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View More FACE Africa’s 10th Annual Wash Gala took place on Saturday, March 23rd at Guastavino’s in New York, NY.
The festivities for the weekend included a VIP reception on the eve of the gala, cocktail reception with premium open bar, African-inspired buffet stations and more.
The year’s WASH Gala honored soccer legend Didier Drogba, Actress Nomzamo Mbatha, Bozoma Saint John, CMO at Endeavor and singer, songwriter Mr. Eazi, Delivering the 2019 keynote address was Target Corp’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources, Caroline Wanga.
The after party was also hosted by Vanessa Mdee.
The WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Gala was held with the goal of bringing awareness to the growing clean water epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and raising funds for its clean water initiatives.
The gathering was an official UN World Water Day event that brought together 400 guests from various sectors and celebrated the contributions of Africans and Africans in the diaspora.
See the photos below.
Photo Credit: #WashGala
The post First Photos: Oluchi Orlandi, Efya, Audu Maikori, Debola Williams spotted at FACE Africa’s 2019 Wash Gala appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
South African rapper Cassper Nyovest and South African actress, radio DJ, television host Thando Thabethe are the new cover stars GQ South Africa magazine’s latest issue.
Talking about Cassper Nyovest, GQ says:
Whether he’s making history by filling up unfillable stadiums or signing multimillion-rand deals, everything @casspernyovest touches turns to gold. In the April issue, we found out how he did it. Get your copy, on sale now.
Talking about Thando, GQ says:
@thando_thabethe is one of the busiest women in entertainment, and as recent collaborations with @cirocvodka x @moschino illustrate, her star is permanently on the rise. In the April issue, she gives us a view into the mindset of a woman at the top of her game.
See the covers below.
Credits:
Photography @xx_niquita_xx
Styling @rustybeukes | @tarryno
Hair @saadique
Grooming @dreythemakeupartist
Interview @yatikhumalo
The post Cassper Nyovest & Thando Thabethe are GQ South Africa Magazine’s New Cover Stars appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
This year’s Africa Development Conference known to be Africa’s premier policy platform organised by students of several graduate schools at Harvard University in partnership with the Center for African Studies at the University will feature Hon. Babatunde Fashola, Dr. Albert Zeufack, Bozoma St. John, Bience Gawanas, Ipumbu Shimi, Biendu Maganga-Moussavou, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed as keynote speakers
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola is part of a stellar cast of speakers headlined by the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo who will speak at the 10th Africa Development Conference, a student-run event at Harvard University, scheduled for March 29th – 30th, 2019.
The 2019 edition of the conference will also feature Dr. Albert Zeufack, the Chief Economist of the World Bank in Africa and African-American corporate rock-star, Bozoma St. John, who has been named as one of the most influential black women on the planet for the last five years.
The Ghanaian President, a champion of African prosperity and African solutions to the continent’s problems will address the conference as the Special Guest of Honor on Friday while Hon. Babatunde Fashola will address the conference on Saturday as the Keynote Speaker. The 2019 Africa Development Conference is themed: “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: Creating our Desired Future Together”.
“We want to look at all the moving parts in the march towards Africa’s development, especially from the continent’s international partners”, says Thebe Tsatsimpe, the President of the African Caucus at the Harvard Kennedy School. “We are aware of what China is doing on the continent, the European Union’s new engagement policy of investing €100 billion in direct investments, the United States’ Build Act as a counterpoise to China and what other actors like India and Japan are pursuing on the continent,” said Tsatsimpe.
Date: Friday, March 29, 2019 – Saturday, March 30, 2019
Venue: Harvard Kennedy School
“Meanwhile the Africa Continental Free Trade Area which is expected to create a market of two trillion dollars ($2 trillion) when fully operationalized is also moving full steam ahead. “How do we as African professionals and students in America and the world know about these opportunities and how do we plug in? This is what the conference will discuss.” Tsatsimpe told journalists in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 2019 Africa Development Conference will constitute ten (10) panels, four (4) keynote sessions and more than fifty (50) speakers, drawn from various disciplines including health, finance, economy, legal, social enterprise, and planning among others. At least 400 Africans and Africa-enthusiasts are scheduled to attend the event this year. A Harvard tour, an Open-Mic networking cocktail, and an African Ball christened the ‘Taste of Africa”, where the culinary delights on the continent will be explored, are parts of the experience curated into the conference.
