A BETTER ME

I'm trying my best,

but if I can do any better

then my best won't be lesser than the rest.

Increasing in knowledge, skills, idea and strength are the my visions.

Breaking boundaries, barriers, limitations and Scaling new height are the missions.

What is your excuse for failure when you had it all?

What is your excuse when you had the whole time to yourself.

Take away all your fears and doubt.

Believe and sit right, stand your ground,

fight for your right, follow the truth.

Thanks to Maxwel Ivey jr and Alex Okoroji for the creative motivations impacted in me

ALEXA: WHAT IS LOVE

What is love, when all it brings is pain and hurt? I ask myself, hoping to get an answer. My heart is hurt and broken, no peace inside of me, then tell me how do I get the answer to all the questions running through my mind? Looking for tears but the sea never dries. I've cried out my eyes, wondering where all this is coming from. What have I done wrong.....where have I gone wrong? can anyone wake me from this dream, I still cant believe my eyes.

We never had any issue for a long time now and it was all going well in my relationship till the day I told him about how he spends his money, my money, our money. Yes its ours even though he worked for it. Thought love is what belongs to the man belongs to his wife. I was only concern about nit all because I know someday it will affect me as a woman in his life.

All I said was Shimori, how come you have spent so much in the last few days and you are broke..... He is my best friend, love and play mate so I could ask him anything as long as I care about him and about us. Rather it became a raging storm. He got very upset and walked out of the house. Shimori please don't go, don't walk out of me I begged him but he wouldn't listen. I had to let him go. He's very pissed.

He got back very late as usual and said nothing to me, as a woman that made me even worse and angrier but I had to keep cool. I asked him how his day went but he said nothing. I asked him for the second time, what's wrong? He said, nothing that he is fine. Ok, I get that. I kept mute and watch him do his thing. But as a woman, I'm not happy with all that is happening and his new attitude and was also thinking if he's still angry as he did not even call me the whole day. I laid on the bed with my nighties but still worried and unsure of what is going on with him. He finished up and turned of the light, laid on the bed beside me and said good night. This time he did not touch me, he did not hold me as he use to, he did not even use the same blanket as we've always done every night. This night is really different. I became very grieved and pained in my heart, held the tears and pain so I don't react and mess things up. Before anything he was already asleep and even snoring. God damn.....so annoying and irritating. I said my prayers and slept and tried not to bother myself.

I thought within myself, is he seeing another woman, is he listening to gossips, is he trying to test my patient, or did I really hurt him with what I said before he left for work? All these questions and more were running through my mind. Unlike him, wakes up and call me to pray with him before any other thing, but this time was different. He got up and walked straight to the bathroom, without a word and knowing that I'm awake. I got more worried and pissed which turned to anger and pain inside of me.

Shimori, I called him. He did not answer then I walked up to him and asked.... What is going on? Last Saturday we talked about this and I thought it was resolved, why are you still angry about the money issue? Does that mean I should never ask you about how you spend your money, what you sue it for or even how you get it? If that's what you want, then its fine by me. I promise no more questions about your income and what you use it for so we can live in peace but I must tell you, it can never be cool if I don't know and it will be very unfair of me if I don't ask. But if that's what you want then it fine by me. It really hurts to be in a relationship where you don't have any say...all you do is yes sir, no sir just like a robot. I am not ready for that kind of a man. Without saying anything more, I walked out of him, and the unexpected happened...........

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI: DID KMONO KNOW THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO?

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI: DID KMONO KNOW THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO?: DID KIMONO KNOW THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO ? Last night, at what used to be the home of my guy and colleague, the great Rub-A Dub Ma...

SUCCESS IN A PIECE

Have you ever thought of success without thinking of failure? You can never give what you don't have, that is were EXperience is the BEst teacher comes in.

Everyone wants to succeed in anything they do, even if its to hurt people. But do you think of the lost, the price to pay, the pain, the consequence before the result and the gain form it all? Like one of my boss, who is ranked among the 250 most influential women in the world by Richtopia, by name Alex Okoroji will always say "you have to do your home work first" (do your personal research, find out facts before reaching out to whoever it is you want to.










You can never be better than your preparation!...............

Messi and C. Rolando are two great footballers of our time and they have both set great records for themselves and the world. Some say Messi is talent while Rolando is hard work, no doubt. But I tell you, it's much more than that. If Messi is talented, then he should fold his hands, eat and sleep all day, without working hard, I bet you even my great grand father in his grave will do better then him. It is all about hard work. Then get to work and stop killing your talents with laziness, excuses, fake-life and all manners of selfish greed.

