Glamsquad Magazine October 2022

october 2022 

35 Home-Made ways 

Remedies 

to wear 

Denim for Dark 

This Spots 

Season 

AFWL 2022: 

Meet the 

10 Designers +1 

Hollywood 

Stars 

& Exhibitors 

You 

Didn’t 

Know 3 Ways Had To 

Nollywood 

Rock The 

Heritage Ankara 

Look 

Exclusive 

‘DJ Cuppy’ 

NIGERIA 

@ 62 

gLAM 

MODEL 

AGBANI 

DAREGO 

MISS WORLD 

& NIGERIA 

MODEL 

Top 10 

Global 

Online 

Fashion 

Also Meet 

Sisters Temi 

& Tolani 

Otedola 

Influencers 

Florence Otedola 

The Oxford Graduate ‘Billionaire 

Daughter’ Defiling the Stereotype 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1

Inside 

Glamsquad 

Magazine 

October 2022 

BEAUTY 

44 

Make Up Special 

Eyes, Lips, & More 


Florence 

Otedola 

6 

52 

Natural 

Local 

Skin Care 

Routines You 

Should Know 


Daughter’ Defiling the 

Stereotype 

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag 

2 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com

Editor-In-chief / 

Publisher 

Remi Diagbare 

Staff Writers 

Sasha Bokamoso 

Glory Uyi 

36 

10 +1 Hollywood Stars You Didn’t 

Know Had Nollywood Heritage 

Editor 

Amenna Dayo 

Managing Editor 

Sebastianne Ebathemi 

Deputy editor 

Chioma Esui 

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc 

Praise David 

Grace Effiong 

Oyindamola 

Contributors 

Dr. Nkechi Omoson 

Chef Amaka Obiefuna 

Social Media 

Yewande Falana 

graphics / Web Manager 

Layi Success 

MARKETING Director 

Tega Diagbare 

Atinuke Bankole 

Head Office: 

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex, 

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel: +234 803 844 4955, +44 7404 990166 

For advert enquiries, please contact the marketing 

Director 08115933500 or email, 

info@glamsquadmagazine.com, 

glamsquad.magazine.tv@gmail.com 

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories. 

I 

love many things about DJ 

Cuppy – being the daughter of 

a billionaire is not one of them. 

I love that she continues 

challenging the stereotypes that have 

placed Nigerian youth and women in a 

leach. 

She is a Disc Jockey, has three 

University degrees, is a philanthropist, 

loves pets, loves football, and her 

favourite colour is pink. Oh my, what is 

there not to love about Cuppy? 

She is a good role model to the 

average Nigerian youth, and she is 

proof that being born with a silver 

spoon doesn’t make anyone arrogant, 

inaccessible, or ill-mannered. Want 

to know the real Florence ‘DJ Cuppy’ 

Otedola and her lovely sisters? Then this 

edition of Glamsquad is yours to keep. 

What else do we have in stock for 

you? Well, to say ‘a lot much more’ will 

not only sound cliché but also like a 

tautology, but frankly, this is the only way 

we can describe this edition! 

This edition is dedicated to Nigeria’s 

independence. October 1 is a special 

holiday in Nigeria as it marks the 

liberation of Nigeria from colonial rule. 

On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its 

independence from Britain. 

So, this month of October, we 

decided to create an edition dedicated 

to the Nigerian youth and green and 

white! 

DJ Cuppy, Temi Otedola, Tolani 

Otedola, and Agbani Darego are a 

few of the personalities featured in this 

edition. Also, we retrospectively looked 

at hits and misses at the just 

concluded Headies 2022. 

On a sad note, the death of 

former basketball star and WNBA 

1st-round pick Tiffany Jackson 

died on Tuesday, October 4, 

2022, at 37, after a battle with 

breast cancer. 

Jackson played four years at 

Texas, where she became the 

only player in Longhorns women’s 

basketball history. Unfortunately, 

she was diagnosed with stage 3 

breast cancer during her fourth 

full season with the Shock in 2015. 

Early detection remains the 

best remedy for tackling breast 

cancer. So, to celebrate breast 

cancer month, we have included 

an article on Cancer Awareness 

and the early steps to detect it. 

I am so excited about this 

edition. Well, let me leave you 

with it. I await your letters. 

I love you always; you know I 

do. 

Yours Truly, 

A . 

Ameena Dayo 

Editor, G.S 

3 Ways 

To Wear 

Denim 

This 

Season 

4 

Disclaimer: 

Please note that all photos used in this special 

digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were 

sourced freely online. 

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the 

images/photos, while we have tried to give 

appropriate credit where due, we are aware 

some artistes were not credited. 

We remain committed to supporting 

intellectual property and creativity. 

© 2022 Tegali Communications 


FASHION ESCAPE 

3 

Ways To Wear 

Denim This 

Season 

By Sasha Bokamoso 

There’s nothing I love more than a 

good pair of jeans. Perfectly wornin 

denim that hugs in all the right 

places and goes with everything in my 

wardrobe holds a special place in my 

heart. Jeans like this aren’t always the 

easiest to find, but when you do come 

across them, it feels like the stars have 

aligned in your favor. 

Dramatic? Maybe. But I know I don’t 

speak only for myself when I say jeans 

are my most worn item come fall, so 

it’s important to find the right fit. GUESS 

1 

jeans have been a staple since the ‘80s, 

and I can always count on the brand to 

have the classic fits and on-trend styles 

I’m looking for. 

This season, the fashion set is prioritizing 

straight-leg and flare jeans, so I’m 

following suit. Below, I’ve put together 

three outfits featuring GUESS’s latest 

arrivals. In addition to some seriously 

good jeans, you’ll find knit tops, bags, 

and shoes to complete your perfect fall 

denim look. 

Jeans and White Blouse 

This first look goes out to our 

readers in warmer climates 

and those still holding on to 

summer. I love a white blouse 

year-round, and this 

off-the-shoulder option 

is perfect for fall 

weather. 

Contrast with dark 

flare jeans, 

a brown 

shoulder bag, 

and an easy 

heel for the 

ultimate dayto-night 

look. 

4 


FASHION 

2 

Denim with 

Black Boots 

The easiest fall look 

is a denim jacket, a 

good pair of jeans, a 

statement bag, and 

the classic combat 

boot. I love these 

straight-leg jeans for 

their relaxed, ‘90s vibe. 

They add a touch of 

trend to even the most 

basic outfit. 

2 

Sweater and 

Denim 

For anyone still living by the 

whole “no white after Labor 

Day” rule, here’s a more 

autumnal option for you. 

These beige straight-leg 

jeans are a great alternative 

to your summer styles. Paired 

with a collared knit, an 

orange top-handle, and a 

simple white heel, these feel 

appropriate and stylish for 

fall. 


REPORTAGE 

Florence 


Otedola: 


Daughter’ Defiling the 

Stereotype 

By Ameena Daayo 

Florence Otedola was born with a silver spoon 

– but the billionaire heiress wants to be seen 

as Florence or DJ Cuppy – not Femi Otedola’s 

daughter! It is difficult to find anyone with 

the same privileges, exposure, and opportunities 

as Cuppy connects so deeply with society and 

people. 

Individuals who fall in the upper echelon of 

society often cope with the burden of living under 

public scrutiny and criticism. Cuppy has had her 

fair share of this, especially as she is pictured as the 

‘bad girl’ of the family by many. 

Many social media users were quick to throw fire 

and brimstone at the free-spirited and easygoing 

Cuppy when she painted her hair pink. When she 

posted a photo recently of herself in a tight dress 

that appeared to reveal her nipple piercings, all hell 

almost broke loose. 

Many also continue to criticize her music and life 

choices, which they say do not reflect the businesslike 

and official status of her billionaire father. But 

how this is a problem or an issue for public scrutiny 

is one that exposes the double standards of the 

society we find ourselves in today. 

Indeed, Cuppy deserves so much credit for how 

she has handled herself and remained focused 

despite all the hate that comes her way. However, 

this is not to undermine the love and admiration of 

millions of people who relate with Cuppy as being 

an easygoing individual who wants to live her life 

and be herself. 

Her ‘cupcakes’ as she refers to her fans and 

followers – of which I am proudly one, see Cuppy 

as a beacon of hope for the Nigerian youth. She 

has shown in many ways that society does not 

define you and that we can be whatever we 

6 


REPORTAGE 


Exclusive: 


REPORTAGE 

want to become through hard work and 

dedication – without societal validation. 

This edition couldn’t have come at a 

better time other than this. Our cover girl 

has just announced that she has officially 

graduated from the University of Oxford. 

Recall that DJ Cuppy earlier announced 

the submission of her master thesis at the 

prestigious university on her Twitter page. 

In a tweet via her Twitter handle, she 

stated that though she didn’t get merit or 

distinction in her thesis, she was excited 

that she passed. DJ Cuppy noted that she 

faced a tough year at Oxford and was 

proud that she had finally graduated. She 

also appreciated God in her tweet. 

The tweet reads, “I got my THESIS result, 

which classifies my MSc degree. I didn’t 

get a Merit or a Distinction, but I PASSED! 

“After a tough year, I can officially say I 

am now a GRADUATE from @UniofOxford, 

and I am bloody PROUD of myself. To GOD 

be the GLORY!” 

When Cuppy submitted her thesis in 

July, the DJ recounted how she almost 

dropped out of Oxford twice. But, love her 

or not, one thing you cannot deny is that 

DJ Cuppy is such a sweet soul and downto-earth. 

Besides her father being the billionaire 

Femi Otedola, she has two beautiful sisters 

– Tolani and Temi, and a brother - Fewa. 

She owns and loves her dogs – Dun Dun 

and Fun Fun, she is a Manchester United 

supporter, and she is beautiful. So what 

else do you know about Cuppy? Well, find 

out here! 

On her love for Nigeria, and 

Lagos…. 

In the interview, she spoke about how 

people think she will be living a good life 

abroad without coming to Nigeria adding 

that she was born in Lagos and she can 

never forget her roots before finally stating 

that Lagos is her home. 