Africa’s leading Trade Finance institution, Afreximbank and top-notch Nigerian law firm, Aluko & Oyebode are headlining the Platinum Support of the conference. Several Harvard University institutions and centers including the Center for Public Leadership, Center for African Studies, the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, the Kennedy School Student Government are among the impressive list of supporters for the event. Other centers like the East Asia Legal Studies, the Harvard Africa Law Association, the Africa Health Forum, the Graduate School of Design and the Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research are also supporting the conference.
For more information, and to learn about ways you can get involved, visit: www.africadevelopmentconference.com 
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This content has been published for free as part of BellaNaija.com‘s commitment to youth, education, healthcare and community development as part of our corporate social responsibility programme
The post All is Set for Fashola & Bozoma Saint John’s Africa Development Conference Keynote Speech At Harvard University appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
Media mogul Mo Abudu was a proud mother of the bride yesterday when her daughter Temidayo Abudu got traditionally hitched to the love of life, Adebola Makanjuola.
Mo Abudu was gorgeous in a blue outfit put designed by Lanre DaSilva Ajayi with the Chantilly lace from Bisola Osagie. The Alari aso oke was by Kijipa Couture.
Mo shared some photos and a lovely prayer for the couple.
She wrote:
Dear Lord, yesterday was indeed a glorious day. A day that the Lord truly made🙏🏾. The day that my darling Temidee tied the knot at her Traditional Engagement to Adebola the love of her life. My prayer is that you will both stay enveloped in the arms of the Lord all days of your life in Love together🙏🏾.
See the photos below.
Photo Credit: @moabudu | @banksbmpro
The post Mo Abudu WOWed as the Proud Mother of the Bride 💙 appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu
The federal high court in Abuja on Monday gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the nod to continue the collation and announcing of result of the governorship election that held in Bauchi State on March 9.
Punch reports that, in a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, he dismissed the suit to stop further collation lodged by All Progressives Congress (APC), and its candidate, Mohammed Abubakar who is the incumbent governor of the state.
He declined the jurisdiction to rule on the case claiming the plaintiff ought to have directed their complaints at the election tribunal. He said:
The defendant (INEC) should be allowed to continue its constitutional duty.
There is no legal impediment before the defendant to go on with the decision of the defendant to execute its decision in its press release.
It should be recalled that the court had initially ordered that the collation be suspended pending the decision of the court on the suit which had INEC as the defendant.
The post Court dismisses Suit to Stop Election Collation in Bauchi appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
Good morning Doc,
I am a 43 year old accountant who has just moved to Lagos from Owerri for a new job. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us as a family. My wife and I have four children between us aged 18, 10, 8 and 3. Since taking up this new job, things have been quite good, our marriage is stronger, and although we have had a few bumps along the way we are happy and our life seemed to be going according to plan.
That was until last week, when my wife told me that she was pregnant AGAIN! We got into a huge argument about it because I told her emphatically after our second child together that I did not want any more children, and now she is pregnant? Our third child (who is my fourth child, my first was with a girlfriend from University) was born after my wife stopped using her contraceptives because of the negative side effects. I love my wife and I was supportive of her choice to discontinue, but now that she is pregnant again. I can’t help but feel so angry about the whole situation because I feel
trapped.
I like to think of myself as a progressive man. I help out with bath time for the little one, I supervise homework, I pack school lunches and go for school activities. I love my kids and will do anything for them, but honestly, it is very time consuming and expensive to raise children in this economy.
Yesterday I tried to talk to my best friend about things and instead of seeing my point of view, he chastised me. He suggested I should have gotten a vasectomy after baby number 3 since I was so sure I didn’t want anymore children. I was shocked that he would even suggest such a thing! I am an African man! We don’t do such things. Then he went on to tell me that he himself had gotten one! I was very shocked! Vasectomy? Mba! I feel it is very emasculating. Who in their right mind will ever allow anyone near their something with a knife? Besides, will I still be able to call myself a man if I am infertile and shooting blanks? And doesn’t vasectomy mean that I will never be able to enjoy sex with my wife any more? I know I don’t want any more children but is there no other way around this?
