The Good That Naked Music Does Not Do

JANUARY 2, 2017

There is hardly a popular music video you will see these days online or on cable TV that does not contain some form of nudity or the other. It’s like a freaking curse. No, not a curse. Sorry about that. It’s like the mark of the beast the holy book tells us that without it, in the last days, nobody can buy or sell anything. It’s like something told the people that control what is played and what is not that if the video does not portray half naked girls in one way or the other the video shall not be played or promoted.

The biblical reference is not literal of course. But it looks quite similar. The principle seems to be simply that of demand and supply. Something is demanding the consumption of nakedness in our music production, something big and powerful. But what? What is telling our music artistes that they must have half naked girls in their music videos before they can hope to sell their songs? I will come back to this question.

Sometimes it is not just nakedness. It is what most of the songs refer to in their lyrics as ‘love’. The portrayal of this ‘love’ is inevitably as suggestive as the nude videos. Usually, there is the star of the show, the artiste, with a girl straggling round the star with highly suggestive gestures and sliding body movements. The role is reversed if the star is female. Now it is the male grinding and whining away, as if it craves to eat the very flesh of the girl star raw, on video.

I think of Timaya’s videos. I think of Maheeda’s videos. I think of Tekno’s Pana. I think of Mr Eazi’s Sample you. I think of Korede Bello’s Do Like That. I think of Kiss Daniel’s Woju. These are powerful people, young or otherwise. These are influencers, with tens of millions of young followers on social media. These are the guys that determine what my nieces and nephews watch and listen to online. Probably yours too. Our kids, an entire generation, are hooked on the powerful voices of these stars with wave after wave of popular songs and videos, all with one subliminal message: nudity. Take it off. Shake what your mama gave you, which is basically your bumbum.

Few parents watch what their kids are watching these days, especially with the onslaught of android phones. By the time your daughter is twelve she already knows how to twerk, probably from watching an online video where someone listening to one super star or the other had twerked. Or she watched Soundcity, which she has no business watching at that age but which she does often with you, the mother, in the house too.

The enormous success of these soft porn music videos is also followed by the star’s inevitable offer of thanks to God. Na God. We thank God. But I highly doubt if God will roll out the red carpet in heaven for the producers of Pana and Naija Bad Girl. It’s highly unlikely.

Yet it is not only here that this dubious trend has taken root. It is a global movement. Recently I watched a video of R Kelly in concert. Female fans were reaching out from the stands to grab his crotch. Lady Gaga once pulled up her dress and pulled down her panties, before a live audience. There is hardly any big live music event these days that will not involve some kind of sexual simulation or the other, on stage.

What is happening?

We have all gone crazy, that is what is happening.

We have all gone sex bat crazy is what has happened. Every guy you see wants to hit every girl he sees. Every girl you see thinks every guy she sees wants to hit her. That is what goes on in these videos almost all the time. And we have all been indoctrinated, thanks to the power of music. Like my nigga Tupac puts it in one of his songs: ‘We are all probably in hell already here, our dumb asses not knowing…’

I concur.

Now let me go back to the force that is driving us sex crazy. In other words, what is telling our music artistes that they must have half naked girls in their music videos before they can hope to sell their songs? The guilty culprit of course is you and I. 2Baba’s Oya Come Make We Go, the most positive song from him in recent times, as far as I am concerned, has got only 1.2m views on youtube last time I checked. Tekno’s Pana, which came out the same 12 month period, is at 14m views and rising. We are the ones telling the stars, by what we are watching, what to sing about.

You see, naked music does a lot of bad to our collective consciousness as human beings. It breaks down taboos. And because of that we have destroyed shame. Nobody is ashamed of nothing no more. I should probably be ashamed of myself for watching Pana video, and worse musical videos. I knew what Tekno offered in the song, talking about his big cassava, which turned out to be more like a peanut (but don’t let me digress). But I wasn’t ashamed of myself and I watched the video, over and over again. Why? Why not, my shameless new self asks me. The video has been watched fourteen million times (and counting) already. And you, good and innocent saint, you would not watch it, because of what exactly? Your name is on God’s book of life and Tekno’s is not? Smh.

You see, naked music does a lot of bad to our collective conscience as human beings. It is the good thing it does that would bring us all down. It makes us feel good. Powerfully good. Naked music makes us feel so good that we no longer feel what we should feel confronted by rank nudity across all media, which is outrage. That good feeling is the wide road that leads to hell. I call it good, only because it comes with pleasant sensual feelings. The moral good feeling is what it does not bring, on the contrary.

