Category: WinterABC2020

I don’t know where to begin from. I have been absent from blogging for six days now. Usually, I’d say I’ve been absent for ‘reasons’ but the truth is simpler;

1. I couldn’t write
2. I couldn’t focus on any of the topics with the way the world was going
3. Some of the topics don’t quite match up with the blog/website

To be honest, I did consider writing quite a few times within the last few days but I’d open the blog and stare at the blank page, debating whether or not I stay on topic or deviate and speak on what’s happening outside in the world. Never reached a decision so I just didn’t write.

Still, I’m here… Well, here now.

And now, I have to decide whether or not I take on Topic #9 or Topic #14.

Or maybe both.

Let’s begin with 9. Depending on when this goes live, #14 or #15 will be next.

Four of The Accounts I Follow and Why I Respect Them

1. @ImAdeAkins

Consistency tweeting is something I respect and I hold in high regard. This is a trend in the accounts I follow. AdeAkins is someone I’ve known for a while and I’ve watched him excel. His podcasts are excellent and informative, his cocktail mixes are fun (especially with the namings) and he doesn’t just tweet for tweeting sake.

There’s something pure about using your voice to discuss important issues, be it Mental Health, Finances or Black Lives Matter.

2. @SincerelyOghosa

YouTuber / Influencer / Vlogger / Black Girl Magic. From the moment I followed her on Twitter and Instagram, I’ve been glad I did. Not only is she a fun youtuber to watch, she’s also focused and intentional in uplifting small black businesses. She’s fun to talk to and honest in her experiences either it be in Dating or Travelling.

3. @WilliamAdoasi

Founder of Vitae London. A black owned premium watch company. Having spoken to him a few times, I can easily say I love this dude. He’s active in helping communities, he speaks out on injustice whenever he can and he’s just an all-round amazing guy.

4. @Gaemechanger / @Gabz_Amadi

I put these two together because of the podcast they run. Also, because of the conversations we have on twitter about Christianity, belief and life, really. They are hilarious but truthful. They don’t shy away from odd or heavy topics but instead, express a willingness to understand and explore the topic from a biblical and life perspective. And that’s something I really like.

—

I believe that’s about it for the ninth topic. I think I like it this way. Short and concise.

On slightly unrelated topics;

• For those interested in this particular hobby – I retrofitted my old YouTube channel into a gaming channel and I’ve begun putting some videos up. Heck, my voice is even recorded on it so you can hear me speak if you’re curious.
• One of my books is free for download for subscribers to my newsletters 😀 – So Download, have a read and please leave a review!
• Lastly, #BlackLivesMatter. The world is going through the motions but please be good to people around you. Please.

Today’s topic is less about me and more about some of the blogs that I’ve been fortunate to see, read and enjoy. Blogs from people who are more or less, my people. My kin. Both in skin colour and in virtue.

As such, this is going to be a relatively short post.

Without further ado, let me introduce you to;

Doctor Kanayo

• So I’ve enjoy reading her posts, most of which is superb not only in writing but in the message that is being passed across.
• She writes about her faith, her job and life in general which is always a plus to read especially when its coming from a Psychology teacher. So please, give it a read.

Igbocurls

• I have known the author of this blog for a long, long time and while the aim of the blog does not particularly apply to me, I believe it would have some application to anyone who is interested in learning, understanding and maintaining their natural hair.

Those are the two I have off the top of my head. As I haven’t been blogging and reading blogs as I used to years ago, I have fallen off in keeping up to date with bloggers in general, especially bloggers from my country.

However, that can easily change now, I believe. If you’re Nigerian and you’re a blogger, share your link in the comments. I would LOVE to take a look at your blog and follow you.

Better yet though, if you blog either consistently or every now and then, please do the same. It’s always an informative exercise to be able to see and experience things from other people’s viewpoint 🙂

Today’s post is late, mostly because I’ve spent the better half of it being busy with my other projects up to the point that I almost forgot I was due for another post.

“What other projects?” You ask with a coy smile.

Well, I have a few things that I have on my plate that I’m simultaneously working on. That is, at the moment;
– I’m working on a few stories (which I release as a serial on Reddit). I want to get my current ones done so that I can work on my book’s sequel.
– I repurposed my YouTube channel for gaming and game related stuff, along with Twitch.
– I’m doing some game development work with a few friends.

“Isn’t that kind of a lot?”

Why, yes. Yes, it is. But I find that being busy helps my creativity in writing and with the lock-down keeping me largely at home and largely aimless (after 9-5 work), I decided to prioritise some projects.

