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May 17, 2013

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The Glamour Of The Life And Times 2012 Fiesta

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

By ARTHUR ABRAHAM; EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Torrance CA, Sept 1, 2012- It was a gathering of the cream of the African community in the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond at the Holiday inn.

Torrance CA as LIFE and TIMES Magazine celebrated its second anniversary with its annual Fiesta which featured awards, musical entertainment and a fashion show. The show was hosted by stand up comedian Chinedu Unaka and media personality/inspirational writer Queen Kay

Award recipients included;

1-Mayor Jim Dear a close friend of the African community in Southern Ca who received a Community Service award,

2- Dr. Julius Kpaduwa renowned Obstetrician & Gynecologist.who received the Professional Excellence award,

3- Ms. Helen Bako , President of an NGO, The Nigerian Women Against Violence (NWAV)

who received a Community Service award for her work to end Violence against Women and Children in Northern Nigeria,

4-Adaozo Grace Nonyelum Agude, who received the Entrepreneurial award for establishing and nurturing Grace Home Health agency into a major Home Health Care Agency in Riverside CA and her work with Umuada Ndi Igbo and Succor Foundation

5- Lady Barbara Amadi who received the Emerging Leadership award for her leadership role in the community through Whitehouse entertainment and

6- Mr. Chijioke Nze who received the Youth Excellence Award for his academic achievements in genetic research and getting admitted into the Harvard medical School in the fall of 2012.

Following is a photo book of this great event:

Guests were also treated to a classy display of top Nigerian fashion by the following fashion houses; Design A Diva (female fashion), Tribal marks (male fashion), Menogu Designs (male and female fashion and accessories), Esi’s Designs by Ada Ejikeme (Female accessories). The unique thing about the fashion display was that most of the fabrics were African- Ankara, Kente etc

Patrons were also entertained by renowned saxophonist, Seyi Alesh, Rave of the moment- Vocalist/Pianist Tomi Akinbode, Comedian- Yvonne Orji.

Guest who were treated to a sumptous dinner and fine wine.. also had the opportunity to savour art by foremost Nigerian painter, Princess Ify Obienu and book displays by Queen Kay (The Reconstruction of Queen Kay) and Nkem DenChukwu ( Tribal Echoes).

It was such a great show put together by the LIFE and TIMES team led by Event hostess/Planner Mrs. Amaka Ada Akudinobi who promised the very satisfied guests of even greater fun and entertainment in future Fiestas….

If Your Heart Had A Voice… What would it say?

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

By Nkem DenChukwu

I do not understand hate. But, I do understand love.

Every season has its time. Therefore, every season changes with time. When a new life is born, joy has arrived. Three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, from sunrise to sunset, we call upon one name; the name above all names, therefore, we hope in and trust in Him.

With every day that passes, you’d hope you had achieved something. ‘Have I fulfilled my needs and those of my loved ones? Have I ever been a blessing to someone?’ It’s important to know what matters, as much as making what matters, important. For me, those are the daily must-achieve!

It is very necessary to not try, nor wish you were someone else. Your dreams are esoteric, totally different from that someone else. That’s true for everyone. Much paralysis rise from those lazy precepts your mind constructs to grab the bull by the horn, make a monkey dance, as you reach for that elusive stardom. You will step out of that comfort zone that causes you so.

When you fall, that’s okay…for a portion of life is designed that way. All you need to do is get up, dust your butt for the next run. It is the only way out. You will hold on to your dreams in a vise-grip. But first, you must bring God into it. And, according to Pastor Joel Osteen; “Pray Bold.”

Again, you will step out from those elements that make you too comfortable. Sometimes, they keep you from taking risks. And those elements that weaken you too must go. Tell Fear to take a hike, and watch Fear run for its life. How would you know you couldn’t do what you set out to do, when you have not tried? What is life without risk? Yes, it might be difficult to reach your destination, but to succeed, risks are involved…always a part of the package. Now, you will tell fear to take the backseat and watch how it is done; sleek, sleight-of-hand, and then it is smooth-sailing. You will be the get-it-done between you, your happy-self, and the rest of your life.

Each day you wake up is another reason to keep going. So, you will keep going, and keep keeping on.

If you have no sense of self; who then are you? You should not imagine getting anything the easy way. If you did, you would be rewriting the great quotient God had endorsed you with. And, you don’t want to do that.

