TOSYNS TOP PHIVE SONGS

There is so much great music coming out these days, that not only will i be hyping songs, i need to also hype artistes in general!

THis week though, we are staying true to form.

It is the Top Phive Songs which represent the millions of songs i am currently loving now!

STRONG THING- Banky W

HOW FAR- Terry tha Rapman featuring Sound Sultan

ONE MORE CHANCE- Objazz

MA FI SUE- Lawale

SITTING ON TOP- Kel

Listen out for them... and ENJOY!!!

My article in this sundays edition of THE GUARDIAN

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

A friend sent me a text on my birthday last weekend. It read, “You know you are growing old when the candles are bigger than the cake”. I thought the bigger test was, whether or not you were able to laugh at the joke.
I half laughed, which means i am one leg in, and one leg out.

While only three people know my true age, it is fair to say i might be ticking the other side of 21. You know those boxes that give you options which go from 21 – 29, to 30 - 39, to OVER 40...
as if being 40 and over was some incurable disease.
Irreversible, maybe, but when did getting older become such a chore and bore and fear?

I remember growing up and wishing i was older. Back then, i would laugh at those who said, “A woman never reveals her age”, saying mine proudly! I thought it was silly to celebrate your 21st six times... I mean! Your age didn’t matter that much did it?

Wrong i was again.
Now i understand everything, even as i struggle with a reluctance to admit how old or young i really am.
The truth is, our ages may not bother us personally, but it sure bothers society, and they are determined to put us in boxes according to our age. Not personality or ability. But age.

You can’t get into school before a certain age, you cannot work in a bank after a certain age. If you are a certain age, you should either be married, or at least, suitably upset that you are not, and when you are a certain age, then you should face your studies, and not members of the opposite sex! In some countries, permission to drink is granted based on age, and others determine criminial responsibility based on age. Here in Nigeria, as at when i was in Law School, anyone under the age of 7 could not be prosecuted for a crime because they were not seen by law as able to commit crimes!

For those in the entertainment, fashion and beauty industry, the rules are tighter!‘Old’ is not when you need to line up for pension. Old is when you count in two digits from 25.
I remember a certain audition i did not go for because the person had to be under 21. I later found out half of the people who auditioned had lied about their ages, Who knows if the winner gave their real age. I realised i should have just lied jo! But i have not had cause to again... yet.

So here i am. Grateful for the extra twelve months i marked. The new experiences learnt, the mistakes made, the pain and love shared. But worried that, i could be deemed irrelevant. Not because i no longer think or function like i used to. But because i now tick the wrong box! Poor those who attempted to find out my age. I either eyed them, or told them i was the same age as my tongue and a little older than my teeth. And poor the dude who saw a picture of mine from last year and said i look older and less innocent now. His ear-drum must have healed by now... i hope.

In the end, i look to His word for the comfort.Nay. The race is never to the swift. Time and chance.
So i will cut my next birthday cake with grace and smiles. But no candles. There’s no need to go there jo!

My 15mins on 'Judging Fame' on NAIJA SINGS

Duty called on Saturday. It was my birthday, but in the midst of all that, i had to squeeze in [very UNreluctantly], being a guest judge on NAIJA SINGS, the reality show brought to you by MNET AFRICA and produced by STORM.
On the show, they say, ‘Celeb Judges’ but like i told DJINEE who i was judging with, he was the celeb, and i was the, “Who is she again?”.
LOL

Backstage before the show was funny. The contestants were putting last minute touches to their outfits, and hanging out, pretending not to be worried, when deep down, each of them was praying like mad!
Some tried to find the right shoes to go with their ‘look’, others kept spraying hair spray continuously! Some took the opportunity to practise their songs again, while others just sat in a corner and meditated.
Djinee and i had to do interviews for the site, and that was fun and cool, although when it came to my turn, they had to adjust the cameras. And by adjust, i mean ‘bring it down to get the short person in focus!’. I know what i want for Christmas.... but it might be too late. Damn those beans that didn’t have weavils!
The interview went well. One of the questions i was asked was, what kind of judge will you be? And i said, all i would say is, “The camera loves you”.
Seriously though, i think my ultimate aim was to be nice but honest. Cos you don’t want to end up sounding stupid, nor crushing dreams. A bad day don’t mean a bad career.
The actual show itself was long, but thankfully, not boring in the least.
First of all, Djinee and i sat together and tried to dub each other! Cos we had to make comments on a clipboard. The audience was also really cool; very into the show. And the female contestants looked good. I loved the outfits. I didn’t get why all the male contestants wore suits though... i think some personalities do well with other looks.
We had to sit through each performance and let the audience make comments, but not talk till the very end. Then we gave our own opinions!
Djinee was looking out for voice control and everything that had to do with the music itself; im always about the total package cos it all counts. Yes, even down to the outfits, and stage presence.
We gave our opinions, the contestants filed off stage, and Olisa Adibua, the host, signed us out! And we finally got to get up and eat!
(I am a growing child... I love to eat!)

So there it was! My guest spot as a judge.
Check out NAIJA SINGS on MNET AFRICA on Sundays at 8pm, and AFRICA MAGIC, Sundays at 10pm.
You can also see my backstage interview on the site
www.mnetafrica.com/naijasings

Enjoy!