The human mind and wild, wild wealth

Written by Fola Ojo - Punch, Nigeria

Fola Ojo

February 6, 1985. The 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, spoke these words during his STATE OF THE UNION address to the American people: “Let us begin by challenging our conventional wisdom. There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”

The human mind is an arsenal from which all things good and bad flow. It functions like a compass which gives a navigational direction to a ship. Where the human mind travels, the physical body sails. From the human mind comes a mindset. A mind which is set on a particular course cruises unfettered until a goal is achieved. When bars of iron break and bend for a man or for a nation, they do so first in the mind. The Nigerian citizenry at this time requires a sound mind revamping and rejuvenation.

Every nation has its own mind from where values and virtues flow. The mind of a nation is driven by the minds of those in leadership. And the minds of leaders in turn influence the minds of the citizens. When a society enthrones a man with a perverted mind, all you’ll have as results are perversion, dirt and stench. When you enthrone a man whose stock-in-trade is amassing wealth through dishonest means, the result will be a nation filled and ruled by dishonest beings. Thieves beget thieves; all thieving abilities and societal ills are rooted in the soil and basement of the mind. If corruption and stealing of public funds are acceptable lifestyles in a clime, it is because the mind of that community has become a fructuous ground for reproducing the debauchery.

Nigeria and the future of the black world -Ambassador Carrington

Written by Enyioha Opara, Minna, Punch-Nigeria.

The purloining of Benin's magnificent treasures may have begun with the long ago British so-called punitive expedition which resulted in the looting of the palace of King Ovonramwen. But it didn't end there. It continues still. So, I am here to confess to my own culpability. Twenty years ago, I stole away your most beautiful modern treasure, my beloved wife, Arese. What a great honour it is to be with her here today in the city of her royal ancestors.

There was a time when Europeans marvelled at what they referred to as Great Benin. Travellers returned home, each outdoing his predecessor, with tales of an African Kingdom the equal of their own royal courts in organisation and administration. Its treasures and artistic masterpieces were widely envied. Then, in 1897, came what the pages of the London Times proclaimed as the "Benin Disaster" leading to the sending out of that punitive expedition to avenge the deaths of members of a British delegation allegedly at the orders of local officials. It resulted in the overthrow and exile of the Oba and the looting of his palace. While intricately carved Benin Ivories had been known to Europeans for three centuries, the hitherto carefully guarded Bronzes, became, at the dawn of the colonial scramble for Africa, stolen booty, spoils of war triumphantly displayed for the first time on foreign shores.

That the "dark continent" could have produced such great art, in the words of a BBC documentary, "changed European understanding of African history." But many who should have known better were discombobulated. The curator of British Museum, at the time, declared:

"It needs scarcely be said that at the first sight of these remarkable works of art, we were at once astounded at such an unexpected find, and puzzled to account for so highly developed an art among a race so entirely barbarous."

"Barbarous!" that is what they thought all black people to be.

And so it has ever been. Whether discussing African art or ancient ruins like Great Zimbabwe, they fantasised that they must have been copied or inspired by artisans of lighter hue (meaning their fellow Europeans) or even aliens from another planet. Anybody but black people! It was greatly satisfying to me when a friend of mine, the African art expert, Warren Robbins, opened an exhibition in Washington, a few years ago, demonstrating that several modern art masters such as Picasso were in fact heavily influenced by (or even copied) the traditional art of many African societies.

The Boy from Jamaica

Today, Jamaica is on my mind. I was flying from Trinidad and Tobago on my way to Atlanta and had to make a brief stopover in Jamaica-the land I had heard so much about through the powerful medium of music. Reggae music.

From the air, you could see the iridescent island sparkling, like a queen, a Caribbean queen bejewelled in a splash of sun, sea and reggae. I wanted to see everything: the sights of Jamaica. I wanted to hear everything: the voices of Jamaica. Men and women in dreadlocks, speaking their patois and reggae music blasting in my ears from ubiquitous loudspeakers such as we have in Lagos. Is this not another Africa? Africans must be Africans everywhere they are. I wanted to smell everything: the smell of ganja, marijuana or whatever name you call it. The ganja that Peter Tosh sang about and campaigned for its legalisation because of what he claimed as an all-purpose medicine that can cure asthma, tuberculosis and what have you. Legalise it, and I will advertise it. Remember that song by Peter Tosh? The Peter Tosh who was killed by gangsters on motorcycle-a victim of gang violence in a society afflicted with so much crime and violence like Nigeria our Nigeria.

