Yemi Alade in 'Na Gode' Swahili version

This song is a gratitude song to God.. Like a way to say thank you for everything.. The singer sang the original version fully in English but she recently gave it a twist for singing it 'Swahili', a language commonly spoken in East Africa.
What beautiful way to start the week!!! Enjoy!

Today's Wise Saying

"Follow bees and get honey." -Kenyan Proverb

Kofi Annan on BBC Newsnight talks on ‎ISIS‬, refugee situation

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan gives excellent responses to the questions on ISIS and the refugee situation.

This gentleman is an inspiration to Africans around the world.

Celine Dion spotted since husband and brother's demise

Since the passing away of the singer's husband and brother, Celine Dion was recently seen in Las Vegas getting on a plane home to Montreal Canada, where her husband. Rene Angelil's funeral will be taking place on Jan 22.
Dressed in black ensemble, the "Because you loved me" singer looked tired and mournful as she exchanged pleasantries with friends at the airport before going home to bury her husband of 21 years.

Our thoughts and prayers.

Under water where Europe and North America divides

This video captures sights of the continental divide under the water in Thingvellir National Park in Iceland. A beautiful sight to behold!
Watch!

Today's Wise Saying

"Old age does not come in just one day" -African saying

Omawumi's "Play na Play" ft Angelique Kidjo

I love these two women...Their voices resonates with me as singers to reckon with in Africa...I once missed an opportunity to meet with Angelique Kidjo(from Benin republic) somewhere in Europe..Wishing I had!! I love Omawumi(from Nigeria) to bits.

Watch and tell me what you feel!

Creative Fashion Designs by Armenian Artist Edgar

 These pictures are stunning!! Creative minds out there.! More pictures after the cut.

Today's Wise Saying

"Hope does not kill, I shall live in hope of getting what I seek another day" -South African

First Female President elected in Taiwan

Taiwan has elected its first female President today. Tsai Ing-wen, 59, leads the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP). In her speech, Ms Tsai stated that the relationship with China will be maintained, adding that Taiwan's democracy must be respected too.
The female leader said "I also want to emphasise that both sides of the Taiwanese Strait have a responsibility to find mutually acceptable means of interaction that are based on dignity and reciprocity. "We must ensure that no provocations or accidents take place," She added warning that "any forms of suppression will harm the stability of cross-strait relations"

Wishing her more girl power in her reign!

Celine Dion loses brother two days after husband's death

Just days after the loosing husband to cancer, Celine Dion's brother Daniel Dion, 59, has also died on Saturday from cancer, a spokesman to the family said. Mr. Dion was eight of Celine's 13 siblings.

And also the singer's husband, Angelil's funeral will be held on Friday at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, where they got wedded in 1994.

Its definitely a hard time for the Dion family..And we are sending our warm wishes and love their way.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan receives SCLC award.

 Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was today honoured by Dr Charles Steele Jr. the President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The award is in recognition of his "leadership in human right, social justice and universal fight for freedom."

He also met with Naomi King, the sister of the late American Civil Rights leader and founder of the SCLC. The erstwhile country leader on his Facebook page wrote "By this award, I am further inspired to continue to work for the advancement of democracy, peace and progress in Nigeria and Africa. GEJ."

Congratulations Sir!

Celine Dion loses her former manager turned husband

After a long battle with cancer, Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil, has passed away at the age of 73. Angelil died of throat cancer on Thursday in his home with his family around him.

The Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg, has confirmed with a statement saying "We have determined Mr. Angelil's death was due to natural causes," he added "No further investigation into his death is expected".

A representative for the family also added a statement that "The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time."

Our thoughts and prayers are with Celine Dion and the kids..Take heart!

Today's Wise Saying

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his needs, is good for him." -Maya Angelou

Watch Adele and James Corden's Carpool Karaoke

English singer and songwriter Adele appeared on James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show and trust me, I love every bit of it!

