WHEN REPUTATION TRUMPS EMPATHY

Image: Anaya Katlego for Unsplash

A memory came to my head a few days ago and stayed with me.

P I E C E S by Arunsi Othniel Fortune

Image: Mwangi Gatheca for Unsplash

I know what it's like being in your head.

Dark, cold, happy.

I know what it's like being in your soul.

Lit, warm, dead.

I know, what it's like to see right through your eyes.

Because we're both blind to a reality

where I had to sail across seas to find you, sinbad.

Heh, see I know that you're scared.

You're frightened by the waves and how much they've

Caught you, drowned you and made you lost, captain.

I THOUGHT I WAS A WITCH...

Children Accused of Witchcraft
Image: SAFE CHILD AFRICA.

I remember when I thought I was a witch. It was sometime in the year 2000 or 2001.

THE 30TH CHAPTER

Images: TonTon Raymond

I am 30 years old today! Whoot whoot!

I MESSED UP...AND I WISH I CAN UNDO IT.

I was heading home on November 6, 2018, when my sister called me to get her some juice. It was about 8:50pm and I was really tired. I told her I wouldn’t do it but when I got to my junction, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get her the juice. 

PUBLIC RESTROOMS NEED TO CHANGE

Image: Sarcasm

I am constantly baffled when I use restrooms in public spaces that have only tissue paper. 

But let me backtrack a bit.

₦50 NOTE: HOW TO GET AWAY FROM THE POLICE

Corrupt policeman collecting N50 bribe. 

The Nigerian Police... Hmm.

I really think that we should discuss the things that are happening on our roads, especially as it affects motorists who have to deal with the policemen stationed at various checkpoints along these roads.

THREE COURSE MEAL by Tonton Nelson Raymond

Image: Ovayo Ntlabati for Unsplash

Lot of these guys talk much about how "shawty look like a snack"
But I think you look like a three course meal.
It doesn't matter if I do, or don't mind
A little belly fat is still fine
God is a tattoo artist and stretch marks are his design
You're not just a barbecue, you came with sides.
Peeking out of your hijab
These things are hard to hide

ANNOUNCING: 'QUICK-E'

One of the best things about Africa is how diverse the people, cultures and traditions, food, clothing, values and beliefs, and what makes us African is. From the horn of Africa to the swamps of the Niger delta, we are as different a people as the topography of our regions are. Despite our difference, it is safe to say that we are the most beautiful people on the planet!

SHALL I COMPARE YOU, WOMAN?

African woman.
Image taken by Martin Kirigua for Pexels.com

By Abigail Abby Abok

Woman,

Shall I compare you to a giant sequoia?

You are stouter and more reverent.

For trees once stood where skyscrapers now do

And winds do strip forest of tough trees.

You, most precious creature, flourish amidst the flaming fires of society's limitations,

Defy expectations

And resist the pestilence of inferior classification.

THE DWAYNE PROJECT

Beautiful Space Wallpaper
Image: Eliosh

'Life' scared the shit out of her. She knew that NASA and a host of scientists were really testing the possibilities of life on other planets. She also knew that for life to exist on any of these planets, they would have to be super intelligent and greatly evolved.

That wasn't what scared her.

WOMEN DO NOT FEAR GETTING ROBBED.

Trying to stop an attack
Image: Vox

They fear getting raped.

Play this scenario in your head.

UNSUNG HEROES: MAI RUWA

A typical Mai Ruwa with his truck. 
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Due to a failure of government to meet basic infrastructural necessities like constant power supply, running water, good health care and quality education for its citizens, many people are constantly having to provide these necessities for themselves. In fact, it has become quite normal for households to provide their own water and electricity and pay exorbitant fees for quality education and healthcare for themselves and their families.

WEDDING MESSAGES HAVE TO CHANGE

Image: Wedding Planner Coach

I was at a wedding recently and as usual, was frustrated with the wife-centred message that came from most of the preachers at the event.

A couple of things stuck out like thumbs dipped in palm oil and I knew I just had to talk about it.

First, one of the preachers - someone you can tell is old fashioned - spoke a lot about the role a wife should play, which, if you attend many weddings, is submissive. I was not surprised by his message; I had heard it one too many times. What surprised me was a statement he made as he rounded up his message. 

A WAKE UP 'KONK' ON MY BIG HEAD

Ramat (AKA the Crazy One)

I woke up this morning and as usual, I went online to get a sense of what happened in the hours that I slept.

As I scrolled through Twitter, I basked in more stories about Beychella, was super proud of K.Dot's Pulitzer, lost my cool at hearing of Cole's album – which drops on April 20, 2018 – and got shocked out of my shoes by the fact that Joe Burden put his pettiness aside to compliment Nicki's Chun Li.

