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JOSEPH BENJAMIN

DAMIlOlA ADEgBItE-AttOH

JADE OSIBERU

lYDIA FORSON

gAMECHANgERS!

Polo_ProdValue_266x393_1116.indd 1 01.11.16 16:31

Everyday we have cause to complain about our country Nigeria. In fact we have a love/hate relationship because as bitterly as we moan,

woe betide another African to take us on and criticize us to our face! Then we forget all our flaws and like a lioness protecting her cubs, we get defensive and upset that another African can dare to look down on us! We then begin to list the strides we have made compared to other African countries. Isn’t that weird?

We might not have much to encourage us in terms of policies, governance, and infrastructure or lack thereof but if there is one

good thing that has come out of this ‘situation’ of ours, it is looking within, using our talent to develop products made in Nigeria from

start to finish! This applies in so many areas, from the fashion industry making huge global strides to the makeup industry where our products

are competing with international brands as well. Even the food industry is not taking a back seat either as snacks like tortilla chips are made from ugu not to mention bozo jam to name a few! Needless to say, the most prominent sector that has really set the trail blazing is the film industry. Nollywood is second to Bollywood with Hollywood being the cream of the pack. What does that tell us? That our brand in the film industry is the third largest in the world and this, by any means is no small feat! So when our actors and actresses produce films that are of world class standard, we cannot but celebrate them because that is another step in the right direction in a country that is still trying very hard to find its feet and regain its lost glory. And for that, we are very proud recipients of the accolades received on their behalf.

Content

From humble beginnings to headlining tabloids, they are popular amongst the A-List Nollywood/Ghollywood actors and social strata. These five talented actors and filmmakers talk about their roles in the new must-see movie of the season ‘Isoken’, written, directed, produced by Jade Osiberu and they also share their inspiring stories on their journey in pursuit of what started out as a dream...Style Correspondent Moji Allen reports...

KNOw YOUR FASHION PERSONAlItY? Pg 8 & 9

HOw tO DO ClASSY ON A BUDgEtPg 10 & 11

FASHPA’S FlORAl wONDERlANDPg 18

REvAMP wItH BOlD FlOwERY PRINtSPg 19

5 MINUtES wItH BARIMA OwUSU-NYANtEKYI Pg 20

5 MINUtE MAKEUPPg 22

FAshion Director/executive eDitorRuTH OSImE

eDitor Print: OLuFuNkE BABS-kuFEJI

eDitor DigitAl: kONyE NWABOGOR

style corresPonDent mOJISOLA ALLEN

style corresPonDent AyOdEJI ROTINWA

style corresPonDent SAFINA mOHAmmEd

grAPhics/ProD. heAD ALExANdER OvIAzEE

grAPhics/ProD. AdEGBOyE OLuWASEyI

contributorsEdIRIN OkumAGBA

Ruky SALAkOyEmISI dAdA SERIkI

JuLIET ALu

PhotogrAPhersTy BELLO

REzE BONNAyETuNdE AyENI-BABAEkO

Director, Print ProDuction. CHukS ONWudINJO

thisday style08111847085

08111847086

08111847087

08116759745

08116706878

08052552552

08111813064

Fashion Director/executive eDitor

FashionSocietytIMES HEROES 2017 lEADERSHIP AwARDDAIlY tIMES NEwSPAPER @ 91Pg 4 & 5

ZENItH BANK DEltA PRINCIPAl CUP FINAlSPg 6

Recently dignitaries from all walks of life stormed Abuja to celebrate daily Times Nigeria’s 91 years of existence. To mark this special occasion was an event tagged Times Heroes 2017 Leadership Award, which was held at the prestigious International Conference Centre Abuja.Incorporated in 1926, the daily Times Newspaper was the first modern printing and publishing company in Nigeria with majority equity participation from the daily mirror in the united kingdom.

Times Heroes 2017 LeadersHip awarddaiLY Times Newspaper @ 91B y K o n y e C h e l s e a n w a B o g o r

OSAtO IZE IYAMU

vAlENtINE OZIgBONOEl ANOSIKEEDDIE UDENtA

DEPUtY gOv. OF ANAMBRA StAtE, NKEM OKEKE

lAwRENCE ONOJA & EMEKA NwOgU

FEMI ADESINA

SHEHU SANI StEPHEN ORONSAYE

FIDElIS ANOSIKE

REPRESENtAtIvE OF gHANA PRESIDENt, MR. wIllIAM AwINADOR- KANYIRIgE

CHRIS & IJEOMA UBOSI

lANRE & MOJI tEJUOSHOgOv. RAUF AREgBESOlA OF OSUN StAtE

gOv. YAHAYA BEllO OF KOgI StAtE

PEtER EDOCHE gOv. IBRAHIM DANKwAMBO OF gOMBE StAtE

PAUl ADEFARASIN

IBRAHIM SHEMA & DR ADEYEMO AlAKIJAEMMA ANOSIKE & SIR lUCKY OMONUwA

MR & MRS SEgUN OYEKUNlEMAO OHUABUNwA MAttHEw URHOgIDE

UlOMA & IKE OgBUEBIlE MISS NIgERIA, CHIOMA OBIADI

JOY MOKwUgO tHElMA OKODUwA

The Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium was agog recently with the hosting of the maiden edition of the zenith Bank delta Principals Cup Finals. The 14,000 capacity Stadium which hosted the finals between mastercare International School, Asaba and Idjerhe Grammar School, Jesse was almost filled to capacity. The Governor of delta State, Senator dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; the deputy Governor, Barrister kingsley Otuaro, the minority Leader of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon Leo Ogor, the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly, members of the delta State Executive Council, the President of NFF, notable Ex - Internationals and Students were part of the guests that graced graced the event.