In her submission, she said; 

“My own way of thinking be say pesin 

get one life to live so you get to live am, so 

many pipo dey tink say becos my papa 

get money or becos say I grow for abroad, 

I don forget my roots, but Lagos na wia 

dem born me…Lagos na my home” 

Who would have thought that someone 

who has spent so much time abroad and 

has the opportunity to leave this country 

and never come back, would profess so 

much love for Nigeria? 

Her Philanthropy and 

Charitable works… 

DJ Cuppy is a philanthropist and 

everyone who knows her or follows her 

on social media can attest to how she 

has become a beacon of hope to the 

less privileged through her charitable 

nature. Her recent charitable work involved 

sponsoring the needs of an 18-year-old girl 

who is about to go to school. 

Making the post, she wrote; 

“God wanted me to meet Tobi so I 

could change her life! She was catering 

during my Pepsi photoshoot. Only 18, her 

resilience after such a life tragedy inspired 

me! 

Best believe Tobi IS going to school and 

the #CuppyFoundation will provide EVERY 

resource she needs!” 

After the post went viral, many people 

sent her messages to appreciate her for 

what she is doing and reacting to these 

messages, she wrote; 

“Got so many messages of praise and 

appreciation over my recent charitable 

8 


REPORTAGE 


REPORTAGE 

10 


REPORTAGE 

work… I’m grateful, but can 

we please NORMALISE acts of 

kindness? 

“It’s actually not a big deal 

for me to help others when I’ve 

had help most of my life. 

“On to whom much is given, 

much is expected” 

“ 

So many guys 

don’t want me, 

they want my 

dad. I dated 

a guy, and he 

was like “when 

is he going to 

meet my dad.” 

On Relationships, 

Her Kind of man, and 

dating a bus driver…. 

DJ Cuppy has never hidden 

her nature when it comes to 

dating. She has always noted 

that she is single and openminded 

when it comes to 

dating. 

The DJ said, “I have dated 

all kinds of men, maybe not 

every single kind but like a lot 

of different types of men. I find 

them on apps; one of the apps 

cost €400 to join. I have dated 

a bus driver; I went on a date 

with a bus driver, and there is 

nothing wrong with that. 

“I have literally gone on a 

date with an annoying guy that 

lives with his mother. I have 

gone on a date with a model, 

I have been on a date with 

a footballer, like so many of 

them. With dating you have 

to be open-minded; I actually 

enjoy dating. When you go on 

a date, it is about talking and 

getting to know each other. I 

am ‘super open’, I want to be 

dating and that is why I met the 

bus driver.” 

DJ Cuppy mentioned the 

kind of man she would love to 

be in a relationship with, stating 

that he has to be genuinely 

caring. 

She said, “I just want 

someone that is genuinely 

caring and funny. Someone 

who can be an escape for me 

out of my crazy world.” 

Speaking about past 

relationships, DJ Cuppy, 

revealed that due to her 

privileged background, some 

men have taken advantage of 

her. 

The disc jockey said, “I am 

learning to be a little less in 

control. I am the kind of person 

that will plan everything to 

the letter and before I know 

it, I would have already paid 

for everything. I have been in 

a situation where guys have 

taken advantage of me. I 

have dated guys that have 

been there for the ride. Now, 

I am in a space where I say, 

‘pick where we are meeting’. 

When the bill comes, I sit on my 

hand.” 

So many guys don’t want 

me, they want my dad …. 

In a recent interview, the 

billionaire’s daughter, who 

has been searching for love, 

opened up on her struggles 

to get a man, who would love 

her and not minding she is 

the daughter of the famous 

Nigerian billionaire, Femi 

Otedola. 

Dj Cuppy claimed it was 

difficult for her to find a man, 

who would love rather than 

be with her because of her 

billionaire dad. 

She further disclosed how 

a guy she dated was always 

querying her about meeting 

her father. She said, “So many 

guys don’t want me, they want 

my dad. I dated a guy, and he 

was like “when is he going to 

meet my dad.” 

“I want someone to love the 

shit out of me and like to be 

happy and not my dad.” she 

added. 

How Pursuing an 

Oxford Degree 

affected her music 

career…. 

DJ Cuppy had in March last 

year announced that she was 

going back to school to pursue 

her master’s degree in African 

Studies at the University of 

Oxford, England. 

She shared a picture of her 

letter of offer as well as a video 

informing her parents about the 

development on Instagram. 

But in a tweet in February, 

the “Gelato” crooner lamented 

that the programme is seriously 

affecting her growth in the 

country’s music industry. 

“Some days I’m at @ 


REPORTAGE 

UniofOxford deeply regretting 

doing a 3rd university degree 

because I feel like it’s affecting 

my progress in the music industry. 

But some days like this, I’m really 

proud of myself and I know 

that education empowers me 

to be greater in every aspect 

of my life,” she tweeted in her 

dilemma. 

This would be Cuppy’s second 

master’s degree. She bagged 

one in Music Business from the 

New York University in 2015, 

including her first degree. 

On the 2023 General 

Elections…. 

DJ Cuppy recently opined 

that Nigeria being a country with 

a huge youth population would 

clearly be a deciding factor 

come 2023. 

She said therefore that 

there was a need for youths 

to educate themselves on 

the electoral process, by 

understanding what happens 

pre-election, and what should 

occur during the elections and 

post-elections. 

This, she said, would in turn 

help inspire enough confidence 

in the youths to take action. 

Speaking as a special 

guest during a Student Voters 

conference in Lagos, Nigeria, DJ 

Cuppy, who expressed concerns 

about voter apathy which has 

become widespread mainly due 

to insecurity in the land, hoped 

the situation would improve and 

that more people would be able 

to exercise their franchise come 

2023. 

In her keynote speech, DJ 

Cuppy spoke about her desire 

to facilitate a Permanent Voters 

Card (PVC) drive to create 

awareness and encourage 

young Nigerians of voting age to 

get their PVC and fulfill their civic 

responsibilities. 

She stressed the importance 

of youths coming out to vote in 

2023, as she said; “My mission 

here today is simply to inspire you 

all and that in turn you will inspire 

or encourage others to get 

registered, get their Permanent 

Voters Card (PVC) and actually 

vote.” 

This conference which was 

proudly sponsored by The Cuppy 

Foundation, and hosted by 

Youth4Nigeria, in partnership 

with Global Shapers Community, 

was geared towards raising 

awareness for the upcoming 

national elections in 2023 and 

sensitising young Nigerians about 

the role they have to play come 

2023. 

The Student Voter Conference 

was set up as part of a civic 

education and engagement 

session series for Nigerian 

12 


REPORTAGE 


Exclusive: 

students to encourage them to 

vote, and enlighten them about 

the procedures involved, so they 

are well prepared to participate 

in the upcoming elections, and 

to do so from an informed and 

reflective standpoint. 

Building a lasting DJ 

Cuppy legacy… 

DJ Cuppy is one of the most 

recognisable African names in 

music and entertainment across 

the world. 

Her work as an ambassador 

for Afrobeats and African arts 

cannot be overstated and 

over the years, her charity 

organisation, Cuppy Foundation 

has worked to aid the most 

vulnerable young Nigerians 

across the federation. 

Relationship Rumours 

and Marriage in 

Italy… 

DJ Cuppy sparked 

relationship rumour after she 

shared a picture of her with 

a man who she identified 

as Lorenzo in Venice, Italy. 

Reacting to many of her fans 

and followers, who took to 


REPORTAGE 

14 


REPORTAGE 

social media to congratulate 

her on the supposed 

relationship, Cuppy declared 

that she is still single. 

Cuppy added that 

Lorenzo is a close friend of 

hers, “I see some Cupcakes 

congratulating me… Lorenzo 

is just a close friend o. I’m still 

SINGLE” 

In another post, she 

revealed that she should be 

getting married in Florence, a 

city in Italy. 

Depending on her 

father’s wealth… 

If you thought DJ Cuppy 

depends on her father’s 

wealth, then you need to 

think again! Cuppy, in an 

interview with Zeze Millz on the 

“ZEZE MILLZ SHOW”, said she 

believes every woman should 

be totally independent and 

have her money. 

She said most people call 

her bluff when she speaks on 

her stance, which leaves her 

surprised since she works hard 

and does not depend on her 

father’s wealth. 

“When I say to people, I’m 

so pro-women having their 

own money. People are like 

“Come on Cuppy, shut up! 

Your dad is wealthy. But if my 

dad was really someone I 

depend on, why do I work so 

hard?” 

Falling out with her 

friend, Kiddwaya… 

DJ Cuppy revealed that 

having a fallout with reality TV 

star, Kidd Waya, was tough 

for her. She said this during an 

interview with the Pretty Little 

Thing podcast, which was 

published on Wednesday. 

DJ Cuppy and Kiddwaya, 

who featured in a British 

documentary-reality TV show, 

Highlife, had a fall out during 

the show which affected their 

real-life friendship. 

“That was really tough for 

me because it was real life. 

For the viewers that don’t 

really understand. I and 

my friend had a real falling 

out during highlife and that 

was on camera, which was 

okay but it was really tough 

because we actually fell out. 

“I don’t really know how 

else to explain that. When 

you and your friend fall out, 

it’s not nice. It was difficult 

but Kidd is a great guy. He’s 

a superstar. There were some 

funny moments on the show.” 

Sometime during the 

show, DJ Cuppy had poured 

a glass of drink on Kiddwaya 

when he stated that her 

billionaire lifestyle was the 

reason she was single. 

Reacting to the incident, 

she said, “What would you do 

when a guy says, ‘I can see 

this is why you’re single?’ What 

do you do? And also, why 

is being single being used 

against me? 

“He is single himself which 

is quite interesting. A guy 

being single in Nigeria is like 

‘ohhh, you’re the man.’ I’m so 

sick of this patriarchy. It’s very 

difficult but what I would say 

is that I’m glad we made up. 

