“We created a platform last year called NBA Meets Culture,” Gbemisola Abudu, NBA Africa VP and Country Head, NBA Nigeria, explains of the initiative. “The five pillars of the platform are arts, fashion, film, music and tech. Tech has become a fifth part of our culture because it enables all the other pillars. It just so happened that arts was the element we started out with last year, choosing to celebrate basketball through the lens of Nigeria’s rich heritage and arts culture first.”

It is almost symbolic that the evening event celebrating the 2023 instalment of the NBA Meets Art initiative took place in the Tiffany Amber Gardens. This lifestyle hub, housing the flagship store of one of Nigeria’s premier luxury fashion brands from the tail-end of the 20^th century, is a testament to how following a dream, no matter how crazy it may seem, can have unexpectedly wonderful and positive consequences.

This is not the NBA Nigeria’s theme this year in its collaboration with artist, Dennis Osadebe; however, it is the overarching message in its commitment to supporting the culture of the communities it exists in and extending its influence beyond the courts.

“First, people don’t realise that when you think about sports and arts, those are two languages that the youths resonate with. They’re the language of the youths. Arts is a way in which the youths express themselves, and, there is that natural synergy between arts and sports, it’s always been that way historically,” explains Ms. Abudu.

“Then, on top of that, one thing has become quite exciting in Nigeria. Through the invention of Art X and Art Week, art has been democratised. It has taken it away from the elite to the average Nigerian. That is why it was very important for us to do an installation there because we wanted to speak to the youth in a language that resonated with them. So, if you look at the installation that we created with Dennis where we talked about team building, working together, and building communities together, this is part of our messaging for the youth. So when you say why arts, that’s why arts. If you really peel back the layers, you can see where the natural fit comes in between sports and arts and specifically, basketball and arts.”

Dennis Osadebe concurs wholeheartedly.

“I would say that arts is in the fabric of everything … I got into basketball from playing video games. So from NBA2k to NBA streets, NBA figurines, NBA toys like a toy of Kobe Bryant, a toy of Iverson – that was my entry into the sports. And I would say, that’s arts. That is expression. That is almost giving the user the tool to express themselves. And you know, I found that very important in this collaboration because art also is very representative of culture, and a big part of culture is visual art.”

Based on the theme ‘Passing/Building/Victory’, the installation features five masked figures — Osadebe’s signature style — all holding a ball.

“This collaboration speaks to passing, it speaks to teamwork. And that is the ethos behind basketball – teamwork. You can’t win by yourself and I wanted to draw that into the work. That is why in the installation there are five different sculptures. So those five sculptures represent a basketball team about to make a point. And they’re arranged like that because that is an offensive position in order for you to attack and make a point. And the reason why it’s rotating and they’re spinning around is because they’re looking for who to pass the ball to.”

How did this collaboration come to be? For Dennis, it all started when “Gbemisola reached out to me saying look Dennis, this is our objective with NBA Nigeria and we would love to work with you on this next version of NBA Meets Art. And once that conversation started, I was excited because what is very important to me is to elaborate on being an artist and showing that there is not just one way to be an artist. You can be an artist that also celebrates community in a sexy way. So we started the conversation and what stood out to me is that basketball is a sport of 5 people that play as a team. So I said I wanted to build on that idea of teamwork because teamwork is important to sports and it is important to the community. As a community we can’t be great by ourselves; we can’t even go through the day by ourselves. We need people in every part of it. So it was just organic once we started the conversation to build on the collaboration.”

For Gbemisola, it was a bit more complex than that.

“When this conversation started about creating an installation at Art X, it really was about what type of artist’s body of work and signature speaks to who we are as a brand, and, who has a natural affinity for the brand. And I am not saying … a natural affinity for the NBA or for basketball is a requirement for us to work with an artist. But for the thought process for the first work we do, we wanted an artist that had a natural affinity for the game, understood the game, and understood the ethos of the NBA.”

“A name that was consistent in all the conversations I had, whether it was from research I did (I’m a lover of arts as well, so I’m familiar with several of the artists in the space), having conversations with Art X, having conversations with different patrons of art; a name that kept coming up consistently was Dennis Osadebe.”

