Glamsquad Magazine October 2022

october 2022

35 Home-Made ways

Remedies

to wear

Denim for Dark

This Spots

Season

AFWL 2022:

Meet the

10 Designers +1

Hollywood

Stars

& Exhibitors

You

Didn’t

Know 3 Ways Had To

Nollywood

Rock The

Heritage Ankara

Look

Exclusive

‘DJ Cuppy’

NIGERIA

@ 62

gLAM

MODEL

AGBANI

DAREGO

MISS WORLD

& NIGERIA

MODEL

Top 10

Global

Online

Fashion

Also Meet

Sisters Temi

& Tolani

Otedola

Influencers

Florence Otedola

The Oxford Graduate ‘Billionaire

Daughter’ Defiling the Stereotype

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside

Glamsquad

Magazine

October 2022

BEAUTY

44

Make Up Special

Eyes, Lips, & More

‘DJ Cuppy’

Florence

Otedola

6

52

Natural

Local

Skin Care

Routines You

Should Know


Daughter’ Defiling the

Stereotype

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag

2

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

Editor-In-chief /

Publisher

Remi Diagbare

Staff Writers

Sasha Bokamoso

Glory Uyi

36

10 +1 Hollywood Stars You Didn’t

Know Had Nollywood Heritage

Editor

Amenna Dayo

Managing Editor

Sebastianne Ebathemi

Deputy editor

Chioma Esui

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc

Praise David

Grace Effiong

Oyindamola

Contributors

Dr. Nkechi Omoson

Chef Amaka Obiefuna

Social Media

Yewande Falana

graphics / Web Manager

Layi Success

MARKETING Director

Tega Diagbare

Atinuke Bankole

Head Office:

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex,

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: +234 803 844 4955, +44 7404 990166

For advert enquiries, please contact the marketing

Director 08115933500 or email,

[email protected],

[email protected]

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories.

I

love many things about DJ

Cuppy – being the daughter of

a billionaire is not one of them.

I love that she continues

challenging the stereotypes that have

placed Nigerian youth and women in a

leach.

She is a Disc Jockey, has three

University degrees, is a philanthropist,

loves pets, loves football, and her

favourite colour is pink. Oh my, what is

there not to love about Cuppy?

She is a good role model to the

average Nigerian youth, and she is

proof that being born with a silver

spoon doesn’t make anyone arrogant,

inaccessible, or ill-mannered. Want

to know the real Florence ‘DJ Cuppy’

Otedola and her lovely sisters? Then this

edition of Glamsquad is yours to keep.

What else do we have in stock for

you? Well, to say ‘a lot much more’ will

not only sound cliché but also like a

tautology, but frankly, this is the only way

we can describe this edition!

This edition is dedicated to Nigeria’s

independence. October 1 is a special

holiday in Nigeria as it marks the

liberation of Nigeria from colonial rule.

On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its

independence from Britain.

So, this month of October, we

decided to create an edition dedicated

to the Nigerian youth and green and

white!

DJ Cuppy, Temi Otedola, Tolani

Otedola, and Agbani Darego are a

few of the personalities featured in this

edition. Also, we retrospectively looked

at hits and misses at the just

concluded Headies 2022.

On a sad note, the death of

former basketball star and WNBA

1st-round pick Tiffany Jackson

died on Tuesday, October 4,

2022, at 37, after a battle with

breast cancer.

Jackson played four years at

Texas, where she became the

only player in Longhorns women’s

basketball history. Unfortunately,

she was diagnosed with stage 3

breast cancer during her fourth

full season with the Shock in 2015.

Early detection remains the

best remedy for tackling breast

cancer. So, to celebrate breast

cancer month, we have included

an article on Cancer Awareness

and the early steps to detect it.

I am so excited about this

edition. Well, let me leave you

with it. I await your letters.

I love you always; you know I

do.

Yours Truly,

A .

Ameena Dayo

Editor, G.S

3 Ways

To Wear

Denim

This

Season

4

Disclaimer:

Please note that all photos used in this special

digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were

sourced freely online.

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the

images/photos, while we have tried to give

appropriate credit where due, we are aware

some artistes were not credited.

We remain committed to supporting

intellectual property and creativity.

© 2022 Tegali Communications


FASHION ESCAPE

3

Ways To Wear

Denim This

Season

By Sasha Bokamoso

There’s nothing I love more than a

good pair of jeans. Perfectly wornin

denim that hugs in all the right

places and goes with everything in my

wardrobe holds a special place in my

heart. Jeans like this aren’t always the

easiest to find, but when you do come

across them, it feels like the stars have

aligned in your favor.

Dramatic? Maybe. But I know I don’t

speak only for myself when I say jeans

are my most worn item come fall, so

it’s important to find the right fit. GUESS

1

jeans have been a staple since the ‘80s,

and I can always count on the brand to

have the classic fits and on-trend styles

I’m looking for.

This season, the fashion set is prioritizing

straight-leg and flare jeans, so I’m

following suit. Below, I’ve put together

three outfits featuring GUESS’s latest

arrivals. In addition to some seriously

good jeans, you’ll find knit tops, bags,

and shoes to complete your perfect fall

denim look.

Jeans and White Blouse

This first look goes out to our

readers in warmer climates

and those still holding on to

summer. I love a white blouse

year-round, and this

off-the-shoulder option

is perfect for fall

weather.

Contrast with dark

flare jeans,

a brown

shoulder bag,

and an easy

heel for the

ultimate dayto-night

look.

4


FASHION

2

Denim with

Black Boots

The easiest fall look

is a denim jacket, a

good pair of jeans, a

statement bag, and

the classic combat

boot. I love these

straight-leg jeans for

their relaxed, ‘90s vibe.

They add a touch of

trend to even the most

basic outfit.

2

Sweater and

Denim

For anyone still living by the

whole “no white after Labor

Day” rule, here’s a more

autumnal option for you.

These beige straight-leg

jeans are a great alternative

to your summer styles. Paired

with a collared knit, an

orange top-handle, and a

simple white heel, these feel

appropriate and stylish for

fall.


REPORTAGE

Florence

‘DJ Cuppy’

Otedola:


Daughter’ Defiling the

Stereotype

By Ameena Daayo

Florence Otedola was born with a silver spoon

– but the billionaire heiress wants to be seen

as Florence or DJ Cuppy – not Femi Otedola’s

daughter! It is difficult to find anyone with

the same privileges, exposure, and opportunities

as Cuppy connects so deeply with society and

people.

Individuals who fall in the upper echelon of

society often cope with the burden of living under

public scrutiny and criticism. Cuppy has had her

fair share of this, especially as she is pictured as the

‘bad girl’ of the family by many.

Many social media users were quick to throw fire

and brimstone at the free-spirited and easygoing

Cuppy when she painted her hair pink. When she

posted a photo recently of herself in a tight dress

that appeared to reveal her nipple piercings, all hell

almost broke loose.

Many also continue to criticize her music and life

choices, which they say do not reflect the businesslike

and official status of her billionaire father. But

how this is a problem or an issue for public scrutiny

is one that exposes the double standards of the

society we find ourselves in today.

Indeed, Cuppy deserves so much credit for how

she has handled herself and remained focused

despite all the hate that comes her way. However,

this is not to undermine the love and admiration of

millions of people who relate with Cuppy as being

an easygoing individual who wants to live her life

and be herself.

Her ‘cupcakes’ as she refers to her fans and

followers – of which I am proudly one, see Cuppy

as a beacon of hope for the Nigerian youth. She

has shown in many ways that society does not

define you and that we can be whatever we

6


REPORTAGE

Glamsquad

Exclusive:


REPORTAGE

want to become through hard work and

dedication – without societal validation.

This edition couldn’t have come at a

better time other than this. Our cover girl

has just announced that she has officially

graduated from the University of Oxford.

Recall that DJ Cuppy earlier announced

the submission of her master thesis at the

prestigious university on her Twitter page.

In a tweet via her Twitter handle, she

stated that though she didn’t get merit or

distinction in her thesis, she was excited

that she passed. DJ Cuppy noted that she

faced a tough year at Oxford and was

proud that she had finally graduated. She

also appreciated God in her tweet.

The tweet reads, “I got my THESIS result,

which classifies my MSc degree. I didn’t

get a Merit or a Distinction, but I PASSED!

“After a tough year, I can officially say I

am now a GRADUATE from @UniofOxford,

and I am bloody PROUD of myself. To GOD

be the GLORY!”

When Cuppy submitted her thesis in

July, the DJ recounted how she almost

dropped out of Oxford twice. But, love her

or not, one thing you cannot deny is that

DJ Cuppy is such a sweet soul and downto-earth.

Besides her father being the billionaire

Femi Otedola, she has two beautiful sisters

– Tolani and Temi, and a brother - Fewa.

She owns and loves her dogs – Dun Dun

and Fun Fun, she is a Manchester United

supporter, and she is beautiful. So what

else do you know about Cuppy? Well, find

out here!

On her love for Nigeria, and

Lagos….

In the interview, she spoke about how

people think she will be living a good life

abroad without coming to Nigeria adding

that she was born in Lagos and she can

never forget her roots before finally stating

that Lagos is her home.

