Alexis & Africa Rabata

22/02/2024

Birth Anniversary: DACC Celebrates Obukome
....Eulogise her sterling love for women and youths

The Delta State APC Councilorship Candidates( DACC) has congratulated an amazon of repute, Hon. Obukome Elaine-Mukoro on the occasion of her birth anniversary.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Delta State Coordinator DACC Hon. Austin Osokorobia, the group described Obukome as an astute and purposeful leader with passion for the development of the girl child, wowen and youths. Thr group aslo acknowledged her unwavery commitment and support to the party and her teaming members ,and prayed that God should continually give her the needed wisdom and strength required in seeing her vision for this nation and Deltans turns reality.

Hon. Karo Philip Oghogho
Publicity Secretary
DACC

03/01/2024

On behalf of Joint National Association of Person with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ughelli North LGA Chapter, we want to sincerely express our profound gratitude to our amiable energetic and dynamic Mummy/CEO and founder, Ambassador Obukome Ibru-Mukoro (OBK), for the Xmas package clothes, food items and cash she gave our communities of persons with special needs. Mummy, we are indeed grateful for your kindness and magnanimity towards us. May God continue to elevate you, ma. Amen! COMRADE OMOKINIOVO JOHN, CHAIRMAN JONAPWD UGHELLI NORTH LGA CHAPTER.

13/12/2023

05/01/2021

PRESS RELEASE
OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SON, CHICO EJIRO IS GONE.
The Ejiro family of Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, wish to formally announce the untimely passing to eternity of their most cherished son, Chico Ejiro on Christmas day, December 25, 2020. His demise followed complications arising from high blood pressure for which he had been treated . He had returned delightfully to the only business he was so passionate about and had concluded his movie shoot barely two days before Christmas. His painful death was a tragic drama that took less than 10 minutes and there was silence.
Chico as he was widely known both locally and internationally, was a distinguished creative industry entrepreneur, a film and television Director/Producer, a talent investor and cineaste. He was reputed to have directed over 95 movies , a fit often hailed as unprecedented in Nigeria's motion picture industry known as Nollywood. It was for his pacy and innovative directorial production style at the nascent stage of Nollywood that he was nicknamed Mr Prolific.
Beyond his core industry practice, Chico was known for his humane spirit, a deeply kind nature , his uncommon humility and amiable aura that inspired the wide partnerships he built and network of friends within and outside of the creative industry.
His company, Grand Touch Pictures, was known to have partnered with over 30 different movie organisations for television, film and reality TV show productions.
Importantly, Chico was a family man. He was totally committed to the cause of the welfare and happiness of his family. No matter where he was , whatever meeting, no matter how important the occasion, everything stopped at the call of his family. His devotion to his wife, children and indeed sibblings was simply exemplary. He was passionately attached and ever grateful to his elder brother and mentor , Zeb Ejiro, OON, who inspired his career switch to the motion picture industry even though he read Agriculture at the university.
Chico in the last six years had devoted his entire life and resources to assure the health and survival of his youngest child who was diagnosed with cancer related ailments while still a toddler. His devoted wife, Joy Ejiro , has since been in the US to attend to their son and had returned with him temporarily for the yuletide holiday after being away for two years .
The funeral for this scion of Isoko nation, South-South region and indeed Delta state has been fixed for Saturday, February 20, 2021.
He is survived by wife, children, sibblings, uncles and cousins.
SIGNED
Zeb Ejiro, OON
For the Ejiro Family.