ZeNiTH BaNK deLTa priNCipaL CUp FiNaLs

l-R CHIEDU EBIE, gOv. OKOwA AND DEPUtY gOv. KINgSlEY OtUARO wAlKINg tOwARDS tHE PItCH FOR tHE NOvEltY PENAltY SHOOt OUt

ANgElA NwAKA, ERIC OHARISI & PRINCESS AJUDUA

CHIEDU EBIE

gOv. IFEANYI OKOwA PRESENtINg tHE wINNERS tROPHY tO MAStER lOUIS NDUKwE, CAPtAIN OF MAStERCARE INt’l SCHOOl

FORMER NIgERIAN PlAYERS

gOvERNOR OKOwA (3RD lEFt), BARR KINgSlEY OtUARO (2ND lEFt) MR lUCKY IgHADE (ExtREME lEFt) wItH wINNERS OF tHE INDIvIDUAl CAtEgORIES

JUDE SINEBE & PAtRICK UKAH

Ex gREEN EAglES PRINCE AFEJUKwU AND SAMSON OZOgUlA wItH wEYINMI ARUEYINgHO (CENtER)

gOv. IFEANYI OKOwA

lUCKY IgHADE

lAURA DUNKwU & PRINCESS JABAFO

A LifeWeLL Lived

INvISIBLEBy BaBatunde OlaOluwa JeJe

“my belief is simply that if reasonable and intelligent people are offered some-thing that is well made, well designed, of a decent quality and at a price

they can afford, then they will like it and buy it. This is the abiding principle to which I hold, whether as a designer, retailer or restaurateur. I’ve designed literally hundreds of things, but hardly anyone ever notices them. They tend not to be design icons as such, but are often rather more mundane — designs that involve changing the colour or edge of a plate, or the handle of something, so that it just slips into life…” — Terence Conran

you are in your home and you want to turn on the television and pick up the remote control to do so, but it doesn’t work. It is only then that you know there’s a problem. There’s a service interruption. Worse yet, your life seems to have been suspended for the period of time you might need to change the dead batteries especially when you are looking forward to an impor-tant football match.

The event centre is well decorated, ushers show you to your seat, music is playing in the background and gaily dressed friends are greeting you and each other enthusiastically. Then nothing happens at your table as you watch waiters going to other seemingly more important tables to deliver water, drinks and food. A fast thinking person gets up, grabs one of the waiters and promises to take care of him after he has met the needs of your table. your table then gets served with food and drinks. The drinks fellow makes a show of opening wine bottles with his archaic cork-screw and leaves the foil on around the bottle’s lip. He equally opens the champagne with the same gusto accompanied by loud pops and wasted champagne. He sometimes reaches over your plate with your fork in mid flight to drop an opened bottle on the table and you have to manoeuvre to avoid spillage on your party threads. All the while behaving as if he is angry or doing a favour by serving the table. And then you literally have to beg another waiter to clear the empty plates from the table. I’m sure these are quite familiar events to the average party goer in Nigeria.

We are confronted with service interruptions and bad service almost everywhere we go. We know this because we complain a lot about how we are treated. Customer service is broken in Nigeria and has been for a long time. We are usually victims of service delivery processes rather than beneficiaries.

To change a situation, you must be able to define what that situation is. So it is good to describe what customer service is in functional terms. The writer defines customer service as getting what a customer wants to the customer in the most seamless way possible. Like the Terence Conran quote above, the best customer service should just allow the customer to continue with life without interruptions. The best customer service is designed to be invisible.

When it comes to luxury services, the person spending money knows what they want and will ask for help or information when they want it. On enter-ing a premium restaurant, it isn’t expected that the waiter will educate the diners on the types of wine unless a recommendation is requested in which case, the waiter either answers or calls the sommelier to

provide the information. Prices are not even men-tioned, only good food served on time accompanied by the best wine poured in accompaniment.

It must be mentioned though that a particular service industry is doing very, very well indeed and this is the events planning industry. This is an award winning industry with recognised leaders. The skills, equipment and capacity required to put together a space for a specific event, decorate it temporarily to an acceptable level of excellence and man that space with appropriately presented staff has been turned into a fine art. Weddings, lifestyle events, and parties have never looked so good.

The ‘last mile’ that is still a clear problem in the events industry, as already described above, is the food and drinks service delivery. It is such a clear op-portunity that a chef switched from food preparation to service delivery successfully and is making a name for himself. This is in the person of daniel Olurin, a polyglot chef who is filling this gap. He told a story to the writer that’s worth repeating. He has trained his

staff so well that the difference between his work and others is stark in comparison. At an event where he was in charge of food service delivery, another party was in charge of drinks service delivery. The food ser-vice delivery went without a hitch until a staff of the drinks service delivery opened a bottle of champagne with such a lack of finesse that one of the guests turned to daniel and suggested that he train his drinks people as well as his food people. Of course daniel simply smiled and then went to demand for the removal of the drinks service people from the event space and took it over. daniel also agrees with the writer that a bottle of champagne must be opened with as much noise as a contented woman’s sigh…

At the time of writing this article, the writer is sat in a bistro and listening to complaints from custom-ers experiencing variations in the quality of food they were served having experienced better quality at the same place before. Again, broken customer service delivery… (A food critic section will be added to this column soon.)

