sidewalk prophets i brianna rollins i...

KULTURE!

OCT-NOV 2016ISSUE 7

kulturemagazine.com

LOUDUTTERANCEthe truth behind the power of speech

GIRL ONFIRENikki Laoye is lighting things up

SIDEWALK PROPHETS i BRIANNA ROLLINS i YOLANDA ADAMS

THE SKINNYFAT CONCEPTstraight from the

desk of the fitnessexpert

THIS GRUDGE

ACHESunforgiveness

eats you upfrom within

6NIGERIANSYOU WANT TO BE LIKEThey are fearless, bold and undeterred

INSIDE THEMIND OFFLOROCKA

savannah grace chapelPort Harcourt

because there’s no church without “U” we would love

to have you visit us

ALDGATE CONGRESS HOTELPlot 308, Opp Next Time Supermarket, Abacha Rd,

GRA, Port HarcourtSundays 9AM Wednesdays 5PM

Contents

KULTURE !Oct-Nov 2016ISSUE 7

PublisherCream Valley Media

EditorOnochie Onyekwena

WritersBethel OshokhaiDavid OshokhaiKirian StoneGabriel AkoSandra EnyidaValentine FredrickMelvin Otobo

Creative DesignOnochie Onyekwena

[email protected]@yahoo.com

234-706-306-3553234-802-828-6814

kulturemagazine

kulture411

OPPORTUNITY.Jud Wilhite lets us know that bad times don’t always translate to bad outcomes.

F E A T U R E S

8

GREATER HEIGHTSFlorocka shares everything with us, from his faith, discipleship and minstry

14

SPEAK!Your words aren’t as powerless as you think. Melvin Otobo introduces us to the conecpt of Loud Utterance

30

EATING YOU UP.Bearing a grudge is not only immature, but it causes you more harm than you know.

34

The Nation Bui lders 24

C O L U M N S

5 Kulture Hub8 Catalyst10 Hall of Fame12 Basement22 Know Your Rockers32 Sound & Impact36 Say It Now

LIFE ON THE GO www.kulturemagazine.com

With just one click of your mouse you can plug in to the extraordinary life everyday. Get lifted, Get blessed and get inspired wherever you are.

Credits

savannah grace chapel

Wednesdays 5PM

KULTURE!Oct-Nov 2016 3

HELLO NOTE

Happy Independence DayFirst of all, Happy Independence Day to every Nigerian reading this. This nation has come a long way and en-dured a lot of hardship, pain and decay, but it is obvious that God still has plans for her. I strongly hope that in reading this issue, you become inspired to build Nigeria up to the stature she should be.

It’s in the light of that we decided to published short pro-files of 6 particular Nigerians, whose lifes could serve to inspire you to see how much good one person can bring to a nation. If we all pull our own weight, truly, Nigeria will become the most desirable destination in the world by the year 2025.

We’ve also got an exclusive interview with Florocka, and some interesting profile pieces on Nikki Laoye, Sinach and an interesting young man who could be the next Hans Zimmer; trust me, he scores that good.

Also we’ve got some great food and we pay our last respects to the late DJ Official. Say it Now has something interesting you need to learn about bearing grudges; Kul-ture Style has some exciting features and we preview the upcoming movie Moana; this is possibly going to be your best Kulture issue yet. We here at the Cream Valley family hope you are blessed by this issue. Stay blessed.

Onochie Onyekwena

Music

HubKULTURE!Hub

Rocking the Celestial1’s & 2’s

#RIPDJOFFICIAL

DJ Official, whose real name was Nelson Chu, went to be with the Lord on Sunday 14th August, at age 39 due to complications from a recent double lung transplant. Af-ter being diagnosed with multiple myeloma six years ago, Chu cycled between serious health issues and crowd funded treatments. The collaborators, fellow artists, and fans who rallied around his music also became his biggest supporters throughout his illness.

Weeks after posting prayers for Chu’s July 30 surgery, the heartbro-ken Christian hip-hop community shared their condolences for the beloved DJ, who left behind a wife and two daughters. “Many don’t re-alize DJ Official was one of my big-gest advocates when I first started. He made sure my music was heard,” Lecrae said in Reach Record’s post on his passing. On Instagram, Lecrae wrote, “I wouldn’t be here without @DJOfficialDJ #restinpara-dise we miss you.”

Official, also known as “Fish,” helped shape the Christian hip-hop sound and raise the quality of pro-duction to what it’s become today. He leaves behind a massive legacy: a music ministry career that bridged generations, credits on nearly 160 hip-hop songs that exalted Jesus, and a spirit that embodied a Job-like faith in God’s will.

He was a mentee of Hip hop artist Cipha Sounds in the mid-1990s, when both got out of high school. He was a member in the Christian hip hop collective 116 Clique. He released Entermission on December 29, 2009. It allowed him to crack the Billboard charts with his first album. Cross Rhythms rated the al-bum a nine out of ten, and Rapzilla said “With Entermission DJ Official did much more than cement his legacy as a producer.”

DJ Official was also a part of American based Christian Hip Hop rap group The Cross Movement and

collaborated with many other Cross Movement Records artist such as, Da TRUTH and Flame to name a few. He served Cross Movement faithfully as their DJ for 8 years in the mid 90s into early 00’s and has been a longtime friend thereafter.

Fish DJ’ed for Trip Lee and Tedashii with Reach Records, going on to join them for their Unashamed Tour and eventually work for them full-time. It was a smart move by Reach to leverage DJ Official’s wisdom and experience to help guide the crew that would become the new face of Christian hip-hop.

“@DJOfficialDJ operated on a differ-ent level than I did,” wrote DJ Wade-O, recalling how he was “blown away” by how he implemented technology into his craft as an early adopter. We will miss DJ Official, and we look forward to meeting up with him with the great cloud of witnesses.


KULTURE!HubPersonality

Welcome To The Future

(From top to bottom): Brianna in college; at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow; At the 2016 Rio Olympics

Brianna Rollins (born Au-gust 18, 1991) is a 25-year-old American track and field athlete, who specializes in the 100 metres hurdles. At the 2013 USA Track and Field Championships, she won the 100 metres hurdles in an American record time of 12.26, bettering Gail Devers’s previous record of 12.33 set in 2000. At the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Rollins won the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.44, beating Olympic and reigning world cham-pion Sally Pearson.

At the 2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Champi-onships, Rollins won the 60 metres hurdles in 7.76 seconds. She finished second at 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in 60 m hurdles. She eventually gained international atten-tion at the Olympic games

this year in Rio, Brazil, where she won the gold medal with a time of 12.48 seconds, while teammates Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin captured the silver and bronze, respectively. It was the first Olympics since 1972 that a country had swept the event.

So what’s her secret? Her faith. Rollins, who often uses her social media platform to dis-cuss her Christian faith, didn’t waste time giving credit to God during a post-race inter-view. “I just kept God first and just continued to let Him guide me throughout the rounds,” she said. “We formed a prayer circle this morning and we just let His presence come upon us.” Isn’t that awesome.

According to her she prayed that God would help them go out to the track and continue to glorify Him. One thing is certain about Brianna:

she sin’t ashamed of her Lord. Her fans on social media wouldn’t have been surprised by her mention of her faith. Her Twitter profile picture includes a quote from her: “I want to break world records and win gold medals, but I also want to be known as the athlete who glorified God by reaching my full potential.”

Just like Tim Tebow, Steph Curry and others, Rollins hopes to bring glory to God’s kingdom by functioning effective on the platform He has placed her. On May 9 she tweeted: “For we are God’s handi-work, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in ad-vance for us to do” – from Ephesians 2:10. That’s her watch-word, is it yours? I most certainly hope so.

#BRIANNAROLLINS

KULTURE! Oct-Nov 20166

HubKULTURE!Cuisine

CHICKEN TANGINE RECIPE

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground ginger1/2 teaspoon turmeric1/2 teaspoon black pepper1 1/4 teaspoons salt3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup olive oil1 (3-lb) chicken, cut into 6 pieces, wings and backbone discarded1 tablespoon unsalted butter1 medium red onion, halved, then sliced 1/4 inch thick4 garlic cloves, finely chopped5 fresh cilantro5 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley1 1/2 cups water2 tablespoons mild honey1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick1/2 cup dried Turkish apricots, separated into halves1/3 cup whole blanched almondsSpecial equipment: a 10- to 12-inch tagine or heavy skillet; kitchen string

1 Stir together ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper, 1 tea-spoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat well.

2 Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in base of tagine (or in skillet), uncovered, over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown half of chicken, skin sides down, turning over once, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Brown remaining chicken in same man-ner, adding any spice mixture left in bowl.

3 Add onion and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to tagine and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, un-til soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Tie cilantro and parsley into a bundle with kitchen string and add to tagine along with 1/2 cup water, chicken, and any juices accumulated on plate. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes.

#CHICKENTANGINE

The Bird and fruity Delight

4 While chicken cooks, bring honey, remaining cup water, cinnamon stick, and apricots to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until apricots are very tender (add more water if necessary). Once apricots are tender, simmer until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 10 to 15 minutes.