11/08/2020

Hmm...me and my journeys, sha!! Na so one day, I decided I needed to go straight to my place in Togo! I think that journey was inspired by too much wahala with power outages in Lagos at the time! So, I planned my journey, told myself I needed no further stress, and I would therefore not leave Nigeria through the ever busy, every wahala-ish Seme Border! So, my option was Idiroko Border, which I had used a couple of times. For me, Idiroko is saner, almost sleepy! And, for this reason of better sanity, the immigration and customs officials at that end seem to be more relaxed and friendly.
So, I faced the even longer trip to Idiroko! Sometimes, longer is just okay! Okay, I had to get to Sango, in Ogun State, before finding a connecting vehicle to the Border Town. I put on my stern do not mess with me face, as I manouvered my way past the touts who are usually present, and willing to assist for a fee. Finding myself in front of the immigration officials, I suddenly realised that, although I had my passport, I had somehow not carried with me, my Yellow Card! Which kin' wahala bis dis, I seemed to be thinking... So, I declared I did not have it, hoping that the fact that my passport was so full of visas would somehow help! By the time I looked up from my involuntary umpteenth time rummage through my bag, I saw the official watching me. So, I too watched him, daring him to say I had to go back to Nigeria! Then, he threw a figure at me; I balked! "For what, na?", I asked. He did not blink. "Yellow Card."
"Ah, can't I just pay something small and pass? I will bring it next time!" He smiled, then he said: " You are a journalist, so I know you know this is a requirement." Hmm...I don begin sweat. I just did not want to part with all that money, especially for a service I assumed would not be entered into the books! "If you are asking me to pay this much, I will get the card, abi?!" He looked at me, as if saying, you are trying to trap me...I know you journalists! So, he was extra calm, as he assured me I would get the card. Then, as a last resort, thinking this was my escape route: " So, you would just give me the card?! And, I would not even take the injection?!" See me doing a victory lap, knowing they did not have any injection, joor!! Scratch that...my victory lap world screeched to a halt with his response:
"Injection? You want it?!" I reacted, "Yes!!"
He left me there for a few minutes and came back with some container. He was now wearing gloves. I just dey look am like say, so no be shakara?! Hey, he really brought out a syringe o, then he brought out some vial and affixed a needle atop that syringe! I did not quite know how to take back all the attitude I had given him! Then, I noticed that the needle was short and evil looking, as if it was my punishment for talking too much! At this point, I am sure it is pretty obvious I have no love for needles! Whenever I hear people say they prefer injections, I know they are abnormal!
That is how that immigration man tapped that thing a few times before sticking that needle in my arm...I think it was the most evil stab I have ever had! To be fair, he was gentle, but the needle was not!! Men, that injection dey pain!!! As I walked past the border point towards the taxi park on the Igolo Side of Benin Republic, I made up my mind that it is better to cry at General Hospital, than to have to do it at any border point!

19/06/2020

The term "Rastafari" derives from the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie, "Ras Tafari Makonnen"; the term "Ras" means a duke or prince, while "Tafari Makonen" was his name.

So, Ras Tafari when he became emperor, he became known as Emperor Haille Selassie.

Many do not know he was the same person.

14/06/2020

When the children return to school, where will they start from? Will they just continue with their syllabi, or will they still cover all they missed in this lock down period?!

photo credits: savethechildren.org

25/05/2020

Another specie indigenous to West Africa, that we are helping to go extinct! This Ball Python specie is found mainly in the area of Togo, West Africa. In Nigeria, virtually every snake specie is endangered.

Alexis Onome-Egborge

To glean more information about the sustainability of the ball python trade from Togo, the researchers interviewed 57 Togolese snake hunters who supply export facilities. Three-quarters of them said they see fewer ball pythons today than five years ago.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/ball-pythons-west-africa-exports/

Though widely bred in captivity in the U.S. and Europe, tens of thousands are exported from West Africa each year, with little understanding of what that means for their conservation or well-being.

21/05/2020

Whenever a new quality product is launched in Nigeria, the question on the lips of virtualy every customer is, ‘for how long will they keep this quality?!’The suspicion is that the quality is just to attract the needed crowd, that afer a while, they would water down the product or service.

