Celebrity stylist and fashionista,Tiannahstyling,was a year older yesterday and her friends were on hand to make it a special one for her.
Lady Of Style,Toyin Lawani Celebrates Birthday
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"Omotola Argues A Lot" Husband Reveals Secret To Their SuccessfulMarriage
Award-winning actress and one of TIME 100 most influential persons, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, is a reporter’s delight. After several months of chase, she and her husband, Matthew, agreed to an interview last Saturday. Held in their Lagos home, they talk about their 18-year-old union
What was the initial attraction?
Matthew: She was beautiful, fresh and untouched. I decided to start with someone who hadn’t seen the world yet.
Omotola: He was good looking but basically, it was his sense of humour and sense of responsibility. He is God-fearing too and a serious-minded person.
When did you propose to her?
Matthew: We didn’t court. I met her when she was 16 and I was 26. We got married when she was 18. She clocked 36 recently. We were family friends and I met her through my elder sister. She used to come around the house and when she turned 18, I decided she was ripe. I told her I would marry her and she didn’t believe. I went to tell her late mother, who said I should wait till after four years because Tola had just gained admission to the university then. I told the mother that I couldn’t wait because I didn’t trust the guys in the university.
How did he propose?
Omotola: That was when I turned 18. We had been friends for about two years. He was like a family friend then but I knew he had some plans. He didn’t say anything serious and I was somehow underage. When I turned 18, on my birthday, he jokingly said, ‘babes you don grow o.’ He told me his plan.
Were you scared of getting married then?
Omotola: I wasn’t. I have always been very mature for my age. But otherwise, I had already known him for so long and was very comfortable with him. I just knew that life with him would be comfortable and easy. I didn’t know I would conform to a marriage setting because my mother used to tell me that I was very headstrong. I just thank God that I found someone who could understand me.
How has the journey been for 18 years?
Omotola: Nothing has changed really. It is still the same relaxed, easy-going relationship. There are times when we have misunderstandings but it is never anything serious or unbelievably scary. It has been the grace and fear of God. Everything results in what God thinks about the situations and we pray about it. Everyone is conscious of the fact that we must respect God in the relationship and then your spouse. We don’t just do things. Secondly, we are very grounded and real. We try the best we can to make everything natural. We don’t stress ourselves.
How did you manage the fame?
Omotola: It is just by God’s grace. If a couple cooperates with God, then He gives them the grace to tolerate each other.
How do you react to alleged scandals about your wife?
Matthew: I have heard and seen a lot that were untrue about her. I trust her. I know they will always write a lot of nonsense, why should I bother myself?
How do you feel when she plays romantic roles in movies?
Matthew: They are all make-believe. They are not real and most of her movies are pecks and not kisses. I told her not to cross that boundary.
What are the secrets of your successful marriage?
Matthew: It is God’s grace. We are disciplined and prayerful.
Omotola: It has to be God. There is no other strategy. One person can be perfect and the second person can be nasty. On our part, I’d say also that we don’t look at the relationship as something we can walk away from. We look at it as a life commitment. When you parents upset you, you cannot divorce them. Even the bible says you will leave your father and your mother and cleave to your spouse. Luckily, he doesn’t drink or smoke or abuse me. I don’t have any major thing to complain about, and I hope it is the same thing for him.
Do you quarrel?
Matthew: Yes we do. A lot. She is very argumentative. She always wants to be right. You can never win an argument with her. But she is the first to apologise.
Omotola: When there is a quarrel, I usually apologise first. He doesn’t say sorry. Overtime, I have come to realise that it is an ego problem. Even when he knows he is wrong, he will rather do every other thing or buy things for me than say, ‘I’m sorry.’ Fortunately, the ‘sorrys’ are not too many. He is very responsible and more hardworking than me. By God’s grace, we have been able to understand our routine.
What is your advice to celebrity couples?
Matthew: Foundation really matters. Some people get into the relationship for one wrong motive or the other. Most of them live false lives. Couples that are in the same profession hardly last in a marriage. There is always competition. The best thing is to marry someone that is compatible with you.