“As we grow the footprint of the brand in Nigeria, there is a level of intentionality on how we showcase Nigeria to the world, how we showcase our excellence and the amazing things happening in our creative industry. So, when you look at all those different layers and you have all these criteria that we sort of spelt out, one person that checked a lot of those boxes was Dennis. And that’s why we decided to go with him for our first collaboration with an artist. And expressing to him what we were interested in creating, and him being able to come back and say, based on what you’ve said, based on my work, here’s what I would present. And the theme of ‘Passing/Building/Victory’ came together.”

Judging by the response NBA Nigeria has received from this first installation, Ms Abudu is more than confident that the initiative is not only here to stay, but would also unlock incredible and unimaginable opportunities for the Nigerian art community and just about everyone who is affiliated with the NBA here in the country.

“So this is the first time we have collaborated with an artist in Africa for our NBA Meets Art initiative; we’ve never done this before. And what we’ve seen so far … is an insane level of interest from galleries around the world. Everybody has been like this is amazing work. I’ve received calls from galleries from all around the world who’ve said, ‘Can you bring this work there?’ There is a hunger for it, seeing the reaction even at the fair, all the pictures of kids painting on it and really just having a great time, seeing a bunch of kids saying they want to take the figurines home with them. And a lot of people saying they want a piece of this at their home, can they buy the figurines? It just really drives home the point that wow, this really was successful, people love it, people care about it.”

As for what is next for Nigerian art and the larger community within the NBA, Gbemisola is very optimistic. “We’re going to find very interesting ways to implement programs and initiatives to deepen our involvement with the arts community in Nigeria in a sustainable manner. There are plans to figure out what that would look like after the success of this installation with Dennis.”

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For now, it is just that – rumours, since neither house has confirmed its authenticity. While no one expects them to, it makes sense that both auction giants are desperate to get their hands on the collection. For starters, history has it that during her lifetime, Ms Landau was able to amass at least 1,500 works of art, of which she donated 367 to the Whitney Museum in 2010 where she had been a trustee for years. Therefore, there would be at least more than 500 pieces of artwork to auction, assuming her family does not wish to part with all of them at this time.

But even more important is the fact that the Emily Fisher Landau collection boasts of rare and highly sought-after works from some of the industry greats, including Andy Warhol (who did a silk screen portrait of her), Georgia O’Keeffe, Cy Twombly and Mark Rothko. Experts estimate the collection could sell for $375 million to $500 million, especially if it includes Picasso’s Femme à la Montre (Woman with a Watch), a painting nearly five feet tall from 1932, considered to be his breakout year.

And herein lies the crux of the matter.

Since 2020, art has enjoyed big sales and renewed interest. Of course, as with other discretionary goods, sales have cooled alongside global economies. Per Artnet, the big three auction houses – Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips – have seen a 51 per cent dip in total sales year-over-year. Not even Christie’s sale of the Gerald Fineberg collection in May could save it: the anticipated auction sold for a total of $153 million, not quite hitting its $163 million to $235 million estimate.

This is not the first time Christie’s and Sotheby’s would face off against each other — rivalry between both houses is as old as their histories. And while it appears that most of it is anchored in their desire to be the auction house that can provide collectors with what they want when they want it, this current rivalry seems to have its roots in the unimpressive performance of the art market, which is usually more fickle than others in the discretionary product niche.

While we await the winner in this round of competition, it is safe to ask: is buying art a good investment? As with art itself, this question is subjective, with no straightforward answers. However, one indisputable fact stands out from the unfolding drama: investing in art can be rewarding, but only if it is done right. And part of doing it right is understanding what makes a work of art valuable and collectable; buying original, rare pieces at the right time, and, letting go of them when the time is right.

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The estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat has announced that it is planning to exhibit a private collection of over “200 never before and rarely seen paintings, drawings, multimedia presentations, ephemera and artifacts” as a close and complex portrayal of the man through the perspective of his those that loved him most.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure is the title of the planned exhibition, a name derived from the artist’s 1987 painting (of the same name) that references a bartender-turned-jazz vocalist from Basquiat’s New York City childhood neighbourhood, who would go on to produce the popular 1952 song titled Moody’s Mood for Love.