Jamaicans don't play with their heroes. They celebrate them. Loudly and proudly. All over Norman Manley Airport are huge photographs of their heroes: Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world in his familiar yellow and green athletic outfit doing his trademark lightning pose. But still, the biggest of them all is Bob Marley, the man whose face is the face of Jamaica, the legendary king of reggae who still rules from the grave. Bob Marley who prophesied his own immortality in the song Bad Card:

"You a-go tired fe see my face/Can't get me out of the race."

Yeah, Bob Marley. The same Bob Marley who sang about Jamaica afflicted with violence in the song 'Johnny Was': A song about a woman who "hold her head and cry, 'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died from a stray bullet. Woman hold her head and cry...Now she knows that the wages of sin is death, yeah! Gift of Jah is life. 'Johnny was a good man' she cried."

The entrepreneur next door and mental health

Written by Babatunde Fajimi - Nigeria

Babatunde Fajimi 

When tomorrow comes, the world will observe October 10 on the United Nation's calendar as World Mental Health Day. We will spare some thoughts today for the entrepreneur next door. The entrepreneur next door is a metaphor for every Doe who owns a business venture but has mental health condition whether symptomatic or not.

Between entrepreneurs and mental health

Recently, experts established a correlation between entrepreneurship and mental health. Michael Freeman, a clinical professor of psychiatry and Sheri Johnson, professor of psychology conducted a scientific study on 242 entrepreneurs who founded or co-founded businesses across America. 72% of these entrepreneurs had mental health conditions.

Iconic entrepreneurs are humans

We love and envy iconic entrepreneurs. We rank them creators, innovators, makers and designers of civilizations, cultures, comfort and economic sustenance. At the height of recession in America in 2007, entrepreneurs generated 8 million new jobs. Developing countries survive because of the economic contributions of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ironically, the iconic entrepreneurs are humans. They are the entrepreneurs next door. And, there is a dark side to entrepreneurship beyond the glitz and glamour. This makes the entrepreneurs next door vulnerable to mental health conditions than other people.

"Dignity in mental health"

The World Health Organisation has selected "Dignity in Mental Health" as the theme for this year's World Mental Health Day. Stakeholders have yet another opportunity to gather and create awareness about issues relating to mental health care to deconstruct myths and misconceptions about 'madness' among people of culture and religion as well as bridge the gaps between practice and reality.

The rise of smart mobile messaging

Written by Adeola Kayode - Nigeria

The rapid spread of smart phones is expanding the possibilities for digital technology across the world. There is a significant shift in mobile communication, as smartphones ensure that people can now go beyond the traditional phone calls to other Internet-enabled functionalities, including emailing, browsing, using social media and using mobile payments. Most of these functionalities are being powered, using various applications.

In an Ericsson Mobility report earlier in June, it was asserted that the number of global smart phone subscriptions would double by 2020. The report also said that 70 per cent of the world's population would have smart phones by that date.

Is this possible? Certainly. This is because Africa, which has the lowest Internet penetration, has emerged as one of the fastest growing continent when it comes to digital and mobile technology. Africa's population is largely youthful - many of its teeming population are already getting used to living with phone technology.

How are brands and businesses positioning for this global reality? Take the example of Facebook. Before apps became a trend, Facebook had keyed into opportunities in mobile apps. In early 2014, Facebook made waves in the tech world by acquiring WhatsApp for an astounding $19bn. About 18 months later, it bought another photo, messaging app for $1bn. While so many people had debated the rationale behind the huge transactions, current market performances confirm Facebook's decision.

Facebook own four of the top 10 mobile, messaging apps downloaded across the world. As the focus on the screens across the world moves to laptops, tablets and mobile phones, there is the need for brands and businesses to pay close attention to online and apps.

It is interesting to note that as mobile apps have continued to increase, smart phone users are moving from social networking to mobile messaging. In fact, someone described social networking as someone attempting to communicate with friends by pinning a messaging on their doors and hoping that they will see it somehow.

