₦airaland Forum

Your Father probably told you a few things, But just in case He wasn't around enough, Here are some words of wisdom You might have missed out on :

1. Go for someone you perceive to be "out of your league." You'll surprise yourself.

2. Never have sex with anyone that doesn't want it as much as you.

3. Never hit anyone unless they are an immediate threat.

4. Every hat should serve a purpose.

5. Never take her to the movies on the first date.

6. Learn to wet shave.

7. Nothing looks more badass than a well-tailored suit.

8. Shave with the grain on the first go-around.

9. Always look a person in the eye when you talk to them.

10. Buy a plunger before you need a plunger.

11. Exercise makes you happy. Run, lift, and play sports.

12. Brush your teeth before you put on your tie.

13. A small amount of your paycheck should go directly to your savings account every month.

14. Call your parents every week.

15. Never wear a clip-on tie.

16. Give a firm handshake.

17. Compliment a love interest on their clothing choice.

18. Never leave a pint unfinished.

19. If you aren't confident, fake it. It will come.

20. You can tell the size of a man by the size of things that bother him.

21. Be conscious of your body language.

22. The only reason to ever point a gun at someone is if you intend to shoot them.

23. Always stand to shake someone's hand.

24. Never lend anything you can't afford to lose.

25. Ask more than you answer. Everybody likes to talk about themselves.

26. Keep a change of clothes at the office.

27. Buy high quality tools, so you only have to buy them once.

28. Manliness is not only being able to take care of yourself, but others as well.

29. Go with the decision that will make for a good story.

30. When you walk, look straight ahead, not at your feet.

31. Nice guys don't finish last. Boring guys do.

32. Find your passion and figure out how to get paid for it.

33. Don't let the little head do the thinking for the big head.

34. No matter their job or status in life, everyone deserves your respect.

35. The most important thing you can learn is personal responsibility. Bad things happen, it's your job to overcome them.

36. The first one to get angry loses.

37. Do what needs to be done without complaining. It won't help speed things up.

38. Never stop learning.

39. Always go out into public dressed like you're about to meet the love of your life.

40. Don't change yourself just to make someone happy, unless that someone is you.

41. If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.

42. Luck favors the prepared.

43. Everyone finds confidence sexy as hell.

44. Do whatever you want to do in the life, but be the best at it.

45. No one is on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at work.
Enjoy your life.

http://www.tickld.com/x/jaw/45-ultimate-tips-for-men

Breaking News!! The Federal Government of Nigeria declared that today is Thursday,the 13th day of August 2015 which signifies that tomorrow will be Friday 14th of August, 2015. Thank you for your attention. You can now go back to what you were doing.

The Nigerian government says it has successfully jammed the signals of Biafra Radio, a new channel that has been accused of spreading propaganda.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Shade Yemi-Esan, made this known Tuesday.
Speaking with journalists at the presidential villa after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of her ministry, Ms. Yemi-Esan said the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation successfully blocked the signals of the radio station.
Radio Biafra was floated by some Nigerians in the south east of the country. While its backers say the radio caters for the needs of people from the region, the network is also known from propagating the ideology of the former secessionist Republic of Biafra.
“Right now the signals from radio Biafra have been jammed successfully by the NBC,” Ms. Yemi-Esan said.
“The commission is also working with security agencies to get those that are behind that radio because it is an illegal radio, it is not licensed by anybody to be on the airwaves in Nigeria,” she said.
She said the government may re-open information centres abroad to launder the image of the country.
She said government’s information centres currently exists in all states of the federation, but are not functioning optimally.
“We are happy with the response we got and the concerns of President on the work we are doing, especially the publicity aspect. He wants us to intensify publicity because he wants every Nigerian to know about the policies and programmes of this government,” she said.
On the response of the president in respect of reopening information centres abroad, she said “at different fora, the President has said it, that he wants to improve the image of Nigeria and one of the ways we can do that is by the re-opening of these centres abroad, so he was all for it and he said that we will work together to ensure that we do that”.
The permanent secretary said she also briefed the president on the nine parastatals that are under the ministry, the work they do and some of the challenges they face.
“Most of the challenges have to do with adequate funding. We talked especially about national press centre that is not working up to a level that we expected,” she said.
She said the president also raised concerns about piracy in Nollywood and instructed that the ministry should work harder to ensure that the producers of Nollywood films get what is due to them and that piracy is reduced to the barest minimum.
On the welfare of media practitioners, she said the practice of unpaid salaries and lack of proper welfare package should not be heard of in a country like Nigeria.
“Mr. President frowns on things like that, the welfare of every Nigerian, especially journalists, is one of the major concerns that we have,” she said.

I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself
I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself
I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' my, feelin' myself
I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself
I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself

Nigeria which recently held peaceful elections, revamped its gross domestic product data in 2014 and pulled ahead of South Africa to become the continent's largest economy with a GDP of $469 billion. Between now and 2030, experts predict annual growth rates as high as 7.92% resulting in a GDP of $1.05 trillion.

"A lot of Nigeria's growth will come from agriculture and services are huge in Nigeria," says Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital. He adds that he actually expects the country's GDP to reach $1 trillion before 2030. "Banking, retail, telecoms and Nollywood has been an explosive growth story in past couple of years."

As a source of employment for 70% of Nigeria's population in 2013, the country's $56 billion agriculture sector currently accounts for 24% of GDP and the country's minister of agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, has said "the new millionaires of Nigeria will be in agriculture."

Relative view

These are huge numbers by Nigerian and African standards -- however, they look less impressive next to others from around the world.

By 2030, the U.S. economy is expected to reach $24.8 trillion, China's GDP will approach $22.2 trillion and Indian output will be at the $6.6 trillion mark.

African view

Closest behind Nigeria, when it comes to economic clout on the continent in 2030, is South Africa with a projected GDP of $810.6 billion.

Given that power shortages have caused the country to cut its economic growth forecasts for 2015 by 0.5%, this will be a key area of the country's infrastructure which number crunchers will be watching.