What are the reasons for break up in celebrity marriages?
Omotola: It is really hard but you both have to feel extremely secure. You have to be extremely confident and trust each other. There are so many things to deal with, especially in this environment where some people just thrive in hurting other people. The weird part is that you cannot believe that people are capable of such wickedness. You are sane and cannot believe other people are insane. These are the things that cause break up in celebrity marriages. A lot of people are talking and saying nasty things that are not true. It is just as if there is a gang up to break you up once they know you are a celebrity or in a relationship. Most times, they are all lies! Celebrity lifestyle gossip is getting to a point where they are getting close to your kids and family. They try to put your relationship in jeopardy. Then, petty things that wouldn’t cause any problems become issues. I hope there would be legislation that will protect families.
Have you ever felt threatened by her success?
Matthew: There is no reason or room for it. When I met her, she was just Omotola Jalade, and she had done just one movie. I am happy for her. When I met her, she was just getting into the movie industry. I always encourage her and hope for the best. I don’t feel threatened in any way.
How do you switch from the lifestyle of a celebrity to that of a wife?
Omotola: It is easy for me. It starts with who you truly are. The real me is not very glamorous. People may not believe it. I know what people’s perception can be. I am a homely person. If I had my way, I wouldn’t go out. When I am at home, I am Omotola. When I am with my close friends, we don’t impress each other and we try to keep it very real.
With the children, who is stricter?
Matthew: She is. We are blessed with kids that behave themselves. We do not have children that are into all sort of funny things.
How about the recent warning to bloggers about your daughter’s pictures?
Matthew: I do not know why they would do that but it is just another lesson for the kids to be very careful about what they put out there. Actually, she did it with the intent of exchanging with her friends, not knowing that people will get into her private business. We have told her to take down all the pictures and leave only one.
How do you handle finance in your marriage?
Matthew: When we first started, we had one account. We had goals and things that we wanted to do. Whatever we earned had to be in one purse. Then, we sat at the end of the month and drew a budget. We did that for so many years and were successful until she started her own company and we decided she needed to have her own account. In most marriages, the man goes into the marriage with the mindset that he will be the sole provider even when the wife is working. That does not make any sense. He uses his money to pay bills while the woman will use hers to buy only make-up, clothes and shoes. If the couple is one, they should join resources together to move ahead. Money causes problems in a family when one person is being selfish. It doesn’t matter who earns more or less. They should have a common goal. Save together and accomplish things together.
Omotola: When we first started, we used to have a joint account and I was in charge of the finances. But as time went on, he started expanding. He has his own businesses and I have my own too. It is very difficult keeping a joint account. One of the things that scare couples about finance is trust. Luckily for us, we do not have vices. The trust is intact and I know how he spends money. He is more organised than I am. He has his budgets and it is always open. Sometimes, he even tells his kids to go and look at his budget because he is trying to teach them how to make budgets. Pilots are every meticulous about schedules. For that reason, his life is almost boring because everything is to the letter. I am the one who never has a budget because I am a spontaneous person. But he knows I am not a trivial person. I don’t just go about buying jewellery. That’s why I don’t have many girlfriends because I don’t talk about those things girls talk about. I am like a dude. I am always checking out cars or properties. He knows the kind of things I would invest my money on.
How can a woman have a successful marriage?