Pope Francis and the tug of values

Written by Minabere Ibelema - Nigeria. 

Minabere Ibelema 

During his visit to the United States last week, Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. It is an honour that is extended to just a few people who are distinguished in some way. That is, people such as Popes. Yet, Pope Francis is the first pope to be accorded that honour, and that is not an accident.

Sure, the United States is one of the most religious countries in the Western world. Virtually every member of the U.S. Congress has a religious affiliation - mostly Christian - and about 69.4 million Americans are Catholic. Still, in a sense, the Pope is the antithesis of what the United States formally stands for. The political revolution that became the United States is in essence the culmination of the revolt against papal authority that began with Martin Luther's 95 theses in 1517.

Now, however, the US Congress-the formal representation of the American people-now share considerable bond with the pope. Perhaps, more than any other institutions in the world, they embody the tug between tradition and a moral order on the one hand and modernity and freewheeling values on the other. It is a tug that is at the heart of modern history, and it shows no signs of easing up.

For share convenience, let's begin with the Protestant Revolution, otherwise known as the Reformation. When Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of a theological seminary in Wittenberg, Germany, where he was a priest and professor, he was doing the unthinkable: taking on the most powerful authority in the world at the time.

During the periods of the inquisitions - lasting from the mid-13th century to the early 19th- the death penalty or long-term imprisonment was the fate of heretics, people whose beliefs deviated from church doctrines. Meanwhile, the church raked in much money from the sale of "indulgences" as the means of forgiveness of sins.

That, more than anything else, was what infuriated Luther and led to his courageous call for reform and an improbable standoff with the Pope. The resulting schism engendered the Protestant movement, the breakaway of congregations from Catholicism and papal authority.The Church of England did so on and off between 1534 and 1555, when it permanently established its own separate identity, incorporating the ethos of the Reformation while retaining much of Catholicism.

Factors contributing to female infertility

Written by Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie, Punch Nigeria. 

Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie

There is nowhere in the world where people do not have some ideas about why a woman may become infertile. Advancing age is among the most important reasons that ordinary people know about. It is a known fact that conception becomes increasingly difficult after the age of 35 years. And even during her most fertile period, many external factors and changes in her life style would play various roles in determining whether she can have normal and healthy babies. This worsens as the periods become less regular and the egg count reduces. It gets even worse as the menopause approaches and while this important landmark varies very much among women, it is nevertheless sometime between 45 and 55 years. Some women have become menopausal as early as 40 while others continue to menstruate into their late 40s or early 50s. As a result of these facts, advancing age is one of the most recognised causes of female infertility.

Another common factor is obesity. A woman who is grossly overweight with a body mass index of 25 to 29.9, or is frankly obese with a body mass index greater than 30, is at significant risk of having challenges with her fertility. Such a woman is carrying extra kilogrammes above what is healthy, and this extra load is known to adversely affect hormone function. As an extension, this affects the normal activity of the ovaries with a reduction of the normal cyclical changes in the ovaries that determine whether they are ready for the important function of achieving a pregnancy. Women who are obese at the age of 18 years are more likely to develop polycystic ovary syndrome and have problems with fertility. This disorder of the ovaries is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. It is thus the leading cause of infertility among women in that age group.

As women who are obese tend to have challenges with fertility, so do those who are too thin. 

Women, whose body mass index is too low, at 18.5 or less, tend to also have challenges with getting pregnant. This is because they are lacking in the hormone that is responsible for controlling hunger and the feeling of satisfaction. That hormone, called Leptin, contributes to having absent periods when it is deficient. Therefore, achieving a healthy weight, something a woman can attain through a combination of smart feeding and a regular dose of moderate exercise, are two factors a woman must aim for to increase her chances of getting pregnant.

Might another black succeed Obama?

Written by Minabere Ibelema - Nigeria

Minabere Ibelema 

By this time in 2007, a lanky black man was making political waves as a presidential candidate in the US Democratic Party's primaries. Even after he won the Iowa straw polls - the traditional kickoff of the presidential election season - he was still generally regarded as a flash in the pan. Well, he went on to win more primaries and ultimately the presidency and got re-elected four years later. We are talking, of course, of Barack Obama.