In February, during his first full budget speech, finance minister Nhlanhla Nene identified the need to focus on the country's power crisis, saying "electricity constraints hold back growth in manufacturing and mining, inhibit investment in housing and raise costs for businesses and households."

Egypt is due to follow South Africa, with the continent's third largest GDP of $471.5 billion. The U.S Department of Agriculture foresees annual grow rates consistently surpassing 4.2% in the next 15 years and Renaissance Capital is bullish on the North Africa country.

"Only 10% of Egyptians have bank accounts," says Robertson, "so we can image banking will be a big story [In Egypt] in the coming years."

Problem with projections

While these numbers suggest significant growth is on the cards, projections for African economies have been revised in the past.

"Forecasting tends to be optimistic, especially in underdeveloped countries," says Morten Jerven, author of 'Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It'.

"Models often over-predict GDP and under-predict inflation...U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting a stable growth pattern for Nigeria, and that is curious given that we have not seen that pattern in the past."

Cc lalasticlala

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/27/business/nigeria-gdp-1-trillion-2030/index.html

viviannkemdilim una neva see anything....lol..make do with what they gave you . .... this got me cracked up... I kinda agree too since the Nigerians who endured the whole voting process under extreme circumstances aren't asking to be paid the ad-hoc workers should manage whatever inec decides to give them too... just kidding

Please where is Joseph Yobo? Is he still in Nigeria?

Bill Gates is the world’s wealthiest man, according to Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s richest people. Gates’ net worth rose to $79.2 billion from $76 billion a year earlier, putting him at the top for the 16th year in the last 21. A record number of 290 dollar billionaires were added to the list in 2014, including Michael Jordan. The new additions to Forbes magazine’s annual rich list, published on Monday, takes the total to a record 1,826 billionaires.

The number of African’s on the list remains at 29, consisting predominately of Egyptians (27.5%) part of either the Mansour or Sawiris clan. Notably, Tanzanian born Mohammed Dewji makes his debut on the list with a net worth of $1.25 billion, while Aliko Dangote keeps his place as Africa’s richest man, albeit after his net worth dropped to $14.7 billion, down from $25 billion in 2013. Femi Otedola, 78% owner of Forte Oil returns to the list after falling off in 2009.The richest 29 African’s are worth a total of $94 billion. The wealthiest group are the South African’s with a combined net worth of $28.5 billion. Nationals from just 9 out of 54 countries make up the African composition of the list.The full list of African's who made the 2014 list:

Name Net Worth Nationality Sector
1.Aliko Dangote $15.7 billion Nigerian Diversified
2.Johann Rupert & Family $7.4 billion South African Luxury Goods
3.Nicky Oppenheimer & Family $6.7 billion South African Diamonds
4.Christoffel Wiese $6.3 billion South African Retail
5.Nassef Sawiris $6.3 billion Egyptian Construction
6.Mike Adenuga $4 billion Nigerian Telecoms and Oil
7.Mohamed Mansour $4 billion Egyptian Diversified
8.Nathan Kirsh $3.9 billion Swaziland Real Estate
9.Isabel Dos Santos $3.1 billion Angolan Investments
10.Issad Rebrab $3.1 billion Algerian Diversified
11.Naguib Sawiris $3.1 billion Egyptian Telecoms
12.Youssef Mansour $2.9 billion Egyptian Diversified
13.Koos Bekker $2.3 billion South African Media
14.Othman Benjelloun $2.3 billion Moroccan Banking
15.Yasseen Mansour $2.3 billion Egyptian Diversified
16.Patrice Motsepe $2.1 billion South African Mining
17.Stephen Saad $2.1 billion South African Pharmaceuticals
18.Mohamed Al Fayed $2 billion Egyptian Property
19.Folorunsho Alakija $1.9 billion Nigerian Oil
20.Onsi Sawiris $1.8 billion Egyptian Diversified
21.Aziz Akhannouch $1.7 billion Moroccan Diversified
22.Allan Gray $1.6 billion South African Investments
23.Miloud Chaabi $1.3 billion Moroccan Diversified
24.Mohammed Dewji $1.3 billion Tanzanian Diversified
25.Samih Sawiris $1.1 billion Egyptian Property
26.Sudhir Ruparelia $1.1 billion Ugandan Property, Banking
27.Femi Otedola $1 billion Nigerian Gas Stations
28.Abdulsamad Rabiu $1 billion Nigerian Diversified
29.Rostam Azizi $1 billion Tanzanian Telecoms

For the first time in a very long time I find a topic worth commenting on, keenly following Op. I've been in sales for a few years now and I can tell you its a profession with a very bright future for anyone who's ready to work and get rewarded handsomely.

Countdown 6 weeks - 1 day. #SaiBuhari #March4buhari

I don't know what to say about this...I expected to be wowed but...

The Nigerian Defense Ministry has ordered 1,000 assault rifles from Polish firearms maker Fabryka Broni Lucznik. The 5.56mm Beryl rifles will be supplied to Nigeria's Army in January, and senior company representatives say they expect the country's Defense Ministry to order a further 5,000 weapons next year. The amount of the contract was not disclosed by the Polish manufacturer. Source: Military Technology News

Went through the first two pages of this thread and didn't find my favorite movie of all time..pls somebody go watch 'The Notebook' and thank me later.

Why pay so much for knowledge? When everything you might ever want to know can be gotten free of charge... Cheapest school or University you can get... "Google University"

Please who is the man of the match for Nigeria... Mikel?

Please who is the man of match for Nigeria... Mikel?

