tansali paparazzi

                                                   maturity is not how old one is but how sensible & reasonable one can be in any situation or any circumstances one  finds oneself. there are situations that come our way, which we are supposed to handle logically but because of  lack of maturity we blow it up & then hide our faces in shame. the capability to handle situations with atmost clarity & non-biased method is a great ability indeed.

                                                  nikky is a beautiful lady in her early twenties, a graduate of economics working with a travel agency, she opted to stay on her own so she left her parents' home & rented a beautiful apartment in a high brow viccinity, she could afford it because she was well paid. she had a neighbour, who was a handsome bachelor, she didn't take notice of him till she had been there for  three  months. one day she came back early from work & as she was struggling with the groceries she bought on her way home trying to open her door, the neigbour came to her assistance.

                                                 from that day onwards nikky & her male neighbour mr richards became acquanted. nikky had a fiance who was based in abuja while she worked in lagos, though the plan was that after their marriage she would relocate to abuja to be with him. mr richards her neighbour was a great womaniser, he had all kinds of ladies coming to  visit him, most often the neighbours are disturbed by ladies shouting & fighting themselves over mr richards in his apartment, the sounds of breaking glasses & items are heard in such cases.   he was indeed a known incurable womaniser & he was aware & so proud of it.

                                                 nikky kept to her own most times, when she comes back from work early she rents some movies to keep her busy, her fiance comes every forthnight to be with her & she goes to abuja to visit when she finds time off work. mr richards her neighbour took interest in her & started woeing her, she told him she was already engaged, but he persisted, she told him she could not cheat on her fiance, mr richards couldn't accept NO & kept pestering her, hoping she would succumb to his advances, but she stood her ground.  

                                                          mr richards could not take the fact that a handsome man like him could be rejected by a woman, he was  too proud to accept a no from a woman. when he realised that she truly meant her no, he decided to plot some evil against her for rejecting his advances. he had taken note of when nikky's fiance comes to visit, so he mapped out a plan & decided to hatch it on that day just to pay nikky back for rejecting him.

                                          nikky took time taking  her bath that very day, because she was expecting her love to arrive soon, she put on a sweet fragrance & wore a sexy dress, waiting for her love to knock on the door at any moment soon, she heard the car horn & peeped outside the window, her fiance had arrived, she smiled & went back to her sit, a little over 2 minutes, she heard a tap & she flew to the door, opened it & without looking jumped into the arms of the outstretched hands.

                                           immediately, she heard a weak groan over her head & she looked up & saw her fiance, standing aside, flabbagastedly she looked at the person she was holding & it was mr richards her neighbour, she put down her hands suddenly, like she just realised she was holding onto something very hot, confusion was written all over her face, her fiance looking so pained & hurt walked away, then mr richards with a wicked grin on his face went back into his apartment.
                
                                              nikky ran after her man, she tried to hold his hand to prevent him from walking away, but he removed her hand from his body & went into the car, nikky tried to voice out inaudibly, ''please my love it's not what you think''. he zoomed off, nikky went back into her apartment & cried her heart out. she kept calling his cell number, but he wouldn't pick up the call. at a time the phone was switched off completely. she went through that weekend in a foul mood, on monday the next day at work she took permission for a sick leave & travelled to abuja two days later.

                                           her fiance didn't give her the privilege to explain what actually transpired between she & her neighbour, he didn't talk to her, he left her alone in the house & went off to God knows where, for the three days nikky spent in abuja he didn't sleep in his house. even at his office he instructed the security operative not to allow her into the premises. on the forth morning she went back to her base. her fiance never forgave her for a deed she didn't know how it was commited & she developed a strong hatred towards men. 

                                         mr richards eventually packed out of that place, his conscience had been tormenting him so much & he started experiencing some hiccups in his business, he tried to apologize to nikky, but each time, he couldn't muster the courage to apologize, especially when he sees that hatred on her face, he just looks away & staggers off.