Help! I don’t want to spend all of my time and money raising children but I also don’t want to be less of a man!
Angry and Confused
Banana Island
***
Dear Angry*
First of all, allow me to offer my sincere congratulations on the new job and on the move. I trust you are all settling in fine and enjoying the energy and vibe of Lagos. Thank you for your question which I have asked the editors to post in its entirety because I sense there are quite a few nuanced themes which I feel would be beneficial for us to explore. I have divided these into sections with a take home message in bold at the end. Permit me to jump straight in.
Pregnancy & Contraception/strong>
I think it is safe to say that you were quite angry after finding out that you were expecting another child, but I couldn’t help but notice that some of your anger is directed at your wife too. It seems as though you blame her for getting pregnant, as if she could do it on her own!
Please remember that it takes two to get pregnant and it is as much the man’s responsibility to prevent pregnancy as it is the woman’s. If you both agreed that you do not want any more children, then I feel that it is your responsibility as the husband ( in agreement with your wife) to have ensured that your love making sessions were safe.
Could it be that you are really angry with yourself for not being more careful and perhaps the anger at your wife is simply transferred aggression?
How could you have prevented the pregnancy yourself you might ask?
Condoms are the most widely available form of barrier contraception and they are very effective in preventing pregnancy, if used correctly. The arguments against condom use, raised by most men, are due to concerns about sensation, satisfaction and spontaneity.
Modern condom design means that you can enjoy an almost skin to skin like sensation with added ridges and bumps for your partner’s pleasure as well. A lot of brands now include gels and creams that aid with stamina and prolonging erections to ensure that mutual satisfaction is guaranteed. Finally, it might be true the older condoms could be seen as an interruption of pleasure of sex, but nowadays with the introduction of different colours, textures and flavours, wearing a condom can now easily become an enjoyable part of foreplay.
You mentioned that your wife was taking some form of contraception but had to stop, due to some side effects. Hormonal contraceptives for women are sometimes said to cause undesirable side effects and some women complain of weight gain, mood changes, water retention and bad skin. Having said this, there is little evidence to support the thinking that taking the contraceptive pill will cause a woman to add weight. Most doctors advise that for a vast majority of women, things generally go back to normal – after a few months. If after 3-6 months there are still concerns about side effects, then please see your doctor to discuss the many alternatives available including the Mirena and Copper coils, the implant, patches or the contraceptive injection
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical form of male contraception which aims to prevent sperm from traveling from the testicles where they are produced to the penis where they can be released in sperm into the female reproductive tract.
This is done by making an interruption in the vas deferens which is a tiny tube that connects the testes to the penis. Your doctor could do this by making a small cut in the tube and tying the ends, or by using a clip, or by using a laser/electrocautery device to seal the ends of the tubes. The incision site is usually so small that you may not need stitches or only a few. If stitches are used they will be dissolvable or steristrips – which are a type of surgical sellotape.
For most men this is a day case procedure and takes about 15 minutes. This means that you should be able to go back home the same day. It is minimally invasive and so will not usually need general anaesthesia. Most men are able to go back to work in a few days with minimal down time. The most common immediate side effects are mild pain and swelling at the operation site, which tends to settle after a few days with adequate pain relief.
I have tried to answer some frequently asked questions below:
How effective is vasectomy?
Vasectomy is considered to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. It, however, does not protect from sexually transmitted infections.
Will it affect my sex drive?
No! Your sex drive is controlled by the hormone testosterone which is produced by the testicles and secreted into the blood. It is independent of the vas deferens and is not affected by it. Some men say that sex is more enjoyable because they are no longer worrying about pregnancy.
Will I still be able to ejaculate?
Yes! Semen which is the milky substance that is expelled from the penis at ejaculation is produced further down the line from where the vasectomy procedure is carried out so ejeculation can continue as normal after your operation. The sperm produced will be reabsorbed into the body
How soon after can I have sex?
You can be back to love making in as little as 48 hours after the procedure, although most men would likely need about 7 days before the soreness settles completely. You must remember, though, that you and your wife are still able to fall pregnant until about 12 weeks after the procedure. This is because although the connection to the sperm factory has been interrupted, there will still be some sperm in the pipeline which need to be cleared before we can say for certain that the procedure is complete.
