Category: Entertainment

The wife of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Olori Folashade, has been installed as Yeye Oba Isese Ile Yoruba by the Isese Parapo, Oyo. The installation took place at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo. GBENGA ADERANTI was there

History was made in the ancient town of Oyo last Saturday when one of the wives of Alaafin of Oyo, Olori Folashade Adeyemi was installed as the Yeye Oba Isese Ile Yoruba by the Isese Parapo, Oyo, at the Alaafin’s palace, Oyo, Oyo State.

She is the first Yoruba woman to be conferred with the title. Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, his oloris (the queens), traditional rulers from far and wide and guests, seated comfortably, expecting the big masquerade of the day. The scorching sun did not stop the Oyo people from attending the ceremony, and when Olori Folashade came to the vast arena, she did not disappoint.

Olori Folashade is currently an undergraduate at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Elegantly dressed, Olori Folashade came to the arena in a combination of white and red attire. She was a sight to behold as she cat-walked into the arena. Her ‘beauty queen’ steps were not a surprise to those who knew her antecedents. Her beauty before now had been acknowledged by different awards in her kitty.

The celebrator’s glowing attractive fair skin was shaded from the scorching sun with a royal umbrella. While she was being ushered unto her seat at the middle of the arena, the crowd went into jubilation, and the noise enveloped the sound of the local gun salute meant to announce her presence.

The other oloris were upbeat when Queen Folashade arrive the arena.

The rich culture of Oyo people was on display as various traditional dance groups entertained the guests. Children between the ages 7-12 drew admiration of many as they recited ifa corpuses; many could not but shower them with money for their rare ingenuity. Egungun (masquerades) also entertained the guests. The display of the egungun electrified the atmosphere.

The ceremony proper started with educating the people the importance of Yeye Oba Isese Ile Yoruba. This was later followed by the formal presentation of Olori Folashade to the public. Thereafter, the Isese Parapo (a group of traditionalist) came together to pray for the queen.

The rites commenced with the opening of a big white calabash that had smaller ones inside by Olori Folasahde. Inside these small calabashes were assorted items such as honey, kolanuts and other things meant for the ceremony. At every point, Olori Folashade was told to open each of the small calabashes and tell the excited guests what he found in them; the item picked was used to pray for her.

The ceremony was not devoid of putting the leaves on the YeyeOba Isese which is important when a person is being conferred with a traditional title in Yoruba land; this was followed by the presentation of Ileke (beads) and staff of office. The excited Folashade was ably assisted by Alaafin’s royal Ambassador, Paula Gomez, a Portuguese, who seemed to have mastered Yoruba culture and tradition.

The presentation of certificate and the staff of office to the Olori was the high point of the ceremony while acknowledging the crowd; Olori Folashade went straight to her husband, Oba Adeyemi, to show her appreciation.

A visibly elated Olori Folashade was full of praise for the people of Oyo and the entire Yoruba race for the honour bestowed on her.

“You believe in me, and you feel that I deserve it that is why you chose to honour me. I thank you all,” Folashade said, after the rituals were concluded.

While the Kabiyesi went on short break, the guests were thrilled by musicians, who had been waiting anxiously to entertain.

The event was attended by traditional rulers and chiefs from different parts of Yorubaland including Oyo State Speaker, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu and council chairmen.

The Olayiwola Mabinuori and Shehu Lawal families have become one, following the consummation of the marriage of their children Olakunle and Olamide in Lagos, ABIKE ADEGBULEHIN writes.

It was a three-in-one celebration starting with the engagement held at the SS Joachim and Anna Catholic Church Ijegun, a Lagos suburb.

Family, friends and well wishers came from far and wide to witness the blissful union of Kunle Mabinuori and former Miss Olamide Lawal.

Looking radiant in his national attire of green and lemon lace, the groom danced into the hall with his friends to perform the traditional rites.

He was made to prostrate, a sign of respect for his in-laws and seriousness about seeking Olamide’s hand in marriage.

Kunle was well received. His in-laws and parents prayed for him.

After performing the necessary rites; the groom was asked to take the special seat prepared for him.

The bride, Olamide, stole the day. She was resplendent in her lemon green lace iro and buba with green Aso oke.

Accompanied by her friends, Olamide danced into the hall full of smiles.

She knelt before her parents who prayed for her. Her in-laws also prayed for her.

The Nikah took place immediately with the Imam of Ijegun Mosque, Alhaji Ayoade Semiu, officiating.

After joining the couple, the Imam urged the newlywed to be each other’s backbone.

“As a couple now, make sure you are always there for each other, trust each other and don’t listen to side talks and make sure you always put God first and make him the pillar of your marriage”, he said.