Omotola: I don’t believe in gender equality. I do not believe that God made man and woman to be equal in any way. I believe that in every organised institution, there is always a head and an assistant. It doesn’t mean that one should take the other for granted, or disrespect the other. I believe the husband is the head of the home and the wife is an assistant. My husband is a pilot, I have flown with him several times and I understood that here is a captain and a co-pilot. They are both responsible for the passengers’ lives. But when there is a final decision to make, it is up to the captain to make it. He is more experienced and the one with the responsibility. But any mature captain will not ignore his co-pilot because the co-pilot is not a cabin attendant. He is there for a reason. It just depends on how you understand and play your roles. I believe women should understand this. When a woman starts a struggle for power tussle with him, it tends to cause friction in the home. The woman should give the man the respect as the head of the home and also prove herself as a worthy co-pilot. He needs to see you as a reliable co-pilot. Sometimes, he may not be the one running the house day-to-day, you are the one to take decisions but you have to do it in such a manner that he is comfortable enough to see you as someone he can rely on. When you have a proud and egocentric husband, hand him over to God. If you feel like your life is being threatened, or that of your children, get yourself out of that situation. You owe your children that. Try separation for a while, but before that, you must have tried other things. I do not believe that people should throw in the towel in their marriage at every flimsy excuse. You must have been a diligent wife and tried prayers and intervention. If all those fail, then you can remove yourself from that situation. Also, couples should be friends and communicate. What we call love sometimes fizzles out. True love comes from friendship. When you don’t feel those initial sparks, friendship is what keeps you together, until when the spark comes again.
Do you still have time to cook?
Omotola: I cook all the time. I love to cook. I don’t go to the market but I do the cooking.
You go to the market for her?
Matthew: Yes and I don’t feel bad doing it. I am not just doing it for her; I do it for the family. I enjoy it a lot and I have been doing it since we got married.
He said you are stricter with the children
Omotola: My kids think I am the strictest parent on the planet. I was brought up under very strict parents but I try to balance it. I know the things that really matter and the things that don’t. When you meet my kids you will know that they are well brought up. That’s what gives me the biggest joy.
How do you feel with bad press?
Omotola: I don’t think about it because I have a lifestyle that corrects everything. Talk is cheap and I tell them to come out with proof if they have any. But if they don’t have anything, they should shut up for life. I am not interested in those kinds of talks. My husband knows me, I know myself and the people who are close to me know I can’t do the things they write about. They know what I stand for and what I signify. My hands are clean and I don’t have any hidden skeleton in any cupboard. I meet people that I want to meet but in everything I do, I make sure that I do not do what I cannot explain.
How would you describe your wife?
Matthew: She is a go-getter. She is very determined to succeed. As a wife, she is good. But sometimes, I wish she was a lot more around. She travels almost as much as I do. Sometimes, I wonder who the pilot is. As a mother, she does well; the kids are even more scared of her than they are of me. I keep thanking God because of my family because when I look around me, I see marriages that are still struggling.
How do you spend time together?
Matthew: We always talk, spend time the best way we can and usually stay at home, to do what couples do.
Omotola: Whenever we decide to spend time with the family, we dedicate sometime. My kids do not go out without us. They do not visit friends. They are very sheltered. They are always in the house with us and we hang out together.
What would you like to change about him?
Omotola: I don’t know if it is even possible to change it. I am not someone who tries to change anyone. I just try to manage situations and people. I live with them in such a way that it does not hurt me. Maybe if he can talk more. Generally, I wish he could be more communicative. But they say women are talkative.
What is your advice to couples who want to stay successfully married?
Omotola: If they want to be successfully married, they have to take time to be so close to each other that every other thing does not matter. There should never be third parties in your marriage. It is like a wall. The minute it’s cracked and lizards start coming in, it will be hard to find the lizards and throw them out. And they will start creeping into your family. Try and always sort out the issues between you. Moreover, pay your tithe individually. It’s a covering. This is our secret. When you don’t pay your tithe, you have not committed yourself and your home will not be put together. It is your foundation. But when you pay your tithe, God helps you take away every devourer. When that is taken care of and you are God-fearing, as darts are coming from every angle, you are already fortified. If you trust each other, tell each other the truth even if one person errs.
What pet names do you call each other?
Matthew: I call her Omosexy.
Omotola: I call him Honey Boy
Do you see this love lasting forever?
Omotola: Yes, though I’m not playing God, I believe our love shall be forever.