The solution is simple. We can pause, or go on with what we’re doing. We can make songs and videos with happy children and laughter, songs with vision and power, that parents can watch with their children. We can talk about the evil in the world, like Bob Marley and dem era did. Or not. We can do whatever we want, that is the meaning of the freedom technology and civilization bought us. The first scenario is not likely.

But if you ever feel there is something wrong with our music videos, hang in there. You are not alone, by no means.

odega shawa

IG: @shawa_kalakutabooks

twitter: @shawa2008

Woman whose husband attacked and stabbed her in her private part speaks from hospital bed

Ifeoma Ojiakor whose husband beat her and attacked her private part with a broken bottle on Dec. 24th (read here) took to Facebook to tell her sad story. Read below...

This is unacceptable This is my Ifeoma okeke Ojiakor story. Saddest Christmas ever!!! Lying down in pains on my hospital bed I'm writing this with tears flowing my eyes. I could remember on d 24th night I made a post on facebook sending out special greetings to everyone with d hope of having a merry Christmas with family,friends, and loved ones
My husband by name Mr Victor ojiakor was always fond of hitting me at any slightest provocation and this issue has been resolved at so many police stations..whenever I report d beating escapades they wud settle us at the police station and he wud be asked to sign undertaking never to hit me anymore.He has even hit me at his village in d presence of his mother and father then reason being that he accused me of having an affair with his brother..His parents settled it after which he promised never to hit me again we reconciled mostly because of the kids ..after we returned back to lagos he hit me again while I was pregnant for our third child that I began to bleed.i was rushed to the hospital by neighbours before my mum was called to d hospital ...the case was reported at the ministry of women affairs at alausa ikeja where he was invited and there promised never to repeat such again...now the height of this happened on d 25th of December he came back home at about 6.30pm and started accusing me of sleeping with his boy (a 16yr old boy...can you imagine?)he didn't even wait for me to say a word he pounced on me and started beating me up with sticks,machete, bottle,e.t.c he said he was going to kill me and nothing would happen ..he also stabbed the said boy with a machete don't knw d boy's where about now...after beating me up for a sin I didn't commit he locked me up and held me hostage seizing my phone for 2 days. .nobody knw wat was happening to me I collapsed honestly I taught I would never survive this..I just kept pleading with him each passing day to pls tk me to the hospital before I die he refused telling me that he wanted to render me useless I jst kept crying until I told him to tk me to a pastor that was when he pushed me into his car n drove me to a place it was there that I pleaded with d prophetess to help me ..the prophetess on seeing my condition then adviced him to take me to d hospital for immediate treatment that was how I was taken to d hospital on getting there I pleaded with d doctor to use her phone to call my sister who in turn informed my mum and they started rushing to the hospital. .at d hospital immediately he sensed that I might have reached my family he started dragging me,removed d drip from my hand I was crying out for help immediately my mum entered d hospital he ran away ..at the moment I am in my mums place with my 3 kids. ..2 boys and a 3months old baby girl...d matter was charged to court and he was granted bail of 250,000naira...why I am left to wallow in pains for no offense I committed all because I married a heartless man and was enduring all these because of my kids and the society who kept telling me to forgive that he is my husband and he would change ....look at my life now!how I wish I left this marriage since!Happy new year everyone!

Victoria Beckham finally addresses rumours she's trying for baby No.5 at age 42

Fashion entrepreneur and business woman Victoria Beckham, 42, has finally addressed rumours making the rounds that she has boosted her already spinach-heavy diet with "broccoli and leafy greens rich in folic acid" so she can get pregnant and deliver baby number 5...

David Beckham, 41, told chat show host Jonathan Ross in 2012: 

"We might have one more or two more, you never know. We're not thinking about it yet, but if it happens, great. We're enjoying the kids as it is. It's always a thought.

"I mean, we're busy people and we’re enjoying the four kids that we've got already and we're lucky, we're lucky to have four healthy children."

But former Spice Girls member, Victoria Beckham has now addressed the rumours saying she doesn't want anymore children.

Speaking to Sunday Times Style Magazine, Victoria said "No! I am done. People have been obsessed with it - she's getting divorced, she's pregnant, she's getting divorced, she's pregnant - ever since I met David."

David and Victoria have 4 sweet kids which includes sons Brooklyn, 17, Romeo, 13, Cruz, 11, and four-year-old daughter Harper.

