African and Halloween

Should Nigeria adopt Halloween like they adopted Christmas and Valentine Day from the western world? 

Halloween started in Ireland as a Christian holiday, but later perceived as a pagan holiday for people to celebrate the dead or spirit of their ancestors. But today people started dressing in costumes to scare away evil spirit. 

Brief history of Halloween: according to Wikipedia, the word Halloween or hallowe'en dates to about 1745 and is of christian origin. The word "Hallowe'en means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening" It comes from a scottish term for All Hallows' day in scots, but today's Halloween festival are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic speaking countries, some of which are believe to have pagan roots... While some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of dead called... In Poland, believes some Christian church traditionally observed hallowe'en through a vigil, and fellow by a visit to the graveyard or cemetery, where flowers and candles are often placed in preparation for All Hallows' Day"

I believe Halloween or Hallows Eve is actually an annual holiday celebrated on the 31st of October in several western countries like; Germany, Canada, America, Australia, Ireland etc. Halloween is said to be ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. A Gaelic festival to mark the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the dark half of the year when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. 
In some part of European countries or even America it is an holiday, where people dress up in costumes to scare away evil spirit. For example, in Germany children dress up in costumes and go from house to house to get sweet or candy. The children will often says "sweet or bitter?" Which implies the treat or trick on neighbors. 

I want to believe the world is now a global village, and there is nothing wrong with exchanging or sharing culture but some Africans believe the western culture will affect african culture and norms. There are still many Africans who do not believe in the Halloween celebration, especially among Christians, who believe that Halloween is nothing more than a witchcraft celebration because of some traditions that are involved. For example, the wearing of a scaring costumes, if you got a trinket etc. 

To cut the long story shot, some Africans (Nigerians), believe Halloween is America or European witchcraft festival or voodoo and do not really like the Halloween festival, even though there are similar festival in Nigeria such as; the Odo festival, the Oro festival, Iriji festival, and the Eyo festival in Lagos. However, the Odo festival which marks the return of the dead to those still living in some villages in eastern part of Nigeria (Igboland). 
Also, Eyo festival it is a festival usually held in Lagos to escort the soul of a departed Lagos king or chief and to usher in a new king. The Eyo masquerades are always dress up in a white costumes with their faces covered, and clad Eyo masquerades is said to represent the spirits of the dead, and their dance routines. Just like Halloween is believe to be associated with ghost or spirit so is Odo and Eyo festival is in Nigeria. 

Although, among the Nigerians the indigenous religions or festival have largely lost majority of their traditional followers to Christianity and Islam. Even though Christianity is also European or western religion; today the Africans (Nigerians) are taking it more serious than them, those who introduced it to them. Of course Christianity is a pure religion of love and peace if we do it in the right way. Like I often say, Christianity is not a religion, it is one faith or believe in Jesus Christ. 

In the past nobody no what is Halloween in Nigeria, it is just recently people started talking about Halloween in Nigeria. Also few years ago, I heard some young people celebrated Halloween in Nigeria but this was totally different from how it been celebrated in Germany. Some adult just organized Halloween costumes part in Lagos Island. Trust me, Nigerians or Africans would always want to copy everything from western world, even though they do not really know the origin of the Halloween. Some Africans still believe whatever come from the western world is good and African can copy or adopt it into their own culture but Halloween festival is not welcome in Nigeria, especially among fundamentalist Christians who see it as evil or satanic festival. 

Anyway, the difference is that the Americans or Europeans do not take Halloween serious or attach any spiritual meaning to it like some Africans have assumed. I want to believe Halloween is only a big business in the United State, big generating business revenue growth through such festival, just like Christmas. Keep buying costumes and candy, and have fun too! Happy Halloween Germany!
Another thought provoking from Queen's court desk!

Kidnapping the New Business Trends in Nigeria

The rate of Kidnapping in Nigeria is becoming worrisome and helpless, not only to Nigerians, but to the world at large. Before now it used to be boko haram in Nigeria Kidnapping school children in the northern part of Nigeria i.e Kano, Maiduguri amongst others; Even though Kidnapping is not a new phenomenon, yet Kidnapping is becoming the order of the day in Nigeria.

 The one that is now news in Nigeria, is that some of the kidnappers use their victims as servants or to go out on the street and start asking for arms. Begging for money and bring this money in return to the Kidnappers. Example of such story is that of a young girl who was kidnapped recently, in the area of Agbor village in Delta state Nigeria, on her way to school one morning. The entire family was looking for her with no success for four months until last week when the father of the girl received a call that his supposed daughter is with them at that moment in a church in Akure, Ondo state.The caller briefed the man that it was like the girl escaped from  her abductors. The father of the girl, he did not know what to say or do or how to express his joys or how to manage all mixed up emotions all raging inside of him, pleaded with the caller to take the girl to the nearest police station that unfailingly the next day they will leave for Akure. 

