A New Day

Quite literally - as it's 2.10AM.

However, for Ore's Notes, it is a break from the past in a MAJOR way: I have finally updated the look of the blog.

I believe my blog has been thus far remarkable, among many others, for the constancy if its look. And for a long, long time I just really liked my old look. But there does get to a point when you crave something different. And that time came for me at least 2 years ago. However, when I thought about losing all the tweaks I had made to my old template, I stopped right there.

Eventually though, my itch for a fresh look won out and I started experimenting with new templates. In the course of doing that, I discovered that Blogger has some very cool dynamic templates, however these did not show up in my Blackberry and stats, as well as casual observation indicates that more people's online activities are via a mobile device.

This will be just the start of an evolving look, but for now, it's amazing what a difference a new template makes. All of a sudden, I feel more excited just visiting my blog.

And when I look at my previous blog designs (courtesy of the very cool Wayback Machine), I realise how long I've been around.

Ore's Notes (2006)

Ore's Notes (2011)

Black Women Swim

If you love to swim and you're on Facebook (how could you not be?), check out this page: Black Women Swim.

You'll find links to resources and plenty of advice and encouragement for black women who swim. What I found most impressive about Siana C's page are the tips she shares for women with natural hair who swim. Dealing with hair is an oft-cited reason by many black women for not swimming. And it's honestly no better among women with natural hair. Well, Siana not only wear her hair naturally, but she has a lot of it. So what's anyone's excuse?

Best Job | P&G London 2012 Olympic Games Film

Procter & Gamble has a wonderful new advert celebrating mothers and especially the hard work that Mums do that leads to Olympic athletes. Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NScs_qX2Okk

Black Women Swimming (or Not!)

I know very few people who can swim. For women who can't swim, there's always the running joke that it's due to the fear of messing up our hair.

Now, I just read a New York Times article that talks about studies that showed that "many Africans were avid swimmers when they were brought over as slaves", however "most slaves born in the United States were not allowed to learn to swim because it was a means of escape. That created generations of nonswimmers and spawned the myth that African-Americans could not swim." Imagine that!

Segregation, in the following years, compounded the problem because it meant that blacks were kept out of many pools and beaches.

In Nigeria, this cannot be the reasons that there are relatively few swimmers. Knowing how to swim requires having someone to teach you and ready access to swimmable bodies of water. And when you can't swim, you can't teach your children how to either. When you have fears about swimming, you tend to pass these on to your children.

It's important to learn to swim, as it could potentially save your life one day.

Art Show @ Nimbus Gallery (Starts May 18)

I remember when I first moved back and was often parched for something fun and artsy to do over the weekend. Well, how things have changed. This weekend is shaping up quite nicely.

Here's something else for you art lovers out there.

12 artists of the new firebrand group will exhibit and show a documentary film on Yusuf Grillo, David Dale, Nike Okundaye, JD Ojeikere.

Opening: Friday, May 18
Venue: Nimbus Art Gallery
Time: 5PM

Exhibiting Artists: Agbezin Dele George, Akintoye Segun Shiigo, Arueya Joel, Bob-Nosa Nwagboe, Dimkpa Sunday, babalola Lawson, Lucky Isaiah, Linda Adeniyi, Muyiwa Owoeye-Wise, Omede Marvin, Abayomi Sokenu, Tina Adebowale

NAIJ: A History of Nigeria

I saw this docu-film NAIJ: A History of Nigeria this evening at the LifeHouse.

The 2007 film by director Jide Olanrewaju, tells the story of Nigeria through its tumultuous transition from British Colony to Oil State. Using a combination of rarely seen archive footage, historical papers and interviews, the film attempts to explain how Nigeria has developed into the country it is today while shining a light on some of the individuals whose actions have helped shape the nation.

Whether you agree with the views of the director as presented in this film, you will relish the video, audio and newspaper footage shown in the film. It was a revelation for me to hear the voices of Tafawa Balewa and to learn how Anglicised he sounded. And indeed most of the early political leaders spoke in very polished tones. It was interesting to see how this changed over the years.

The director Jide is not a professional film-maker nor has any formal training. He made this film on his home computer over a period of 2 years. Working as an investment banker in mergers & acquisitions, his typical work day ended at 2am, after which he would return home and spend an hour on the film.

I was stunned to learn of his dedication to this and made me realise that, if you're sufficiently motivated, you can do anything.

This is a trailer for the film.

I'm not sure how you can get to see the whole film, but I commented at the Q&A that many Nigerians need to see it.

Read posts on Naij: - My Random Thoughts - Afrogreek

Keziah Jones Live at the Jazzhole

Keziah Jones & the African Anarchist Corporation presents Uncle Fem’s Long Grain Funk – Live at the Jazzhole
in “an evening of theatre, music, digital manipulations and audience interactivity curated by Keziah Jones”

Date: Sunday 20th May 2012
Time: 4-6PM (prompt)
Fee: N 3,500
Venue: Jazzhole, 168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi

Concert at Jazzhole (Sunday, May 13 2012)

Jazzhole presents a concert featuring bass player Wole Adamolekun and the Dynamic Quartet. Date: Sunday, May 13 2012 Time: 4- 6PM (prompt) Venue: Jazzhole, 168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos

Book Reading: Bobo Omotayo at Patabah Books, Surulere (Sat. May 5, 2012)

You're invited to a book reading at Patabah Books. See below for details. Bobo Omotayo, author of "London Life Lagos Living" will be reading excerpts from his book at our store!
London Life, Lagos Living is an exciting collection of short stories inspired by the author’s adventures through work, love, and play. The author Bobo Omotayo has contributed as a columnist and freelance writer to several print and online newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, NEXT, Business Day, TW, and BellaNaija.com.
Venue: Shop B18, Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall (Shoprite), Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos.
Date: Saturday, 5th May, 2012.
Time: 3-5pm We look forward to seeing you there.