We’re fine now and I have so 

much respect for him.” 


FEATURE 

Meet 

Temi Otedola, 

The Nigerian 

Actress Exploring 

New Creative 

Frontiers 

Ameena Daayo & Nelson C. J. 

Temi Otedola is an early 

riser. The 26-year-old 

Nigerian style plate, 

fashion influencer, 

YouTuber, and, most recently, 

actor, typically begins her day 

at 6 AM. If she’s in London, 

she’ll take a walk around her 

neighborhood. When in Lagos, 

her second home, she goes 

for a spin class at Victoria 

Island, an upper-class area in 

the city, to boost her energy. 

Her days often unfold 

by following this kind of 

established pattern. “I’m super, 

super, super routined,” she 

admits during a recent Zoom 

interview from her home in 

London. There’s breakfast, 

then meetings with her team; 

lunch also happens at a very 

specific time. Afternoons are 

typically devoted to content 

creation and reviewing brand 

contracts. Since her latest 

venture into acting—starring in 

the Netflix Original Citation and 

2022 crime-drama, The Man For 

The Job—there are now scripts 

to consider, auditions, and 

Zoom meetings with directors to 

attend. 

“I feel calm when I’m on top 

of everything,” says Otedola, 

her voice chirpy and bright, 

accented with the cosmopolitan 

nature of someone who calls 

different parts of the world 

home. Otedola has just returned 

from a holiday trip with her 

fiancé, Afrobeats artist Mr Eazi, in 

Spain. She landed in the UK over 

a week ago, where she intends 

to spend the rest of the year 

before flying back to Nigeria 

in early 2023. After logging off 

from work completely during 

her vacation, it’s safe to say 

Otedola’s got more than a few 

things to juggle at the moment. 

In the landscape of Nigerian 

16 


FEATURE 

influencers, Otedola has 

managed to fashion an 

individualistic and tightly 

curated but, ultimately, 

wholesome brand for herself. 

While her celebrity DJ sister, DJ 

Cuppy, is more outgoing and 

experimental with her sense 

of style, Otedola assumes a 

more private front, revealing 

only details of her life she feels 

contribute to her effortlessly 

glam and curated image. 

The daughter of billionaire 

businessman Femi Otedola, 

Temi began her foray into the 

fashion industry as a fashion 

blogger—when blogs were 

still very much a thing and 

Instagram was just taking off. 

At the time, Otedola—who has 

always loved fashion and cites 

her mother as her biggest style 

inspiration, particularly for her 

ability to consistently purchase 

the most perfect garment, 

no matter where she went— 

couldn’t find African fashion 

bloggers to follow. It only made 

sense for her to fill those shoes. 

“I was seeing all these fashion 

weeks around the world. And 

I was like, Why is there no 

African representation at these 

fashion weeks? So I [thought] 

it’d be amazing to take up that 

space,” she says. 

When blogs began to die 

down and fans flocked to 

Instagram—where a short 

caption alongside a carousel 

of pictures would do just fine, 

and reached even more 

people—Otedola found the 

transition seamless. Still, her 

goal remained the same: to 

continue to take up space as 

one of Africa’s foremost fashion 

voices. Over the years, Otedola 

has fostered and maintained 

a deep connection with 

indigenous fashion brands, 

from designers Lisa Folawiyo 

and Andrea Iyamah to the 


FEATURE 

18 


FEATURE 

gender-bending Orange Culture, 

with whom she developed a 

capsule collection back in 2019. 

Otedola’s soft-glam, clean-girl 

aesthetic that values minimalism 

and an individualistic approach 

to fashion, has also set her apart 

in the wider Nigerian fashion 

influencer community. 

“I don’t really feel like I have 

a specific style, [but] I think I 

gravitate toward looks that are 

quite pared-down,” she says. “I 

like to think it’s timeless. I’m not 

trying to jump on every trend. 

I just like to feel comfortable, 

take a couple of risks, but keep 

it clean and fun.” With acting, 

Otedola is trying to lean into 

a more spontaneous side of 

herself that will allow her the 

flexibility to explore a new 

creative frontier. Even the way 

she got into acting, a job she’d 

never considered before, was, to 

some extent, unplanned. 

“I’ve been a really big fan 

of films since I was nine or 10,” 

she says, “Whether it was old 

Nollywood or black-and-white 

or classics. I’m [also] really big 

on directors and films as an art 

form. But I felt like I hadn’t done 

it from when I was young, like 

doing school plays, so I figured I 

would never go into it. 

“But at some point, I was 

just thinking about my future,” 

she continues. “And I don’t 

necessarily want to be a social 

media influencer when I’m in 

my 30s or 40s. Moving forward, 

what do I really want to do? And 

I was like, ‘You know, Temi, you 

could actually try this acting 

thing.’ Especially with all the 

new amazing directors we 

have coming from Nollywood, 

I feel like there’s a new era 

happening. I really wanted to be 

a part of that.” 

So when she met the 

legendary Nigerian director 

Kunle Afolayan at a premiere 

for one of his films, Otedola 

walked right up to him and 

asked for a meeting. “He was 

like, ‘Well, I’ve been writing this 

film for a few years. And actually, 

the main character is a girl in 

her early 20s. But you’re not an 

actor.’ I was like, ‘Okay, well, let 

me audition,’” she recalls. “And 

it took months and months of 

auditioning, but that is really how 

it started.” 

“ 

I don’t really 

feel like 

I have a 

specific style, 

[but] I think 

I gravitate 

toward looks 

that are quite 

pared-down 

That chance encounter would 

land her the role of Moremi in 

Citation, Afolayan’s gripping 

story about a young university 

student who is groomed and 

eventually assaulted by her 

lecturer—and who has to face a 

school tribunal in a bid to clear 

her name and hold the lecturer 

accountable. 

The film, which came 

out in 2020, is one of the 

few Nollywood stories with 

a progressive and hopeful 

outlook on women finding 

justice after being sexually 

assaulted. Citation highlighted 

the gravity and undue power 

dynamics between professors 

and students at a time when 

Nigerian universities were 

reckoning with their long-held 

history of lecturers coercing 

young pupils into having affairs 

with them for good grades. 

The timeliness of the story shot 

the actress even further into 

stardom. “Even to this day, 

people still walk to me to tell 

me that the film gave them 

hope,” Otedola says. 

At the moment, Otedola 

has even more work on deck, 

being featured in another 

blockbuster Nollywood project 

and other projects—the details 

of which she can’t divulge. 

As far as career goals go, the 

actress hopes to ultimately 

produce and feature in 

Nigerian stories that elevate 

the perspective of women. 

“We have so many women 

in Nigeria’s history who haven’t 

had their stories told,” she 

says. “There are [numerous] 

documentaries about Fela, but 

if you think about his mother, 

Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, she 

hasn’t had a biopic. Just to be 

involved in producing that and 

getting that made would be 

incredible.” 

Although Otedola didn’t 

always have a defined idea 

of what she wanted to do 

when she grew up, she is, 

without a doubt, willing to 

gravitate toward the things that 

challenge her the most. “I don’t 

think there are any rules in the 

creative world—you can try 

different things. Maybe I’ll go 

into singing,” she says with a 

laugh. “At the end of the day, 

you may as well try and fail 

than not try at all. I’m open 

to anything—as long as the 

passion is there.” 


FEATURE 

Meet the Celebrity 

Inside Out: 

Tolani 

Otedola 

Ameena Daayo & Taiwo Ojoye 

Background 

I was born and raised in 

Lagos; and I had a lot of fun 

while growing up. My parents 

were very good at keeping 

us aware of the realities of 

life. 

We were never 

overindulged. We have 

always been encouraged 

to pursue our dreams and 

to seek our own lives as we 

grow older. I am very grateful 

to my parents for the kind of 

woman I am right now. 

I think they did a fantastic 

job in nurturing me and my 

younger sisters. Some of 

my earliest memories were 

the times I spent in the car 

with my father playing loud 

music. 

I think that was one of the 

reasons I fell in love with music. 

Even though my father is not 

a musician, he loves music. 

We grew up in a house where 

music was always played. 

Education 

I had my elementary 

education at Grange School 

in Ikeja, Lagos. For my postelementary 

education, I 

attended Adesoye College, 

Offa, Kwara State. 

I later studied Psychology for 

my first and second degree at 

the University of St. Andrews in 

Scotland. It was nice to travel 

around the world. When I first 

got to the United Kingdom, 

it was hard for me to cope 

without my parents. 

However, I got used to it 

because I had already gone 

to a boarding school for my 

post-elementary education. 

A major challenge was the 

weather; it was extremely cold. 

Parents’ Support 

I have always wanted to 

do music even before I went 

to the university. My parents 

encouraged me to keep my 

passion but they wanted me 

to complete my university 

education first. They wanted 

me to have an alternative 

source of livelihood. 

We all know that anything 

that has to do with creativity 

20 


FEATURE 


FEATURE 

is not guaranteed; so, you 

should have a plan B just in 

case things don’t work out as 

planned. I am glad that they 

raised me that way. Once I 

was done with my university 

education, they allowed me 

to pursue a career in music. 

Music 

Music is where my heart 

belongs. I have always been 

artistic and I used to be a 

choir member in school and 

church. However, I have not 

thrown away the business 

brain I inherited from my 

parents. 

For an artiste to become 

successful, he or she must be 

a good business person as 

well. The fact that you have 

not heard much about me 

was intentional. I was in the 

university and I went to music 

school too. I had to learn how 

to play instruments and how 

to write music very well. I also 

sang at gigs in the UK and got 

paid. 

Over there, that is how it 

works; you don’t just wake up 

and say you want to be a 

musician. You have to pay 

your dues. When I was at the 

university, I was in a band of 

four. I have been recording for 

years because I have a studio 

at home, I just released my 

first official single, Tenderoni, 

featuring Skales. 

Generally, I call my sound 

Afro-pop. I look at what is 

trending and incorporate it 

into my sound. Tenderoni is 

strictly afro-pop. 

