As I dey Drive oh.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Elede tó kú légbodò ló ní ká fòun jeyán.
Eng: It is a pig that dies at the time of the harvesting of new yams that asks to be eaten with pounded yam.- Yoruba Proverb.
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Guys, I am trying hard not to convert this into to a music blog. In about two days, I will return to usual style. I never really heard of DaGrin until he died and his style of music is not particularly my favorite but he was a lyrical somebody and he sand in local dialects; so I appreciate that.

Then, last week or so, I came across this song by Oritse femi that had Rhymzo and DaGrin featured in it. This song is off-the-hook. It is titled 'Mercies of the Lord (Remix).'

Then, TODAY, I realised the line that said:

'As I dey DRIVE oh baba, na your hand I dey..' ... (3:26)

Does that break anyone else's heart? DaGrin died in a car accident. I don't know who's line in particular that was but it's in the song.

Bless your family and I pray that they will receive comfort. There is nothing we can do; you have faced judgement.

Rest in Peace, darling.

God Bless You ma!

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Edo: Na Vbue re ukpon rhuan no ghe omwan ekun-ekun.
Eng: The person you borrow a wrapper from always looks at your waist.- Edo proverb.
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Hello beautiful people.
I have said before that my taste of music is 'different'. Also, I like songs that sing about love with the kind of rhythm I like, decent lyrics (since I don't understand why I should be singing what Jesus wouldn't have me singing) and CLOTHES ON! Ha, this song is so beautiful. It doesn't have a video but I'm pretty sure that if it did, the video would match the lyrics.

I was riding to class this morning and listening to it. I don't know what people thought of a black girl riding a bike in Boulder and moving her body to some soothing music. I no sigh sha!

Enjoy and Bless!



A few other soothing love songs with 'CLOTHES ON' : =)
Brown Skin                  - India Arie
Don't Break my Heart  - Banky W              
Know                          - Lami ft. MI
Till my Dying day         - Banky W
African Queen             - Tuface
Eji Owuro                   - Shola Allyson

My dear, dear, friend. And his gift to me!

...Omonoba...

Our people say:
Igbo: Agadi nwanyị kawa nka, ọ dị ka ejighi ego lụ ya, 
Eng: when a woman gets old, she appears as if there was no bride price paid on her. - Igbo Proverb
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This is an interesting week; I have blogged three days in a row!

So, I just received an iPod touch from my friend. I am so thrilled. He had mentioned that he wanted to get me an iPod touch for my birthday and had even asked for what I wanted inscribed on it. But, of course like many other jokes we crack with each other, I had dismissed it. But I had even forgotten that he knew my brother's mailing address. And my birthday was a month ago.

So, today, my brother (who receives ALL my deliveries) brought the touch to me on my way out of class. I was so excited and I am very thankful.

thanks a million friend. You know that this as much as I appreciate this, it is not your most important gift. OUR FRIENDSHIP IS!

The inscription says:

 I LIVE FOR JESUS...Rom 1:16.

(First Name) Unashamed (Last Name)

That's my favourite Bible verse and my mantra. 

Bless your heart, my dear friend!

'...apparently your skin has been kissed by the sun...'

The tile of this post is a line from Brown Skin -India Arie.

...Omonoba...
Igbo: Ohia woro gi nku, sere gi onu
Eng: The forest that denies you firewood has massaged your neck. -Igbo Proverb.
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This week is heating up because of finals. I am hanging in here though because God has been faithful. Here's a breath of fresh air to all those who are feeling choked.

A taste of my I pod. Be warned, I have a 'different' sense of music. This is a list of 14 songs you would find on my ipod. I listen to A LOT of gospel so I can't put them all here! :(

1)   Lose My Soul                - Toby Mac and Kirk Franklin
2)   Never Forget You          -  Noisettes
3)   Always Pray For You     - Nosa
4)   Fine Bara                       - T.W.O
5)   Wavin Flag                     -K'naan
6)   Englishman in Newyork  - Sting
7)   Vulindlela                       -Brenda Fassie
8)   Blue Eyes                      - Mika
9)   Dare You to Move        - Switchfoot
10) Brown Skin                   - India Arie
11) Eye Adaba                    - Asa
12) Higher                           - Samsong
13) Olufunmi                        - Styl Plus
14) Skentele Skontolo         - Lagbaja
15) I had to restrict myself to 14. I like a lot of music. Maybe in the coming years, there'll be other lists!

Feature: CITY ON OUR KNEES.


Hopefully, at least one song helps someone!
Bless you!

I bleed sometimes!