Nigerian Paralympian Rolland Ezuruike wins Gold while Latifat Tijani wins Silver for Nigeria in Rio 2016

Nigerian Paralympian, Rolland Ezuruike won the first Gold for the country in the on going Rio 2016 Paralympic games, when he lifted 200kg in the men’s 54kg to beat China’s Jian Wang and Greece’s Dimitrios Bakochristos to the top prize. It is Nigeria’s first gold and the second medal in the games.

The Gold medal was the first in the games for Nigeria but the 2nd medal so far.

Latifat Tijani won the first medal by clinching a silver medal in the women’s 45kg power lifting event with a lift of 106kg. China’s Dandan Hu won gold with a lift of 107 kg while Zoe Newson of Great Britain won the bronze medal.

Tijani entered the competition at 101kg, while other competitors attempted below 100kg.

Tijani lifted 106kg to come second after going back and forth with China's Hu who eventually won  the competition by clinching a Gold medal.

Gov. Shettima faults BBOG group for not visiting Chibok. "They make lots of noise from the cozy comfort of Abuja"

Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima says that the Bring back Our Girls Group (BBOG) has never taken out time to visit Chibok community.

Shettima stated this when Minister of women Affairs, Aisha Jumai Alhassan paid him a courtesy visit at the government house Maiduguri on Friday. Shettima said the protests could be seen as politically motivated since none of the members of the group has deemed it fit to visit the affected community.

"Just last week, we expended a whooping sum of N25 million first tranche for the education of the 56 Chibok school girls that escaped from the crunches of Boko Haram and none of the members of BBOG has visited Chibok to know about the feelings of the parents of the girls. They do not know what our people are going through. It is easy to talk but it is very difficult to work the talk. They can make a whole lot of noise from the cozy comfort of Abuja, they can dramatize the whole thing. Some of them are former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they know the protocol to follow before seeing the President, but they just wanted to create some drama.

"Believe me, we are making efforts to take care of the parents of the abducted Chibok girls and we are making efforts to educate the Chibok girls who escaped from the crunches of the Boko Haram. Majority of victims of Boko Haram are women and children. In Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno state, we have over 39,000 orphans and in Monguno local government area of the state, we have over 38000 of them and the same applies to other parts of the state. And yet no group or pressure group nor characters in the social media cares to know about this.

"It is our responsibility to take care of these widows and orphans or there would be a repetition of the circle in the next ten to twenty years. As communities are liberated from Boko Haram, those people that were held hostages by insurgents; those people that were used as human shield by the insurgents tend to cascade down to the nearest IDP camp and any time we get such people most of them come in a very bad shape. In spite of these challenges we are poised to rewrite the history and change the narrative but definitely you would hear very fantastic and funny stories which would sometimes amuse you and sometimes irritate you because there are politics involved; there is a local, national and international politics involved in all this melodrama that we are witnessing. It is very sad because our people are at the receiving end and some people are smiling to the bank on the agony of our people", Shettima said.

Shettima appealed to the Minister to partner Borno state government in addressing some of the challenges facing women and children in the state through her ministry.

Responding, the Federal Minister of women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan congratulated Governor kashim Shettima for his courage in steering the affairs of the state despite the security challenges and thanked him for the warm reception accorded to her and her entourage.

She told the Governor that she was in the state to flag off federal government micro finance free interest loan scheme to over 10,000 women across the 27 local government area of the state in collaboration with Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima to address poverty among women of Borno who have tested the bitter side of the terrorists.

"Governor Shettima lied! We went to Chibok when they were afraid to go" BBOG co-founder Bukky Shonibare

Co-founder of Bring Back Our Girl (BBOG) advocacy group, Bukky Shonibare has debunked the claim made by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima in which he blasted the group for not ever visiting Chibok.

In a series of tweets yesterday via her Twitter, Ms Shonibare stated that not only have the group visited Chibok, they are also making efforts to support victims of insurgency in and outside the North East. She posted photo evidence from their visit to the community...

Notorious kingpin killed as troops clears two kidnappers camps in Imo State

Troops of 34 Field Artillery Brigade involved in field training exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile conducted raid on 2 major kidnappers camps belonging to “De-Well” and “De-Gbam” cultists groups in Umoubi and Umudike forests, both in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday 8th September 2016.

During the raid one Chigozie aka “Chi boy”, a notorious kingpin of one of the cult groups lost his life, whileanother member was later discovered dead in the forest and quite a number of the gang members were believed to have escaped with gun shot wounds. 

The troops recovered quite a number of military uniforms and mobile telephones and other household items before destroying the camps to prevent the cultists regrouping in the area. They have continued to comb the general area for other members of the kidnapping syndicate. 