Nigerian music is so well liked in Kenya that a radio station that purports to play ‘urban African music’ has a playlist of mostly Nigerian music.
Name the biggest musicians in Africa right now. Now name some of African films’ biggest stars. Go ahead, I’ll wait. How many of them were Nigerians?
I interviewed one of them last week, the “highlife musician”, Flavour, most famous here for his Nwa Baby song and its Ashawo remix. Like the most conceited of eternally sunglass-wearing stars, he was a fragile personality, treated by his management like a precious piece of china always at risk of breaking if not handled carefully.
Even for one who massages egos for a living like me, his egregiously cocky demeanour was over the top and supremely annoying, almost as if sucking out all the air from the studio.
The smugness that travels along with Flavour is not unique to him. His compatriot, Davido, is no different. A big star on the African music scene, he is also well aware of his stardom and acts as you would expect of a rich, spoilt brat.
I was in Mauritius in late June for a Multichoice content showcase for their DStv and GoTV channels when I met the 22-year-old musical force. I didn’t get an on-camera interview; he had to run off to a busy night of partying before leaving the next morning for a different part of the continent.
On my return flight, I had the misfortune of sharing my cattle-class row with two Nigerian journalists. The men demanded to be served before everyone else, and despite having flown economy, wanted the services of a private suite on the upper deck of an Airbus 380.
“Nigerians have a highly defined sense of self-belief,” entrepreneur Mike Macharia told me. “If you meet a Nigerian somewhere, it is not someone you’ll look down upon because you’re prejudicial.”
He has spent the last few years trying to expand the company he founded and still leads – Seven Seas Technologies – into Africa’s most populous and biggest economy.
In Kenya, Nigerian movies are some of the most popular on television, much loved not just by housewives and househelps, but by many who would probably never publicly admit to watching Nollywood productions.
Nigerian music is so well liked in Kenya that a radio station that purports to play “urban African music” has a playlist of mostly Nigerian music. It might as well be called Davido FM.
So powerful is the “Nigerian” branding in Kenya that the Nigerian-Kenyan comedian, Obinna, has channelled it into a radio and TV show, performs to large crowds and is even launching a singing career.
“What makes Nigerians so different is that they’ve accepted themselves, they’ve accepted their loudness, and they embrace their African-ness,” former TV business journalist Cynthia Nyamai told me by phone.
She says her eponymous communication consultancy is doing good business in Nigeria, just a few months in.
“They allow themselves to dream big – you think of owning a Range Rover Sport, they are dreaming of owning a jet or buying a holiday home in Spain.’
Obinna says his Kenyan fans love the boisterous nature of his character.
“Nigerians are flashy, they wear loud colours and drive big vehicles and Kenyan women especially love that.”
Mentally superior to Africans
He plays into the overconfident stereotype that many Kenyans both love and admire.
“Kenyans feel mentally superior in East Africa, but Nigerians feel mentally superior to most Africans,” Macharia says.
“That level of self-assurance works for them across Africa.”
He points out that Nigerian businesses are making more investments in the country, such as GT Bank’s recent acquisition of 70per cent of Fina Bank.
‘They find us weak, so when he comes here and buys a small bank, $100 million (Sh8.7bn) is something he can easily do.”
There’s a Nigerian everywhere you look, anywhere in the world. A friend took me to Croydon in South London two years ago and we found Nigerian influences there suffocating.
A large immigrant community in a former colonial master is certainly admirable but the growing supremacy of Nigeria in Kenya remains unexplored. That Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is investing in the cement and energy business here and President Uhuru Kenyatta is noticeably warming up to President Goodluck Jonathan are just the latest signals.
Growing influence in Kenya
One of Africa’s biggest writers, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was in Nairobi for a literary festival late last year to a prodigious reception. Not only are Kenyans attracted to Nigerian music and film, their modern literature is taking over from the Chinua Achebes and Wole Soyinkas of yore.
No wonder Nyamai says Nigerians are “very pan-African” and she now gets business on her own without facilitation from the British partner who first introduced her to the market.
But that continent-wide thinking may also be working against Kenya’s in the East-West interaction that remains heavily imbalanced in the West Africans’ favour.
The growing social and cultural influence of Nigeria in Kenya is the natural precursor to full economic domination. Though China is investing millions of yuan in Kenya, it is the colourful folks from Africa’s West coast with their agbadas and distinct accents truly capturing the hearts and minds of Kenyans.
It is only a matter of time before the naira gains currency with the population here. The Nigerian colonisation of Kenya is here.
You might not recognise it just yet because it is wearing sunglasses and acting up. https://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/09/08/its-nigeria-not-china-slowly-but-surely-colonising-us-by-larry-madowo/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C9360261899

The Yoruba priest that Jones had invited into his Brooklyn apartment had examined the four coconut pieces he had strewn on the floor before telling Jones that it would be OK for him to further his studies.

That was more than a decade ago and today, Jones, 42, is still a practitioner of the Yoruba spiritual tradition. He said that consultations with Yoruba priests leave him with a sense of inner peace.

“I go to see a priest or a ‘babalawo’ when I need clarity on something,” said Jones, a well-known digital artist.

It’s the customized advice from babalawos (masters and diviners in the Ifa Yoruba tradition) and Yoruba priests (practitioners of the Yoruba spiritual tradition that have undergone the rites of initiation) that attracted Jones to what is believed to be the indigenous spiritual practice of the Yoruba ethnic group after realizing his dissatisfaction with the generalized sermons offered at Christian churches.

Jones had attended predominantly African-American churches throughout the earlier part of his life and had considered himself to be a spiritual person. The Christian church just did not give him the personal attention he wanted.

Another African-American, Ozahu Belagun, 37, could not accept the Christian teaching of the metaphysical space for torture and condemnation, known as ‘hell.’

“How can you tell me I’m going to a place [hell] that you’ve never been?” Belagun asked.

“And how do you know that you’re not going there?”Belagun, known as Pompey Blocker before he acquired an indigenous African name, has explored a variety of spiritual orientations. His mother was a Jehovah’s Witness. He practiced Islam for three years and was inducted as a Freemason in 2005.

Now he practices voodoo and asserts that it’s nothing like the hocus-pocus sorcery depicted in Hollywood films.

“I’ve always been connected to things that other people would shun and say is evil,” Belagun said, referring to the tradition of voodoo.

Voodoo is believed to have historic roots in present day Benin and thus it shares similarities with other West African-derived religions.

The more popular of these are: Ifa Yoruba spiritual tradition, Palo, Candomble, Umbanda and Santeria (also known as Lukumi).