                                          we should try to accept it when someone says they don't want us in all sincerity, it's hurting but we can't enforce everyone to like us. when what we desire from someone is been rejected by that person, we should be matured about it & not allow it to over cloud our emotions & plotting  the down fall of the person involved. we can never gain any thing positive by pulling other people down by our actions, verbal or deed, instead we belittle ourselves, showing the world how immature, little minded & uncivilized we are. we should all learn to accept a NO in situations like this, especially in relationships, when it is obvious the other party truly wants to be left alone, respect her wish & let her be. don't cause any harm whatsoever.   

                                                  

BORED stiff, after i have cried myself out when i got the newsof a childhood friend based in london that we even hung out together during my last trip, a very very very funny guy was shot to death by armed robbers in the east, like 2mins away from his fathers home, he actually came back to finalize burial arrangements for his father that they were to bury in december, now father and son are to be buried...... SERIOUSLY what is happening?  Guess i have INSOMNIA but not crying or thinking anymore i am reminiscing...... as i lay on my bed my thought went far and wide from childhood to growing up and now and when i came back i felt like writing some truths about me strait from the heart.

1. I WAS BORN WITH THE MOLE AROUND MY NOSE
my mum said it was like a tiny pimple, the stuff grew as i grew and stop growing as i reached my physical growth height. people used to tease me about it that i had complex while growing up that i wanted it cut off, but now i see it as my BEAUTY SPOT.

2. I LOVE MUSIC
seriously this in no joke, music especially good music inspires and motivates me. i rather listen to music than watch a movie, i cook with music, i sleep with music, i gym with music, i drive with music, i analyze music,for every mood i want to set my self into i have a tune for that, as u read this m listening to music. I love dancing at age 2 i became so popular in church cuz i wait for offertory time and i jump off the chair get to the miiddle aisle and dance my heart out infact any attempt to get me out i will scream down the church building that the priest will beg them to leave me infact that made my mum very popular in a cathedral like church. If u catch me on the dancing floor i will shock you amidst my size.i can get in and out of any mood with good music sets my soul free. 

3. I LOVE COLLECTING BOOKS BUT I DONT READ.
except that i read every fashion magazine i lay my hands on with outmost concentration like m going to take exams on it the next minute. infact i pick up my friends or anyone magazines without telling, so be weary of fashion magazines when am around you

4. I DONT SLEEP ALONE
hmmmmm....... i caught you there!!!! my sleeping partners are my laptop, phones, i-pod,magazines, handbag and sometimes shoe. Infact dint know i had picked up such habbit that i do that even at a friend's house when i sleep out that she had to scream one day ''Ada which one be all this things on top bed, u no fit sleep if u never scatter your things for bed''.... funningly she has come to accept that.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz OK GUYZ M SLEEPY AT THIS POINT.... watchout for part 2 isnt it how its done in home videos ds my script get pt 4 oooo so stay tuned. Guess my laptop is coming to bed with me....lol.

                                              i went with a friend to visit the old peoples' home last week & we were opportuned to meet one of the aged occupants of the home.  an old woman of 96 years old called granny catherine. we chatted with her & she was so lively & at the same time so lonely, she showed us her pictures, the ones she took when she was young & the ones she took in her middle &  old age, she was such a lovely woman, so beautiful as a young girl & she narrated her life story to our curious & anxious ears.

                                              granny catherine  grew up in the sourthern part of nigeria, she & her husband  maxwell  were living in the northern part of nigeria with their 4 boys before the nigerian civil war broke out, her husband was enlisted among the soldiers that fought during the civil war, amidst pleas & tears her husband was torn away from her & the children, the war was so fierce that family members were torn away from each other, everything was in disarray, the whole nation was scattered & torn apart, people were running helter skelter, wives were hiding their husbands to prevent them from been sent to the war front.

                                         granny catherine fought hard too to prevent the government from taking her grown sons away from her like they took her husband, she hid her sons every day in the house, when the war got fiercier & houses were being burnt every day she decided to run away from the city with her children to her husband's home town in the east  for safety.  there was no vehicle those days for long distance journey like it is nowadays, so they had to trek, when it's night fall, they rested in a place & continued the journey the next day. these went on for days & turned into weeks, when they got closer to the middle belt they were accosted by some uniformed men who held them hostage for some days & later released her with only the two smaller kids & told her that they will need the services of the two grown boys that they will stay with them to fight for their nation.