You imagine where you are at this point in your life. Then, you imagine what you need to do to become the best you could be. You are that same person you were the day your mother gave birth to you, in spirit only. No one can teach you to be you, unless there is a school of thought on how to be you. God has granted you the power, given you the wisdom to be the best that you are; to fashion a beautiful life in you.

God’s time is precious. He sees. He hears. He knows. And, He will always care. He is who He is, at all time. He is God; the reason that you are. He is always on time, and never late. So, three hundred and sixty five days in the year, you will NOT cease to praise Him…with a thankful heart…looking up to the skies…knowing He is not far from you! His grace is beautiful…nothing compares to it.

It is no secret that there are moments in life when the strength of family, love, friends, will be put to test. Remember one thing: These are moments that will define who we are (not who we are trying to be), our values, and the power we possess from within (our inner strengths)…and not our weakness. The bottom-line is: We must choose to overcome, and say; ‘Yes, I can do it, and I will do it, against all odds.’ There is a reason for every season. We are Overcomers. We are the reason life was created. We are the reason the world goes around. Why? God has made it so. Believe in yourself, and trust God.

Let not your love, friendship, hopes and dreams, change with time. Rather, let each be seasoned with the same candor and zestful bust of sweetness as you’d find in a box of Godiva chocolate…as time passes. Celebrate this season, every season, being a blessing to yourself, and others. You will be glad when you do. I know am. And, God will be all too happy to blow small patches of His grace your way, to empower you further…farther.

Happy Holidays

2013 is a continuation of God’s love & grace in your life. Be Thankful, always.

Chika Unigwe: Exploring the depths of the human condition…..

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

Chika Unigwe is from Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State. She was born the sixth child of seven children and raised in Enugu, Nigeria.

She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an MA from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. She also holds a PhD from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, having completed a thesis entitled “In the shadow of Ala. Igbo women writing as an act of righting” in 2004.

Chika Unigwe is the author of fiction, poetry, articles and educational material. She won the 2003 BBC Short Story Competition for her story “Borrowed Smile”, a Commonwealth Short Story Award for “Weathered Smiles” and a Flemish literary prize for “De Smaak van Sneeuw”, her first short story written in Dutch. “The Secret”, another of her short pieces, was nominated for the 2004 Caine Prize. She was shortlisted for the 2005 Caine Prize for African Writing award. She was the recipient of a 2007 Unesco-Aschberg fellowship for creative writing, and of a 2009 Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for creative writing.

She has most recently, on November 1, 2012, won the 2012 Nigeria Prize for Literature and was longlisted for the 2012 Wole Soyinka Award.

Chika Unigwe’s stories have been broadcast on BBC World Service, Radio Nigeria, and other Nation Radio Stations.

Her first novel, De Feniks, was published in Dutch by Meulenhoff / Manteau in September 2005; it is the first book of fiction written by a Flemish author of African origin. The story, set in Turnhout, explores themes such as grief, illness and loneliness, subjects already touched upon in Unigwe’s earlier work. By featuring a central character who shares the novelist’s Afro-European background, the narrative also exposes some shortcomings of Belgian society, like its pervasive unwelcoming atmosphere and the superficiality of many of its inhabitants.

Chika Unigwe published her second novel, On Black Sisters’ Street in 2009 (first released in Dutch under the title Fata Morgana), a tale of choices and displacement set against the backdrop of the Antwerp prostitution scene.

Her most recent novel is Night Dancer (Jonathan Cape, 2012)

She was a city councilor in her city of Turnhout for the CD&V from 2006 to 2009

She lives with her husband and four children in Turnhout, Belgium.

In an interview with Chike Nweke of Life and Times magazine, Chika talks about her life, her family and her goals for the future…

Q-Tell us a little bit about your family background…

A-I am from Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State. I was born the sixth child of seven children and raised in Enugu, Nigeria. I have degrees from the University of Nigeria, the KU Leuven and a PhD from the University of Leiden. I am married with four children.

Q- How do you combine the demands of being a very busy writer with your role as wife and mother of four children?

A- I have tried to structure my day so that I am better able to navigate both worlds. The children have strict bedtimes so I can switch off at a certain time and concentrate on me.

I have a network of people who help me too when I need it. My parents-in-law babysit a lot for example.

I have two different cleaners come in twice a week for 4 hrs each to clean; I pay to have the ironing done, sometimes so that I am not overwhelmed by housework.