First step for every young talented creative out there, be it music, acting, dancing, writing, soccer, tennis, what ever it is you create. First is to discover himself/herself, practice and keep practicing your craft, control self, character, human management and be open to more creative ideas. Then look for standard platforms like COSON (for musical content creators <composers, artists, performers and all> in Nigeria) to get a copyright protection over whatever it is you create. There are several platform out there, depending on your interest.

Good use of social media and other promotional pages/platform is very good. There is one very unanswerable question that bothers many of the young artists out there.

Can I give out my songs for free?.....Well, that depends on you, what you want, who you intend to reach and how you created the song. For me the best answer is leaving you to figure that out but if you got the song for free and did a professional recording for free and a free promotion.....then you can decide what you want.

Here is the biggest challenge. The fear of failing, wanting an already made path, misuse of time and resources. I have met so many great people in my little life, directly or indirectly, one on one or other wise.....and I noticed one common thing among all of them, I mean each of them have one thing in common, HARD WORK.
They are always the last to go to bed and the first to wakeup, they hardly watch TV....please don't get me wrong, they do only when necessary, and I'm talking from experience.



Why would you sit down doing nothing when you've got so much deposited in you? I charge you to wakeup, define yourself and do away with all forms of laziness.....


Just a piece of me.

GEM & COSON PARTNER ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

GEM & COSON PARTNER ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AS NEW TOOL KIT IS DOMICLED AT COSON HOUSE

In a bid to properly educate and enlighten the Nigerian populace and the entertainment industry in particular, the Growth and Empowerment Project (GEM), funded by the World Bank and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has just entered into a new partnership with Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON), Nigeria’s wave making collective management organization. In the partnership, GEM has domiciled at COSON House, a just developed tool kit for education in intellectual property with emphasis on copyright, aimed at ensuring a well-rounded, global understanding of the subject in Nigeria.

At a meeting held at the boardroom of COSON House, Ikeja, on Thursday August 9, 2018 during which the partnership was concluded, Mr. Bello Abba Yakasai, Cluster Manager, GEM Project, said that the initiative was borne out of the need to engender a culture of respect for intellectual property rights amongst practitioners in the industry and users of intellectual property in the country. This, he said appeared to have been difficult in the past, owing to the ambiguous nature of the subject.
Yakasai said “What we aim to achieve with this tool kit is to simplify the grey areas with respect to Intellectual Property so as to make it understandable by everyone. The IP manual, we are certain, will bring about a reorientation amongst everyone; be it the owners of the intellectual property or the end users”
The tool kit developed under the GEM project by Mr. John Asein, an internationally respected expert on copyright and a former Director of the Nigerian Copyright Institute will be formerly presented to the intellectual property community at a special event, “Let’s Talk Copyright” (LTC) which will hold at the COSON House Arena on September 1, 2018. Let’s Talk Copyright will be the climax of the 2018 No Music Day celebration.
As has been the practice over the last eight years, different representatives of COSON, in a Media Blitz, will simultaneously be at key broadcast stations across the country on September 1, the annual No Music Day, to discuss with Nigerians the intriguing subject of intellectual property which is shaping the new global economy.
After the Media Blitz, various artistes, performers, movie makers, broadcasters, legal practitioners and the media are expected to descend on COSON House for “Let’s Talk Copyright” (LTC) where the new Tool Kit will be unveiled by the creator, Mr. John Asein supported by officials of GEM and the World Bank.

According to Mr. Yakasai, the decision to partner with COSON on the project is in recognition of the unassailable impact that COSON has made across the continent with respect to intellectual property. In the words of Mr. Yakasai , “COSON, more than any other institution in Nigeria, has shown that it has the capacity to manage such an important resource and to put it to good use for the larger society”
Responding to Mr. Yakasai, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji thanked the GEM team for their continued confidence in COSON. He said that with COSON as custodian of the IP tool kit, GEM and its partner agencies can rest assured that the tools will be properly deployed and that the message will get to every stakeholder in the industry
In attendance at the meeting were the COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Chibueze Moses Okereke and COSON Head of Legal, Ms. Simi Wash-Pam.
Also present at the meeting was the creator of the tool kit, Mr. John Assien, who is also Executive Secretary of Reprographic Rights Organization of Nigeria (REPRONIG) and other members of the GEM Project team which included Mr Ndubuisi Kanu, Assistant Cluster Manager and Mr. Johnson T. Akeredolu GEM Project Officer, Tourism and Hospitality.