To cut the long story short, after the girl was returned to her parent, she narrated her ordeal. According to her, on the day she was kidnapped, she was forced into a car while going to school, by two men with weapons and drove under serious threat to Ondo. Another teen was kidnapped too with her on the same day. When they got to a place in ondo state, she was not sure if it was  Akure or another town in Ondo. They  were taken to a place where they met other people who have been kidnapped ealier. They heard some people spoke to them in harsh languages that they had been brought to that town to work and they should not even try to run away or tell anybody about it because they have people monitoring their movements. They threaten to kill anyone that try to play smarter. According to her, they where given a black customized T-shirt and are taken daily to strategic location for street begging. Each one of them must deliver 850-3000  naira per day and any day anyone deliver less than that, that person is tortured like animal. They  have where and how they do collect the daily returns from each beggars. Someone attempted to escape he was caught, how they were able to do that, she don't know, so fear was on everyone. But this teen attempted to escape and succeeded because most time she doesn't meet the target, as she hates the acts, and the daily torture is unbearable. When she escaped, according to the first woman she ran unto her arms in the church that received her at Akure, she must have ran several kilometres, because she fainted as she ran into the church premises. 

We gathered that the real owner of this dastard business is based in Lagos and monies are being sent to him at intervals. This people are rich because of the turn 
over from different states and they are connected. During the interview the father of the rescue girl after they brought her back. He said this people are so connected to the point that two suspects that were arrested in line with this criminal acts were granted bail even before the police could return the girl to her parent.

There are possibilities that bigger girls are being used for prostitution because the girl said they assured that some will be sent to other big cities or  abroad for better business as they mentioned.

Another recent Kidnapping, few days ago a shocking video was emerged, of a prominent proprietress who was kidnapped, raped and buried alive by her driver and some of his gangs. The victim is said to be the owner of Chelsea International School, one of the biggest school in Abuja. 

In the past in Nigeria, it used to be Kidnapping of Government official, forigne expatriates, top religious leaders, celebrities and Nigerian politicians and their children because these are the people that could provide them with a huge ransom that is been demanded. 

The one that draw my attention is the new strategy of Kidnapping poor innocent children and using them for street begging or even trafficking. As they sell some of these Teenagers  to some Nigerian Madam who live in some part of Europe, and this people use the girls for sex trade. Some of this girls are even use to sleep with animals and use all sought of drugs. This is evil in the highest order. 

The widening of the level of insecurity in Nigeria is a big cause for concern as all are affected by this illed manner of business. 

However, Nigeria economy is at it worse now, and the country do not need kidnappers for any reason, as this scared away the foreign investors from Nigeria. It is such a pity that bad governance and failures of our leaders has pushed many of Nigerians citizens into all form of evil but this will not help in moving the country. 


Things like this should'nt be happening in a country like Nigeria. Nigerians are hard working people and very intelligent people. God bless Nigeria!

All White Party with Tiwa Savage Sydney 2016

Iamike Entertainment in collaboration with Afrique Boutique proudly host the Nigerian talented female singer, Tiwa Savage at Croatian Club, Punchbowl Sydney last month. 

The event that brought together young people from across Australia. The singer finally gave his devoted fans her best. Especially those who enjoy listening to her music. The event was Tagged "All white Party with Tiwa Savage". Besides the young people that were grooving to Tiwa Savage music, and mummies/daddies were not left out of the Tiwa event. 

Despite all the personal challenges she has faced early this year, the award winning singer didn't give up on her career. She did not allow her personal challenges to destroy her dreams. She is a true inspiration to all her songs, and a role model to those who might be facing one challenge or the other in their life.

From left Ohiro Okan, Tiwa Savage, and Kemi Okan owner of afrique beauty who was also one of the organizer of the event. 

Photo credit: Kemi Okan...

Way Forward For Nigeria Youth

 Prince Edward, who is a politician, Diplomatic Business Man and a philanthropist is currently the special Adviser to Governor of Cross River State on Youth Affairs. Edward was among the panelists at the tourism promoting event held at the Marina Resort Calabar, a major tourist location in Nigeria.

The  Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross river state on youth affairs, Special Adviser to Governor on Tourism, Tom Aki as well as other government functionaries were distinguished guests at the special event. The global theme for the event was "Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility." While the Sub-theme was "Diversifying the Economy of Cross river through Tourism." The key issues that were subjects of discussion at the event was; How to engage the youths of CRS to take advantage of our tourism products to ensure maximum utilization and self reliance, and most especially, how best to carry along our disabled youths.


