Mirror: An intriguing and captivating movie

 

Movie Title: Mirror (Jigi)

Genre: Drama

Running Time: 1hr: 30mins

Starring: Adeniyi Johnson, Deborah Ogunsola, Rotimi Salami, Peters Ijagbbemi, Aina Gold, Owolabi Ibrahim

Mirror is a beautifully crafted and intriguing movie where viewers are served with heart touching scenes stemming from the resilience of a young man who defiled all odds to achieve his dreams.

Set in Lagos Nigeria, Mirror typifies the tenacity and industriousness in many Nigerian youths who despite many obstacles strive to achieve success in a legal way.

When Toke (Deborah Ogunsola), a young successful media executive meets Jare (Adeniyi Johnson) a dropout newspaper vendor, they both had no clue the meeting was going to change their lives for the better.

He never knew that she was going to have an impact on him to achieve his dream of becoming a graduate and little did she know that his advise will be invaluable to unraveling the misery behind her father's ill health. 

The plot of the movie is well put together. The simplicity of the dialogue, good subtitling,nice cinematic overlay and real depiction of friendship sweetens the movie flavour.

The conflict of the movie does not end like a typical Nigerian movie as Toke and Jare did not end up as lovers despite touching each other's life, instead they became great friends reminding us that true friendship can happen between a man and a woman with no strings attached.

Mirror is a must see movie. It is educating, inspiring, thought provoking, and full of life lessons.

Click the link below to watch https://youtu.be/AwJzAM7up_g

From Shambles To FA Cup Champions

Arsenal won the English FA cup for a record fourteenth time after seeing off Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

Two goals in each half from their prolific striker and captain Aubameyang ensured Arsenal came out on top after going behind in just under 5 minutes through a Christian Pulisic strike.

Who would have thought that the gunners who had a season to forget after finishing eight on the log would rescue it with a trophy?

This victory automatically qualifies Arsenal for a place in the group stage of the Europa league. This wouldn’t have been possible if they had lost to their London rivals.

Arteta has done a fantastic job since replacing Unai Emery in December. Arsenal suddenly looks like a team with structure under the tutelage of the Spaniard.

The doom and gloom hovering over the Emirates has suddenly been replaced with hope in just under 8 months. Surely, there is more to come from Arteta if given the necessary backing from the Kronkes and the board.

Chelsea, Arsenal’s London neighbours will feel hard done by with this defeat after succumbing by the same scoreline in the final in 2017.

The FA cup should not cast away the many problems facing Arsenal. They are a long way off from competing with Liverpool and Manchester City. So many average players needs to be moved on and proven winners brought in.

For the fourth season in a roll, Arsenal has failed to qualify for the UEFA champions league. If this must be prevented from happening again next season, those who call the shot at Arsenal must make the right decision in recruitment of talents and also committing their best players like Aubameyang to a long time contract.

For now, the FA cup victory has lifted the spirit of the Emirates club and that of their fans. Can they build on it next season? Time will tell.

Will BankyW and Adesua prove us Wrong

Initially perceived as a publicity stunt, BankyW's engagement to Adesua Etomi has finally seen the light of the day.

Arguably the loudest ever witnessed in the entertainment industry, BankyW's engagement to Adesua wowed a lot of people especially those that saw the chemistry between the duo in Kemi Adetiba's award winning movie, The Wedding Party.

The glitz and glamour of the star studded traditional wedding ceremony which took place in Lagos on Sunday 19th November 2017 will be talked about for a long time to come just like the eagerly anticipated white wedding which date is yet to be disclosed.

While the world awaits Adetiba's sequel to the wedding party' BankyW and Adesua have already replicated in real life their roles in the Wedding Party and it remains to be seen if they are truly meant for each other.

Fears are rife in many quarters that their union may go the way of other failed celebrity marriages in the country considering their background, school of thought, profession and association.

The tag of infidelity which is the genesis of many failed union among our celebrities still hovers around and could use their profession to pull them apart if allowed.

Family, friends and colleagues could be a blessing to their union if properly handled but sometimes it could be the other way in the Nigerian setting if allowed to over pry.

The media has generated some revenue from this union since the day they decided to go public and same media will beam its searchlight on the family asking questions from time to time.

It is a stale news that Toyin Abraham (formerly Toyin Aimakhu) and Adeniyi Johnson have parted ways, but theirs is one out of many celebrity marriages that have left bitter taste in our mouths.

Can BankyW and Adesua prove us wrong and stem this worrisome tide?  Time will tell.