To be fair, the expected level of service when one goes into a fast food outlet is not the same as when one goes to a bistro or a restaurant, none of which compare with a hotel’s service expectations which also vary according to the rating of the hotel. How-ever, the fundamentals are the same. The service must be properly positioned for the customers served; the more luxurious the offering, the higher the service expectations; and the training of staff must be at par with the expectation of customer service delivery.

Of all the fundamentals, the most important one is training. Staff must be selected based on their natural peoples-person abilities and then equipped with the knowledge and tools to effectively deploy the expected level of service. Only when you have a very involved business ownership/leadership with staff at their very best will invisible service become the standard.

The writer took the time to discuss with the people complaining in the bistro and asked them one ques-tion. Where had they experienced an invisible service culture in Lagos food destinations? The answer was immediate with effusive praise given to the owners of said establishment for their staff effectiveness, cuisine excellence and owners personal involvement.

While the subject matter has focused on lifestyle / luxury sectors, the public sector and customer fac-ing financial institutions can definitely implement some much needed improvements where customer service is concerned. Invisible or if you prefer, seamless customer service, with the citizen / customer as the centre must become the standard.

Babatunde Olaoluwa Jeje believes in filling each moment with the very best experiences possible. writing from lagos, Babatunde is an entrepre-neur, a foodie, a lover of great music, and a prac-titioner of sprezzatura. Babatunde will be writing about a life well lived.

A LifeWeLL Lived

Staff must be selected based on their natural peoples-person abilities and then

equipped with the knowledge and tools to effectively deploy the expected level of service. Only when you have a very

involved business ownership/leadership with staff at their very best will invisible service

become the standard.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

KnoW your fAshion

personALity? a woman’s fashion personality, expressed by her everyday style, says who

she is. Most of us lean toward one particular type of fashion personality, although we

may sometimes wear styles that are more closely related to another. What’s your fashion

personality? do you view yourself as having a classic, ladylike or bohemian style?

By Konye chelseA nwAbogor

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style

Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

the MAveriCKs

New designers? Avant-garde cuts? Bold looks? Bring them on. This fashion-

forward group is not afraid to experiment. don’t follow the pack. Look for pieces no one else has and start your own trends.

(People will follow!)

the MiniMAListsSleek, simple shapes in a monochrome, toned-down palette are what keep this clan looking

sharp and smart. Remember, black is your best friend. The no-frills hue always works, whether in a

skirt, top, pant, or dress.

the LAdiesGrace kelly’s white-glove look may be a

little old-fashioned, but her prim, polished, and pulled-together air still resonates with

today’s refined set.

the CLAssiCists

These women prefer the basics, T-shirts, blazers, white shirts, suits, and trousers

— and they look effortlessly chic in simple staple pieces. Sticking with pieces that have stood the test of time is often their key.

the BoheMiAnsBell-bottoms may have given

way to breezy gowns, but these free-spirited style setters love earthy, ethnic-inspired looks.

the eCLeCtiCs

It’s all about having fun with fashion for these playful women. Bright colours,

quirky pairings, and loud patterns are part of the package. Follow your heart when it comes to

picking out your clothes. Forget what’s appropriate

the BoMBsheLLsSexy is the mantra for these

women. And for them, picking pieces that show off a curvy, feminine figure is the norm. Look

for clothes that accentuate the hourglass.

AgBANI DAREgO

JENIFER OlIZEtADE OlAFISOYE

IDIA AISIEN

HONEY OgUNDEYI

UgONNA OMERUO

BOlANlE OlUKANNI

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G N

do you want to look like a million bucks, but think you can’t because you don’t have the money? you don’t have to be rich to look expensive! and, when you wear clothes that you love and fit well, you have confi-dence!

Follow these tips to look expensive while on a budget:

how to do Classyon a Budget

WEAR BLACkBlack is a neutral, it goes with everything.  Since it is a solid

colour it coordinates with other colours and patterns.  When we

think of the colour black, we think of Coco Chanel.  She made

the black and white famous in her tailored clothes and fabrics.

WEAR A BLAzERBlazers add an instant polished look to any

outfit.  you can wear them with a dress, with a pencil skirt and white top or even with jeans

and a tee.  Although black is the most popular classic blazer, you don’t have to limit yourself

to just black.  Striped, blue and even pink blaz-ers are excellent completing pieces!

WEAR PIECES THAT FIT WELLAlways make sure your clothes fit well.  If you have an hourglass figure, wear pieces that show off your curves.  If you have a

few pounds in areas you want to conceal, opt for pieces that are slightly loose and

flow when you walk.  For all figures, avoid wearing clothes that are too loose.

WEAR SuNGLASSES Wear sunglasses and you’ll look

cool and collected!  Perhaps the images of celebrities wear-ing beautiful sunglasses have

been an influence on us to wear them.  The fancier sunglasses help make your outfit look ex-

pensive.

BEAuTy mATTERSmake sure your hair is clean

and you have a nice hair-style.  keep your skin in good

condition.  Wear makeup that looks natural and wear lipcolour.  make sure your

nails are kept trimmed and/or painted.

COORdINATE yOuR SHOES & BAG

A key to making your outfits look polished is coordinating your shoes

and bag.  If you wear black shoes then carry a black bag.  Brown shoes look great with a brown bag in the same

colour tone.  you can venture out a bit by wearing black shoes with a nude or a solid colour bag, like pink.  Leopard

flats or heels look great with a black or

nude bag.