Obama's triumph in 2008 places very high on the scale of the improbable. Even higher on that scale would be the reprise of that feat in 2016 by another black man. Well, Ben Carson, a retired world-famous neurosurgeon is poised to do just that. Carson is vying for the presidency from the opposite ideological spectrum, the Republican Party. And in a CBS/New York Times poll released on Tuesday, he is running a close second in the Republican primaries to billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump.

In many ways, Obama and Carson are a study in contrast. Sure, they are both highly credentialed professionals and they both were raised by their mothers, but that is very much all they have in common. That and their race, of course. As to ideology and political background, they differ markedly.

Obama seems to have been born with politics in his vein. He became active in politics early in life as a community activist and moved rapidly upward from there. Carson, on the other hand, kept politics at a distance. He focused on his medical career, becoming the first surgeon to successfully separate twins who were joined at the head. He didn't join a political party until 2014, and only in preparation to run for the presidency.

Obama is an ultra liberal, who harnessed the angst of youth, minorities, women and gays to catapult him into office. Carson is a social and political conservative who appeals more to the mainstream. Obama galvanised supporters with the slogan, "Yes, we can." But to his more liberal policies, Carson would say no you don't.

Why I'll sue my mother

Twitter @ okeyndibe

MY mother has damaged my pristine image, and I am shopping for a lawyer to sue her. So, dear reader: if you happen to know a ruthless, take-no-prisoner's lawyer, please, please send me her or his contact details.

In case you don't get it, let me stress the kind of lawyer I wish to hire. I want a lawyer with a long record of suing defamers for the last cent, penny or kobo they have to their name. My dream lawyer would accept no pleas. She or he would disdain half measures. In short, I desire a lawyerly equivalent of Mike Tyson in his prime. No, don't send me any lawyer who floats like a butterfly. I'm not looking for a skelewu dancer!

I crave an expert at delivering devastating legal upper cuts, a knockout specialist who never pauses or stops until the enemy is fully, totally vanquished.

So why am I looking for such a lawyer, you ask?

I thought I told you already. Because I want to-I must-sue my mother.

What exactly am I suing her for?

You've not been paying attention, or you'd remember I already disclosed the rea- son. Okay, again: my mother defamed me, that's why.

Is it possible to talk it over, to persuade me not to sue her?

The answer is no. Nothing will-and no earthly force can-stop me from pursuing the said lawsuit. Let all the bishops in the world compose an episcopal epistle garnished with a hundred and forty-four citations from the Holy Writ, I won't be deterred in the least. If all the traditional rulers in Igboland (and the accompanying self-crowned monarchs in the diaspora) should expound on the cultural plague that awaits the son who drags his own mother to court, I will not listen.

Hear me, reader: This matter is way, way beyond the intervention of peacemakers. It's definitely bound for the courts!

All my uncles and aunts, siblings and cousins may waste their breath, but my ears are plugged to their pleas. And to my friends, I have only this to say on the issue: Keep your counsel to yourself. I won't listen.

What do men and women want from each other?

Written by GLORIA OGUNBADEJO  - Punch, Nigeria

GLORIA OGUNBADEJO 

People tend to ask couples who have been married for a long period what their secrets are. I always find it an odd question because by virtue of the word secret, it suggests it is not something one wants to share. Besides, one couple’s successful ingredients may not work for another.

The two most important questions asked relating to the dynamics between the genders are what do men want from women and what do women want from men? It is one thing to know the answer and make a decision on how to respond to it.

However, it is a whole different ball game as it is mostly the case not to have a clue. When we strip away all the confusion and complexities of the 21st Century living where gender roles are not so defined, sometimes tipping the balance to the point of non-recognition, there have been and will continue to be some basic primordial impulses and needs between the sexes.

Women primarily want a strong man to protect them, to provide strong genes to father their offspring. Men want a woman with child bearing hips to produce their babies and they want their women to be a mother to the children and to them.

Below is a vignette of a discussion between a group of men and women about the topic

Fast forward to modern day living where we would all agree the story and attitudes are somewhat different.

Although some argue that the intentions and needs are really still the same and that is why relations are in so much chaos because couples are trying to go against the grain and are fighting their basic nature.

