Theatre @ Terra: The Tarzan Monologues

The male response to the Vagina Monologues? Or the world through the eyes of men?

Well, check it out

Money; Women; Sex; Erectile Dysfunction; Sexual Abuse; Religion; Pressure; Sterility; Virginity; Infant Mortality; Job Loss; Relationships; Age; Marriage; Infidelity;

Written and directed by Wole Oguntokun

Featuring Bimbo Manuel, Frank Edoho, Kunle Adeyoola, Denrele Edun, O.C. Ukeje, Paul
Alumona, Precious Anyanwu, Kanayo Okani

Where: Venue- Terra Kulture- Every Sunday in October (Adults Only)
Time: 3pm and 6pm
Cost: N2,000

Writer Edwidge Danticat Wins MacArthur Foundation Prize

Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat has won the MacArthur Foundation 'Genius Award', which comes with it $500,0000 for the winner.

Read the full story: www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/haiti/story/1245126.html

Danticat is one of 24 winners of this year's fellowship, which seeks to reward "creative genius and potential."

Last year's winners included Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Sleeping and Reading

What a productive evening I had yesterday. After being dead tired for the whole week and finding myself less-than-productive at work, I made good on my promise to get an early night's rest by actually doing so.

As soon as I got home, I pulled down the window blinds and climbed into bed and slept for the next 4 hours, after which I woke-up and finished Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood.

I have to say that, aside by the fact that Margaret Atwood is the author, the other thing that drew me to this book is the title. I felt slightly (and rather proudly) reckless carrying a book with me entitled "Moral Disorder."

Photography Exhibition: Mothers of Africa

This takes place over the weekend (Saturday, September 19) at the Goethe Institute, 4PM.

Clean Eating

If you are into (or more accurately, trying to get into) healthier eating like myself, you might like the Clean Eating website, which promotes eating natural foods and "lean and light recipes" (I love that).

Planning in going to the gym this evening, but I'm dead tired and have been all day (when will this indiscipline of routinely sleeping well after midnight stop?). I want to try a strength-training class, which starts at 7PM. This class starts when I'm leaving the gym, so I was planning on working a bit late so that I can get to the gym in time for this class.

We'll see how that goes ....

The Issue of Marriage

I discovered this lady's blog earlier this year - I'm not sure if I blogged about her already.

She has given herself a year to find her husband. Starting from this January, Neenah (that's her name) has thrown herself into a committed schedule of dating and introductions through speed dating, blind dates, online dating, and going to all the places where the men are (sports games, church, etc.). So far, she hasn't found her Mr. Right but it has been interesting reading her journey.

In this post, she shares her experiences speed dating. As someone who does not do vulnerability and intimacy very well, I commend her courage in opening up herself to the world. She set up the website and blog to not only share her dating travails with the world, but more importantly to provide a forum for her to meet more men (you can schedule dates with her or recommend someone) and get direction and guidance from the public.

If she doesn't meet her husband this year, Neenah plans on taking a break from dating in next year. And you all know that is when she'll meet him, right?

On a slightly different but related note, I caught a segment on Today on STV this morning before I left for work. A lady was promoting her NGO which she set up to provide marriage counselling to young married women. It's great for women to have spaces for advice and support, but the mantra being promoted was the same old thing we hear: women must learn to submit to their husbands (what happened to the part about submitting to each other?); choose an undemanding career so that you have more time for your family; divorce is unacceptable in all conditions (though separation for a period is fine until you come to your senses and return to your husband). Ack! I can't get into it all. I don't have that kind of energy anymore....

Oluronbi: The Musical

This play starrs Ireti Doyle, Yinka Davis, Omawumi, Nikki Laoye, Waje, Hafiz Oyetoro, Toba Gold, Dr. Frabz and Utibe.

Where: Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos

When: Saturday, September 19, 2009 (2PM & 5PM)

How Much: N6,000.00

For more info, check www.aboriginal-productions.com, info@aboriginal-productions.com, 0702.338.9642, 0802.379.9842.

A Perspective on Contemporary Nigerian Photography

This is an exhibition on contemporary Nigeria by Nigerian photographers, including: Sunmi Smart-Cole, Don Barber, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, TY Bello and Mudi Yahaya.

Where: Omenka Gallery, The Ben Enwonwu Foundation, 24 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos

When: Opening is on Friday, September 25 at 5PM. The exhibition ends on Saturday, September 26

The Essence Appears To Be Lost

I have written frequently about my love-hate relationship with U.S. Essence magazine. I started reading it when I was in England and was thirsty for images that looked like me. I stumbled across Essence in March or April of 1997 (the issue with Toni Braxton on the cover). The magazine was much thinner than the bumper issues of Marie Claire, SHE and Cosmopolitan that I was used to reading at the time, but I loved poring over the beautiful images of black women.

