#EventWednesday Palmwine and other local events...

My weekend was, as the cool kids say, 'lit'.

There was Falana, Bono, a wedding and palmwine. But not necessarily in that order.

On sunday I went for the 'Palmwine and Other Local Drinks' exhibition.

You know how you are curious and then decide to do a documentary and exhibition based on that curiousity? O wait. That's almost none of us! Apart from Mode of 'Studio of Mode' though.

She got curious about local drinks in Nigeria and off she went to do a documentary on it, speaking with the people who make (and enjoy) it, and then an exhibition to further s.h.a.r.e that experience.

It was a two day exhibition and was quite illuminating for me. Yes I knew about Kunu, Palmwine and Ogogoro, but I had never given more thought to perhaps how they are tapped / made and the types.

The exhibition took us on that journey, from kunu ( which can be made from various ingredients including tiger nuts, maize and millet ), to palmwine (complete with things used to tap the wine, how palm kernel is used for several other things and the two ways of tapping), to raffia wine, ogogoro and burukutu.

We were able to taste most of these things including the destructive and non destructive palmwine (former destroys the tree in process but is safer while latter is better for the tree but more dangerous), the tiger nuts and kunu, the burukutu and ogogoro. I saw a few people leaving the exhibition a lot 'happier' than when they came in.

It was also nice to not just hear about these things but also see some of the materials used in the process, like a bicycle like I mentioned before, cutlass, ropes and a canoe. There were also some videos of interviews with the tappers and sellers.

It was interesting to enjoy a drink but also enjoy learning about how it got there and why.

For more information, check out www.studioofmode.com

The other things that happened to me last weekend were no less interesting. Infact, weekends are like airports. Empty and boring some times, and then other times, so full and busy you can barely catch a breath!

I saw the artiste, Falana, live at #FalanaUnconvered pop up concert held at Alara, had dinner at Nok, met Bono (bonoooooooooooooooo) at ONE Nigeria's campaign cocktail, and celebrated with Kunbi of April by Kunbi at her glamorous wedding!

Phew!

See more pictures from my long weekend below!

#TosynPlayMySongNa

Heyyy!

So you know I love music right? Especially when it is #FreshandAlternative? Plus I see a lot of people asking how to get airplay!

I can't play it all but we sure will try with #TosynPlayMySongNa

Here is how it works
- Put up a video on instagram of you singing YOUR OWN SONG accappella or with a guitar / piano ONLY.

- CC @tosynbucknor @tosynontheair using the hashtag #TosynPlayMySongNa

We will repost our favourites daily, play three favourites on my radio show weekly, interview a few of you here, and at the end of the month, one lucky person will not only get airplay and gifts but also N50000 cash.

All the best!

#MondayMotivation Work Work Work Work Why?

(Do not read this post without Rihanna's 'Work' mentally nearby).

So I know this is the generation of 'hustiling'. Everyone is working hard, main job and side hustle or running their own business, people glorying in not sleeping and we generally just running ourselves down!

Look, I applied for my first job in secondary school so believe me when I say, working is part survival and part fulfilling something on the inside. We work because we have to, because we want to, and a lot of times, we work because we can.

BUT!
On the flip side is the damage we may be doing to ourselves. Stress, high blood pressure etc, and that silent voice that speaks up when we are 'chilling' to say "so you are now relaxing ba? You better go and work? I'm sure so and so isn't resting at the moment".
So we work some more.

I believe in working hard but working smart. I try to make every decision targeted and specific.

It's awesome to (in Rihanna's voice everybody) work work work work work. It is also awesome to know the four w's of work.

What
What is this for? Is it a step in the right direction purpose wise? What does it bring me? Salary? Contentment? Expression?

You need to the 'what' of what you do!

Who
Who am I doing this for? Who am I going to be if I do this? Who benefits from this? Who is really calling the shots?

Where
Where is this taking me to? Where will I get to if I get on the path?

And for perhaps the most important reason of all-

Why
Why am I doing this? Is it for ME or to satisfy someone or something? 

Be sure that when you say yes to an 'opportunity' or an offer, whether made by someone or from within you, you can actually answer these questions.