How To Stop Your Partner From Criticizing You

ZeeZee is a certified Relationship and Marriage Coach who believes her purpose in life is to equip couples with the right tools for a successful relationship. Through her website and YouTube channel she shares practical tips and principles that help couples understand the inner workings of a healthy marriage.

Web: http://zeezeeio.com

Email: questions@zeezeeio.com

FaceBook/Twitter/Instagram: @ZeeZeeIO

YouTube: ZeeZeeIO

"I'd love to hear from you! Do you think your spouse is just too critical? What exactly can you say to them to stop them from 'stomping' on your self-esteem? I can help. Wishing you unending joy in your marriage". - ZeeZee

Do you feel like your spouse is constantly criticizing you? The second they open their mouth to utter any words, you "dock" because surely, the daggers will soon come flying out. Communication between the both of you has now become extinct, as God-forbid you engage them in conversation, only to end up dealing with such callousness. Right?

You watch out for yourself!

What your spouse does goes beyond criticism of your actions and extends to criticism of your character, which could have a long-term effect on your self-esteem. (Yes it does! You always avoid them because they make you feel less than adequate once the critical comments start flowing).

In most situations, this negative behavior has always existed in the relationship (you just overlooked it hoping they'll see the light and 'change') and eventually the partner who is constantly being criticized - YOU – will get to a point where they can't take it anymore.

So how do you earn your respect back, after you've allowed yourself to be disrespected for so long? Here is one key tip that can help change the course of your relationship for the better.

Your partner needs to learn how to complain and not criticize!

I hear you asking...is that not the same thing? Doesn't complaining still prove they disrespect me? Why must they complain? I'll tell you why. If your name doesn't follow the designation 'St.' (for saint), there is NO possible way you could do everything right in your relationship. Be honest! (If you still need convincing, check in with me ASAP and I'll help bring home a few truths.)

Artists are their Worst Enemies

Lauri Kubuitsile

Culled from Thoughts from Botswana by Lauri Kubuitsile

(This column appeared in my column It's All Write in the 7 August, 2015 edition of Mmegi newspaper)

Across the spectrum artists tend to be crap business people who make other artists’ lives more difficult because of the bad business decisions that they make. Take musicians. Musicians like playing music, so when they get the opportunity to play for the public they take it. The problem is unscrupulous business folk take advantage of that characteristic of musicians and use it to get free entertainment. They’ll say things such as: “Come Friday night, you can play a few hours at my club and get exposure.” The musician is excited. The opportunity to play – yay! The business person exploits the musician’s poor business acumen and the musician pitches up, plays, and then goes home with empty pockets.

Okay, you can say- that’s fine, that’s the musician’s business, he’s “not in it for the money”. But it’s actually not fine. Because now when the person trying to be a professional, a musician attempting to make a living from music, approaches that club and tells the owner that their fee is P3000 for a two hour set, the owner thinks the person is mad, a diva trying to rip them off. See, the owner is used to getting music for free thanks to the musicians that came before this one. It makes it a steep, uphill climb for the professional musician to educate the owner that workers should be paid for the work that they do- all workers. And they should be paid a fair fee.

The same goes for contracts. So many artists will agree to perform without a contract. “We have a verbal agreement,” they say.  Verbal agreements mean nothing; they’re usually the beginning of a long drawn out, and often bitter, argument about money. Artists must get written contracts. The contracts should include the responsibilities of each party, and they should breakdown how the money should be paid. For example, if you’re a dancer, you might want a certain percentage before the event, maybe 40%, so that you have money to get yourself there, money for rehearsals, etc. Then the remaining 60% of the fee should be paid immediately after the performance. Any other requirements should also be in that contract. It needn’t be drawn up by a lawyer, just a straight forward agreement, all of the things that were discussed in your meeting to set up the gig, written down on paper, both parties sign it.

10 confusing sets of words to watch out for

Written by Azuka Onwuka - Nigeria

Azuka Onwuka

Just admit it. Sometimes, you get confused over which of two similar words to use. Sometimes, you even use the wrong word while trying to feel important, only to discover months or years later that you messed yourself up. Imagine the embarrassment! Does it not remind you of attending an event without knowing that you were wearing your shirt inside out or that the fly of your trousers was open all along? You will begin to recall who saw you and what you did at the event, wishing you could turn back the clock.