The event is set to be held on the ground floor of the historical Starrett-Lehigh Building, located in the West Chelsea Historic District. The uniquely designed structure was built in 1931 and became an official New York City landmark back in 1986. Inside, there will be an exact recreation of the Great Jones Street studio and the Michael Todd VIP room where Basquait made several artworks at the Palladium nightclub.

Sir David Adjaye will lead the design of the exhibition space and in an official statement explained that “the vision for this project — to reclaim the narrative of Basquiat’s life and work and to shed new light on an artist that is only partially understood — aligns deeply with my studio’s mission of using design as a storytelling device. I envision the exhibition as an intimate narrative journey that not only displays his trailblazing career but cultivates his spirit and mission through the eyes and insights of his own family.”

And just in case you cannot physically make it to the exhibition, or would like to carry the memories of the event with you long after your visit, Rizzoli Electa has been charged with releasing an explorative new book that details the private collection. Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure will be on view starting on April 9, 2022.

Source: BossHunting

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These are part of the questions South African designer, Rich Mnisi, seeks to answer with his first solo exhibition of collectible furniture, Nyoka, for the Southern Guild Gallery.

Nyoka is the Tsonga name for the snake, and it is this creature – which incidentally, the designer and his family were so scared of that “we couldn’t even look at them on TV” – that inspires the furniture design in this body of work. The idea to use the snake as the cornerstone of his creations came after a nightmare his mother had.

“My mother dreamt of a snake on her back. When she turned to look at it, she saw an intense green creature, frightening and fluid, dangerous and beautiful. My journey started here and led me to Congo’s Bushongo mythology and its creator god, Bumba, the god of vomit. He vomited up the sun, Earth, moon and stars, and then the rest of the natural world from that acidic pain and discomfort. Unlike most of our world’s origin stories, this one proposes that the beauty and life of our world could be purged instead of birthed.”

The snake is present in a console table made of blackened bronze and adorned with glass beads that hide its head from plain sight. It makes a more subtle appearance in the Vumboni sofas and Rivoningo wall sculpture but comes out again in full force in the Vutlhari chandelier. Not even the Nwa’Ntlhohe rug escapes the powerful clutches of the snake.

But none of the furniture pieces was made alone. Throughout the entire process, Rich Mnisi collaborated with other artisan groups including Monkeybiz, Coral & Hive and Bronze Age Studio, as well as Southern Guild gallery to bring everything to life. This spirit of community, of different elements finding new meaning in a different context, is also a central theme in Nyoka.

Nyoka: A solo exhibition of (Limited-Edition Sculptural Furniture) by Rich Mnisi will open up to the public from October 2 and run up till February 4, 2022. If you cannot make it to South Africa during this period, the Southern Guild Gallery has published a limited-edition, one-off magazine that not only captures the story behind Nyoka but is also a pictural gallery of Rich Mnisi, his life and work. To order one of the 750 copies available, visit the Southern Guild Gallery on Instagram for more information.

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Tagged Framing Her, the exhibition hopes “to advocate for diversity, inclusion and gender equality with a strong focus on both professional and artistic environments” according to an official statement from the organisers.

Eighty-three artworks from nineteen different artists have been carefully curated to cover a broad range of issues in social, political and cultural contexts. They will be grouped into three major categories and showcased on different levels of the GAIA Africa Clubhouse accordingly.

On the ground floor, visitors will be welcomed with paintings that feature traditional mediums such as oil paint, acrylics and inks on canvas. Here, expect to see drawings of women from Aina Felix in colourful cultural clothes and flamboyant headgear. You would also encounter the emotive acrylic artwork of Seyi Odukoya as well as the vivid and colourful paintings of Chijioke Anyacho.

Mixed media is the theme on the first floor where artists like Stacey Ejiroghene Okparavero will grab your attention with her works that combine words with images. Do not be surprised if you’re held in place by the works of Konboye Eugene Ebipade who uses recycled flip-flops to artistically interpret emotions in portraits or the pieces from Ahmed Akinrionla that combine metal with other materials like fibreglass or terracotta.

If you are a digital art lover, be prepared to fall in love with creative pieces such as the vibrant and colourful works of Adetomiwa Adelagun; the stunning portraits of Ohab Tochukwu Bernard John Bosco, and, the vivid illustrations of Niyi Okeowo, all on the top floor of the GAIA Club House.

