TARIERE Member of the Week: Ulan Garba Matta

So I just don't learn my lesson do I?! After my experience with Nk'iru. Njoku, I still went ahead to ask yet another great Writer to tell me a little about herself!!

Anyway, here it is..Ulan Garba Matta in her own words...

I am sometimes a Geologist, sometimes a Writer, and overall, sometimes a Film Maker, depending on how duty and inspiration call.


Ulan Garba Matta

I believe as a Creative person, I have a Genius attached to me by God who inspires me and how hard I listen to this Genius shows in the quality of my work. (I suspect I know this Genius of yours Ulan, are His initials H.S. by any chance?!)

Music is my first love before films, writing and comics (they follow this order) and it influences my writing a lot.



I am currently listening to Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals (all their albums) and also Fiona Apple's ‘When the Pawn hits Conflict he thinks like a King..’(The title is a whole poem and was in the Genesis Book of Records as the longest album title for a while)

I am obsessed about closed doors because I like to think of any place I am in for a while as my sanctuary.



I recently watched ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and Guy Ritchie's ‘Rock n Rolla’ and thoroughly enjoyed myself; and then I realized most of my favorite movies involved guys being violent and showing off some muscle, with wicked humor! But I have always stood my ground as a girl who doesn't like muscular guys but could always do with a very good laugh. Now I don’t know what this says of me...

Oh yeah, I’m an adrenaline junkie, who would jump at any opportunity to test my limits of mind over matter.



I love the freedom that comes with creativity but I’m also saddened by the fact that as humans and especially adults we do not want to take chances with creative ventures because of the stigmatizing fear of failure.



P.S.- I'm soooo jealous of Ulan's flowing, natural hair, that I always feel like yanking her hair and pulling hard whenever I see her!!

TARIERE Member of the Week: Nk'iru. Njoku

One of the greatest dis-services you can ever do to yourself is to ask a writer to tell you a little about themselves.

I did that to myself, and this writer, Nk'iru. Njoku, wrote me an entire book!! So I’m simply going to take a few extracts from her novel (written specially for me) and share with you...

• I’m a be-spectacled, dreadloc’d, Writer-Director, who is currently working as one of the 4 Directors of Project Fame West Africa.


Nk'iru. Njoku

• I did some acting on a TV soap for about four years where I played the bitchy wife of an old man who was sleeping with his son, (the wife that is)!

• I write poetry as well… I dated a guy who thoroughly hated the idea of me writing, especially poetry. He used to say “who will ever pay you for all this nonsense?” Ouch! But guess who’s laughing now? Lol....

• I never liked the nine to five. Was told I’d die wretched but thankfully I graduated at 20 so I had enough time to find myself; lose myself, and find myself again. The past five years has proved the naysayers wrong...thank God!

• I’m an internet addict; even learnt how to play the guitar on the internet… my guitar is called Maximillan (Max for short) and in fact, I haven’t played him in a month cos I’m growing my nails. My boyfriend is in town soon and he’s quite the confused bloke. Loves the nails, and loves the guitar-playing but they don’t work together so I’ve asked him to choose one. (As if his choice matters! Tehe!)

• I recently broke up with my favorite pair of sneakers.


Nk'iru.'s Ex

• My personality is pretend-extrovert but actual-introvert.

• I live a very safe life; will never bungee-jump, ride a cable-car or go snorkeling. But hey, who knows. I love to visit new places, but I hate the actual process…. But hey, as at last year, my craziest deed was climbing the Michael Opara monument in Enugu with the coercion of wicked friends.

• I don’t match my colors, I’m not the dress-wearing chic, I haven’t combed my hair in seven years, I have very strong opinions (much to my mother’s despair), I’ve struggled to conquer my un-flat tummy since I was six, my grandma thinks I’m expired for marriage because I’m thirty and my eggs are all probably shriveled up.


Oh yeah and she's also TuFace's No 1 Stalker..

• I am a spiritual person. Haven’t been to church in a long time, but I love God and I enjoy spending time with Him in the quietness of my spirit.

• My dad (God rest his soul) was diagnosed with diabetes when I was eight, so I kinda developed a hatred for anything sugary. But not Coke. I love Coke, and only just broke the addiction in February for weight reasons. I’m working on developing a new brand of cola that has zero calories, looks and tastes like water, but tastes like Coke only in the mind! Hahahahaha.


Nk'iru.

