Midnight Memoirs:

We’d hear sounds of aching missiles
Banging the door of our happiness
Against the lock of divine anguish.
We’d hear the moan of painful demise
Fainting tick by tick as the wind blows beyond
To bury voices in the equator of a silent world.
We’d hear war sing of boredom where
Grounds cry for bloodstains.
Behind our home, hue of grim
Would cover the naked eyes of the land.

We would not sleep.

We’d sniff the dirty smells of  death
And see flood of bodies on our streets.
Bodiless heads will be planted in gutters
For in due time, they’d be the relics; the map
That leads our children to their homes.
We’d pant our life through the nostril’s of terror
Painting our fear with the colour of a faded faith
Leaving the shadows of distuned hopes to fall on it.

We would not sleep.

We’d remember this story every night
When the scars of sleeplessness
Stings the pains of a looted peace in our vessels.
We’d stand to sing dirges whose lines die
In the middle of passionate rhythms.
We’d sit to cry for the sons who sailed beneath,
For the daughters who strolled beyond our views,
For the mothers who wailed for all
For those searching for tears with torches.

We would not sleep.

©tohquality

Adedayo Adeyemi Agarau blogs at http://qualitypoets.wordpress.com

Professor Karen King-Aribisala was educated in Guyana, Barbados, England, Nigeria, Wales and Italy. She is a professor of English in the Department of English, University of Lagos. She is a writer of fiction and has published several short stories and poems in journals such as Wasafiri, Presence Africaine, Moving Worlds and The Griot; her work has been anthologized.

She is the recipient of several local and international awards, grants fellowships and Artists Residencies, among them a James Mitchener Fellowship and Scholarship; British Council Awards; Ford Foundation Grant; Residencies at The MacDowell Colony, USA; The Camargo Foundation, France; The Djerassi Foundation, USA; Yaddo, USA; she represented Nigeria at ROMAPOESIA, in Italy as a poet; and in India at a Women’s Writing Seminar.

She is the author of novels, among them The Hangman’s Game and Kicking Tongues; short story collections: Our Wife and Other Stories; and poems. She is the winner of the  Commonwealth Prize for Literature: Best First Book (African Region 1990/91); winner of the Commonwealth Prize for Literature: Best Book(African Region 2008); long listed for the IMPAC Literary Dublin Prize and shortlisted for the Guyana Prize for Literature.

TWO TRIBUTARIES

Ladidi! Ladidi!
A poet and his pen
Two entities
Can forge the earth
Into a rolling piece

The Sorrows of Womanhood

The idea of a perfect mother and wife to the African man paints the picture of a woman who works are back to bent and sap her bones dry in order to care for her children and husband.

Ideally in most parts of Africa a committed woman is one who puts her immediate family first before anything and anybody else displeases herself in order to please everybody else,living her life for other people.

These are all good qualities of a woman but bad when it is excessively unsupported, unappreciated and lacks some amount of discouragement. Today most women find companion and assistant in a husband, a real man finds fault in his wife overworking herself, a man that delights in his wife doing all the chores in the house needs his mind-set

A setting where the woman has to do the laundries, dishes, shopping, meals and work office or does trade hours half the clock portrays the hardworking stereotype. A lens through such daily activities would capture a woman stressed physically and mentally. From this sameexhausted being her children requires motherly devotion and the man craves marital bliss orspouse interaction. An accommodating woman may take all without complains, but adisgruntled one may take exception and harbour resentment from the conventional trend, hersilence would be her consoler, and may eventually result to broken marriage.

Some women do not speak about such challenges to their husbands for fear of being taggedan incompetent wife and a negligent mother. No matter how strenuous the task unfolds, shederives pleasure doing it all. In distant years pain killers and soothing balms become hergreatest companion; she cannot begin or end a day without swallowing some pills.

The woman wakes up with certainty, and sleeps with imbalance health state and thoughts indisarray, an uncaring husband would not note those critical signs of fatigue, or a selfish husband does notices but leaves the woman to her fate. And so many cases of the selfish husband abound in Africa and few of the liberal spouses are a scare success stories.

House helps are options, but cases of the mars they evoke rather than make the duties lesser have only increased more troubles for the woman. They tend to assault, molest the children, flirt with the husband and perhaps eventually take over the whole affairs of her home. In circle blames, the woman is faulted by relatives and society as incapable to keep her home.

How can a home and relationship stay together if a couple do not put collective efforts to An instance is sited of an incidence at Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria where a female house help kidnapped the children in her charge and held them for ransom. That was trusted personnel who heartily betrayed her bosses, and induced trauma to the kids by keeping them away from their parents for days. This is to say maids are not all that reliable. It is better for couples to be the leaders and servant to their children because it chunks out the best in most cases.