Adieu Prof. Akinwumi Isola, Another Literary Icon is Gone

Death has struck again. This time, it took away Professor Akinwumi Isola, one of Nigeria’s foremost literary icon.

Barely a month for the drums to roll out in celebration of the 79^th birthday of this renowned playwright, actor, culture activist and literary scholar, death had its own plans, plucking him away after a prolonged battle with illness.

Who would have thought that an ‘elephant’ like Akinwumi Isola will fall in hundred years? Who would have imagined that this literary giant who promoted Yoruba culture beyond the shores of Nigeria will answer the call of death at a time when his wisdom is needed most in our socio-political space?

For Professor Akinwumi Isola, death should not be proud because he lived a purposeful life, made his mark and left an indelible mark that would forever be remembered.

Born on Christmas day in 1939 in a remote village in Labode near Ibadan, little did the young Akinwumi and his parents know that his fame will traverse the length and breadth of Ibadan to the world. From his Primary Education at Labode Methodist School to Wesley College where he had his Secondary Education, he defied all odds against his background, mapping out for himself a path to greatness.

Akinwumi was so focused that at undergraduate level at the University College Ibadan, he wrote his first play Efunsetan Aniwura which later became a classic masterpiece culmilating in numerous award for him both home and abroad.

He did not stop there. Oleku, another timeless piece followed in 1986. It is on record that forty thousand people turned out to watch it staged live. Kosegbe, Saworoide, Campus Queen and others followed in the process of time helping him cement his place in the literary circle.

His foray into the academics started as a Graduate Assistant at University of Lagos after bagging a B.A in French language at the University of Ibadan and M.A in Yoruba Literature at the University of Lagos. He would later move to University of Ife where in 1991 he became a professor.

So profound was his love for art and culture that he took a dive into broadcasting, creating a production company that turned many of his plays into television dramas and films. Most of his works were later adapted into films by the veteran cinematographer, Tunde Kelani. 

‘Baba Agba’ as he is fondly called by his children is credited for writing and composing the college anthem still been used by his alma mater (Wesley College) till date.

A fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and a visiting professor at the University of Georgia, Prof. Akinwumi undeniably made his mark, projecting the Yoruba culture beyond the ancient town of Ibadan and Nigeria. 

He may have taken his last breath on Saturday February 17, 2018 but his lagacies will ensure that his name is mentioned in the same breath as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, JP Clark and other literary greats.

Adieu Prof! The cock has crow behind a man of letters, a literary icon, a teacher and preserver of culture.

Making the most of 2020

This is 2020! Who are you going out with? Who's your role model? Who are your friends? What are you doing? How are you doing it? What movies and music are you seeing/listening to?

What are you reading? How early do you get out of your bed each morning? What kind of calls do you make/receive & how long do you stay on those calls?

How much time do you 'waste' daily flipping from one social media platform to the other, and what exactly do you achieve from these platforms?

Are you willing to let go of some friends, relationships social apps, habits, interests, lifestyles and commit to learning some new skills and positive habits?

If you're expecting a breakthrough and massive success on a platter of gold, I am afraid, you're on a long thing. You have to give up or do something that would cause or give you some discomfort in order to move to the next level in life.

Your answers to above questions will determine who and what you'd be by December 2020, so the choice is yours!

May the Almighty strengthen us enough to make the hard choices that will propel us into the next level of success.

Goodbye 2019

Goodbye to a decade of learning
Goodbye to a year of continuous tests
Goodbye to looking back at the past
Goodbye to trying to be somebody whom i don't recognize
Goodbye to crying and frustrations
Goodbye to heartbreaks and back stabs
Goodbye to feelings of hopelessness
Goodbye to being a support to ingrates
Goodbye to staying stuck in situations
Goodbye to feelings of hatred
Goodbye to all the known comfort zones
Goodbye to sadness and loneliness
Goodbye to friends and family who don't resonate with the real person within
Goodbye to lost loves and overachieved goals
Goodbye to negativity and sarcasm
Goodbye to that which no longer serves my growth
Goodbye to old enslaving mindsets
Goodbye to old skins and masks

Saying goodbyes is never easy
However the pleasure of saying "Hello" to new beginnings makes those goodbyes much more pleasant.

Wishing you all a very happy new year filled with love, peace, good health and landslide achievements.

Credit:

Punamjyoti Dessai

Spitting in public: A menace on the rise

                                           Google Image

The act of spitting is common place all over the world. At one point or the other, people feel the urge to eject saliva or other substances from their mouth. But while this act is discreetly done by cultured individuals, others throw caution to the winds, spitting carelessly in public.