These practices are also known as orisha-centered religions because all of them recognize spirit-deities, known as orishas. Orishas, also spelled orixas or orisas, are spirits that control various natural forces and principles, including: fertility, water and love. Orisha literally translates in the Yoruba languages as ‘owner of head,” because it is believed that followers eventually take on the personality of designated orishas.

The Yoruba tradition has gained in popularity among blacks exploring African spirituality because of its accessibility in America. The Yoruba ethnic group is one of the largest three in Nigeria and those who have immigrated to the United States, have brought the teachings of Orisha and Ifa (the systemic basis of Yoruba spirituality) with them.

The fact is while West African-derived religions have historically been looked down upon, research shows that more African-Americans are exploring and adopting them. Many of these African-Americans were Christians and have either completely abandoned the Christian doctrine, like Jones, or are still incorporating Christianity with the West African-derived religions to create a unique, sort of ‘on-demand’ syncretism.

For example, Oluwole Ifakunle, or Baba Ifakunle, said he receives phone calls from Christians soliciting his babalawo services.

“The first thing they ask is, ‘you know how to read?’” Ifakunle said. (Consultations during which babalawos and priests communicate with the orishas through the use of items such as coconuts or cowrie shells are known as readings.)

After that initial inquiry, he said the Christians usually go on to explain that they are dealing with a problem that has not been resolved the ‘Christian way,’ which includes praying with a pastor or fasting.
Ifakunle said that one Christian woman called him after suffering from a series of what she believed were demonic nightmares. But according to him, it’s not only Christian parishioners who seek his spiritual counsel.

He said that a number of Christian pastors and ministers have visited his Harlem-based shrine.

“They usually come to me when they want to increase their church membership,” he said. “Then I’ll do a ritual to help them.”

Anthropologists say these examples of religious syncretism are nothing new. Black slaves, particularly in present-day Haiti, hid their African spiritual practices from slave owners by disguising and incorporating them into the Roman Catholic religion they were often forced to accept. In fact, voodoo orishas, called loas or lwas, were reconfigured to mirror Roman Catholic saints and vice versa. So Papa Legba (a powerful spirit intermediary) became St. Peter, St. Lazarus or St. Anthony. Ayizan (the loa of trade and marketplace) became St. Clare of Assisi.

So while syncretism has occurred throughout history, what is relatively new is the heightened interest of West African-derived religions in the United States.

“Since the ‘50s and ‘60s there has been an increase with more African-Americans embracing these religions,” said Sylvester Johnson, associate professor at Indiana University’s religious studies department.

“Today, the practice in the U.S. is mostly in urban areas.”

Johnson attributes the concentration of African-American practitioners of orisha-based religions in cities including Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Sacramento and New Orleans can be attributed to the black pride movement of the 1960s and ‘70s.

In Atlanta, a city commonly referred to as the heart of the nation’s black middle class, black pride is still very evident today.

“Atlanta has attracted a lot of black professionals, who have tended to lean toward a more black consciousness and afro-centric attitude,” Johnson explained. The city has a number of Santeria and Yoruba followers. Africanized churches like the Shrine of the Black Madonna the First Afrikan Church serve the needs of those desiring a more African cultural experience.

The research of Harvard University African religious traditions professor Jacob Olupona reflects a greater tolerance and appreciation for not only African religions, but for other aspects of African culture. He said more African-Americans are traveling to places like Senegal, Ghana and mostly Nigeria where they gain a better understanding of indigenous spiritual practices.

“Part of it is a search for one’s roots and one’s identity,” Olupona explained.

While there are no concrete statistical data that quantifies the number of African-American practitioners of orisha-based religions, 70 million is the often-quoted figure for the number of “African and New World peoples who participate in, or are closely familiar with, religious systems that include Ogun,” based on research cited in the highly acclaimed book, “Africa’s Ogun: old world and new,” by anthropologist and professor Sandra Barnes.

Ogun is among the pantheon orishas.

In his book, “Orisa Devotion as World Religion,” Olupona explains that orisha devotion was preserved by captured Africans during the transatlantic slave trade and is manifested in various forms throughout the Americas.

Olupona notes the diversity among African-American followers of orisha-centered practices.

“It’s not just the lower socioeconomic class of African-Americans,” he said. “You have the middle-class and educated people and professors who are adopting African religions.”

One of these more educated individuals is Dianne Diakité, an associate professor at Emory University’s religion department who freely participates in Yoruba and other African-based religions.

She says that the recent spread of West African-derived religions in the Unites States arises from the impact of African and Caribbean immigrants.

However, the attitude she refers to as ‘Afrophobia,’ continues to generate fear about things related to African culture.

“Historical records indicate that most black churches and missionaries of the 19th century understood African religious traditions as a threat to the moral and cultural uplift of black communities and described anyone practicing those religions as barbaric, primitive and savage,” Diakité said.

She explains that contemporary stereotypes and distortions have characterized African religions as superstition, witchcraft and fetishism.

‘Afrophobia,’ as Diakité describes it, is a consequence of slavery and colonialism.

But perhaps that fear, or at least a hesitation, may be justified when investigating what is involved in West African-derived religions. Animal sacrifices, secret initiations, the chanting of the names of ancestors in libations, the personification of spirits in masquerades, shaving of body hairs, spirit possessions and refrain from eating tabooed foods are some of the aspects associated with the African religions that may be difficult for some people to accept.

“A lot of African-Americans are not ready to make that transition yet,” said Belagun.

“Christianity is basically a third generation belief system among African-Americans— they’re Baptists and their mother was a Baptists and then their grandmother was a Baptist.”

When it comes to religion, African-Americans tend to take it quite seriously. The most recent U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Life reported nearly eight in ten African-Americans, 79 percent, say religion is very important in their lives, compared with 56 percent among the general U.S. adult population. 16 percent of African-Americans attend evangelical Protestant churches and 59 percent attended ‘historically black Protestant churches.’

Among ‘historically black churches’ 85 percent say religion is very important. 30 percent of respondents among ‘historically black churches’ attended religious services more than once a week and 80 percent said they prayed daily.