Well, you are not alone: it happens to the best of us.

But there is a way out: Constant practice, researching and crosschecking.

Just banish all assumptions!

Having this list close by will help you a lot. You can print it out: keep one by your bedside and one by your office desk for constant reference.

Most importantly, I have created codes and mnemonics to make it easy to remember the right options.

1. severally vs several times

WRONG: I have warned you severally to mind your own business.

"Severally" does not mean "several times." It means "separately" or "individually". Example: The company's directors are jointly and severally liable.

RIGHT: I have warned you several times/repeatedly to mind your own business.

2. Complement vs compliment

WRONG: Thanks for the complements.

RIGHT: Thanks for the compliments.

Note that complement and compliment are both verbs as well as nouns. They both have 10 letters, start with a "c" and end with a "t." All their letters are the same except the "e" and "i" somewhere in the middle.

The ugly spectacle of street begging

Written by Anthony Akinola - Nigeria

Dr. Akinola is a researcher based in Oxford, United Kingdom

Different faces of  begging

Begging is one nuisance common to most nations of the world, including the very affluent ones. The British police warns, "begging is a criminal offence - please report any person begging to the police."

There is moral justification on the part of the British for making begging a criminal offence - the state provides for the well-being of its citizens, especially the very vulnerable ones. The relatively few beggars in the British society could be alcoholics or drug addicts, perpetually begging or stealing in order to be able to feed their anti-social habits.

On the contrary, our government in Nigeria at the state and federal levels lack the moral justification in reproaching begging on the streets. There are genuinely very many vulnerable Nigerians - those suffering from acute disabilities or extreme poverty - left to fend for themselves. In fact, most Nigerians have become beggars of some sort, even when the eyesore of society has mainly been those on the streets.

Begging is a public nuisance, irritating and frightening. Sadly, Nigerians have sustained begging with philanthropic ostentation or pretensions and religious justification. It is, however, a most welcome development that a couple of state governments, especially in the worst affected region of the North, have sought to ban begging on the streets. Those who value public decency would applaud their decision.

From my part of Nigeria, isolated cases of begging were once associated with poor parents who had given birth to twins. They begged for money to be able to sustain their families. "Taiyelolu says I should greet all of you and we shall greet all of you one after the other." There were not just a few women one knew of who prayed not to give birth to twins, if it was one gift of God that would reduce them to dancing and begging for money in the streets!

Unlike my corner of Nigeria, public begging was more or less a culture elsewhere. My first appreciation of how irritating public begging could be came some time in 1966 when driving through Ilorin with my uncle, Professor Akinola Agboola, a horde of beggars besieged us at a petrol filling station. One had never seen anything of such before, but my uncle warned me that the situation could be a lot worse in some other cities of the federation.

Rebranding Africa using social media

Written by Tayo Elegbede - Nigeria

Tayo Elegbede

About 10 years ago, it was common to read and hear comments portraying Africa as a continent of poverty, disease and conflict. Africa was unpretentiously labelled the 'dark continent'.

When you picked up a foreign newspaper and flipped to African section, the imagery would most likely be that of Africa as a perfect jungle of human and social injustice. Africa had little or no global brand value and prestige, a result of many stereotypical coloration of the continent, both internally and externally. Africa suffered a major brand attack and damage.

Certainly, the foreign media's operational culture, which left no room for Africans to tell their own stories, played a critical role in the poor perception of the continent.

Thankfully, the narrative is changing. And social media are at the heart of unveiling the new and real Africa to the world.

In recent weeks, Africa has had some of its best online outings, which have ultimately aided the 'Africa rising' momentum across the globe, boosting its positive global perception. The once uncelebrated continent is now the toast of the world.

Remarkable of these outings are Twitter-powered campaigns that have successfully leveraged the power of hashtag such as#TheAfricaThe MediaNeverShowsYou, #ReasonsToLoveAfrica, #SomeoneTell CNN and #WeAreOne, #IfAfricaWasABar.

By sharing pieces of their daily lives, Twitter users are helping to dispel stereotypes while inspiring curiosity and generating appreciation of the continent's cultural, social and political diversity. Like never before, these campaigns have promoted the rich cultural, architectural, intellectual and innovative beauty of Africa, reaching millions of online.