I also extend my day by waking up very early to write for a few hours (when the house is quiet, around 3 AM)

Q-How did you meet your husband and how supportive has he being to you as a writer?

I met him at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, I was a student he was working as a research assistant. He is very supportive.

Q-What long term goals do you want to accomplish in your writing career?

A-I want to write more books, better books

Q-Besides writing what are your other passions

Reading, scrabble, music

Q-You are young and still have very many years ahead of you but when your work is done, how would you like Chika Unigwe to be remembered?

A-As someone who did the best she could

Excerpts from Chika’s award winning novel: On a Black sister’s Street

Sisi was a dream maker in silver and gold. These were not clothes she ever would have picked out for herself, not even for this job. The blouse hugged her intimately, sequined in silver. A gold-colored nylon skirt that showed her butt cheeks when she bent. Sisi felt like asking for a longer skirt. She felt naked, silver and gold nude. Long gold-plated earrings dangled from her ears and rested on her shoulders, thin strings of a setting sun. And on her lips, the rich red of tomato purée.

Sisi walked in ahead of Madam to a surprisingly dark room. She had expected dazzling brightness. Lots of glitter and shine. Psyche delic balls of light. The café was dimly lit, and it took a few seconds for Sisi to get used to the dimness. It had a dark wooden interior, a wooden ceiling with blue, red, and orange spotlights arranged in the shape of a huge star that spanned the width of the room, with six other stars inside it, each one smaller in size than the one preceding it, like a matryoshka.

At first all Sisi saw was a cloud of smoke rising up to meet the lights. It was as if she had walked off the earth and stumbled into the clouds, with stars in every conceivable color.

***********

“Hello, beautiful.” The man in the striped shirt grinned at her, gesturing her to an empty chair beside him. “What’s your name?”

“Eh?” “Name? Your name?” He spoke into her ear. “Sisi.” Sisi sat down and tried to regain her smile. She stretched her lips

and parted them. Like a weak flame, the smile came, faltered, and died out. She was a woman sinking. Tears found their way to her eyes. She was not doing this because she liked it, she reminded herself. But she was here now, and there was no going back. She clenched her teeth and tried again to smile. Her lips, as if made out of straw, cracked, and the smile splintered. “See See? Beautiful name.” The man chuckled. “Beautiful name for beautiful lady. You want a drink? See See?” Sisi nodded. “Yes, a drink would be good. Something cold. Thank you.”

The man returned with two bottles of Stella Artois. “Come, we sit at a table. My name is Dieter,” he said as he picked up his glass and took a sip. desirable. “You don’t talk much, do you, See See?”

‘No.’ Sisi shook her head. She struggled to smile, but the splinters rejected her attempts to make them whole, to bring them back to life. They disintegrated like baby ghosts floating about the room and finally disappearing into the gloom.

“Your voice is beautiful. Like you,” Dieter told her, reaching across the table to touch her right cheek, his palm clammy. Sisi’s natural instinct was to shake it off, but in her new life common sense ruled over instinct, so she left it there. She tried to force herself to imagine that it was Peter’s palm, that she and Peter were married and had simply gone out for a drink. It did not work. Dieter’s hand slipped and moved to her neck. He ran his fingers down the outside of her neck, all the time muttering, “Beautiful. Beautiful.” His eyes bulged out, and shifting on his chair, he moved his hand to her breast, cup- ping each one in turn. I can’t do this, Sisi thought. She sat still, her glass of beer untouched before her, her heart heavy with a sadness that felt like rage. She could no longer make out which music was playing, as her ears were filled with the rush of a waterfall.

In a men’s toilet with lavender toilet paper littering the floor, soggy (with urine?), and a shiny black toilet seat, Dieter pulled his trousers down to his ankles. A flash of white boxers. A penis thundering against them. A massive pink knob. Sisi gawked. Everything she had heard about the white man’s flaccidity, his penis as small as a nose (so that the greatest insult she could heap on an annoying schoolmate was that he had the penis of a white man), was smashed. He heaved and moaned; one hand tore at his boxers and the other at Sisi’s skirt. His breath warm against her neck, his hands pawing every bit of her; he licked her neck.

