Business, Church and .....

One of the topics trending on Yahoo homepage especially, is the picture of Beyonce.  For those already used to seeing her on magazine covers, this one is different. It is different because her face was painted black for a French magazine in commemoration of Fela Kuti. Now, people all over the world are irked. Naijapals, Facebook, (you name it!) for a variety of reasons. Some feel that it is an insult for her to paint her face black, some think people are being petty, some wonder what the theme of the photo shoot is, asking if Beyonce isn’t black enough to be used without having to paint her face even blacker. Some think she is being hypocritical since a picture of her was seen a couple of days/weeks ago and she was even whiter than before.  Non –Africans are laughing at the situation because it almost seems like an intra-black-society-racism, Beyonce is black, but not black enough? Some belief a “real” black model should have been used, say Alec Wek. Some even believe that Beyonce shouldn’t have accepted the contract. To some, it is a societal ridicule in that being that black is not seen as cool but when a model paints her/himself black, it is cool for that reason……. Confusion!!!

As for me, I don’t even know where I stand, because for the most part, I feel Beyonce is in business and wetin concern agbero with overload? On the other hand too, if they really wanted to depict a person that black, are they insinuating that there is no “black” person who is as beautiful as Beyonce? Or maybe they just wanted the WorldWide Celebrity endorsement thing…..My people, what are your takes?

In continuation to Looking Glass of a Nigerian Immigrant’s Post on churches, I decided to regal you with a story of my own on the subject matter. Apparently, to curtail our ever growing population in Nigeria, the government must have connived with some Christian religious leaders. Otherwise, why then would this certain pastor ask people to bring 750 naira per child for prayers? On getting home to Nigeria last December/January, my mum had gone to a revival service and when I asked my younger brother why he hadn’t gone with her, he said his spirit didn’t go with the invited pastor.  At this point, I kind of understood, because from time immemorial, invited evangelists would come and before you would realize what was happening, the focus would have gone from revival to sales of certain tapes, be it preaching tapes or music tapes. In this particular evangelist’s case, he had started siphoning money from the congregation form day 1. The next thing he said was for them to bring 750 per child for prayer!!! Ha!!! So what happens to those Iya Eleja with 7 and half children? Do the maths with me people, that’s about 5625 naira, for prayers, in the house of God?!!!!! Whatever happened to free salvation?

In personal news, I am going through that time in the Long Distance Relationship life cycle. For about a week now, it has been one issue over the other. Hardly would we have settled one before another would come up. Long story short, I am tired emotionally and I am just letting go. I understand that this might just be a phase, but I also am cognizant of the fact that we may or may not get over it. Either ways, for now, I am DONE. **Naija accent** I cannot come and kill myself. A Yoruba adage translates as “an eye that will stay with one till the evening (end) will not start emitting pus in the morning.” So if I have to spend the best part of our courtship years diffusing one flame or the other, I probably will be a firefighter for the rest of my life with him, mbanu, I have other ambitions. For now, I am back in the market, but merely spectating. Once I am ready to participate, I will let you people know, perhaps you have cousins or brothers or in-laws or neighbors, who by some stroke of luck  are emotionally stronger than I am.[In fact, I am even contemplating lesbianism, that way, I kindda know what to expect……..I kid I kid].

In conclusion, spring break is around the corner and I am just a few breaths (and exams) short of breaking out in a dance of relief! Phew….