WEAR POINTEd FLATS OR HEELSWomen who wear flats

or heels that are pointed have a look that screams expensive!  Black or nude are popular colours that go with everything. They are considered wardrobe

essentials.

CHIOMA IKOKwU

RUKKY SANDA

MIMI ONAlAJA

StEP

HAN

IE A

DER

INO

KUN

WEAR LIPCOLOuRWear a lipcolour that has a

coloured tint, like red, coral or pink.  Red is a classic lipcolour.  It

goes great with black and white.  Wear a shade of red that looks good with your skin tone.

CARRy A STRuCTuREd BAGWhen you see a woman who looks poised and pol-

ished, she almost always is carrying a structured bag.  This type of bag completes the “expensive”

look.  It’s simple lines and hardware gives an outfit a “finished” look.

 WEAR STATEmENT JEWELRy

Wear jewelry that makes a state-ment.  Fancy jewelry adds a

polished look to any outfit.  When your outfit is basic, like black pants and a white top, add a statement necklace, earrings or bracelet and you outfit instantly looks “glam”!

A FEW TIPSIf you are on a budget, you have a limited amount of money to spend on clothes.  don’t feel overwhelmed and think you have to buy everything at one time.Here are some tips to buying expensive-looking pieces for your wardrobe:

BUY ONE PIECE AT A TIMEIf you are going to spend money on a piece, spend it wisely.  When you buy an item for your wardrobe, make sure it is well-made and is a quality piece.

BUY QUALITY ITEMSJust because you are limited on funds, don’t skimp on quality.  If you buy an item, say a blazer, on sale because it’s cheap, chances are it won’t last long due to wear and washing.  Instead buy a great quality item at a higher end store.  Because it will be well-made with quality fabric, it will last you for years.

BUY ITEMS ON SALEIf you’re looking to buy a certain piece, wait until it’s on sale.  you can save lots of money for items on sale.

PRICIllA

OMONI OBOlI

SAD

E A

KIN

OSH

O

AgAtHA

KEFIlwE MABOtE

PAMElA MADlAlA

BY FUNKE BABS KUFEJI

C o V e rC o V e r THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

tell us a bit about your character in the movie isoken?Isoken is a smart, fairly successful young woman in her 30’s caught between following her

heart or following society’s expectations.At the end of the movie we will discover what path she eventually chooses.

this would be your first movie debut for 2017, what prompted you to be a part of the movie?

I immediately connected with Isoken because almost every Nigerian female experiences undue pressure especially as it pertains to marriage and I felt it was an important story that needed to be told. The story is undeniably poignant and people will find connection points with Isoken the woman or Isoken the movie.

you took time off from the movie industry and social scene, how did you feel when the public wrongly decided you were out of the film business?

during my break from the industry I was fully committed to nurturing my marriage and my new family situation. I absolutely loved the time away but I missed working. I learnt that I was one of those women who needed to work outside the home in order to have real fulfilment. I was worried if I would be able to make it but I was determined. When my first daughter was still a toddler I started going for acting classes at ActOne studios in Chicago and I started working out to lose the baby weight. doing those two things helped me start to rebuild my mind then I got a call from Ashionye Raccah to co-star in ‘’Journey to Self”! I had to travel solo with my little one who was teething (mom’s will relate) to begin filming. I had to fight the negative rumours/ perception that I didn’t want to work anymore by doing just that ‘working’!

what motivated you into acting?Acting is something I’m fiercely passionate about as an art form. It started out as fun and

despite the fact that it’s bloody hardwork, it’s still fun. Once I hear “Action!” the rush is indescrib-able. Once it stops being fun I will hang my boots up but that’s highly doubtful. When you do something you love for work it’s the perfect balance and luckily for actors, you can keep on doing it well into old age.

how will you describe the role of motherhood in your acting career, has it in any way impacted your career?

I would definitely say marriage and motherhood has impacted my career. On the positive side they’ve made my life experiences richer and deeper. my empathy quotient is off the charts now and I have so much more to bring to the table. On the negative side its a bit restricting because I can’t just get up and leave the family as I did when I was younger and carefree. It’s excruciatingly painful to be away from them as I had to recently when I had to travel to SA for two months but that’s where the support system of my husband and my mom comes in to fill in for my absence. All in all, I’m beyond grateful and I’m better for it because I’ve become a better organizer and multi-tasker in the process. 

is there any new project you’re presently working on? my focus for now is on my latest project ‘Isoken’ and doing all I can to ensure the film’s suc-

cess. I want to appeal to all my fans to support this effort because it sets me up for the next one.

DAKORE AKANDE

JOSEPH BENJAMIN DAMIlOlA ADEgBItE-AttOH

JADE OSIBERU lYDIA FORSON

During my break from the industry I was fully committed to nurturing my marriage and my new

family situation. I absolutely loved the time away but I missed working. I learnt I was one of those women who needed to work outside the home in order to have real fulfilment. I was worried if I would be able to make it

but I was determined.

Screen dazzler Dakore Egbuson-Akande is one of Ni-geria’s Nollywood leading actress and producer. Like many of the role she plays, she stuns in her first 2017 lead character as ‘Isoken’ in the new ‘Isoken’ film. She shares her thoughts on the movie and maintain-ing a balance between her work and her family.

From humble beginnings to headlining tabloids, they are popular amongst the A-List Nollywood/Ghollywood actors and social strata. These five talented actors and filmmak-

ers talk about their roles in the new must-see movie of the season ‘Isoken’, written, di-rected, produced by Jade Osiberu and they also share their inspiring stories on their

journey in pursuit of what started out as a dream...Who says dreams are but illusions? Style Correspondent MOJI ALLEN met with these screen personalities as they reveal

their quest to make Nigeria cinema a global attraction.