But enough about that. Let’s talk about today’s topic!!!

Four Things I’ve Learnt on Social Media

Oh boy. Social media is something unique. Unlike anything that has come before it. Honestly, I still think back to the days before we even had the mental concepts for smartphones. And the difference between life before and life after smartphones is something unheard of. And it brings me to my first point;

1) Nobody knows how to use it.

Which closely translates to, ‘nobody truly understands what it is supposed to be for’. I mean, think about it. What is Social Media for?

Is it to keep up with friends? We’ve got their numbers for that.
Is it to keep up with the news? We’ve got the TV for that.
Celebrities? Celebrity magazines have dedicated stalkers for information.

So, what is its purpose?

Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Tiktok and the likes will give you vague explanations to their uses but at the end of the day, we all use them the same way.

As an outlet to our lives. Which brings me to my next point.

2) Everyone shares too much.

You probably understand what I mean by this. The common example would be the people who so happen to share a lot about their relationships on twitter or facebook, listing out details that should be private or rather, dealt with in private.

You have some people completely detail the faults of their parents or partners or friends for some support in their decision to cut them off. Don’t get me wrong. If your family, friends or loved ones are (a) abusive, (b) racists or (c) on the narcissistic end of things, it’s perfectly understandable to cut them off. I just don’t think it necessarily has to be public unless the situations demand it be so.

Quick PSA: If you’re in an abusive relationship, please leave. Don’t wait until they become better. Just go.

All in all, in this area of oversharing, once you dig deeper you eventually figure out that for most of the people over-sharing, they are doing it for lesson number three.

3) Clout-Chasing.

This is something I personally detest. When people start sharing their stories not because it is particularly important but because they want some ‘likes’ or ‘retweets’. It trivialises important issues into a game of internet points which I find to extremely wrong.

And clout chasing takes so many forms.

You have the people who share fake stories. You have the people who bully others. You have the ones who post ‘thirst traps’ but pretend like that wasn’t what the picture was for. You get those who expose their DMs every single time they get a private message because of the picture they want to paint. You have people who are always contrarian. You have people who will always agree.

You have stans.

You have fancams.

You have meme accounts who only exist to take a shot at anything and everything that breathes on social media.

You have accounts who pretend to be racist just because it’s the ‘cool thing to be edgy’ on the internet, only to then turn around and ‘apologise’ when they get exposed.

Most of the lives on social net want to achieve some sort of fame that they’ve attached to follower count, likes and retweets. And I can’t say I fully blame them. After all, the advent of social media opened the doors to celebrity status via the route of ‘Influencer’. Suddenly, the pedestal that we place a lot of our ‘hollywood’ heroes are now within reach.

All in all, all of this brings me to the last thing I have learnt on social media.

4) It is having a bad effect on some people

In this point, I will leave the following so that you can read it up at your own leisure but the main crux is this. Social media is having a negative effect on some people’s mental states because we are being inundated with snippets of very different lifestyles.

And while it doesn’t sound like this should be a problem, some people can’t help but constantly compare themselves with those they believe to be successful. So, consciously and sometimes subconsciously, they start to change how they look, act, talk and behave in order to paint a picture that has no truth to who they really are.

Social media has made a lot of people live false online lives. And that’s a problem.

Hi All,

Hope you’re all having a nice wonderful afternoon amidst the fires of rebellion going on around the world. Touchy subject, I know… But I plan to touch on it eventually. Today, however, we will be addressing my favourite food of all time. One that makes my stomach happy and in return, makes me happy.

And yes, as a Nigerian, that sorta defaults to Jollof Rice.

Now, I’m not going to go into the age-old battle of whose Jollof Rice is the best between Ghana and Nigeria (it is the latter) as I don’t think it’s useful to the conversation at the moment. As long as it is made well, I’m a sold customer.

Especially when it’s garnished with;
– Roasted Chicken
– Fried Plantain
– Salad or Coleslaw

I’m a sucker for the right combination. That said, I don’t believe I would be revealing the best combination on here. That information stays with my fiancee and my mother. Everyone else will have to do.

“What about this dish do you love?”

Honestly? Not sure. I’ve been fortunate enough to have the chance to try out different dishes over my life so far and while they are all excellent, something about Jollof Rice reminds me of home. In the metaphorical sense.

I would call it the ideal comfort food and I believe you all understand what I mean. The one dish in the world that no matter what mood you’re in, it puts you in the state that makes you feel like everything, every issue, every worry, every single thing you’re expressing would be alright.

That’s what makes the dish special to me.