10 pictures that perfectly capture Rio Olympics 2016

Rio2016 is officially over and medals have been won and lost. Memories last though especially through pictures and based on the pictures below,perhaps there should be medals for photographers too!

These pictures perfectly capture the spirit of the Olympics, from funny, to emotional and sometimes downright jaw-dropping moments.

First the really funny ones:

Classic David and Goliath picture. 

Ragan Smith is a US gymnast and DeAndre Jordan a basketball star.

Smith is 4ft 6ins while Jordan is 6ft 11ins. Hilarious combo! But at least they are BOTH in the picture!

At the opening ceremony of the Olympics, the Tonga flag bearer Pita Nikolas Aufatofua had the ladies drooling when he stepped up out leading the Tonga team. Bare chested and oiled up, this picture went viral.

Now this one i dont know how to categorise. See why.

This picture is a classic portrayal of doing everything to win, as long as it is legal. 

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas on the left hand side dove over the finish line to win the gold medal in the Women's 400m Final ahead of silver medalist Allyson Felix of the United States.

Allyson Felix was stunned when Miller dove because she already thought she had won. Miller on the other hand said it was not planned, more of an instinct.

Now let's look at some emotional pictures from Rio

One of the best tennis players in the world is Serbia's Novak Djokovic and he surely did not expect to lose to Juan Martin Del Potro.

He did and left the court in tears as the crowd applauded one of the best players in the game.

Kosovo's Majlinda Kelmendi was in tears after receiving the gold medal for winning the judo -52kg competition. Why? 

Well when you make history as your country's first ever Olympic champion, it sure would move you to tears.

This might look like just any other selfie, but this particular one went viral, because we have two people Lee Eun-Ju of South Korea on the right and Hong Un Jong of North Korea taking a selfie together. 

Two individuals who did not let the war between their countries affect their humanity.

This was such a powerful moment that I'm keeping the picture!

And as for the moments that caused our jaws to drop?

Riding on the barriers is not yet an Olympics sport, but Laurine van Riessen of the Netherlands was forced to do it, to avoid colliding with Virginie Cueff of France. Talk about riding skills.

This is definitely not one you want to try at home. Double Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock pulled himself up into the air above Sugarloaf mountain from his hotel balcony.

Another awesome moment was when Chinese weightlifter Long Qingquan, broke the world record with a total of 307kg, thereby lifting three times his own body weight.  He also won gold. Of course.

                                        

This photo of Usain Bolt smiling as he outpaced everyone on the field was captured by Cameron Spoencer. We all knew Bolt was fast, but please who makes out time to smile, while everyone else is gritting teeth. Bolt is truly the greatest.

Summer Olympics 2020, we await!

#TravelThursday: 5 places where the sun never sets!

In Nigeria, we have fairly normal daylight and nighttime conditions, so when it is between 6 pm and 7 pm, the sun sets and the day starts to grow dark, right?

Now imagine a place, where it is daylight for 24 hours, a place where the sun never sets! Where you actually need to check the time, to know when to call it a night and go to bed.

For some, it is strange at first, so strange that they find it difficult falling asleep, because the normal conditions of darkness are not there. Yet, there are people who are used to the sun shining bright at 11pm! Where? Here are 5 places where this happens:

NORWAY

Norway is popularly called the land of the midnight sun. This is because for about 76hours between late May and late July, the sun remains high in the sky for about 20 hours every day.

To sleep, you will probably need heavy curtains to shut out the sunlight, or you might find yourself tossing and turning all night, if you are not used to it. Research says that this happens because of Norway's high altitude, so the period of refracted sunlight is longer.

FINLAND

In parts of Finland, they have daylight for 24 hours on some days.  No sunset, just the sun shining all day and all night.

And then on the other hand they experience no sunlight for some days during the winters. Just darkness all day and all night. Talk about extremes!

SWEDEN

In Sweden, for up to six months in the year there is constant sunshine all day and then on other days the sun sets at about midnight and rises at 4am! I think Sweden should be called the sunlit country.

ALASKA

Like Norway, the sun does not set in Alaska, from late May to late July and sets in the summer around 12.30am. This is partly because Alaska is just south of the Arctic Circle.

