving spoon extra. After a while, I got used to the small quantity of food and I no longer needed to “fill” my stomach with water while eating.

At a point in time, I took my mind off losing weight to eating healthy by maintaining the small quantity of food and  increasing my vegetables and protein intake.

It was sometime in 2021 that I remembered how large my belly fat used to be and the very significant change that had taken place.

Sometimes, weight loss shouldn’t be the ultimate goal. It could take months or a few years to achieve some goals. Rather, healthy eating and exercising should be maintained as a lifestyle in order to prevent a lot of diseases that can make one’s old age miserable. While doing this, weight loss is usually achieved effortlessly.

For a good number of years, trade moved back and forth across the Sahara with goods exchanging hands in West Africa, however West Africans did not really benefit from the Saharan trade because the routes were often controlled by Berbers from North Africa.

One of the major articles of trade was Gold, arguably the most expensive and wanted commodity in human history. Of course it was an abundant natural resource in the possession of West Africans which eventually made the control of the trade routes go into the hands of West Africans. The ability to control the trade routes to their advantage brought about the birthing or rise of three great empires; Ghana, Mali and Songhai.

GHANA KINGDOM

The Ghana Empire was also known as Wagadou or Awka existed from 300 to 1100 AD. The word Ghana means King of gold. The Ghana empire was founded by the Soninke people and was based in the capital city of Koumbi Saleh.

Ghana was rich in gold and salt- two valuable articles of trade. People wanted gold for its beauty and salt to preserve their food and of course make their food tasty. As trade in gold and salt increased, Ghana’s rulers gained power, they built up armies equipped with iron weapons that were superior to other nearby cities. As time passed by, Ghana took control of trade merchants. Merchants from the north and south would meet in Ghana to exchange goods. Gradually, Ghana took firm control of West Africa’s trade routes, almost all trades between Northern and Southern Africa passed through Ghana.

Eventually, the rulers of Ghana started forcing traders to pay taxes. Every trader who entered Ghana had to pay a special tax on the goods he carried and another on the goods he took with him when leaving. They gained an incredible amount of wealth from the trade and used the wealth to build an army and an empire.

As the kingdoms of Ghana extended into the Sahara, increased contact with Arab traders from the east brought the Islamic religion to Ghana. In the 1060s, a Muslim group called the Almoravids attacked Ghana in an effort to force its leaders to convert to Islam. They weakened Ghana’s empire by cutting off many trade routes. Without its trade, Ghana was nothing and the empire eventually fell. The influence of Islam however remained strong. Despite its collapse, the empire’s influence can be felt in the establishment of numerous urban centers throughout its former territory and beyond. In 1957, the British colony of Gold Coast under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah named itself Ghana in honour and remembrance of the historic empire although, they never shared the same geographical boundary or location.

MALI KINGDOM

Mali was along the upper Niger River. This area’s fertile soil helped Mali grow and control the trade on the river. The empire grew rich and powerful through the control of the trade.

Mali’s rise to power began under a ruler named Sundiata. He won back his country’s independence and conquered nearby kingdoms, one of which was Ghana. However, Mali’s most famous ruler was Mansa Musa (Musa Keita). Under his leadership, Mali reached the height of its wealth, power, and fame.

Mansa Musa ruled Mali from 1312 to 1337. During that time, Mali added many trade centres including Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao, to its empire. Traders came to Timbuktu from the north and the south to trade salt, gold, shells, and many other goods. Religion was very important to Mansa Musa. In 1324 he left Mali on a Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Making this journey at least once in their lifetime is the spiritual duty of all Muslims. As he journeyed to Mecca, Mansa Musa introduced his empire to the world. The stories of Mali’s wealth and religion spread far and wide. Because of Mansa Musa’s influence, Islam spread through a large part of West Africa.

Mansa Musa wanted all Muslims to be able to read the Qur’an. Therefore, he stressed the importance of learning to read and write the Arabic language and he sent scholars to study in Morocco. These scholars later set up schools in Mali for studying the Qur’an. To encourage the spread of Islam in West Africa, Mansa Musa brought back artists and architects from other Muslim countries to build mosques throughout lands.

The architectural advances in cities like Timbuktu as well as an organized government, an emphasis on education, and expansion of trade all combined to make Mansa Musa Mali’s most successful ruler. Unfortunately, Mansa Musa died and poor leadership weakened the empire. By 1500 nearly all of the lands the kingdom once ruled were lost. Only a small area of Mali remained.

SONGHAI KINGDOM

In the 1300s, Mansa Musa had conquered a rival kingdom of people called Songhai who also lived along the Niger River. As the Mali Empire weakened, the Songhai grew in strength. They took advantage of Mali’s decline and regained their independence conquering most of Mali.