About GAIA Africa and Aworanka

GAIA Africa is a members-only club for select leading women looking to establish bonds for impact in their lives and businesses. The GAIA house is a safe space where members can meet for business and social purposes to forge lasting connections.

Aworanka is a platform designed to showcase African arts globally and simplify the process of acquiring them. It also provides art advisory services for corporates, individuals, architects, interior designers and decorators.

Framing Her will be live at the GAIA Clubhouse following a preview event on the 9th of October 2021. The exhibition will run from October 2021 to January 2022. Bookings must be made on the clubhouse’s website here.

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The South Korean electronics giant has just announced a new partnership with the iconic Paris museum. Starting now, you’ll be able to display some of the Louvre’s most famous works on your wall in high-definition via its Frame TV.

Since introducing the television to the market in 2017, Samsung has made it clear that it is more than a device to watch your favourite shows or stream your preferred movies. The Frame has undergone enough modifications over the years to move it from a mere lifestyle TV to a prime lifestyle device your home needs.

Before the addition of artwork from the Louvre, owners of the Samsung TV could access 1,500 works from museums all over the world, including the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Tate Modern in London and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam via its Art Store platform. Now, thanks to the new agreement, 40 works from the Louvre will now be accessible.

These include famous artworks like Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding at Cana, Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon and, of course, Leonardo’s masterpiece the Mona Lisa. A short description will follow each work to give users a glimpse into their background and history.

Photographs of the majestic museum and some of its iconic features, like the Louvre Pyramid and Tuileries Garden, are also available. There’s also the promise of new exclusive content to come before the year is out.

“This year, we are proud to join forces with one of the most famous museums in the world, the Louvre, to enhance this collection and offer a taste of French heritage throughout the world,” Samsung executive Wonjin Lee said in a statement.

The Frame TV is part of Samsung’s lifestyle televisions, and it is designed to be a TV when it’s on and an art display screen when it’s off. Users can also display their personal pictures through the TV, making it a perfect decor device for your home.

Source: Robb Report

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Now, one hundred years later, Gucci and The Savoy have come together again, this time to celebrate their shared history in the transformation of The Savoy’s Royal Suite into a reflection of the Gucci world.

This is not the first time both brands have worked together. In April this year, Gucci revealed its Aria collection in a privately screened event at The Savoy. The Collection and its presentation included numerous nods to the hotel and its role in shaping Gucci’s mythology.

In this latest iteration, the Royal Suite has been redesigned to reflect the Gucci world with furniture, furnishings and decorative items from the Gucci Décor collection. But it is not the only brand that will feature in this special partnership: art and antiquities from auctioneers, Christie’s, have been carefully chosen to complement the aesthetic, which has been conceived to harmonize with the design and heritage of The Savoy.

Adrien Meyer, Global Head of Private Sales at Christie’s, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with two iconic luxury brands and bring our Private Sales service to guests of this great London hotel. At Christie’s, the ultimate luxury is to be surrounded by art. Together with Gucci, the Royal Suite at The Savoy will become the most exclusive place to stay in London.”

All of the items in the Royal Suite added by Gucci and Christie’s will be available for purchase; making the Royal Suite an exceptionally exclusive showroom, as well as one of the most luxurious hotel suites in London, with its parade of rooms spanning the entire length of the fifth floor, giving unrivalled views over The Thames. The Royal Suite offering includes a dedicated butler, use of The Savoy’s Rolls Royce within a three-mile radius, return transfers, bespoke in-room amenities and Gucci experiences.

But this is not the last we’ll be seeing of The Savoy x Gucci collaboration. Franck Arnold, Managing Director at The Savoy commented, “I’m so delighted that The Savoy is partnering with Gucci in such a creative way in the fashion house’s centenary year.  It’s wonderful to bring alive our shared history to contemporary audiences, and we’re excited to unveil a transformed Royal Suite, as well as providing guests with charming experiences and exceptional service that befit two brands with such global renown.”

Source: Luxury Travel Magazine

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From a global pandemic to economic troubles occasioned by the former, to protests in different parts of the continent, notably Nigeria, Namibia and Congo that only led to more socioeconomic challenges, it was an especially tough year for Africans.