Yesterday, I was at the office of G.I.G. Logistics, the courier and parcel service arm of God is God Motors.
Getting there was quite an ordeal because Lagos traffic was at it’s best! I had hoped to get to their Jibowu office before closing time, which I assumed was about 5pm, especially now that regular passengers are not allowed tom travel, due to the Covid situation. Well, I only got there at 5.30pm. As I walked into the building, it was as I expected – semi desolate. Then, I noticed about 3 or 4 persons behind the glass barricade that constitutes the small office for the logistics section. Thry all looked up at me, as I walked towards the closed door to their section. I raised my hands in greeting, smiled and…
‘We have closed!’
I was puzzled.
We have closed!!’
‘I need to ask a question!’, I offered.
‘No question, we have closed!!’
‘Ah, but can’t I at least ask a question’, I was bemused.
That was when someone in there threw me the line that triggered my ire:
‘Is it because they allowed you in?!’
I blew my lid! I admit, I shouted at him really efficiently! I was upset because what they were all insinuating was that to ask a question, I had to come back the next day! Rubbish! The truth is, the information I wanted, they ought to have put on some notice board, in a position where all intending customers could see it.
When it was obvious they would not win, and I would not just go away, one of them came out to meet me, calming me as he approached. I then asked him the question:
‘What time do I have to get here in the morning, if I need to send a parcel to Benin?’
His response was that they needed 5 days to deliver any packages right now, dues to the restrictions on road travel currently.
I reckon, this is information they should have in a place where all intending customer can see it, abi?!

Oh, I did not say why I was so angry. The guy who was being most rude, I had watched him denigrate two older female passengers a while ago, when I was there to buy tickets for a road trip. I remember that that day, I had a good mind to rush at him!
So, if you do intend to use GIG, take with you a dose of extra patience because, dem no send you!

20/05/2020

My friend, Tessy Brown, just reminded me of the existence of 'fake' Ogbono on the market. I have heard these from so many people who also claim that the fake variety no dey draw. I need to ask:
1. What is the fake ogbono made from?
2.How does one identify and avoid this fake ogbono?

Alexis Onome-Egborge

13/05/2020

Sebi you are aware that there is no such thing as standard Egusi Soup?! I don waka about tire, I have seen and eaten so many variations, I have come to agree that egusi soup is just a generic name!

In may parts of Nigeria, you will find it in various forms; some are cooked with palm oil, almost not with groundnut oil, some taste like pepper soup, some carry okro follow body, some are lumpy, some are like drinking soup...Chai!! Chai!!! Which one sweet pass, and from which part of the country??? That I cannot answer, I am a detribalised Nigerian!

Oya, you answer: What do you know about egusi? Does it even have another name, in any languages??

Alexis Onome-Egborge

09/05/2020

Dedicated to those who keep asking whether it's true there are lions in Nigeria. Now, I hear there are just about 34 left. Sadly, there are no real efforts by government towards conservation! Yet, whenever you talk to a state governor or commissioner for tourism, they will trumpet their tourism plans at you, thinking that eco tourism is all it's about1

Alexis Onome-Egborge
Alexis Onome-Egborge II

West African lion
In 1970 there were approximately 200,000 lions all over Africa. Now there are nearly 20,000. It was estimated that there are just 645 genetically distinct wild lions left in western and central Africa, with as few as 34 remaining in the whole terrirtory of Nigeria. Clusters of lions remain in Burkina Faso, Niger, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. In Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Togo there are already no lions left.

by Olawale Aluko

08/05/2020

The Ibadan malimbe is a rare species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is endemic to Nigeria, where it is known only from the southwestern part of the country, including the city of Ibadan which it's named after. It was first discovered in 1951 and was common at one point. Forest clearing made it rare. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Malimbus ibadanensis
Conservation status: Endangered (Population decreasing) Encyclopedia of Life
Phylum: Chordata
Higher classification: Malimbus
Order: Passerine
Rank: Species

06/05/2020

Now that Covid-19 has forced us all to become masked wonders,is Nigerian musician, Lagbaja, going to need rebranding?!

Alexis Onome-Egborge

!