Today's Wise Saying

Photo credit: Luca.Gargano.

"Happiness requires something to do, something to love and something to hope for." -Swahili Proverb

Jimbo the grizzly bear and its keeper

Not only did I cringe watching this video!! I screamed!!! A large grizzly bear named Jimbo and its keeper, an American bear trainer Jim Kowalczik hugging and playing. The nine-and-a-half-feet tall and 1500lbs animal has been in Orphaned Wildlife Centre, New York care for 20 years.

The clip is definitely not for the faint hearted. Watch!

Today's Wise Saying

Photo credit: E.B Sylvester

"If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work, then every woman in Africa would be a millionaire"- African saying

Japanese Coming of Age celebration

The atmosphere was convivial as Tokyo's 'newest' women celebrates adulthood at a ceremony in Toshimaen. About 1.2 million women, who last year turned 20 years of age had 'Coming of Age' festival to welcome womanhood. 

The new women can now take decisions without consent of their parents. These decisions may include that regarding marriage and smoking.

Culture, always interesting? 

Starbucks counter exhibit gets a frown from Thandie Newton

The coffee house chain has tendered an apology to actress Thandie Newton for displaying a statue of a black child holding coffee beans basket in a London store. The British born actress found the sculpture dressed in a loin cloth with a safari hat very offensive.

She tweeted " Seriously @Starbucks? At the counter - Loin cloth and Safari hat on a black child,” And added “Happy New Year circa 19th century.”

Starbucks responded on its twitter handle saying;“@thandienewton we are very concerned to learn of this incident & we can’t apologise enough,” the company tweeted to Newton. “We have removed the figure & are investigating.”

New elements added to the periodic table

The periodic table now has four new elements added to it following verification by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The new elements are numbered 113, 115, 117 and 118.
Those who are science oriented in their studies can explain further what the periodic table is.

Meanwhile if your study of this table was before this year, you are officially 'old school'! Lol.

Tuna sells for £80,000

Did you have a double take at this headline? I am not too surprised as I recently watched a documentary on Tokyo's Tuna fish auction. The bids are unimaginable.

A 200kg Tuna was purchased by a Japanese restaurant at a auction in Tokyo for £80,000. President of the outlet behind the purchase similarly in 2013 bought a 222kg fish for over ¥155m.

I will be checking my next shopping trolley to ensure the Tuna in it is not this expensive.

Today's Wise Saying

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness" -An old saying by Queen Elizabeth

TV, Computer and other gadgets connected with GCSE poor results

publichealth.cam.ac.uk

In 2015 Cambridge University researchers recorded the activities of more than 800 14-year-olds and analysed their GCSE results at 16. Those spending an extra hour a day on screens (TV, computer, games console, phone) saw a fall in GCSE results equivalent to two grades overall.

On average, the 14-year-olds said they spent four hours of their leisure time each day watching TV or in front of a computer.

An additional hour of screen-time each day was associated with 9.3 fewer GCSE points at 16 - the equivalent of dropping a grade in two subjects.

Two extra hours of screen-time was associated with 18 fewer points - or dropping a grade in four subjects. Even if pupils spent more time studying, more time spent watching TV or online, still harmed their results, the analysis suggested.

A very inspiring clip

This is a big impact made on a child's life- Hero to Zero. Western Sydney University made a 90 seconds clip to emphasize this. Watch!

Hair talk with Head Wrap Diaries

A creative team and a dance theatre group put together a very interactive production to present black women, beauty, culture and their hair. It gives a recollection of the journey a young black girl goes through with her hair to the present day.

It also portrays the changing phases of embracing ones own self and achieving confidence.

Internally Displaced Children in Yola, Nigeria

Children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Yola, North East Nigeria, just received their school bags among other things.

Today's Wise Saying

wikimedia.org

"The ostrich's long neck and sharp eyes cannot guarantee it seeing what will happen in the future."- Maasai proverb

Angelique Kidjo- "We are one"

If you enjoyed watching Lion King and have seen the part 2, this song will bring you smiles.. I smiled when I watched the video this morning...Wishing the choristers were present in it.