In her submission, she said;

“My own way of thinking be say pesin

get one life to live so you get to live am, so

many pipo dey tink say becos my papa

get money or becos say I grow for abroad,

I don forget my roots, but Lagos na wia

dem born me…Lagos na my home”

Who would have thought that someone

who has spent so much time abroad and

has the opportunity to leave this country

and never come back, would profess so

much love for Nigeria?

Her Philanthropy and

Charitable works…

DJ Cuppy is a philanthropist and

everyone who knows her or follows her

on social media can attest to how she

has become a beacon of hope to the

less privileged through her charitable

nature. Her recent charitable work involved

sponsoring the needs of an 18-year-old girl

who is about to go to school.

Making the post, she wrote;

“God wanted me to meet Tobi so I

could change her life! She was catering

during my Pepsi photoshoot. Only 18, her

resilience after such a life tragedy inspired

me!

Best believe Tobi IS going to school and

the #CuppyFoundation will provide EVERY

resource she needs!”

After the post went viral, many people

sent her messages to appreciate her for

what she is doing and reacting to these

messages, she wrote;

“Got so many messages of praise and

appreciation over my recent charitable

8


REPORTAGE


REPORTAGE

10


REPORTAGE

work… I’m grateful, but can

we please NORMALISE acts of

kindness?

“It’s actually not a big deal

for me to help others when I’ve

had help most of my life.

“On to whom much is given,

much is expected”

“

So many guys

don’t want me,

they want my

dad. I dated

a guy, and he

was like “when

is he going to

meet my dad.”

On Relationships,

Her Kind of man, and

dating a bus driver….

DJ Cuppy has never hidden

her nature when it comes to

dating. She has always noted

that she is single and openminded

when it comes to

dating.

The DJ said, “I have dated

all kinds of men, maybe not

every single kind but like a lot

of different types of men. I find

them on apps; one of the apps

cost €400 to join. I have dated

a bus driver; I went on a date

with a bus driver, and there is

nothing wrong with that.

“I have literally gone on a

date with an annoying guy that

lives with his mother. I have

gone on a date with a model,

I have been on a date with

a footballer, like so many of

them. With dating you have

to be open-minded; I actually

enjoy dating. When you go on

a date, it is about talking and

getting to know each other. I

am ‘super open’, I want to be

dating and that is why I met the

bus driver.”

DJ Cuppy mentioned the

kind of man she would love to

be in a relationship with, stating

that he has to be genuinely

caring.

She said, “I just want

someone that is genuinely

caring and funny. Someone

who can be an escape for me

out of my crazy world.”

Speaking about past

relationships, DJ Cuppy,

revealed that due to her

privileged background, some

men have taken advantage of

her.

The disc jockey said, “I am

learning to be a little less in

control. I am the kind of person

that will plan everything to

the letter and before I know

it, I would have already paid

for everything. I have been in

a situation where guys have

taken advantage of me. I

have dated guys that have

been there for the ride. Now,

I am in a space where I say,

‘pick where we are meeting’.

When the bill comes, I sit on my

hand.”

So many guys don’t want

me, they want my dad ….

In a recent interview, the

billionaire’s daughter, who

has been searching for love,

opened up on her struggles

to get a man, who would love

her and not minding she is

the daughter of the famous

Nigerian billionaire, Femi

Otedola.

Dj Cuppy claimed it was

difficult for her to find a man,

who would love rather than

be with her because of her

billionaire dad.

She further disclosed how

a guy she dated was always

querying her about meeting

her father. She said, “So many

guys don’t want me, they want

my dad. I dated a guy, and he

was like “when is he going to

meet my dad.”

“I want someone to love the

shit out of me and like to be

happy and not my dad.” she

added.

How Pursuing an

Oxford Degree

affected her music

career….

DJ Cuppy had in March last

year announced that she was

going back to school to pursue

her master’s degree in African

Studies at the University of

Oxford, England.

She shared a picture of her

letter of offer as well as a video

informing her parents about the

development on Instagram.

But in a tweet in February,

the “Gelato” crooner lamented

that the programme is seriously

affecting her growth in the

country’s music industry.

“Some days I’m at @


REPORTAGE

UniofOxford deeply regretting

doing a 3rd university degree

because I feel like it’s affecting

my progress in the music industry.

But some days like this, I’m really

proud of myself and I know

that education empowers me

to be greater in every aspect

of my life,” she tweeted in her

dilemma.

This would be Cuppy’s second

master’s degree. She bagged

one in Music Business from the

New York University in 2015,

including her first degree.

On the 2023 General

Elections….

DJ Cuppy recently opined

that Nigeria being a country with

a huge youth population would

clearly be a deciding factor

come 2023.

She said therefore that

there was a need for youths

to educate themselves on

the electoral process, by

understanding what happens

pre-election, and what should

occur during the elections and

post-elections.

This, she said, would in turn

help inspire enough confidence

in the youths to take action.

Speaking as a special

guest during a Student Voters

conference in Lagos, Nigeria, DJ

Cuppy, who expressed concerns

about voter apathy which has

become widespread mainly due

to insecurity in the land, hoped

the situation would improve and

that more people would be able

to exercise their franchise come

2023.

In her keynote speech, DJ

Cuppy spoke about her desire

to facilitate a Permanent Voters

Card (PVC) drive to create

awareness and encourage

young Nigerians of voting age to

get their PVC and fulfill their civic

responsibilities.

She stressed the importance

of youths coming out to vote in

2023, as she said; “My mission

here today is simply to inspire you

all and that in turn you will inspire

or encourage others to get

registered, get their Permanent

Voters Card (PVC) and actually

vote.”

This conference which was

proudly sponsored by The Cuppy

Foundation, and hosted by

Youth4Nigeria, in partnership

with Global Shapers Community,

was geared towards raising

awareness for the upcoming

national elections in 2023 and

sensitising young Nigerians about

the role they have to play come

2023.

The Student Voter Conference

was set up as part of a civic

education and engagement

session series for Nigerian

12


REPORTAGE

Glamsquad

Exclusive:

students to encourage them to

vote, and enlighten them about

the procedures involved, so they

are well prepared to participate

in the upcoming elections, and

to do so from an informed and

reflective standpoint.

Building a lasting DJ

Cuppy legacy…

DJ Cuppy is one of the most

recognisable African names in

music and entertainment across

the world.

Her work as an ambassador

for Afrobeats and African arts

cannot be overstated and

over the years, her charity

organisation, Cuppy Foundation

has worked to aid the most

vulnerable young Nigerians

across the federation.

Relationship Rumours

and Marriage in

Italy…

DJ Cuppy sparked

relationship rumour after she

shared a picture of her with

a man who she identified

as Lorenzo in Venice, Italy.

Reacting to many of her fans

and followers, who took to


REPORTAGE

14


REPORTAGE

social media to congratulate

her on the supposed

relationship, Cuppy declared

that she is still single.

Cuppy added that

Lorenzo is a close friend of

hers, “I see some Cupcakes

congratulating me… Lorenzo

is just a close friend o. I’m still

SINGLE”

In another post, she

revealed that she should be

getting married in Florence, a

city in Italy.

Depending on her

father’s wealth…

If you thought DJ Cuppy

depends on her father’s

wealth, then you need to

think again! Cuppy, in an

interview with Zeze Millz on the

“ZEZE MILLZ SHOW”, said she

believes every woman should

be totally independent and

have her money.

She said most people call

her bluff when she speaks on

her stance, which leaves her

surprised since she works hard

and does not depend on her

father’s wealth.

“When I say to people, I’m

so pro-women having their

own money. People are like

“Come on Cuppy, shut up!

Your dad is wealthy. But if my

dad was really someone I

depend on, why do I work so

hard?”

Falling out with her

friend, Kiddwaya…

DJ Cuppy revealed that

having a fallout with reality TV

star, Kidd Waya, was tough

for her. She said this during an

interview with the Pretty Little

Thing podcast, which was

published on Wednesday.

DJ Cuppy and Kiddwaya,

who featured in a British

documentary-reality TV show,

Highlife, had a fall out during

the show which affected their

real-life friendship.

“That was really tough for

me because it was real life.

For the viewers that don’t

really understand. I and

my friend had a real falling

out during highlife and that

was on camera, which was

okay but it was really tough

because we actually fell out.

“I don’t really know how

else to explain that. When

you and your friend fall out,

it’s not nice. It was difficult

but Kidd is a great guy. He’s

a superstar. There were some

funny moments on the show.”

Sometime during the

show, DJ Cuppy had poured

a glass of drink on Kiddwaya

when he stated that her

billionaire lifestyle was the

reason she was single.

Reacting to the incident,

she said, “What would you do

when a guy says, ‘I can see

this is why you’re single?’ What

do you do? And also, why

is being single being used

against me?

“He is single himself which

is quite interesting. A guy

being single in Nigeria is like

‘ohhh, you’re the man.’ I’m so

sick of this patriarchy. It’s very

difficult but what I would say

is that I’m glad we made up.

We’re fine now and I have so

much respect for him.”