5 While apricots cook, heat remain-ing 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over moderate heat and cook almonds, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

6 Ten minutes before chicken is done, add apricot mixture to tagine. Discard herbs and cinnamon stick, then serve chicken sprinkled with almonds on top.


YOUR RESTRICTIONIS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY

any individuals, min-istries and non-profits are facing a situation of restriction. The staff is leaner. Ministries are cut. Friends are laid off. And all the while, the need in people’s lives

increases. One church planter shared with me that in one week, four different sponsoring churches called him and had to stop their funding. These churches were led by some of his best friends and there was a lot of emotion. Nobody likes these situations. Nobody asks for them. But here we are.

By Jud Wilhite

M

For some the restriction isn’t financial directly, but it is a lack of an adequate facility or maybe a past reputation your church has that you’re always trying to reinvent. Restriction comes from many places and we all face it.

The biggest shift for me was leading our staff and church to see restriction as an opportunity. There are amazing things that can happen in your life and your ministry that won’t happen out-side of restriction. You can grow spiritually like never before.

You can reach people with the love of Jesus in simple and profound ways. You can experi-ence more focus in what God has called you to do. You can elimi-nate unnecessary programs. And, most importantly, you can see God work in a way that is miraculous because you really couldn’t have accomplished the task without the resources you had before anyway.

We’re in a new paradigm of how to do ministry altogether. In this season of restriction, our

church is seeing people grow faster spiritually, and we’re watching new people come to faith in greater numbers than we ever have before. Both of these things are facilitated by the very restriction that frustrates us.

Here are a couple practical ways we learned to see restric-tion as opportunity.

1. Fight the Martyr MentalityA martyr mentality focuses on what I don’t have rather than what I do. It is easy to look back on “the good ole’ days” and long for them or to compare ourselves to other ministries in frustration. We think... “We just don’t have the building they have or we can’t attract the talent they can or we just don’t have the money like they do. We aren’t in an aff luent area like they are.”

It’s the martyr mentality. We did that for too long at Central.

CATALYST


“What we have is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is far more important

than the coolest church band, lights or graphics.”

We walked around and thought, “We don’t have any money. It’s all falling apart. The world is ending. What are we going to do?” We finally had to shift beyond that and say, “No more.” No more comparing. No more wallowing and no more whin-ing. We have all we need to impact our community in precisely the way God desires.

When we stopped focusing on what we didn’t have and focused on what we did, it was remarkable. We did not have the resources to staff as full as we used to, but the opportu-nity in it was that unemployment was high so many people in our church had time.

We now have dozens of people who work full-time at Central as staff,

but they don’t get paid. They are looking for work, but in the process, they are using their gifts to give back. Our facility was looking pretty bad due to not spending resources for upkeep. But the oppor-tunity was to involve hundreds of volunteers to keep up our campus. This kind of community ownership is a huge opportunity for churches facing restriction. You can get the ministry done, but you’ll have to rely more and more on others to do it.

2. Find the YesWhen you are in restriction, the answer to most new ideas and inno-vative programs is no. We start out

saying, “Can we do this? No. How about that? No. There is no money. There isn’t enough space. There isn’t enough staff.” Pretty soon your team stops asking. They think it and then answer their own thought—NO. The next step is to stop thinking those thoughts altogether. Now the team is completely in neutral.

We went through this cycle. We had to eventually get everyone together and say, “The answer is yes. We aren’t starting with no anymore. Yes, we’re going to figure it out. Yes, we’re going to find a way. Yes, we’re not going to say no immediately. Yes, we’re going to explore it. Yes, we’re going to try and do it without money.”

Some of our best ideas came from

finding the yes in restriction—from launching church campuses in prisons, to beginning an Online Campus with virtually no financial expense, to an extensive internship program for people considering ministry and to expanding our staff to include many full-time volunteers.

Over the last couple years, Acts 3:6 has meant more to me. Peter and John are walking and they come to a beggar outside the Temple. He looks at them expecting to get something. Acts 3:6 (New Living Translation): But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and

walk!” God is not calling you to give what you don’t have. Peter says, “I’ll give you what I have.” What we have is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is far more important than the cool-est church band, lights or graph-ics. What we have is the power of the gospel that can transform people’s lives. Like Peter we say, I don’t have ________ , but I’ll give what I have, in the name of Jesus, rise up.

Stop looking around at what you lack and share what you in the power and love of Jesus. You’ll find that restriction is God’s op-portunity waiting to happen.

Jud Wilhite serves as Senior Pas-tor of Central Christian Church. Central is dedicated to introduc-ing people to Jesus and helping them follow Him. Jud is a best-selling author who has written several books including The God of Yes, Pursued, and a study Bible for new believers, The Uncen-sored Truth Bible for New Begin-nings. His teaching segments are heard nationally on KLOVE radio. Jud and his wife, Lori, reside in the Las Vegas area with their two children, Emma and Ethan, and a slobbery Bulldog named Roxy.


YOLANDAADAMS

olanda Adams 54 has got to be one of the most influential music artistes the world has ever seen or heard; she’s a legend and a diva by all rights.

She is a singer, record producer, actress, and former radio host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. It wouldn’t surprise you to know that she has sold more than 4.5 million albums since 1991 in the United States, and nearly 8 million albums worldwide; why should you be surprised? She’s Yolanda.

She started up as a lead singer with Houston’s Southeast Inspirational Choir affiliated with the Church of God in Christ, under the direction of Carl Preacher, Brenda Waters, and Shirley Joiner. In 1986, Yolanda was featured on the Edwin Hawkins Mu-sic and Arts Seminar Choir released Give Us Peace, with a performance entitled My Trust Lies In You. Later, she signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.This same year, she married Troy Mason, a man whom she eventually divorced in 1990 due to spousal abuse.

In 1990, she was discovered by producer/keyboardist Ben Tankard, and signed to his independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm. One year later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first sig-nature song The Battle Is The Lord’s. Her next release was 1995’s More Than a Melody. The single Gotta Have Love, from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream popularity and was her first single and music video. During this time Tribute Records’ parent company Diadem Music Group merged with Benson Music Group, which was eventually bought by New York-based Zomba/Verity Records.

Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records, including Only Believe, which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included Still I Rise, a dedication to Rosa Parks, which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.

Adams’ first significant attention outside the urban contemporary

Ygospel arena came with the re-lease of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the produc-tion of this album which went 2x Platinum in 2000 and won Adams a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include Yeah and Fragile Heart.

Believe, which included the hit Never Give Up was released in 2001 and reached gold status. She would later go on to perform this song at “The Salute to Gospel Music” at the White House during President George W. Bush’s ad-ministration. She recorded a song for the 2003 film Honey entitled I Believe, which played during the last scene in the final dance.

In 1997, Yolanda married for the second time. She fell in love and tied the knot with former NFL player Tim Crawford. They had a child between them, but sadly, like her first marriage, the couple divorced in August 2004 after seven years.

Not letting the harshness of life and disappointments hold her back, she returned in 2005 with Day By Day. The album featured the singles Be Blessed, Some-one Watching Over You, and Victory (which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel).

After the release of What a Wonderful Time, she embarked on the radio career with The Yolanda Adams Morning Show. The show proved to be a success, taking over 26 radio markets in just two years. Her radio show features Marcus D. Wiley as Bishop Secular. Cur-rently, the show is heard on 39 stations, including 1190 WLIB in New York City.

On December 25, 2009, the songstress performed on BET’s The Mo’Nique Show, where she sang Already Alright, from

her 1999 Mountain High...Valley Low album. Mo’Nique stated that the song is one of her favorites. In 2010, Yolanda released her book Points of Power, based on one of the segments of her radio show Points of Power.

Later in 2011, she appeared at the 53rd Grammy Awards, taking part in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, along with Jennifer Hudson, Chris-tina Aguilera, Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, and Martina McBride Adams performed Spirit in the Dark - Franklin’s classic from 1970.

In total, Adams has won four Grammy Awards, sixteen Stellar Gospel Music Awards, four of the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, one American Music Award, seven NAACP Image Awards, one Soul Train Music Award, and five BET Awards.

She may have made mistakes and stumbled but it takes nothing away from Yolanda Adams. She has made a mark in this world, one that will not be forgotten in a hurry. All hail the queen.


Almost every day of our lives, we are faced with a major challenge: discontentment. It is something that attacks us so strongly and sometimes, stealthily and robs us of our peace. But to understand what discontentment is, we must know what it means to be content.

To be ‘Content’ means ‘To be satisfied,’ ‘adequately happy’ or ‘a contented state.’ Bear in mind this is a dissatisfaction that comes when God is trying to get your attention to get you to the next level; this study isn’t about that. From the above meaning, we can see that content-ment expresses a state of satisfac-tion and adequate happiness. If I were to define contentment, I would say contentment can be defined as the state of satisfaction and ad-equate happiness, even in the midst of unfavorable conditions.

WHAT IS SATISFACTION?To satisfy means to meet expecta-tions or desires; to be adequate, to meet an appetite or want. When you are content you are satisfied

Awith your wants and appetites. But sometimes it seems difficult to stay content in a world that keeps show-ing you every day that you have needs that must be met.