Criticisms 

If anyone says I am only 

capitalising on my father’s 

fame and wealth, I don’t 

have an issue with that. I 

have already accepted that 

people will form their own 

opinions about me and I don’t 

intend to fight it. I will try to work 

hard and hope that my music 

speaks for me. I don’t think it 

is my job to change people’s 

perception about me. 

I will just continue to do 

what I love to do. I think that 

people make a mistake when 

they think that since we were 

born into a wealthy home, 

we don’t need to hustle. At 

the end of the day, a wealthy 

man is a wealthy man and his 

children are not automatically 

wealthy. My father is a 

fantastic man and he looks 

after us, but he always tells us 

that his money is not ours. 

Parents will always want to 

support their children, but I 

don’t think he or my mother 

wants me to depend on them 

all through my life. I want to be 

independent of them; I want 

to have my own children and 

be responsible for them. One 

day, my parents will not be 

around again and I have to 

take care of myself. 

Personality 

I am a bit reserved; I like 

spending time with myself. 

I like to stay at home and 

see movies. However, I am 

learning to be more outgoing 

and to do things that are 

related to my craft. I also have 

the strangest taste in things, 

but I don’t want to go into 

details. 

Romance 

Love makes the world go 

round. Love is very important 

and we should always be kind 

to each other. For me, I cannot 

be with a man who doesn’t 

pay me compliments or bring 

out the best in me. 

I don’t believe in listing 

specific qualities that my ideal 

man must possess because 

those qualities cannot decide 

whether the person is good 

for me or not. If I say I want 

my man to be tall, black and 

22 


FEATURE 

I just try to dress in a way 

that reflects how I feel. If I 

see something that I like, I 

wear it. I think my style is quite 

laid-back, but I like to look 

comfortable and stylish. 

Battle with Ailment 

Recently, the songstress 

took to her Instagram account 

on Tuesday to reveal her 

ordeal. 

According to her, the 

treatment of the ailment has 

affected her appearance 

and confidence. However, 

she assured her friends and 

fans that she is recuperating. 

She wrote, “For over a year 

now, I’ve been very social 

media shy… life shy if I’m 

being honest. Last year l was 

diagnosed with a condition 

& it was the toughest season 

of my life… But with God and 

some really special people by 

my side, I made it through. 

“I grow stronger every 

day and the worst of it has 

passed… but there have 

been a few after-effects of 

my treatment, one of which 

has greatly affected my 

confidence… because it’s 

quite obvious. Being in an 

industry that places a high 

value on appearance, I found 

myself unable to reconcile 

taking medication that 

helped my mind but affected 

my weight. 

“I fought with all my heart 

to be here, and I’ve been 

feeling quite down that 

this one ridiculous thing is 

keeping me hidden. I’m alive! 

And what a blessing that is, 

especially in a season where 

so many people lost loved 

ones. 

“I also understood 

something today… that to 

stay self-conscious about 

my outer appearance, is 

to undervalue my inner 

healing… it’s an injustice to 

my mind, body & God-given 

creativity. To look in the mirror 

and be embarrassed about 

my scars is to disregard how 

I got them and belittle what 

I’ve survived.” (sic) 

Tolani further thanked 

her friends and family who 

reached out to her and sent 

her words of encouragement. 

She added that she was 

slowly making her way back to 

making music as she loves it. 

handsome, how about if he 

doesn’t support me? Right now, 

I am in a relationship though. 

Fashion 

I don’t regard myself 

as a fashionable person 

even though people think I 

am. I don’t look at fashion 

magazines or follow trends to 

know what to wear. 


FEATURE 

Glam Model 

24 


FEATURE 

Agbani 

By Chioma Esui 

Darego 

Chief 

Ibiagbanidokibubo 

Asenite ‘Agbani’ 

Darego, MFR is a 

Nigerian model and beauty 

queen who was crowned Miss 

World in 2001. She was the first 

black African to win Miss World. 

Agbani Darego was 18-yearold 

when she became the 

winner of the 51st Miss World 

pageant held Friday in Sun 

City, South Africa. She was 

chosen from 93 contestants 

from all over the world. She had 

promoted herself as wanting to 

be a computer scientist as well 

as a super model. 

Darego won a total cash 

prize of $100,000, plus gifts 

valued at $150,000. She was 

quoted with this statement 

“black is beautiful”, moments 

before being crowned. 

She was born on 22 

December 1982 (age 39 years) 

in Abonnema - a large town in 

the Kalabari Kingdom that was 

founded in 1882. Its territory was 

discovered by an expedition of 

four independent chieftaincy 

houses from the Kalabari citystate, 

Nigeria. 


FEATURE 

Nigeria @ 62 

— The Young Makes The Difference 

By Maryam Laushi 

There are some who believe 

that there is not much to 

celebrate on Nigeria’s 62nd 

anniversary. But Nigerian activist 

Maryam Laushi pins her hope for a 

better future on the resilience of the 

country’s youth. 

Nigeria gained independence 

from colonial rule on October 

1, 1960. It was a time of great 

excitement for Nigerians, who 

were bursting with ideas for what 

they could accomplish as an 

independent nation. In 1963, 

Nigeria adopted a new constitution 

and became a republic, with 

Nnamdi Azikiwe as president and 

Tafawa Balewa as prime minister. 

At this point, the country still had a 

semblance of democracy. 

In 1966, army officers made a 

move to overthrow the government. 

Several other coups follo wed. A civil 

war led to unimaginable loss of life 

and harsh dictatorial regimes. 

Nigeria returned to civilian rule 

in May of 1999, when Olusegun 

Obasanjo was elected and sworn 

in as president. Since the return to 

democracy, Nigeria has had regular 

elections every four years. Some 

have argued that they were not free 

and fair, but others believe they were 

democratic. 

Over the decades, Nigerian citizens 

have lived through tumultuous times 

due to high unemployment rates, 

insecurity in more than one region of the 

country and ethnic as well as religious 

bigotry. 

When considering Nigeria’s 

achievements since independence, 

there’s not much to celebrate. The 

country is still struggling to meet the needs 

of its citizens and become a front runner 

in developing infrastructure, the economy 

and the society. 

Problems galore 

The question of why this is so needs 

to be asked. One reason is that disunity 

caused by ethnic and religious bigotry 

conditioned the choices available for 

elective positions within major parties. 

They have also affected public opinion in 

selecting who to vote for. 

Another reason is corruption, 

26 


FEATURE 

After the documentary was aired, 

the Nigerian Senate passed a sexual 

harassment bill to fight the abuse; 

there is still a long way to go, but the 

impact is already evident. 

Many Nigerians are pinning their 

hopes on Nigeria’s new president, 

Muhammadu Buhari, a former military 

ruler, who won a landslide victory 

on March 28 defeating President 

Goodluck Jonathan. 

Another young Nigerian making 

a difference is Hauwa Ojeifo, who 

recently launched virtual groups online 

for mental health support. 

Victor Ugo is also fighting to provide 

mental health support through his 

foundation, Mentally Aware. 

Eyes on the future 

In the world of business, many 

young Nigerians are giving their best 

not only to survive, but also to provide 

a livelihood for others working for their 

companies. 

While the debate over Nigeria’s 

past achievements is interesting, a 

more pressing question is: What can 

Nigeria do to help ensure that its 

young people can compete on the 

world stage and what is the best way 

to create an environment where they 

don’t just survive, but can also thrive? 

If the government of Nigeria wants 

its young people to have a better 

future than is currently possible, it has 

to ensure the safety of its population. 

The country is plagued by insecurity. 

The permanent feeling of not being 

safe is crippling, and the situation is 

not helped by the high number of 

deaths caused by banditry and violent 

extremists. 

Democracy needs to be inclusive 

Another important step is instituting 

consultative governance. This would 

incorporate the needs and opinions of 

the country’s young people, women 

and all Nigerians down to grassroots 

level. Until the democratic rights of 

Nigerians are taken seriously, Nigeria’s 

democracy will not get ahead. And 

in order for progress to be achieved, 

a more inclusive government or 

governance system needs to be 

established. 

Entrepreneurs need an environment 

conducive to business growth. 

Taxes shouldn’t be exorbitant and 

neither should bureaucratic fees. The 

government should provide essential 

services like functioning electric power, 

access to the internet, easier access 

to national and international markets, 

stronger institutions to support all 

business processes and even a reform 

of the civil service. 

Nigeria should be working 

towards building a sustainable future, 

remedying its ills rather than doctoring 

symptoms. Young Nigerians, as well 

as older ones, hope for a future where 

inequality gaps can be closed, society 

in general can be more inclusive, so 

they will live in a country that cares for 

them 

which has plagued almost 

every administration since 

independence. It is proving to be 

deeply rooted, a harsh reality that 

has yet to be changed. 

Despite all the problems 

faced by a country still struggling 

to define its identity, Nigeria’s 

has a valuable asset: its young 

people and their resilience. Young 

Nigerians have chosen to fight 

injustice in new ways and the 

results are clear for all to see. 

Take Kiki Mordi, who was 

instrumental in exposing the 

“Sex for Grades” scandal, where 

female university students were 

pressed by lecturers in their schools 

to exchange sex for passing 

grades. 

Maryam Laushi is a Nigerian activist who is behind the Not Too Young To Run 

lead campaign. She has been awarded several prizes for her efforts to raise 

awareness on gender equality, social justice and youth inclusion in politics. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Swallow 

Also released in 2021, Swallow was adapted 

from a novel by a prize-winning Nigerian author 

– Sefi Atta. Some of the casts include Eniola 

‘Niyola’ Akinbo, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Dayemi 

Okanlawon, and so on. If you like novels and 

want to see them in movies, this is for you. 

10 Nigerian 

Movies 

To Watch This 

Independence 

Holidays 

By Praise David 

Every year, more Nollywood movies 

become popular on Netflix. Sometimes, 

it’s even very hard to track which movies 

you should be watching at a particular time. 