In the past week, the hashtag, #TheAfrica TheMedia NeverShowsYou has been trending, displaying stunning photographs of vibrant and varied landscapes, joyful glimpses across the continent and diverse cultures, architecture art and fashion.

Tips for writing a better blog

Written by Geoff Iyatse

There is no doubt that blogging helps to improve engagement and communication between your business and your customers. Many business owners have recognised that fact, and they have been quite successful at dedicated business blogging. The result is increased traffic to their websites or blogs, increased awareness of their services or products, increased positive perception (depending on how well managed the blog is) and, ultimately, increased sales.

However, blogging can be time-consuming and if writing does not come naturally, it can be such a chore that it is easy to abandon it altogether.

To enjoy the benefits listed above, one has to learn to be patient and be willing to master the art and science of creating an interesting blog.

Here are tips that can help you to write a better blog:

Understand your audience

While it is tempting to start a business blog, it is also important to understand your audience - who they are, where they are, why they will be interested in reading your articles, what their pains are and others.

For example, I found it interesting that comments on a popular food blog show that the audience are primarily women who are looking for new ways to spice up the family dining sessions at home. That insight is a great point to plan a blog.

What is your premise? To help you dig deep, you can start to researching what others within your industry are blogging and the response their posts are receiving. This may not often give you the whole picture. A blog may be receiving lots of traffic but little or no comments. It does not mean people are not reading the blog. However, that can form a great starting point to help you carve your niche.

Understand what makes your target audience tick. Are they looking for something humorous to take them through the day? Are they looking for something serious to help them to solve a pressing problem? Are they looking for insider information in the industry?

Understanding your audience is just a first step to getting blogging right.

On Facebook, the dead still celebrate birthdays

Written by Jesusegun Alagbe - Nigeria

Akunyili; Agbana

On that Saturday morning, in his Lagos home - before he got up from bed - there were six birthday notifications on his smartphone from Facebook, reminding him to wish his friends happy birthday celebrations. But what baffled him was that one of these friends, who was his course mate at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, was already dead. This made him wonder, "Why is Facebook asking me to wish a dead person a happy birthday celebration? Is Ade still alive?"

But before long, Peter Abisoye got an answer: Ade - his deceased friend - is not alive, but his Facebook account is still active.

"Every morning, I get birthday notifications of my family and friends from Facebook, so I don't even need to know offhand or look at the calendar for their birthdays again. The internet and social media have really brought me closer to them, even though we are separated by distance," Abisoye said. "But what I don't understand is why the social media company keep sending birthday notifications of dead people? You know, many times when it happens, like it happened to me, it makes me remember some memories of the departed ones - both the good and the bad."

After the brief moment of amazement, Abisoye said he got on the page of his deceased friend and wrote: "Ade, you remain one of the best friends I ever had in school. I remember how we used to eat burnt beans together, woo girls together and watch football matches in Adenike area on weekends. Death is so painful, but your memory is not. Live on, brother."

"I got on his page and I posted a brief birthday message in his memorial. Before I realised what was going on, about 20 of our colleagues in school had also followed suit. I guessed they must have been notified as well of Ade's birthday from Facebook. Well, I think it's good to keep the page alive, in memory and honour of the deceased," he added.

But one or two others who posted didn't even know Ade was dead.

"Someone, please tell me this is not true. I spoke with Ade two months ago and he was fine. No wonder I have been trying to reach him all this while and he's unreachable. So sad to hear, Ade," one of them wrote.

Almost every internet-ready smartphone and Facebook user today gets reminders of special events and this was perhaps the same scenario when many fans of the late female gospel singer and composer, Kefee Obareki Don-Momoh, popularly known as Kefee, woke up on Thursday, February 5, 2015 to find notifications from Facebook that she was celebrating her birthday.

Kefee died of lung failure in a Los Angeles hospital in the United States on Thursday, June 12, 2014, after spending 15 days in a coma. She was aged 34.

But not all her fans would want to believe she's dead. One of them, with the name 'PurpleiciousBabe,' wrote on a blog, bellanaija.com, on July 13, 2014, a month after her death, "Trust me, I am still in denial. I can't even mourn her. It's just not fair. Not our Kefee, so full of life and personality."