If these worries about getting the necessities of life are nurtured, it might cause you to shift your focus from Jesus to those things and eventually lead to covetous-ness (desiring greatly esp. a thing belonging to another person).

“And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he pos-sesses.’” Luke 12:15.

That’s why Jesus warned us about covetousness; he warned us be-cause if you start defining yourself based on what you have, you will fall into that trap. Some people even think that the things they possess show how godly they are and that they are truly following Jesus; not so true. Let’s look at this 1 Timothy 6, starting from verse 5.

“useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, WHO SUPPOSE THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. From such withdraw yourself.”1 Timothy 6:5 [Emphasis mine].

In this verse Paul the apostle talked about men who thought that godliness was a means of gain; they had the wrong motives. They were acting godly only because they wanted to ‘ham-mer’ (Does that sound familiar?) forgetting what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous-ness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Look guys, I’m not saying that there isn’t gain or profit in godli-ness. Godliness has both spiritual and physical rewards; but the only way to get gain from godli-ness is through contentment.

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6.

The above statement is just so

The Art of ContentmentGOD WANTS US TO BE CONTENT BECAUSE OUR TRUST SHOULD BE IN HIM, NOT THE THINGS WE POSSESS; GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN AFTER ALL.

WORDS BY ONOCHIE ONYEKWENA


God wants you to have everything you want and need

“” true. Being content with what you

have shows God that you are faith-ful in the small things.

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:7-8.

When we were born, we came into this world naked without clothes, gold and cars; and when we die we will carry nothing out just like the man in Luke 12:16-21.

“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be re-quired of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for him-self, and is not rich toward God.”

Contentment helps us store our treasures in heaven. Paul was ask-ing the church to be satisfied with what they had. I believe that if you are content when you have little, God will always provide you needs because you have put your trust in Him. It shows you are trusting the Blesser, not the blessings.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which

some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced them-selves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

Wealth is not bad, okay guys? Please don’t take the point of this study to mean that wealth is bad and not of God. That’s a lie. God wants you to have everything you want and need and He has already provided it all for you in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” So God wants you to be content because you have Him; and in Him you have all things.

The people that think wealth is bad use Matthew 19:24 as an excuse but they forget what Jesus said in verse 26 of that chapter. “…with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

The wealth God gives you is not an end and it’s not what will get you into heaven; it is your belief and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ that will. Paul realized this in 1 Timothy 6:9-10. The people that are rich are prone to temptations that can make them esteem money in ways they shouldn’t; but keeping our focus on The Lamb Slain solves that problem.

Money should never be coveted or chased after. The unbelievers (or soon-to-be believers) chase after these things, but it doesn’t have to be so. That’s not God’s perfect plan for you. He doesn’t intend for you to hustle and toil to eat; that is the curse and He has redeemed you from the curse through Jesus Christ. You should receive Him right now and enter into the life

where money chases you instead.

Money is a means to an end; we should appreciate the thing we can get done with it but we shouldn’t love it. Money and material things only have the value we attach to them. Coveting material things will make you wander from the faith.

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:11-12.

Paul had found the answer; he had learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state. He had learned in hunger or fullness, how to face every situation that came his way, whether he was in lack or he had enough to give. He learned by having faith. How do I know? Check out verse 13 of Philip-pians 4:

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” [AMP].

‘Self-sufficient in Christ’s suf-ficiency.’ See what I mean? Paul realized that the strength of Christ in our spirit-man is enough to get us through any situation; it’s enough to help us adapt to any situation. That is why it is necessary and important for us to consistently keep our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith.

Contentment is possible in this world by putting your faith in God and receiving the eternal life provided by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Also believe that you can be satisfied in the presence of want and in abundance by the strength of Christ working in you.


GOING ALL THEWAY UPI

The head huncho of rockanation talks origins, dis-cipleship, ministry, divorce and so much more. enter the heart of florocka.

INTERVIEW BY ONOCHIE ONYEKWENA


BBorn Nathan Akinwunmi Akiremi, Florocka began his music career in Ogun State University (Now know as Olabisi Onabanjo University, a career that has seen him work with some of the best talent in the music industry.Kulture Magazine was able to catch up with the im-mensely talented Florocka for an exclusive interview.

So let’s start from the beginning; how did you venture into music?

Let’s just say I grew up into a family of passionate artists! My father was a multi-instrumentalist before he passed on, whilst my mother was an operatic singer. My father’s family is a family of artists. Practically every single sibling of his, acts in movies. So I really didn’t have a say! Music was ingrained in my gene pool. Even whilst I was in university, I could hardly focus on my legal studies. Inevitably music became my alma matter and I eventually had to travel to the United Kingdom to expand my knowledge of music. So after I completed my 5 year law degree and law school, I opted to make music my profession. I began working in a recording studio by the name of Even Ezra Studios on Victoria Island, Lagos. And that was it!

How were you able to combine music with your academics?

I must confess it was pretty tough. I could make music off practically any-thing! I read law because my mum gave me the impression that law was a prestigious profession, not really because I had an interest in the legal profession. Eventually, I had an extra year at university because I spent more of my time at recording studios all over rather than uni.

You lost your dad when you were very young; how did you deal with that at such a young age?

It was quite traumatic for me. I had no father-figure in my life that I could relate to or with. Not a single one! So I spent more time with my mother, sisters and my mother’s relatives.

I picked up all sorts of feminine traits such as growing my hair into a ‘ponytail’ and having an intense attention to detail. I eventually found my father figure in God because even when I came into maturity of the faith, most of the father figures I came across wanted to use my gifts for the advancement of their personal ambition(s).

Now you weren’t always a worship artiste right? What caused the change?

I don’t thing anything such as a ‘worship artiste’ exists. I’d rather be referred to as a Minister Of The Gospel. I didn’t set out to become a minister, let alone an artist. I was very much content with being a sound crafter (what many refer to as a music producer). I believe that when you are faithful in one gift God gives to you, He opens the path to other ones. I never even sang growing up although I knew I had a very remark-able ‘falsetto’ pitch whilst growing up. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ chose me.

Sometimes people talk about the sacrifice they make when they go fully to gospel music; did your own decision come at a cost?

I consider it a privilege to work for God at any point in time. The challenge I would say I have is the ‘body of Christ’ as a whole. How? Let me elucidate a bit further. I write songs in various genres. Majority of the members of the body of Christ in headship do not have a valid ap-preciation of the ‘art’ of music. They seem to have a very narrow minded understanding of the power and influence of music. Most times as

an artist, you are blessed with the capacity to birth various musical expressions, and because of the narrow-mindedness of some of these members in authority especially in churches, it is difficult to express some of these gifts. It seems the church would have you express your gifts in a particular way ‘validated by them’ and failure for you to ad-here, adapt and sometimes conform to their rules will bring a demise to the opportunities available for expressing these God-given gifts and talents.

The price I have to pay for being a Minister Of The Gospel is to con-sistently learn to create a ‘creative’ balance between my ‘purpose’ as a music minister and a singer in church. Some ministers of the gospel tend to tilt towards becoming secu-lar artists because they do not know how to balance the divide. It takes a lot to breach that divide - quite a lot of wisdom and strategic planning.

Do you believe every music minis-ter of Christian music must carry the tag “Gospel Artiste?”

No I do not. It is my belief that if you are a born again Christian and you have been blessed with the gift of making and or singing music, you are automatically an ambassador of Jesus Christ. We as musicians needs to learn to be wise and strategic in these perilous times. Over the years in Nigeria, the gospel has been per-cieved in a certain way that makes it difficult to break certain barriers, especially outside the fence of the church. This is not to say that the gospel has not been effective in the lives of people. It has, but I believe it


“THE EFFICACY OF OUR WORDS LIE IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST

AND OUR CONVICTION”

is time for the efficacy of the gospel in music to grow beyond the church. There are way too many church folk making music for more church folk!

Most Christians today are scared to obey the word of God. We are afraid to influence the world with our gifts because we aren’t grounded and wise enough to engage the world yet. We are scared, timid and lack ‘creative evangelical strategies’ with which to influence the society way beyond the walls of church. I get a lot of singers and songwriters writ-ing me asking for strategic ways to take the gospel outside their church because they are stifled and find it difficult to express their God-given abilities. We don’t need that tag.

Jesus asked us to make disciples of nations; how can the Christian in music play his part?

Simple. Jesus said “The words I speak are life..” (John 6:63). Words are powerful. They are the very source of creation and the very life through which we exist. My question is this? What are the words of our music made up of? What informs the thought processes that create the words with which we profess the gospel? If we digest unwhole-some content, we cannot but create unwholesome content.

We cannot just open up the bible and lift scriptures and convert them into melodies for sale. That is not the rec-ipe. That is pure undiluted laziness. Any one can pick up the bible and use the words therein. The efficacy of our words lie in our experience of Jesus Christ and our conviction. So many christian artists are sing-ing songs filled with words they themselves have not experienced. It’s difficult to buy into a life when the propagator of the words has little or no conviction of what he or she is

singing. It’s a tough sell. Until we renew our minds and realign our gifts the purposes and intent of our maker, we will only continue to influence other christians and NOT our world.