DAKOREEGBUSON-AKA

NDE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017 C o v E r

the rise to success comes with a price, and it definitely comes with a story, every successful person has a story, so what is yours?

I have shared my story severally in the past, I come from a very loving and humble family, I have had my fair share of struggles which God in His infinite mercy has brought me out of to where I am, and hopefully isn’t done with me yet.

congratulations on your steady progress in this cut-throat industry! your fields of craftsmanship are very much all intertwined, which did you start with and what brought you into entertainment’s spotlight?

Thank you very much. I started out as a child actor on Tales by moonlight, had a couple of stints at modelling, honed my singing skills and then acting found me.

A stylist friend of mine told me how busy you get dur-ing the Mtn Project Fame recording, how do you juggle this with being an actor and an on air personality?

Thankfully I have done both concurrently for the last six years and with each year, I have learnt how to manage my time, the producers are understanding and take my schedule into consideration, movie producers whose projects I am working on understand that in a particular part of the year, I am com-mitted to Project Fame so they work round it and of course my management ensures I am happy and not overwhelmed with multiple commitments in this period.

Making profit is of the uttermost essence but pas-sion is the driving force behind most businesses even during down moments, so what you enjoy the most about your various job and what’s the most fascinating thing about it?

As an actor, the ability to take on a character and transform into that character for the duration of time is an experience.

As a compere, it is the joy of communicating, whether it is with one or a thousand people, I have the opportunity to, in that moment, connect with them.

you are constantly in the eye of the public, does it anyway restrain you from being true to yourself or you have to curb your excesses to keep up with the perceived appearance.

I’ve been fortunate that what I love doing has opened up doors of opportunity and a chance for me to share same with the world. I have a good support system that keeps me grounded. There’s a huge difference between characters I play and who I am with family and friends.

i’m sure most people don’t know you sing well but your voice could melt a heart of stone! what two things do people not know about you?

(Laughs at the ’heart of stone’), I am a movie buff, I like to do impressions as well.

what are some of your fondest memories as a child?

Oh I have very fond memories of my childhood. Growing up was a lot of fun, especially as I also had and still have an older sister whom I could borrow shoes and clothes from. As a child I would get up and perform for my family, my dad especially, who is now late. So I’m really not far off from the things I did for fun as a child. It’s a case of my passion and fun ending up being my life’s work.

outsiders often get a complete misconception about the entertainment business. it is per-ceived as more glitz and glamour than the actual business in itself? what struggles have you faced in this field and how have you been able to deal with it?

People believe the glitz and glamour is your real-ity. There’s the constant expectation to look and be a certain way, so if you try to be the girl next door in slacks and T-shirts, it doesn’t add up to the image they’ve created of you. We are regular people living regular lives, the only difference is our job has a lot to do with make-belief and portraying so many different characters. But at the end of the day, there’s a time and place to be 100% glamourous and there are days when I just want to let my hair down, no make up and just be me.

the film industry is constantly evolving, looking back at when you started did you think you’d come this far, understanding the complications of being a film-maker in the country?

I think the industry is still in it’s infancy and there will be many more greats. The sky is big enough for us all to fly and it’s actually to the benefit of the industry and our audience that there are many great voices telling our stories. I believe if you know your purpose and understand that you’re not competing with anyone but who you were yesterday, there’ll be no room for anxiety.

the industry is a multi-billion naira industry and with each passing day, there is a constant rise in figures which makes competition stiffer, how have you been able to carve a niche for your work?

Already Nollywood filmmakers have been mak-ing some significant strides in terms of quality. I have a passion for production and costume design and I think that’s one of the things that will set Isoken apart.

considering the star-studded cast and the suc-cess of your movie, is this your first effort?

This is my first feature length film. However, in 2012, I created an online Tv platform, called NdaniTv, whilst working in Corporate Communications at GTBank. At NdaniTv, I wrote, produced and directed a Tv show called Gidi Up. I also wrote and produced Rumour Has It and Skinny Girl In Transit for Ndani Tv.

what inspired the berth of the movie isoken?Isoken came about from being a cultural anthro-

pologist of sorts. As a culture, individuality isn’t really encouraged. We prefer for people to fit into a mold and into our idea of what the Nigerian identity is or what we consider successful. For women in particular, there’s a lot of pressure to be beautiful, successful in your career or business, married and have well behaved children, all preferably before you turn 30. And the men are not left behind either. They are under pressure to be wealthy, drive expensive cars, live in luxury homes, send their partners on holidays and buy them designer goods. The danger in all of this is that we reduce the human experience to external factors and material things, ultimately setting ourselves up to fail at these ridiculous standards of what leading a successful or meaningful life should be.

Film production is not as rosy as perceived, tell us a few of the challenges you faced during the making of your film.

It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park. I wrote the first draft of the script in July 2014 and had expected to be in cinemas in december that year. Little did I know then that it would take three years. From raising the funding for principal photography to getting the right team together to finally getting the resources for publicity, there have been challenges at every turn. I used to joke that people are more willing to fund your wedding reception than they are to fund your start up business. I hope that trend will change over time.

what, in your opinion, has changed about the industry and how has the lydia Forson brand been able to keep up with the tides of time?

I came into the industry at a time when it was going through somewhat of revolution; the audience de-manded more than the usual cliches and filmmakers were tasked to keep up them interested.