One of Songhai’s greatest rulers was Muhammad Ture​, who chose the title Askia the Great​. Like Mansa Musa, Askia the Great was a devout Muslim who supported education and learning. Under his rule, the cities of Gao and Timbuktu flourished. They contained great mosques, universities, schools, and libraries. People came from all parts of West Africa to study mathematics, science, medicine, grammar, and law.

Askia understood that an empire needed effective government so he created a professional army, and to enhance the empire, he set up five provinces, each led by a governor who was loyal to him. He also created specialized departments to oversee various tasks, much like modern day government offices do.

Soon after Askia the Great lost power, the empire of Songhai declined. Songhai was invaded by the Moroccans, the kingdom’s northern neighbors. The Moroccans wanted to control the Saharan salt mines. They had superior military power and were able to take over Timbuktu and Gao. Changes in trade patterns completed Songhai’s fall.

Of course many other empires also rose up due to their ability to control the Trans Saharan trade routes, however we listed the

June 12 has now officially come to mark a day of celebration in Nigeria. Nigerians celebrate June 12 as Democracy day, symbolic in marking the transfer of political power from the military to an elected civilian government in 1999. Of course it also marks the start of the longest continuous civilian rule since Nigeria got independence from colonial masters in 1960. Democracy day is a tradition that has been held annually since the year 2000 however June 12 was not always a thing.

Initially, May 29 was the official democracy day in Nigeria marking when Olusegun Obasanjo took office as the president of Nigeria in 1999 officially ending several decades of military rule in Nigeria since 1966. Of course there was a short period of democracy from 1979 to 1983, however, the apparent helplessness of the civilian government gave way for another coup. On June 6, 2018 a little bit over a week after May 29, 2018 had been celebrated as democracy day, the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammad Buhari declared June 12 as the new democracy day and he gave his inaugural speech for his second term on June 12, 2019.

You must be wondering, why June 12? On June 12, 1993 an election which is said to be Nigeria’s ‘freest’ and ‘fairest’ election took place. The election involved two parties – Social Democratic Party (SDP) represented by Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and National Republican Convention (NRC) represented by Bashir Tofa. Nigeria was practicing a two party system then. Although it was said that the election was the ‘freest’ and ‘fairest’, the military head of state, Ibrahim Babaginda annulled the election on the grounds of rigging. On June 11, 1994, Abiola declared himself as the President of Nigeria which led to his arrest on the grounds of treason, under the command of General Sani Abacha on June 23, 1994.

Abiola was detained for four years and he died on July 7, 1998, his supposed day of release. In order to celebrate a man who fought for Nigerian’s democracy, president Buhari declared June 12 as the new official day for democracy celebration, although, before then the south Western states of Nigeria had been celebrating June 12 as ‘Abiola’s Day’.

“The Ship of the Desert” is a phrase you may have heard especially if you followed our last article on The Trans Saharan Trade. Of course if you followed closely you realize that camels were popularly regarded as the ship of the desert. They are regarded as so due to the fact that they move smoothly through the desert in Africa with ease (at least compared to other beasts of burden). They carry people as well as cargo in desert just like the ships at sea. They were used mostly by the Trans Saharan traders from North and West Africa. People have been using Camels for over 4,000 years mostly for transportation and it is said that camels came into North Africa from Arabia through Egypt and the Sudan, coming into widespread use by 300BCE.

Now why would these traders choose the camel? I mean there are other animals that can carry load and walk through the desert right? Yes, other animals may be able carry load and walk through the desert but the camel was chosen because the desert is usually hot and dry, and they seemed more suitable due to many distinguishing features chief amongst which is their ability to carry much more load than other animals. Wares/articles of trade were often loaded and transported in caravans of camels.

According to Abu Abdullah Muhammad popularly known as Ibn Battutah, a famous Muslim explorer, the average size per caravan was 1000 camels but some caravans were as large as 12000 camels. The caravans were guided by highly paid Berbers who knew the desert well enough to ensure a safe journey.

Unlike other pack animals, the camel can go for months without food and about 15 days without water. This is because they have a large store of fat in their hump which can easily be broken down to food. Another cool feature of the camel is its legs. The camel walks on a broad pad which connects its two toes. This cushion – like pad spreads when the camel places its foot on the ground enabling it to firmly grasp the earth. This pad also stops it from sinking on the loose sand of the desert, making movement easier and faster. They can move between 8 and 10mph in 18 hours.

That’s not all; camels can close their nostrils just as humans can blink their eyes. This helps them close out sand that sometimes blows fiercely in the desert. Their long eyelashes and ear hairs also stand as a barrier against sand. If sand gets into their eyes, they can get it out using their third transparent eyelid. These features helped the camel withstand the harsh climate conditions in the desert.