ICELAND

The Icelandic football team was one of my favorites during the Euro 2016 tournament and apart from being a beautiful country with peace loving people, the sun never fully sets in Iceland during winter, constant sunlight all day long! It sets for about 3 hours during the summer from 12 am - 3 am.

Knowing how it can be hard for some people to sleep when there is light, i sure am glad i live where the sun sets!

TBuzz Review: Mara Cruiz organic hair products

For the last few weeks I have been giving my hair a treat.

 I stumbled on Amara of Mara Cruiz organics during the #ServiceSwap that trended on twitter. (Read about that here Service Swap   ).

She met up with me to personally hand over some of their products (for kids and adults) and that gave me the opportunity to find out a little about why she started this journey.

According to her, it started as a way of helping her child find something that would not irritate her scalp. Since then, she has actually taken courses and continues to develop the brand which turned one last month.

I got the
- Shampoo
- Rinse Out conditioner
- Leave-In conditioner
- Hairgrowth stimulator oil
- Hair Mayonnaise
- Hair cream

and have now been able to use all of them at different times.

On the whole, products with natural components score highly with me. It usually means they have all of the goodness without the chemicals that could damage hair. I especially liked the shampoo because of its smell (black soap) and the rinse out conditioner as well.

The products are easy to apply with instructions clearly written on the bottles / jars.

I have a giveaway bag with all the products above plus an extra one for the kids containing shampoo, rinse out conditioner, leave in conditioner, baby oil for hair and skin and hair butter which can be won via instagram.

Follow @maracruizorganics and @tosynbucknor on instagram and answer this question on my instagram page,
"What's one product in the adult pack that is not in the baby pack?"

#TravelThursday: Staying healthy while on holiday

Travelling is a lot of fun but you know what is not fun? Falling ill while on holiday. Yuck! Who wants to go through that?

To avoid falling ill and spending your holiday in bed, check out some of the things you can do.

BEFORE YOU GO!

- Get a check up!
Have your doctor do a quick once over to ensure everything is a okay!

- Get your travel insurance done!
While some visa applications require you to have travel insurance, if you are going to a visa free place, still get some kind of insurance for yourself.

- Take the meds you need
If there are certain medications you need to take then you should take them along. Have your own mini first aid kit which includes bandages, plasters, pain relievers etc.
Lastly remember, the fact that something is over the counter in your country does not make it same all over.

You know any health issues you might have. So ensure you stock up on meds to take with you. Do not forget your meds!

- Do your research!
Check out what precautions are necessary for where you are going and also what to avoid.

- Have a medical contact!

DURING THE TRIP.

- Mind what you eat. ..
And Drink!

I am pretty adventurous when it comes to food but always be cautious, especially if you have allergies. Most restaurants will tell you what's in the food so that's fine but be careful about eating at just any place or even fruits etc. And be extra careful when it comes to water!

- Stay active and alert
Exercise a little but don't over exert yourself.

- Wear appropriate clothing
If you are in a cold place, stay warm. If it is warm, ensure your clothing is loose. It might seem basic but it is easy to forget. Shawls and jackets are a girl's best friend!

- Be careful with insects and animals
(Even here please. Lol)

WHEN YOU COME BACK
- See a doctor!
Do another post trip check up

- Ease back in
Rest for an extra day if you can before going back to work / school to avoid breaking down!

I hope these help.

A Tale of a 'Dream Team', a Bronze medal and a Japanese surgeon....

Congratulations are in order for the Nigerian U-23 team! Their road to the bronze medal was not easy but thanks to goals from Sadiq Umar, and from Aminu Umar, the team went past Honduras to win the bronze medal.

I mean the Nigerian contingent really had it rough this year. First, they found it difficult to get the needed transport fare to Brazil with most athletes resorting to opening Gofundme accounts. Then to make matters worse, the Football team was stranded a day to their first game and had to play 6 hours after landing ( and the wrong anthem was played for them)

And who can forget walking past in tracksuits because the official kits did not make it down in time??!

So while we may only have bronze, we can say we got it against all odds.

It is one of the reasons Japanese surgeon Katsuya Takasu promised to give the team cash gifts if they won a medal.