On one hand, this meant that unknown faces like me were being given a chance, but on the other hand, we had to work extra hard to satisfy the audience. Thanks to this, I was forced to consistently find new ways to better myself and perfect my craft.

I do a lot of evaluation after every project and I’m not afraid to listen to where I fell short and need improvement. As an actor you shouldn’t be afraid to hear genuine criti-cism and should never think you know it all. you should pay more attention to your craft and less to yourself.

with your degree in english language and in-formation studies from the university of ghana, one would have thought you’d go the boardroom route, so why acting?

To be honest I did English Language mostly because of Literature, I’ve always loved stories and the art of telling them; Literature gave me just that and more. Why acting? Although generic, it is a loaded question, but for me the answer is simply that it’s the ONLy way I can throughly express myself and explore a world unfiltered .

looking back at when you started, understanding the complications of being an actress and the chal-lenges that come with it, did you think you’d come this far, .

I dreamt it, I felt it, I didn’t how it would happen or if it ever would; but I knew I had to live my life trying. Was it easy? definitely not, but every moment has led me up to this point and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

tell me four things people don’t know about lydia Forson.

* I’m obsessed with Chopsticks* I’m overly analytical * I have an OCd with doors, I’ll probably open

and close a door several times to be sure it’s secure.

* I hate all forms of text messaging, I prefer phone calls and other traditional methods of communication. If you’re trying to reach me urgently, you should probably not send me a Whatsaap.

you starred in the movie ‘isoken’, how would you describe your experience working alongside nol-lywood leading actors?

I was a little nervous on my first day of set, some of the actors I knew and others I’d never met before; I wasn’t sure how they’d react or if we’d get along. Funke Akindele was the first person I interacted with and I remember be-ing shocked she knew who I was seeing that we’d never met before; we hit it off immediately and within minutes we were chatting away like we’d been friends for years.

That was the general atmosphere on the set between cast and even the crew, this helped us all build chemistry and trust and I’m sure it also translated into our perfor-mance.

He is an actor, a model, an artist skilled in the artistry of voice-overs, an on-air and television personality, recognised for his impeccable charisma as host of the MTN’s Project Fame. Having starred in head-lining movies and being honoured with numerous awards, Joseph shares his inspiring story on his rise to fame, making tough choices and his inspiration to move ahead!

Damilola Adegbite-Attoh has been on top of her game as one of Nigerias finest screen goddesses. Her long list of headlining soap opras/movies have earned her a couple of awards and recogni-tion for her outstanding performance on the home and interna-tional scene. She tells us more about her passion and career in acting.

She is an award-winning Ghanaian actress, writer and a pro-ducer. Talented and poised are a few words that best defines this A-list actress. She starred as Kukua in the new popular film ‘Iso-ken’. Lydia Forson has journeyed and evolved over the years with a couple of awards up her sleeve for Best Actress in leading roles. Take it or leave it, living and breathing acting is all in her DNA.

She is a Computing and Communication Systems Engineering gradu-ate from The University of Manchester and Harvard Business School turned film/movie, director, writer and producer. Jade Osiberu has proven that writting, directing and producing films doesn’t belong to just geniuses in the arts. She opens up about her experience towing this line, sharing her remarkable story on making tough choices and her inspiration behind the movie ‘Isoken’.

JOSEPH

JADELYDIA

BENJAMIN

OSIBERU

FORSON

with a super tight schedule like yours, what thrills you as person when you are not working?

I like to work out. It not only help me keep fit, it always helps with the every day stress. But I must say being with my son and husband is the easiest and most thrilling part of my life. Family time is everything.

the life of public figure isn’t as rosy as per-ceived, have you at any point suffered any set back and now that you are married, how do you intend to keep your family away from the pierc-ing eye of the press?

By playing everything close to your chest. Learning to keep your private life private.

you are one of the lead characters in the new movie ‘isoken’ with other nollywood/gholly-wood leading ladies, give us a hint about your character.

I play the role of a newly married woman struggling with starting a family. It was emotionally tasking and rewarding at the same time. As a mother, I’m grateful that I was blessed enough not to struggle to have my son and empathetic to the women who haven’t been as lucky. I think if you haven’t been there, it’s impossible to fully understand and that’s why it was important that I found a way to be raw and honest in my portrayal of that character.

DAMILOLAATTOH

S T Y L E & D E S I G N

fAshpA’s fLorAL

WonderLAnd fAshpA’s fLorAL

WonderLAnd this season Fashpa transports us to floral wonderland for its spring summer 17 campaign which is aptly named the ophelia Collection. expect the brand’s signature clean shapes and lines but this time with a romantic peak featuring hibiscus, dark, deep dahlias, orchids and hydrangeas inspired fabric and also the clever use of stripes and floral details. shot by ademola odusami, the campaign was inspired the mysterious world of shakespeare’s Midsummer’s night’s dream to hamlet’s ophelia, an old world romantic heroine. the ophelia collection celebrates romance and also incorporates exquisitely handcrafted details such as hand beaded dresses and floral detailed organza.

By Konye chelseA nwAbogor

revAMp With BoLd fLoWery prints

The pilgrims sat in the comfort of the luxurious bus with a look on their faces that complimented the forlorn emptiness of the wilderness we could see one either side of the highway

as we made our way towards Jericho. I couldn’t tell just yet if it was the somber prospect of entering a city that represents to many modern day Christians, the parallels of tearing down impenetrable walls that seem to impede their progress on many fronts, as it did the children of Israel back then in biblical days or if it was simple to look of human beings when tired and hungry.