‘’Fortunately, there is an answer. The Scriptures clearly give us the model for being a man, a husband and father. I call that model the ‘’servant/leader.’’ When the concept is correctly interpreted and applied, it not only results in freedom for the husband and wife, but also helps you work better as a team to combat isolation and conflict in your marriage’’ Dennis Rainy

As said a husband should; be a leader, love his wife unconditionally then serve his wife and kids at the least free opportunity he gets, or just squeeze out time off busy schedules to impact some support in domesticity. These do not make the man a weakling, or one beingdominated by his wife, but by dominating these three features, the man conquers someconflicts and isolation which tend to arise in marriage.

When a woman is pressured with official, domestic and marital duties, her life is left withlittle joy, and if the man truly loves his or her wife he does things to reduce her work load andput smiles on her face. Spouses lending every form of assistance to each other call better atmosphere in the house.

Africa has a huge role to play in terms of developmental aids, strictly those still battling with technological advancement and their country unliveable. If there is consistent or uninterrupted power supply in most African nations, gainful employment and all other elemental growth would fall into place. Entrepreneurship would be on a large scale; women most especially can be their own bosses and have to regulate their duties in line with the home, and a husband who is able to establish his own business would likely create and havequality time with his family.

A liveable country encourages lessened stress, homes can afford to buy domestic appliances such as; washing machine, deep freezer to reduce laborious hand wash of clothes and preserve meals so the woman don’t have to prepare meals on daily basis, and it would go a long way in which the wife and mother can direct her limited time and energy on other tasksIt takes two to tango, and it takes two to make a home, from the moment one is burdened with all the task it becomes frustrating. Husbands should be liberal towards their wives andwives in turn to their husbands. A woman should derive joy from her home, and not be wearywith domestic burden all the time. With a supportive husband she can live up her dreamgoals, and with an unsupportive spouse her objectives just dies dastardly especially wheninvolved with career jobs. A wife and mother is a human being and not a jerky, symbolically neither spouse should be a stool or a broom, both should learn to be supportive at every available time and it makes a whole lot of difference with the relationship and home waxed

ON THE BEHALF OF THE Tony Tokunbo Fernandez BRAND, Africa4U, AND Simba Smp MEDIA PRODUCTIONS – WE WISH TO CONGRATULATE THE-RE-ELECTED MP FOR READING WEST- MP Alok Sharma FOR HIS SUCCESS OF BECOMING MP FOR A 2ND TERM,

MR SHARMA IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND A STRONG ADVOCATE IMPROVEMENT IN JOBS, SOCIAL WELFARE AND GETTING INVOLVED IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IN 2013 AND IN 2014, I ORGANISED THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS AT THE UK HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT AND IT WAS MP SHARMA WHO SPONSORED BOTH INITIATIVES
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, A PROFOUND LEGACY CONTINUES- CONGRATULATIONS – A NEW DAWN BEGINS

Enotie Ogbebor was born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A prolific award winning Fine Artist and Singer/Songwriter .He says thus’’ I seek through consistent experiments to use my Art in the quest to encourage humanity to seek for Truth through beauty and harmony. I have been influenced deeply by an intuitive style of Painting, sculpting with colours perceptions/experiences of my environment, people and imagery that come to me.

Documenting his environment the good and the ugly, he has produced works that highlight the plight of child hawkers . These series of paintings focus on children exposed to the vagaries of the streets away from school eking out a living to support their families, a reflection of values gone wrong in society.

Regarded as a foremost authority on Benin Court Art, he has painted in documentary detail in his unique style and colours all the major festivals of the Benin Royal Palace. He recently photo documented & painted the Igue festivals in December 2010 with two world acclaimed National geographic photographers Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher.

His works are included in the globally acclaimed book ‘’ Benin; Kings and Rituals’’ edited by Barbara Plankensteiner, His landscapes are breathtaking and cathartic, capturing the splendour of nature . They also document old architecture, the chaos and energy of city life, the rustic lifestyle of rural life, Enotie’s use of colour and texture is unique in the expression of his impressions.

The Carpetbaggers series showing capitalism at work man ,woman, business, hustle, the grind, progress, motion, stress ,resilience, success, challenges, chaos, upheavals, triumphs, the boom/burst of banking, stock markets, economies, the loss of identity, communalism ,privacy are captured in explosive colours and strokes uniquely Enotie’s style reflecting the energy of the bustle .

The mother and child series which captures the special bond which womanhood shares with her off spring. The hope & struggle to create a good environment for her children is humanising in its selflessness. something which transcends money and power.
The bouquet series captures a glorious moment in the life of the floral arrangement and holds it before the viewers gaze, Nature celebrates beauty, we all need to celebrate beauty more in our thoughts, words and deeds and eventually only beauty will be found in all things .
Enotie is a self taught multi-talented artist who has produced short 2D/3D animation as well as music. His obvious talent at an early age made his parents employ an Art teacher for private lessons at home. He has a degree in Economics/Statistics University of Benin Nigeria and has entrepreneurial experience.

