When Foreign Relations Break Down - Nigeria and South Africa

 Unity and Faith - VS - Diverse People Unite 

I saw some of the discussions on one of my BB groups yesterday with someone making an aside comment going something like "South Africa must go" with reference to the GMG most of us are more familiar with. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on but it seems that tensions escalated overnight with Nigeria practicing a reciprocal or tit for tat model of diplomacy.

I hear that the South African Government threw the first punch when they deported more than 100 Nigerians (all the passengers in an Arik Air to SA flight - including a Senator) for having “fake Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificates”. The Nigerian Government retaliated by sending back 25 South Africans on all the incoming flights yesterday, the number has increased to 44 so far.

Faith that Moves Mountains - Woman Prays away Tornado

I couldn't help the goosebumps I had while watching this video. Maybe I wouldn't have stood outside like that, but yeah, I believe in that kind of faith and prayer. My heart goes out to the people who have lost friends and family, or their homes and business, to the rage of tornadoes sweeping across the USA.

May those who have died, rest in peace. Hope blogger peeps are doing OK. Take care, everyone.

Real Life Inspired my Books - Adauzo Uba (Guest Author)

Adauzo Ijeoma Uba is originally from Nigeria though born in London. When she remembers growing up in Enugu, she recalls lots of good memories. She schooled in the Eastern part of Nigeria where she comes from before moving with her husband to live in Lagos. She is currently in London studying to have her doctorate in counselling and psychology. She says she is a staunch Christian but tries not to discriminate against others. As much as possible she lives by the teachings of her faith which is unconditional love for all, and forgiveness. Adauzo has recently published three books to help in her counselling work and in this interview, she talks about the books and what inspires her.

She Was My First Love

Just like the queen of the night oozes its fragrance at night time, reminding it of a day that was beautiful and giving it hope of another beautiful tomorrow, so is this story of mine. A story of two young minds, finding a common understanding and appreciating the value of friendship, togetherness and love. Even though the forces of nature sometimes destroy the beauty of the world, we still appreciate the times that we were happy and thank God for giving us the good old memories to muse over and merry in.

The age was seven and the class was primary two. Significant things, difficult to forget happened that year. It was the first and only time I topped the class, it was the first and only time I won a prize and it was the first and only time I had an almost perfect friend and lost her.

Nollywood and Career Women - Married But Living Single

The promo for a new movie has started making the rounds and after watching the preview, I had to ask the question, is it so terrible for a woman to be ambitious in her career? Now, I know that career women everywhere face greater challenges in terms of work-life balance and probably the Nigerian career women is more of a new breed and this has made it even harder for her. However, I think our society has to begin to cut career women some slack, and actually start celebrating those who, though not perfect, are able to find a middle ground between work and family.

One of my problems with Nollywood is they're overly biased. And it galls me now that the so-called "New Nollywood" might not be much better. I don't know how many of you watch Nollywood, I do sometimes, and I can tell you that the preponderance of female roles are negative. From young prostitutes, to irresponsible mothers, to wicked mothers-in-Law, to old witches. Isn't art supposed to be a reflection of reality? New Nollywood may look good, but they have to stop this tradition of skewing the Nigerian reality if they intend to stay the course in standing out.

See the official trailer and Synopsis for Married but Living Single below.

More of Iconic Chicago - Cruising through the Fog

Is it obvious yet that I have Chicago on my mind? Or maybe it's just another vacation I'm hankering after. I'm thinking DC this time, but who know? Well, enjoy these pictures from our summer '09 in Chicago.

I Love You by Praiz - Romance Meets Music

This is another feature in the new series where I'll be sharing the music videos of love songs I'm feeling. Praiz, is an upcoming vocalist and musician, and while I think he's cute, I don't know about the beard. Maybe that's part of his allure for some people. I do love the smooth R&B vibe in this particular song, and the chemistry between Praiz and his lady is heart-warming. The video was shot in Johannesburg and that's probably one of the reasons the image/sound is so crisp and clear. Not saying such production is not possible in Nigeria, but.. Anyway, this song is now on my playlist, and I found the lyrics too, sweet :)

Ladies, Beware the Suitor Con - Guest Post by Chinwe Obi

This is indeed a tough one for me to comprehend as I still cannot fathom the extent to which a full grown healthy man can go to extract some good money out of an innocent, unsuspecting and most times desperate single lady. This is my story as it happened to me, hence the need to warn my fellow single ladies.

I attend one of the very popular and fast growing churches in the city of Lagos, been there for a very long time and have given up the hope of marrying from there as my thinking was that most of these guys have actually confirmed their insecurity because most of the single ladies in the same age brackets as these guys are better off financially, so they are afraid to even start up a conversation in most cases due to the fear of rejection. As a result of this, I decided to start visiting other churches and one of these churches won my heart by the way and manner they conduct things and I decided to stick with it for a while.

Can Women Propose to Men Without Saying the Words?

A couple of posts by fellow bloggers got me thinking about Leap day and that obscure Irish tradition where a lady can ask a man to marry her on this day that only occurs once every four years. Fragile Looks says she's feeling stressed, and what does the doctor order? Get Married! As if. As if it's so easy to get married, right?

I can just imagine a woman walking down the street with a placard around her neck saying, "Marry Me?", until a man stops her and takes her to the nearest priest or registry. Or, she'll barge into her neighborhood bar and pick up the first guy her eyes land on. I hope you're imagining this happening in Nigeria? What do you think will happen after that?

Nigerian Power Couples - The Secrets to their Long-lasting Marriages

What has really kept them together this long? Does having lasting relationships have anything to do with working together? These couples are in the spotlight and contrary to the notion that celebrity marriages don’t last, these ones have been able to weather the storm. Probably there could be some peculiar observations that we can make.

Married for 10years+

Fela and Tara Durotoye: Fela is a motivational speaker and business coach and Tara is an Entrepreneur. Need we say more about how they help and complement each other? This is what Fela Said to Tara on their fourth wedding anniversary :

“I am committed to working with God to bring out the best you that God has put in you. I am determined on seeing all of God’s dreams for you come to pass. Today, it’s House of Tara, in a short while, the WORLD OF TARA would soon become a reality, the multi-national empire that reveals the real beauty in every woman from the four corners of the world.”