FEATURE

Meet

Temi Otedola,

The Nigerian

Actress Exploring

New Creative

Frontiers

Ameena Daayo & Nelson C. J.

Temi Otedola is an early

riser. The 26-year-old

Nigerian style plate,

fashion influencer,

YouTuber, and, most recently,

actor, typically begins her day

at 6 AM. If she’s in London,

she’ll take a walk around her

neighborhood. When in Lagos,

her second home, she goes

for a spin class at Victoria

Island, an upper-class area in

the city, to boost her energy.

Her days often unfold

by following this kind of

established pattern. “I’m super,

super, super routined,” she

admits during a recent Zoom

interview from her home in

London. There’s breakfast,

then meetings with her team;

lunch also happens at a very

specific time. Afternoons are

typically devoted to content

creation and reviewing brand

contracts. Since her latest

venture into acting—starring in

the Netflix Original Citation and

2022 crime-drama, The Man For

The Job—there are now scripts

to consider, auditions, and

Zoom meetings with directors to

attend.

“I feel calm when I’m on top

of everything,” says Otedola,

her voice chirpy and bright,

accented with the cosmopolitan

nature of someone who calls

different parts of the world

home. Otedola has just returned

from a holiday trip with her

fiancé, Afrobeats artist Mr Eazi, in

Spain. She landed in the UK over

a week ago, where she intends

to spend the rest of the year

before flying back to Nigeria

in early 2023. After logging off

from work completely during

her vacation, it’s safe to say

Otedola’s got more than a few

things to juggle at the moment.

In the landscape of Nigerian

16


FEATURE

influencers, Otedola has

managed to fashion an

individualistic and tightly

curated but, ultimately,

wholesome brand for herself.

While her celebrity DJ sister, DJ

Cuppy, is more outgoing and

experimental with her sense

of style, Otedola assumes a

more private front, revealing

only details of her life she feels

contribute to her effortlessly

glam and curated image.

The daughter of billionaire

businessman Femi Otedola,

Temi began her foray into the

fashion industry as a fashion

blogger—when blogs were

still very much a thing and

Instagram was just taking off.

At the time, Otedola—who has

always loved fashion and cites

her mother as her biggest style

inspiration, particularly for her

ability to consistently purchase

the most perfect garment,

no matter where she went—

couldn’t find African fashion

bloggers to follow. It only made

sense for her to fill those shoes.

“I was seeing all these fashion

weeks around the world. And

I was like, Why is there no

African representation at these

fashion weeks? So I [thought]

it’d be amazing to take up that

space,” she says.

When blogs began to die

down and fans flocked to

Instagram—where a short

caption alongside a carousel

of pictures would do just fine,

and reached even more

people—Otedola found the

transition seamless. Still, her

goal remained the same: to

continue to take up space as

one of Africa’s foremost fashion

voices. Over the years, Otedola

has fostered and maintained

a deep connection with

indigenous fashion brands,

from designers Lisa Folawiyo

and Andrea Iyamah to the


FEATURE

18


FEATURE

gender-bending Orange Culture,

with whom she developed a

capsule collection back in 2019.

Otedola’s soft-glam, clean-girl

aesthetic that values minimalism

and an individualistic approach

to fashion, has also set her apart

in the wider Nigerian fashion

influencer community.

“I don’t really feel like I have

a specific style, [but] I think I

gravitate toward looks that are

quite pared-down,” she says. “I

like to think it’s timeless. I’m not

trying to jump on every trend.

I just like to feel comfortable,

take a couple of risks, but keep

it clean and fun.” With acting,

Otedola is trying to lean into

a more spontaneous side of

herself that will allow her the

flexibility to explore a new

creative frontier. Even the way

she got into acting, a job she’d

never considered before, was, to

some extent, unplanned.

“I’ve been a really big fan

of films since I was nine or 10,”

she says, “Whether it was old

Nollywood or black-and-white

or classics. I’m [also] really big

on directors and films as an art

form. But I felt like I hadn’t done

it from when I was young, like

doing school plays, so I figured I

would never go into it.

“But at some point, I was

just thinking about my future,”

she continues. “And I don’t

necessarily want to be a social

media influencer when I’m in

my 30s or 40s. Moving forward,

what do I really want to do? And

I was like, ‘You know, Temi, you

could actually try this acting

thing.’ Especially with all the

new amazing directors we

have coming from Nollywood,

I feel like there’s a new era

happening. I really wanted to be

a part of that.”

So when she met the

legendary Nigerian director

Kunle Afolayan at a premiere

for one of his films, Otedola

walked right up to him and

asked for a meeting. “He was

like, ‘Well, I’ve been writing this

film for a few years. And actually,

the main character is a girl in

her early 20s. But you’re not an

actor.’ I was like, ‘Okay, well, let

me audition,’” she recalls. “And

it took months and months of

auditioning, but that is really how

it started.”

“

I don’t really

feel like

I have a

specific style,

[but] I think

I gravitate

toward looks

that are quite

pared-down

That chance encounter would

land her the role of Moremi in

Citation, Afolayan’s gripping

story about a young university

student who is groomed and

eventually assaulted by her

lecturer—and who has to face a

school tribunal in a bid to clear

her name and hold the lecturer

accountable.

The film, which came

out in 2020, is one of the

few Nollywood stories with

a progressive and hopeful

outlook on women finding

justice after being sexually

assaulted. Citation highlighted

the gravity and undue power

dynamics between professors

and students at a time when

Nigerian universities were

reckoning with their long-held

history of lecturers coercing

young pupils into having affairs

with them for good grades.

The timeliness of the story shot

the actress even further into

stardom. “Even to this day,

people still walk to me to tell

me that the film gave them

hope,” Otedola says.

At the moment, Otedola

has even more work on deck,

being featured in another

blockbuster Nollywood project

and other projects—the details

of which she can’t divulge.

As far as career goals go, the

actress hopes to ultimately

produce and feature in

Nigerian stories that elevate

the perspective of women.

“We have so many women

in Nigeria’s history who haven’t

had their stories told,” she

says. “There are [numerous]

documentaries about Fela, but

if you think about his mother,

Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, she

hasn’t had a biopic. Just to be

involved in producing that and

getting that made would be

incredible.”

Although Otedola didn’t

always have a defined idea

of what she wanted to do

when she grew up, she is,

without a doubt, willing to

gravitate toward the things that

challenge her the most. “I don’t

think there are any rules in the

creative world—you can try

different things. Maybe I’ll go

into singing,” she says with a

laugh. “At the end of the day,

you may as well try and fail

than not try at all. I’m open

to anything—as long as the

passion is there.”


FEATURE

Meet the Celebrity

Inside Out:

Tolani

Otedola

Ameena Daayo & Taiwo Ojoye

Background

I was born and raised in

Lagos; and I had a lot of fun

while growing up. My parents

were very good at keeping

us aware of the realities of

life.

We were never

overindulged. We have

always been encouraged

to pursue our dreams and

to seek our own lives as we

grow older. I am very grateful

to my parents for the kind of

woman I am right now.

I think they did a fantastic

job in nurturing me and my

younger sisters. Some of

my earliest memories were

the times I spent in the car

with my father playing loud

music.

I think that was one of the

reasons I fell in love with music.

Even though my father is not

a musician, he loves music.

We grew up in a house where

music was always played.

Education

I had my elementary

education at Grange School

in Ikeja, Lagos. For my postelementary

education, I

attended Adesoye College,

Offa, Kwara State.

I later studied Psychology for

my first and second degree at

the University of St. Andrews in

Scotland. It was nice to travel

around the world. When I first

got to the United Kingdom,

it was hard for me to cope

without my parents.

However, I got used to it

because I had already gone

to a boarding school for my

post-elementary education.

A major challenge was the

weather; it was extremely cold.

Parents’ Support

I have always wanted to

do music even before I went

to the university. My parents

encouraged me to keep my

passion but they wanted me

to complete my university

education first. They wanted

me to have an alternative

source of livelihood.

We all know that anything

that has to do with creativity

20


FEATURE


FEATURE

is not guaranteed; so, you

should have a plan B just in

case things don’t work out as

planned. I am glad that they

raised me that way. Once I

was done with my university

education, they allowed me

to pursue a career in music.

Music

Music is where my heart

belongs. I have always been

artistic and I used to be a

choir member in school and

church. However, I have not

thrown away the business

brain I inherited from my

parents.

For an artiste to become

successful, he or she must be

a good business person as

well. The fact that you have

not heard much about me

was intentional. I was in the

university and I went to music

school too. I had to learn how

to play instruments and how

to write music very well. I also

sang at gigs in the UK and got

paid.

Over there, that is how it

works; you don’t just wake up

and say you want to be a

musician. You have to pay

your dues. When I was at the

university, I was in a band of

four. I have been recording for

years because I have a studio

at home, I just released my

first official single, Tenderoni,

featuring Skales.

Generally, I call my sound

Afro-pop. I look at what is

trending and incorporate it

into my sound. Tenderoni is

strictly afro-pop.

Criticisms

If anyone says I am only

capitalising on my father’s

fame and wealth, I don’t

have an issue with that. I

have already accepted that

people will form their own

opinions about me and I don’t

intend to fight it. I will try to work

hard and hope that my music

speaks for me. I don’t think it

is my job to change people’s

perception about me.