I really have to ask this ques-tion; what do you think should be a music minister’s primary objective?

I believe every music minister must tune in to God’s frequency. God had an intent for giving that min-ister the gift of music. He does not intend for all music ministers to copy the template of any ‘percieved successful’ music minister. That defeats the purpose of the diversi-fication of our musical gifting(s). God has a mandate for every music minister. Only when such a minis-ter succeeds at that mandate would I say such a minister is successful.

The standards of our success must be defined by God, not society or even the church.

Have you ever ministered at a place (or church) where you were treated shabbily?

Indeed at a church. But my belief is that they didn’t know any better.

How did you react?

I have taken offence to some whilst sometimes I usually tend to focus on what God would have me do. Some churches just don’t under-stand how to treat ministers of the gospel. Usually the practice is; the more popular and famous you are, the better the reception you get. It’s sad really.

You’re very vocal about your views on ministry on twitter; do you ever get backlash for that?

Lol. Indeed I am very vocal about ministry. I’ve been confronted by

a few atheists and some christians as well. Rather than get upset, I usually take out the time to engage such people. Going on social media is like shopping. There are bound to be distractions.

There was a time you were known more as a producer than a singer; was it ever a transition for you becoming popular as a singer?

Ironically I had to earn my spots as a singer. No one gave me preferential treatment simply because I am once of Africa’s finest sound crafters. I had to work hard to earn my spot on the music scene. I simply transmit-ted the same level of excellence of music production unto my singing and then moved a notch further. I don’t intend leaving the music scene anytime soon!

Your resume is so impressive;

Mike Abdul, Shalamar and so on; do you have preferences in the kind of artistes you work with? If yes, what are your criteria?

Now I do. I never used to. To be frank, some artists are simply time wasters! Some have no sense of direction of the path they intend taking their career. They just want to be popular. the key is to be ‘in-fluential’, not just popular. Of what use is your fame if it translates to nothing but your name in black ink and caps? To work with me you must have a sense of purpose. I cannot give you purpose by simply crafting your sound. Purpose is way bigger than sound. All I can do for an artist is to further define the sound of the purpose and intent of such an artist. I am not cheap and so these days, even if an artist can afford me, I am mindful who I work with. I want to look back 40years from today and know that I left a legacy. I think and work with a ‘trans-generational’


mentality.

I noticed that apart from Bouqui, you haven’t really made any songs with rappers; is that on purpose?

Not really. It seems most rappers have a preference for the kind of producers they love to work with. Besides, most of the rappers I have met have a thing for ‘vulgarity’ which I am not exactly a fan of.

In an interview you revealed that you wrote the song Twale while in traffic, that’s a strange place to be inspired right? Is your creative process always that unconven-tional?

It definitely is! To be truthful, my creative process of melodic and harmonic construction are always unconventional. I simply have a knack for being unpredictable and unique.

How is life at Rockanation?

Rockanation is growing and expand-ing beyond the frontiers of music. Soon you will see and feel the effects of our exploits.

Are there any other artistes to expect from the label apart from

you?

Yes. Recently we signed on the artist GBEMIGA. His sound is youthful, vi-brant, anointed, distinct, intentional and unmistakably soothing. The Love Song is a single of his Sopho-more Album. First to be released is the video of the song, which was recently shot in Manchester and Cen-tral London. There’s so much more in the burner!

Could Rockanation be the label that puts gospel music on the map?

Our mandate is to influence the thought processes of our listeners

and bring an unconventional approach to both audio and visuals. The plan is to ‘impart’, not necessarily to be famous.

Who owns and started the label and how did it all begin?

The label was my vision. I am very pas-sionate about music and I’ve always wanted to have a platform where I’d be able to help give a sense of direction to young budding and passionate musicians. I realised (being an artist myself) that the terrain of the music industry can be very competitive, thereby reducing the chances of a few musicians getting the necessary traction they need to promote their musical gifts. And so I decided to cre-ate ROCKANATION.

However I also took into consideration that you can only make an artist as successful as you make yourself, and so we decided to sign me first. If I failed at making myself a success, then the platform would cease to exist. Fortunately, with strategic placement and a firm understanding of the busi-ness of the music industry, Florocka became a huge success. Now taking up another artist becomes a much more viable venture.

What else are you into apart from music and music production?

I am a man of numerous and diverse talents! I have my hands in quite a lot. I intend to die empty and that informs the manner with which I express my unique gifts. Having taken several courses in photography and recently cinematography, I am very much involved in the creative process of making short films and teaching the ethics and business of music. I also run an academy by the name DA’AT academy. The purpose of this academy is to help teach Christians who have a passion for the creative arts. I also run a show by the name of #Flospeaks. On

this platform I tackle several issues of life using my God-given and driven insight. I speak on diverse issues of life and I do not restrict the areas of discuss to music only.

Tell us a little about your teaching academy.

The DA’AT academy is an institution that primary focuses on birthing numerous expressions from young budding musicians who have an insatiable passion for the arts. We have groomed numerous and count-less young individuals who have now in turn become platforms for helping other budding musicians.

Despite what the rest of the world says, do you really believe that the Nigerian music industry has come of age?

I do believe the Nigerian Music Indus-try has contributed it’s quota to the music industry as a whole. However I do yearn for excellence even as we churn out visual and audio content for global digestion. Many artists are of the opinion that excellence can only be achieved by having money. I share a different opinion. I believe that influence is key. And influence isn’t necessarily tied to having

numerous funds. A man can be a rich illiterate. The need for excellence in our content can not be overstated. However, that being said, it is a gradual process and I do believe that Nigeria will very soon become the focus for a global musical expedition. It’s all a matter of time.

What advice do you have for every up comer in the Nigerian music industry?

Tell yourself the truth and develop passion for your field of endeavour. Passion is that very recipe that keeps you going even when monetary gains reduce to the barest minimum.

“MY CREATIVE PROCESS OF MELODIC AND HARMONIC CONSTRUCTION ARE ALWAYS UNCONVENTIONAL”


MIRACLE OF DESTINYPaperback by Melvin Otobo

AvailableNow!

“For everyone who yeilds to God's plan for their life, there is usually a time of isolation...the time of isolation is very crucial to the birthing forth of

destiny.”

www.facebook.com/[email protected]

For Booking Contact

Don’t hold anyone but yourself responsible for your success. Quit looking for someone to invest in yourself when you haven’t done so yourself. If money is your aim, chase money, however if you hope to be trans-generational, then you must prioritise by IMPACT and nothing else. If you claim to be under God’s paid employment, follow the rules to the letter.

A lot has happened to you over the past few years; fame, awards, enduring a divorce; how have you

managed to hold it all together?

Roman chapter 5 verse 4 has taught me never to regret every step I make on the path to Jesus Christ. My faith in Christ (not my gifts), has held my steadfast through it all. There will be seasons in a man’s life at every point in time. The question really is how well prepared we are to face, accept and conquer the circumstances life displays before us. I have located my cross, accepted it and daily make a conscious effort to get to God’s predes-tined location for me. Hence, I have

learnt to learn my lessons but above all - die empty.

Final words?

The fact that your gifts are similar to someone else’s doesn’t presuppose that God plan for you to use it the same way as others. God had a plan when He made you - discover it through Him and not men.


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he discovered that all his sins are forgiven and God isn’t angry with him

LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TOKNOW ABOUT THE GOSPEL

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SIDEWALKPROPHETSIn a cabin on a lake in Pennsylvania, founding members of Sidewalk Prophets, Ben McDonald and David Frey, wrote most of what would become their third full studio album, Something Different. For Dave, writing at the lake was sym-bolic: “All these things were happening in our lives at that time but here we sat, on the peaceful serenity of this