Graphic Photo: Dead 'baby' thrown away in a field in Benue state

According to the eyewitness who shared this photo, a baby, which was reportedly aborted, was seen this morning in a polytechnic in Benue state. See the graphic photo below:

 Anyone know what that part attached to the baby is?

#JusticeForUzoamaka: Police set to arraign suspects today, policemen dismissed from service

The Ebonyi State Police Command is set to arraign the suspects indicted for the abduction, stripping, torture and dehumanization of 15-year-old orphan, Uzoamaka

According to Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, who disclosed the development, reliable sources confirm that the arraignment of the suspects is scheduled to take place at the Obiozara magistrate court in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi state. While the specific charges against the suspects are yet unclear, sources point at abduction and torture as being high on the list.


The suspects expected to be arraigned include:
 1. Ogbonnaya Ene Odii (Coordinator, Ohaozara Development Centre)
 2. Enekwachi Ene Odii
 3. Martins
 4. Cpl Paulinus Nwodom
 5. Cpl Monday Nweke
 6. Cpl Obinna Ironsi.

The last three suspects are serving policemen who were yesterday dismissed from service following the decision of an in-house orderly room trial by the state police command.

"With the arraignment of the suspects, all eyes will now be on the governor of the state, Engr. David Umahi Nweze, who a few days ago promised "to act" on whether or not to suspend the Coordinator from office only after the police may have concluded their investigations into the matter," Hon Okorie writes. 

"The pledge was in response to a widespread call on the governor to suspend or totally relieve the suspect of his appointment as Coordinator in his government.
The arraignment of the suspects also marks a watershed in the struggle for justice for the 15 year old minor whose torture and dehumanization shocked all Nigerians and has become a talking point across the globe. Yet it is a call for greater vigilance by all men and women of good conscience to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to have been done at the end of the day. Let's keep faith with Uzoamaka until deserved justice is achieved." he added.

#JusticeForUzoamaka: Police set to arraign suspects today, policemen dismissed from service

The Ebonyi State Police Command is set to arraign the suspects indicted for the abduction, stripping, torture and dehumanization of 15-year-old orphan, Uzoamaka 

According to Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, who disclosed the development, reliable sources confirm that the arraignment of the suspects is scheduled to take place at the Obiozara magistrate court in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi state. While the specific charges against the suspects are yet unclear, sources point at abduction and torture as being high on the list. 


The suspects expected to be arraigned include:
 1. Ogbonnaya Ene Odii (Coordinator, Ohaozara Development Centre)
 2. Enekwachi Ene Odii
 3. Martins 
 4. Cpl Paulinus Nwodom
 5. Cpl Monday Nweke
 6. Cpl Obinna Ironsi. 

The last three suspects are serving policemen who were yesterday dismissed from service following the decision of an in-house orderly room trial by the state police command. 

"With the arraignment of the suspects, all eyes will now be on the governor of the state, Engr. David Umahi Nweze, who a few days ago promised "to act" on whether or not to suspend the Coordinator from office only after the police may have concluded their investigations into the matter," Hon Okorie writes. 

"The pledge was in response to a widespread call on the governor to suspend or totally relieve the suspect of his appointment as Coordinator in his government. 
The arraignment of the suspects also marks a watershed in the struggle for justice for the 15 year old minor whose torture and dehumanization shocked all Nigerians and has become a talking point across the globe. Yet it is a call for greater vigilance by all men and women of good conscience to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to have been done at the end of the day. Let's keep faith with Uzoamaka until deserved justice is achieved." he added.

Affordable One Click Import/Export Solution – Now available for Nigerian Businesses

Thousands of Nigerian business face difficulties making orders and receiving ordered goods from global suppliers. Either they are battling with substandard suppliers, high shipping cost from unreliable shipping companies, or they are struggling with unscrupulous agents who in most cases cause demurrage and other port charges to accumulate.

With the world going digital, it’s about time Nigerian business experience a one click solution to these problems, where from the comfort of their office, they can use a simple solution to process shipment from their suppliers globally, procure items globally, process their customs documentation, manage their warehouse inventory as well as process shipments for exports.

Nigerian businesses are about to receive some much needed help with the launch of Simplified Corporate Logistics, a full service procurement, shipping, clearing and forwarding and warehousing suite that offers a simple online solution to these challenges. With the great demand for more forex, Simplified Corporate Logistics has also launched a suite as part of their solution to aid companies needing to export goods to the US to do so in an easy straight forward process where ever they may be in the country. The service covers the full spectrum of business cargo handling from procurement to delivery, saving clients myriad of costs and risk associated with shipping, storage and clearing of inward bound cargoes. Businesses simply place their requests online using a secured platform, and Simplified Corporate Logistics takes care of the rest, whether import or export.