                                          amidst tears & entreaties she pleaded but her pleas were not accepted,  she left her two sons in the hands of the soldiers, she continued on  her journey with the other two kids, along the way the youngest took ill because of malnutrition & lack of good sleep for months, eventually the child died before they could get to their destination.  she & her only surviving child later took shelter in a nearby village after treking for many weeks. the war was still raging on,  every village in nigeria at that time, experienced the effect of that singular diseaster.

                                           granny catherine later lost the only child she had with her & she never saw her husband nor her sons again. after the war she tried to locate her husband's village but she couldn't because everywhere has been burnt, houses have been destroyed, there were just heaps & heaps of debris & ashes. she went back to her former base & tried every thing in her power to see if she could re-unite with her surviving family members but she never was ever able to re-unite with them again. she decided to start life afresh, she was 57  years old at that time.

                                               she never re-married, the memories of the war still lingers on, she became unstable, some times losing her memories & acting strangely, she was psychologically disturbed, when she got older some one brought her to the old people's home, because she didn't have anyone to take care of her outside & she has been staying there for some years now. 

                                          that's the story of granny catherine, the diseatrous effect of the nigerian civil war still lives with some people, many died then & many are still living with the negative effects in their lives. many of us here in tansali have not been born then, we may not know what the effects of that particular war have caused some people but am sure that by the history we read & heard of, it was really a devastating, diseatrous & dangerous terrain to have been trailed. 

                                     to all those who passed through the effects of the nigerian civil war, the ikeja, lagos state bomb blast & all kinds of natural diseasters that have ever happened in any continent, words are not enough to express how deeply compassionate i feel towards all the victims of these kinds of calamity, but i share your pains & miseries, & i pray the lord gives you the heart to get over this & move on again. 

                                     to granny catherine, i owe you a constant visit to the old peoples' home & i cherish those beautiful toothy smiles you gave me when i hugged you & kissed your beautiful face with those gracious old age wrinkles. the sun shall always shine.                    

The wind of change continues to blow over Nollywood as more and more professionals are crossing over to swell its ranks. The latest entrant is Chisom Oz-lee, a pretty up-coming U.S based producer/actress. She was in the country recently to shoot a new film starring Ramsey Nouah, Uche Jombo and Mona Lisa Chinda. I had a few words with her and this is what went down.
BA: Hi Chisom!
C: Hi Bola, how you doin’?
BA: Fine…for the benefit of those who don’t know you, can you please introduce yourself to us?
C: Well, I’m Chisom Oz-lee, a Nigerian based in the U.S. I’m a film producer and actress by calling and a professional registered nurse by training.
BA: Hmm…interesting combination. How do you manage both nursing and film producing?
C: Quite easily. I produce films about once a year and work regularly as a nurse for the remaining part. That’s what I do for a living.
BA: Why the romance with film making? Why not just stick to nursing?
C: Nursing is a job but film making is a passion. I also combine it with acting…. I have been acting since my secondary school … even while in I was in UNN studying English. I took part in a lot of drama programmes.
BA: Is this the first film you have ever produced? The one you are currently shooting?
C: No its not. In 2006, I produced ‘In a Stranger’s Arms’ starring Desmond Elliot, Kalu Ikeagwu and myself. Then in 2008, I produced ‘Lost Maiden’ which starred Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Bimbo Akintola and Kalu Ikeagwu.
BA: Kalu again!....you seem to like making use of him a lot…I mean in your films.
C: (laughs) Yes, I like Kalu…. I mean, I like his acting and I would have used him again, in this new movie I’m doing but I decided to opt for variety.
BA: He’s single y’know…
C: So?
BA: Maybe you two could hook up?
C: What ARE you saying?! (General laughter) Bola, behave yourself!
BA: Don’t mind me.. I like to have fun with my interviewees…
C: No problem… just make sure you get the facts right.
BA: So are you single? By the way has anybody told you… you look a lot like Lil’ Kim
C: Yes they have and I take it as a compliment and Yes, I’m but not searching.
BA: What if others are …. searching?
C: Can we get on with the interview please…this is getting…uncomfortable (general laughter).
BA: Okay, back to your projects…. Tell us about ‘Lost Maiden; your last film.
C: ‘Lost Maiden’ is something Im very passionate about. It talks about the scourge of female circumcision.
BA: Tell me more.
C: As a nurse in the U.S. I have seen a lot of cases. Even those of circumcision.
BA: Of Americans?
C: No, ofcourse not. The women I saw, were living in America but came from other countries like Egypt, Senegal and one was from Nigeria. Their cases were pretty pathetic, I tell you.
BA: Im listening…
C: Im going to get rather graphic here….
BA: Go ahead…if it can save a life or sensitize people, the better…
C: Okay, there are actually different types of circumcision; there’s the one where just the clitoris of the woman is cut off. Then there’s the one where the clitoris, labia minora are cut off. Mind you this is done without any anesthesia, and in very unsanitary conditions. Also cut are tissues, nerves….
BA: Whaaaat! Chisom, abeg e don do!
C: You have heard anything yet…. After this is done, the woman is then sewn up crudely leaving only a little space for her to urinate. She is only opened on her wedding night by her husband. What then happens is that scar tissue forms and makes birth very difficult and painful because there is no more elasticity for that place to stretch when the woman is giving birth.
BA: This affects child birth, right?
C: Definitely! When the woman gets pregnant and wants to deliver, complications arise because the baby can’t come out on time, gets distressed and dies. Sometimes she dies too..
BA: But why is it done at all?
C: They say to curb the sexuality of the woman…
BA: And this is still being practiced?
C: Yes… even in this country so I decided to do a film about it called ‘Lost Maiden’ to educate people on the dangers of the practice.
BA: Hmmm… this is heavy stuff…so when is the film going to be released?
C: It has been released in the U.S but it will be released in Nigeria soon.
BA: Thanks for chatting with me Chisom. I wish you the best in this crusade again female circumcision.
C: Thank you.  

