Nigeria Actress, Ini Edo Reveals How She Escaped Church Building Collapse in Uyo

Nollywood Actress, Ini Edo, has shared her testimony; how she escaped the collapse of the Reigners Bible Church building in Uyo on Sunday.

The church building collapsed during an ordination service for Bishop Akan Weeks, but unfortunately leading to the death of over 100 people and leaving many injured.

According to Ini Edo, says she could have been among the victims on Sunday, but she was held up in traffic from Calabar to Uyo for 7 hours, on her way to the church venue.

Read what she wrote on her social media page after the cut...

" 2 days ago, I was very bitter about the unreliable nature of some of our airlines cancelling flights without prior notice thereby hindering my plans to attend a church service ceremony held in Uyo. Now out of determination, I took a flight to Calabar with the hope of being in Uyo just in time for the service since the journey between Calabar and Uyo was just about an hour. The journey ended up taking over 7hours because of an unexplainable traffic. No accident, good road no hitches just a headlock traffic. Whilst in the car, I started wondering why all my efforts to be at the service was being thwarted... then I got a call, that the entire church building had collapsed during the course of the service... Once again, God had saved me... My heart goes out to the families of the departed... May the good Lord grant them the heart to bear the loss. Everyday we see a blessing... It's not because we are special or better... It's the exceeding grace of our Lord Jesus. I am so humbled and grateful to God for preserving me... Happy thanksgiving"-

Thanking God for the life of our dear Nollywood actress, Ini Edo may the almighty God continue to keep and preserve you in Jesus name.

Donald Trump's Grandparents German Hometown- Kallstadt

This is the house where, Donald Trump's grandfather was born in Kallstadt Germany. Despite his roots, Trump and "racism" Trump is also a descendant of immigrates; his forefathers left Kallstadt for economic reasons, in search of a better life. It is a known fact, that all the white people living in America today are all immigrates from Europe, just like the Africa America are immigrates from Africa. I hope Trump will have a rethink in its policy of allowing all people to live and work in America without any problem.

Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump was born on March 14, 1869 and he left for the US in 1885, joining his sister in New York. He later changed his name to Frederick and came back to Kallstadt, and married his neighbor's daughter Elisabeth Christ, before going back to New York with his wife.

According to Mr Uli, a native of Kallstadt, he said that the couple returned to Germany because
Elisabeth was homesick, but was banished in 1905 because Trump's grandfather failed to carry-out his military service.

However, Donald Trump is really proud of his German heritage- he says nice words about his grandparent's hometown in a 2014 documentary.

"The people in Kallstadt are very reliable, strong people and I feel that about myself- I'm strong and I'm very reliable. I'm on time, I get things done," he said.

It was also said that Kallstadt was a hometown and birth place of Johann Heinrich Heiz and he got baptized in the Kallstadt kirche (Kallstadt church), whose American-born son, Henry John Heinz, founded the Heinz ketchup company.

See more photos after the cut...

It was said that this is also Elisabeth Trump's house in Kallstadt

Kallstadt church, where Johann Heinrich Heinz was baptized. 

Photo Credit: Queendaline Schneider. 

The Feast of Saint Martin

Why are they more christian holidays in Germany or Europe than in Africa (Nigeria)?

Today is Saint Martin's Day in Germany; what does Saint Martin's day means or who is Saint Martin? Saint Martin was a Roman soldier, who later was baptized as an adult and became a monk, and he became the bishop of tours respectively. Who later became a legend, and the feast of Saint Martin is often celebrated on 11 of November every year. This holiday is said to have been originated in France, then spread to England, Germany, and the Eastern part of Europe. It was an important medieval autumn feast, and the custom of eating goose rapidly spread to Sweden from France and other part of the world. 

Saint Martin of tours, was a kind man, who lived a quite and simple lifestyle. He love helping the poor, he live for the poor people. He was a man full of compassion for the less privileged. Once upon a time, Martin was traveling on a cold, winter night on his horse when he saw a freezing beggar on his way. Martin immediately had compassion for the beggar, and cut his coat (cloak) in half and shared with the poor beggar,  in order to save the poor beggar from dying from the snow cold. 