Sisi shut her eyes. Raising his head, he stuck his tongue into her ear. In. Out. In. Out. Eyes shut still, she tried to wriggle out of his embrace. She did not want to do this any- more. “I don’t need this. Stop!” she said. He held her close. Pushed her against the wall, his hands cupping her buttocks, and buried his head in her breasts. “Stop,” she shouted again. Eyes open, she saw his face, his mouth open and his jaws distended by an inner hunger. “Stop!” His moans swallowed her voice. His penis searched for a gap between her legs. Finding a warmth, he sighed, spluttered sperm that trickled down her legs like mucus, inaugurating Sisi into her new profession. She baptized herself into it with tears, hot and livid, down her cheeks, salty in her mouth, feeling intense pain wherever he touched, as if he were searing her with a razor blade that had just come out of a fire. Her nose filled with the stench of the room, and the stench filled her body and turned her stomach, and she did not care whether or not she threw up. But she did not.

The revulsion stayed inside and expanded, and she felt a pain, a tingling, start in her toes. The pain that could not be contained began to spread out around her and rise, taking over everything else. Even the sound of her heartbeat.

MoneyGram Launches ‘Bringing You Closer’ Global Holiday Campaign

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

DALLAS (Nov. 15 2012) – MoneyGram (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company, today launched an integrated, multi-platform advertising and marketing campaign for the holiday season. MoneyGram’s “Bringing You Closer” campaign is designed to build consumer preference for the company’s money transfer services during the holiday period, which typically experiences seasonal increases as consumers around the world send money to loved ones.

“We are committed to bringing customers closer throughout the year, and the holidays are an especially important time when the gift of money takes on a cultural significance for our global audience,” said Juan Agualimpia, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of MoneyGram. “This campaign represents a comprehensive effort to generate consumer awareness and reinforce our brand positioning through a variety of marketing assets and channels that foster consumer preference during the season.”

MoneyGram will deliver its global message to consumers through a combination of television, print, and radio spots, point-of-sale marketing, grassroots public relations, and interactive online components.

Traditional advertising efforts:

Television, print, and radio ads will feature MoneyGram’s unique brand identity, with signature energy globe and free-flowing line drawings that evoke the spirit of Christmas by depicting families sending love across the globe and bringing them closer during the holidays.
Ads will air on television, on radio, and in print in multiple countries across the globe.

MoneyGram is also expanding outside of traditional marketing activities into the online space through various interactive activities.

Interactive online initiatives:

A video contest on MoneyGram’s Facebook page will invite consumers in select countries to share their favorite holiday memory. Two winners will be selected to each receive a round-trip airfare voucher to bring them closer to friends and family.
MoneyGram is sponsoring a similar contest in the Philippines, inviting overseas Filipino workers to submit a one-minute video to the MoneyGrado Facebook page describing what it would mean for them to spend the holidays with their family. One grand prize winner will receive a round-trip flight to the Philippines to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.
A Holiday Card promotion to enable Facebook users to send a fun and creative photo or video greeting card to friends and family through MoneyGram’s Facebook page.

Grassroots public relations:

Consumers will be invited to sing favorite holiday songs for a chance to appear in a video “mash-up” of recordings from events in the U.S, U.K. and Italy. The final version will be uploaded to YouTube, highlighting the cultural diversity of MoneyGram consumers during the holiday season.

“As many of our customers look to connect with their friends and family around the holidays, MoneyGram services continue to bring people closer together,” said Agualimpia. “MoneyGram is dedicated to serving the needs of consumers so families around the world can enjoy this cherished time of year.”

For more information on MoneyGram’s “Bringing You Closer” Holiday campaign, visit MoneyGram’s Facebook page.

About MoneyGram International

MoneyGram International, a leading money transfer company, enables consumers who are not fully served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers bill payment services in the United States and Canada and money transfer services worldwide through a global network of more than 293,000agent locations — including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions — in 197 countries and territories. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please visit moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.

Media Contact:

Ndeye Fatou Diouf
212-216-9305 x. 107
fdiouf@asbcommunications.com

The ABC’s of X-MAS

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

By Ijeoma Nwawka

eXuberance – As the year winds down, the festive vibe of the season is in full flux. A familiar and somewhat indescribable feeling resurrects as December hits. Some wholeheartedly embrace the Christmas cheer that has manifested itself once again. While some others, not as excited about the season, just accept it for what it is – a momentary sentiment. Regardless of how one receives it, the holiday spirit has come to stay for the next several weeks. Growing up, I remember palm wine, “knock-outs,” and new outfits being all the rage. Nigerians commemorate the exuberant nature of this time of year with many special occasions and traditions. In the villages, masquerades are commonplace. Young children both fear and crave the audacity of the ornately dressed figures carrying long canes. The excitement is both new and old at the same time.