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: "Won ní karugbo gba omo pon, o ní se 'bí won mo pé oun o lehín'; won ní ko pa omo je ni?"
Eng: "The old woman is asked to carry a child on her back, and she says 'but they know she has no teeth'; was she asked to eat the child?"-Yoruba Proverb
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If I heard one more version of Waving Flag by K'naan, I would cringe. Okay, maybe not cringe because I have LOVED THEM ALL so far but isn't it getting too much? I've heard SIX versions so far; check them out:
The Original
The Official World Cup Version
The K'naan and David Bisbal Version
The K'naan and Akon version

and the one which I heard today (but I still absolutely like),

The K'naan feat. Banky W and M.I version.

There are a couple of others including this version that apparently was endorsed by K'naan. It's very beautiful. I just hope it doesn't become like the  UNDER MY UMBRELLA ELLA-ELLA-EEY EEY pandemic...Please!

Young Canadian Artists version for HAITI.

So, this weekend was absolutely blissful and I'm very thankful that I got the opportunity to be a mentor to young African American high school girls at the 12th Annual Especially Me Conference here in CO. It was a beautiful experience. I am very excited about how much potential we have.

Tomorrow, I will be leading worship with my friend at her church's youth conference. I really am thrilled about the youth conference and believe that this week will be blessed. Meanwhile, because of this, I missed the International Festival at my school tonight (since I am not in Boulder).

Yesterday night, the Sosoliso crash came up while my friend's and I were gisting and I was broken again.  I realised that this wound may not have healed. I knew a good number of those kids because a lot of us grew up in Port Harcourt. When the issue came around, I realised how much hurt I still feel towards the government. I realised that one day, my sister's best friend will not be there to be her bride's maid (or my sister wouldn't be able to be her's) and all those other sweethearts will not have old pictures when I do.

But on the bright side, they're glowing now and I will see them all soon. I'm sure, they'd gladly tell me the REAL issues behind that crash and we'll all share stories. Oh wow! And they know so much more than I do now. They are sitting at the feet of Jesus!

I wish everyone a great weekend and great week ahead. Good luck with finals and other exams/quizzes/tests. This weekend spelt F-R-U-I-T-F-U-L-N-E-S-S!

Here's the Naija WavingFlag remix! Enjoy people and bless your hearts.

P.S {Forgive the neon links! wink*}

RAIN...Real rain.

...Omonoba...

It is RAINING in Boulder, Colorado.

No, it's not drizzling, or hailing or snowing, it's actually RAINING.

This is so exciting. I had to share!

I love the rain and I miss playing around Naija rain.

Have a great day!

TEN of the THINGS I LOVE!

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Ẹni tó fi owó-o rẹ̀ ra ẹṣin, kò níí jẹ́ kó ṣe àrìnjẹ́.
Eng: Whoever paid his or her own money for a horse will not let it be sacrificed for a good-luck charm.-Yoruba proverb.
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SURU tagged me!
So, here are TEN OF THE things I love in no particular order.
1) My God. I am daily building my relationship God. Christ in my everything.


2) Books. I read a lot of school books (of course), novels (I am very big on African literature and fiction and Christian-themed novels), informational books, etc. Knowledge is power and I am always very willing to learn.


3) Writing. ( AND WORKING WITH MY HANDS...making jewellry, creating, etc) So, I write A LOT. I do not know how much of me would remain without my writing. Give me water, my Bible and my journal kit in the desert and I'm good. I'd take off my scarf and use it as a blanket while I write.


4) Travelling. And of course all the sight-seeing and learning that come with it. Even if it's from Ogbomoso to Ejigbo. I hate how college  has dampened my international travelling schedule but all the same, I travel as much as I can. My father still says that travelling is education. I have been to thirteen countries and all but two continents. Enough said.


5) Family. So, there are six of us; four kids and my parents. My family is my backbone! We are extremely close to each other (in a healthy way).


6) Pictures/Photography/Memories. I take A LOT of pictures. Since the very little things of this life are of so much interest to me, I love to document almost everything. I would take as many pictures as possible because they are very important. As for memories, I get very nostalgic especially with issues that have to do with my growing up, church, school, etc in Port Harcourt City. I would give a lot to return there to live. :|


7) HAVING (interesting) DISCUSSIONS WITH MY FRIENDS AND RANDOM PEOPLE! (Anything from trying to find out the story behind someone's homelessness to arts to engineering to God)


8) Music. And other forms of art. ART ROCKS. I do know that I have a relatively 'different' point of view music-wise but I even study with music. Good music is like breathing fresh bush-scented air! And of course, this includes my guitar!


9) Cooking. Chai, I cannot even emphasize this. As much as I do eat out sometimes, my friends and I constantly have nights were we chill and cook food. Some of my closest friends are Ethiopian so a good night consists of some Naija food and Injera!!!