[Interview conducted by Punch @ Omotola's Home]
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Why Nollywood Stars Shun Pa Kasumu's Son's Wedding
It was apparently a moment of bliss for ailing Yoruba actor, Kayode Odumosu, alias Pa Kasumu, during the traditional wedding of his son, Olatunde Odumosu and Mojisola Adamolekun on Saturday, March 1, at Blessed International School, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
The colourful ceremony took place two days after the court wedding on Thursday, February 27, at the Ikoyi Registry, Lagos, a ceremony attended strictly by family members.
The Saturday’s traditional wedding, which was relatively elaborate, kicked off at about 1p.m. under a drizzle. The 37-year-old groom, who was dressed in a lace material cut in buba and sokoto with a red cap, was all smiles, while the proceedings lasted. The Ekiti State-born bride, with graceful steps and beatific smiles, complemented the groom in all imaginable way. As the engagement ceremony glided from the introduction, prayers for the couple by their parents, exchange of rings to the cutting of the wedding cake, the two alaga iduro as well the two masters of ceremonies, in their characteristic vivaciousness, added colour and panache to the ceremony. And then, the live band further enlivened the venue with an electrifying performance.
Interestingly, like a sub-drama, several eyes kept stealing a glance at the groom’s father at intervals. There was no mistaking the suspicious look on some faces, especially as one of the masters of ceremonies, Ben Cash, repeatedly debunked the death rumour about the respected actor. Unknowingly, he seemed to echo the murmurs in the minds of some anxious guests who wanted to know whether the various media reports about Pa Kasumu’s ill health had been sensationalised or not in anyway. But it was obvious for all to see: wobbly steps, almost inaudible voice and occasional blank look. Nevertheless, the actor, who donned a blue agbada with a pair of matching shoes and an ash-coloured cap, dutiful played his fatherly role on the occasion to the admiration of all, thereby rubbishing the claim that he is already in a vegetative state.
Interestingly, in the midst of the ceremony, many wondered why Pa Kasumu’s colleagues in the movie industry were conspicuously absent to share in his joy. The pertinent question asked in hushed tone was: where are the stars? Even when Pa Kasumu was dancing, though not energetically, with the couple, he was only supported by family members, while he ‘sprayed’ the excited couple with some crisp notes. In the opinions of some, it could only be proof of a frosty relationship between him and his colleagues.
However, some hours after the ceremony, the actor, in a telephone interview with AfricaScreen, he gave a hint on why his colleagues were not in attendance. Contrary to the insinuation in some quarters, Pa Kasumu, who initially expressed shock that our correspondent got wind of the event in spite of the strategic plans to shut out media coverage, said, “I actually didn’t invite them because my son didn’t want any publicity. Although I invited Iya Rainbow, Iya Awero, Jide Kosoko and Ngozi Nwosu, none of them could make it. Ngozu later called me in the evening that she was held up in traffic around Iyana Ipaja, so I told her not to bother because it was almost over. Iya Rainbow couldn’t come for reasons I won’t like to disclose, but neither Jide Kosoko nor Iya Awero called me to explain why they didn’t come. The truth is, if they had come, my son wouldn’t have been happy with me because he would know that I invited them. Really, their presence would have generated some publicity, which might have angered him. So, he wanted a low-key ceremony.”
When asked to clarify the rumour that the bulk of the money donated towards his treatment went into the planning of the wedding of his first son, he raised his voice, saying, “Anyone who said that must be stupid! My son is gainfully employed and I am sure you saw some of his expatriate bosses at the event. So, why won’t he be able to sponsor his wedding? It was a thing of joy to me, and that was why I danced excitedly. Oh, I love to dance! If not that I was weak, you would have been pleasantly surprised.”
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Photos Of The Day:Kenyan Actress Lupita Wins At The Oscar Academy Awards
A big congrats to this Kenyan girl for living her dreams.These are pictures of her as she wins the best supporting role for her role as Patsy in 12 years a slave.
Her acceptance speech very short and straight to the point.“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child, that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid”
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Unilag 'Big Girl' Suddenly Runs Mad
As reported by Olufamous.com
This is the sad story of a student of the University of Lagos who started madness display while on her way to meet up an "appointment" with a man in the FESTAC area of Lagos...