Photo Caption: COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, 4th left, surrounded by Mr. Bello Abba Yakasai , Cluster Manager, GEM Project, 4th right, Mr. John Assien, Chairman REPRONIG, immediate left, Mr Ndubusi Kanu, Asst. Cluster Manager, GEM Project, 2nd right and Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, GM/CEO COSON,right.
L-R - Mr. Chibueze Moses Okereke, Head Public Affairs, COSON, Mr. Johnson T. Akeredolu, Project Officer, Tourism and Hospitality GEM Project and Ms. Simi Wash-Pam, COSON Legal Counsel.

ALEXA: IDEAS FROM MY INSPIRATORS.

After trying all I could by myself and unable to get anywhere. I decided to seek for advise, which is the only and best option unless I want to see my ancestors before time. So I reached out to my mentors and my great source of inspiration.....you will not believe all I got from them. Here's what I took from them.

The first person that responded to my call is Maxwell Ivey Jr. who is a writer, blogger, an influencer and a podcaster. He is one of my greatest source of inspiration. He said to me that he think things would be easier on me and the rest of us if we didn’t have some people out there appearing to do it all and making it look easy. That I should be kind to myself and do what I want most or what I need most first. I am a special person. He have heard my music, so I shouldn't doubt it. What would I love to change about my job that would make it more enjoyable in the short term? Perhaps I and my supervisor or employer could talk about this. Though not every boss is willing to change or amend their policies but some are. Until I get there, I  should know that he will always be there for me. That only gave me the courage to face one of my biggest fear, which is doubt.

While I was trying to redefine my path, here comes another woman I admire so much and here's her advise.....
Her name is Renee Radicioni Pavlus   she said there are lot of people going through the same thing out there. That my story is like sounds like a lot of people’s story. She continued, the problem is, we think of all these things in our brain and minds, some of us look at the positive outcomes, and some of us look at their possibilities. I myself have spun around many times with 20 fingers in 20 pies, accomplishing very little, regretting, getting frustrated, and wondering why why why?
Well, recently I’ve had to learn that I needed to focus my point down, maybe taking on two challenges instead of 20. Maybe working out a plan, or maybe finding people to help me make this plan happen. No they might not be great things, but perhaps even little things are is important. It’s kind of like building our arsenal of talents, gifts, skills. It’s so easy to dream, Hope, plan ahead, but if we don’t define our Voice, purpose, or understand our reality good and bad, nothing will happen, absolutely nothing. I am a testimony to this, you know, having a spirit of willingness, having capabilities, or knowing that to accomplish certain things we need the help of others is part of our learning and growing experience.
So I am simplifying, I mean in the way and the tasks that I will take on and I’m also allowing myself to try to be a little more patient, or allowing for pitfalls, or in possibilities which often happens when you don’t see or when you need help learning new skills, or when you need help just progressing. Don’t be ashamed of asking for help, but choose the people you ask help from very wisely. Many people mean well, but when it comes down to actually achieving, accomplishing, and doing that either back off, try to help with some confusion, or get at flustered as we may be.
So, having said all this, baby steps, organized baby steps, looking and examining how you can achieve these baby steps, and looking at the barriers towards achieving them Chyna, working through each barrier one at a time. We feel so much better when we have achieved something, we feel so much better when we allow ourselves to ask for help in the kindest way possible, but do it in a realistic honest way, and don’t make your expectations too high, because that can also sabotage your progress, I know this, first hand.

I couldn't help it but pick my broken pieces, put it all together and solve the puzzle the world have created for me. I realized that I have to take it one stop at a time and to ask for help from the right people, not acting like I know it all.

Yes I remember, of all the multiple choices in my head and things to do, DeAnna Lynn Rice asked me to pick one, the ones that speaks most, and you go with it. and Evelyn Faix   said she is like that too but I have to start with one first and she suggested that the music lessons can be taken from an online website called musicvi.com. It’s music for the busily impaired I can buy the courses and they are very good I can also get them from the MLS Talking Books location for free computer classes you should go to Lighthouse.

Lastly Edwin Polini said I should only keep my eyes on JesusChrist who is the author and finisher of our faith.