Nearly two-thirds of members of historically black Protestant churches are Baptists.

Overall, not only are black Americans are most likely to report a formal religious affiliation, but they are also the most religiously committed racial or ethnic group in the nation, according to the survey.

However, the study also confirms that the United States is on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country. Even African-Americans are exploring non-Christian alternatives.

The 2008 American Religious Identification Survey found that those who claimed ‘no religion’ grew in every state within the last 18 years. Between 1990 and 2008, the number of nonreligious Americans nearly doubled, from 8 to 15 percent, according to the ARIS study. Among African-Americans, the increase was also nearly double, from 6 percent to 11 percent.

So, while increasing numbers of African-Americans are denouncing religion for atheism, others are adopting African religions, especially those from West Africa.

A growing dissatisfaction with Christianity among African-Americans seems to reflect disenchantment with the tradition of the black church.

“When you got churches full of pedophiles and crooks, people want to see what else is out there for them,” said Kenny Depeyster.

His reference to highly publicized scandals, including the sexual harassment accusations against Georgia mega-church pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, notes that these cases are now ‘bigger and in the public eye.’

Depeyster is a ‘palero,’ a follower of the Palo spiritual tradition that is believed to have emerged from the Congo basin region in central Africa. Palo was carried to the New World via the slave trade and was preserved by Afro-Latino communities in the United States. Today, African-Americans are also a part of the tradition. Depeyster has been a palero for about 16 years.

Christianity, he said, was not emphasized in his family.

But for Yoruba spiritual practitioner, William “Baba Bill” Mathews, 62, Christianity was a strong influence in his family’s life. Mathews eventually left the church because he felt it lacked spirituality.

He remembers an incident as a 7-year-old boy one Sunday when he had told his grandmother that he did not want to go to church.

“My grandmother smacked me on my head and she said, ‘why don’t I want to go to God’s house?’” Mathews recalls.

“I told her, ‘God don’t live there; God lives in nature.’”

According to Mathews, that childhood premonition was his calling into orisha. He openly practices Yoruba spirituality saying that it is no longer something to be ashamed of.

“During slavery, the blacks had to hide what they were doing, but that is no more,” he said.

Mathew appreciates the simplicity of West African-derived religions and its accessibility regardless of one’s educational status. He says Christianity has become highbrow and “difficult to understand.” According to him, that’s why the Yoruba tradition has grown “leaps and bounds” in the United States.

Mathews and his wife recently visited the Oyotunji African Village in northern Beaufort County, S.C.

Organized in the 1970s by the late Efuntola Oseijeman Adefunmi in an attempt to reclaim ancestral Yoruba customs and tradition, the Oyotunji village serves as a tourist attraction and a mecca for African-American followers of orisha-centered religions.

Adefunmi, an African-American born in 1928 as Walter King, served as a spiritual father for many blacks seeking knowledge about orishas. His historical significance and cultural relevance is well cited among religious scholars. The Oyotunji community that he founded is said to be North America’s oldest, authentic African village.

“The Oyotunji community is a utopia,” Olupona said. “It is a symbol of the black power movement that took place in this country in the 1970s.”

Reverend Terri Adisa, an interfaith spiritualist, asserts that African-Americans can find more spirituality in Oyotunji village than in a typical black Christian church. She says the church has moved away from teaching members how to apply practical spiritual principles toward a more superficial doctrine.

“Christianity today is not about God, it’s about ‘church-ianity,” Adisa said, referencing a term that is gaining popularity.

“It’s about how to act and behave and dress in church,” she said, “but when you get to the parking lot you’re cussing at each other.”

That disapproval of what Adisa perceives as a lack of sound spiritual commitment is not unlike the views of other African-Americans who have chosen to follow an African religion. Similarly, another Yoruba priest said that the Christian phrase of “being born again,” is really another way to say “hypocrite.”

Paleros, Yoruba spiritualists, voodoo practitioners and other followers of orisha-centered religions seem to be attracted to the tradition because they say it brings results. They enjoy going to a priest (which varies in name according to the tradition) and having the priest indicate their symptoms and the solutions.

“It’s like going to a doctor,” Jones said.

Nonetheless, that ‘doctor-like’ treatment may not suit everyone. Christianity still dominates in black America, but the ones who have ventured beyond say they are satisfied, at least for now.

http://thegrio.com/2011/10/19/african-religions-gain-following-among-black-christians/

Wow some freaky stuff! Tried it all and #2 544 pages of commands codes or something else I can't even understand.

heefeholuwah: seconded

Done

13. Argentine
Famous tongues: Fernando Lamas, Gabriela Sabatini
A historical refuge for Spaniards, Italians and Germans, the hyper-libidinous South Ameripean melting pot of Argentina has cultivated a proud, pouty tone.
With its own pronunciation of Spanish letters ("ll" sounds like "shh" and its own words ("you" is "vos", this is a dialect that's hard to get. (Or at least plays that way.)
Sounds like: A tightly tuned guitar of G-strings strummed by a lamb shank.

12. Thai
Famous tongues: Tony Jaa, Araya 'Chompoo' Hargate
With five tones comprising their native speech, the traffickers of this often fragile accent turn any language into a song of seduction.
Thai is largely monosyllabic, so multi-beat foreign words get extra emphases right up until the last letter, which is often left off, leaving the listener wanting more.
Sounds like: R-rated karaoke.

11. Trinidadian
Famous tongues: Nicki Minaj, Billy Ocean
For fetishists of oddball sexuality, the Caribbean island of Trinidad offers an undulating, melodic gumbo of pan-African, French, Spanish, Creole and Hindi dialects that, when adapted for English, can be sex on a pogo stick.
Sounds like: A rubber life raft bobbing on a sea of steel drums.

10. Brazilian Portuguese
Famous tongues: Alice Braga, Anderson Silva
Perhaps owing to its freedom from French influence, the Brazilian Portuguese accent has a more colorful, puerile flair than its coarser European counterpart.
The resulting yowl of drawn-out vowels reveals a flirty freedom of spirit that suggests a permanent vacation.
Sounds like: The near, then far, then near again hum of a low-wattage vacuum cleaner that runs on dance sweat.