• By and large, I love life and even with all my hang-ups, I enjoy it as much as I can. I break my own rules and make some new ones, and most importantly, regardless of what life throws at me...I live and love, and trust in God.

Like I stated earlier, NEVER and I mean absolutely never, ask a Writer, especially a damned good one, to write you a little about herself!!

Just a word of advice from your dear friend, Tariere. Love you.

TARIERE Member of the Week: Adebayo Oke-Lawal Jr.

Adebayo Oke-Lawal Jr. is a Stylist, Blogger and aspiring Fashion Designer, studying Banking & Finance in the University of Lagos.


Adebayo

He has a passion and great love for the Arts and Fashion, so why he’s studying Banking & Finance?! Err..(scratching my head!!)

His major goal is fulfillment, which is somewhat based on becoming a world renowned Designer, competing with major designers like Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana and the likes.




Self-labelled as being “just a boy with a colorful disposition”, ‘Debayo has dated only once in his lifetime!! That may have something to do with the fact that he compulsively washes his hands a lot!! (I'm just saying..)


"Colorful disposition" is a bit of an Understatement..

If you've noticed that I’m treading a little carefully as I write about ‘Debayo, it’s because he has possession of a major secret of mine. He alone knows the identity of my Church Crush!! So I’m being reeeaalllly nice here!!

Regardless of my secret, one thing that cannot be separeated from ‘Debayo is that he is the greatest Sweetheart there ever was!!



Even though he claims to be not as much of a softie as most people think, I’m not buying that….well, maybe until I hear him completely verbally assault an outfit I wear, fashion police style!!

“Being Different is Priceless.. I love being Different”; these are priceless words from ‘Debayo, more so as he is one who has been daggered his entire life for being different.



Keep it up ‘Debayo; after all, being different did get you a TARIERE feature..Lol.

TARIERE Member of the Week: Feyipitan Ojomo-Meraiyebu

Feyipitan Ojomo-Meraiyebu is a Lagos based Legal Practitioner by day and bar-hopping Rock Star by night.


He is one of the very few and highly in demand practitioners of Entertainment Law in Nigeria!! I just might be calling him up soon myself..Feyi please I hope that by this beautiful feature I’ve done on you, I’ll get some billable hours FREE!!!

He also practices Civil/Criminal Litigation and Immigration Law amongst others.

His interests include:

Dancing, reading, watching old movies and crying to the romantic ones, and also taking long walks under the scorching Lagos sun to maybe...clear his head?!!



The meaning of his name ‘Feyipitan’ is ‘use this to tell a story’, and right from the moment he came out screaming at St. Nicholas Hospital, his life has been a story of extreme Nollywood proportions. Beginning from the time of his birth during which his mother had malaria and had to be confined in a hospital ward along with his Dad and get this..their Best Man!!

Not also forgetting the fact that his foray into Law Practice also happened to be in the same St. Nicholas Building!!



Don’t be surprised if you go to St. Nicholas and they actually have a wing, parking space, or Hospital gourmet cooking (eeww!!) named after Feyipitan!!

Note that I was also born at St. Nicholas!! So Feyi, you see more reason why I should get those hours free?!!

Feyipitan’s brilliant mind came up with some tips on how I can excel at my new chosen profession: Serial Dating!! Here they are:

1. It’s all about YOU.

2. Always lay the ground rules early on (that is for repeat serial dates)

3. Never lead a guy on when you know nothing for him.

4. Appearances can be deceptive

5. Never go to the same place twice with a serial date (except you want him to stay the whole nine yards) or go to a place with another date that you have been to with a serial date.

6. Always maintain decorum with a serial date (always be formal and kind of stand- offish in a polite manner)

7. If you really want to enjoy serial dating, then always be prepared to go dutch (that way, it won’t be said that you chop and ran away).

The true lawyer that he is, he capped all his generous tips with this Disclaimer:

‘P.S. If you run foul of any of the above, OYO (On-your-Own) is your name!’

TARIERE Member of the Week: Wana Udobang

Unwana Abasi Udobang is a mouthful of a name….so I’ll just spare you the tongue twisting and introduce her as Wana.

She is a radio on-air Personality on Inspiration fm, 92.3. Her on-air personality is ‘Wana-Wana’ who hosts the Breakfast show with Dan Foster every weekday morning, as well as the ‘Sunday Brunch’ and ‘Beyond the Music’.