In Nigeria, especially in Lagos, spitting in public has become a worrisome trend. The streets of Lagos is today not only filled with garbage but also messed up with spit which can be visibly seen on the road, sidewalks, pedestrian bridge etc.

Ikeja which is one of the commercial nerve of Lagos state ranks high in this disgusting act. Hardly can you walk through Allen Avenue, Toyin Street, Adeniyi Jones, Alausa to mention a few without seeing human saliva in open space.

The rate at which Lagosians spit with reckless abandon leaves much to be desired. Many may not know that diseases such as tuberculosis, flu virus,bacteria etc.can be contracted through this disgusting, repulsive, unhygienic, and anti-social behaviour.

I foresee a time when people will start altering their stride to avoid stepping in other peoples spit.

Lagos at this point in time may have to emulate countries like China and Singapore who imposed heavy fine on individuals who spit in public.

Health conditions may necessitate that people eject saliva from their mouth but doing so in public is not the way to go. This is what tissues and hankies are meant for.

The Lagos State Government is presently doing all it can to get rid of garbage on the highways, streets and slum, but spitting in public is another menace that demands urgent attention before it gets out of hand.

Mercy Eke: Banishing the ghost of past BBN winners

Mercy Eke

The dust has settled since Mercy Eke emerged winner of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality television show tagged 'Pepper Dem' but expectations are high of the Imo State born video vixen.

It would be recalled that Mercy carted home a total of N60 million, including N30 million cash, N25 million worth of Innoson Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), a trip to Dubai among other prizes after beating off competition from 25 other contestants.

But beyond the money and prizes won, she is now a celebrity and endorsement deals have started rolling in from every side.

However, will Mercy name still ring a bell when the next winner of BBNaija season 5 emerge?

Fears are rife that she may sink into oblivion just as past winners of the reality TV show.

Katung Aduwak, Efe Ejeba and Miracle Igbokwe who won season 1 to 3 respectively are names we no longer hear about considering the high expectation that greeted their triumph.

Mercy though looks like a different proposition going by her deeds since she was crowned winner.
She has set up her clothing line, signed endorsement deals with Innoson Vehicle, Just Furniture and paid partnership deal with Ciroc Codka.

This is a good start bearing in mind that it's just over 3 months since she was crowned winner but more is expected of her to remain relevant.

She has all it takes to make her mark especially in the entertainment industry if she wants to toe that line. Her physical attributes and personality which endeared many to her during the show can be leveraged on for better acceptance. 

It is however imperative for her to stay of scandal, honour her endorsement deals, properly manage her love interest and get involved in charitable works through setting up a foundation. 

Over the years, winners of the show have always fallen short of expectations. In their stead, runners  up have hold sway. Ebuka and Bisola are shining examples in  this light. Can Mercy banish the ghost that has haunted past winners into oblivion? Time will tell.

D’tigers Dismantle Silverbacks Of Uganda In Afrobasket

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers, recorded their second successive win in Afrobasket 2015, coasting to a comfortable 98-59 victory against debutants Uganda.

Chamberlain Oguchi continued his impressive outing in Rades, notching up 30 points and eight rebounds, with Al-Farouk Aminu complimenting with 14 points.

Proceedings was halted for over two minutes (2.17secs) in the final quarter after Stanley Okoye missed what could have been the dunk of the tournament and ended up smashing the backboard. An hour-long break – to replace the backboard – followed before the west Africans closed out an emphatic win.
The Ugandans have now lost all of their two matches at the tournament with the Central African Republic awaiting in their final group match on Sunday. Uganda’s Stephen Omwony finished with a team-high 20 points.

The Silverbacks had their best run for just the opening 35 seconds of the match, before Oguchi siezed initiatives.
Uganda converted just 48 percents of their efforts from the free-throw line and 31 percent of their field-throw attempts; much lower than Nigeria’s 77% to 48% free-throws to field goals differential.

D’Tigers will be back on Sunday in the long-awaited Group A cracker against hosts and defending Champions, Tunisia, who take on the CAF later on Friday.


-Nairaland News

Big Brother Africa 2015 cancelled

It seems Africa’s number one reality TV Show Big Brother Africa may not hold this year following speculations that the organizers of the show, Africa Magic and Endemol have failed to get sponsorship for this year’s edition of the show.

The Manager of Multichoice Ghana, Anne Sackey confirmed to peganews that they at Multichoice Ghana have received notice from MNET .She said though they did not give them any reasons as to why they will not be doing the Big Brother this year, but then, she personally thinks it’s due to sponsorship constraints.

Disappointing news for Big Brother Africa fans.



-HotFM 98.3