Market – Today, the notion of Christmas and the holidays is a money-generating venture. Sales boom, advertisements appeal to the nostalgic sentiments surrounding Christmas, and the average person expects to give and receive a fair share of gifts. The commercialization of Christmas is here to stay. In Nigeria, one word captures this concept: “season.” Every business ups the retail prices of its goods. From the trader to the seamstress, it is expected that the season brings with it an increase in price. It is almost as though the purchaser is also paying for the added level of stress the trader must have faced in attaining his goods and providing his services at this time of the year. At the end of the day, the market gets a gift of its own – an economic boost that only Christmastime can bring.

Application – Surprisingly, in spite of the origin of Christmas, each year we must be reminded of what the 25^th day of December commemorates. Amidst the festivities, it is easy to get caught up in the secular mentality and ignore why certain elements are associated with the holidays. Christmastime promotes joy, peace, giving, love, and other kindhearted ideals. When we look deeper, we acknowledge that these ideals are propagated because of God’s love for us. By sending His Son Jesus Christ to live among us, God desired to save mankind from the evil of the world. With that being said, the essence of Christmas is one that carries on throughout the year and can be applied in our everyday lives.

Settle – Even more resounding than the noise, the hype, and the running around of the season is the overwhelming desire to settle down. The holidays are a time that people try to spend with family. They allow workers to break away from the monotony of their work lifestyles. A longstanding Igbo tradition that exhibits this desire to seek solace is the grand return many make to their villages. Around Christmas and into the New Year, it is about revisiting a simpler way of life. For one seeking a removal from the hustle and bustle of big city, one’s village provides the perfect relief. In the villages, it is common to visit the compounds of different families, to reminisce on the old days, and to appreciate how much has happened since the last time everyone congregated back home.

God Does Not Push Young Ladies Down Church Steps

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

Some years ago a church in Ohio was having a period of fasting and prayer. On one of the days that they came to the church for prayer, a faithful member of the church, a lady, fell down a flight of steps and broke her hip. She underwent a series of surgeries but never recovered. She died shortly thereafter. On the night of the funeral, the pastor of the church stood with the bereaved husband by the casket of the beloved wife. Many people came to express their condolences. Someone said “God must have had a plan for this so accept it”. Another said “It was God’s will, so we must live by it”. And yet another said “Somehow, God planned this to test your faith”. The pastor went home from the funeral very angry at what he called “the babblings” that the sympathizers engaged in. He decided to rewrite the beginning of his funeral sermon which began by saying “God Does Not Push Young Ladies down Church Steps”, which I have chosen as the title of this article.

This article seeks to correct the theological inaccuracy and outright misinterpretation and misconception of God’s word regarding bodily afflictions and suffering of God’s people.

This year I have heard of the sudden death of quite a number of middle aged persons – someone that collapsed on the soccer field, another on the steering wheel, and yet another that went to bed and just didn’t wake up. I am currently aware of young people battling all manner of debilitating diseases like lupus, kidney failure, cancer, and so on. The general view both within and outside Christiendom is that God is testing the faith of such people, or that it is God’s will for them, or still that God is trying to teach them a lesson so that they may be able to comfort others who might be subject to the same bodily attack in the future. In fact, two years ago I saw a thanksgiving card that more or less states that whatever evil befalls us is from God and that He knows best why He chose us for such suffering. There is nothing further from the truth.

This idea or belief that God afflicts His children with cancer, diabetes, lupus, or any other disease or infirmity absolutely contradicts the scripture and the very nature of God.

First, sin, diseases and death entered the world after the Fall of man. Since the Fall, everyone has been under their sway and power. However, the Son of God was sent to redeem man from the consequences of sin, from diseases, and from death. Hence 1 John 3:8 says “for this purpose the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.” In other words the reason why Jesus Christ came to the earth was to undo, destroy, loosen, and dissolve the works the devil has done. Whosoever believes in this spiritual truth is entitled to appropriate and proclaim its victory.