The core cause of the distant eyes, forlorn looks and slumped shoulders became more evident as the coach turned into the ancient city of Jericho. “On our left side” the guide began “just beneath those rocks, you can see the remnants of the wall that Joshua met. That is the wall of Jericho that came crashing down after 7 days with a loud shout of Hallelujah” he enthused. Not a soul moved an inch to catch a glimpse of this monumental piece of scriptural miracle nor was there much more stir as he pointed out a few minutes later, in the distance, the mount of Temptation. But animated life returned to the pilgrims when the bus turned into where lunch was to be served. The irony wasn’t lost on me that just across from us, in plain sight was the mount of Temptation, where Satan tempted the Lord Jesus after a 40 day fast in the wilderness.

The Almighty, who created the heavens and the earth also made man a living being. He gave us spiritual food to feed the soul and spirit and physical food to power the body and energize the mind. In doing so, He created a balance between spirit, soul, mind and body each to help the other stay fit and strong to live a fulfilled life. But ever since the fall of man, the body has craved food far more than it’s standard requirement for the sustenance of life to the detriment of the spirit. Starved of spiritual food, the soul becomes lean and unable to impact the mind in things divine, sin prevails. For this reason we are asked to fast often, denying the body its excesses thereby allowing the spirit get its fair share of spiritual food bringing once more the divine balance of spirit, soul and body as was intended from the foundation of time.

Is this your time to fast?

may the Lord help us find the right balance in feeding our flesh and our spirit today.

WHAT’S FOR LuNCH?

Times…Watcher

TONyE COLE

Dear

of

Chunky flowery print dresses are hot right now, flowers are indication of a fresh start. so shake it up and step up with this new trend. you don’t want to be rehashing last

year’s foliaged fashion when everyone else has moved away from it. Replace the ditsy floral for utter fun ones,

here are some trendsetters in this style.

BY EDIRIN OKUMAgBA

StEPHANIE lINUS

tEMIDAYO & MO ABUDU

DAKORE AKANDE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017

.

can you give us a bit of your professional and personal background?

I spent a number of years in public relations, both in London and Accra, which suited the part of me that dedicates time to writing and engaging thoughtfully with audiences. But I’ve always been keenly interested in visuals and aesthetics, which led me to join an award winning architecture practice as a project coordinator and interior design assistant in London. After a year out to attain a diploma in interior design at Chelsea College of Art, London, I began freelancing as an interior stylist, though demand for my photography accelerated after I accepted a couple of one-off commissions and I began focusing more strongly on it

having origininally studied interior Achitecture, does this come to play with the angles you take your pictures?

during my time at the architecture practice, I assisted an architect who was also a skilled architectural photographer and learnt about framing buildings and rooms, choosing the best possible angles to maximise space and light, whilst minimising errors. It gave me a good grounding in those principles and I came to realise that such photography is about utilising the space within the confines of the camera frame and judging the best perspective to showcase the details of a site. This definitely remained with me when it came to my own photography because it trained me to think in terms of the details and also be more creative with my angles instead of only shooting straight on or from a distance

what is your style in capturing of images?

It’s quite flexible, in truth, but my general style could be considered naturalistic because I photograph by instinct and observation, looking to tell the story of the world around me. I derive a lot of inspiration from cinematography and hone in on moments quite quickly, so these work in my favour when on an occasion or documentary assignment, as well as with portraiture, where I work to put my subjects at their natural ease before taking shots. Above all, I want my work to have dynamism, whether it comes from an emotional response, a mood or an unusual choice of angle

what do you emphasize more on and less in?

I’m very much a candid photographer at heart. most people would take this to mean looking at everyday scenes and searching for beauty in them, but I try to go a step beyond and suggest a further story or narrative.

interesting quirks, but they are features, not bugs. They’re generally more naturalistic, produce a softer sharpness that is attractive without trying to idealise the subject and they allow for more interesting techniques with light, more often than not. I think of both products as precision tools, with the difference being that one is more artistic where the other is clinical

what has been your most exciting project so far?

I worked with a London-based film team commissioned by vodafone uganda to film the 3 young winners of their I Create Tomorrow competition, who were sent to London by vu as their prize to spend a week meeting with innovators in their respective fields - art, film and medical technology. Each of the winners left London on an emotional high, having been welcomed and able to engage with these innovators as colleagues and future collaborators. As mentioned earlier, I used my candid style to tell the stories of their 5 days pursuing their dreams in London and was gratified to see them used on vu’s social media feeds soon afterwards. I also bonded well with the 3 winners, who always credit me when they feel like posting a throwback to this pivotal, wonderful time

you also left Architecture to study interior Design, how did this impact on your photography?

It definitely made me more aware of how useful and beautiful interior photography can be, and how presentation is paramount in images of any kind. The drawing techniques I learnt focused on perspectives, precision and details, which I try to apply to my photography

what kind of events do you cover?

I specialise in both private and commercial work, which encompasses weddings, birthdays, parties, and corporate and art events, such as dinners, launches and gallery viewings.

It comes back to my love of cinema, really - a major inspiration that I’ve been privileged to do myself for a vodafone uganda project is stills photography, where a photographer supports the work of a film crew by capturing key scenes from a film, series or documentary. I grew up reading film reviews and more than the posters, these still scenes were the best visual reference for me to understand the aesthetic and story of the film, particularly the emotionally charged moments. So I suppose that I place my greatest emphasis on storytelling and suggestion, and less on shooting obvious things

how do you put your subjects at ease to capture the best possible images?