Takasu is a member of Japan Medical Association, Japan Society of Aesthetic Surgery, Japanese Association of Cosmetic Surgeons, Japan Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery amongst others.

He was appointed as a visiting professor of cosmetic surgery at Showa University School of Medicine in 2011.

He is also in the Guinness Book of Records for the most golf holes played by a pair in 12 hours cart. 

I'm off to critically examine my family tree as i am sure he is my grandpa!

Rio Olympics 2016: A tribute to the Nigerian spirit

The Rio Olympics for team Nigeria has been a study in courage and loyalty. First it began with the news that the athletes could not get transport to the Olympics.

Then the news that some athletes had to go on social media and use Gofundme to raise money for transport. Eventually, the Nigerian football team got stranded in Atlanta.

Then on the day of the opening ceremony, the team came out in tracksuits because their official attires, were not finished on time.

Think we are done? No. On the day of the first Nigerian football match, the wrong anthem was played, leaving the team, confused.

All this would be enough to demoralize anyone, yet the Nigerian team has stayed strong. Segun Toriola crashed out in the second round, but not after he became the first African to make seven appearances at Olympics table tennis events.

Aruna Quadri became the first African to reach the quarterfinals of men’s singles event at Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where he eventually lost to the Ma Long the number one tennis player in the world.

Chierika Ukogu a medical student  is Nigeria’s first ever rower in the Olympics to have got this far. She came fifth in the third quarterfinal of the Women’s single sculls rowing event.

The Nigerian football team with Mikel Obi as captain have stayed strong, beating Sweden to qualify for the quarterfinals.

In all it has been a wonderful outing, the Nigerian team has showed that it has the Nigerian spirit, the spirit to push hard and remain strong despite obstacles.

#TravelThursday: Top 5 weirdest tourist attractions in the world

Tourist attractions are one of the major reasons people travel. The need to see something different, something weird, something new, drives millions into planes to remote locations every year.

Apart from the really beautiful sights we can see when we travel to tourist attractions, there are also really weird ones. Check out this list based compiled by Cntraveler. Here we go:

New Zealand's Steepest Street

You know how some streets can slope gradually when you walk down, this street, the Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand is in the Guinness book of records as been the steepest of them all.

It is 1,150 meters long and has a 19-degree slope, it would be near impossible to drive up this street, and walking up it would be a form of exercise.

Nebraska’s Carhenge

If you are a student of history, then no doubt you would have heard of Stonehenge, a group of really large stones arranged in a circular form, no one is sure who built it till now.

Somewhere in Nebraska, an artist named Jim Reinders decided to do something similar in memory of his father, using cars arranged in a circle. The cars are their original sizes, models painted gray. A site you might not forget.

China’s upside down house

Have you ever felt like your life was upside down? Well, if you get to to the China Folk Painting Village in Fengjing Ancient Town, just south of Shanghai, China, you might see what it would really feel like to have your life upside down.

In the upside down house, the furniture and everything else is arranged in a way that appears to defy gravity. Imagine standing on your ceiling.

South Africa’s Big pineapple

In South Africa’s Eastern Cape, there is a pineapple industry. Yet, the most weird thing is the 55-foot-high fiberglass pineapple.

Imagine a three story building high pineapple. After checking out the 360-degree view, you can also watch a film about the area’s agriculture and how pineapple is processed.

Thailand’s Hell Garden

Let us assume, you want to know what Hell looks like, well you can learn a lot in Thailand’s Hell garden.

The Wang Saen Suk’s “hell garden” shows you, in disturbing detail, what to expect in Hell, with life-size statutes. Many will come back from a visit to the garden as saints.

So which would you like to visit first?

Paul Pogba: What is all the fuss about

So the name Pogba, has been trending everywhere, for close to a week now. All the sport news channels are talking about him, Adidas made a video for him and err, i keep snapchatting and yelling "Pogbaaaaaa".

Some people are confused, like, what is this fuss really about?Every club is buys players; why is this one fuss-worthy?

Let me help.

RECORD TRANSFER

You know how we all like to talk about people breaking world records? Well, Paul Pogba just broke one.