The guests were in Aso-ebi of baby pink and pink head gears.

The reception was held at the wedding venue; with the couple took time off to change into fresh attires.

The groom returned in a black suit, white shirt and pink tie; the bride wore a white flowing gown.

The couple danced into the hall accompanied by the bridal train, grooms men and friends.

The bride and groom danced like never before to the tunes dished out by the Upper Musical Band.

Pastor Emoreke Moses urged the couple to respect their marriage vows, and treat each other right.

The reception was chaired by Dr. Olayiwola Bello, who prayed that the union would be fruitful. He urged the couple to let the word of God reign in their home.

It was time for the couple to cut their three- step cake of white and pink

Olamide knelt to feed her husband; Kunle fed her in return.

Olamide, a graduate of Accounting from the Lagos State University (LASU) said: “We attended the same university although we were not in the same class and we were not friends, but when he left, we met outside the school premises on his way back from work and on my way back from school and our friendship developed; then came love and now marriage”.

She described her man as loving, down to earth and gentle.

Olakunle, also an accounting a graduate of LASU described his wife as “cheerful, caring and my dream come true”.

The bride’s father thanked God for the wedding. He advised the couple to be each other’s best friend.

The mum, a deputy director at Isheri-Oshun Junior Secondary School in Lagos, Mrs Bukola Lawal was ecstatic with joy. She prayed for the couple to be fruitful and multiply.

Silence has been described by some authors and scholars as one of the most valuable forms of expression. They were of the opinion that it speaks volumes. Carmen de Monteflores said “I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.” This means that silence goes beyond a physical action; it is a divine nature. Josh Billings also said, “The most profound statements are often said in silence.” This corrects the notion that multitude of words must precede making sense.

It has also been suggested that silence can save us from making a fool of ourselves. In respect to this, Meister Eckhart said, “Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.” Agreeing with this, Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this he would not be ignorant.” Silence is a worthy teacher that abides with its student throughout life. M.S. Merwin observed, “Now, all my teachers are dead except silence.”

As valuable as silence is, however, it cannot always replace speech. Silence has its place and so does speech. When speech is necessary, silence may seem like a compromise. According to Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Fraquhar Tupper also said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Not only can silence be sometimes misunderstood, it can also be misleading; Attanasio said, “Silence is a text easy to misread.” It is important, then, to speak to clarify intentions. There are three important uses of speech, among others, and there are; to express displeasure, to express desire, and to offer leadership.

1) To Express Displeasure: it is a common saying that it is easier to criticize a person, idea, or organization than to proffer a solution. Very true! So, to avoid being called a critic, or having to think up a solution, most people opt for silence. Some other people pride themselves in being “frank,” so, they “say it as it is!” I have often heard people say, “Well, I will say what I think; they may take it or leave it. They may even hate me for it. Whether they change or not doesn’t matter!” First, it is not wrong to express displeasure, and second, the manner of speaking determines the result. It can cost a person or an organization a fortune if the people who notice its flaws, which when corrected could have resulted in improvement, decide to stay silent. Wherever you are, your ability to identify the challenges around you may be an indication that you can do something about them. On the other hand, criticism must be constructive and not destructive. If you are more interested in airing your views “frankly” than in seeing the situation change, you are probably self-centered. Dale Carnegie noted, “Criticism is futile because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him justify himself. Criticism is dangerous because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.” Nevertheless, you can constructively criticize issues you have noticed with the intention of instigating people against mediocrity and motivating them towards excellence.

2) To Express Desire: speech is one of the most valuable tools for expressing desires with minimal possibility of misunderstanding. This involves painting a picture of a desired state of being that your listeners can relate with. Most public speakers are driven by a passion for change which they sell to their audience. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and that dream was replicated in the minds of thousands of people through his speeches. Barak Obama spoke of his desire for change, and he ended up at the White House. When a desire becomes a passion, you cannot but speak it out; in your mind, it is a dream, and in your mouth, it is a weapon.

3) To Offer Leadership: an author once observed that we have enough problems getting people to do the things they want to do, how much more the things they don’t want to do? Leadership is not about making others follow, but about giving them a reason to. The most successful leaders are those with enthusiastic followers. One sure way to inject enthusiasm into followers is through speech. Of course, such a speech must be based on mutual interest and genuine intentions.

You do yourself great injustice when the time is there, the audience is there, and the words are there, yet you do not speak. Silence is golden, but speech is crystal!