Secondly, as a parent, in order to teach your child that fire burns, would you grab his arm and stick it into the fire? After all, by so doing the child will learn that indeed fire does burn and will be able to counsel and comfort other siblings regarding the nature of fire. Certainly you would not! As a loving and responsible parent, what you would do is to instruct the child about the nature of fire and seriously warn the child not to go near it. So why should you think that God is a wicked and irresponsible parent? 2 Timothy 3:16 says “every scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval.” (God’s Word Translation). It is clear from this scripture that God warns people NOT to learn from painful experiences but from His word. So God does not intend that we are taught primarily by painful, sometimes irreversibly crushing experiences, but from His word, for the very purpose of avoiding such experiences. Proverbs 8:1-2 affirm this thus “my son, forget not my law, but let your heart keep my commandment. For length of days and long life and peace shall they add to you.”

Thirdly, God will not setup His own child to be mangled on the freeway by an eighteen-wheeler or give them matchet wounds or gunshots through the activities of violent criminals. God says in Proverbs 9:11 “by me your days shall be multiplied and the years of your life shall be increased”, in Job 5:26 “You will go to the grave at a ripe old age like a sheaf of grain harvested at the proper time”, in Psalm 91:16 “with long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation”, in Job 36:11 “if they obey and serve Him they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure.” and finally in 3 John 2 “beloved I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers”. Certainly a body afflicted with any disease is not prospering in health and that cannot be the will of God.

Fourthly, if it is God’s will for His children to suffer from diseases, it will be sinful to seek healing from the physicians or from other sources. Also if God is somehow involved in sanctioning the suffering of His children in the hands of wicked men, it will equally be sinful to pray against the activities of such wicked, violent and unreasonable people who seek to harm them, for that, under the theological misconception, would be seeking to violate God’s will.

The correct spiritual truth is categorically stated by Jesus Christ Himself in John 10:10 that “the thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows)”. Therefore God is not the thief, the killer, or the destroyer. The devil is. God wants us to have and enjoy life in abundance and to the full until it overflows. Hebrews 2:14 says that “by going through death, Jesus Christ brought to nothing and made of no effect him who has the power of death that is the devil.” It is the devil who is responsible for deaths – of people before their time, of marriages, of businesses, of health, of relationships, and of any other thing that has life and gives joy. This is why 1 Peter 5:8 says “be sober, vigilant because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up”. The Apostle Paul also warned in Ephesians 6:12 that “this is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.”(God’s Word Translation).

Conclusion

When a drunk driver hits and maims or kills a teenager, we do not blame the Minister of Transportation because he is not responsible for what happened. He has provided the traffic code that every road user is mandated to obey. Driving drunk, texting and driving, reckless driving, running a red light, and general carelessness during driving are all prohibited by the traffic code. However the Minister of Transportation cannot force every road user to obey the code, and we all must live with the consequences of traffic violations. In the same vein, God has provided the human race with a manual for living – The Bible. God cannot force all human beings to obey His word. Consequently, every tragedy in the world can be traced to the violation of God’s word by someone, somewhere, sometime. This is NOT in any way to imply that those who died young, or are bodily afflicted with diseases, are in any way receiving a penalty for their disobedience of God’s word. All of us sin and if God were to mark transgressions, nobody would be able to stand. Nevertheless, because the whole world is in rebellion against God, diseases and death are constantly seeking victims.

I encourage you dear reader, not to succumb to diseases or the fear of premature death. You must stand up against the spirit of sudden death and proclaim God’s healing promises over your body every day. I prophesy to you that you shall be continually delivered from the snare of sudden death, every terror of the night, and every wicked arrow that flies at noon day. Until you are satisfied with life, you will not enter the grave, and remember, by His stripes you are healed in Jesus name! Amen.

Oladipo Kalejaiye holds a Ph.D degree in law and was a litigation attorney in Nigeria, Europe and the United States for over 17 years. He entered into full time ministry in year 2000, and currently serves as the pastor of International Christian Center, Los Angeles ( You can contact him on the web: www.iccla.com, Facebook: iccla/facebook, Twitter: @DipoKalejaiye

Razaaq Adoti (a.k.a. Raz)- HOLLYWOOD STAR

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

Razaaq Adoti

Adoti was born June 27, 1973 in Forest Gate, London to Nigerian parents. He landed his first professional screen role on the British television show, Press Gang, playing a police officer. After a season with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) winning the Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award with Aesop, A New Opera and playing the lead Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in acting at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama. Upon graduation, he was signed by one of London’s most reputable talent agencies.