Well, you shouldn’t have to search too 

much as you have landed on the right post. 

This year 2022 has already featured some of 

the best Nollywood movies you should watch 

during this independence holiday. 

In this post, I’ll take you through 10 of the 

top Nollywood movies you should watch on 

Netflix in 2022. Read through and let me 

know which your best is. 

The Man of 

God 

Released in 2022, 

this almost 2-hour-long 

movie tells the story of 

Samuel. Samuel, in this 

story, forsakes his harsh 

religious background and 

upbringing to live his own 

life. The main character was 

bodied by Akah Nnani, with 

performances from others 

like Osas Ighodaro. The Man 

of God was directed by 

Bolanle Austen-Peters. 

28 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Blood 

Sisters 

Blood Sister is a limited 

series that features popular 

Nollywood actors like 

Ramsey Nouah, Kate 

Henshaw, Uche Jumbo, 

Nancy Isime, Ini Dima- 

Okojie, and so on. It tells 

the story of 2 friends who 

become wanted after killing 

a man and have to fight for 

their lives. It was released in 

2022 and is only available 

on the Netflix platform. 

Amina 

The movie, Amina, is also based on a true-life story. 

Here, it’s the story of 16th-century Zazzau. Zazzau is a 

settlement in Nigeria, which is the modern-day Zaria. In 

this movie, Amina must use her military skills and tactics 

to defend her family’s kingdom. It featured popular 

actors like Ali Nuhu, Lucy Ameh, and was directed by Izu 

Ojukwu. 

Bigger Than Africa 

If you’re interested in documentaries about the 

history of Nigeria, and the continent at large, Bigger 

Than Africa is for you. It follows the trans-Atlantic slave 

trade route from West Africa to the US, Brazil, and the 

Caribbean. This documentary was directed by Toyin 

Ibrahim Adekeye. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Ayinla 

Ayinla is based on the true-life 

story of popular Apala singer – Ayinla 

Omowura. It goes through his rise to 

fame, his relationships, and his untimely 

death. Popular Nollywood actor, Lateef 

Adedimeji, played the lead role of Ayinla. 

Other actors include Kunle Afolayan, 

Omowunmi Dada, Adebowale Adebayo, 

and Bimbo Ademoye. The movie was 

directed by Tunde Kelani. 

Wonder 

Woman 

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 

redefined women in the superhero 

genre, defied stereotypes, and 

absolutely dominated at the box 

office. A dream come true. 

Fine Wine 

Richard Mofe-Damijo played the role of a wealthy, lonely man who fell for 

a woman much younger than him. He’s then left to confront the social stigma 

around age gap romances. Fine Wine was released in 2021 and was directed 

by Seyi Babatope. Other casts include Ego Nwosu, Ademola Adedoyin, Zainab 

Balogun, and so on. 

30 


ENTERTAINMENT 

RattleSnake 

– The Ahanna 

Story 

In RattleSnake, which is a 

remake of an older movie of 

the same name, a mastermind 

attempts to pull off a number of 

astonishing heists. It’s directed by 

Ramsey Nouah and it stars actors 

like Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro, 

Bucci Franklin, and so on. This 

remake of RattleSnake was 

originally released in 2020 but is 

currently on the Netflix trending list. 

God Calling 

God Calling tells the story of Sade 

who entered a suicidal depression 

after losing a child. But then, she 

found faith again which was aided by 

technology. The movie was released 

in 2018 but is a top Nollywood movie 

to watch in 2022. 

Lady Buckit & The 

Motley Mopsters 

Are you into Anime? This film is the first Nigerian 

cinematic feature-length animated film. It tells a 

story of a little girl whose parents’ bakery was shut 

down in 1956. She makes a wish to go back in time, 

instead, she ends up in the future – as a bucket. The 

Anime movie was directed by Adebisi Adetayo. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Great Nation 

– Timi Dakolo 

This song is one that 

inspires Nigerians never to 

lose hope in themselves 

and believe in unity. 

10 

Songs that Promote 

Nigerian Unity 

– Perfect to Celebrate 

Independence 2022 

Lift up Nigeria – 

king Sunny Ade 

The king of 

music, King Sunny 

Ade extends his 

love to all tribes, 

and religions in 

Nigeria. In his 

track, he urges 

everyone to 

come together 

and work for 

the continuous 

progress of the 

country. 

By Chioma Esiu 

Independence Day in Nigeria is a 

national day celebrated annually 

on the first day of October. This, 

primarily marks the country’s 

freedom from the British government 

in 1960. 

Amongst many other reasons, 

Nigeria’s Independence Day is 

usually a day set aside to honour the 

country’s heroes. 

However, there is no gainsaying 

that Nigeria is blessed with diversity 

of tribes, religions, languages, 

and culture. The amost populated 

African country is also blessed with 

talented artistes, who has recorded 

and released songs that celebrate 

Nigeria. 

These artistes, with their songs, 

have contributed immensely to 

national growth and unity among 

Nigeria’s citizenry. 

Below are some of the songs 

perfect to celebrate independence 

2022 as Nigeria celebrates 62: 

32 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Greenland – 

Ty Bello 

Interestingly, this 

song is TY Bello‘s debut, 

and it’s a song that 

aims at spreading love, 

strengthening the family 

bonds, and expressing 

optimism for Nigeria. 

Released in 2007, the 

song also encourages 

Nigerians to move away 

from the state of fear and 

discomfort to a land of 

hope and possibilities 

Nigeria my beloved country 

– Funmi Adams 

Funmi Adams, popular in the 80s and 90s, promoted 

cultural diversity among youths. Asides from the nostalgic 

feeling you get from the song, it preaches unity and 

harmony. This song remains evergreen in the hearts of 

many Nigerians. 

Song of Unity – Nigerian 

leaders 

This song was performed by Nigerian leaders, both 

past heads of states and democratic leaders men. The 

song, which was a declaration of unity in the country 

features Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan Oladipo Diya, 

and the late Alex Ekwueme. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Motherland – 

Sound Sultan 

The song Motherland 

serves as a reminder to 

Nigerians that have left 

the country in search of 

a beautiful and blessed 

land that no matter how 

far and wide they go, 

Nigeria still remains the 

best place for them to be. 

Which Way, Nigeria 

– Sunny Okosun 

When singer Sunny Okosun released 

this classic in 1983, the intent was to bring 

Nigeria go Survive – Veno 

Marioghae 

The artiste expresses hope and faith in Nigeria. The song which 

was rendered in the pidgin English language celebrates Nigeria 

natural resources. 

34 


ENTERTAINMENT 

One love – Onyeka Onwenu 

Onwenu, a Nigerian music legend who has been 

so passionate about unity in the country, expresses 

the need for unity in this track. The song conveyed a 

bundle of messages to Nigerians. In the same vein, 

the tender voices of children who sings the chorus was 

indeed a track to reckon with. 

a truthful realisation to both the Nigerian 

leaders and the populace. The song’s 

lyrics frown at bribery and corruption 

which lurks around the country. 

Let’s Live Together – Kush 

A gospel and R&B group released a song titled Let’s Live 

Together in the 2000s. The song re-establishes the statement 

“united we stand, divided we fall”. It also reminds Nigerians of the 

need to live together in peace and harmony. 


FEATURE 

10 +1 Hollywood 

Stars You Didn’t 

Know Had 

Nollywood 

Heritage 


America’s entertainment 

industry, Hollywood, has 

many black celebrities 

of African descent, specifically 

Nigerians. 

Here is a list of Nigerians who 

were either born in Nigeria 

and grew up overseas, or were 

born and raised outside the 

country, or they have one or 

both parents as Nigerians. 

Cynthia Erivo 

A British-Nigerian actress, singer 

and song writer, who played 

the lead role in the biopic 

Harriet and was nominated for 

several awards. Her full name 

is : Cynthia Onyedinmanasu 

Chinasaokwu Erivo. She was 

born in Stockwell England on 8 

January, 1987. 

She attended La Retraite Roman 

Catholic Girls’ School. Erivo 

began a music psychology 

degree at the University of East 

London; however, a year into 

her degree, she was admitted 

into the Royal Academy of 

Dramatic Art, where her multitalents 

blossomed. 

She is known for her 

performance as Celie in the 

Broadway revival of The Color 

Purple, for which she won the 

2016 Tony Award for Best Actress 

in a Musical, the Drama Desk 

Award for Outstanding Actress 

in a Musical, the Grammy 

Award for Best Musical Theater 

Album, and the Daytime Emmy 

Award for Outstanding Musical 

Performance in a Daytime 

Program, the latter two she 

shared with the rest of the cast. 

Erivo ventured into films in 2018, 

with roles in the heist film Widows 

and the thriller Bad Times at the 

El Royale. In 2019, she portrayed 

abolitionist Harriet Tubman in 

the biopic Harriet, for which 

she earned nominations for an 

Academy Award, a Golden 

Globe Award, and a Screen 

Actors Guild Award. 

36 


FEATURE 

Gbenga Akinnagbe 

Akinnage was born in Washington, D.C.to Yoruba parents in 

1978. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School 

in Rockville, Maryland. He attended Bucknell University on a 

wrestling scholarship, and graduated in 2000 with a degree 

in Political Science and English. 

As an American actor and writer, he best known for his roles 

as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and as Larry 

Brown on the HBO series The Deuce. 

Adetomiwa Edun 

Babatunde Adetomiwa Stafford “Tomiwa” Edun, is 

a Nigerian-born British actor. He is best known for his 

roles as Sir Elyan in the television show Merlin, Marcus 

Young in Bates Motel and Alex Hunter in the football 

video games FIFA 17, FIFA 18 and FIFA 19. 

Carmen Ejogo 

Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo is a British television and film actress 

and singer. She was born on October 22, 1973, to a Scottish 

mother, Elizabeth (née Douglas), and a Nigerian father, 

Charles Ejogo. 