Through it all, a crop of exceptional young men and women stand out. In this special edition, we turn on the spotlight on ten of these individuals – most below 30 and others just slightly above this age – who made remarkable strides in their professions and are poised to go even further.

Enioluwa Adeoluwa

If you are active on social media, you would have probably noticed ‘the lipgloss boy’ who makes some of the funniest videos you’ll ever see on this side of the divide. But the funny content creator, social media influencer and lifestyle enthusiast is more than just fun and vibes.

Enioluwa graduated with a first-class from Ekiti State University at 19. He went on to join fintech company Bamboo where he worked until October 2020 which was the month he officially began his masters at Pan-Atlantic University.

Although he blogs about beauty on his social media pages, he also uses his platform as a tool for change, commenting on social issues, taking a stance against societal ills, and, encouraging acceptance of metrosexual and effeminate men, as well as other vulnerable groups that the Nigerian society continues to marginalise. The best part is that brands have noticed.

His ever-growing social media following and engaging content have earned him collaborations with major brands like TMBeauty by Toke Makinwa, First Bank and Samsung. However, he makes it a point to highlight small brands whose products or values he finds good enough for his followers.

Enioluwa is currently combining his degree with writing and social media influencing, but he is definitely open to bigger opportunities.

Iretidayo Zaccheaus

Have you heard of Street Souk? If you haven’t, then a good way to familiarise yourself with its origins and goal is to know its founder, Iretidayo Zaccheaus.

In 2020, the Nigerian fashion community took a closer look at a young and very talented events planner and entrepreneur when the news of her collaboration with founder of design label, Off White and creative director for Menswear at Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, broke.

Iretidayo Zaccheaus, since 2018 has been organising a streetwear convention known as Street Souk. The annual event is a creative mix of fashion, music, and culture that surrounds the display of streetwear fashion from established and buorgeoning brands.

In an interview with Native Magazine, Iretidayo confessed that she knew from the beginning that she was a better organiser than creative, and when she realised that she could bring people together over a shared love for streetwear and pop culture, she jumped at it.

Now, more than two years after it all began, and with an international collaboration as well as other success stories, Iretidayo is looking to take Street Souk to the ends of Africa. With everything that she has achieved in such a short period of time, it appears that we would be seeing this dream come true rather sooner than later.

Tems

Tems’ artistry is like a seductive blend of Lauryn Hill, Beyonce and the unique, passionate and powerful sound that could only belong to the Nigerian alternative R&B artist.

Born Temilade Openiyi, Tems’ earliest recollection of making music was when, at 6 years, she found a phrase in her mother’s poem book and wrote a chorus to it. But even then, she had no idea that this was something she wanted to make a career of. It wasn’t until she turned 11 that she had an inkling.

With the support of her family and her music teacher, she started to build her voice into the strong yet warm, catchy sound that we, including Barack Obama, have come to fall in love with.

At the start of her career, Tems was performing solo. She produced, released and promoted her first major song, Mr. Rebel, on her own. It was not a decision she made from the beginning, but one that became imperative if she was going to stick to her style and remain original. In an interview with The Fader, she shared her reason:

“One holiday I came back and I wanted to work with a producer and all the producers I tried to talk to had a lot of conditions. It’s either you have to give something, and I didn’t have money, and anything else is disgusting to me. I was just like ‘Na wa’, should I be struggling because I want to make one beat. Since I knew what I was looking for, I decided to learn how to myself. I started watching videos on YouTube and got onto it pretty quickly. I’m still not like the best but I know what I want and I know the vibe, I know the secret formula to myself which other people don’t know. I’ve heard beats made by other producers but I always need it to have a Tems factor in it, which I can’t explain but it’s a thing — this feeling I get when I’m creating a song.”

Today, Tems has several hit singles and collaborations under her belt, as well as 2 EPs (For Broken Ears [2020] and Time Swap [2013]) and a beats-only album (Illumination [2018]) to her name. Clearly, we have not heard the last of her.

Chef Obehi

Chef Obehi might be the typical epicurean, but it was not until January 2015 that she decided it was time to make a career out of what she has described as her ‘alchemy.’ She enrolled in the Capsicum Cooking School located in Pretoria South Africa, and the rest is history.