 

Working from offices in Lagos, Nigeria and Houston, USA, as well as with a network of global partners, Simplified Corporate Logistics offers Nigerian businesses local and global solutions to suit their needs including local dispatch, airfreight, ocean freight at rates that are highly affordable. Other services include forex sourcing and financing as well as help in equipment support as needed.

Commenting ahead of the impending launch, Founder and CEO, Simplified Corporate Logistics, Nduka Udeh said,

“One of the biggest challenges facing small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria is that of lack of a simplified solution that caters for all their logistics needs that can be accessed from one simple online portal. The process of procurement, shipping, clearance and delivery of goods has turned into an incredibly expensive and time-exhausting one for business owners due to hidden customs charges introduced by agents whose unreliable business practices has lead many business to pay huge amounts on clearing. These hassles of time and money can be the thin line between business survival and growth or stagnation and collapse.

Sourcing of Forex has also become one of the most time consuming part of running any business and SCL is set to ease these burdens for Nigerian businesses by allowing businesses to simply pay in Naira, and SCL will source the Forex, procure, ship, clear and deliver to their doorstep. To reduce charges and fines incurred by customers, we provide support in clearing documentations such as PAAR, Certificate of Origin, SONCAP certificate and other relevant documentation prior to shipment arriving. This allows us to offer a guaranteed clearing of all goods in 6 business days or less. Best of all, our customers can do all these right from the comfort of their office, giving them more time to focus on their core business”.

In addition to logistics and Customs facilitation, it has also been disclosed that Simplified Corporate Logistics provide businesses with access to cheaper equipment in partnership with major auction companies in the USA that offer re-sale of fairly used equipment in good working condition.

Simplified Corporate Logistics is set to officially launch their one click import export solution on 8th September 2016 at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Checkout President Obama's summer playlist. Jidenna & Wale made the list

Nice playlist!

Photos: Emirates flight crash lands at Dubai International Airport this morning

An Emirates flight from Trivandrum, India to Dubai -- flight EK521 crash-landed at Dubai International Airport. All passengers are reported safe and have been evacuated.

Passengers at the airport took the Twitter to post photos of the plane - as smoke filled up the sky. Emirates Airline confirmed that the incident happened at about 12.45pm local time. The firm said in a statement on Twitter: 

"Emirates can confirm that an incident happened at Dubai International Airport on 3rd August 2016 at about 12.45pm local time"

No further details have yet been released by the airline. A source at the airport said that the plane may have "belly" landed, which means an aircraft touched down without its landing gear down.

'It is a shame for the Ooni Of Ife to claim Jesus is his father after all the rituals he has done'- Seun Kuti

Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti has come for the Ooni of Ife, saying its a shame the monarch said Jesus Christ is his father. At a church service in June in the US, the Ooni said he has a father and that Jesus is his father. Seun in the interview with Sahara TV, said the Ooni's statement is shameful after all the rituals he did before his ascension to the throne. He said the Ooni's statement is an insult to the throne that is older than him, his lineage and anything that he thinks he knows.

"Its just a shame. Its just like saying that the Queen of England says the Pope is her father. If she says she no longer believes in the Anglican church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury and she swears allegiance to the Pope who is a fellow christian but a catholic, she will leave that throne that day. That will be the last day she will be the Queen of England. So for the Ooni to say he is the son of Jesus is cap over face, Shame! Shame! Shame! Especially after all the rituals he has done to become king of Yoruba people. It is literal when they say to become King in Yoruba land you have to eat the king (the previous king). Yes he is the king of everybody.

British people are Muslims too, Ifa worshipers too but it doesn't mean the Queen will pander to them by going to worship with them. No, but she respects their rights to freedom and accommodation as the King, that is your duty but to go and start pandering with them is an embarrassment to a throne that is older than him, to a throne that is older than his lineage, to a thrown that is older than anything that he thinks he knows. There is another king like him, I have forgotten his name, one little young idiot that goes around saying it is the rituals that our ancestors have done that is why people are suffering so his throne is now a Christian, he is a Christian king. I mean it is just nonsense. If the Ooni can say that, I can see how one little stupid idiot that they also gave a crown too can say the same rubbish"he said

What do you think of Seun? Drop your view in the comment box or join our google+ circle and post your comment.