He set up Curio studios a Fine Art/digital art studio in 1995 as a 24hour studio. The studio remains home to some of the leading contemporary artists in Nigeria and also we continue to train a lot of younger artists .
He was commissioned in 1996 by the Great Benin centenary committee to produce and organise National/International Art exhibitions to commemorate the Centennial commemoration of the British Invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897.

He also was Carnival Director for the Benin Ugie Carnival 2013 which projected the over 600year old Edo Kingdom festival and gave it a contemporary outlook whilst preserving the uniqueness of its  Rich Cultural Traditions.

Clients include The Oba Of Benin, UBA Plc, Polo, The FAAN in charge of all airports in Nigera, Templars Solicitors, Vetiva, The Ethnographic Museum Vienna Austria, GTBank Plc, ACCESS Bank Plc, Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Terra Kulture V.I. Lagos, Nike Art Center Lekki, Lagos, Thought Pyramid, Abuja, Ed Cross Fine Art Ltd London.
Enotie has visited various global historical Art and culture places like the Parthenon and Acropolis in Greece, the Pyramids of Giza, Statue of Ramses in Egypt, Safaris in Kenya, Ethiopia, The Louvre in Paris, Art Basel in Switzerland, Museums and Galleries all over the world.

Selected Awards/Exhibitions
F.A.C.E awards for Best visual Artist of the Year 2014 Atlanta, Georgia USA.
L.M.A awards for best visual Artist 2014 Lagos, Nigeria
2011: Promises Kept, Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
2010: Generational Statement, Thought Pyramid Gallery, Abuja.
2007: Eclectic Treasures, Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
1997; Colours of festivity, Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre Benin,Nigeria
1996; Colours of festivity, Goethe institute Victoria Island ,Lagos
Contact
GSM:+234- 08057-319415
Email: enotimages@yahoo.com / enotimages@gmail.com
Artwanted.com, Saatchiart.com / enotie Ogbebor

NO TO XENO

I open not my lips to speak or even whisper
But I’m obliged by my poetic pen
To voice my pain against this reign of slaying.
If my words wouldn’t change a thing,
My silence wouldn’t do either
Hence I must speak at the peak of my voice.

Brainwashed Bags,Diluted in foreign ponds,

A thousand coconuts lost in the maze of the cold wind,

The perfect camouflage, of smart clothes, sweet smiles and soft voices,

but lets read in between the lines,

lets romance the content of the statement that lies within you

Have you forgotten your past?

Have you forgotten that we once danced round the palace of palm trees?

And bathed together from the story of the same bucket

Lets read between the lines

and measure the depth of your story

For we all know “You are n African”

On Friday the 12th of June, Ferdinard Lawson- Award Winning Author   will be be one of the speakers at the AFRICA4U ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR AFRICANS IN THE UK, which shall be taking  place on Friday the 12th of June at 6pm at The Stables Hall, the White Lion, 234 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB

Ferdinard Senyo Lawson is an award winning author (BEFFTA BEST AUTHOR, 2013) of many motivational and inspirational books. Mr. Ferdinard Senyo Lawson is a publication consultant, a columnist in one the biggest Christian magazine in United Kingdom (THE VYN MAGAZINE), Modernghana.com and the African Dazzle Magazine (UK). Ferdinard Senyo Lawson studied Public health and social care (BSs) and currently a full member of the Royal Society for Public Health in UK (MRSPH).

Mr Lawson’s mandate therefore is to empower, motivate and encourage the individuals to remain focused in achieving their dreams and impacting lives. Mr Lawson also strongly believed that, as individuals, we all have the ability to change our mind-set in order to change the beliefs we holds for ourselves upon especially the way we see our world.

Although Mr. Lawson accepts the fact that, changing our belief system is not an easy task, He began to put some vital ideas in his book (IGNITING THE POWER OF YOUR CREATIVE MIND) to enable others to develop a positive and regenerated mind-sets about the way they perceived themselves and the world around them (IGNITE YOUR MIND: RENEW AND CHANGE YOUR WORLD)

Ferdinard’s passion for services to the lord including his loyalty in the area of serving men of god is unparalleled; particularly regarding his current worship and service in the house of Judah (praise) ministries, where he serves as the senior armour bearer to Bishop Michael Hutton-Wood in the United Kingdom.

MR. Ferdinard Senyo Lawson lives in Shirley – Croydon (UK) with his wife Deborah and their two lovely children, Prince Joshua and Princess Jessica Lawson.