However, I think every individaul should carry all our disabled youths along in every area. For example, here Germany most of the disabled are also been taken care of as normal people right from their Kindergarten to when they start to learn a profession. We really have a lot to do in Nigeria.

Africa Night- Come Let's Dance For Goodwill

The African Night On Saturday in Eisenberg Germany. The dance world (Tanzwelt) Movement GmbH, is a dance school in Eisenberg runs by Beate Wagner and Sascha Nickel. They help in organizing the Africa night, bringing together different dancer and singers to come and perform at the event for goodwill purpose. The Africa night show is a yearly programme in collaboration with NGOS who are working in Africa (German Volunteer Programs) working to save lives of sick children in Africa (Kenya and Ruanda). 

According to, Mr Manfred Lackmann the chairman of ZIGIRA Health care (Gesundheitshilfe) in Kenya, and Mrs Erika-Hauß-Delker the president for the hospital association (Ehrenamtliche Presidentin) who is also an ophthalmologist helping in Ruanda, they explained how they started the movement project to help sick and poor children in Africa (Kenya and Ruanda), eighteen years ago they started to build schools in Africa, even though the schools are own by the Kenyan government the large part is sponsored by this organizations. Seven years ago they start, to build health care centers in Mombasa Kenya to help the sick children who are dying from malaria and other diseases. Same in Ruanda. According to, Mrs Erika-Hauß-Delker in her speech, she said that, we are doing this for the African; so that the children can go to school, so that they can give them medicine against malaria and help them to live like every other normal person, to enable them to learn a profession in order for them to have a job in the future. She also talk about how they have been helping in fight against malaria and hepatitis in Africa (Ruanda). 

Seven acts performed during the events, including children. The first group from among these seven groups, was The Cross Over Choir from Ebertsheim, The Square Dance Club from Eisenberg, The Crazy Jumpers Dance, and among others was the Tolan Kadi Dance group. The Tolan Kadi Dance was led by Ibrahim Camara. Tolan Kadi is a traditional or cultural dance from West African country Togo. Ibrahim Camara is very artistic, and he is able to communicate with his dancing skills. One can see how he uses his dance to communicate with all the people present at the event, without speaking, he uses his body language to move nearly all the audience out of their seats to join him on the dance floor. By the way, the Tolan Kadi Dance is from Togo but this group also have some (Germans) European who are active member of the dance group. I am also a Nigerian, for the first time in my adult lifetime I participated actively at the show, even though I am not from Togo, I was able to use the drum. It can be said that the importance of drumming and dance in African culture is central. However, the importance of dance in any society which are traditionally based on oral and performance of art, skills and modes of communication and forms of message and information for transmission through performance, emotion and social behavior for example, Square Dance and Tolan Kadi dance groups proved this theory of dance codes.

They also take break between the shows, and during the break time the goodwill offering was collected. Some people gave money to support the project in Africa. The organizers of the events said that all the money generated from the Africa Night will be send to Africa to continue with their project. The dance world movement, has really used the Africa Night to fostered development and inspired Africa by gathering people every year for this event. And I think this legacy will move us forward in Africa, I hope it will be extended to other poor African countries. It is really terrible, and painful that some children have to suffer in this way, as it is in Africa today. In my own opinion I think all people deserve the good chance to live a good, healthy life, but unfortunately that is not how our world works seeing all this poor children dying in Africa and other third world countries. 

I have seen, read and watch in TV programs on how the Germans or Europeans And Americans are contributing towards various projects in Africa; such as to save the sick children, to produce medicine to combat the epidemic disease, to give the African children good and better life etc. But I do ponder on why some rich people in Africa are not contributing toward their own nation development. For example, in Nigeria a lot of rich people are living a luxurious lifestyle including the pastors. Most of this people have private jets and exotic cars, they live in mansions and wear designer clothes and some people are dying in their country for a problem that could be solve for small amount of money. The one that surprised me most are the churches or religious leaders in Africa (Nigeria), they collect tithes and offerings from the poor people and they use the money to build schools, that the poor people can not even afford to pay the fees of the school. Pastors are living in mansions and flying in private jets. The best government schools we have in Nigeria today, are schools built by the missionaries during the colonial rule. As a child I have always see the Europeans as the god of this world, seeing and reading about all the good things they have done in the world today. 