She began her career as a teenager hosting the Saturday 

Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995. Her film credits 

include Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000), What’s the Worst That 

Could Happen? (2001), Away We Go (2009). 

Yvonne Orji 

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian American actress. She 

is known for her role in the HBO series Insecure. 

She was born to her Nigerian parents in Port 

Harcourt, Nigeria but was raised in Maryland, 

USA. Yvonne has starred in several films like 

Insecure, Jane The Virgin, Flip the script, etc. 


FEATURE 

Adewale 

Akinnuoye-Agbaje 

Uzo Aduba 

Uzoamaka Nwanneka “Uzo” Aduba is an 

American actress. She was born on February 

10, 1981, to Nigerian parents in Boston, USA. Uzo 

is known for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” 

Warren on the Netflix original series Orange Is the 

New Black, for which she won an Emmy Award. 

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a British actor, director, 

and former fashion model. He was born by Nigerian 

parents in Washington D.C. When he was six weeks 

old, his biological parents gave him up to a white 

working-class family in Tilbury, Essex. 

This was a common practice in this era among 

Nigerian families when parents sent young children 

to live in the UK with white foster parents in the hopes 

their children would have better lives. Adewale 

has featured in blockbuster movies like The Bourne 

Identity, Pompeii, The Mummy returns, etc. He is fluent 

in Yoruba, Italian, Swahili, and Engish. 

John Boyega 

John Adedayo B. Adegboyega, was born on 17 March 

1992 in Peckham England, to Nigerian parents. He is known 

professionally as John Boyega. He has played Finn in the Star 

Wars sequel trilogy films, The Force Awakens (2015), The Last 

Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker. 

Boyega’s other credits include historical drama film Detroit 

(2017), the science fiction film Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), 

four episodes of the television series 24: Live Another Day 

and the drama Imperial Dreams (2014). Boyega received 

the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016. 

38 


Hakeem Kae- 

Kazim 

Hakeem Kae-Kazim is a British-Nigerian actor best 

known for his work in the Starz television series Black 

Sails and his portrayal of Georges Rutaganda in 

the 2004 drama film Hotel Rwanda. He was born in 

Lagos, Nigeria but originally from Ogun State. 

He has also featured in Nigerian movies like Last flight 

to Abuja, Black November. Currently, he is one of the 

brand ambassadors of Etisalat. 

FEATURE 

David Oyelowo 

Born April 1, 1976 to Nigerian parents in England, David 

Oyetokunbo Oyelowo OBE is an English actor and 

producer. His father is from Oyo State, Western Nigeria 

while his mother is from Edo State. 

He grew up in Tooting south London, until he was six, when 

his family moved to Lagos. The family moved back when 

he was 14. He had a three year training at the London 

Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), finishing his 

three-year training in 1998 

His highest-profile role to date was as Martin Luther King Jr. 

in the 2014 biographical drama film Selma. He also took 

the lead role in A United Kingdom as well as playing the 

role of a chess coach in Queen of Katwe. 

He has played supporting roles in the films Rise of the 

Planet of the Apes (2011), Lincoln (2012), Jack Reacher 

(2012), and garnered praise for portraying Louis Gaines in 

The Butler (2013). 

He is slated to star with Lupita Nyong’o in a film adaptation 

of the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel Americanah. The 

story follows a pair of young Nigerian immigrants who face 

a lifetime of struggle while their relationship endures. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor 

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor is a British-Nigerian actor. 

He was born and raised in the United Kingdom by 

his Nigerian parents. 

He is a descendant of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. 

After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 

1995 and attending the London Academy of 

Music and Dramatic Art, at age 19 and three 

months into his course, Ejiofor was cast by Steven 

Spielberg to play a supporting role in the film 

Amistad as James Covey. 

Ejiofor has starred in numerous movies such as 12 

years a slave, The Lion King, Half of a Yellow Sun, 

Deadly travel and so on. 


EVENTS 

Hits and Misses 

at Headies 

Awards 2022 


Credit: Adekunle Fajana 

The 2022 Headies Award ceremony has come 

and gone, we would be discussing five of the 

most important moments from the historic event. 

American entertainer, Anthony Andersen 

alongside Nigerian actress, Osas Ighodaro 

served as the hosts of the 2022 Headies Award 

ceremony on Sunday. 

The 15th edition of the historic award ceremony 

took place at the Energy Performing Arts Centre 

in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. 

Eleven years after Wizkid delivered his first 

success at the Headies award under the tutelage 

of Nigerian music icon, Banky W, he has gone 

on to become the most decorated musician in 

the history of the award show amassing twenty 

plaques to his name as of today, Monday, 

September 5, 2022. 

Despite the initially negative reaction from cynics 

after it was announced that the award ceremony 

would take place outside of Nigeria, the event 

received applause from Nigerians and other 

international viewers who recognized the growth 

and impressive development of the award 

organizers. 

Headies is renowned as the award ceremony 

designed to not only celebrate the excellence 

of Nigerian creatives and musicians, the award 

was also established to help kickstart the career 

of flegedling artistes. Singers such as Wizkid, 

Davido, Omah Lay, to name a few who emerged 

as “Next Rated Artist” a few years ago have gone 

on to achieve international recognition. 

Though the 2022 Headies Award wasn’t perfect, 

the vision and intention of the award organizers is 

commendable. 

What did they do wrong and what was right, let’s 

analyse five moments from the show that was 

either a hit or miss. 

40 


EVENTS 

Anthony Andersen 

fails to relate with the 

Nigerian audience 

Buju has the last 

laugh in rivalry 

with Ruger 

On Sunday, Daniel Benson who is better 

known as Buju (or BNXN) emerged as the winner 

of the “Next Rated Artiste” category. He gained a 

massive point ahead of his archrival and social 

media boxing partner, Ruger, at the award. 

Buju emerged as the winner after beating the 

likes of Ayra Starr, Zinoleesky, Lojay and Ruger. With 

the award, Buju goes home with the 2022 Bentley 

Bentayga. 

Anthony Andersen, an award winning American actor and movie 

producer co-hosted the award ceremony alongside Nigerian 

actress, Osas Ighodaro. Despite being a prolific entertainer, he 

failed to resonate with his audience who were predominantly 

from Nigeria and other African countries, including Ghana and 

South Africa. 

While personnel such as Bovi, M.I Abaga, to name a few have 

hosted the show in previous years, Nigerians think Anthony 

Andersen was a wrong choice. During his presentation, Andersen 

made some remarks that would be perceived as condescending 

and would be seen as disrespectful by both the artistes and the 

Afrobeat lovers. 

For instance, Andersen asked, “who is Adekunle Gold?” Yikes, that 

could have been handled better. 

Understandably, Andersen is American, hence, he wouldn’t be 

expected to know much about Afrobeat, African values and 

culture, albeit, a little bit of research wouldn’t have seen him ask 

certain questions such as the one above. 

Without ‘staining Andersen’s white’, South African comedian 

Trevor Noah would’ve been a better option to host the award 

show. Noah is of African descent, also, he is more hilarious than 

Andersen and has interviewed several Nigerian musicians such as 

Burna Boy in the past. 

Additionally, Andersen failed to connect with his co-host, Osas 

Ighodaro throughout the night. They failed to sync and reach a 

common ground especially when Osas was trying to promote 

absent musicians, however, Andersen was incessant on making 

some derogatory jokes. 

The Headies award organizers should do a better job in the 

coming year. Andersen totally missed it this year. 


EVENTS 

The inclusion of international categories 

There is a purpose for the inclusion of 

international categories and recognition of 

creatives from across Africa and the rest of 

the world. 

The aim and objective is to help solidify 

the status of Headies as an international 

brand and gradually rank among the 

echelon of top award shows in the world, 

although this might take a while, but with 

the ideal strategy and a transparency of 

the academy, it could go on to become 

the biggest musical award show in Africa, 

possibly surpassing Africa’s MTV Music Video 

Awards. 

With the intense contribution of Nigerian 

creatives in the entertainment sector, it 

is only ideal for Headies Academy to set 

themselves apart as the biggest award and 

embody themselves as the true rewarder 

of musicians, producers and investors from 

various sectors. 

The Nigerian music industry is one of the 

biggest exports from the country, the talents, 

their skillset, workmanship and marketable 

product has put the scene on a global 

scale. 

Hence, it is safe to say Nigeria is the 

business unit for nurturing talents and taking 

them to the next level. Artistes such as 

Gyakie, Black Sheriff (both from Ghana) are 

enjoying fascinating success here in Nigeria 

for affiliating themselves with the Nigerian 

populace and it’s talents. 

Of course, the 2022 Headies Award 

ceremony wasn’t perfect and there is always 

room for improvement, but the organizers 

of the award show have come a long way 

and should be applauded for recognizing 

the talents and rewarding the work ethics of 

creatives. 

Absence of notable 

superstars 

Wizkid failed to show up at the 

event, same with Grammy award 

winner Burna Boy alongside several 

others. 

This is despite the event taking 

place in the United States of America. 

The co-host for the night, Andersen 

called out the names of notable 

musicians who were at the event. This 

particularly disappointing segment 

forced Andersen’s partner for the night, 

Osas Ighodaro to forcefully drag down 

the microphone from his hands to 

avoid further embarrassment. 

“Ckay ain’t coming…” Andersen 

said while on stage. 

“Has anybody seen Wizkid? They 

told me Wizkid was going to be here, 

they told me Ckay is going to be here, 

Tems, she ain’t coming just like half this 

African artistes ain’t going to be here,” 

Andersen continued. 

As stated earlier, Andersen could 

have done a better job as the host of 

the show. However, Nigerian celebrities 

need to do a better job of respecting 

the values that Headies represent. 

42 


EVENTS 

Tems continues rise to the top 

Grammy award nominee, Tems whose real 

name is Temilade Openiyi bagged five awards at 

the award ceremony on Sunday. She has continued 

to experience a meteoric rise to the top. 