For you to be able to rely on this for contraception, your doctor will want to collect three consecutive sperm samples and look under to microscope to confirm that there are no more sperm cells
Are there any complications?
As with every surgery there is a small risk of complications which will be mitigated for by proper surgical techniques, infection control and adequate post op care. Some complications include infection, pain, and failure of the procedure
What if I change my mind?
Vasectomy is considered permanent, but it can be reversed in certain circumstances. The operation to reverse a vasectomy can be difficult and does not always work, so patients are counselled very carefully to avoid regret.
And this brings me to a very important point. Because it is considered permanent, most doctors will provide at least one session of counselling before the procedure to explore some sensitive ethical scenarios with the patient or the couple.
It is not advisable to have a vasectomy unless you and your partner are sure that you do not want any more children. It is also not advisable to have a vasectomy immediately after or during any big life changes or relationship problems, as you may change your mind after things settle.
It is important to consider some hypothetical scenarios as well: for example if you were to lose all your children in an tragedy, would you regret not being able to have any more children? Or if you were to lose your wife or have to go through a divorce, would you want to have more children with a new partner?
Also some men have a notion that their masculinity is tied to their ability to have children and if this cannot be challenged before the procedure it is likely that it can psychologically affect their ability to enjoy love making with their partner even though biologically, there is no effect on virility.
In conclusion:
As you can see, there are a lot of variables to consider, but on the whole, vasectomies are one of the most effective forms of birth control. It is increasingly becoming one of the more common methods of contraception in developed countries. I encourage you to give this some thought, and to discuss it with your partner and then see your doctor to determine if this is procedure is suitable for you.
Points to remember:
- Men need to take responsibility to ensure that they and their partners are avoiding unwanted pregnancy.
- Condoms are 85-98% effective at preventing pregnancy and modern design means there is no compromise on Sensation, Satisfaction and Spontaneity.
- There is no evidence to suggest that using contraceptives will make a woman add weight.
- Vasectomy is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. It is a small surgical procedure but requires thoughtful consideration and counselling.
**Disclaimer: This column is written for patient education. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe treatment and does not replace the advice of your physician. It in no means attempts to cover the full medical scope of this condition.
The post Ask Dr. Craig: Should I Get a Vasectomy? appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
There’s a video of singer Waje that’s trending on social media and that video has given us reasons to pause and reflect on the illusions of the Nigerian music industry.
In the video, the singer and mum of one is talking about how expensive it is to make music and promote music in Nigeria.
“I don’t have money for publicity, I want to quit,” she says in the video.
It’s such a raw and vulnerable moment. The singer speaks passionately and boldly about how much effort she has poured into her music craft and how the gains have been less than expected and far in-between. She talks about her passion for music and trying to balance her finances.
It’s truly a rare glimpse into what music stars in the Nigerian music industry go through – beyond the glitz and glam of social media.
Watch the video below.
Photo Credit: @officialwaje
The post “I Don Tire” – The Real Reason why Waje may be leaving Music appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
Here’s Big City Living, a ten-part series where people who lived their childhood in small rustic towns share their experience of moving to big cities in adulthood. It’s something a lot of our parents did, something a lot of us are now doing.
Samsudeen, a 29 year old lawyer who moved from Offa in Kwara State to Lagos, shares his story so far.
***
I grew up in Offa and it was exciting but quiet. Everybody knew everybody, sort of a communal-type of living. I could not do anything good, bad, great or wild without bumping into someone who knew my people. It was fun. It was small.
Around my 10th birthday, I think, I visited Ibadan. I was shocked. The number of vehicles and people on the streets, they were so many. It was frightening. The city was not particularly tidy, at least the part I visited.
But we visited exciting places. And we went to see a movie at the Cultural Center: Alekuwodo by Kunle Afod. I remember this day very well. We went to the local council too. But the buildings were too big; the people too brash and the life too fast. I got homesick soon enough.
Adulting and moving to Lagos
After law school in Kano and then NYSC, I decided to move to Lagos. It was just the right career move; everyone knows Lagos is the number one place for lawyers in Nigeria.
When I got here I was very shocked to find so many people cramped into little spaces. And the fact that you have to be in a perpetual state of alternating between anger and calm was very distressing to say the least.