I seek to engage with them by letting them know my interest in capturing their image comes from a place of respect and genuine interest in their personalities, lifestyle and, naturally, looks (both physically and visually).

what is your greatest strength in photography, what do you enjoy shooting most?

People are my best subjects. I have a great amount of curiosity for human behaviour, which I channel into my work. But my preference is for candid style because it reveals much more about the subject than a pose does. Posing is performance, but the only interesting posers are those that make a career out of it, like dandies and models. Candids show who people are at that given moment, whether they’re late for a date, partying with friends, contemplating their journey by transport. And by acting with discretion, candids allow me to set the scene, whether I need 5 minutes or 30 seconds

Do you combine old concepts with new techniques?

yes, I adapt analog camera lenses to current digital camera bodies. It’s unconventional, though it speaks to the enduring quality and character of earlier technology; I compare it to the continued enjoyment of vinyl in the age of mp3s. This has a certain effect on my mindset: current lens technology feels more geared towards clean work that seems to remove personality from images and sharpens everything to such a fine point that I feel can make people look computer rendered, which makes sense in this tech-centric day and age. Analog lenses have more

S T Y L E & D E S I G N

Barima was born in london to Ghanaian parents and is a grand-son of otumfuo opoku-Ware ii of ashanti. his affinity for english and Visual arts emerged at a very early age and he later em-barked on a career in marketing and public relations before tran-sitioning into interior design and commercial and fine art photog-raphy. in 2015, he began his solo design and photography practice that focuses on bespoke content and visual storytelling for a range of different clients in Ghana, the UK and europe. he has produced a diverse body of work, and due to his instinct for candid mo-ments, narrative and skilful editing, his photography services are favoured for wedding days, portraiture and documentary projects. Barima is also well noted for his refined yet colourful dress sense and through his blog, Mode Parade, has appeared in a number of coffee table books and an exhibition on Black dandyism.

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5

12

910

11minutes withBarima Owusu-NyaNtekyi

S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style Vol. 20, no. 7355 sunday, June 14, 2015

kareema mak “Flutter” Presents

Flutter represents a woman’s free spirit to live her life in a manner that pleases her. she is strong, she is classy, she is elegant and she is the Kareema Mak Woman . she is excited by life and its challenges. she never gives up, she always strives for the best- and she flutters.

The collection is dominated by a distinct print, which represents uniqueness

and vibrancy. The designer’s love for strong patterns and colours is evi-

dent in each piece as she stays true to the brand’s desire to continually

showcase the classy, stylish and sophisticated woman.

Running late for...work, dinner party, night out with the girls? your lastmin.com days when it comes to makeup are finally over! now, with the following tips, you can create a stunning look in less time than you need to drink your morning coffee.

MINUTE5MAKEUP

3. Full Brows Gel brow-products add density and hold with just a few quick swipes. Choose a shade that matches your current brow colour. Even if you have sparse eyebrows, a small amount of tinted gel brushed upwards creates fullness and will keep them in place. It also gives your complexion a lift.

4. Bright eyes Shimmery champagne, peach, or taupe cream shadow-shades that are a bit brighter than your skintone makes your eyes look alert. dip your finger in the shadow, then sweep it over your lids, just up to the crease. (don’t go higher, glitter will settle there.) It’s a simple way to enliven your whole face. Next, nuzzle a mascara wand at the base of your lashes, then jiggle and

1. easy Foundation and Concealer use a a safe formula, like a stick or a compact with full coverage, and focus on oily areas around the

nose and chin. Buff out any uneven spots with a sponge. For stubborn under-

eye circles or breakouts, warm up creamy concealer between your fingers and tap it where needed. Tapping increases circulation

around the eye area and helps wakeup your skin.

2. natural Blush For a realistic-looking, goofproof flush, reach for a creamy blush stick or compact like mud blush. It’ll create a more youthful, seamless finish. use your fingers to dot a tiny amount onto the apples of your cheeks, and blend away any excess until it’s sheer. Pro Tip: do not apply the stick directly to your face. It’s easy to overapply. Less is more, hands down.

twirl it up toward your eyebrow for a long, thick fringe.

5. Perfect lips A lip-colour pencil is ideal when time is tight because it gives you control, which allows you to skip lip liner. Outline and fill in lips, then pat and blend with your finger for a soft yet skillful result. (Always keep your pencils sharpened and this step goes much quicker.) If you’re doing a bold colour, you want it to be clean, but sometimes when it’s too sharp it looks pasted on. When you pat it on, it’s more like a stain, but it still has definition.

We’ve been seeing it on all runways and in all com-binations the last few seasons and still cannot get

enough of it. the pajama suit is a sophisticated trend of the moment, which is unexpectedly versa-

tile and easy to wear. Whether you want it for a daily walk around the park, a serious work outfit or a sen-sual night out, don’t worry: there is a pajama for any occasion. the outfit creation itself is no profound mys-tery at all; the attitude you wear it with is! self-confi-dence, strength, a sharp sense of humour and a non-existent fear of ridiculous are your weapons in this case, not the proper outfit! so, go ahead, be strong,

feel beautiful, love yourself, keep calm and wear your pajamas!

TREND ALERTTHEPAJAMAs looK

BY JUlIEt AlU

JUlIEt IBRAHIM

YINKA JOHNSON

BY MOJI AllEN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8081 sunday, June 4, 2017H E a LT H & B E a u T Y

gRACE AlEx