Chef Obehi is the Director of NYS Atelier Culinaire, a delivery-only and catering brand, and more recently – in 2020 to be exact – she became the executive chef and partner of the revamped and rechristened BLD by Play (now The Observatory). Her meteoric rise in the culinary world is impressive, and to date, she continues to dazzle with her aesthetically-pleasing and tasty dishes.

Vanessa Onwughalu

Like Chef Obehi, Vanessa did not originally start out in the beauty industry. Her first degree is in Politics and International Relations and even when she went for a second one, it was a Masters of Law in International Law. It was only after this that she went on to do some short makeup courses with the AMF Academy in the United Kingdom while building experience with Josie Maran’s consulting department for about three months.

Taos Beauty was birthed in the UK in 2014, and a few months after, it made its debut in Nigeria. In the last 6 years, it has gradually risen in popularity, offering everything from lipliners to glow kits, lip stains, setting sprays and even accessories like sponge blenders and brush sets. But Vanessa is not one to rest on her laurels.

In 2017, she launched Malichaluxury, a skincare solutions brand and buoyed by her success, veered into loungewear and lingerie with Laceyxness in 2020, possibly in response to the trend that picked up when we were all forced to live out our lives within the concrete confines of our home.

Vanessa continues to push forward products that are quick to become lifestyle necessities, and she has so much more to achieve.

Tito Ovia

Nigeria, like any developing nation, battles with many challenges, not least amongst them being poor healthcare. The problem with this sector is multifaceted with one of them being the way we collect, curate and convert data. It is this particular challenge that Helium Health, co-founded by Tito Ovia, is working hard to overcome.

Armed with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Manchester and an insight into how problematic the documentation process in the Nigerian healthcare system is (gotten from her time with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) as an assistant project manager), Tito Ovia has found her calling in the messy world of healthcare data.

She had always known that this industry was in trouble, and she wanted to help. So she tried to become a doctor. And failed after two attempts at medical school, undeterred she went on to study Biomedical Sciences where she developed a love for public health which was in line with her initial dream.

Helium Health started in 2015 and was incorporated in 2016 as One Global Medical Technology. After getting into Y Combinator, it changed to its present name, and has so far worked with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, merged with MedicPlus, bought SmartDoctor, and raised $10m in a Series A funding round.

The goal Tito Ovia has for Helium Health, along with her co-founders is simple: digitise the entire health data process through Electronic Management Records (EMR) solutions to optimise time management in the sector and pave the way for further, much-needed solutions. With all it has achieved so far, Helium Health, along with Tito Ovia and her team are well on their way to doing just that.

Kunle Balogun

Kunle Balogun is a flipper. Just give him any space and he’ll flip it around. From offices to stores, clubs, restaurants; if you brought your school or religious house to him and his interior design firm, House of Assembles – he would transform it into a space you would want to be in forever. What makes his design firm even more impressive is that he tries to ensure that every piece he uses in his work is sourced from, and designed in Nigeria.

Kunle graduated from the Florence Institute of Design International in Italy and came back to Nigeria to set up House of Assembles in 2017. His plan is to contribute immensely to the growth of interior design in Nigeria while providing exclusive design concepts to commercial, retail and residential end-users. To date, he has been hugely successful, and it wouldn’t come as any surprise to us if he becomes one of the most sought-after interior designers on the continent and beyond.

Aida Bamba

If you are looking for someone who knows a little (or maybe a lot!) of everything about fine dining on the African continent, you should speak to Aida Bamba, better known as the Serial Foodie.

Aida is an Ivorien who started writing restaurant reviews after a breakup in 2015. Her background in Agro-food engineering helped to form the foundation of her analyses, and soon after, she became one of the most sought-after food critiques in Côte d’Ivoire. In fact, she became so popular that Nespresso sought her out for a project in her country.

Today, Aida is extending her expertise to hotels, spas as well as the hospitality and wellness industry in Côte d’Ivoire and other African countries. She is touring the continent to show the delicious side of Africa to the world, while keeping the aforementioned industries on their toes so that they put their best foot forward each and every time.

Tobi Abiodun

Or Toby, as he is known professionally.

Do you remember the Heritage Bank advert which aired during the 2019 edition of the BB Naija reality show, where the spoken word artiste said “Burger no fit tell Eba how Banga soup dey be,” then you have already met Toby. As with most creatives, the 26-year-old poet started way before the advert brought him to a larger audience, and he has continued to grow exponentially since then.