I will just continue to do

what I love to do. I think that

people make a mistake when

they think that since we were

born into a wealthy home,

we don’t need to hustle. At

the end of the day, a wealthy

man is a wealthy man and his

children are not automatically

wealthy. My father is a

fantastic man and he looks

after us, but he always tells us

that his money is not ours.

Parents will always want to

support their children, but I

don’t think he or my mother

wants me to depend on them

all through my life. I want to be

independent of them; I want

to have my own children and

be responsible for them. One

day, my parents will not be

around again and I have to

take care of myself.

Personality

I am a bit reserved; I like

spending time with myself.

I like to stay at home and

see movies. However, I am

learning to be more outgoing

and to do things that are

related to my craft. I also have

the strangest taste in things,

but I don’t want to go into

details.

Romance

Love makes the world go

round. Love is very important

and we should always be kind

to each other. For me, I cannot

be with a man who doesn’t

pay me compliments or bring

out the best in me.

I don’t believe in listing

specific qualities that my ideal

man must possess because

those qualities cannot decide

whether the person is good

for me or not. If I say I want

my man to be tall, black and

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FEATURE

I just try to dress in a way

that reflects how I feel. If I

see something that I like, I

wear it. I think my style is quite

laid-back, but I like to look

comfortable and stylish.

Battle with Ailment

Recently, the songstress

took to her Instagram account

on Tuesday to reveal her

ordeal.

According to her, the

treatment of the ailment has

affected her appearance

and confidence. However,

she assured her friends and

fans that she is recuperating.

She wrote, “For over a year

now, I’ve been very social

media shy… life shy if I’m

being honest. Last year l was

diagnosed with a condition

& it was the toughest season

of my life… But with God and

some really special people by

my side, I made it through.

“I grow stronger every

day and the worst of it has

passed… but there have

been a few after-effects of

my treatment, one of which

has greatly affected my

confidence… because it’s

quite obvious. Being in an

industry that places a high

value on appearance, I found

myself unable to reconcile

taking medication that

helped my mind but affected

my weight.

“I fought with all my heart

to be here, and I’ve been

feeling quite down that

this one ridiculous thing is

keeping me hidden. I’m alive!

And what a blessing that is,

especially in a season where

so many people lost loved

ones.

“I also understood

something today… that to

stay self-conscious about

my outer appearance, is

to undervalue my inner

healing… it’s an injustice to

my mind, body & God-given

creativity. To look in the mirror

and be embarrassed about

my scars is to disregard how

I got them and belittle what

I’ve survived.” (sic)

Tolani further thanked

her friends and family who

reached out to her and sent

her words of encouragement.

She added that she was

slowly making her way back to

making music as she loves it.

handsome, how about if he

doesn’t support me? Right now,

I am in a relationship though.

Fashion

I don’t regard myself

as a fashionable person

even though people think I

am. I don’t look at fashion

magazines or follow trends to

know what to wear.


FEATURE

Glam Model

24


FEATURE

Agbani

By Chioma Esui

Darego

Chief

Ibiagbanidokibubo

Asenite ‘Agbani’

Darego, MFR is a

Nigerian model and beauty

queen who was crowned Miss

World in 2001. She was the first

black African to win Miss World.

Agbani Darego was 18-yearold

when she became the

winner of the 51st Miss World

pageant held Friday in Sun

City, South Africa. She was

chosen from 93 contestants

from all over the world. She had

promoted herself as wanting to

be a computer scientist as well

as a super model.

Darego won a total cash

prize of $100,000, plus gifts

valued at $150,000. She was

quoted with this statement

“black is beautiful”, moments

before being crowned.

She was born on 22

December 1982 (age 39 years)

in Abonnema - a large town in

the Kalabari Kingdom that was

founded in 1882. Its territory was

discovered by an expedition of

four independent chieftaincy

houses from the Kalabari citystate,

Nigeria.


FEATURE

Nigeria @ 62

— The Young Makes The Difference

By Maryam Laushi

There are some who believe

that there is not much to

celebrate on Nigeria’s 62nd

anniversary. But Nigerian activist

Maryam Laushi pins her hope for a

better future on the resilience of the

country’s youth.

Nigeria gained independence

from colonial rule on October

1, 1960. It was a time of great

excitement for Nigerians, who

were bursting with ideas for what

they could accomplish as an

independent nation. In 1963,

Nigeria adopted a new constitution

and became a republic, with

Nnamdi Azikiwe as president and

Tafawa Balewa as prime minister.

At this point, the country still had a

semblance of democracy.

In 1966, army officers made a

move to overthrow the government.

Several other coups follo wed. A civil

war led to unimaginable loss of life

and harsh dictatorial regimes.

Nigeria returned to civilian rule

in May of 1999, when Olusegun

Obasanjo was elected and sworn

in as president. Since the return to

democracy, Nigeria has had regular

elections every four years. Some

have argued that they were not free

and fair, but others believe they were

democratic.

Over the decades, Nigerian citizens

have lived through tumultuous times

due to high unemployment rates,

insecurity in more than one region of the

country and ethnic as well as religious

bigotry.

When considering Nigeria’s

achievements since independence,

there’s not much to celebrate. The

country is still struggling to meet the needs

of its citizens and become a front runner

in developing infrastructure, the economy

and the society.

Problems galore

The question of why this is so needs

to be asked. One reason is that disunity

caused by ethnic and religious bigotry

conditioned the choices available for

elective positions within major parties.

They have also affected public opinion in

selecting who to vote for.

Another reason is corruption,

26


FEATURE

After the documentary was aired,

the Nigerian Senate passed a sexual

harassment bill to fight the abuse;

there is still a long way to go, but the

impact is already evident.

Many Nigerians are pinning their

hopes on Nigeria’s new president,

Muhammadu Buhari, a former military

ruler, who won a landslide victory

on March 28 defeating President

Goodluck Jonathan.

Another young Nigerian making

a difference is Hauwa Ojeifo, who

recently launched virtual groups online

for mental health support.

Victor Ugo is also fighting to provide

mental health support through his

foundation, Mentally Aware.

Eyes on the future

In the world of business, many

young Nigerians are giving their best

not only to survive, but also to provide

a livelihood for others working for their

companies.

While the debate over Nigeria’s

past achievements is interesting, a

more pressing question is: What can

Nigeria do to help ensure that its

young people can compete on the

world stage and what is the best way

to create an environment where they

don’t just survive, but can also thrive?

If the government of Nigeria wants

its young people to have a better

future than is currently possible, it has

to ensure the safety of its population.

The country is plagued by insecurity.

The permanent feeling of not being

safe is crippling, and the situation is

not helped by the high number of

deaths caused by banditry and violent

extremists.

Democracy needs to be inclusive

Another important step is instituting

consultative governance. This would

incorporate the needs and opinions of

the country’s young people, women

and all Nigerians down to grassroots

level. Until the democratic rights of

Nigerians are taken seriously, Nigeria’s

democracy will not get ahead. And

in order for progress to be achieved,

a more inclusive government or

governance system needs to be

established.

Entrepreneurs need an environment

conducive to business growth.

Taxes shouldn’t be exorbitant and

neither should bureaucratic fees. The

government should provide essential

services like functioning electric power,

access to the internet, easier access

to national and international markets,

stronger institutions to support all

business processes and even a reform

of the civil service.

Nigeria should be working

towards building a sustainable future,

remedying its ills rather than doctoring

symptoms. Young Nigerians, as well

as older ones, hope for a future where

inequality gaps can be closed, society

in general can be more inclusive, so

they will live in a country that cares for

them

which has plagued almost

every administration since

independence. It is proving to be

deeply rooted, a harsh reality that

has yet to be changed.

Despite all the problems

faced by a country still struggling

to define its identity, Nigeria’s

has a valuable asset: its young

people and their resilience. Young

Nigerians have chosen to fight

injustice in new ways and the

results are clear for all to see.

Take Kiki Mordi, who was

instrumental in exposing the

“Sex for Grades” scandal, where

female university students were

pressed by lecturers in their schools

to exchange sex for passing

grades.

Maryam Laushi is a Nigerian activist who is behind the Not Too Young To Run

lead campaign. She has been awarded several prizes for her efforts to raise

awareness on gender equality, social justice and youth inclusion in politics.


ENTERTAINMENT

Swallow

Also released in 2021, Swallow was adapted

from a novel by a prize-winning Nigerian author

– Sefi Atta. Some of the casts include Eniola

‘Niyola’ Akinbo, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Dayemi

Okanlawon, and so on. If you like novels and

want to see them in movies, this is for you.

10 Nigerian

Movies

To Watch This

Independence

Holidays

By Praise David

Every year, more Nollywood movies

become popular on Netflix. Sometimes,

it’s even very hard to track which movies

you should be watching at a particular time.

Well, you shouldn’t have to search too

much as you have landed on the right post.

This year 2022 has already featured some of

the best Nollywood movies you should watch

during this independence holiday.

In this post, I’ll take you through 10 of the

top Nollywood movies you should watch on

Netflix in 2022. Read through and let me

know which your best is.