When you consider all the traits, you just have to agree that they are truly the ship of the desert!

Thanks for reading through, let’s know what you think in the comments.

The Ghana vs Nigerian jollof continues to attract global attention on social media with many Twitter duels on which nation has the best party jollof. But does Jollof rice really have a standard recipe?

Today, I will like to show you another angle, relax and follow the gist.

Few years ago, while attending a lecture on West African history, the lecturer mentioned something about Jollof rice being indigenous to the Tukulor Wolof (Jolof Empire). I initially thought it to be a joke but later realised this wasn’t one. I really took a lot of time to do my personal research into the culture and peculiarity of the People of Jolof. Here are some amazing facts to note.

The origins of Jollof rice could be traced to the 1300s in the ancient Wolof Empire (also called the Jolof Empire), which extended to parts of modern day Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. Rice farming flourished in this region, hence, the Jollof began as a dish called thieboudienne, prepared with rice, fish, shellfish, and vegetables. As the Empire grew, the Wolof people dispersed across the region and settled in different parts of West Africa, taking their sumptuous rice dish with them.

Today, virtually every West African country has at least one variation of Jollof, which both divides and unites the region. Each nation and family adds their own twist and interpretation, which perhaps is the root of the fierce competition taking place across the social media. 

The major rivals seem to be Ghana and Nigeria. Of course, we also have Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cameroon featuring in the food beef. The Gambia and Senegal are quite laid-back and rarely enter the Jollof controversy; after all, they gave it to the world. One major issue with the Jollof rice is the variety in available recipes with as many similarities and differences; and with the common oral traditions of passing down recipes, what else could be expected?

These two nations (Ghana vs. Nigeria) have been rivals in quite a lot, especially football (lol, that’s a story for another day). But as much as citizens of both nations pick Twitter fights, they seem to admire each other’s culture.

Of course, foreigners are sometimes forced to pick sides between the two types of Jollof, I think there shouldn’t really be a beef as to which is better, we should rather see it more in the light of enjoying variety. One main difference in the Jollof recipe is the type of rice used. Ghanaians use aromatic basmati rice, which gives it extra flavour, while Nigerians use long grain rice, believing that it is best for absorbing flavour. Both countries enjoy this gentle teasing, seeing it as a battle of wits where each tries to wear the other down with words.

Ironically, the feud actually brings Nigerians and Ghanaians together, certain people have described it is a love language between both countries similar to the dynamic of siblings teasing each other. Many non-African celebrities have given their verdict on whose jollof is preferable. Sometime in October 2021, while discussing with Nigerian celebrity, Yemi Alade, Ed Sheeran said he loves Ghanaian jollof, though he hadn’t tried the Nigerian one, lol.

If you ask me, I would say neither has a superior recipe for cooking Jollof, it simply is a question of who is cooking and who intends to eat it. The Senegalese Jollof (Thieboudienne) sef no too appeal to me (just kidding o 😂).

Thanks for reading through, let’s know what you think in the comments.

Do you remember the 3 key areas for weight loss we mentioned in the previous article? Diet, physical activity level and exercise? I knew you would😊!

Today we will be learning about physical activity and exercise.

Physical activity involves the movements we make while carrying out our daily activities. For example, the movements we make while going to work/school/ the market, during recreation, while we are within our work place, like walking, swimming, strolling, dancing and so on.

Movements that involve large muscles in our bodies, like those in our legs, break down more calories (e.g walking, jogging). So for some individuals whose occupations involve sitting in a spot for long hours, (e.g bankers), have higher tendencies of being overweight. This is because of their low physical activity level.

These individuals consume a lot of high calorie foods or snacks but cannot burn most of the calories due to their sedentary lifestyle. This leads to weight-gain, and in some cases – Obesity.

There are recommended levels of physical activity (according to WHO) for different age groups. It is recommended that one looks up these recommendations and put them to practice.

On the other hand, one may wonder the difference between physical activity and exercise. Exercise is planned, it is intentional and specific. This means that the exercise plan is designed to achieve the specific aim that the client wants.

For instance, if the client wants to lose belly fat, the plan would be to engage the individual in abdominal exercises and aerobics. The aerobics would burn the underlying fat why the abdominals would help tone-up the muscle.

Clients who would like to build their muscles e.g biceps 💪 , chest muscles, the muscles in their legs or even their butt, would engage in more of resistance or weight-lifting exercises.

Hence, while most exercises target certain areas of the body, physical activities work on the general body most times.

In all, increase your physical activity level today ( if it is low) and you may consider registering at a gym to kick-start your exercises. Most important, your diet should be balanced with proteins and vegetables. Your calorie intake (especially the carbohydrates) should also be low.