Toby has featured in many poetry competitions locally and regionally where he has gathered awards and even more fame. He has described himself as one who “come(s) from the bloodline of sorcerers and priests, lords and keepers of the altars of poetry… a bloodline of musicians and scribes, a people whose lips rise with the pressure of calling the revolution by its name…” but it is apparent that it is he who is in fact birthing and creating this bloodline with the events and classes he continues to attend and hold, offline, but more recently online in keeping with recent trends.

Toby continues to speak his way to the limelight, using his words as a tool for change, justice and entertainment. With all he has achieved so far, we know we are definitely going to be seeing, and hearing, a lot of him in the future.

Abdul Abdulrahim, Preston Ideh, Michael Famoroti & Foluso Ogunlana

The ‘information company’ focused on business and finance was co-founded in London in 2017 by the quartet of Abdul Abdulrahim, Preston Ideh, Michael Famoroti and Foluso Ogunlana.

In the last 3+ years, Stears – consisting of its media publication, Stears Business, as well as its data collection, research, and analytics division, Stears Data – has striven to consistently provide high-quality, data-driven information, a feature that was sadly lacking in an industry forced to rely heavily on advertising to survive.

Last year, Stears took its goals a step higher. It raised a seed investment of $600,000 and introduced a subscription model to continue its promise of delivering high-quality content in Nigeria. It is slowly but surely rising up in the ranks as the media house to trust for accurate information in the country, and the sky seems to be only but the proverbial stepping stone for this ambitious quartet and the information house that they run.

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“As adults look for new ways to switch off and relax, we saw an opportunity to help them switch off after a busy day and relax as they immerse themselves in creating these beautiful botanical builds,” said Lego senior designer Anderson Ward Grubb.

The Flower Bouquet set contains 756 pieces for the construction of bunches of model flowers, including roses, poppies, snapdragons, and daises, as well as grasses. The Bonsai model building kit on the other hand contains 878 pieces to create a tree that is displayed on a rectangular plant pot on a slatted wood-effect stand. Kits to build individual roses and tulips are also available.

This new collection is intended to be displayed in the home as soon as they are completed. “Our homes have always been the most important spaces in our lives, and that’s only become even more so as many of us find ourselves there for longer periods of time than we’re used to. So, it was critical for us during the design process to create products that were not just fun to build but were beautiful pieces of decor that you’d want to have on display and bring you a bit of that focus and joy you felt as you put them together,” explains Grubb.

With sets designed to be customisable, customers can be assured of unique and individual creations that would not only make for an interesting pastime either as a family or alone, but one that would also reflect the personality whoever puts them together.

Source: Dezeen

The post Lego Releases Botanical Collection that Doubles as Home Decor first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Lego Releases Botanical Collection that Doubles as Home Decor appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

I am going to get all African at this point and share the proverb that says that “If you do not know where you are going, you must remember where you came from.” We definitely know where our Valentine Edit is going, but we will not assume you have been with us all the way.  And so, if you want to know what we’ve been up to, check out our latest story here, which would also link you to all the brands we have highlighted with special packages for you this season.

Kunmi Owopetu is a star photographer. But it is not just about the right positions, lights and clicks. “I am an adept storyteller. I believe that photography gives us an opportunity to define ourselves, a rare avenue to tell our stories and portray visions of our ourselves in the form of tastefully crafted imagery,” says the talented photographer.

In the last decade, Kunmi has done just that – tell stories through his stunningly clear pictures. Just like his pictures, his art has an interesting backstory. Kunmi’s father was a graphic artist, and as a child, he sought a way to explore his own side of these creative genes. He first dabbled into pencil drawings and then tried on his father’s shoes by venturing into graphic designing before he finally found a foothold in photography.

This Valentine’s Day, Kunmi Owopetu is inviting you to capture the beautiful essence of your love before the keen eyes of his lenses. Give yourself and your partner the gift of beautiful, lasting memories from a creative who knows how to frame your story even better than you imagined.

To book an appointment, please visit Kunmi Owopetu on Instagram.

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 11): Lasting Memories by Kunmi Owopetu first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 11): Lasting Memories by Kunmi Owopetu appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.