27/04/2020

The Kenyan author Ken Walibora who was buried last week left behind a generations of fans who read his books in Swahili classes, including the BBC's Basillioh Mutahi, who pays tribute to him here.

His most prominent book was his first novel Siku Njema which was later translated to English as A Good Day. It was used as a set book in high schools around the country for many years.

Many Kenyans who read it in school have spoken about how the novel, a tale of triumph over adversity, helped them love Swahili literature - which is something Kenyans often find difficult to do.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52397678

Ken Walibora died on 10 April and left behind a generation of Kenyans who grew up on his books.

10/03/2020

Morocco has banned fans from attending football games days after the coronavirus reached the country. The Moroccan football association (FRMF) announced the decision on Wednesday two days after the index case was reported.

Among the measures, the organization of matches behind closed doors, but above all the cancellation of matches with teams from countries affected by the epidemic.

A 39-year-old Moroccan man coming from the northern Italian city of Bergamo was Morocco’s first confirmed case of coronavirus on Monday, the health ministry said.

https://www.africanews.com/2020/03/07/morocco-bans-fans-from-football-games-over-coronavirus-fears/

Among the measures, the organization of matches behind closed doors, but above all the cancellation of matches with teams from countries affected by the epidemic.

06/03/2020

Why am I always 'a learner', learning after everybody else has known?!

Encouraged by the temperatures within the house, I decided it was a good idea to take a walk, especially to catch the evening breeze, before coming back inside to find yet another temporary solution to this new always overly warm weather. I did make it outside, and I was encouraged by a cool breeze that sweetened it all! Hardly had I began to understand the direction of the wind, when I suddenly felt them on my arm! Choi!! Instinctively, I threw my arm in many directions, then began a windmill-like movement, as I walked faster, all in an effort to discourage the conference they were intent on having...on my arm! After a minute or so of this movement that made me look like I was silently saying my prayer-warrior vows, I decided I looked silly, so I stopped! I had to stop, my arm were aching, not just from bite, but from the forced arm exercise!

I come begin ask myself,'which kin 'stroll be dis, na?!' I just pack shame, turn round, then fled back inside the house o!! How many houses do you go to these days (in Lagos,) and the host would say let's seat in the garden.?! You would be so preoccupied slapping and swatting, you'd never get anything else done!

Can't we just poison all the mosquitoes and their relatives???!!

01/03/2020

There is this mystery building at Florida International University. It's only really a mystery because for so long, virtually no one knew how it had been named or what the name meant! So, it was simply (still is,,,) dubbed 'O.E.', short for Owa Ehan. If you're Bini, you are probably wondering already! Did you now about this?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=gc0zH3R35l8&fbclid=IwAR3XIa1hZkhb26GTqHa_nMMr5NFSZdxJp145XZm0UNzlq7rU8u8uCDvcFok

Ever wondered what Owa Ehan stood for exactly? Or what language it was in? The answers may surprise you.

25/02/2020

This is a bastardised looking version of the original Ekpo Masquerade. This was a very frightful looking masquerade. It is the depiction of ancestral spirits and the Ekponwas a kind of men only cult. There was a direct connection to traditional African religious worship and practice. The Ekpo is one of many whose duties included judicial, cleansing, fertility etc. The Ekpo in particular came out on certain traditional festivals after much secret preparation by members. This would include rituals, chants, libation, worship and the actual creation of the mask which was itself done by those with a gift from the ancestors and the mask was not seen until it was finished. So they would be in preparation for months. The Ekpo of Ibibio people was the bridge between human world and spirit world. The person chosen and prepared to wear the mask was said not to be fully human at the time they had on the mask and they were always accompanied and guided. They visited the homes of the clan elders because they also were messengers between gods and men. It is such a big deep shame to us all that these things have been eroded by christianity and are now considered demonic, satanic etc. They are not. They are beautiful and they are who we are.
Ekpo, Nnabo, Ekpe-ikpaukoţ, tinkoriko, and so many many more. Things I saw in the last throes of their existence and images that stuck with me for life.
My family is a ruling family and saw I saw many things first hand for a few brief years.
But now that's all gone.
😭😭😭