Adoti was cast as Yamba in Steven Spielberg’s feature epic, Amistad alongside Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey. After completing Amistad, he returned to London where he worked on various television and film projects. This included. Paul Maguigan’s Gangster No. 1, and Black Hawk Down with director Ridley Scott, playing the antagonist Yousuf Dahir Mo’alim. Since then, Adoti has starred in numerous productions including Paul W. S. Anderson’s Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Haven, Doom and The Hard Corps. Adoti also starred as Dutch Maas in Bill Duke’s 2008 film.

Adoti, through his Area Boyz production company, has written a screenplay Sons of the Soil (formerly Area Boyz) to be shot in England and Nigeria. He is also the host and co-producer on the new Fox Soccer Channel television show titled Extra Time set for a summer 2008 premiere.

Adoti’s past television credits include Sky One’s award winning television drama Dream Team, BBC’s BAFTA award -winning miniseries Holding On, ITV’s award -winning television drama, Soldier Soldier and Channel 4’s controversial miniseries Men Only.

Michael Ajakwe jr. (creator-writer–director-producer)

By MagAdmin -

May 17, 2013

Born to Nigerian parents and raised in Los Angeles, Mike graduated from Inglewood’s Morningside High and attended the University of Redlands on an academic scholarship. He earned degrees in English and Political Science and was named Most Outstanding Senior of his graduating class. He paid his way through college working in a movie theater, and covering news and sports for Redland’s Magazine, the Redlands Daily Facts and the Riverside Press Enterprise

Since 1993, this first-generation Nigerian-American has worked in the theatre with renowned performers like Emmy-winner Glynn Turman, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Debbie Allen, Ted Lange, Phil Morris, Robert Ri’chard, Hill Harper, Niecy Nash, Tommy Hicks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Art Evans, Gary Sturgis, James Pickens, Tatyana Ali, Marc Coppage, Estelle Harris, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lee Garlington, Robert Pine, Shayla Rivera, Gary Anthony Williams, Ralph Carter, Deniece Williams, Charles Dutton and Oscar winner Mo’Nique. As a tv and film writer, he’s worked with Martin Lawrence, Greg Kinnear, Sherman Hemsley, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Charles Barkley, Marc Curry, Tracey Morgan, Tia & Tamera Mowry, Kadeem Hardisson, Kelita Smith, Brandy, Diondre Whitfield, Ali Landry, Kelly Perrine, Tim Reid, Tommy Davidson, Ernest Thomas, Richard Lawson, Jackee, Steve Harvey, Steve Trevino, Valery Ortiz, Eve, Paul Winfield, and 3-time Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou. As a live events show writer, he’s written for Anthony Anderson, Kimberly Elise, Jo Marie Payton, L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti, ex-L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks, NAACP National President Benjamin Todd Jealous, Jason Alexander, Ben Stiller, and the NAACP Theater Awards (’04-08).

He’s also developed TV and/or film projects for Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre, Bret Ratner, Kim Fields, Reuben Cannon, Norman Howard (nephew of The Three Stooges), Beverly Todd, Vidal Sassoon, ex-NBA great Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Natalie Cole. Mike has written and directed 9 plays and produced 16 that have garnered 27 NAACP Theater Award Nominations, winning 5. He is a two-time NAACP Award-winning Playwright/Producer (Company Policy/Ted Lange’s Four Queens, No Trump!), two-time NAACP Award Nominated Director (If You Don’t Believe, Body Language), an Emmy Award-winning TV producer (E! Network’s Talk Soup), an award-winning filmmaker (Happy Anniversary, Punk!) and a trailblazing web tv creator (Ajakwetv.com’s Who…)

In 2000, the release of Company Policy made Mike the first African-American to have a play published in the 21st Century. In 2001, South Central Stories: Double or Nothin’, The Ride, Happy Anniversary Punk! – a collection of three acclaimed one-act plays – was published. His plays have been excerpted in Best Men’s Monologues, Best Women’s Monologue, Best Stage Scenes, and Outstanding Monologs and Scenes of the 90s. He’s written and/or produced TV shows like Soul Food, The Parkers, Martin, Moesha, Between Brothers, The Brothers Garcia, Built To Last, Sister Sister, Entertainment Tonight, Talk Soup, Steve Harvey’s Big Time, and Eve. Mike has sold TV pilots to Paramount TV (The Second Family), Warner Bros. TV (Alley Cats) and LATV/American Latino Syndication (Trevino). In 2002, Rat Entertainment (Bret Ratner) and Artisan Pictures hired him to write his first film, Crip. He’s also written films on Major League Baseball free agency messiah Curt Flood, NBA substance abuse success story John Lucas, and the only Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl Doug Williams.