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'

Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.


His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'

Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always
turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'

His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.'

The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.

Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Pass this one to someone you care about - i just did

Omawumi's highly anticipated album, wonder woman is out and its blazing hot, it contains tracks like, "In the music", "today na today", "chocolata" ft Naeto C, "Mafi misere" ft Eldee, when breez blow, "Love it" ft Shank etc.. Its sold online at http://www.notjustok.com/2009/11/11/buy-omawumi-album-wonder-woman-for-4-99-nov-11-18/. You can also listen to snippets from the whole album. This is sure a good work and am sure getting mine. I am most definitely buying mine..... nigeria's ultimate diva!

I woke up this morning with a headache. Normally this happens to me as an after effect of alcohol or party 'hangover' but this tyme its out of a bad news hangover which a friend called me up to tell me just as i was about to retire to bed after putting my regular phone on silent so i could catch some good sleep. My other phone rang, apparently i forgot to put that on silence too. I picked up to tell my friend i was sleeping i had a busy day that i was tired so lets talk 2moro, and then came the news NKEM OWOH HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED and the sleep was gone? i sprang up asking too many questions when? where? how? what time? as if he was supposed to be at the kidnapping point, and to think the call was from london was wondering how fast news flies and that set me thinking about it the whole night WHICH WAY....... WHICH WAY TO GO...... WHY ACTORS? first it was PETE EDOCHIE now NKEM OWOH a man whom brings joy and laughter to the faces of many Nigerians far and wide including the kidnappers themselves through his skills and talent. Am not saying those that have been kidnapped before arent humans too? but a Regular Nigerian actor works way too hard under constraints conditions to make a living under the scrutiny and surgical eyes of the public? They are not the set of rogues in public offices and government post and offices that embezzell, mismanage, launder and stach out public funds in foreign banks that has put and this country in this mess. IF this is it? then i wonder whom could be next? Guess the EASTERN PART OF OUR COUNTRY is a difficult terrain to thread on now even if its our motherland even the government seems helpless on this issue. i strongly believe the youths needs to be re oriented and empowered because all in their minds is the criminal and easiest way to richess its so sad I ASK AGAIN MY FELLOW NAIJAS WHICH WAY OUT..... ADAORA'S FIRST BLOG STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.