KNOW YOUR

ROCKERS

lake. It was a different way to approach writing. Instead of a clock in and clock out approach to writing, we were in the moment, in this environment for days on end asking God to fill the quiet but remove the distractions and burdens, and allow Him to speak through us. I think the whole experience facilitated, in turn, a different way to show our hearts to the world.”That’s what this much-anticipated Sidewalk Prophets project was built on: candor and honesty about where the band is, has been, and is going. It truly is something different for their fans and for the genre.Their prior albums Live Like That (2012) and These Simple Truths (2009) saw great success with singles like “Live Like That” and “You Love Me Anyway” topping Christian charts. But this time around, Sidewalk Prophets did not hold back, not emotionally, not musically. For Something Different, the band, which in addition to Ben and Dave includes Cal Joslin (bass), Justin Nace (drums) and Daniel Macal (lead guitar), chose to work with seasoned producer Seth Mosley for the first time. It was a surprisingly perfect fit for Ben and Dave, who have been writing together since their freshman year of college where they met almost 14 years ago.“Seth is so passionate,” says Ben. “He goes above and beyond in all he does.” Seth, who has produced artists like Newsboys and for King & Country, was one of several cowriters Ben and Dave flew out to the cabin on the lake for extended writing sessions. Toward

the end of their time there, the three of them had written six songs, including one of their personal favorites, “Every-thing in Awe.” Their hope is that this song will help others see the beauty of God all around them: “It’s that whisper from God say-ing, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve created for you. This isn’t me, but this is a glimpse of what I made with you in mind.’”The intimacy and nearness of God is written into every song on Something Different. As different as they sound—some soft and melodic, others more rock-n-roll in flavor, Sidewalk Prophets doesn’t waste a verse or a chorus. Each line is a chance to present the gospel. The scripture-rooted song “To Live Is Christ” is a perfect example of this.The band- comprised of David Frey (lead singer), Ben McDonald (rhythm guitar), Cal Joslin (bass) and Justin Nace (drums) - got its start by leading worship at its alma mater, Anderson University. With a desire to encourage its fellow believers on how to integrate worship with real life, the band played independently for several years before signing a record deal and moving to Nashville. While independent, the band did whatever it took to make it, even if it meant sleeping in the janitor’s closet at some venues and subsiding on dinners of beans and cornbread while honing their skillsIn 2012, Sidewalk Prophets released their album Live Like That which included the song “Keep Making Me.” It’s a song that speaks of the impor-tance of being broken and vulnerable before God:

“I think we all can agree that one of the most important things in life is love. It’s what life is all about,” says lead singer David Frey. “Often it’s a scary thought- to be open with someone and to truly love them. But I think it’s gets to the core of what Jesus is all about.”He continues, “I think we need to pray scary prayers that are so vulnerable that they leave us open for being broken and changing our bad habits. It’s not an easy thing, but I think it’s a beautiful thing. To love is to be vulner-able. To let God enter in and say ‘break me.’ We all need love, and true love only comes from Christ.”The message of Live Like That - which also contains the songs, “Help Me Find It,” and “Live Like That” - committing to selflessness and faithful optimism, is evident on every song on the record.“This album is a reflection of our journey in music and our desire to live our lives in such a way that it is rooted in a deep passion and love that knows no bounds.” says DavidTeaming up with Ian Eskelin, All Star United frontman and an accomplished producer, the band recorded its first album These Simple Truths with a goal of convincing even the most jaded listener that it is possible to craft relateable and entertaining music with a Christ-centered message.Thanks in large part to their single “The Words I Would Say” and “You Love Me Anyway,” the album earned them distinction as the 2010 “New Artist of the Year” at the Gospel Music Association’s annual Dove Awards.

These Simple Truths (2009)

Live Like That (2012) Something Different (2015}

Albums


6YOUNIGERIANS

WANTTO BE

LIKEThey don’t believe in the word “Impossible” and its all about adding value for them

FELA DUROTOYETHE NATIONBUILDERFela Durotoye is the Chief Executive Officer of Visible Impact; a social enterprise set up to tackle social and environmental challenges and limitations with the aim to build people into super-achievers and responsible leaders, build corporate organizations into global market lead-ers and responsible corporate citizens, as well as assist governments in developing blueprints and programs that create a desirable environment for their people to do great things.

On November 23, 2004, Fela Durotoye experi-enced a divine visitation. During this encounter, he received a mandate from God: “Go and build me the people that will build Nigeria into the world’s most desirable nation to live in by Decem-ber 31, 2025.”

Over time, Fela received a structured model for building a Generation that will be Empowered, Motivated & Stirred To Operate with Natural Excellence (GEMSTONE). Thus, GEMSTONE is a structured model that can be replicated in any other African country. Upon the implementation of the GEMSTONE model & platform by African nations, Africa is poised to become the world’s most desirable continent to live in.

xclusive

SAMADEYEMITHE BUILDER OF LEADERS

Samuel Adeyemi is the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, a fast growing, life changing church com-mitted to “raising role models” based in Lagos. He is also the President of Success Power International, an NGO that among others things specializes in organizing financial, leadership and motivational seminars and is President of Daystar Leadership Academy, a leadership school for business owners and ministers of the Gospel.

He is a dynamic Pastor, Teacher and Motivational speaker and host of the popular programme – SUCCESS POW-ER – which airs on radio and television stations within and outside Nigeria.

He is passionate about teaching Suc-cess, Leadership and Financial princi-ples through seminars and the media. He is a much sought after as speaker both nationally and internationally.

His teachings have motivated, encour-aged and spurred on loads of people to start or advance their businesses. He’s one of the few championing the course for a “New Nigeria” and the reformation of the African continent as a whole.

He has authored several books includ-ing the best selling – Parable Of Dollars and Success Is Who You Are. Others include Ideas Rule the World, Start With What You Have, Second Revolution, Multiply Your Success: LEAD and his latest additions, Nigeria Of My Dreams, Generation Z+ and We Are The Government.

IBUKUNAWOSIKATHEENTREPRENUER

A fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network, Ibukun Awosika is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, member of the board of Nige-rian Sovereign Wealth Fund and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Women in Management, Business and Public Service. In 2011, she co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Develop-ment Centre, a career centre established in order to checkmate the high rate of unemploy-ment in Nigeria.

On September 7, 2015, Ibukun became the first woman to be appointed Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria following the resignation of Prince Ajibola Afonja. “Seeing my drive as a young entre-preneur, my father used to say, ‘I have given birth to this one,’ and if anything happened, he was always present to assist me even if it meant selling his house to pay up any debts I may have incurred along the way. He never discouraged me.”

Not one to throw in the towel, the resilient employer of labour says against all odds, she became successful at all she does.

“I soon got help from people who believed in my dreams; I finally got access to all the loans I need-ed. So, I went around some furniture companies that were shutting down and I bought a lot of used machines from them. That increased our capacity to meet up with our customers’ demands.”

In conclusion, the doting mother of three sons spares some succinct advice for business owners: “You must understand that you are not indispens-able to your business because you are not God. You are not the most important person in your business, the guys who work for you are just as important as well.You must learn to respect them and the value they bring into your business. You can’t pay them peanuts and pay yourself all the money.”

Also a pastor, Awosika has a kingdom agenda. Her career push has nothing to do with solely having laurels, but about establishing the king-dom of the Father of Lights.

ENOCHADEBOYETHE CHURCH PLANTEREnoch Adejare Adeboye is a Pastor from Nigeria and General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Before joining the pentecos-tal church Adeboye was a mathematics lecturer, and worked at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin; He has a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Lagos, hitting a successful career in the academic world.

After he joined The Redeemed Christian Church Of God he began working to translate the sermons of its then Pastor and founder, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, from Yoruba into English. In 1981 by Divine Providence and complete obedience to God, Papa Adeboye (As he is fondly called) became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church Of God, making him leader of the Church after the death of Papa Akindayomi the previous year.

For three years he filled the role part-time, still lecturing at Ilorin, until giving up his university position to preach full-time. The Church, which was not well known before Adeboye took charge, now claims branches in over a hundred countries, including more than 14,000 in Nigeria.

Adeboye has stated that his aim is to put a church within five minutes of every person on Earth. In 2008 Newsweek magazine named Adeboye one of the fifty most powerful people in the world. He is married to Foluke Adeboye, also a pastor, with whom he has children.

Papa Adeboye has sat with presidents and digni-taries, but all that influence and exposure hasn’t reduced his humility one bit. This is a man that is completely focused on doing his master’s bidding.

POJUOYEMADETHE KINGDOMSTRATEGIST‘Poju Oyemade is the Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos. He was called to ministry whilst he was still an undergraduate at the University of Lagos. He was ordained into ministry by Bishop David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Living Faith Ministries Worldwide (a.k.a Winner’s Chapel). Pastor ‘Poju is such a dynamic teacher of the Word of faith with insight into how believers can apply biblical principles in a practical way in their daily lives.

His amazing strategy from the bible is one of the things he speaks about a lot; and he believes so much that God’s intention for be-lievers in Christ is for them to have a positive and deep impact on the world. The leader-ship conference The Platform, which has become a national and international event, is one of the ways he does that, boasting of speakers like Oby Ezekwesili, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Sam Adeyemi, Bishop David Oyedepo and many more.

Also Pastor ‘Poju convenes the West African Faith Believers Conference (WAFBEC) every year since 2013. The aim of the conference is to uncover fundational truths about faith; a gathering of believers who are willing to be taught the rudiments of faith and its applica-tion in everyday life. The conference has feaured teachers such as Bill Winston, Mark Hankins, Dr. Andy Osakwe and many others.

‘Poju is a stern believer in the concept of penetrating the World culture with Gospel of Jesus Christ; and also excellence by virtue of the life of God in every believer. He is also one of those who believe in the flourishing of Nigeria agaisnt all odds, and he is playing his part.

TYBELLOTHE VISIONEERSONGSTRESSIn 2008, TY Bello released her debut studio album Greenland. It took two years to develop. The album earned her a Nigeria Music Award as well as a Sound City Award. TY Bello describes the album as a journey of her everyday life. The music of Greenland embodies the themes of love, family and nation. The album's title track is an inspirational song written to motivate Nigerians to liberate themselves from a place of despair, to a place of hope.