10) My friends. When you have amazing friends, you love them. I love my friends a lot and they are very special to me.


{P.S I need to add weddings, NIGERIA and AFRICAN subjects in general, the Yoruba and Edo kingdoms, etc}
...and these are just ten.
I'm sorry, I do not know who has or has not been tagged. So, if you're tagged again, bless your heart. I tag Jaycee, Le Dynamique Professeur, T.Notes, Lani, Neefemi, Harry-Rami Itie, NBB, Blogoratti and Sugarking. 


This list is getting long so feel free to go ahead and tag yourself!

Nigerian accents!

...Omonoba...

Our people say:
Yoruba: Mélòó lÈjìgbò tí ọ̀kan ẹ̀ ńjẹ́ Ayé-gbogbo?
Eng: How large a community is Ejigbo that one of its settlements is named Ayegbogbo “The whole world”?
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Recently, a lot of people have been 'complimenting' me on how American I sound, when they see my name and ask me where I'm from. So, that really frustrates me because I take pride in my accent and I do not want to lose it :( .  

Some others admit that I do have traces of a Nigerian accent. Only traces? My friends will tell you that my Nigerian accent is pretty noticeable. Another thing that surprises people is that I speak good English. Take it in good fate that I was brought up in a country that was colonized by the British (X) and therefore I speak good English, and that the British met locals when they came(YES); locals who already spoke languages and therefore my English is accented. 

I mean, I have come across various comments referring to Nigerian accents as disgusting probably because they didn’t throw in extra r’s here and there. Let it be, let the accents that remind us that we own something be and do not try to belittle them calling them ‘bush’, local and unworthy. A person behind the camera or the president may spend a few seconds pronouncing a word in order to make his or her speech well understood by the majority who would be listening to him or her but I must note that even the current president speaks pretty clearly inspite of the “fee-dee-fee, fower’s” (PDP Power’s) that are conspicuous in his speeches. Let it be, hes’s not British nor American (people whose English by the way is accented since they learnt from the British, their colonists). Why has everything Western (and Eastern), as a matter of fact, everything non-indegnous to us Nigerians become THE STANDARD? I say Nigerians here because that’s what I am, a Nigerian and that’s the country I can speak for.

Yes, Learn the English Language or any other foreign language and speak it as close to the native speakers as possible but as we all know, it can never be the same. My occasional h’s here and there (since I am half Yoruba) reinforce my ‘Nigerianness’ and again, Let it be!

It's also not news that we as a country are a house divided against itself sometimes. So I speak to those of us from Naija too.

The world through Baba Agba's Eyes.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Arúgbó ṣoge rí; àkísà-á lògbà rí.
Eng: The old person was once a dandy; the rag was once in fashion.-Yoruba Proverb.

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I take a lot of pictures. So, you can imagine the frustration I feel when my camera starts to act up. Because of this, I decided to get a new camera which would meet up to my demand. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of the kind of camera that would take clear pictures and enable me carry out my personal photography? Please would you be kind to let me know? I would like to hear from you. Thank you. 'Old Faithful' served me well but its time to get something better. Here's an example of 'old faithful's' capacity.

On a related note:
I stumbled across a Nigerian youth’s website . To say that I was awed is to say the very least. I was struck by the smoothness of the music that played off the site, probably because its the type of music I find refreshing. However, his photography amazed me. It was very beautiful and pure. Seeing that I love pictures {I take A LOT of pictures} and I consider them  vital pieces of memory, it is no wonder that his website was beautiful. His name is Baba Agba and he calls his website ‘THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES’. This is to enterprising  youths and photography!

Here we go:

The World Through my Eyes.

And, some refreshing music by K'naan. Waving flag was re-made speacially for the world cup, SA 2010. I like both the old and new versions a lot. Here's the World Cup version. 


WAVING FLAG-K'NAAN-WORLD CUP, 2O1O.

Who sings better than the Robin?

...Omonoba...
Anyone who urinates in a stream should be warned because any of his relatives may drink from the water.-Nigerian proverb.
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Pure grape juice

will always be rich purple;

will always be rich purple-red

and never without the slight lime-like tang!

So when I met that one callous, foolish man

the way he sang was quite familiar

as distorted cymbals in rumpus

he befouled music

Okay, in fairness

He did have a bit of  rhyme

And of course, he struck a C once

But then he said his song was better than the birds'

Oh that accident. That profane desecration of music

I laughed, then I pondered for about two

Which, the nightingale or the Robin?

Thrush or Canary?

Since when has

the clay taught the potter

or has cider become close to wine?

Learn from me. I learned to sing from the birds.

Pure grape juice will always be rich purple

And pure grape wine; always red

don't ask where the tang's from

Sip, relax and learn.