The man she wanted to "service" is no where to be found, now her family are struggling to restore her sanity!
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OMG!Waje Twerks On A Lucky Male Fan
Waje and her band performed an unplugged set of all her songs at Soul Lounge,Victoria Island Lagos,on the 22nd of February 2014.She danced vigorously to all her songs and even gave a lucky make fan some minutes of twerking.Her BFF,Omawunmi also joined her on stage and they both brought the roof down.Pictures don't lie.
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Is There Anything Wrong With This Photo?
This is tough for me.He is definitely wearing a costume but what is this costume used for?If you know,please enlighten me.Thanks.
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Jim Iyke Is An Ingrate,He Used Me For Six Years And Dumped Me-KenturahHamilton
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned so they say.Jim Iyke's ex fiancée,Jamaican model,Kenturah Hamilton is scorned,she's pained,her heart is in tatters courtesy Nollywood bad boy Jim Iyke. According to her,she wasted 6 good years of her life with him.While Jim has swiftly moved on to another beauty,Nadia Buari,It hasn't been so easy with Kenturah.
This is what Keturah said of the most heart breaking moment of her life:
«“I played along in the reality show as if I truly was a jealous and crazy lover.
«“It was an act, but now I feel as if Jim set me up. He is a wicked man.
«“I stood by him through all his troubles and tribulations. I helped bring him to the limelight when the light of his career was dimming. He is an ingrate and I leave him to God.”
«On her ex-man and his new boo, the hurting Jamaican said:
«“They have been hooking up in Ghana. They were together at 2Face’s wedding and appear to be everywhere together.
«“I just can’t believe Jim would be this ungrateful, after all I have done for him. I have not been able to accept this and I am truly in a state of shock.
“Jim was supposed to come to New York and stay for six months, during which time, he would go to an acting school here in New York and then, we would move to Los Angeles and get married and pursue our acting dreams.
«“I was looking forward to that with eagerness and then he just walked away.
“These days, I ask God: Why has thou forsaken me? How can a man with whom we had gone through the highs and the lows – a man who had professed so much undying love for me over the past six years just walk away like that?
«“I don’t know what happened and I wish I could put a finger on it.”
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Photos From Kwam1's Birthday Party
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Aisha Falode Pays Tribute To Son
Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola, the 19-year old son of ace broadcaster, Aisha Falode, who died on Saturday, 15 February 2014, was buried amidst tears on Monday, March 3. The funeral service, which held at Trinity House, Victoria Island, while the internment took place at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens in Lagos.
Below is the tribute, titled, You Are Me, I Am You, Aisha Falode paid to her son;
I held you in my arms and my heart burst into a million pieces of joy. It was an indescribable moment. You were adorable as I touched every bit of you. Giddy with joy, I counted your toes, your fingers, tiny and wriggly; a tough bundle of joy. Your innocent gaze upon my face, those two adorable eyes, wide and searching as only a child’s would. All the gems in Arabia would fade into insignificance at the emergence of your
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presence.
My son had come into the world, whole and complete you were. I had looked forward to having my own son. I carried you with pride and honour in my womb for 9 good months. Knowing that you will eventually be born made the discomforts of 9months seem like chewing a candy bar. Here at last you were.
As you grew up into a most interesting young star, you were my joy. In all of my trying moments, knowing that you trusted me and believed in me spurred me through even the roughest terrain. Your childhood was joyful. Your sister and you were my life. You still are my life. Nothing can erase your memory, not a thousand winds or a million rainfalls can replace those memories, not even a fearsome volcano can wipe you from me. You are me, I am you.
I am devastated, I am pained, I am inconsolable, I am a mother shattered. Who can console me but God? He knows best and did they not say those HE loves HE calls home early? My son, the curtain fell too early for you, for us. I am in the audience; I cannot jump on the stage where you are. Even if I could, the curtain is drawn already. I cannot reach you. I am tempted to say, why me, but why not me? God loves us. HE took you my bundle of joy, even now I lean on HIM. I can see you, stretching out those strong arms, I see you trying to console me, I see you saying: “Mum, it was meant to be, it is not your fault”, I see you. I see you everywhere. Together, we walked for 19yrs, you brought me joy. You excelled in your academics, you made me a proud mother as you grew into a handsome, responsible, caring, humane, disciplined man.