Wana-Wana

Her alter-ego, acid-tongued and in-your-face, Mizz Info dishes out Entertainment gossip in such a way that leaves our collective Celebrity scandal taste buds drooling for more.

Wana is also a freelance writer for 234Next, Bella Naija, Naija Times, FAB magazine and runs her own blog called Guerilla Basement.



It’s interesting to note that though a writer, she is also dyslexic. I see she and Tom Cruise have got that in common...the dyslexic part I mean!!

Wana’s self-diagnosed obsessive personality causes her to say the same things over and over again. Like the day she was interviewing rapper, Teeto, on the radio, and kept going on and on about his 6-pack until his sister had to call the station and ask her to stop. But I say, what better way to make use of an hour long interview than to talk about a man’s 6-pack!! So go girl!!!


Teeto & Wana (he don't look too mad to me!!)

One of Wana’s claims to fame is an ‘almost’ getting on the exclusive list of Celebrities with Sex Videos (or something close). By a very close shave, her name could have been right up there with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.

While still in University and in need of extra cash, she answered an advert on a website seeking face models for a coffee table book. After sending her headshots via e-mail, the photographer explained to her that the shot would have to be one of her having an orgasm!!




Not a fake one, but a real live one!! He went on to ask her to bring someone who’ll do the heavy duty work required to bring in the goods (??!!) or come prepared to do the ‘handwork’ herself. The photog would have been present at the Moment of Reckoning to capture Wana in all her orgasmic glory!!

True story guys!! LOL

Wana declined the offer and lovingly embraced Supermarket Overtime.




Even though she has MAJOR plans to take over the world via her writing and Media Content produced by her company, Guerilla Basement, Wana has decided to take it slow for now and just keep enjoying the ride as she discovers more of her unlimited capabilities and keep being educated by the world around her.

TARIERE Member of the Week: Tawa Ashorobi

Tawakalitu Ashorobi is a young, hotshot lawyer who works and lives in Lagos.

She is funny, smart and very, very decent.



And it’s her birthday today!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAWAAAAAA!!!

TARIERE Member of the Week: Kemi Alaiyemola

Kemi Alaiyemola is the brain behind Kemi’s Souffle, the fastest selling and most popular errr….’toning’ cream here in Lagos.


Miss Alaiyemola

Kem-kem, as she is fondly called by all her friends, haters and admirers, is passionate about Skin Care and will go to any length to ensure that all her customers get exactly what they come to her for – Beautiful, flawless Skin.

She is crazy, crazy, crazy, and fun to be around, even though often misunderstood by a lot of people. Kem-kem is also generous and kind-hearted almost to a fault.


Kem-kem

Oh yeah, and she has just revealed to the world that she has a twin...


Kemi's Twin

TARIERE Member of the Week: Oladipo Oladapo

Oladipo Oladapo is the Production Manager and a Fashion Photographer for Genevieve, a Women’s Lifestyle Magazine in Nigeria.


Oladipo Oladapo

Dipo has to be one of the most down-to-earth people I know. When he first moved back to Nigeria last year, after a lifetime in the States, I actually bet with a friend that in less than 6months he would change into the superficial person that Lagos has a way of turning people into.


Picture of Model taken by Dipo


More than a year gone by and Dipo is even much more down-to-earth than when he first came back!! A very practical minded and realistic guy, Dipo sometimes has some of the weirdest perspectives on life.


Dipo and Asa - Singer

He is extremely proud of his Nigerian, Ondo town to be precise, heritage and never fails to introduce himself as ‘Oladipo Oladapo’.




He believes I have a dark, sinister side to me, and so when he once randomly took a photograph of me, here’s what he came out with...


Tari...as seen by Dipo

TARIERE Member of the Week: Debola Osipitan

Debola Osipitan is a young, innovative Software & Web Developer, who has carved a niche for himself within the Nigerian IT industry as a result of his commitment to Professionalism and Excellence.

His company, Syden Interactive, is renowned for their Exceptional quality in designs and Efficiency in project execution.


Debola...with 2 fingers in the air

He is also a self acclaimed ‘Baaaddd Guy’ who takes almost all his dates to Jevnik, a restaurant in Lagos that serves pounded yam and other Nigerian delicacies.

So girls, if you’re looking to put on some Date Weight, Debola is your Man!!

Debola and I used to have the same laptop, but his was a newer model than mine. When trying to compare the difference between our laptops, he said to me “Mine is a private jet, yours is night bus!!”

I still hate him for that.