Another problem I will like to talk about, unlike in Germany where the people plan before they have one child, because they believe children are very expensive to take care of them in order to give them good quality of life, but the African mentality is such that the more they breed, the richer they are. Since they hope and believe the children will take care of them when they are older which is not bad though. The Germans know how costly it is to raise just one child, but the Africans do not believe child cares is expensive. It is really sad to see how children are dying in some African countries; it is not the fault of the children, but the nation they are born in. Unlike in Germany where the government make provision for children right from their birth. The Africans government do not have such system. In Germany a child receive 180 Euro in a month, this money can feed a family of five children in some African countries for a month or more. That is why some African people see Europe and America as a land of opportunity. Indeed Europe is a land of opportunity, but Africa is a land flowing with milk and honey, with bad leaders who lack knowledge on how to manage their own resources and help to give their people a better life. May I say this? God bless Germany! I am thankful for the privilege of living in Germany and I hope to bring everything I have see and learned here to my country some days. 

Queendaline Schneider.

Celebrity Birthday Queen of Anambra Heritage

Celebrity birthday, Anambra Heritage Queen Udeze Sophia is a year older today!

Here is wishing you a very happy birthday, hope this day will bring you an excitement of lasting happiness. May your day be filled with joy, life, peace and greater opportunity. 

More about Sophia Udeze she is currently the SOS Face battle, after winning Husnah Maccido with a percentage difference of 59%-38%. Congratulations to the Hottest Feminist In The Nation!

Watch out for her, she is likely to be the next Miss Nigeria. Isn't she fabulous? Of course she is. 

Photo credit: Olivia Udeze.

Why I Fall in Love with My Brother

Why I love My siblings so much and My big brother is my hero. By the way, I have three brothers, one sister and three nieces. And of course I also have wonderful step sisters and 
brothers. But my big brother is my hero. 

I'm absolutely in love with this man. Why do I love him? I remember how this  man took care of seven children (four siblings and three nieces) that was not his own. How he work so hard to give us the best Education, Food, Cloths etc. How he bath and prepared our meal, he gave us all his best. He left a woman he loved for the sake of his siblings because the woman did'nt care about us. He refuses to marry because he don't want any woman to mistreat us. 

Why did my brother have to play the role of a father and a mother in our lives? When our mother died in the year 1997, I was only 11 years old and just graduated from the elementary school, while Shem and Grace was still in the nursery school. 

All hope seems to have gone when mummy died. A lot of people had wondered on how would have survived without our mother, since we were from polygamous family. So some members of the family thought of adopting some of us in order to train us, but my big brother, and our late elder sister, Mary of blessed memory stood in the gap to fend for me and my other siblings. Sister Mary who was married to King Federick Ogunyemi with three daughters, she had left the royal home, to come and stay in my father house to take care of us, but unfortunately she too died in my father house, shortly after our mother's death leaving her three Kids behind (My nieces). Now the load is more, some family and friends were concerned about our welfare. I remember one of my mummy's friend Mrs Olaiya, who had so much sympathy on us and how she was moved with compassion. She also introduced Captain Ekeinde to me, the husband of one of the Nigeria popular actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Captain and his beautiful wife had paid us visit on two occassions. Captain Ekeinde agreed to sponsored my education, and I will 
also have to live in their house but my late father refused bluntely saying not when he still alive will another man train his child for him but he did that in wisdom. He told me that he don't know this Ekeindes family so well and what if they maltreat, like every other story we see in the news in Nigeria. His words melted my soul even though I have agreed to live with the Ekeinde family, I quickly changed my mind and heed to my father's advice. I knew my daddy is not a lazy man because i am proud of all his achievement but many of our family and friends had thought how will a man of many children and wives take care of these children and to bring them up in the way of the Lord. Alas! My big brother eventually became our father and mother even though he was a young person then. He work so hard to fend for us. He trained us till we all graduated from the higher institution. He is still taking care of the family till date, one of my niece is presently studying at Lagos State Polytechnic. 


A lot of people could not have understand, why I love my brother so much, so I chose him as my hero, when I realized he suffered for me and others. He is my hero because the most difficult and beautiful times I ever had were with him. 

My brother, has helped a lot of people in life, and he still helping people, we all are heros, if we love and help the people around us, we can change the world. There are many people who deserve to be heroes, be a hero to your person and others. May I say this I love you brother and happy birthady, to you Prince Ademola Hosea! May the good Lord bless you and may you live to eat all the fruits of your labour in Jesus name. You will always be my best friend, my big friend and my hero. Love you brother! "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation "- psalms 91:16. 

The unveiling my very own Man Crush for this week, Prince Ademola Titus Hosea. On behalf of the entire family of Hosea Ebiniyi, here is to wish you a happy birthday and to tell you how we love you and generation yet to come shall read about you our hero!