Mma Pinkall

Ekpo Masquerade in Efik/Ibibio, has always been a mystery; it is one of the deepest ancient traditional societies with multi faceted standings. In the olden days, Ekpo Masquerades were used to enforce laws(policing)in communities, debt settlement and also functioned as traditional religion with elements of deep cultural entertainment. There are different types of masquerades in Akwa Ibom; some, you don't get at if you are not an acolyte. The faces have always been scary; some represent heads/statures of powerful deities and deep cultural heritage.

Research has it that Akwa Ibom has the largest number of masquerades in Africa.

Gabriel Thompson

13/02/2020

I am attending some agric show tomorrow and the day after. I am excited because I ought to be...okay, not true! I do not really know that agric shows excite me, but the gathering should be fun. Plus I will meet lots of new people, I expect! The exciting part (for me,) is we would be shooting videos for a new show we are working on!! It's been a while, so that is thrilling in advance!!

Okay, what I do not understand about agric shows: why must all the food be uncooked, who would be sadder if there are food courts as part of the setup?!!

Alexis Onome-Egborge

07/02/2020

For those of you who are planning to relocate your Keke Marwa Business to Ibadan, just forget! This is the official Ibadan (Oyo) Car, you can never overthrow it! Gba be!!

Nissan Micra 1983!

06/02/2020

Business as usual!! After reaping massively the last time our team wore their jerseys, do they have a choice!! They must be counting the millions in advance! I only wish that fine jerseys would mean our team would do well, we cannot keep winning just the trophy for best shakara!!

Alexis Onome-Egborge
Alexis Onome-Egborge II

Sportswear giants Nike has revealed new Super Eagles and Falcons jerseys on Wednesday.

The jerseys are being revealed ahead of Eagles 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match-day three home qualifying encounter against Sierra Leone.

https://punchng.com/breaking-nigerias-new-nike-kit-for-2020-revealed/

Sodiq Oyeleke Sportswear giants Nike has revealed new Super Eagles and Falcons jerseys on Wednesday. The jerseys are being revealed ahead of Eagles 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match-day three ...

27/01/2020

Boy, if I could read your mind,
I wonder if I be inside.
If you could be mine,
I feel like I've been drinking wine!

Hmmm...you see why it is clear that I have been
disconnected from so much, for so long?! I really
do not watch TV and neither do I listen to the radio!

So, last night I did...for the first time, almost ever,
I used the FM radio on my phone. I caught the song somewhere
in the middle, but I immediately knew I had to listen to the end.
And, I would need to hear it several times again...it was simply
beautiful!

My music critic and appreciator mind went to work immediately! So,
I started to play that game with myself; the one in which I draw my conclusions first,
then find out whether or not I am right!

Wild (but, carefully taken,) guesses: I couldn't place the guys voice initially, then I clearly heard Simi...
does anyone else sing like that?! Then, because I was so sure it was Simi, my mind told me that the guy would
be Dekunle Fuji, But, his voice was so smooth, the only way Dekunle would sound that way, is if Simi's love don finish am!
And, that does happen when two really big artistes collaborate - one could be influenced by the style of the other.
Remember that in that song of so many years ago, "Choices2, a collabo by Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade, KSA sang in
an unusual voice - as if he had spent the week before on ice-cream!

Anyway, back to the present! So, I still was wondering if it was Dekunle Gold, smithen by the romance from their union!
And, the music...hmmm...it had a Cobhams feel to it, but I know how busy that producer can get, so I wondered if he
did it or not!

Anyway, now I have found out o! Johnny Drille?? Who is that, from where??! Okay, Marvin Records?? Hmm..Don Jazzy again??
Before I forget, I got the info from Google!

Verdict: It's a familiar melody, so there are quite a number of songs over time, that have nearly this exact melody. But,
this was made great by the fact that the duo was super tight - they sang this one! It might feel like a simply melody, but that is the trick
to longevity for a good song. It will be sang for years to come!

so far, this is my favourite Nigeria duet, ever!