The Man of

God

Released in 2022,

this almost 2-hour-long

movie tells the story of

Samuel. Samuel, in this

story, forsakes his harsh

religious background and

upbringing to live his own

life. The main character was

bodied by Akah Nnani, with

performances from others

like Osas Ighodaro. The Man

of God was directed by

Bolanle Austen-Peters.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Blood

Sisters

Blood Sister is a limited

series that features popular

Nollywood actors like

Ramsey Nouah, Kate

Henshaw, Uche Jumbo,

Nancy Isime, Ini Dima-

Okojie, and so on. It tells

the story of 2 friends who

become wanted after killing

a man and have to fight for

their lives. It was released in

2022 and is only available

on the Netflix platform.

Amina

The movie, Amina, is also based on a true-life story.

Here, it’s the story of 16th-century Zazzau. Zazzau is a

settlement in Nigeria, which is the modern-day Zaria. In

this movie, Amina must use her military skills and tactics

to defend her family’s kingdom. It featured popular

actors like Ali Nuhu, Lucy Ameh, and was directed by Izu

Ojukwu.

Bigger Than Africa

If you’re interested in documentaries about the

history of Nigeria, and the continent at large, Bigger

Than Africa is for you. It follows the trans-Atlantic slave

trade route from West Africa to the US, Brazil, and the

Caribbean. This documentary was directed by Toyin

Ibrahim Adekeye.


ENTERTAINMENT

Ayinla

Ayinla is based on the true-life

story of popular Apala singer – Ayinla

Omowura. It goes through his rise to

fame, his relationships, and his untimely

death. Popular Nollywood actor, Lateef

Adedimeji, played the lead role of Ayinla.

Other actors include Kunle Afolayan,

Omowunmi Dada, Adebowale Adebayo,

and Bimbo Ademoye. The movie was

directed by Tunde Kelani.

Wonder

Woman

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman

redefined women in the superhero

genre, defied stereotypes, and

absolutely dominated at the box

office. A dream come true.

Fine Wine

Richard Mofe-Damijo played the role of a wealthy, lonely man who fell for

a woman much younger than him. He’s then left to confront the social stigma

around age gap romances. Fine Wine was released in 2021 and was directed

by Seyi Babatope. Other casts include Ego Nwosu, Ademola Adedoyin, Zainab

Balogun, and so on.

30


ENTERTAINMENT

RattleSnake

– The Ahanna

Story

In RattleSnake, which is a

remake of an older movie of

the same name, a mastermind

attempts to pull off a number of

astonishing heists. It’s directed by

Ramsey Nouah and it stars actors

like Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro,

Bucci Franklin, and so on. This

remake of RattleSnake was

originally released in 2020 but is

currently on the Netflix trending list.

God Calling

God Calling tells the story of Sade

who entered a suicidal depression

after losing a child. But then, she

found faith again which was aided by

technology. The movie was released

in 2018 but is a top Nollywood movie

to watch in 2022.

Lady Buckit & The

Motley Mopsters

Are you into Anime? This film is the first Nigerian

cinematic feature-length animated film. It tells a

story of a little girl whose parents’ bakery was shut

down in 1956. She makes a wish to go back in time,

instead, she ends up in the future – as a bucket. The

Anime movie was directed by Adebisi Adetayo.


ENTERTAINMENT

Great Nation

– Timi Dakolo

This song is one that

inspires Nigerians never to

lose hope in themselves

and believe in unity.

10

Songs that Promote

Nigerian Unity

– Perfect to Celebrate

Independence 2022

Lift up Nigeria –

king Sunny Ade

The king of

music, King Sunny

Ade extends his

love to all tribes,

and religions in

Nigeria. In his

track, he urges

everyone to

come together

and work for

the continuous

progress of the

country.

By Chioma Esiu

Independence Day in Nigeria is a

national day celebrated annually

on the first day of October. This,

primarily marks the country’s

freedom from the British government

in 1960.

Amongst many other reasons,

Nigeria’s Independence Day is

usually a day set aside to honour the

country’s heroes.

However, there is no gainsaying

that Nigeria is blessed with diversity

of tribes, religions, languages,

and culture. The amost populated

African country is also blessed with

talented artistes, who has recorded

and released songs that celebrate

Nigeria.

These artistes, with their songs,

have contributed immensely to

national growth and unity among

Nigeria’s citizenry.

Below are some of the songs

perfect to celebrate independence

2022 as Nigeria celebrates 62:

32


ENTERTAINMENT

Greenland –

Ty Bello

Interestingly, this

song is TY Bello‘s debut,

and it’s a song that

aims at spreading love,

strengthening the family

bonds, and expressing

optimism for Nigeria.

Released in 2007, the

song also encourages

Nigerians to move away

from the state of fear and

discomfort to a land of

hope and possibilities

Nigeria my beloved country

– Funmi Adams

Funmi Adams, popular in the 80s and 90s, promoted

cultural diversity among youths. Asides from the nostalgic

feeling you get from the song, it preaches unity and

harmony. This song remains evergreen in the hearts of

many Nigerians.

Song of Unity – Nigerian

leaders

This song was performed by Nigerian leaders, both

past heads of states and democratic leaders men. The

song, which was a declaration of unity in the country

features Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former President

Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan Oladipo Diya,

and the late Alex Ekwueme.


ENTERTAINMENT

Motherland –

Sound Sultan

The song Motherland

serves as a reminder to

Nigerians that have left

the country in search of

a beautiful and blessed

land that no matter how

far and wide they go,

Nigeria still remains the

best place for them to be.

Which Way, Nigeria

– Sunny Okosun

When singer Sunny Okosun released

this classic in 1983, the intent was to bring

Nigeria go Survive – Veno

Marioghae

The artiste expresses hope and faith in Nigeria. The song which

was rendered in the pidgin English language celebrates Nigeria

natural resources.

34


ENTERTAINMENT

One love – Onyeka Onwenu

Onwenu, a Nigerian music legend who has been

so passionate about unity in the country, expresses

the need for unity in this track. The song conveyed a

bundle of messages to Nigerians. In the same vein,

the tender voices of children who sings the chorus was

indeed a track to reckon with.

a truthful realisation to both the Nigerian

leaders and the populace. The song’s

lyrics frown at bribery and corruption

which lurks around the country.

Let’s Live Together – Kush

A gospel and R&B group released a song titled Let’s Live

Together in the 2000s. The song re-establishes the statement

“united we stand, divided we fall”. It also reminds Nigerians of the

need to live together in peace and harmony.


FEATURE

10 +1 Hollywood

Stars You Didn’t

Know Had

Nollywood

Heritage

By Praise David

America’s entertainment

industry, Hollywood, has

many black celebrities

of African descent, specifically

Nigerians.

Here is a list of Nigerians who

were either born in Nigeria

and grew up overseas, or were

born and raised outside the

country, or they have one or

both parents as Nigerians.

Cynthia Erivo

A British-Nigerian actress, singer

and song writer, who played

the lead role in the biopic

Harriet and was nominated for

several awards. Her full name

is : Cynthia Onyedinmanasu

Chinasaokwu Erivo. She was

born in Stockwell England on 8

January, 1987.

She attended La Retraite Roman

Catholic Girls’ School. Erivo

began a music psychology

degree at the University of East

London; however, a year into

her degree, she was admitted

into the Royal Academy of

Dramatic Art, where her multitalents

blossomed.

She is known for her

performance as Celie in the

Broadway revival of The Color

Purple, for which she won the

2016 Tony Award for Best Actress

in a Musical, the Drama Desk

Award for Outstanding Actress

in a Musical, the Grammy

Award for Best Musical Theater

Album, and the Daytime Emmy

Award for Outstanding Musical

Performance in a Daytime

Program, the latter two she

shared with the rest of the cast.

Erivo ventured into films in 2018,

with roles in the heist film Widows

and the thriller Bad Times at the

El Royale. In 2019, she portrayed

abolitionist Harriet Tubman in

the biopic Harriet, for which

she earned nominations for an

Academy Award, a Golden

Globe Award, and a Screen

Actors Guild Award.

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FEATURE

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Akinnage was born in Washington, D.C.to Yoruba parents in

1978. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School

in Rockville, Maryland. He attended Bucknell University on a

wrestling scholarship, and graduated in 2000 with a degree

in Political Science and English.

As an American actor and writer, he best known for his roles

as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and as Larry

Brown on the HBO series The Deuce.

Adetomiwa Edun

Babatunde Adetomiwa Stafford “Tomiwa” Edun, is

a Nigerian-born British actor. He is best known for his

roles as Sir Elyan in the television show Merlin, Marcus

Young in Bates Motel and Alex Hunter in the football

video games FIFA 17, FIFA 18 and FIFA 19.

Carmen Ejogo

Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo is a British television and film actress

and singer. She was born on October 22, 1973, to a Scottish

mother, Elizabeth (née Douglas), and a Nigerian father,

Charles Ejogo.

She began her career as a teenager hosting the Saturday

Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995. Her film credits

include Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000), What’s the Worst That

Could Happen? (2001), Away We Go (2009).

Yvonne Orji

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian American actress. She

is known for her role in the HBO series Insecure.