I will forever remember you my son. Those fun times, the times you held me when I was down, like the man of the house, which you became so early in life…I am consoled because I know for sure that you are in the bosom of the LORD. I know for sure that we will meet again.
You have not died, you are only asleep. This thought will keep me going until I behold your delightful presence again. I know you are here for I am you and you are me.
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Do You Prefer The New Or Old Ini Edo?
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Award Wining Film Maker,Kunle Afolayan Plans To Relocate AbroadPermanently
This is sad.He wrote this on his FBK page about his consideration to relocate him and his family abroad for good.
"YES! It is high time I started considering relocation. To where? I don’t know but it’s something that has been bothering me for some time now. I have always been an advocate of “Yes we are Nigerians and so shall it be” but for some time now the reality of the state of the Nigerian Nation is beginning to take its toll on me. Does our government consider us worthy citizens of Nigeria or we are just fooling ourselves?
There is no electricity to start with and that has been the case since I was born, now I have worked very hard and I am able to afford generator of any size but there is no fuel to run any of them, neither is there fuel to even move around when you need to attend to business. The life of a Kunle Afolayan is even better than that of majority of most Nigerians and every day I wonder and I ask what the future holds for ‘Iya Basira’ who sells wosiwosi and other petty traders whose goods is sometimes worth less that N10,000.
I am sure a lot of people will consider me a millionaire after I have made a few successful feature films that have recorded good box office figures and international recognition, But the truth is, it’s all make believe just as it is in the movies. If I was living in a better Nation and well-structured country, I probably will be living the life of a celebrity by now but the truth and reality is that, I am still a tenant and so is a lot of our so called celebrities in Nigeria and I am owing banks millions.
As a matter of fact, everybody in my house owns two passports, one for Nigeria and the other is for what is considered to be the most powerful country in the world, I have refused get my citizenship of America because of my sentiments of being “ PROUDLY NAIJA”. E be like say I don wake up now!! Make I carry my “ENTERPRENEURIAL ENERGY “and talent go elsewhere jare…"
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Emeka Enyiocha And Wife Welcome Baby Boy
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Photos From Kwam1's Daughter's Wedding
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She Still Got It At 44.Nia Long Covers Essence Magazine Aprill Edition
She is definitely flaunting her curves in this issue of Essence magazine.It hits the newsstand today,March 7.
What do you think of the picture on the cover?You think she still got it?
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Look Of The Day
We all love Guisepe Zanotti don't we?Of course we do.But I am not so sure of this pale pink,beaded Zanotti pairs JLO is wearing.Kind of look errrm.........don't know what word to use but you know when something is sort of oogley (ugly) lol.Well it costs $1,542 (Approximately 230,000 Naira).
So ladies,can you wear this?
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MTN Users Again!
Lol this is a carryover from last week.We had two cards but just one winner.I decided to keep the second card for today.No brain teaser today.I'm just dashing it out at random.All MTN users,let me know if you are here.Like I said,I'm just picking at random,It could be the first,second or third person to comment.Oya let's roll.
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This Heartbreaking Photo Will Bring Tears To Your Eyes
A poor innocent child trying to save this dead person (who probably might be his father).This picture was shared by singer,Kcee from the recent killings in the north.
Which way do we go Nigeria?
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Meet Eniola Badmus' Younger Sister,Tomi
She graduated from Unilag a few years ago.
She describes herself as a very independent, stubborn, gregarious lady who could be very absent-minded at times.
She says her best pal in the world is her sister, Eniola.
"The kind of love I have for my sister is the kind that makes my spirit always pray for her. She's my lover, my bestie....I love her like 'kilode'" she says.
More photos of Tomi.
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Domestic Violence:This Woman's Husband Did This To Her (ViewerDiscretion Advised)
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