Serendipity

Image:Timeintheword.org   Not too long ago, a conversation on a podcast trended on social media. Women in entertainment were being dissected for having lifestyles beyond their incomes. A few female stars with commendable work ethic and multiple streams of ‘legit’ income were acknowledged for being on the straight and narrow. The guest male thespian on the podcast spoke about being irked seeing his female colleague rolling up on set in a whip that was way beyond his own reach. This was unsettling for him as they were supposed to be in a similar income bracket. The prognosis from the men on the show was that such ladies must be involved in seemingly inappropriate activities such as bedding wealthy men to fund their extravagant lifestyles.    On this same podcast, females that were part of a popular reality TV show were accused of lacking substance and only coming on the show to advertise themselves to their potential monied benefactors. One of the hosts had earlier spil...

Image: Sunnewsonline I was one of those people that campaigned vigorously for President Buhari in the build up to the 2015 elections. I had one main reason; I was tired of the ineptitude and corruption that held sway with blatant disregard in the Jonathan administration. I like many Nigerians at the time wanted Buhari to tackle corruption. I had no delusions of grandeur that Buhari was going to do wonders for our economy or transform Nigeria into a land flowing with milk and honey. The man in my mind had just the one mandate; fight corruption. And then possibly pave way for a younger more charismatic candidate beaming at the seams with progressive ideas; and one who would finally be able to settle down to the business of building a Nigeria of our dreams without the encumbrance and bottle necks of deep seated venality. The argument about Buhari’s performance thus far has left Nigerians divided, (not that we were running out of reasons to be) but irrespective of what side of th...

Image: Melmagazine We’re all familiar with the usage of the word ‘Chivalry’ today and this piece looks at the take on chivalry by some advocates of feminism. I recently read comments attributed to one of my favourite and most inspiring people (in an interview she granted) where she argued for I would describe as a more balanced and gender-neutral inclined substitution for chivalry. I discovered while researching the topic that this particular view has actually been around for a while. My choice of advocate for feminism as opposed to outright ‘feminist’ is deliberate as it represents my current understanding and struggle with what feminism truly means. I have and will always believe that men and women are equal (and this is where I differ with some feminist ideologies), but different. What I hear some, (again permit me) advocates of feminism averring, is the ‘same’ treatment for men and women. Same here should not be confused with equal, they mean different things. I will atte...

Image: Daily Sabah The 2009 movie ‘Watchmen’ had characters with different super abilities, The intricate plot of the DC comics inspired adaptation culminated in the unlikely villain 'Adrian's' grand plan to foster global unity by putting an end to hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union, both at the brink of nuclear war. His plan was as atrocious as it was simple; give the two belligerent superpowers a common enemy to contend with. It merely required the sacrifice of the complete annihilation of major cosmopolitan cities, framing ‘Dr Manhattan’ for the despicable act and and then finally uniting the world against this perceived new and 'common' threat. The plot is one that I have come across quite a bit in movies and it usually plays out in a similar fashion. Some maniac decides to wipe out a few billion people, unite the world and then rebuild from the ashes. Other times it’s the establishment of a ‘new’ common enemy or threat, followed...

Image: Pinclipart The short blade glistened in the sun, it made his eyes water He couldn’t figure out why he hesitated, what made him contemplate WHY!!! He doubted whether he had the right to; he wondered if it was right The cause seemed lost to him He thought of home for a second, the farm where he grew up, it made him feel at peace, such irony; contemplating peace with a dagger in hand The man kneeling before him had hair like that of Ahmid, his younger brother; whom he would give his life for in a heartbeat. He knew now he couldn’t go through with it, a task he had performed with precision many times before, with such swiftness, with such detachment but also with such fear. A morning of ironies it seemed. He found empathy at the most ill opportune of times, courage made his eyes water, bravery made his hands tremble and love made his heart bleed The fourth man in a line of ten, twenty men, ten with seconds to live.  Perhaps now, eleven.

Image: Bonusly Purpose sometimes is a puzzle, sweating, toiling and hoping for the best Can we have fried eggs for lunch? Maybe not or not yet But you cannot afford to be drowned  in doubt, in the dream, in the shadows of cynicism Leaping in bounds doesn’t always require energy, sometimes just a synergy, of the soul and your resolve At the edge of the meadow, we contemplate and take stock, the air is rife with change and oranges Drift off, buoyed by courage, stringed by enthusiasm Things always look different from up there Again bounded by memory, slack, sticky and poignant It’s the oldest trick in the book, you will do well to bank, (a little) towards the sun,(full on) towards grace,(always) towards inspiration