9. U.S. Southern
Famous tongues: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lawrence
There's nothing sexy about being in a hurry, and you could clock the growth rate of grass with the honeyed drawl of a Southern beau or belle.
Sounds like: Molasses taking a smoking break.

8. Scottish
Famous tongues: Ewan McGregor, Rose Leslie
Some of the vocal strangulations heard echoing around Glasgow are registered as a danger to shipping, but in less industrial corners of Scotland melodic voices capable of ranging a full octave in a single "aye" tumble like soft rain on warm bagpipes.
These are gentle, knee-melting tones that conjure cozy firesides and beguiling knitwear before their sudden swing to reproach leaves us whimpering for more.
Sounds like: A stroked tartan cat.

7. Irish
Famous tongues: Colin Farrell, Andrea Corr
Valued slightly more in men than in women, the Irish brogue is a lilting, lyrical articulation that's charming, if not exotic.
Fluid and uplifting, it can swing from vulnerable to threatening over the course of a sentence, restoring your faith in the world again ... right before it stabs you with a broken bottle top.
Sounds like: A marauding pixie

6. Nigerian
Famous tongues: King Sunny Ade, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Dignified, with just a hint of willful naivete, the deep, rich "oh's" and "eh's" of Naija bend the English language without breaking it, arousing tremors in places other languages can't reach.
Sounds like: The THX intro with teeth.


5. Queen's English
Famous tongues: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley
Authoritative.
Upright.
Erudite.
Scholarly.
Few accents promise the upward nobility of the Queen's English.
It's a take on the language that sets hearts devoted to James Bond and Hermione Granger aflutter.
And, should the speaker fail to slake your most wanton desires, eh, at least you'll learn something.
Sounds like: A crisply ironed shirt playing a harp.


4. Czech
Famous tongues: Petra Nemcova, Jaromir Jagr
Like Russian, without the nettlesome history of brutal, iron-fisted despotism, Czech is a smoky, full-bodied vocal style that goes well with most meats.
Murky and mysterious, the Bohemian tone is equal parts carnal desire and carnival roustabout.
Sounds like: Count Dracula, secret agent.


3. Spanish
Famous tongues: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz
Sensual and beckoning, but with the passion to unleash hell kept just barely restrained, Castilian is like a dialectic Hoover Dam.
But then there's the lisp.
Tender, vulnerable and cute as a baby's hangnail -- no one owns the "th" sound formed by tongue and teeth like those who speak the language of Cervantes.
Sounds Like: An outboard motor on Lake Paella.


2. French
Famous tongues: Marion Cotillard, Jean Reno
The come-hither condescension and fiery disinterest of the French tongue remains paradoxically erotic.
Sounds like: A 30-year-old teenager.


1. Italian
Famous tongues: Monica Bellucci, Alessandro Del Piero
Raw, unfiltered, the Italian accent is a vowelgasm that reflects the spectrum of Italic experience: the fire of its bellicose beginnings ... the romance of the Renaissance ... the dysfunction of anything resembling a government since Caesar.
Insatiable, predatory and possessive, this is sex as a second language.
Sounds like: A Ferrari saxophone
Which is your favorite accent?
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/17/travel/sexy-accents/index.html

Ladies have perfected the art of instagram with their fake bosoms

My Blackberry don chop my money tire, na him I come vex yestaday sell am, come take some money buy China phone! Now am in bigger trouble!!!

1. E go full after 3 minutes of charging.

2. The phone get TV, Touch screen, Nailcutter, Firelighter etc.

3. I fit write Text message with a toothpick sef.

4. The spelling get mistakes e.g NokLa, blackderry, i-pon, samswag etc.

5. When aeroplane pass e go record"One missed Call".

6. When a big car horn; e go show"Charger connected"

7. When Chinese man pass e go show:"One Bluetooth device found"

8. When fine lady waka pass, e go show "WiFi On"

9. When ugly lady waka pass, e go show, "Virus detected"
Abeg I wan sell am! Who wan buy ooo?Even as I dey find buyer, e dey show me for screen say "No contact found"
Ha baaaaaaa!

Shiit... What a mess!

The rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana is just around the corner! One of the biggest fights of the year. Will Maidana be able to take down the champ? Can Mayweather continue on the path of greatness by defeating Maidana for the second time? Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana will take place Saturday, September 13th, Floyd Mayweather will hope to make it a perfect 47 fights unbeaten on Saturday night when he defends his WBA and WBC welterweight titles against Marcos Maidana in a rematch of their May bout.
Mayweather prevailed by a majority decision in the first fight between the pair, which also took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
For the peerless Mayweather, however, it was a tougher bout than many expected, with the relentless Maidana having some success. As usual, though, the classier work came from veteran American, who found a way to win yet again. Don't miss this fight! #TheMoneyTeam

DStv, the main digital satellite television provider in sub-Saharan Africa, says it will not introduce pay per view television any time soon despite persistent calls for the service in Nigeria and elsewhere on the continent.
Due to constant electricity power cuts, many DStv customers have been pushing for the continental satellite television service provider to bill them for the hours they consume and do away with the current flat rate system.
But Nico Meyer, the chief executive officer of MultiChoice Africa, the operator of the DStv Satellite Television service, told an entertainment content conference that ended in Mauritius at the weekend that his organisation currently had no capacity to put in place such a facility.
“We procure content on a monthly basis, we don’t procure it based on the time the consumer will be using it, but on an entire month,” said Meyer.
The MultiChoice Africa boss added that, unlike mobile operators and electricity companies, they were unable to detect when their subscribers are actually using their service.
“If you buy airtime and you consume it they will deduct it because they can tell.
“But we cannot tell when someone is travelling or not using it.
“All I know is that someone pays on a monthly basis and we make that service available but I cannot tell if you are consuming the service,” he said.
Meyer also revealed that national tax policies are the main reasons why subscription rates vary from country to country.
“People might think that Nigeria has slightly lower rates because they have high numbers in subscriptions, but contrary to popular belief Nigeria does not have the highest number of subscribers.
“The reason for the different subscription rates is due to the countries’ taxation regimes.
“Each country has different taxes hence the different subscription rates.”
Caroline Creasy, MultiChoice Africa General Manager Corporate Affairs, also ruled out the pay per view facility.
“We can’t switch on and switch off when you travel, but what we have done is to create services that help you to catch up with what you would have missed.
“If you are a premium subscriber you can download or stream any of the programmes.”. Source: http://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2014/06/30/dstv-rules-out-pay-per-view-tv