You can say I had a roller coaster morning.

It was as I was going through these emotions that I stumbled on a tweet that made me bolt upright.

Here is Why You should Subscribe to My Channel…Even though it is a Mess Now

My Vlog. Sigh.

I started my video log in early 2016 as a way to put a face to my online persona and hopefully reach more people. But it wasn’t until I got a rude awakening at the end of 2015 that I began to think of my vlog.

Settle in. I’ve got gist.

THE BIRTH OF A PODCAST

Crystal Starr with a Microphone
GIF: Giphy

February 7, 2013. Time, 5:25pm.

I was in the ‘corpers’ lodge thinking of what I was going to have for dinner. I was low on cash and had been pretending I was on a fruit diet. That day however, I knew I couldn’t eat one more piece of fruit without going stark raving mad.

As I pondered on whether to get Indomie or go to another corps member’s room to stylishly ‘beg’ for food, my phone rang.

‘What are you doing?’

THE HOPES OF A MAGAZINE…THE REALITY OF A BLOG.

I always wanted to own a magazine.

UNVEILING THE NEW SHADES OF US

SZA with the mood
Credit: Giphy

Hello You!

Let me formally introduce Shades of Us.

SEEKING VALIDATION OUTSIDE MYSELF

It has been a little over 40 days since I last put up any content on my blog, podcast or video log. In reality, it has been longer than 40 days since I wrote anything for my blog and even longer since I had a new video on my YouTube channel.

So what was the problem? Why did I abandon my babies for more than 40 days?

Love on the Brain and Everything We Didn’t Do Last Week

Hey you!

Last week was super slow! I mean, snails achieved more than we did last week. But…thing were uber tight at our 9 to 5 and we just couldn’t deal. 

ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, QUEEN LATIFAH’S U.N.I.T.Y AND CLOSING LONG DISTANCES

Hey Roommates!

This past week has been…extra! We almost wanted to hide under a rock for a few days. Of course we couldn’t find a rock that would serve us breakfast in bed, with strawberry dipped in chocolate and masseuses kneading all the knots and kinks out of our very weary shoulders and body. So…we worked!

LONG DISTANCE (THE FINALE)

Two people in a long distance relationship are trying to find each other. An unexpected turn of events tear them apart when they finally do. And it keeps pulling them apart until…they find themselves here. This is the final story. There were three others before this. (Read here, here and here to understand the story...or continue on here 👇)

Adon Kato heard the loud voices as she gradually slipped out of consciousness. Where was she? And why were they yelling?

On Bad Fathers, Body Shaming and Eminem’s New Song Featuring Beyoncé

Hey hey!

 

So this is coming a bit late in the day but it is here! 

How was your week? We hope it was as full and fun as ours was? ‘What did we do?’ you ask. A lot…even if we say so our self.

ON GETTING OLDER, FUTURE FAMILIES, CREATING RECORDS AND ADAPTING TO CULTURE SHOCKS

Hi people!

How have you been?!

So starting this week, we want to try something. Thing is, we tried before but got quite lazy and it never hit the ground running. We know; shame!

Anyway, starting today, we will be doing an overview of all the posts we shared the previous week and what the new week will feel like.

Excited?! So let’s get to it.

RUNNING WITH A PURPOSE 2017

We are excited to announce that we will be attending the second Running With a Purpose Conference organized by Save our Women (SOW) Foundation in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

UNSUNG HEROES: TRASH COLLECTORS

A while back, I wrote a series of tweets addressed to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment about a refuse dump at a community in Abuja called Karu.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Dear Friend,

I need your help and I would appreciate it if you took time to read this post. So…thank you in advance for obliging me.

I was seated in church – The Diplomats’ Centre in Kaduna – a few days ago when I noticed some people close to me.

SMOKE SCREENS AND FIRE

Have you ever had a false rumor spread about you? I have. Twice that really hurt me. And it wasn’t good.

The very first time was when I was in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3.

INCREASING NUMBER OF AGBEROS IN OUR COMMUNITIES

‘Nyanya here! Nyanya one person!’

‘Ikeja along, Mangoro, Iyana Ipaja, Igando! Ikeja along, Mangoro, Iyana Ipaja, Igando wole wole!’

‘Yola, Yola, Yola! Shiga da changey! Yola, Yola, Yola!’

‘Sabo! Sabo! Sister come enter this bus. E done full!’

‘One chance to Enugu! Come enter direct moto go Enugu!’

These are some of the calls you hear when you are at motor parks in many cities in Nigeria. For the most part, these calls are not made by bus conductors as they are popularly referred to. They are made by young men – agberos if you may – hanging around such parks.

So…here is the scenario.