Maybe I have been romanticizing the content of the magazine, but it seems like there is a lot less weighty material contained within its pages these days. While women’s magazines are generally considered to be light reading with themes revolving around fashion, relationships, body image and sex, the last couple of years seem to have seen a recycling of the same articles but with different titles and the names changed. So, we now have an endless stream of articles about dressing to accentuate our best bits, finding the man of our dreams, losing weight and staying healthy and whipping up a meal in minutes (the August issue included such a tired and flogged-to-death issue of why black women hate on each other).

In each issue, we also get to find out what men’s thoughts on what qualities they like in women, what they like to see women wearing in bed and out of it, how we can better please them in bed and so on. So even though the magazine’s slogan is “Where the Black Woman Comes First”, it doesn’t always feel that way to me.

Essence has stated a commitment to see African-American woman more financially-secure and independent and consequently each issue features the ‘Work & Wealth’ section devoted to saving, earning more income and making your money work for you. But while we’re learning to accumulate wealth, the cost of the clothes featured in the fashion spreads doesn’t exactly encourage financially-prudent behaviour. Notwithstanding, I still enjoy reading about the women profiled in this section and picking-up career tips from this section.

Each issue features one major celebrity interview, which – unlike the more exploratory character pieces of publications like Vanity Fair – are puff pieces kissing the said subject’s ass. I can’t remember when last any of these interviews told me something I didn’t already know about the star.



The August issue featured leading man Idris Elba on the cover. Although I was a huge fan of The Wire and Mr. Elba’s acting skills, I did not enjoy the article in anyway. I already knew going in that nothing new would be revealed to me. However, I was hoping that the ride would be pleasant enough. Instead, we were treated to a 6-page spread all though which the writer drooled over the – admittedly handsome – actor and counted the number of their future children. Even when we were reading about his experiences talking to young British children about the evils of drugs or his now iconic role of Stringer Bell, we are doing this through the writer’s clearly star-struck eyes. The constant references to his sexiness, alpha male masculinity and great body quickly get old, even for a fan like myself.

I am always bothered when I read articles about women that focus more on their physical appearance than anything else. However, I found this reverse case equally offensive perhaps even more, because a similar article by a man, which played-up her good looks, lingering on the swell of her breasts and her ample behind, would not have been received so eagerly by many women.

So if I have so many complaints, why do I keep reading it you might ask? Well, I continue to have the hope with each issue that THIS will be the gem that I’ve been longing for with the thoughtful and inspiring articles that stay with me for months to come.

I realize that it is impossible to ask one magazine to be so many things to so many different types of women, but I can’t see that most would complain at the inclusion of a few more hard-hitting articles that really dig deep into women’s experiences and thoughts on the economy, politics and culture.

Good Hair

I saw the link to this New York Times article about natural hair on Black Girl with Long Hair (BGLH).

Like her, I am also a bit sceptical when I see mainstream media try to write about natural hair, mostly because they either never get it right or because it doesn't say anything that I don't already know. But then again, these articles aren't targeted at people like me, who are die-hard nappies.

What this article does is to explore the debates for and against wearing hair naturally.

For includes (according to people interviewed): Means you have a higher degree of self-acceptance and self-love

Against: You're more likely to fit in or be accepted by the conservative establishment



Comedian Chris Rock has a documentary coming out called Good Hair exploring the whole 'good' and 'bad' hair debate, which looks good. See the trailer.

Do You Have An Afro?

Since I have been too lazy/busy to make proper posts, I'll content myself with sharing links.

Titled Do You Have an Afro, this is a collection of afros taken by New York photographer, Errol.

Female Genital Cutting

This is an interesting article on female genital mutilation or female genital cutting on NEXT: www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5440715-147/story.csp.

For the life of me, I still cannot get my head around why and how this could be considered acceptable.

Natural Hair Meet Up

Sent by a friend. This is being organised by Miss Frizzy of Leave in The Kinks.

The meeting is open to all naturals, guys, girls, wannabe naturals, transitioners and those that are just curious about chemical-free hair.

Date: August 15th 2009
Location: News Café or the Icecream Factory, Lagos, Nigeria (TBD closer to the time)
Time: 2pm
RSVP: missfizz87@gmail.com

Find out more from the LITK blog.

Famous Naturals

If it seems like my last few posts have been Chimamanda-dominated, that's purely coincidence. I read this fabulous interview with Chimamanda. What caught my eye was of course the photos of her hair. How I love to see Nigerian naturals; particularly those who wear their hair long.