                                                  there are lots of issues which have to do with women & children, when it comes to ill-treatment, battery, abuse, enslavery & de-humanisation. it is not  that some men do not suffer some of these but in the society which i am ( NIGERIA),  women are mostly relegated to the back sit, most times they are subjected to all kinds of dehumanizing conditions. that's why the likes of Stella damascus, Kate henshew-Nuttall & the rest are fighting for the cause of women.

                                                      mrs nkwuocha, is  a mother of four kids, she works with an advertising firm, she foots the bill of the family, her husband having lost his job five years ago, refused to find another job, his wife, mrs nkwuocha has gotten him three different jobs in the past but each time he refuses to accept it & gives one flimsy excuse or the other, he doesn't want to work & depends heavily on his wife's salary, waiting for the month end, when he will demand some money from the wife, some occasions when the wife doesn't give in to his demands, he beats her to a pulp.

                                                          on many occasions mrs nkwuocha has been rushed to the hospital after he had beaten her to the  point of death & this has been going on for over four years, her children have all gotten used to their father's brutal battery of their mother & they only cringe at their father's presence, crying, each time he batters their mother, what could they do, their ages are between four & ten. mrs nkwuocha's brothers had intervened in the past but when their sister refused to seek for a divorce from her husband, they left her & went their way.  mrs nkwuocha had said she could not leave her kids because her husband had warned her that if she wanted to leave she could go but not with any of his kids or he would trace her wherever she could be & cut her into pieces. mrs nkwuocha  has become her husband's punching bag & she had stayed, enduring all the abuse.

                                                      Hauwa is from the northern part of  nigeria, she was  abandoned by her husband when she gave birth to their first child  & developed vesico-vaginal fistula ( vvf).  hauwa  got married  before she was 15 years old  &  gave birth when she was not fully developed to carry a child in her under-developed womb, this resulted to vesico-vaginal fistula syndrome,  this is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder & the vagina, that allows the continous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault & which has a profound emotional effect on the patient. hauwa releases urine uncontrollably, which gives  her surroundings an  unpleasant odour, her husband that put her in that condition couldn't stand the constant unpleasant odour in his surrounding,  packed his bag one day & left hauwa to her plight. 

                                                    mrs dopemu has been married for the past three years with two kids for her husband, though she has a wealthy husband, she doesn't have peace in her marriage. it started few months after her wedding, her husband had come home one night from work with a very pretty lady whom he introduced casually to the wife & informed her that she should make up the guest room & sleep there that he would use their matrimonial bedroom with his guest for the night, mrs dopemu thought her husband was drunk but eventually she realised he was dead serious, she slept in the guest room, leaving her husband & the stranger to sleep in her matrimonial bed.

                                                  her husband, mr dopemu brings his girl friends to their matrimonial home  & anytime he comes home with any of his girl friend, she will sleep in the guest room  leaving her matrimonial bed for her husband & his guest. the day she tried to talk to the husband about this issue, he shouted down on her & told her she should thank God that he only brings them to sleep over & go the next day, that he could decide as well to marry any of them but he prefers the present arrangement & that she should take it that way or go back to her poverty stricken family, mrs dopemu though does not wish for this she has been coping just to remain married to her husband.

                                                          you may think this is a made up story but i stand to let you know that some women are trully passing through these conditions & it is an everyday occurance. the only advice i'd give to these women is that, any thing that causes you anguise & misery, no matter what that thing is, it's not worth risking your health & life for, please  find the courage to pull out & start life again, it's never too late.
                                                            

                                        

                                                   

                                                                

Ibiyemi’s vocal is like the evening breeze – soft, smooth, tempting, and nostalgic. You feel like you’ve heard it before; but still has its touch of uniqueness. Born in San Francisco, California; Ibiyemi might not be your sexy ready-to-stride-in-lingerie kind of singer; but she’s got her singing on a high with a kind of music she calls, Urban Soul. Ibiyemi’s sounds are cerebral, and her lyrics are a little more elaborate than the run-off-the-mill stripper drone we are used to.  