Yes, he was signed to Man United for a world-record fee of £89m. Yes, people, 89 million! That alone, is going to be talked about for a really long time.

POGBACK

Why do people call him Pogback?

Let me explain that nickname: He started his career at Man United in 2009, but left in 2012, after some problems with the club management. Now, 4 years later Pogba is back, REUnited... Pogback.

AS A PLAYER

As a player, Paul Pogba on his good days, is unstoppable. He has the height the style, and the stature to give the opposing team a scare.

Many football analysts are already saying he will add the fear factor to the Man United team.

So as the new season begins, the anticipation builds.

Will he be worth the world-record transfer fee? Will he be the rejected stone that returns to become the cornerstone? Will Man United regret reuniting?

All these are questions that will be answered as the season unfolds. 

Pogbaaccckkk!

#FreshAndAlternative Byno shines as Gold hits happy ears

A very happy Matthew hung out at the "Gold" listening party. Here is his report.

"On a night with every member of the YBNL family present, as well as OAPs, pressmen and many other artistes including Bez, Tjan, Falana, Falz, Phyno, Pepenazi, Yung L and Uzikwendo, Adekunle Gold treated us to a newsworthy listening party.

Matthew with Douglas and VJ Adams

Matthew and Falana

Some might have been dismissive when they first heard a cover of One Direction's 'Story Of My Life' by a certain new-ish name back in 2014. Little did they know that was the beginning of a fresh sound of alternative music in Nigeria. 

 Adekunle Gold has successfully concluded the maiden Chapter of what has now become a new sound that has brought together and even unveiled many of his kind. The photoshop expert, who only dated girls he never met (words of the host on the night, Dotun) has now become the voice of true endearment.

The YBNL soldier treated his audience to an unplugged feel of GOLD and a night of unforgettable performances.

Despite starting over 2 hours behind schedule, largely due to the fact that many attendees were unable to surf through traffic, the event kicked off on a very refreshing note.

Label hypeman and OAP, Dotun, greeted Adekunle Gold’s parents and introduced indie artiste, Ric Hassani to start the night with, "Gentleman".

Ric's amazing performance was not the only thing noticed, but the fact that the live band captured every single detail of the song. In the midst of that applause, Byno appeared before the audience and just as everyone thought his rendition would be just a cover of Adele’s 'Hello', he instead delivered a medley, switching from that to Drake’s 'One Dance' and Kevin Little’s 'Turn me on' and then a native song. He then went on to Alicia Keys’ "In Common" and Kiss Daniel’s "Mama".

The mood Byno created was a dope blend of absolute awe and humour, leaving the audience at a crossroads as to whether to clap, cry or laugh. Just as everyone thought his session was over, Byno turned to the band for what he described as a 'Byno Party'.

  Aramide was next and her new songs "Funmilowo" and "Iwo Nikan" drove the audience crazy. 'The Voice' favourite Chike was next, and then after was Simi. 

  Adekunle Gold rounded up the night, supported by a fantastic Band, a standing audience and the brain behind the mixing of every song of GOLD, Simi. Pick Up wrapped up an extra-ordinary night and the audience were wonderful to delay hold on the night till around 11pm"

#FashionFriday Style it like a Soul Chic

Okay let’s be honest, it’s not easy being a soul chick here because we do more classic styles and everyone is afraid of breaking out of the norm.

But, if you find yourself drawn to a certain style, here’s a guide on how.

Earthy Colours
Soul sisters know that browns, leaf green, leaf yellow and other shades of earthy colours transform you immediately.
If you want to try the soul chic look, start with some earthy colours.

Skirts must flare
What is it with soul and skirts? Skirts are great for loads of looks including gypsy, corporate and even edgy but on a soul sister, a flared skirt makes you look instantly stylish.

Accessorise
When it comes to accessorising like a soul chic, more is more.
One bangle is never enough. Pile it on. One neck piece? Who are you? A minimalist?
Soul is about the layers, especially when it comes to accessories so go crazy.

Don’t neglect your hair
From headwraps to bows and buns, the soul chic’s style mantra is “I must, I must, I must not forget my hair”.

I hope these four tips help you.

Where all else fails, ask yourself, would Aramide, asa or India Arie wear this? Lol