Great quote: The attitude we have about hair is that we have come to think a certain texture of hair is bad. It's a value we have placed on hair.

The author is a "feminist and self-professed hair fundamentalist."

Chimamanda Book Reading, Lagos

The recent reading by writer Chimamanda Adichie sounds like it was a lot of fun, judging from this article in NEXT.

Digital Bridge Institute organises ICT and NGO Forum

I was invited to participate yesterday in a forum organised by the Digital Bridge Institute in conjunction with Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Georgia Tech University and the MacArthur Foundation.

The meeting started on Tuesday, but the first two days were limited to MacArthur grantees and some close colleagues of Harvard and Georgia Tech. On Thursday, the forum was opened up to heads of up to 100 Nigerian NGOs.

It was my first time at the Institute and I was impressed by how smoothly the registration process proceeded (unlike a certain IT regulatory body's meeting, which I attended recently). And also unlike many other meetings, it started (almost) on time.

The objective of the day's meeting was to explore the ways in which NGOs can employ ICTs to work more efficiently. Colin Maclay of the Berkman Center kicked off the day with a review of the Information & Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) field. He outlined that he found this area interesting because:
- ICTs are a catalyst for change;
- ICTs offer innovative approaches to change;
- ICTs distribute and decentralise power

As a result, people become the drivers of change because they are the experts on their local issues. This means that it is important for NGOs to learn to engage with the technology available, rather than defer to 'experts' and 'consultants.'

His recommendations for NGOs seeking to use ICTs included:
- Adopting a wider mindset i.e. rethinking how we do our work
- Collaboration between and within sectors, because problems can be tacked from different angles
- Meetings of leadership and working towards consensus. This includes not being afraid to step-up to leadership positions.
- Dialogue and experimentation to see what tools work and to learn from past failures
- looking at how ICTs can be adapted to local needs

Ethan Zukerman (also of Berkman) gave a rousing and engaging presentation on web 2.0 tools and how they were designed to enable non-techies contribute content to the Internet. While this means, that a lot of the content will be fun and light-hearted or 'silly' stuff, that is no indictment on the tools. The user-friendliness of these tools means that can be as easily appropriated for more serious change-making. Examples are the use of Google Earth to track the movements of the Tunisian presidential jet as it carried the First Lady around the world on shopping expeditions; Fixmystreet.com; Ushahidi; Vote Report India.

Key questions to think about for NGOs are:
- How do NGOs get everyone paying attention and watching? (especially using new technologies like blogs, social networking sites; Twitter; bridge blogs)
- How can NGOs filter (to identify what voices should be heard) and amplify (to ensure people hear about it) content?
- How do NGOs use the technology to talk to different audiences? (think online vs. offline audiences; using local languages; using personal stories)

Next up, came the presentations by the Nigerian IT Development Agency (NITDA) and Galaxy Backbone reps. I probably shouldn't slag either of these off too much, as I might want to seek funding from them at some point (see my Twitter feed for more info).

Next, Eric Osiakwan (of africanelections.org), Juliana Rotich (of Ushahidi) and Ethan Zukerman spoke about various uses of new technologies in promoting political participation.

Things got a bit hot when Wale Goodluck (Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria) took the floor. He raced through a presentation on MTN Foundation's community service projects and took questions afterwards. These ranged from angry diatribes about the network's poor service to complaints about unsuccessful grant applications. Others lobbed accusations of Goodluck's inaccessibility to NGOs outside of forums such as these. All through, Goodluck's face was immobile, but I have to say that he responded to these questions and criticisms with good humour.

Fantusam Foundation, the Kafanchan-based NGO which started operations in 1996 in response to the local needs of financial empowerment and has since grown into a thriving organisation was held up as a model for other NGOs seeking to do development work. Although Fantsuam started off with 1 laptop, it has now adopted an integrated approach to development by offering ICT training, ISP services, micro-finance, health awareness and education programmes.

Gbenga Sesan (of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and Ajegunle.org) and Y.Z. Yau (of the Centre for IT and Development - CITAD) talked about applications of IT to education and health.

The day was capped off with guidance on finding donor funding. This was led by Adam Thompson of the University of California - Santa Cruz and John Bracken of MacArthur Foundation. MacArthur does have a presence in Nigeria, though their programme focus is on Reproductive Health and Human Rights.

Hard truth #1: They turn down 90% of the applications they receive.
Hard truth #2: Most of the NGOs in the room are too small to qualify for funding from the big foundations like Ford
Hard truth #3: There will unlikely be that one big funder who takes care of all your expenses. More likely, you will have to develop multiple income streams and seek ways to offer products or services for a fee.