Tiwa is very talented but you can't take it away from Seyi Shay she's just breaking into the industry maybe with time she'll take over but for now Tiwa is the Queen... For the beauty part am yet to come across an ugly person, they both are awesomely beautiful but then again how come they are both returnees from abroad and still being able to dominate the born and bred naija ladies.

You’re covered with itchy red welts while your friends seem blissfully unbitten. What’s the deal with that?
First of all, it’s not in your head. Mosquitoes really do prefer some people to others, says Dr. Jonathan Day, a medical entomologist and mosquito expert at the University of Florida. And that time your grandmother told you your skin was just sweeter? There’s some truth to that, Day says. “Some people produce more of certain chemicals in their skin,” he explains. “And a few of those chemicals, like lactic acid, attract mosquitoes.” There’s also evidence that one blood type (O) attracts mosquitoes more than others (A or B).
Unfortunately, your genes dictate your blood type and the chemical makeup of your birthday suit. Genetics also determine several other factors that could make you an object of blood-sucking affection for your local mosquito population, Day says. Maybe the most important: Your metabolic rate, or the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) your body releases as it burns energy.
Mosquitoes use CO2 as their primary means of identifying bite targets, Day says. Why? “All vertebrates produce carbon dioxide, so what better way could there be for a mosquito to cue in on a host?” And while it’s true that you can moderate your metabolic rate through diet and exercise, you can only change your metabolism so much, Day says.
“Pregnant women and overweight or obese people tend to have higher resting metabolic rates, which may make them more attractive to mosquitoes,” he explains. Also, drinking alcohol or physically exerting yourself raises your metabolic rate—and also your appeal to winged biters, he adds. (Exercising before grabbing a beer and heading outside = asking for trouble.)
While CO2 detection is the primary technique mosquitoes and other blood-sucking bugs use to spot hosts, they also rely on secondary cues to differentiate you from cars, decaying trees, and other CO2-producing objects. And you can control some of those secondary cues, Day says.
For example: Dark clothing is more attractive to mosquitoes than light oufits. Why? “Mosquitoes have problems flying in even a slight wind, and so they keep close to the ground,” Day explains. Down there, they spot hosts by comparing your silhouette to the horizon. Dark colors stand out, while light shades blend in, he says. At the same time, lots of motion distinguishes you from your surroundings. So if you’re moving around a lot or gesturing, you might as well be shouting, “Hey, mosquitoes! I’m right here, ladies!” (Only the females bite, Day says.)
Obviously, you’re not going to spend the summer sitting stock-still in a white suit. So what are the best ways to avoid itchy bites? Day recommends protective clothing, which doesn’t mean baggy jeans and long-sleeved sweatshirts. “Lots of the lightweight, breathable fabrics made for athletes or fishermen are woven tightly enough to protect you from bugs,” he says.
If your summer style isn’t negotiable—or for those parts of your body you can’t cover up—Day recommends a mosquito repellant with 15% DEET. Just make sure to follow the label’s instructions for safe application. “Spray it into your hands and then rub it on your skin to avoid inhaling it,” he says. “That’ll protect you for around 90 minutes.”
Also, mosquitoes usually feed at dawn and dusk when the wind tends to die down and the humidity rises, Day explains. If you can stay indoors at those times, you’ll avoid bites. A good fan pointed in your general vicinity will also do a great job of keeping the bugs away. “Mosquitoes can’t fly in a breeze faster than 1 mile per hour,” Day says.
If all that fails, hug a bite-free buddy. Maybe some of his mosquito-repelling skin chemicals will rub off on you. Source: http://time.com/3311624/why-mosquitoes-bite/?xid=bbm

In recent times, Nigeria has had affiliates in various part of the world in the world of Football. This fact sheds light on the fact that Nigeria is indeed a ‘Talented Nation’. Most of these players either choose to play for their Adopted countries rather than their Native countries. This has led to the loss of quality players by Nigeria.

The likes of Oguchi Onyewu, David Alaba, Sidney Sam, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Angelo Ogbonna, Jores Okore. These players are with Nigerian descent that have chosen to switch allegiance to their ‘Adopted Countries’ rather than playing for Nigeria.
This article will analyse the profiles of Nigerians in diaspora, how these lost Nigerian talents could have contributed to Nigeria’s team from 2013 and beyond.

1. Oguchi Onyewu
Oguchialu Chijioke “Oguchi” Onyewu (bornMay 13, 1982) is an American soccer central defender who is currently a free agent. Onyewu’s parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to study in Washington, D.C. They are ethnic Igbo people of Nigeria. He made his first appearance for the senior national team on October 13, 2004, against Panama. Onyewu has been capped by USA 64 times. Oguchi still remains a free agent after Sporting announced the termination of his contract by mutual consent.

2. Angelo Ogbonna
Ogbonna was born to Nigerian parents who emigrated to Italy from Nigeria in 1983, settling in the city of Cassino in the central part of the country, but managed to obtain Italian citizenship only after his 18th birthday.

He made his debut for Italy back in November 2011 in a friendly 2– nil win against Poland, where he came on as substitute He was also included in the Italian 23-man final squad for UEFA Euro 2012, but never played in any match during the competition. He finished the tournament with a Silver medal though. He currently plays for Juventus after his “big money” move from Torino.

3. Dennis Aogo:
Born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, Aogo grew up in Oberreut, a suburb in the south-west of Karlsruhe. Aogo is capable of playing either as a left back or as a defensive midfielder. He currently plays for FC Schalke 04 (on loan from Hamburger SV) and the German national team.