She was born to her Nigerian parents in Port

Harcourt, Nigeria but was raised in Maryland,

USA. Yvonne has starred in several films like

Insecure, Jane The Virgin, Flip the script, etc.


FEATURE

Adewale

Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Uzo Aduba

Uzoamaka Nwanneka “Uzo” Aduba is an

American actress. She was born on February

10, 1981, to Nigerian parents in Boston, USA. Uzo

is known for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes”

Warren on the Netflix original series Orange Is the

New Black, for which she won an Emmy Award.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a British actor, director,

and former fashion model. He was born by Nigerian

parents in Washington D.C. When he was six weeks

old, his biological parents gave him up to a white

working-class family in Tilbury, Essex.

This was a common practice in this era among

Nigerian families when parents sent young children

to live in the UK with white foster parents in the hopes

their children would have better lives. Adewale

has featured in blockbuster movies like The Bourne

Identity, Pompeii, The Mummy returns, etc. He is fluent

in Yoruba, Italian, Swahili, and Engish.

John Boyega

John Adedayo B. Adegboyega, was born on 17 March

1992 in Peckham England, to Nigerian parents. He is known

professionally as John Boyega. He has played Finn in the Star

Wars sequel trilogy films, The Force Awakens (2015), The Last

Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker.

Boyega’s other credits include historical drama film Detroit

(2017), the science fiction film Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018),

four episodes of the television series 24: Live Another Day

and the drama Imperial Dreams (2014). Boyega received

the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016.

38


Hakeem Kae-

Kazim

Hakeem Kae-Kazim is a British-Nigerian actor best

known for his work in the Starz television series Black

Sails and his portrayal of Georges Rutaganda in

the 2004 drama film Hotel Rwanda. He was born in

Lagos, Nigeria but originally from Ogun State.

He has also featured in Nigerian movies like Last flight

to Abuja, Black November. Currently, he is one of the

brand ambassadors of Etisalat.

FEATURE

David Oyelowo

Born April 1, 1976 to Nigerian parents in England, David

Oyetokunbo Oyelowo OBE is an English actor and

producer. His father is from Oyo State, Western Nigeria

while his mother is from Edo State.

He grew up in Tooting south London, until he was six, when

his family moved to Lagos. The family moved back when

he was 14. He had a three year training at the London

Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), finishing his

three-year training in 1998

His highest-profile role to date was as Martin Luther King Jr.

in the 2014 biographical drama film Selma. He also took

the lead role in A United Kingdom as well as playing the

role of a chess coach in Queen of Katwe.

He has played supporting roles in the films Rise of the

Planet of the Apes (2011), Lincoln (2012), Jack Reacher

(2012), and garnered praise for portraying Louis Gaines in

The Butler (2013).

He is slated to star with Lupita Nyong’o in a film adaptation

of the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel Americanah. The

story follows a pair of young Nigerian immigrants who face

a lifetime of struggle while their relationship endures.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor is a British-Nigerian actor.

He was born and raised in the United Kingdom by

his Nigerian parents.

He is a descendant of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria.

After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in

1995 and attending the London Academy of

Music and Dramatic Art, at age 19 and three

months into his course, Ejiofor was cast by Steven

Spielberg to play a supporting role in the film

Amistad as James Covey.

Ejiofor has starred in numerous movies such as 12

years a slave, The Lion King, Half of a Yellow Sun,

Deadly travel and so on.


EVENTS

Hits and Misses

at Headies

Awards 2022

By Praise David

Credit: Adekunle Fajana

The 2022 Headies Award ceremony has come

and gone, we would be discussing five of the

most important moments from the historic event.

American entertainer, Anthony Andersen

alongside Nigerian actress, Osas Ighodaro

served as the hosts of the 2022 Headies Award

ceremony on Sunday.

The 15th edition of the historic award ceremony

took place at the Energy Performing Arts Centre

in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Eleven years after Wizkid delivered his first

success at the Headies award under the tutelage

of Nigerian music icon, Banky W, he has gone

on to become the most decorated musician in

the history of the award show amassing twenty

plaques to his name as of today, Monday,

September 5, 2022.

Despite the initially negative reaction from cynics

after it was announced that the award ceremony

would take place outside of Nigeria, the event

received applause from Nigerians and other

international viewers who recognized the growth

and impressive development of the award

organizers.

Headies is renowned as the award ceremony

designed to not only celebrate the excellence

of Nigerian creatives and musicians, the award

was also established to help kickstart the career

of flegedling artistes. Singers such as Wizkid,

Davido, Omah Lay, to name a few who emerged

as “Next Rated Artist” a few years ago have gone

on to achieve international recognition.

Though the 2022 Headies Award wasn’t perfect,

the vision and intention of the award organizers is

commendable.

What did they do wrong and what was right, let’s

analyse five moments from the show that was

either a hit or miss.

40


EVENTS

Anthony Andersen

fails to relate with the

Nigerian audience

Buju has the last

laugh in rivalry

with Ruger

On Sunday, Daniel Benson who is better

known as Buju (or BNXN) emerged as the winner

of the “Next Rated Artiste” category. He gained a

massive point ahead of his archrival and social

media boxing partner, Ruger, at the award.

Buju emerged as the winner after beating the

likes of Ayra Starr, Zinoleesky, Lojay and Ruger. With

the award, Buju goes home with the 2022 Bentley

Bentayga.

Anthony Andersen, an award winning American actor and movie

producer co-hosted the award ceremony alongside Nigerian

actress, Osas Ighodaro. Despite being a prolific entertainer, he

failed to resonate with his audience who were predominantly

from Nigeria and other African countries, including Ghana and

South Africa.

While personnel such as Bovi, M.I Abaga, to name a few have

hosted the show in previous years, Nigerians think Anthony

Andersen was a wrong choice. During his presentation, Andersen

made some remarks that would be perceived as condescending

and would be seen as disrespectful by both the artistes and the

Afrobeat lovers.

For instance, Andersen asked, “who is Adekunle Gold?” Yikes, that

could have been handled better.

Understandably, Andersen is American, hence, he wouldn’t be

expected to know much about Afrobeat, African values and

culture, albeit, a little bit of research wouldn’t have seen him ask

certain questions such as the one above.

Without ‘staining Andersen’s white’, South African comedian

Trevor Noah would’ve been a better option to host the award

show. Noah is of African descent, also, he is more hilarious than

Andersen and has interviewed several Nigerian musicians such as

Burna Boy in the past.

Additionally, Andersen failed to connect with his co-host, Osas

Ighodaro throughout the night. They failed to sync and reach a

common ground especially when Osas was trying to promote

absent musicians, however, Andersen was incessant on making

some derogatory jokes.

The Headies award organizers should do a better job in the

coming year. Andersen totally missed it this year.


EVENTS

The inclusion of international categories

There is a purpose for the inclusion of

international categories and recognition of

creatives from across Africa and the rest of

the world.

The aim and objective is to help solidify

the status of Headies as an international

brand and gradually rank among the

echelon of top award shows in the world,

although this might take a while, but with

the ideal strategy and a transparency of

the academy, it could go on to become

the biggest musical award show in Africa,

possibly surpassing Africa’s MTV Music Video

Awards.

With the intense contribution of Nigerian

creatives in the entertainment sector, it

is only ideal for Headies Academy to set

themselves apart as the biggest award and

embody themselves as the true rewarder

of musicians, producers and investors from

various sectors.

The Nigerian music industry is one of the

biggest exports from the country, the talents,

their skillset, workmanship and marketable

product has put the scene on a global

scale.

Hence, it is safe to say Nigeria is the

business unit for nurturing talents and taking

them to the next level. Artistes such as

Gyakie, Black Sheriff (both from Ghana) are

enjoying fascinating success here in Nigeria

for affiliating themselves with the Nigerian

populace and it’s talents.

Of course, the 2022 Headies Award

ceremony wasn’t perfect and there is always

room for improvement, but the organizers

of the award show have come a long way

and should be applauded for recognizing

the talents and rewarding the work ethics of

creatives.

Absence of notable

superstars

Wizkid failed to show up at the

event, same with Grammy award

winner Burna Boy alongside several

others.

This is despite the event taking

place in the United States of America.

The co-host for the night, Andersen

called out the names of notable

musicians who were at the event. This

particularly disappointing segment

forced Andersen’s partner for the night,

Osas Ighodaro to forcefully drag down

the microphone from his hands to

avoid further embarrassment.

“Ckay ain’t coming…” Andersen

said while on stage.

“Has anybody seen Wizkid? They

told me Wizkid was going to be here,

they told me Ckay is going to be here,

Tems, she ain’t coming just like half this

African artistes ain’t going to be here,”

Andersen continued.

As stated earlier, Andersen could

have done a better job as the host of

the show. However, Nigerian celebrities

need to do a better job of respecting

the values that Headies represent.

42


EVENTS

Tems continues rise to the top

Grammy award nominee, Tems whose real

name is Temilade Openiyi bagged five awards at

the award ceremony on Sunday. She has continued

to experience a meteoric rise to the top.