In the remote town of Odosengolu, Ijebu-Ode, Vanguards Academy is building the future of children. On Saturday, it hosted founding fathers, parents and other dignitaries to a Luncheon to mark its 10th anniversary. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there 

The movement of four-wheel vehicles caught the people unawares. Before they could raise their eyes to see who were in the cars, everywhere had become dusty. In no time, the ancient town – Odosengolu in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State was filled with dignitaries from across the country.

Odosengolu, a beautiful village, is sandwiched between Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State and Epe, another ancient and popular town in Lagos State.

Odosengolu hosted eminent personalities who came for the luncheon climaxing the 10th anniversary of a model private secondary school, Vanguards Academy last Saturday. The school was established in 2002 with 33 pioneering students.

It is about 45 minutes from Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye and about 30 minutes’ drive from the Ogun State proposed Cargo Airport.

It started operation in Isiwo, a few metres away from the Odosengolu permanent site. Isiwo is a town to behold with its undulating topography and aesthetic landscape. It is home to some of the prominent citizens of the state. The inhabitants enjoy closely linked family ties.

The guests shone in different traditional and foreign attires. Some decked in agbada, babaringa, buba and sokoto, others appeared in Arabian outfits – jelbaab, jalabia with matching turban.

Many of the inhabitants of the town could not but catch glimpse of the activities inside the school.

The ceremony began with the commissioning of boreholes, the school’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) gesture to the host town.

Afterwards, guests returned to the school’s open field for the commencement of the ceremony. The event equally featured N150 million fund raising, entertainment by the school students and goodwill messages.

Mouth-watering meals and choice drinks were served. The guests, who deferred the traffic snarl along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway among other roads felt a taste of what the students enjoy in the school.

Shortly after the opening prayer and introduction of the guests, Chairman of the school’s Management Board, Alhaji Dawud Arogundade delivered a welcome address.

Arogundade, a first degree holder in Geography Education and Masters in Guidance and Counselling, is the Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Lagos State.

Decked in a flowing blue agbada, a befitting cap and matching pair of shoe, the lanky educationist described the day as one of his happiest moment.

He said the school has made landmarks in continuous provision of qualitative education in and outside the classrooms.

According to him, the school has churned out students with impeccable moral standard.

He thanked individuals, parents and groups that contributed to the success of the school in the last decade, urging them not to relent in supporting the school’s projects.

One of the founding fathers, Alhaji Shuaib Abdullahi likened the school to a mustard seed that has grown to be an iroko tree.

Abdullahi, the former Nigerian-Arab Association Executive Secretary praised the school management for impacting academic excellent in the students.

The Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation urged the management not to relent in achieving the target goals.

The school’s Director of Administration, Dr Zafaran Adeniyi boasted that the school has lived up to its name but noted that more still needed to be done to meet the goals of the founding fathers, many of who were present.

The funeral of the slain traditional ruler of Umuode community, Igwe Moses Ugwu, Ode 1 of Unuode has been held at the Catholic Church, Umuode, Enugu State. CHRIS ORJI reports 

They live close to each other but are divided by fracas. At the least opportunity, Umuode and Oruku communities are at each other’s throat, fighting over land. The crisis got to a head about three months ago when the traditional ruler of Umuode in Enugu State, Igwe Moses Ugwu, was killed in Akpuoga on October 9.

His killing was linked to the rivalry between Umuode and Oruku. Last weekend, Ugwu’s remains were buried. For the funeral, the Umuode kingdom got a face lift. The major road linking the community with its neighbours was graded; pathways and walkways were paved to ensure free movement.

The palace of the fallen traditional ruler was decorated with clothes of different colours. There were exotic canopies all across the palace. The homes of his next door neighbours former Power Minister, Prof. Nnaji and Justice Anthony Onovo were also glitter decorated.

The only church in the community, the Catholic Church, could not contain the crowd that attended the funeral service. The mass was said at a cleared expanse of land just 100 metres from the church. The land in the resting place of the fallen monarch and others to come after him. He was buried there immediately after the mass.

The Catholic Bishop of Enugu diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga, conducted the service, assisted by other priests. The bishop emeritus of Enugu diocese, Bishop Okonkwo Gbuji, was also there.

In his homily, Bishop Onaga, said no matter the amount of money made by the assassins, it would not be useful for them. He warned those that are paid to kill and those that hire people to kill that God’s judgement is near.

“Do not think it is far. His judgement is just by the corner,” the bishop sermonized.

Bishop Onaga said the blood shed in the Umuode and Oruku crises would not be in vain. He recalled that the late Ugwu was mediating in another crisis between two communities before his death.

Said the bishop: “His blood will not be in vain. It is going to bring positive things to Umuode people. May his death be a blessing to us. He died for us to get peace.”