From 2000-03 and in ‘09, he was the TV Professor for the Bill & Camille Cosby-sponsored Guy Alexander Hanks/Marvin H. Miller TV & Screenwriting Fellowship Program at USC. Fellows Mike has mentored have gone on to write for shows like Girlfriends, One On One, The Division, My Wife & Kids, The Proud Family, ER, The District, Eve, Little Bill, Kingpin and Lincoln Heights.

In ‘03, he wrote an essay for the “Power & Respect” chapter of the best-selling anthology Souls Of My Brothers. Also in ‘03, Mike, Jamie Foxx Show creator Bentley Evans and legendary actress/choreographer Debbie Allen traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to develop the sitcom, Journal Feliz (The Good News), for Picante Entertainment. In ’05, Mike co-created a second sitcom, Mano A Mano (Brother To Brother) for Picante that ran on Brazilian tv for an entire season. In ‘04, Mike and Picante co-produced Rocket Science & Salsa: The Shayla Rivera Story at the Zephyr Theater in Hollywood. The sold-out, one-woman show about a Puerto Rican rocket scientist who gave up working for NASA to become a comic was co-written by Mike and Rivera, directed by Debbie Allen, and nominated for two NAACP Theater Awards.

In 2002, Mike channelled Motown legends Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in You’re All I Need To Get By that starred Prince protégé Ta’Mar and attracted everyone from Lakers legend Norm Nixon to Britney Spears. Mike next wrote, directed and produced If You Don’t Believe: A Love Story (Featuring the Songs of Deniece Williams) that starred ex-Fresh Prince of Bel-Air regular Tatyana Ali. Co-produced with iconic songbird Deniece Williams, the play received 8 NAACP Theater Award Nominations (including Best Director), winning for Best Musical Director (Scott Allen). Next came Body Language (Featuring the Songs of Patti LaBelle). Originally produced in Los Angeles in 2005, it later ran at the 1800-seat Warner Theater in Washington D.C. in 2006. It received 7 NAACP Theater Award Nominations (including Best Director), winning again for Best Musical Director (Matilda Haywood) and Best Choreographer (Madonna Grimes).

In 2007, he adapted his one-act play, Happy Anniversary, Punk! into a movie that he produced and directed. In just its second film festival, the 23-minute courtroom drama about Black-on-Black crime won the Jury Prize AND Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.

Invited to Africa for three weeks in 2008 to teach screenwriting workshops to Nigerian filmmakers, he was commissioned by Pascal Atuma Productions to write the noir thriller No More Bloodshed – a film starring Taraji P. Henson, Tommy Ford, Jason George, Deniece Williams and Mark Christopher Lawrence. Mike closed out 2008 with a Beacon of Light Award from the City of Inglewood, California—the town where he grew up—as it celebrated its Centennial. The other two honorees were Oscar-nominated director John Singleton and legendary gospel duo Mary Mary.

In 2009, Mike was reunited with his Martin roots when he performed punch up writing duties on the Martin Lawrence/Bentley Evans/Jeff Franklin-produced sitcom Love That Girl starring Tatyana Ali and Phil Morris. Mike was also a punch up writer on the new T.D. Jakes-produced comedy One Love starring Sherman Hemsley, Carl Payne, Marc Curry, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kym Whitley and Jackee. Mike also created an original comedy series for the Internet. Who… is the first series to launch his new web channel—www.Ajakwetv.com. In March 2010, Mike started the world’s first all-web series festival when he succeeded in launching the Los Angeles Web Series Festival at the Stage 52 Theater in Los Angles (www.lawebfest.com).). The festival celebrated its third year in 2012. The Marseille Webfest—Europe’s first web series festival which Mike had a hand in helping to launch along with founder Jean-Michel Albert and Marseille Cultural Minister Stephane Rizzo debuted from October 12-13, 2012. (www.marseillewebfest.com) . In Marseille, Mike received a Medal to the City from Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin.

Mike sat down for an interview with our Publisher, Chike Nweke at the Lakes Golf Course in El Segundo California on Saturday October 20, 2012 and talked about his family background, his body of work so far, his dreams for the webfest and his plans for the future…

Details of this interview will be published in the first quarter 2013 edition of LIFE AND TIMES