From all these, I come to a conclusion that for one to stop existing and start live he or she needs to

• DECIDE
• CHOOSE
• ACT
• ASK
• FOCUS
• BELIEVE
• HAVE FAITH

The you'll find your way to success as you have a direction now

Thanks for the help......

ALEXA: I NEED HELP

I want to increase my computer knowledge. I need a better job that will allow me do other things. I want to learn sewing. I need another apartment. I need to enrol in a music class... I need this, I need that, I want to do this, I want to do that. Too many things to do with little or no assistance....

How many can I achieve all by myself? How do I go about achieving all these. I've learnt something about myself...... I hardly get help from people, I always have to do it all by myself.

I wish families are there to assist, it would have been so easy and nice. I just need help, I need helping hands. Who do I run to apart from myself? Its just like I have everyone around me and still have to fix it all by myself. I need a job to help push my ministry, but its just a side hustle. I don't know what to do or who to run to. I need help so so so bad. I don't want to regret coming back here. The pressure is too much.

Seven good years, just like seven days, I've had to much experience for something to start taking place, I've tried all my very best to walk and run. I've fallen and risen, been hurt and healed, I've starved, been broken, weak, bullied, abused but I pick my broken piece and comfort myself.

Just me, myself and I. I've cried rivers and seen desert. Family made me feels like I picked the wrong choice. I've been promised and failed. I was hated and beaten blue black, my body have been bruised, flogged with broom and all sort of weeps, my hair have been pulled and dragged to the ground.

My relationship is not the way I want it to be so I have to make it work. I have no choice but to love above all. I need an answer to these few prayers of mine. I don't know where I'm heading to, I need a direction. the way is too narrow and full of thorns of all kinds.

My head hurts with so much thoughts, my eyes hurt with too much tears, huuummmm...... no amount of secret tears can help the situation.

O God, I just don't know how to express myself to you, use me as an evidence of change in my generation.....

Who's out there.....somebody....... anybody........I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI: BEYOND NOLLYWOOD

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI: BEYOND NOLLYWOOD: SATURDAY BREAKFAST WITH TONY OKOROJI I know a lot of very good scriptwriters in Nollywood. Believe me, no scriptwriter in Nollywood would ...

ALEXA: WHAT DO YOU WANT

Hey, life is never the way we expects it to be.... Never had it funny, even though things fell apart or never goes my way, I still have to push through.

My name is Alexa and here is a little about my new life

My growing up was hell, but there is a God who sees me through at all time, no matter how hard it comes, I've always had a way out. But right now I'm so full of hate and resentment. Everything is coming so soon.

You don't have to be in a rush. Why rushing for what you'll live with for the rest of your life? Why working my body to the passion of your body. I'm changing, my body is growing older, stronger and vulnerable. I'm getting weak, feeling too much passion burning inside of me, thanks to your help.

I shake to ask you in, I'm scared to allow your touch. Why cant you see this through my eyes or feel it in your mind? Why are you letting go of your first promise? why is your body always hot when it comes around mine. Do you really think you love me? You do things this days that scares the peace out of my soul.

I wanna run away and never come back because you've broken my walls, taken my strength, destroyed my belief, shattered my hopes and have made me someone I wasn't ready to be now....If only I saw it coming this soon, even when I sensed the signs, I still never believed it.

Help! Help!! Help!!! is all I'm crying for now. We need help. From just a hug to cuddling, now we kiss so passionately that it scares me to even touch you further, in short no part of me is hidden anymore, all that remains now is for you to get me naked and put your damn whatever down here.

You cant help it anymore, your passion have grown out of control and I see it coming in no time you because you've worked my body t your rhythm, to the fire burning inside of you.

Logan, I'm talking to you. We need help. No more talking, you are too free, like its your right, like whatever happens, you don't care. Give me space you said no, give me time you're still saying no. I really need to put myself back. you finally wants to take the only thing I have left. Can that be love? Is that what you call love? I'm asking you Logan.

I have no education, no certificate, no handwork, no trade learnt, no money, no home, no friends, no close family or relatives. Thought I called you my friend.
My family said I was coming back to you just to get pregnant and you making my biggest fear to appear real. Is that what you want for us, you said no. Then, why can you just let go of me since the passion and the sex thing is getting too much

What is the big deal in letting go.  Why telling someone you love them when all you do is put them in pains.

you know I have so much killing me already. Sometimes I allow you to do that just to see if that will help take some of the pains and heart aches away, but each time we do that..,...they even get worse.

you promised not to come between me and my first love, but here you are doing the opposite and still having to courage to enter his presence with our smelling body, huummm.... What do you really want? I'm asking again. Do you want my down fall or my rising? You are killing me spiritually. Please help me and not use me.