A member of the audience shared that he ran his organisation for 8 years out of his pocket before being approached by a funder. Bottomline in his opinion: other NGOs need to be willing to do this too.

Ethan Zukerman has detailed posts on his blog and maybe I should just have linked to those instead of writing this lengthy epistle: Post 1; Post 2; Post 3:.

This & That. Plus Chimamanda Adichie Events

I have woefully neglected this blog. I really cannot believe that it's been close to a month since I last posted. And I am not really sure that I could tell you what I was doing in that time that prevented me from blogging. Well, I can, but it just doesn't sound very impressive to tell it.

There were countless arts events that I wanted to announce and blog about, but many have passed. Alas!
So, looking forward....

This Saturday (July 11) at 4PM, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will be reading from her latest book the Thing Around Your Neck at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos. I read it a few months ago and it was a tight collection of stories, which deftly wove the immigrant experience with tales of being on the outside. I have also attended a book reading with Ms. Adichie in January 2007 when Half of a Yellow Sun came out and it was a rich and enlightening afternoon for me.

If you are a budding writer, then perhaps you will want to apply for the Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop to be held in September 17 - 16, 2009. The workshop will feature Chimamanda along with fellow writers Binyananga Wainaina, Nathan Englander, Jackie Kay and Zoe Heller.

To apply, send an e-mail to udonandu2009@gmail.com (subject should read 'workshop Application'). The body of the e-mail should contain:
- Applicant's Name
- Applicant's Address
- A few sentences about applicant
- A writing sample of between 200 to 800 words (fiction or non-fiction)

Deadline: July 30, 2009

See nbplc.com/newsdetails3.php?action=viewnews&n=35 for more info.

Rediscovering Music: Lenny Williams

I just got a new stereo and haven't been able to connect my iPod to it yet, because it uses a different cable from the last one.

So, instead of having the luxury of listening to my favourite songs from my iPod, I have been forced to listen to entire albums. I don't do this anymore, except for in the car and when I buy a new album (but then I quickly transfer my favourite songs to my iPod).

The surprising thing is that I have been discovering songs on my albums that I somehow overlooked.

First case in point: I have had Lenny Williams' Spark of Love album for at least 6 years and somehow never managed to make it past 'Cause I Love You and Changes.

Now, I've gotten to really listen to and like Half Past Love, I Still Reach Out, Midnight Girl, Think What We Have, You Got Me Running, Freefall (Into Love) and Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh!

This I am embarrassed to say is almost the entire album. That is the thing about the best song being the first song. Sometimes you just don't get to the rest of the album.

The Coil Review

A natural hair resource, which I just discovered: the Coil Review.

The Coil Review is your smart and trusted resource for natural coily and
curly textured hair. It offers access to information and inspiration while
putting the spotlight on natural beauty. All this love - for you natural beauties, with natural hair.

Blogging: A Tougher Job Than We Think?

The intro blurb to this article about blogging asked why blogs have a higher failure rate than restaurants. Hmmm, interesting question, I thought. The article explores the challenges of blogging - including how you deal with blogging even when you think no one is reading i.e. "If no one reads your blog, does it really exist?"

This is a problem that many bloggers will face at some point, or more realistically, will continue to deal with as long as they blog.

Many of us, if we are completely honest with ourselves, start to blog filled with the highest aspirations for our blog and the type of followership we expect to nurture, as well as the ways in which we hope to influence the world. What we don't often bargain with is that almost every other blog starts with the same degree of ambition and setting our blog aside takes a great amount of work. In fact to run a really engaging blog could be tantamount to a full-time job what with time to think of topics to blog about, time to live a little so that you have new experiences to share, time to do some research to make your posts sound a bit more informed, time to actually write these posts, and let's not forget the time to respond to commenters on your blog as well as going round other blogs to drop comments there (the online equivalent of networking).

Let's face it: it's incredibly hard work! I shared my own challenges in this earlier post in Nov 2007.

Many of bloggers start out with enthusiasm, but relatively few bloggers find that they can sustain this effort (a 2008 survey by Technorati, which runs a search engine for blogs revealed a whooping 95 percent of abandoned blogs).

Some bloggers who hang in there for the long haul might find their writing style evolving over time (this will almost certainly happen) and maybe choose to reveal less about themselves (I blogged about this in Dec 2006 when I started to be aware of my changing blog personality).

I love how the article ends with the blogger confessing to her continued high expectations from her blog. Frankly, I don't see how you can blog without having bucket-loads of optimism and hope.