Saint Martin claimed that he dreamed that same night, that Jesus was wearing the half coat he gave to the beggar. Martin said that he heard Jesus saying to the Angels, "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he clothed me". Wonderful insight, this reminds me of what the scripture says in Matthew 25:43-

However, St Martin was known as friend of the children and patron of the poor. No wonder the children often celebrate the night of November 11, in Germany for example with singing, and lantern parades to mark the St. Martin's Day in Germany; as they walk, they sing: "I am walking with my lantern and my lantern is walking with me", the children sing.

St. Martin's Day or Martinstag has become a tradition in some part of Germany, as the people enjoy the traditional Martin's goose dinner. (The goose is stuffed and served with red cabbage and dumplings). And children like baked Martin's geese made out of cookie or yeast dough..., or the traditional salty Martin pretzel. Most of this children, are kindergarten and elementary school children who have also craft their lanterns and rehearse songs for St. Martin parades. 

Although, St. Martin's day is said to be christian holiday,but most Africans countries do not know about this holiday and do not observe it as well. I did not know about the the holiday myself, I get to know more of it from my dear Gert-Uwe Schneider who ultimately narrated the story to me, and Gert said to me, I thought you are a christian? And you should know all the Christian's holidays. But the truth is that the only Christian's holidays that are popular in African or Nigeria is the Christmas's and Easter's holidays. I'm inspired by the legend of Saint Martin! 

However, Africans mighty not be celebrating or observing most Christian's holidays but Christianity is experiencing more rapid growth in Africa than anywhere else in the world, although Europe still has the largest Christian population, but Africa might takeover. For example, in Nigeria on every streets you see more than 5-10 different churches. And I want to believe this is so in most Africans countries, as African believe or claimed to have seen lives 
and miracle happening from just attending church services. On the other hand, practice among Germans is falling year by year, just few older people regularly attend church services, unlike in Nigeria where millions of people attend a single Sunday church service. 

I think Christianity should not be about only going go to church every Sunday or observing all the Christian feast. A good and real Christian should behave like the Saint Martin who lived a simple life and care for the the poor; and became the patron of charity for his good deeds this is what Christianity is all about. Even Jesus was a good example, the scripture says that Jesus was always move with compassion.

Donald Trump Elected 45th President of America

Too many anti-Trump talks and hates, although some Africa Americans or blacks might not like him because he speaks the mind of the majority of the white Americans. Donald Trump according to some white/africa Americans, would make America great again; unlike many leaders who during campaign feed the voters or the people with some good will promises stories, just to get their votes. He was very real, because he speaks his mind to the whole world and he is also quick to apologized for his past mistakes.

Despite the leak of the scandalous mails by wiki-leaks which is enough to tarnish Hillary Clinton, yet some people still want her to win the election, because they believe she is the one with the leadership experience, as she has been in the government for a long time. She's said to be calm, and of course
she is not a racist. However, if Hillary had won the election, some schools of thoughts perceived it to be the continuity of the Obama Socialist agenda, and it is obvious that most white Americans pray for change no doubt.

Donald Trump may not be good enough as the elected 45th president of United State of America, but the truth is that, let all of us embrace a world order of being ourselves because that is what freedom is all about. We should learn to speaks our mind at all time, either good or bad because that is what the spirit is saying at that time to us. It is better to says what's on our mind than telling some cheap lies just to save face.

Really, it's always amaze me, when some Nigerians always try to condemn or talk about foreign politics with little or no knowledge about this. Even when Nigeria politics is considered to be one of the worst in the world. This just reminds me of the last general election in Nigeria...

However, during my conversation yesterday with few friends and family, I knew Trump will be elected as the 45th president of USA because some of this people actually predicted that Trump is going to win the election.

Anyways, Donald Trump is said to have a good relationship with the President Putin of Russia, and since he has won the election; this will probably help to reduce the fear or threat of the Third World War, for the time being. I'm not surprise as Vladimir Putin becomes the first leader to congratulate Donald Trump as the new elected US President.

However, most Christians in America will not support Hillary Clinton as president, a woman who accepted that abortion is not a sin, however the rate of crime in America, and even the remover of the Ten Commandments status shows that God needs to intervene, in this election for the sake of the righteous in the land.

"For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth"- ROMANS 9:17 Do you get it? Don't forget America is God's own country; in God we trust, and God bless America.

Photo credit: Donald Trump's Facebook official page. 

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...