I've told you before, go out there, you have my permission. Go and do whatever you want just to please your flesh, staying for ages wont help either of us. I've given you the hurtful freedom to do that. If you really want to get married to me, then you don't have to take away the only precious treasure I have left. You cant eat your cake and have it....never.

Please respect the space I asked for and I promise all will be well with us. I don't see us coming out of this well. please I beg you.

This is exactly the reason I broke up with my ex....every guy wants the same thing and its really killing me.......

Please help me so I can help you too.....................

THE MIRIAM MAKEBA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE OF ARTISTIC CREATIVITY

The creation of this award for the promotion and the valorisations of African Art was announced on the side-lines of the forum of African creators on September 14,2017 by Mr Azzedine Mihoubi, Minister of Culture in recognition of the militant and artistic career of the interpreter.

Objectives of the Prize:

To allow Artists using African Art as a medium to voice their ideas and speak up their minds to be better heard and showcase their creations

To promote African Arts inn all its forms of expression

To encourage talent and creativity

To reward the best artistic creation

Conditions to participate:

Any African artist over 18 years old and living in Africa can take part in the competition. The participant must give proof of an ID and/or a residence permit when living in an African country other than his country of origin. Artists claiming refugee status due to exceptional situations (armed conflict, natural disasters, etc.) may take part in the competition

Transmission of applications:
Interested candidates must send a file including the supporting documents mentioned above (copy of the identity document, residence, etc.). A copy or a description of their artistic project/work.

Applications can be submitted either by post under a closed envelope to “Mr. The President of the Jury of the International Prize of Artistic Creativity Miriam Makeba” at the following address: Office National du Droit d’Auteur et des Droit Voisins (ONDA), 49 rue Aaderrezak HAMLA – 16000 Bologhine – Alger, Algerie Or By email to the following address: prix.myriam.makeba@onda.dz

The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2018.

For more information, visit: http://www.samro.org.za/news/articles/call-applications-miriam-makeba-award-artistic-creativity

A SLEEK RED-CARPET TRIBUTE NIGHT IN HONOUR OF THE RUB-A-DUB MASTER

COSON HOUSE PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR RAS KIMONO AS PLANS ARE ROLLED OUT FOR A SLEEK RED-CARPET TRIBUTE NIGHT IN HONOUR OF THE RUB-A-DUB MASTER

The magnificent COSON House in Ikeja will on Wednesday, August 22 witness a super classy event in honour of the great reggae toaster, Ras kimono, who passed on in Lagos on June 10, 2018.

The sleek red-carpet event, a tribute night like no other, will... climax the week-long program of the funeral of the massively beloved music legend who will be laid to rest in his home town, Onicha Olona in Delta State, on Saturday, August 25, 2018.

Speaking on the upcoming event, COSON Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Chibueze Moses Okereke said “the event will be strictly by invitation. We know that people from all walks of life would wish to attend this big event especially as the sleek tribute night is being personally produced by the COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, Nigeria’s undisputed master of special events. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate everyone so if you get the IV, please honour the event because it means that you belong to a select group. Members of the Kimono family have met several times with our Chairman over the tribute night and I have no doubt that it will be talk of the town”

Also speaking about the forthcoming Red Carpet Tribute Night in honour of the great Ras Kimono, the COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, said, “Ras Kimono was not just a COSON member, he was a 100% committed COSON member, totally dedicated to the COSON cause. As a hyper creative person, he fought against anything that will destroy COSON as he saw the organization as a watershed development in our country and an important legacy for the Nigerian creative industry. No one should forget that until he passed on, Ras Kimono was a key member of the COSON Board and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji through every challenge. Chief Okoroji was one of the last persons Kimono spoke to on his sick bed, before he passed on.

“The COSON Board he left behind, has held a special meeting in his honour and has instructed that the magnificent COSON House that Kimono contributed to building must host a memorable event in his honour to celebrate this one of a kind Nigerian artiste as he sets out on his last journey out of Lagos. All hands are on deck at COSON , the organization he loved with all his heart, to ensure that Kimono is buried like the king that he was”