In 2011 TY released The Future as the lead single from the album of the same name.The song urges Nigerian youth to be the change they seek. Makeup brand House of Tara launched The Jubilee Collection, a limited edition line of makeup inspired by TY Bello's The Future single.

Later that year, she was one of the celebri-ties featured in an eight-minute anti-rape video compiled by the Nigerian Ministry of Youth Development. She released her 3rdstudio album, The Morning Songbook, for free digital download via SoundCloud.

TY is also a profilic photographer who even worked with Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former president. She organizes an annual photography exhibition to raise funds for orphans in Nigeria. She is also the direc-tor of Link-a-child, an NGO dedicated to proliferating information on orphanages in Nigeria and seeking sponsorship on their behalf.

TY is passionate about the growth of our nation and she relentless does what she can to make people aware of the fact that the best is yet to come for Nigeria.


4 Ways to Dress Stylishly at the Office No Matter Where You Work

If you work at a law practice or inside of a government build-ing, you know what dressing

corporate looks like. Have fun with your closet basics by

tucking a silk blouse into a knee-length swing skirt. Then,

add some fun, feminine touches like a braided skinny belt and

thick bangles.

IF YOU WORK IN A CORPORATE PLACE

IF YOU WORK IN PRODUCTION

IF YOU WORK IN A CREATIVE PLACEMaybe you’re a graphic designer working in San Francisco, or perhaps you’re an early joiner at a start-up in New York City. Either way, everyone in your office wears jeans and flannel, and you want to step it up.

Start with a pair of printed trousers — they’re elevated and comfortable — and tuck in a striped t-shirt. The patterns are contrasting, but they play off of each other nicely. Finish with loafers and a denim jacket.

IF YOU WORK AT A SCHOOL

You’ve aspired to work in production your entire life. Right now, you are a PA at a studio and carry a lot of video equipment around. You know what that means? Wearing all black is your go-to. But you can infuse an element of sur-prise into your usual look by half-tucking a boxy chambray shirt into your pants and finishing with some all-black trainers.

You’re a teacher, and your usual wardrobe looks the same every day: jeans (assuming you’re at a school that allows jeans), a blouse, and a cardigan sweater in case it gets cold. You can keep your basics the same, but here’s a way to add a little bit of edge to your routine: opt for a menswear-inspired button-down blouse, then roll the sleeves up, and finish with a printed scarf at the neck. Comfortable with a touch of chic is the perfect combo for any classroom envi-ronment.

All Articles and Photos culled from www.popsugar.com

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The Right Way to Use Dry Shampoo on Curly Hair

Shake VERY WELL to blend all the powders.

Hold a good distance away and spray along your part. You will see some white and that is okay! You’re going to get rid of it in the coming steps.

Keep parting your hair in different spots to find the dirty areas and repeat the process.

Wait about 30 seconds for the dry shampoo to activate and absorb the dirt and oil.

Gently flip hair upside down, slide your fingers against your scalp, and move hands very gently back and forth. This will add volume back into your hair without creating frizz.

If you need to get out any more powder, shake gently with your fingers (using the same motion you do when shampooing).

LOUD UTTERANCEThe speech of a believer has

has nothing to do with ordinaryWords By Melvin Otobo

TThe Universe is a System that is made up of sub-systems working coherently. Every system works by laws, codes, commands, instructions or rules. When these laws are not obeyed, then predefined results become unachievable. Let’s consider Job 38:33 & 34 [NLT]:

“Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?”

In the preceding scripture, it is obvious that God was asking Job a question, yet God discloses that there are laws of the universe [or spirit]. Laws which when known, may be applied to bring events and occurrences into

conformity with expectation. Now, just as there are law enforcement agents in the physical, so are there spiritual agents that enforce spiritual laws.

In verse 34 He says “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?” The Voice transla-tion puts it this way: “Can you bellow out orders at the clouds and pull down a f lood of rain around you?” From the verse, it is easily perceptible that one of such laws of the universe is the law of “Loud Utterances.” This is an operational principle for the New Testament believer. God didn’t ask Job to create anything; neither the cloud [connoting a storehouse] nor the rain [connoting resources or harvest], they were already available. Job’s only respon-

sibility would have been that of issuing command!

But Melvin, What happens when I utter loud sounds? Acts 2:6 reads: “When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”

In 2001, scientists, in an article titled “Earth Songs” disclosed that the earth sings with radio waves at audio frequencies. Although our ears cannot detect radio waves, they can be con-verted into sound waves with the aid of special devices. The source of these waves is lightning. When there is lightning, the description of the sound that is heard through the loudspeaker of a radio is referred to as “sferics.” Interest-ingly, “Some sferics travel all the way around the Earth!” As they travel farther from the source, they become only detectable by very low frequency receivers.

If these sounds could travel all around the earth, then, much more would our loud confident faith declarations. There is some-thing about Loud Utterances that resonates beyond the immediate environment of issuance, orches-trating events in accordance to the intention with which it was released. Psalm 19:4 says “Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” [Voice Translation]

This is the kind of utterance of which John said “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens…” in Revelation 12:10 [NLT]. A loud voice is a voice of authority, assertion, confidence, victory and dominion.

But what am I going to bellow? Jesus knew what He wanted before He shouted “Lazarus come out!” If you intend to get the attention of a person, you need to make an utterance [a sound] that would resonate in the faculty of that person, and trigger an almost involuntary response – you have to call the person by name or something familiar. You see, the intent determines the accurate


“With the Holy Spirit in a believer, the Bible could

come so alive that even a punctuation mark

becomes a source of revelation.”

sound which evokes the desired impact.

Words are sounds [utterances] which when released provoke, demand and create the desired response. There is the right sound [code] for every situation in life. It’s like saying without the right code, the vault can-not be opened. The system [or principle] is blind to gender, age, and race! All you need is the right code. There is a word in the scripture [or of the Spirit] that contains the pre-packed energy to change any situation. With the Holy Spirit in a believer, the Bible could come so alive that even a punctuation mark becomes a source of revelation. So, as you study God’s word, it may be that a particular verse captures your attention – focus

on that verse because God is attempting to pass a message across.

Have you noticed how nearby objects begin to vibrate when you turn up the volume on your sound system? Well, things are influenced in the Spirit when you roar the Rhema [or what I call the urgent] word of God.

Maybe you just want to enforce certain promises of God in your life. Whatever be the case, once you have located the word, the next step is to lend your voice to it. My suggestion is that you go to a secluded place or get into your room, shut the

doors behind you, if possible, sit/stand at your mirror and begin to utter those words loudly and confidently, punctuating with tongues. Make it a routine. You should speak loudly because whatsoever you endorse on earth would be endorsed in heaven. And just as in Acts 2:6, you too will say “and the contracts, the customers, the resources came running after I issued a loud sound.”

Another way to get the right sound [code] is to pray with focus on the current challenge. In Gen. 1, the Spirit of the Lord hovered over the surface of the waters before God commanded “Light be!” That was same principle that came into play at the wall of Jericho. As you pray in tongues with focus, it’s as though your spirit is hovering over the issue, and when the right

words become activated in your spirit, brother it’s time to bellow! And the situation will yield just like the wall of Jericho sank at the shout of the Israelites. God is not deaf. Shouting is not for God to hear, it’s for your spirit to be en-larged and to exercise dominion!

A tangible example is the testi-mony of how the much respected Bishop David Oyedepo would rise up in the wee hours of the morning each day screaming “I’ve taken over the city!” when he got to Lagos. Today, he’s in charge of ter-ritories even beyond Lagos!

now availableGet your copy today

YOU ARE NOT DULL

Paperback by Oluwaseyi Fatila

Available for N300 OnlyCall (0809) 283 7689 or (0809) 805 7080

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Break out of every limiting mental and creative box and be the pesron Christ Jesus died for you to be!

A JOURNEY INTO EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING AND LIFE

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To the seasMOANA Disney pays another visit to Polynesia

in this anticipated animated feature

The story is pretty simple. In ancient Oceania in the South Pacific, the young Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli’i Cra-valho) is a born navigator who sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her journey, she teams up with her hero and leg-endary demi-god Maui (Voiced by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson).

Moana will be Ron Clements and John Musker’s first mainly computer-animated film. The duo who were responsible for direct-ing The Great Mouse Detective (1986), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), Hercules (1997), Treasure Planet (2002), and The Princess and the Frog (2009). One of the reasons for using computer animation was that the environment, including the ocean, benefited much more from the use of CGI as opposed to a traditional animation. The

filmmakers have also suggested that three-dimensional computer animation is well-suited to the “beautiful sculpturing” of the faces of the people of the South Pacific. But guess what? Maui’s tattoos are hand-drawn.

Oh and get this Moana, a musical film, features a “Circle of Life”-style opening song from The Lion King (1994), depicting Moana’s birth. Way to go right? Also Moana is the first Polynesian-themed Disney animated feature film since Lilo & Stitch in 2002.

It’s a regular Disney animated feature just like the ones we grew fond of years ago, but will it be a hit? Clements and Musker have helmed classics in the past so this one has all the potential to shine. Moana also features voice roles from Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk and Temuera Morrison.