She started singing professionally in 2003, and has been influenced over the years by great musicians like Marvin Gaye, Mary J Blige and our very own, Asa. If you sense a similarity in vocals and lyrics of both artistes, you are not too far from the truth. There’s a connection, and yet, a detachment as both women still manage to sing with individual voices which earn distinct respect. This is good for Ibiyemi; as she paves her way through a growing industry.

‘I’m trying to walk my own path,’ she enthuses as she has her Ipod concurrently playing the hits ‘Collide’ by Howie Day, ‘Run’ by Leona Lewis, ‘Knock You Down’ by Keri Hilson, and ‘Strong Thing’ by Banky W.

She takes me back to her moment of self-recognition, when she was only a teenager in school singing to nobody in particular, but getting the attention of a superstar, as Dorm mates would gather to hear her hit one note after the other. ‘It was a good feeling.  I realized not only could I sing, but people enjoyed it!’ You could say that was her eureka moment; and as the saying goes, nothing could stop the little happy bird from singing henceforth!

Her entrance into the local scene was one emotional experience; but Ibiyemi remains grateful for a lot of things.  ‘It’s been rewarding so far. I feel a sense of peace knowing I am doing what I was born to do.’

Not giving into the trend of rap and mainstream hip hop, she believes as long as music is good, the audience will respond to it. ‘My greatest challenge has been proving to doubters that Nigerians just want good music! It’s that simple. There’s a place for Hip- hop, Soul, High-life etc. Some genres may be more popular, but in the end if the music is good, people want to hear it.’ It is easy for Ibiyemi to find her niche in the industry in no time. She’s not just a pretty face, but one with great skills and an interesting voice.

‘It’s been very challenging but fascinating. I had been writing songs for many years prior but I cut my teeth vocally, singing in the choir, doing back- up vocals for established acts. I learnt from a lot of mistakes I experienced and saw. I also joined a band and served as lead singer for over a year so I understood the power of connecting with an audience on stage and the power of live music even as I was recording music of my own. By the time I started performing my own songs, I felt comfortable on stage.’

Ibiyemi’s tracks may warm you up nicely, but having a hit song is a totally different feeling. Surprisingly, she feels no fuss to measure up to that expectation as she is certain she’s on the right track.  ‘A hit song gets you through the door - true, but consistency keeps you in the room. A hit sets a standard for you as an artiste. The fans have expectations and you have to work hard to keep meeting those expectations. I intend to meet that challenge and having the right team behind you also helps you reach your goal as an artiste.’

It seems the Urban Soul artiste is yet to be beaten by the diva bug. She still wears a casual mien and a comfortable smile. But she has experienced a truck load of ego issues displayed by fellow music people.

‘Ha! I could write a book! I’ve seen squabbles backstage for different reasons... artistes trying to perform ahead of each other...Comperes going on stage announcing the wrong artistes and thereby infuriating and offending others tonthe extent that shows are cancelled. DJ’s cutting the sound mid performance because an artiste has used up his/her time slot but refuses to get off stage...’

Admiring her simple demeanour, I wonder what she thinks of the trend on sexuality and music as it is today especially in Nigeria where every female artiste wants to take off her clothes or every male artiste features a skimpily dressed model for videos.

‘I just believe that isn’t for me, that’s not my modus operandi. If it works for you, fine but it isn’t for me. I don’t believe in the use of sexuality to promote music or anything else for that matter. Statistics have shown that all over the world sex does sell. But guess what, quality does as well. I think music/artistes should be marketed based on their merits alone and not on how raunchy the video or artistes are.’

Ibiyemi’s music feels therapeutic in a way. She is hopefully looking forward to working alongside international acts like Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. ‘They are on my top list!’ she states.

The beauty of where she is today is in the possibility of hope. ‘Nothing inspires like hope – the brilliance of tomorrow.’

We are expectantly looking forward to her boom day! When she explodes like an atomic bomb, shaking the foundations of music-dom. And while we wait, Ibiyemi is certainly taking her music globally – one city at a time.

- Joy Isi Bewaji for Tansali.com

WATCH IBIYEMI LATEST VIDEO  http://www.tansali.com/videos/view/ibiyemi---don39t-leave-me_5147.html

WATCH IBIYEMI'S DEBUT SINGLE HERE  http://www.tansali.com/members/profile/894/video/5191