Angelique Kidjo never disappoints.

700-year-old -mummy discovered in China

Road workers trying to expand a street in the eastern province of China discovered a tomb buried under the road while digging 6 feet below the surface. Archaeologist identified the grave as a 700-year-old mummy believed to be from the Ming ruling family who ruled China between 1368 and 1644.
Surprising how some of the clothing items still look the same.

Pictures after the cut.

Prince George goes to school.

Photo credit: The British Monarchy

Little Prince George starts his first day of school at the Westacre Montessori School nursery in Norfolk today. His parents, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released his photos to celebrate the milestones. The 2-year-old tot is shown in the picture standing outside the nursery building.

How time flies!!!Happy for them!!

Photo of the day

Hell they say has no fury like a woman scorned...Not even from a woman to her fellow woman!!... What a woman did to her husband's mistress.

When hate leaves and understanding comes.

This video is what I call "letting-go-of-hate"and bitterness after a family separation, divorce or remarriage. The role of a 'step parent' is stereotypically not expected to be nice one by the other 'ex'...But this is a powerful message worthy of emulation.

Today's Wise Saying

                                      
 "Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle" - African Saying

Dolce&Gabanna unveils its first Hijab and Abaya collections

International fashion label Dolce&Gabanna has recently added a collection of Hijabs and Abayas (long dress commonly worn by Muslim women) to its ranges of fashion clothing. This is a development to include Muslim women who choose to adorn the Hijab or Abaya to its customers base by meeting their needs.

The range of styles includes a collection that is carefully embroidered with lace and looks incredible.

D&G's market strategy seems fantastic..This might be a trend some other leading designer brands would consider running after.

 

More pictures after the cut.

Today's Wise Saying

"A happy man marries the girl he loves, but a happier man loves the girl he marries." - African proverb

Oh dear....

A baby seat in the 60's...I'm sure Mamas&Papas,Maxi-Cosi and the other car seat makers are having a laugh too.

What life throws unto you...

I stumbled into this pictures somewhere on Facebook and apparently it has been trending. On Jaafar Jaafar's page its states;

"When I saw this picture on the timeline of ace photojournalist, Sani Maikatanga, I called him to get some details.
Sitting feebly in a bowl was 19-year-old Rahma Haruna, a resident of a Kano village, Lahdin Makole. Rahma has no functional limbs. What passes as limbs are some miniature features in the arm and leg positions.
Her brother always takes her on his head in a plastic container and go round the city of Kano in search of alms.
It seems no education or future plan for both the carried and the carrier."

Beyond her smile, I'm wishing a good Samaritan can help her out..She is in Kano a North -Western city of Nigeria to be precise.

More pictures after the cut..

Celine Dion gives her rendition of Adele's 'Hello'

The iconic music star Celine Dion impressed her audience when she sang Adele's hit song 'Hello'. The 47-year-old singer surprised her crowd at the Caeser's Palace Las Vegas Show on Thursday December 31st, with the rendition when she said " So tonight,if I may, I would like Adele to be part of our New Year's Eve'.
She added “So don’t panic, she’s not in the building. …Do we need to change the batter in my microphone? It kind of lost it a bit. Adele, hello? Hello?”
Watch.

Twins born year apart

                                                                           

A set of twins in San Diego born just minutes apart have caught the attention of everyone. Jaelyn Valencia was born on New Year's eve at exactly 11.59 while her twin brother Luis Valencia Jr. arrived at 12.01 on New Year day. 

This difference would totally change their dates of birth regardless of the fact that they are a pair. 

Their father Luis Valencia said it's a New Year’s blessing to have two healthy children.

Yayyy....It a New Year!

Happy New Year People!! I wish everyone a year filled with many good things you all wish yourselves!!!!

Duchess.