ETA 24 NOVEMBER MOANA opens next month

AULI’I CRAVALHO

For the animated film, Moana, she’s the youngest Disney princess voice-over at 14 at the time of filming. Surprisingly enough, Auli’i Cravalho landed the role

of the titular character without even a formal audition — a testament to how well suited she is to become Disney’s most fearless princess yet.“I didn’t officially try out,” She said. She auditioned instead for a local nonprofit event at the time. “The casting woman who was going through those auditions was the same casting director for Disney’s [“Moana”]. She looked at my audition and the rest is history.”It’s easy to see how Cravalho blew them away. First, Auli’I (pronounced ‘owlee’) is unbearably cute; and why not? Her name means dainty or cute in Hawaiian. Speaking on the film, she said “I personally feel like I’ve kind of blossomed into who I’m meant to be, and I love this journey that I’m on,” she says. “Each Disney princess is unique in their own way, but Moana is especially close to my heart because she’s Polynesian.”Cravalho, a high school sophomore, was born and raised on the Hawaiian Islands. She’s performed in backyard plays, but Moana marks her first major film role. The movie hits theaters the day after her 16th birthday.

Meet the teenage behind the voice of Moana.


up closeDenzelWashington

Washington made his feature film debut in the comedy A Carbon Copy (1981). He also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions and in television movies before being cast in a star-ring role in the hit television medical drama St. Elsewhere (1982–88). Washington grabbed his first of five Oscar nominations for Cry Freedom (1987) as real-life South African apartheid mar-tyr Steve Biko. He later won a best supporting actor Oscar for Glory (1989).

He appeared in several notable films through-out the 1990s, including Spike Lee collabora-tions like the jazz outing Mo’ Better Blues (1990) and biopic Malcolm X (1992; in another Oscar-nominated performance). Other projects from this era included The Pelican Brief (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), Cour-age Under Fire (1996) and The Hurricane (1999), for which he received a Golden Globe for best actor and another Oscar nomination.

In 2001, Washington received his second Oscar (this time in a leading role) for the cop thriller Training Day. The following year, he directed his first film, the drama Antwone Fisher, in which he also co-starred.

In more recent years, Washington has contin-ued to explore a range of roles. He starred in the 2010 futuristic tale The Book of Eli. Washington also appeared in the comparatively low-budget drama Flight (2012), earning accolades and his sixth Oscar nomination for his performance as a pilot with substance abuse problems.

He married actress Pauletta Pearson in 1983 and they have four children. Their oldest son, John David, was drafted in 2006 by the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. He now plays for the Sacra-mento Mountain Lions in the United Football League. Their other children are daughter Katia and twins Olivia and Malcolm.

This GrudgeAchesUnforgiveness eats you from within; why would you want to continue holding a grudge?

I’m sitting alone at the dark cor-ner of the room. On the outside, I have put up a calm and peace-ful countenance, but there’s war going on, on the inside. I’ve been wronged by a brother, a bully, a stone hearted non-apologizing mocker! I’m holding this

Words by Gabriel Ako

grudge, and I want nothing now but to see him in pain. Any form of punish-ment will do, as long as I get my own pound of flesh. But this pain, this

torture... why? I guess it’s the delay of revenge. I’m sure I’d feel better once I have my revenge. Would I?

Is there a better way? Maybe forgive-ness- to let go and to offer a gift that is so difficult to give right now; and what if I continue in this place of unforgive-ness: I thought forgiveness is only for the deserving, the one who has shown remorse and apology for their wrong. Yet

“Yet while I wait for my brother to smite upon his breast, unforgiveness has

made me its punching bag.”

I


while I wait for my brother to smite upon his breast, unforgiveness has made me its punching bag.

I know a little about the dangers of unforgiveness. It’s only a matter of time before it sends out an invite for a house warming party within my soul, calling its friends to come dine on the table of my wounded heart. If forgiveness is a gift, and a gift largely administered to the underserving, then I must quickly find a way out of this place. The voice of forgiveness says “I do not hold the other person in ANY debt”. And it goes beyond uttering the words – I forgive you. I have been deeply hurt, and with a thousand voices saying it’s senseless to forgive the unapologetic other, it’s even more difficult to offer this gift.

To forgive is to give. The gift of forgiveness when with-held breeds the stagnant water of offence. Offence is blinding, darkening every opinion generated toward the other; a place where I can no longer find any virtue worth honoring or celebrat-ing in the one who has hurt me. It is for my own sake and my own good that I offer forgiveness freely and in any situation however difficult. There’s no wisdom in trading my peace for the decay of un-forgiveness eating away at the life and the light in me.

I’m not alone in this. A lot of people can relate to the anger, the annoyance, the pain, and the torture we feel when we’ve been hurt; wish-ing we could deliver pain in return and see punishment come upon the ‘adversary’. The canister of all the nega-tive emotions in these mo-ments ought to be disposed appropriately. Many times, we may move on, having been able to subdue the feel-ing and even get comfortable in withholding forgiveness

from the other. But that leaves a deeply rooted seed waiting for the cycle of time and opportunity to bear the prickly stem of a thistle, doing damage not just to us, but to the people and envi-ronment around us and the influence we command.

It is difficult for human nature to offer true forgive-ness, but for the righteous man, he must depend on the life he has received through the gift of God’s own forgiveness, in order to forgive another. By the shedding of royal blood, forgiveness came to all of us. God Himself could not hold back forgiveness from a creation that had committed treason.

“You have bought Me not sweet cane with money, Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgres-sions for MY OWN SAKE, and I will not remember your sins” Isaiah 43:24-25.

The deep revelation of how much we have been forgiven gives us the grace to offer forgiveness to the world around us. The life of the man who has come into union with Jesus Christ is unlike that of the unforgiv-ing servant who left the very presence of his master; having received a cancella-tion of a huge debt, only to put his fellow in prison for a meagre sum owed him. (Mat-thew 18:21-35).

So here’s the better choice: to clean the slate of unfor-giveness today; to hold no grudge; to wipe out the debt; to receive the forgiveness Jesus offers today; and to forgive my brother.

CAFE


Zaria is a major city in Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria, as well as being a Local Government Area. Formerly known as Zazzau, it was one of the original seven Hausa city-states.

Zaria’s economy is primarily based on agricul-ture. Staples are guinea corn and millet, and cash crops include cotton, groundnuts and tobacco. The city is considered by some to be a main center of Hausa agriculture. Not only is Zaria a market town for the surrounding area, it is the home of numerous artisans, from traditional crafts like leather work, dyeing and cap making, to tinkers, printshops and furniture makers.

Because Zaria is north of the rail junction at Kaduna, it has equal rail access to the seaports at Lagos and Port Harcourt. However, currently only the railway between Lagos and Kano is functional, as the eastern line of Nigeria’s rail network is not operational. This means that Zaria currently has rail access to Lagos and Kano to the north, but not Port Harcourt.

Zaria is home to Ahmadu Bello University, the largest university in Nigeria and the second largest on the African continent. The institution is very prominent in the fields of Agriculture, Science, Finance, Medicine and Law. Zaria is also the base for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

Zaria is also home to Barewa College. The school is known for the large number of elites from the region that passed through the school’s academic buildings and counts among its alumni, five of whom were at one time Nigerian Heads of State, including the late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Zaria

S

THE‘SKINNY FAT’ Words by Sandra Enyida

Skinny fat? That’s certainly an oxymoron. How’s that even possible? There’s a common perception in health, that ‘thin’ means ‘healthy’. This is a half-truth, and I’m going to help you get clarity on this.

So what exactly does skinny fat mean? It’s a term used to describe individuals who look fit and healthy on the surface, but due to a poor diet and lack of exercise, have a slew of health problems brewing underneath. Their poor diet is usually because of poor food choices based on the fact that they barely add weight. They have low body mass indices, but on further evaluation, they may have some diagnostic markers for metabolic disease like high blood sugar, low good cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

ARE YOU SKINNY FAT?Check out these trademarks for being skinny fat. If you identify with few(or all) of them, check with your doctor to get a thorough health check.

> Your last active period was inter house sports in secondary school.

> You constantly experience ‘brain fog’, fatigue, and difficulty with memory, focus, concentration.

> You pass on protein-packed foods.

> Your belly is bigger than the rest of your body, and

you have ‘love handles’, or fat in your midsection.

> Your diet regularly contains excess carbohydrates, refined sugar, and processed foods.

> You feel light-headed after just a little, mild exercise.

GENETIC BASIS FOR BODY TYPESYour body type is a combination of your bone struc-ture, musculature, and fat distribution,and is geneti-cally pre-determined. Some body characteristics are unchangeable (e.g. the width of your hips), so there should also be some level of realistic evaluation when trying to sculpt your body.

There are 3 basic body types, as postulated by Sheldon in the 40’s:

> The ectomorphs - ‘skinny’

> The mesomorphs - ‘athletic’

> The endomorphs - ‘fat retainers’

As you must have guessed by now, most skinny fat people are ectomorphs. They have a high metabolic rate(that’s why they seem to eat way more food than is necessary and add no weight), and low muscle (and sometimes bone) mass.