It is interesting to note that one year ago, Tems

was yet to win any official award to her name, as a

matter of fact, she failed to win any category at the

2021 Headies Award. Twelve months later, she is one

of the most decorated modern day musicians in

Afrobeat history.

After receiving three awards for her collaboration

with Wizkid on the sensational single, ‘Essence’, Tems

won the Best R&B Album for her 2021 EP, ‘If Orange

Was A Place’ and Female Artist of the Year at the

2022 Headies Awards.

In 2022 alone, she has worked with international

superstars such as Drake, Future and Beyonce.


BEAUTY

Marble Nail

Trends

25 Need-to-Screenshot

Looks I’m Loving

By Sasha Bokamoso

I’ve always gone wild for all things

nails (I love to tell people I owned

more than 100 bottles of polish by

the time I hit middle school), but my

obsession has reached fever pitch in

the last few years.

Nail polish brands and manicurists

are getting more creative than ever

before, and my Instagram and TikTok

feeds have quickly become a feast

for sore eyes where nail inspo is

concerned.

However, despite the surplus of

patterns and abstract designs

circulating the internet lately, there’s

one nail design, in particular, that has

continued to reign supreme: marble.

Whether you want something more

elevated and subtle (think white, opal,

and metallic accents) or something

more attention-grabbing and bold

(neon, anyone?), there’s a marble

nail design out there that is sure to

vibe with your beauty and fashion

aesthetic. After all, your nails are the

ultimate accessory, right?

Because I truly couldn’t stop

downloading and taking screenshots,

behold 25 drool-inducing marble nail

designs you should most definitely

save and bring to your favorite nail

salon. Keep scrolling!

1

2

3

44


BEAUTY

5 6

7 8

4

9 10


BEAUTY

11 12

13 14 15

16 17 18

46


BEAUTY

19 20

21 22

23 24 25


BEAUTY

Make Up

Special

Eyes, Lips, & More

Words Sasha Bokamoso

What is the Importance

of Beauty Care?

Beauty is more than skin deep.

It’s a reflection of your physical

and emotional well-being. When

people are healthy, it shows.

Estheticians understand the

importance of appearance,

and it’s their mission to help

clients look and feel their best,

inside and out, with beauty care.

What Does an

Esthetician Do?

Estheticians are skincare

specialists. They help identify

non-medical skin disorders and

provide topical treatments that

enhance clients’ complexions.

Popular services include:

Skin Analysis

Everyone is unique, so

estheticians learn about their

clients’ complexions through

skin analysis before making

treatment recommendations.

The process includes an

extensive questionnaire

reviewing medical conditions

and lifestyle factors that

1

affect appearance, such as sun

exposure, smoking and eating

habits.

A visual examination with

magnifying lamps and devices

that measure skin’s characteristics

from sebum level to moisture

content is revealing. Using their

fingers, estheticians then evaluate

the surface texture of the skin,

searching for subtle irregularities

that indicate dryness, irritation or

clogged pores.

48


BEAUTY

Facials

Facials use steam, exfoliation, serums

and masks to cleanse and rejuvenate

skin. Gentle massage of the face and

neck helps clients relax and encourages

a healing blood flow. Facials are

customized based on skin analysis, so

each is as distinct as the client and

serves as a foundation upon which to

build a better beauty care regimen.

2

3

Cosmetic Application

Estheticians specialize in occasion cosmetics,

giving clients the once-in-a-lifetime look they want

for a big event. But they can also show them how

to make the most of their everyday make-up with

professional application techniques and products

that complement their skin type. Why not be red

carpet-ready every day?

4

Hair Removal

Estheticians remove

unwanted body hair using

methods from electrolysis to

waxing. Sites include the face,

arms, legs, chest, back and

bikini zones, and the goal is to

extract hair down to the follicle

for long-lasting results.


BEAUTY

Why is Beauty

Care Important?

Looking your best requires a

holistic, inside-out approach.

Beauty care matters because:

Healthy Skin is

1Important for Good

Health

The skin is our largest organ

and a barrier against the

environment. It shields

us from UV light, keeps us

hydrated and protects us from

microorganisms. Protecting the

outer layer of the skin is essential

because breaks, cuts, sores, rashes

and irritations, allow bacteria and

other harmful substances to get

into the body and make us sick.

Take good care of your skin, and it

will take good care of you.

Looking Good

2Improves

Confidence and

Self-Esteem

How you look affects

how you feel about your

body, we’re our strongest critics.

For women, in particular, beauty

and self-esteem are closely

linked. The most important thing

an esthetician does is to give

clients pride in their appearance

by minimizing flaws, whether it’s a

shallow complexion or unwanted

facial hair. Even the smallest

improvements boost confidence

and mood.

3

3. Skin Care Makes You More

Comfortable

Skin takes a beating. If you’ve ever tried sleeping

with a sunburn, you know that exposure to sun, wind,

rain, cold, and pollution can leave you feeling itchy,

dry and sore. Beauty care soothes the symptoms of

dryness and irritation, nourishing your skin, so it’s less

vulnerable to damage,

50


4Beauty Care is

Self-Care

We spend most of

our time working

and taking care of

others. But self-care

isn’t a dirty word, and the

few minutes we spend daily

pampering our skin can be

rejuvenating. If you can’t

take a vacation, treating

yourself to a facial is a relaxing

break. Estheticians give

clients permission to invest in

themselves through a range

of beauty care services that

have both restorative and

practical value.

BEAUTY

sun and pollution exposure can

change.

Minimizing negative effects

once they’ve occurred is

challenging. The key to beauty

is to start caring for skin early

so it’s in the best possible

condition as the years pass. Like

health problems, skin disorders

are easier to treat if they’re

addressed early.

Making Beauty Care

Successful

Clients want to look good for

more than special occasions;

they want it to last a lifetime. Here’s

how an esthetician can make it

happen.

Emphasize Early Beauty

Care

Skin evolves, and it takes consistent

care to keep it healthy. As we

age, skin becomes thinner and

cell renewal slows. Complexion

and texture morph over time as

sun damage takes its toll, and the

epidermis loses elasticity. Collagen

and elastin production wane as

we get older, causing sagging and

wrinkles, and lifestyle factors from

sleep, smoking and nutrition to

Encourage

Maintenance Services

Everyone deserves an

occasional spa day, but the

benefits of a single facial

don’t last forever. As beauty

professionals, estheticians

should educate their clients

about their skin and the

importance of ongoing

care, creating individualized

treatment plans that meet both

short- and long-term goals.

Estheticians can encourage

clients to schedule regular

appointments by pointing out

the many benefits of routine

care, including looking their best

every day. And many services,

such as hair removal, are

less irritating and costly when

performed regularly.


BEAUTY

NATURAL

LOCAL SKIN

CARE ROUTINES

YOU SHOULD

KNOW

By Sasha Bokamoso

After struggling with acne for over

half of my life, I recently tried

switching over completely to a

100% natural skin care routine.

Simple ingredients, homemade remedies,

many items you could probably find in

your grocery store. I can honestly tell

you without any hesitation that my skin

has never looked or felt better, and the

acne and scars I used to try and hide are

fading and gone.

It’s hard to believe that I spent years

buying product after product with fancy

ingredients to clear my skin, and the

answer ended up being the most simple,

inexpensive products I could find.

This natural skin care routine has

completely changed the way my skin

looks. No more acne, smaller pores,

smoother, more even complexion, and

I’ve actually saved money using these

simple, all-natural remedies!

I have discovered a few simple

ingredients… not products… but natural,

inexpensive ingredients that have been

a miracle for my skin. They work together

instead of against each other to clean,

heal, smooth, and moisturize my skin

better than anything I’ve ever found.

CLEANSERS

Traditional face cleansers are designed to

break down the oils in your skin, but often

end up breaking down the natural oils your

skin needs to maintain balance. If you

haven’t heard of the oil cleansing method,

the basic chemistry principal is that “like

dissolves like”.

Essentially you are cleaning your pores of

dirt and bacteria in a natural, gentle and

effective manner by replacing the dirty oils

with beneficial oils that can heal, protect

and nourish your skin.

HERE ARE THE

CLEANSERS I USE:

Hemp Seed Oil + Lavender:

Hemp seed oil is anti-inflammatory, which makes it a

great cleanser for acne prone skin, as well as eczema,

psoriasis and dermatitis.

It balances out oily skin without clogging pores, improves

and restores skin elasticity, and also has antioxidant

52


BEAUTY

2

1

properties that help regenerate new cells.

I mix 1 ounce of hemp seed oil with 10-12 drops

of lavender essential oil, which is also antibacterial,

anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and healing!

I keep the mixture in a little amber glass bottle with

a dropper, and use about a quarter size amount to

wash my face. I’ll use this in the evening to cleanse

before I go to sleep.

Raw Manuka Honey:

In the morning, I use honey to wash my

face. I know that sounds crazy, but it works!

I’ve already removed my makeup before I

went to bed, so all I need is a light, gentle

cleanser to get my skin ready for the day.

Raw Manuka honey is unprocessed and

unpasteurized (unlike what you normally

buy at the grocery store), so all the

beneficial nutrients and vitamins are kept

intact.