Anyway, I had planned and saved during my youth service so I could afford to rent a flat with two other friends. So I had my own space, so to speak. It was okay, actually.
Job hunting, though, that was a different ball game. It was herculean. I took a part time gig pending when I could find something permanent. And then a cousin spoke to a friend of his and that helped to get a job. Like I said earlier, I had saved reasonably well during service, so I could afford to pay rent and live for about three months or so without hassles even though I hadn’t secured a job. Now I practice law and also moderate art events for an education-based foundation.
Okay, after all these, how has Lagos been?
Coming from a quiet sleepy town to the mad rush of daily life in Lagos, it was quite challenging. For one, more people were competing for the little space available in Lagos as against Offa. People are not as nice in Lagos. Lagos is also very stressful and moving around is a great challenge. I used to wake up 5:30 AM in the morning so I could get to work by 8 AM, and many times I still ran late. Whereas I could leave my house 7:30 AM in Offa and still arrive 10 minutes early for my resumption or appointment.
There was this day I had just moved to Lagos Island, at the expense of my employers, from my own place on the edges of Lagos and Ogun. So one evening, I was working late and I closed around 11:30 PM. I decided to go for a drink at Obalende. It was a sight. The road from the mouth of the street that stretches from Dodan Barracks to Obalende Underbridge had transformed totally to a “ho-stroll” with girls from as young as 14, 15 to as old as you can think of walking, flashing and selling.
There were police patrol vehicles parked around, much older men and women, all enabling the flesh trade in an atmosphere of drugs, smoke and alcohol. I did not see this from the ethical perspective but sociologically. I was so fascinated with this place. And after I had a talk with one of the girls, I realized there are many more streets like this one. The following morning when I passed the same route on my way to the Industrial Court in Ikoyi, the light seemed to have swallowed it all. After that experience, I felt as if I had been let in on an age-long, open secret. I felt as if I now knew Lagos more. Since then, I have been on the lookout for more of those “oddities” or differences, so to speak, that are there, but people pretend not to see or which people do not see at all.
Compare Offa to Lagos, what’s the difference?
The people in Lagos are less friendly and less kind; the pace, very fast; the housing, less value for so much money; transportation, not enough; healthcare, less value for so much money.
But there is life to chop in Lagos, if you know what I mean. But then, sometimes, the body, mind and soul needs a rustic base to rejig itself and relaunch. So I am not able to say that I prefer one to the other. I have come to think of both places as mine for different and equally compelling reasons. It is like having two children to love.
So, Lagos. Has it been worth it?
Yes it has. it has been an enriching experience living in Lagos. Enriching financially, culturally and socially. I’d rather live here than live anywhere else in Nigeria. This is where it is happening, at least as far as I can see, for now.
But I still have plans to move back because I am very invested in Offa. And I have an emotional, maybe sentimental attachment to the town. I also want to give back and there is a way I’d like to do that but I currently believe that no other town would allow me do so in the manner I want to. I also have one or two commitments by way of political participation, youth groups and such, which now almost define how I see myself. But my move back won’t be permanent. I guess I will be oscillating between here and there and elsewhere in between.
Quick one: Craziest Experience You’ve Had in Lagos
Thousand and thousands of people singing the same songs at the same time inside TBS. That is something.
The post Big City Living: Hustle, Traffic & Night Life – Samsudeen moved from Offa to Lagos appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
Nollywood star Adesua Etomi, media personality Ik Osakioduwa, Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy and East Africa music group Sauti Sol were nominated in the “Favourite African Star” category of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
The event held over the weekend and Stonebwoy emerged the winner of the coveted award.
#ICYMI || A BIG Congratulations to @stonebwoyb on winning the 2019 #KCA award for Favorite African Star💫 💫 💫 https://t.co/VjqzOXGh7t
— Nickelodeon Africa (@NickAfrica) March 24, 2019
He gave a shout out to his fans on Twitter after he won, saying “Thank You For Voting My People”.
Photo Credit: @stonebwoyb
The post Ghana’s Stonebwoy wins ‘Favourite African Star’ Award at 2019 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards | Adesua Etomi, Ik Osakioduwa, Sauti Sol Nominated appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
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