Their bodies resist increases in fat and muscle mass, but it’s not impossible to for them to sculpt their bod-ies. Genetic predisposition might have up to 40% in-fluence, but what you eat and how much exercise you get will largely influence how your body turns out.

ARE WE PUTTING TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON WEIGHT? A lot of health problems that come with being skinny fat are quite hidden, and that’s the dangerous part. For years the focus has been on weight, being as thin as possible, but lately science/research is showing

CONCEPT


that thin people can have the same health risks obvi-ously obese people have. These may include:

> Type 2 diabetes(mostly from their poor diet due to dependence on their fast metabolism).

> High cholesterol (especially the bad kind, LDL)

> High blood pressure

> High inflammatory markers which increase the risk for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

The focus on body weight is shifting to a focus on body fat percentage, which undercoves health risks in somewhat thin people. Due to recent research, skinny people need to take a second look at their health.

THE CORE ISSUE: YOUR HEALTH OR AESTHETICS? Realizing that it’s not necessarily safe to be thin, without being fit, is the first step. Putting too much emphasis on your weight will derail your fitness goals. Your focus needs to be shifted to agility, muscle power, and how much fat you have. These have a direct effect on your health in the long term, your weight is not a very clear health indicator.

Even the subset of people who try to do something about it, they do all the wrong things they feel are right, like:

> Severe calorie restriction

> Long hours of aerobic exercise

> Low-protein dieting

> Minimal weightlifting

These put them in a vicious cycle, because they lose a lot of their muscle mass from long strenuous exer-cise and a low-protein diet. You want results? These will take you closer to your goal, whether your focus is fitness, aesthetics, or both:

“Putting too much emphasis on your weight will derail your fitness goals”> Eat a balanced, whole-food diet. Yes, eat. Don’t starve yourself. Starving yourself will cause your body to break down your muscle for energy and will reduce your metabolic rate. This will cause you to gain weight rapidly whenever you eat a lot.

> Increase your protein intake. This will increase muscle growth and give you a more defined look, aesthetically speaking.

> Cut out junk food and carbonated drinks from your diet. They cause you to add dangerous fat around your midsection, the kind that increases your risk of diabetes.

> Do aerobic exercise to trigger fat loss, but not too long a session, and balance it up with weight-lifting. Yes, even ladies should do this. Functional exercises like squats increase agility and balance. A fitness coach can help draft an effective fitness routine.

> Be wary of weight loss supplements. Get proper advice before you put your money down. Remem-ber, supplements don’t build great physiques, proper training and nutrition does.


GIRL ON FIRE:NIKKI ON THE RISEWhat does one say about a girl like Nikki Laoye-Oturu? Since the start of her career she has had her hands full with so much, in all of which she has excelled and impacted lives effortlessly. Last year she released her second album the 123 Project and this year alone she has released two new singles, the first on the 12th of February 2016, two days to Valentine’s day, a Love duet with Nigerian R&B singer Banky W titled Onyeuwaoma, a song which enjoyed rave reviews. Secondly was the captivat-ing Only You Remix, featuring Seyi Shay, a Reggae remix to her award-winning song, Only You, which had earlier won Headies 2013 and AFRIMA 2014 awards at its release.

People might frown at her collaboration with people deemed as ‘secular’ artistes, but Nikki strongly believes that she is an Artiste with a dif-ference, one whose main aim of performing is to be a voice and she believes this should be that focal point of every artiste.

In a recent interview, she said, “I think a lot of Nigerian artistes are not watching their lyrics anymore. And it’s getting too much. When you have it once in a while it’s sounds okay but when every song you’re hearing, everybody is talking about booty, talking about girls and I’m like, ‘you guys, there is so much going on in the world that we need to talk about.’”

That shouldn’t be surprising at all, because Nikki is one artiste with something to say, afterall, she gets her inspiration from the Father of Lights. “I get inspired by, I think, my own experience. I get inspired by love that God gave to me. The way I look at my family, the way we are all surviving, it actu-ally inspires me and makes me want to say thank you Lord.”

Mrs Oturu also has a large and compassionate heart, so beside her musical career, very key in her life is her involvement with the physically disabled people. She founded the Angel 4 Life Foundation, an NGO through which she mentors and helps develop the creative skills of talented physically challenged youths.

She also runs the Angel Relief Fund, which raises funds and provides relief aid materials to IDP camps and refugee shelters in Nigeria to support families who have been affected by the Boko Haram terror attacks.

Nikki Laoye Oturu has so much to give, and she refelects the heart of her Father; she isn’t about to slow down and we really don’t want her to. You go girl!


HOLY GHOST PRAISE

rom Ebonyi state in Nigeria, the name Sinach was coined from her first name Osinachi because “it is easy to pronounce

and catchy.” From an early age, she dreamt of changing people’s lives and as a little girl she would dream of singing to many people from different nations all over thw world.

She pursued her passion despite her father’s objection to her inter-est in music and receiving Jesus Christ changed and gave her a reason and purpose for singing. All the challenges she faced along the way built her character, and like clay, she has been beaten, poured upon, torn apart, rolled over, put into the fire, and continuously molded into shape through the entire process.

She has become key member of LoveWorld music team of Christ Embassy and organizes the Sinach Live in Concert, a series of worship concerts which has taken place in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Amsterdam, Cameroon, USA, and in different parts of the

She has given us songs we won’t forget and gotten us drunk in the Holy Ghost countless times. How can we ignore the influence of Sinach?

world with her team. It would be fair to say her dream came through.

Fuelled by passion to see people inspired to worship and praise God through Spirit-born music, she ad-mits that her inspiration comes from God’s word. “This is because the word of God is life. I have been under the tutelage of Pastor Chris Oyakhi-lome for over 20 years. I have listened to God’s word through him and these words have always inspired me to write songs. I have seen situations change and hopeless people have a reason to live and enjoy life through God’s word. My life is a testimony that one can be anything and achieve anything”.

Happily married to her loving husband Joseph Egbu, Sinach’s in-fluence is so undeniable with abums like Chapter One, I’m Blessed, From Glory to Glory, Shout It Loud and the double release; The Name Of Jesus & Dance in The Holy Ghost.

Her songs bring joy to many and tell of the importance of serving God and living a life of holiness. Undoubtedly, Sinach has inspired a generation.

F

Move Over Hans Zimmer, He’s Got ThisMeet the guy how has to be the best music scorer on this side of the ocean.Hans Zimmer is great right? Agreed. But if you wanted to score a game or a movie right here, you would agree that it would cost a lot to bring him to your doorstep. Scoring hasn’t really been a thing in Nigeria that much so you might even find any film financier willing to go the extra mile to hire the services of a Zimmer or Djawaldi or a Silvestri.

Things have surely changed and movie scores have emerged on the Nigerian scene, but none as good as those of Atta Lenell Otigba. I know what you’re thinking, who’s this guy right? He’s an actively gigging live performer, who has spent the last few years recording, engineering and producing other art-ists - all the while constantly writing and performing his own material both live in concert and behind the micro-phone in his own studio. Also he’s as good a music scorer that you’ll ever see in Nigeria.

His music makes you feel like you just stepped into a room with James Horner, he’s that good. So maybe with him we could witness the advent of amazing score music in the Nigeria movie indus-try right? You bet.

You can check out www.attaotigba.com/soundtracks to get a feel of Atta’s good works. Send your thanks later.


From the same soil that grew Jim Morrison, Tony Hawk, NWA, Snoop, & Kendrick Lamar, grows another LA native, Propaganda. What do you say about Propaganda? He’s a poet, political activist, husband, father, academic, & emcee. With LA flowing through his veins & armed with a bold message, Propaganda has assembled a body of work that challenges his listeners with every verse & reaches across the spectrum of pop culture.

From aggressive battle raps to smooth introspective rhythms, Propaganda’s music will cause you to nod your head, but more

importantly it will stretch your mind & heart.

Born Jason Emmanuel Petty on May 27, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, Prop was often teased due to his skin color due to being the only black kid there. He learned to rap, and also took up dance, graffiti, and formal drawing and painting. Discovered by underground hip hop collective Tun-nel Rats, he made his debut in 2002 on Speak Life by Sev Statik. After 2008, Prop released three albums through the Portland-based Humble Beast Records. The first, entitled Art Ambidextrous, was recorded as a dual-album with Odd Thomas, and

came out on February 1, 2011. His next album, Excellent, came out in 2012, and charted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Gospel chart. Petty’s fourth solo album, Crimson Cord, came out on April 29, 2014, and also charted successfully.

In addition to his hip hop career, Ja-son Petty has worked as a youth pas-tor, led a poetry team called Selah, and helped his sister’s dance ministry called “Live.” In 2013, he partnered with I Am Second in hosting a poetry contest, Spoken Word Challenge.

With his mainstream appeal, we expect this guy to rep Jesus for quite a long time with his art.

PROP-HIPHOPIntroduced to art at a young age in a diverse community, Humble Beast’s Propaganda has come a long way from spray painting on walls.

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