Beyonce on Loving Your Man and Being A Feminist?

Beyonce came into the spotlight as a member of girl power pop group, Destiny's Child, with several female empowerment anthems, including Independent woman and survivor. In the past couple of years she has also released Who Run the World, Girls! and If I were a Boy. However, when it comes to being labelled a feminist, Beyonce replies;

That word can be very extreme… But I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I’m just a woman and I love being a woman. I do believe in equality and that we have a way to go and it’s something that’s pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept. But I’m happily married. I love my husband.

Personally, I also feel a twinge for Atala when I go off on my feminism rants, especially on DV and Rape, but at the end of the day, I know he shares most of my feelings on inequality, though his may go beyond how it affects just women. Another point I wonder is if Feminism needs to be redefined? What do you think? Should there be a conflict between loving a man and standing for equality for women?

What Does God Fearing Mean to You?

I often wonder about this term when people mention it as part of what they're looking for in their potential spouses. I can understand wanting a Christian, or someone who shares your faith, denomination, or even the church you already attend. Those, I think, are easier to recognize. The same as saying you want someone with good moral values, or the same values as you.

But seriously, God fearing has me lost for practical steps to advice someone on what to look out for. So this is me asking for pointers, not trying to say this is a good thing or a bad thing to have in one's requirements for a partner. On general terms, I actually think it's a good thing if this means the person has a strong ethical and moral core. But if it means the person spends 100% of their free time in church, that may not be so cheering if I intend to share a relationship with them outside of the church.

What does God fearing mean to you, and how will you recognise it when you see it, or if you already are in a relationship where you found a God fearing man, can you please share how this quality can be translatable in real life?

Dear Myne - My Dad is not helpful to my Mother?

I'm 23. Finished NYSC last month. I'm not working yet. My sisters and I are hardly at home, because of school. My parents are by themselves much of the time. Mum's 53, Dad is 60. They can't do everything by themselves; each time any of returns, there's a backlog of chores to do.

My parents have been married over 23 years. I'd call it a typical Nigerian/African marriage; never saw them do anything romantic. My parents belong to the old order; Dad does not touch housework. Dad and mum are lecturers, yet my mum doubles as housewife.

We discussed the matter, mum and I, at length. I encouraged her to talk to my father. She did. He helped her heft water buckets into the house, fill the water filter for one week and that was all! When he saw that water-fetching was hardwork, he made arrangements to have water run in the house. There hasn't been any improvement since then months ago.

Omawumi on Being A Single Parent and Dating

Omawumi was on Rubbin Minds with Ebuka Obi Uchendu recently promoting her new album. The part I loved best was where she talked about backing her baby and hawking stuff if need be, and then how she held Ebuka at bay on the status of her dating life, or whether she was in a relationship. She comes across as very refreshingly down to earth.

My Oga at the Top - Mr Obafaiye Shem Has Been Replaced

The man behind the Oga at the top meme, Mr. Obafaiye Shem, has been removed from his office as the commandant of the Lagos state branch of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps. He was replaced by Mr. Adesuyi Clement from Oyo State Command.

The Commandant General of NSCDC, the Oga at the top that Shem was referring to, Dr. Olu Abolurin, introduced the new Commandant to journalists as he addressed the alleged killing of two of his officers by some policemen in Lagos over the Easter weekend. He did not give reasons for Mr Shem’s removal.

All I can say is that, at least the guy was not suspended or sacked.

Blast From the Past - Hubert Ogunde and His Wives

Herbert Ogunde and 8 of his Wives

Hubert Adedeji Ogunde was born in Ososa, near Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria (31 May 1916 – 4 April 1990). He was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the Ogunde Concert Party in (1945), the first professional theatrical company in Nigeria. He has been described as "the father of Nigerian theatre, or the father of Nollywood. Hubert Ogunde is one of the few Nigerian actors who have starred in international productions. He featured in Mister Johnson, the 1990 motion picture shot on location in Jos, that also had Pierce Brosnan in it.

Hubert Ogunde was also famous for being a polygamist, he had 12 wives, 8 of whom were part of this theatre productions. They were featured in the American Ebony Magazine of October 1969, and the following pictures are from there.

How to Make Okra with Tomato Stew - Eat With Amala

There are the usual draw soups that I grew up with, Okro cooked into a sauce with vegetables, like the one I made with Ogbono, here. And then there's the okro I discovered when I was a bit older, and more common with southwest or Yoruba cooking. You prepare your tomato stew as usual [see recipe], and then you cut or blend your okro, and then mix both into a soup.

I am lucky to get very good okro at our local grocery store where it's cut and frozen fresh. So for a change of menu, I use it with tomato stew every once in a while.

Ingredients

Cut or blended fresh Okra
Broth if you have some
1/2 of a small sized onion
1 Fresh pepper
1 Knorr chicken cube
Salt to taste.

Stephnora Still in Love With Jim Iyke is Entertainment - Joy Bewaji

"I am still in love with Jim Iyke. Jim was and is still the best friend I've ever had. He was not just around, he was there as a friend, brother, lover, companion. He was always there. He understood me"- Stephnora Okere.

My Facebook friend Joy Bewaji got me laughing when she said of this news from Linda's Blog,

*Ehen! This is the kind of thing I want to be hearing in Nollywood. Keep it steamy, guys! Go get your man, Stephnora: Tell that plane to stop; throw the doors open; grab your stilettoes; run throw the open space (please get that slow motion effect- very important), and go get your man! Kiss him with all that is in you; and if you listen to your heart you'll hear Whitney Houston's "I'll always love you" playing. Yay!!!*

She goes on to say, "when a woman comes out to confess she's still in love with her ex...that is brave...and that is awesome entertainment!" That actually made me laugh out loud. What do you guys say?

Will You Enroll Your Children in This School?

Inroll Your, Child. Horry Up Now

I know a lot of parents prefer schools of the same faith, so they'll be happy this is a Christian School, and with a name like City of Wisdom, you can be sure your children will become wise just by stepping into that school premises. So don't delay, if you live in the area \, check them out immediately!

Two Nigerians Win the Women in Science Partnership Award

Francisca Okeke

Two Nigerian female scientists have bagged the UNESCO-L’Oreal “Women in Science Partnership" award according to the News Agency of Nigeria, for their contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the country.

The awardees were recognised in the “Laureates and fellows" categories in Paris.

Prof. Francisca Okeke, the first female Head of Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka bagged the 2013 Laureate award for her significant contributions to the scientific study climate change.

She was the only recipient in that category from Africa and the Arab nations and the third Nigerian Laureate since the UNESCO-L’Oreal partnership was established in 1998.

Four others also got awards in the Laureate category with each representing Europe, Latin America, North America and the Asia Pacific regions.

The second Nigerian award recipient, Dr Eucharia Nwaichi, an environmental bio-chemist from the University of Port Harcourt joined 15 other young scientists in the “International Fellows" category.