It is interesting to note that one year ago, Tems 

was yet to win any official award to her name, as a 

matter of fact, she failed to win any category at the 

2021 Headies Award. Twelve months later, she is one 

of the most decorated modern day musicians in 

Afrobeat history. 

After receiving three awards for her collaboration 

with Wizkid on the sensational single, ‘Essence’, Tems 

won the Best R&B Album for her 2021 EP, ‘If Orange 

Was A Place’ and Female Artist of the Year at the 

2022 Headies Awards. 

In 2022 alone, she has worked with international 

superstars such as Drake, Future and Beyonce. 


BEAUTY 

Marble Nail 

Trends 

25 Need-to-Screenshot 

Looks I’m Loving 


I’ve always gone wild for all things 

nails (I love to tell people I owned 

more than 100 bottles of polish by 

the time I hit middle school), but my 

obsession has reached fever pitch in 

the last few years. 

Nail polish brands and manicurists 

are getting more creative than ever 

before, and my Instagram and TikTok 

feeds have quickly become a feast 

for sore eyes where nail inspo is 

concerned. 

However, despite the surplus of 

patterns and abstract designs 

circulating the internet lately, there’s 

one nail design, in particular, that has 

continued to reign supreme: marble. 

Whether you want something more 

elevated and subtle (think white, opal, 

and metallic accents) or something 

more attention-grabbing and bold 

(neon, anyone?), there’s a marble 

nail design out there that is sure to 

vibe with your beauty and fashion 

aesthetic. After all, your nails are the 

ultimate accessory, right? 

Because I truly couldn’t stop 

downloading and taking screenshots, 

behold 25 drool-inducing marble nail 

designs you should most definitely 

save and bring to your favorite nail 

salon. Keep scrolling! 

1 

2 

3 

44 


BEAUTY 

5 6 

7 8 

4 

9 10 


BEAUTY 

11 12 

13 14 15 

16 17 18 

46 


BEAUTY 

19 20 

21 22 

23 24 25 


BEAUTY 

Make Up 

Special 

Eyes, Lips, & More 

Words Sasha Bokamoso 

What is the Importance 

of Beauty Care? 

Beauty is more than skin deep. 

It’s a reflection of your physical 

and emotional well-being. When 

people are healthy, it shows. 

Estheticians understand the 

importance of appearance, 

and it’s their mission to help 

clients look and feel their best, 

inside and out, with beauty care. 

What Does an 

Esthetician Do? 

Estheticians are skincare 

specialists. They help identify 

non-medical skin disorders and 

provide topical treatments that 

enhance clients’ complexions. 

Popular services include: 

Skin Analysis 

Everyone is unique, so 

estheticians learn about their 

clients’ complexions through 

skin analysis before making 

treatment recommendations. 

The process includes an 

extensive questionnaire 

reviewing medical conditions 

and lifestyle factors that 

1 

affect appearance, such as sun 

exposure, smoking and eating 

habits. 

A visual examination with 

magnifying lamps and devices 

that measure skin’s characteristics 

from sebum level to moisture 

content is revealing. Using their 

fingers, estheticians then evaluate 

the surface texture of the skin, 

searching for subtle irregularities 

that indicate dryness, irritation or 

clogged pores. 

48 


BEAUTY 

Facials 

Facials use steam, exfoliation, serums 

and masks to cleanse and rejuvenate 

skin. Gentle massage of the face and 

neck helps clients relax and encourages 

a healing blood flow. Facials are 

customized based on skin analysis, so 

each is as distinct as the client and 

serves as a foundation upon which to 

build a better beauty care regimen. 

2 

3 

Cosmetic Application 

Estheticians specialize in occasion cosmetics, 

giving clients the once-in-a-lifetime look they want 

for a big event. But they can also show them how 

to make the most of their everyday make-up with 

professional application techniques and products 

that complement their skin type. Why not be red 

carpet-ready every day? 

4 

Hair Removal 

Estheticians remove 

unwanted body hair using 

methods from electrolysis to 

waxing. Sites include the face, 

arms, legs, chest, back and 

bikini zones, and the goal is to 

extract hair down to the follicle 

for long-lasting results. 


BEAUTY 

Why is Beauty 

Care Important? 

Looking your best requires a 

holistic, inside-out approach. 

Beauty care matters because: 

Healthy Skin is 

1Important for Good 

Health 

The skin is our largest organ 

and a barrier against the 

environment. It shields 

us from UV light, keeps us 

hydrated and protects us from 

microorganisms. Protecting the 

outer layer of the skin is essential 

because breaks, cuts, sores, rashes 

and irritations, allow bacteria and 

other harmful substances to get 

into the body and make us sick. 

Take good care of your skin, and it 

will take good care of you. 

Looking Good 

2Improves 

Confidence and 

Self-Esteem 

How you look affects 

how you feel about your 

body, we’re our strongest critics. 

For women, in particular, beauty 

and self-esteem are closely 

linked. The most important thing 

an esthetician does is to give 

clients pride in their appearance 

by minimizing flaws, whether it’s a 

shallow complexion or unwanted 

facial hair. Even the smallest 

improvements boost confidence 

and mood. 

3 

3. Skin Care Makes You More 

Comfortable 

Skin takes a beating. If you’ve ever tried sleeping 

with a sunburn, you know that exposure to sun, wind, 

rain, cold, and pollution can leave you feeling itchy, 

dry and sore. Beauty care soothes the symptoms of 

dryness and irritation, nourishing your skin, so it’s less 

vulnerable to damage, 

50 


4Beauty Care is 

Self-Care 

We spend most of 

our time working 

and taking care of 

others. But self-care 

isn’t a dirty word, and the 

few minutes we spend daily 

pampering our skin can be 

rejuvenating. If you can’t 

take a vacation, treating 

yourself to a facial is a relaxing 

break. Estheticians give 

clients permission to invest in 

themselves through a range 

of beauty care services that 

have both restorative and 

practical value. 

BEAUTY 

sun and pollution exposure can 

change. 

Minimizing negative effects 

once they’ve occurred is 

challenging. The key to beauty 

is to start caring for skin early 

so it’s in the best possible 

condition as the years pass. Like 

health problems, skin disorders 

are easier to treat if they’re 

addressed early. 

Making Beauty Care 

Successful 

Clients want to look good for 

more than special occasions; 

they want it to last a lifetime. Here’s 

how an esthetician can make it 

happen. 

Emphasize Early Beauty 

Care 

Skin evolves, and it takes consistent 

care to keep it healthy. As we 

age, skin becomes thinner and 

cell renewal slows. Complexion 

and texture morph over time as 

sun damage takes its toll, and the 

epidermis loses elasticity. Collagen 

and elastin production wane as 

we get older, causing sagging and 

wrinkles, and lifestyle factors from 

sleep, smoking and nutrition to 

Encourage 

Maintenance Services 

Everyone deserves an 

occasional spa day, but the 

benefits of a single facial 

don’t last forever. As beauty 

professionals, estheticians 

should educate their clients 

about their skin and the 

importance of ongoing 

care, creating individualized 

treatment plans that meet both 

short- and long-term goals. 

Estheticians can encourage 

clients to schedule regular 

appointments by pointing out 

the many benefits of routine 

care, including looking their best 

every day. And many services, 

such as hair removal, are 

less irritating and costly when 

performed regularly. 


BEAUTY 

NATURAL 

LOCAL SKIN 

CARE ROUTINES 

YOU SHOULD 

KNOW 


After struggling with acne for over 

half of my life, I recently tried 

switching over completely to a 

100% natural skin care routine. 

Simple ingredients, homemade remedies, 

many items you could probably find in 

your grocery store. I can honestly tell 

you without any hesitation that my skin 

has never looked or felt better, and the 

acne and scars I used to try and hide are 

fading and gone. 

It’s hard to believe that I spent years 

buying product after product with fancy 

ingredients to clear my skin, and the 

answer ended up being the most simple, 

inexpensive products I could find. 

This natural skin care routine has 

completely changed the way my skin 

looks. No more acne, smaller pores, 

smoother, more even complexion, and 

I’ve actually saved money using these 

simple, all-natural remedies! 

I have discovered a few simple 

ingredients… not products… but natural, 

inexpensive ingredients that have been 

a miracle for my skin. They work together 

instead of against each other to clean, 

heal, smooth, and moisturize my skin 

better than anything I’ve ever found. 

CLEANSERS 

Traditional face cleansers are designed to 

break down the oils in your skin, but often 

end up breaking down the natural oils your 

skin needs to maintain balance. If you 

haven’t heard of the oil cleansing method, 

the basic chemistry principal is that “like 

dissolves like”. 

Essentially you are cleaning your pores of 

dirt and bacteria in a natural, gentle and 

effective manner by replacing the dirty oils 

with beneficial oils that can heal, protect 

and nourish your skin. 

HERE ARE THE 

CLEANSERS I USE: 

Hemp Seed Oil + Lavender: 

Hemp seed oil is anti-inflammatory, which makes it a 

great cleanser for acne prone skin, as well as eczema, 

psoriasis and dermatitis. 

It balances out oily skin without clogging pores, improves 

and restores skin elasticity, and also has antioxidant 

52 


BEAUTY 

2 

1 

properties that help regenerate new cells. 

I mix 1 ounce of hemp seed oil with 10-12 drops 

of lavender essential oil, which is also antibacterial, 

anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and healing! 

I keep the mixture in a little amber glass bottle with 

a dropper, and use about a quarter size amount to 

wash my face. I’ll use this in the evening to cleanse 

before I go to sleep. 

Raw Manuka Honey: 

In the morning, I use honey to wash my 

face. I know that sounds crazy, but it works! 

I’ve already removed my makeup before I 

went to bed, so all I need is a light, gentle 

cleanser to get my skin ready for the day. 

Raw Manuka honey is unprocessed and 

unpasteurized (unlike what you normally 

buy at the grocery store), so all the 

beneficial nutrients and vitamins are kept 

intact. 

This honey contains superior antibacterial 

and healing properties and is also very 

nourishing and hydrating, but not great at 

removing makeup, so stick to coconut oil 

for that step. 