Alexis Onome-Egborge

23/01/2020

Being a pepper soup lover, I have tasted quite a variety...although, I know several people who are addicts, so they have tasted just about every type and variant! No o, I just love pepper soup, I am not an expert, nor do I ever intend to be one!

But, here's my biggest challenge with P-Soup: Isn't it time that we begin to have official classifications for P-Soup?? If you need to see a movie, you are warned about the age classification, even though many do not even bother to check! But, for pepper soup, this is very important because it's pepper that is the active ingredient! Quite fortunately, a majority of times when you go to a new p-soup joint, it's with a friend who has been before you, or you do so based on recommendation. What this means is that you are pre-warned:

'Ol-boy, you need to try that woman p-soup. E sweet, no be small!'

So, you go! And, you go several times because you like it! But, pepper soup varies in 'hotness', just like different pepper varieties vary in the amount of pressure they can ut on your tear glands! So, don't just walk into a pepper soup joint, order..and swallow! You must take a small sip...savour it, and understand whether 9or not) you are up to the task! I have seen people who because they know they will have to pay eventually, continue drinking the pepper soup, even though they are crying! Yes, some can't even speak, while eating their p-soup! Some look like they have been beaten by the class bully - endless tears and an embarrassingly runny nose!

So, he's eating this pepper soup when his friend comes in the door of the joint. Because he's looking sad, crying and wiping his nose, the friend believes the rumour is true! He stands there looking at his friend, who seems to be staring at his plate. He eventually speaks:

'Oh, Sunny! Sorry o! So, the rumour na true?! Heeey!!'

He cringes, as Sunny turns to face him, runny nose and streaming tears.

'Which rumour, na!'

'say you be oyibo, you no sabi chop pepper!!'

Hian!! Everyone whips out their phones and that is how Sunny's photo ended up on Insta, Facebook, even Twitter!

Advice: Always investigate before you venture!

Suggested P-Soup Classification:

1. Ordinary (can be gulped by babies, the Sheraton type)
2. MYS (Mind Your Self - deserves a cold bottle nearby)
3. IYC (If You Can - Be careful, many have bowed!)
4. YHBW (You have been warned! - self explanatory)
5. BRT (Brain Reset Therapy! - Only the brave survive)

Okay, I know that we all have varying strength of pepper tolerance!! Me, I never do more than No.2!.

Which is your brand??

Fish, Goat, Beef...which is best?

And, is it true that Yoruba people are the champion pepper eaters?!

Alexis Onome-Egborge

Photo credits : Sisjemimah.com

21/01/2020

21/01/2020

This used to a common sight on the highways between Nigeria and virtually every neighbouring country connected by a land border. On a recent trip to Cotonou, I noticed I could hardly find any of these illegal petrol filling stations! Someone suggested they had all disappeared because of the closure of the Nigerians borders, which means no more easy passage for the fuel smugglers! I said it wasn't possible, that the smugglers would only adjust, keeping out of sight! Hardly had I finished my comment when we saw the glint of those large fuel bottles in some bush area! So, they are still there o! This just means that the commodity would cost more!

Photo Credits: Alexis Onome-Egborge

18/01/2020

How much influence does religion and cultural background have on creativity? Are females at a disadvantage??

"Mina the Veiled" is a Senegalese hip-hop artist who is often mocked because of her passion for rap.

12/01/2020

Master Artist, Pa Bruce Onobrakpeya!

06/12/2019

10th - 14th, December 2019. Be there!!

23/11/2019

The biggest reason this page was created, was to share my experiences from my constant travels around the continent! Well, I have slowed down a bit, as I recently shifted my attention to working on the maiden edition of ATIFAC, a festival of Arts for students from all over Africa. Now, that's happening from the 10th to the 13th of December, 2019! Soo, I shall resume my gallivanting!