Nigeria gave him the chance to play for them at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but on the 5th of January 2010, Aogo announced that he will only play for Germany. He made his national team debut for Germany in a friendly match against Malta in a 3–0 victory on 13 May 2010, playing 79 minutes, before being replaced by Jérôme Boateng. He has been capped 12 times since then.

4. David Alaba:
David Olatokunbo Alaba was born in Vienna to a Filipino mother (a nurse) and a Nigerian father (a DJ and former rapper). He currently plays for Bayern Munich and the Austria national football team.

Alaba was instrumental in Bayern’s treble winning team last season . He has played a multitude of roles, including central midfield, right and left wing. In October 2009, he was called up to the senior Austria national team for a match against France. He made his debut in this game, making him the youngest player in the history of the Austrian national team. He has since being capped by Austria 26 times. He is unarguably one of the top left backs in football presently.

5. Okaka Chuka:
Stefano Chuka Okaka (born 9 August 1989 in Castiglione del Lago, Perugia, Italy) to Nigerian parents who later obtained Italian citizenship. Okaka joined the Roma youth system in 2004.

He currently is an Italian International who currently plays as a striker for Spezia Calcio on loan from Serie A club Parma. After gaining Italian citizenship in 2007, Okaka was selected for the Italian Under-19 side. He made his debut for the Italy U-20 team in 2008, scoring two goals. On 17 November 2009, he made his debut with the Italy U-21 squad in a match against Luxembourg. He has never been capped at senior level. With changes to the Fifa rule, he can still represent Nigeria if he wants to.

6. Gabriel Agbonlahor:
Gabriel Imuetinyan “Gabby” Agbonlahor (born 13 October 1986). Agbonlahor was one of four children born to a Nigerian father and a Scottish mother in Birmingham. Agbonlahor’s ancestry qualifies him to play for Scotland or Nigeria at international level, but he chose to play for his homeland of England.

Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa’s Academy and still plays for the club. He is also Aston Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. On 19 November, he made his international debut against Germany. He played for 76 minutes. Since then he has earned only three caps for the English national team.

7. Patrick Owomoyela
Patrick Owomoyela (born 5 November 1979) He was born to a German mother and a Nigerian father. Owomoyela plays as a right-sided defender/midfielder.

He is a German footballer who is currently a free agent, having last played for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. He made his debut for Germany in an Asian tour, playing 90 minutes in a 3–0 win over Japan, on the 16th of December 2004, in Yokohama. Since then, he has had 11 caps to his name.

8. Nedum Onuoah:
Chinedum “Nedum” Onuoha (born 12 November 1986) is footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a defender, typically a centre back, but he can also play at right back or left back. Born in Warri, Nigeria, Onuoha was brought up in Manchester, England.

In March 2007, Onuoha received an international call up from Nigeria, but announced he would like to represent England at full international level. However, he has since admitted that he would play at the FIFA World Cup for Nigeria if he were to be called up. Onuoha has never been capped by England at international level.

9. Carl Ikeme:
Carl Onora Ikeme (born 8 June 1986) is a footballer who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers as a goalkeeper. Despite his English birthplace, he has chosen to represent Nigeria at international level. He has been called up to the Super Eagles squad but has not yet played for them.

10.Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was born in Togo to Nigerian parents and plays for Tottenham Hotspurs in England and the Togo National Team. He previously played for AS Monaco, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Adebayor was eligible to play for Nigeria but chose to represent the country of his birth. He was voted African Player of the Year in 2008 while playing for Togo. He has played for them 57 times.

There is no gainsaying here, I put it to all Nigerians that if all these Nigerians in diaspora were integrated into the national team. Nigeria will be at the very top, I mean the top 10 of FIFA ranking, which is where we belong. #ProudlyNigerian.

Source: http://footyblast.com/2013/10/09/top-10-nigerian-stars-who-chose-not-to-play-for-the-super-eagles/

It’s not all about the palm. Kay Packard, the director of the American Academy of Hand Analysis, shares how to dial into the subtleties of your digits. Does Each Finger Carry Its Own Meaning?
Yes. Just as with the palm, the fingers on your dominant hand typically showcase your work and public personality, while the fingers on your other hand relate to your behavior at home and in close relationships. Every person has some strong fingers and some weak ones. The stronger a particular finger, the more likely you are to exemplify its personality traits.
Here are the associated characteristics for each digit:
Thumb: Drive to succeed.
Index finger: Power, authority, vision, and influence.
Middle finger: Accountability, efficiency, security, growth, and wisdom.
Ring finger: Creativity, self-expression, and a yearning to be in the spotlight.
Pinkie: Communication style. How Can You Tell Which Fingers Are Strong and Which Are Weak?
Weak digits are bent, crooked, leaning toward another finger, bending forward, or have areas that are damaged in some way. If your finger stands up straight and tall, it’s strong.
What Does the Shape of the Fingertips Reveal?
Round fingertips: You desire harmony and avoid disapproval.
Square or flat fingertips: You strive for precision and loathe vagueness.
Spatulate fingertips (broad and flared): You love originality and despise routine.
Pointed fingertips: You like to put off practical affairs in favor of pursuing the unusual and the mystical.
Can You Learn Anything From the Spaces Between Your Fingers?
Yes. Rest your hands naturally on a flat surface, or hold them up comfortably up in the air. If your fingers are widely spread apart, then you’re probably independent and open to new experiences. If your fingers are held tightly together, you may be cautious, guarded, and self-contained. If your middle and ring fingers are spread apart, you’re not easily influenced by popular opinion. If those two fingers are close together, you tend to bend to societal expectations and rules. Look at the space between your pinkie and ring finger, too. If it’s extremely wide, that’s a sign that you’re dodging important conversations and that your relationships at home or at work could be suffering as a result. If the pinkie and ring finger are an average space apart (compare them to friends’ hands for a gauge), that means you’re an independent thinker. Source: http://ti.me/WFX3XI