Raw Manuka honey is a bit thicker than 

normal honey, so you’ll need your skin to 

be slightly wet to use this cleanser. 


BEAUTY 

3 

Coconut Oil: 

This oil has many of the same beneficial properties that 

hemp seed oil has, but is generally not recommended for 

oily skin because it can clog your pores. What coconut oil IS 

perfect for is removing makeup! 

It instantly dissolves any makeup I’m wearing, including 

mascara and eye makeup that normally doesn’t wash off as 

easily. 

I’ll use the coconut oil first to remove my makeup at the 

end of the day and follow up with the hemp seed oil 

cleanser to make sure my skin is completely 

clean, balanced and moisturized. I 

recommend using liquid 

coconut oil for two 

reasons: 1) it is 

easier to use 

than solid 

coconut oil 

and 2) it is 

less likely to 

clog pores. 

HOW TO USE CLEANSERS: 

Massage a quarter size amount 

of cleanser into dry skin (or damp 

if using honey) for 1-2 minutes. 

Wet a wash cloth with hot water 

and place the cloth over your 

face, letting the steam open your 

pores for about a minute. 

Gently wipe your skin to remove 

any remaining cleanser or 

makeup. 

MASKS 

Once a week I use a mask to 

deep clean pores, exfoliate dead 

skin, and rejuvenate my face. 

Currently I rotate between these 

two 100% natural clay masks: 

54 


BEAUTY 

Dead Sea Mud Mask 

with 100% Natural 

French Green Clay: 

Absorbs excess oils and impurities, tightens 

pores, reduces acne and blackheads, 

exfoliates, promotes blood circulation 

to cells, balances skin for a matte 

appearance, and also features jojoba oil, 

aloe vera and vitamin E. 

100% Natural Calcium 

Bentonite Clay: 

Deep pore cleansing and acne reducing. Unlike 

the mud mask above, this comes in a powder 

form and has to be mixed with either water or 

apple cider vinegar (what I choose) to use. 

I find this mask to be a little more intense while 

it’s on, and my face is red for about 30 minutes 

or so after I wash it off. I would recommend only 

using it before you go to bed at night, but it 

definitely gives good results. 


ESCAPE 

Locations In 

Nigeria To 

Celebrate 

Independence 

By Amenna Daayo 

How did you spend 

Independence Day last 

year? The mall? Or perhaps 

you are like me and didn’t go 

anywhere and stayed indoors due 

to the perception that all the fun 

places would be packed full of 

people. 

Well, who says you have to 

spend this independence holiday 

in an eatery or mall? Here are the 

top 10 locations in Nigeria that 

you should consider. 

A holiday is a special bonding 

time for most families. The 

connections and memories 

formed during such family 

adventures make for stories that 

will last for generations. We can 

also learn a lot from visiting new 

environments and interacting 

with people from different 

backgrounds. 

Here are a few of the most 

beautiful places in Nigeria to visit 

this Independence holiday. 

Yankari Game 

Reserve 

One beautiful place in 

Nigeria to take the family 

is Yankari Game Reserve. 

Located in Bauchi State, 

the resort is home to several 

natural warm water springs, 

as well as the remaining 

elephants and lions in 

Nigeria. Be sure to take a 

dive in the crystal clear 

warm springs, get a view 

of some wildlife, and your 

family vacation is set to be a 

memorable one. 

56 


Editor’s Pick 

ESCAPE 

Erin-Ijesha 

Waterfalls 

Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls 

is a collection of seven 

cascades that pour over a 

cliff, creating an impressive 

seven-part waterfall. Each 

part forms seven different 

levels with each level giving 

a whole new experience. 

With that said, Erin-Ijesha 

waterfall is definitely a 

beautiful place in Nigeria to 

bring the family for a day out 

of the city. 

Awhum 

Waterfalls 

The Awhum Waterfall is 

formed out of a massive 

outcrop of granite rock 

with water flowing at the 

top, forming a stream. The 

best time to visit is during 

the rainy season so be 

sure to pack comfortable 

clothes and shoes and 

be prepared to get a little 

wet as you explore this 

beautiful place in Nigeria. 

Zuma Rock 

Zuma Rock is a large 

monolith near 

Abuja. Sometimes 

referred to as 

the “Gateway 

to Abuja from 

Suleja”, Zuma 

rock is a large 

natural monolith 

located 

immediately 

west of Nigeria’s 

capital, Abuja. 

Be sure to go 

along with an 

experienced hiker 

when visiting this 



ESCAPE 

Idanre Hills 

Idanre Hills is located in an 

ancient city set upon a hill 

in the city of Idanre Akure, 

Ondo State. Ensure you take 

the 682 steps it takes to get 

to the top of the hill and bask 

in the beautiful landscape of 

the city with your family. 

Mpape Crushed Rock 

Mpape Crushed Rock is an abandoned quarry 

in Abuja. This beautiful place in Nigeria is such 

a picturesque location, perfect for a picnic with 

the family, a photoshoot, or a refreshing hike. 

Pack a basket, put on some comfortable shoes, 

and head over to this scenic wonder. 

Olumo Rock 

Olumo rock is a massive 

outcrop of granite rocks. 

The rock is a historical 

monument that served 

as shelter for the locals 

during intercity wars. If the 

kids aren’t up for a hike 

up the rock, there are 

elevators available so they 

can still have a look at this 


58 


ESCAPE 

Lekki 

Conservation 

Centre 

If you’re an animal-loving 

family, Lekki Conservation 

Centre is the perfect place 

for you to visit. Take a walk 

down the longest canopy 

walkway in Africa, get a view 

of the birds, monkeys, and 

some endangered species 

in the reserve. 

Ikogosi Warm 

Springs 

A list of beautiful places in Nigeria 

is incomplete without Ikogosi Warm 

Springs, one of Nigeria’s major tourist 

attractions. It’s a must to experience 

the natural wonder of two springs 

meeting while maintaining their 

individual temperatures. Put on your 

hiking shoes and get your camera 

ready for an amazing adventure. 

Obudu 

Mountain 

Resort 

If you are a tourist looking 

for adventure and tranquillity, 

Obudu Mountain Resort is 

for you. Known as Africa’s 

finest and one of the most 

beautiful places in Nigeria, 

the resort is located in the 

highlands and deep tropical 

forests of Cross River State. 

Enjoy the cable cars, canopy 

walkways and so much more 

with your family. 


FOOD 

The Perfect 

Nigerian Jollof 

Rice to Celebrate 

Independence 

2022 

W 

hat better way to celebrate Independence Day 2022 other 

than with the one and only special Nigerian jollof rice. It is 

Nigeria’s Independence celebration, so there is no need 

for the debate on what to prepare – Nigerian or Ghanaian! 

#smiles 

What is Nigerian Jollof Rice? 

Nigerian Jollof Rice is a rich and incredibly tasty West African one-pot Meal. It 

is a very versatile dish, and it is usually made from scratch using Rice, Tomatoes, 

Pimento peppers, Tomato paste, Scotch bonnet, Onions, Salt, and other spices. 

Ingredients 

• 5 medium sized Roma 

tomatoes, roughly chopped 

• 1 red bell pepper, roughly 

chopped 

• 1 medium sized onion, 

roughly chopped, set aside 

• 2 scotch bonnet peppers 

(habanero peppers as they are 

sometimes called) 

• 1/4 cup of groundnut oil 

• 3 tbsp tomato paste 

• 2 cups of parboiled rice 

• 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock 

• 1 tsp salt to taste 

• 1/2 tsp curry powder 

• 1/2 tsp thyme 

• 1 tsp All purpose seasoning 

• 1 stock cube 

• 3 bay leaves 

• Water, as needed 

Instructions 

1. Blend your tomatoes, red 

pepper, scotch bonnet peppers 

in a food processor or blender for 

about 45 seconds, make sure that 

everything is blended well. 

2. In a medium sized pot, heat 

your oil on medium-high heat. Once 

the oil is heated add the onions you 

set aside and fry just until they turn 

golden brown. Once the onions, have 

turned brown in color add the tomato 

paste and fry for 2-3 minutes. Then 

add the blended tomato mixture 

Words by Chef Amaka 

60 


FOOD 

(reserve about 1/4 cup and set aside) 

and fry the mixture with the onions and 

tomato paste for about 30 minutes. 

Make sure you stir consistently so that 

the tomato mixture does not burn. 

3. After 30 minutes, turn the 

heat down to medium, and add 

the chicken stock. Mix and add your 

seasonings (salt, curry powder, thyme, 

all purpose seasoning, and the Knorr 

stock cube). Continue to boil for 10 

minutes. 

4. Add the parboiled rice to the 

pot. Mix it very well with the tomato 

stew. At this point if you need to add 

water so that the rice is level with 

the tomato mixture/chicken stock 

go ahead and do so. Add the bay 

leaves, cover the pot, and cook 

on medium to low heat for 15-30 

minutes. 

5. When the liquid has almost 

dried up, add the remaining tomato 

stew, cover, and let it cook for another 

5-10 minutes until the liquid has 

completely dried up. Turn off the heat, 

mix thoroughly, and your Jollof Rice is 

ready to be eaten! 

Notes 

It is key to use parboiled rice so that 

you don’t end up with mushy rice in the 

end. 

When cooking the tomato stew, 

you can tell when it is done because 

the oil will rise to the top. Also another 

way to tell that is done is when the 

bitter taste of the tomatoes has been 

cooked out. The reason why you 

reserve 1/4th of the tomato mixture 

and add it at the end is because we 

do not want the rice to burn. Also, it 

gives the rice that beautiful red color 

we all know and love. 


for more exclusive content please visit 

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 

Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture, and Lifestyle Magazine. 

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market, 

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and 

lifestyle culturing to Women. 

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music, 

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that 

Informs, inspires, empowers, and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women. 

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun-loving woman. 

Let’s hold you by your hands into the world of fashion. Like and follow us on any of our 

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62

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