While hoping that God would resolve the Umuode and Oruku rift, and the bishop charged the royal fathers of Nkanuland to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure that peace returns to the warring communities.

He told the monarchs: “Royal fathers are not doing much. They should not expect the clergy to do all. But we believe that one day it will come to an end.”

Prof. Nnaji, regretted the death of the monarch, who was his cousin.

People, he said, may not understand the importance of the Igwe in the peace process between Umuode and Oruku communities.

“His voice was always a voice of reasoning. He would always pacify Umuode people not to retaliate in time of provocation,” Nnaji said.

Nnaji called on the government to implement the recommendations of the white paper of the panel that looked into the crisis.

Justice Onovo said Umuode is a community in transition.

“We are yet to settle down,” he said.

Describing Umuode and Oruku as brothers, he said, however, that God gave each person different destiny.

He hoped that the death of Igwe Ugwu would bring peace to the warring communities.

THAT Mulatto born Louise Priddy has dumped Bacchus, Club her claim to fame is no more news. The gist is that the mother of now attention has shifted to Posh Café, located inside Mega Plaza since it was established for her by her hubby, Mario, while Bacchus is a family business.

Since the death of the Priddy Patriach, Olu Kereku-Priddy, the family has no doubt been grappling with debt especially in running the funspot.

The four year-old courtship between Ikpemhosi Amakhabi and Oluwatosin Olatunji climaxed with their wedding ceremony last Saturday. It was the end of a journey that started in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. Kemi Ojobo was there.

ON Saturday November 17, lovebirds Ikpemhosi Amakhabi and Oluwatosin Olatunji got married at the Love and Peace Garden, Ikotun, Lagos in a very colourful ceremony.

On the same day, they held their engagement.

The event started with prayers and praise and worship songs at the hall which was decorated in pink and silver, the colours of the day.

The alaga, who also served as the compere of the engagement, introduced the parents of the couple. She called for all to observe a minute silence in honour of the bride’s father, who passed on three years ago.

The groom came into the hall in style. It was his day of joy and he stood tall and different from everyone else in the hall.

Adorned in a baby blue lace agbada with matching accessories of a gold chain and a big red bead, depicting his Ishan, Benin roots, he was ushered in by his friends, among who was the popular music producer, ID Cabassa.

Ikpemhosi was made to prostrate before his in-laws, as is the Yoruba tradition; his friends also joined in such gesture.

The alaga interrogated him to what was his mission in the hall. The groom replied that he had come to beg for the hand of the bride in marriage. He was made to ‘settle’ the alaga before being allowed to go. He greeted his ‘new’ and ‘old’ parents before he was allowed to take his seat in their midst.

After this, it was time to usher in the bride. Tosin came in dressed the same matching baby blue iro and buba lace, complete with red accessories and shoes. She greeted her parents and was ushered onto her seat. Tosin was given her beau’s (Ik as he is popularly known as) cap to wear it for him, which she did to the admiration of all.

After this, the audience prayed for them after which the groom lifted his bride and presented her to his parents. They were prayed for again by the audience. The engagement ended with the traditional thank you dance by the groom’s mother and members of her age group.

The reception started immediately with another opening prayer. The couple’s parents were ushered onto the high table with dancing and singing. After which, the couple were accompanied into the venue by their friends. The groom was dressed in a black suit with white shirt and the bride in a long cream dress with a pink rose in her hair. Both looked radiant and splendid.

The toast was given by Chika Okechukwu of Keystone Bank, who told of the ‘beginning of the love story’. She said: “The couple met when they were serving in Lafia, Nasarawa State. IK was the choir leader in church and Tosin was a member of the choir.

“I recall that they both lived in the Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) hostel. But IK was hardly ever in his room; you would always find him in Tosin’s room. This is the first product of NCCF Lafia and we’re glad we’re all happy to witness it. May God bless your union,” she prayed.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr Oyerinde Gbadebo , admonished the couple to live together in love. He urged them to always resolve their differences without any external influence.

The highlight of the reception was a surprise for the bride by the groom. The groom went on his knees, singing various renditions of romantic songs for the bride. This elicited excitement from the audience, with much shouting and tears from the females in the audience.

Declaring the vote of thanks, IK said: “She is the girl of my dream. I’m glad I made my move when I did. Tosin is the girl for me; she is everything I want in a woman. Words cannot really express how I feel about her. I can’t describe it. In fact, I’m speechless and lost for words.”

The bride said of her man: “He is God sent. You know when God specially creates something and hands it over to you; that is what IK is to me. He completes me; makes me feel special and am glad that am his wife.”