This honey contains superior antibacterial

and healing properties and is also very

nourishing and hydrating, but not great at

removing makeup, so stick to coconut oil

for that step.

Raw Manuka honey is a bit thicker than

normal honey, so you’ll need your skin to

be slightly wet to use this cleanser.


BEAUTY

3

Coconut Oil:

This oil has many of the same beneficial properties that

hemp seed oil has, but is generally not recommended for

oily skin because it can clog your pores. What coconut oil IS

perfect for is removing makeup!

It instantly dissolves any makeup I’m wearing, including

mascara and eye makeup that normally doesn’t wash off as

easily.

I’ll use the coconut oil first to remove my makeup at the

end of the day and follow up with the hemp seed oil

cleanser to make sure my skin is completely

clean, balanced and moisturized. I

recommend using liquid

coconut oil for two

reasons: 1) it is

easier to use

than solid

coconut oil

and 2) it is

less likely to

clog pores.

HOW TO USE CLEANSERS:

Massage a quarter size amount

of cleanser into dry skin (or damp

if using honey) for 1-2 minutes.

Wet a wash cloth with hot water

and place the cloth over your

face, letting the steam open your

pores for about a minute.

Gently wipe your skin to remove

any remaining cleanser or

makeup.

MASKS

Once a week I use a mask to

deep clean pores, exfoliate dead

skin, and rejuvenate my face.

Currently I rotate between these

two 100% natural clay masks:

54


BEAUTY

Dead Sea Mud Mask

with 100% Natural

French Green Clay:

Absorbs excess oils and impurities, tightens

pores, reduces acne and blackheads,

exfoliates, promotes blood circulation

to cells, balances skin for a matte

appearance, and also features jojoba oil,

aloe vera and vitamin E.

100% Natural Calcium

Bentonite Clay:

Deep pore cleansing and acne reducing. Unlike

the mud mask above, this comes in a powder

form and has to be mixed with either water or

apple cider vinegar (what I choose) to use.

I find this mask to be a little more intense while

it’s on, and my face is red for about 30 minutes

or so after I wash it off. I would recommend only

using it before you go to bed at night, but it

definitely gives good results.


ESCAPE

Locations In

Nigeria To

Celebrate

Independence

By Amenna Daayo

How did you spend

Independence Day last

year? The mall? Or perhaps

you are like me and didn’t go

anywhere and stayed indoors due

to the perception that all the fun

places would be packed full of

people.

Well, who says you have to

spend this independence holiday

in an eatery or mall? Here are the

top 10 locations in Nigeria that

you should consider.

A holiday is a special bonding

time for most families. The

connections and memories

formed during such family

adventures make for stories that

will last for generations. We can

also learn a lot from visiting new

environments and interacting

with people from different

backgrounds.

Here are a few of the most

beautiful places in Nigeria to visit

this Independence holiday.

Yankari Game

Reserve

One beautiful place in

Nigeria to take the family

is Yankari Game Reserve.

Located in Bauchi State,

the resort is home to several

natural warm water springs,

as well as the remaining

elephants and lions in

Nigeria. Be sure to take a

dive in the crystal clear

warm springs, get a view

of some wildlife, and your

family vacation is set to be a

memorable one.

56


Editor’s Pick

ESCAPE

Erin-Ijesha

Waterfalls

Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls

is a collection of seven

cascades that pour over a

cliff, creating an impressive

seven-part waterfall. Each

part forms seven different

levels with each level giving

a whole new experience.

With that said, Erin-Ijesha

waterfall is definitely a

beautiful place in Nigeria to

bring the family for a day out

of the city.

Awhum

Waterfalls

The Awhum Waterfall is

formed out of a massive

outcrop of granite rock

with water flowing at the

top, forming a stream. The

best time to visit is during

the rainy season so be

sure to pack comfortable

clothes and shoes and

be prepared to get a little

wet as you explore this

beautiful place in Nigeria.

Zuma Rock

Zuma Rock is a large

monolith near

Abuja. Sometimes

referred to as

the “Gateway

to Abuja from

Suleja”, Zuma

rock is a large

natural monolith

located

immediately

west of Nigeria’s

capital, Abuja.

Be sure to go

along with an

experienced hiker

when visiting this



ESCAPE

Idanre Hills

Idanre Hills is located in an

ancient city set upon a hill

in the city of Idanre Akure,

Ondo State. Ensure you take

the 682 steps it takes to get

to the top of the hill and bask

in the beautiful landscape of

the city with your family.

Mpape Crushed Rock

Mpape Crushed Rock is an abandoned quarry

in Abuja. This beautiful place in Nigeria is such

a picturesque location, perfect for a picnic with

the family, a photoshoot, or a refreshing hike.

Pack a basket, put on some comfortable shoes,

and head over to this scenic wonder.

Olumo Rock

Olumo rock is a massive

outcrop of granite rocks.

The rock is a historical

monument that served

as shelter for the locals

during intercity wars. If the

kids aren’t up for a hike

up the rock, there are

elevators available so they

can still have a look at this


58


ESCAPE

Lekki

Conservation

Centre

If you’re an animal-loving

family, Lekki Conservation

Centre is the perfect place

for you to visit. Take a walk

down the longest canopy

walkway in Africa, get a view

of the birds, monkeys, and

some endangered species

in the reserve.

Ikogosi Warm

Springs

A list of beautiful places in Nigeria

is incomplete without Ikogosi Warm

Springs, one of Nigeria’s major tourist

attractions. It’s a must to experience

the natural wonder of two springs

meeting while maintaining their

individual temperatures. Put on your

hiking shoes and get your camera

ready for an amazing adventure.

Obudu

Mountain

Resort

If you are a tourist looking

for adventure and tranquillity,

Obudu Mountain Resort is

for you. Known as Africa’s

finest and one of the most

beautiful places in Nigeria,

the resort is located in the

highlands and deep tropical

forests of Cross River State.

Enjoy the cable cars, canopy

walkways and so much more

with your family.


FOOD

The Perfect

Nigerian Jollof

Rice to Celebrate

Independence

2022

W

hat better way to celebrate Independence Day 2022 other

than with the one and only special Nigerian jollof rice. It is

Nigeria’s Independence celebration, so there is no need

for the debate on what to prepare – Nigerian or Ghanaian!

#smiles

What is Nigerian Jollof Rice?

Nigerian Jollof Rice is a rich and incredibly tasty West African one-pot Meal. It

is a very versatile dish, and it is usually made from scratch using Rice, Tomatoes,

Pimento peppers, Tomato paste, Scotch bonnet, Onions, Salt, and other spices.

Ingredients

• 5 medium sized Roma

tomatoes, roughly chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, roughly

chopped

• 1 medium sized onion,

roughly chopped, set aside

• 2 scotch bonnet peppers

(habanero peppers as they are

sometimes called)

• 1/4 cup of groundnut oil

• 3 tbsp tomato paste

• 2 cups of parboiled rice

• 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock

• 1 tsp salt to taste

• 1/2 tsp curry powder

• 1/2 tsp thyme

• 1 tsp All purpose seasoning

• 1 stock cube

• 3 bay leaves

• Water, as needed

Instructions

1. Blend your tomatoes, red

pepper, scotch bonnet peppers

in a food processor or blender for

about 45 seconds, make sure that

everything is blended well.

2. In a medium sized pot, heat

your oil on medium-high heat. Once

the oil is heated add the onions you

set aside and fry just until they turn

golden brown. Once the onions, have

turned brown in color add the tomato

paste and fry for 2-3 minutes. Then

add the blended tomato mixture

Words by Chef Amaka

60


FOOD

(reserve about 1/4 cup and set aside)

and fry the mixture with the onions and

tomato paste for about 30 minutes.

Make sure you stir consistently so that

the tomato mixture does not burn.

3. After 30 minutes, turn the

heat down to medium, and add

the chicken stock. Mix and add your

seasonings (salt, curry powder, thyme,

all purpose seasoning, and the Knorr

stock cube). Continue to boil for 10

minutes.

4. Add the parboiled rice to the

pot. Mix it very well with the tomato

stew. At this point if you need to add

water so that the rice is level with

the tomato mixture/chicken stock

go ahead and do so. Add the bay

leaves, cover the pot, and cook

on medium to low heat for 15-30

minutes.

5. When the liquid has almost

dried up, add the remaining tomato

stew, cover, and let it cook for another

5-10 minutes until the liquid has

completely dried up. Turn off the heat,

mix thoroughly, and your Jollof Rice is

ready to be eaten!

Notes

It is key to use parboiled rice so that

you don’t end up with mushy rice in the

end.

When cooking the tomato stew,

you can tell when it is done because

the oil will rise to the top. Also another

way to tell that is done is when the

bitter taste of the tomatoes has been

cooked out. The reason why you

reserve 1/4th of the tomato mixture

and add it at the end is because we

do not want the rice to burn. Also, it

gives the rice that beautiful red color

we all know and love.


for more exclusive content please visit


Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture, and Lifestyle Magazine.

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market,

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and

lifestyle culturing to Women.

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music,

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that

Informs, inspires, empowers, and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women.

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun-loving woman.

Let’s hold you by your hands into the world of fashion. Like and follow us on any of our

social media platforms.

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