Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When your mind is on a foxtrot
And stars glimmer and blip
In your head
As you twist and turn
In your bed.
Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When you search for love
But blizzards clip
Your wings in flight
And you sink
Beneath the night.
Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When lost and forlorn you lay;
Tripped. Exhausted. Unwanted.
And sleep eludes your eyes
And bubbles of tears
Trigger your prayers:
Oh God!! I wish I could find --
TRUE LOVE.
Written by Victor O. Sawyerr 12/09/2017
News. Reviews.Opinions.Entertainment.Sports.Trends
Tuesday 12 September 2017
Friday 25 November 2016
Searching for the answers she needs, will Addie lose everything she has?
Adeline “Addie” Montgomery is searching for the truth. As she and Blake travel back to 1920, she expects her nemesis Otto is behind a string of art forgeries. The only problem is that the villain has completely disappeared. Addie must now find Otto without blowing her cover to keep the past intact, as long as a lover from a past life doesn’t get in the way…
Blake Greenwood wants nothing more than to catch Otto and return to the present with Addie, the love of his life. When his mother goes missing as well, he leaves Addie alone with his half-brother to save his family. As the future begins to change in unexpected ways, Blake and Addie begin to question everything. Can they find Otto and save their relationship before what they had disappears for good?
Lost In Time is the third book in an absorbing series of paranormal romance time travel novels. If you like museum capers, psychic powers, and romance that’s both steamy and sweet, then you’ll love Alyssa Richard’s thrilling conclusion to the Fine Art of Deception Series.
TRAILER
Don't forget to view this amazing trailer of "The Fine Art of Deception" series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az-S5afi0ns
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wednesday 5 October 2016
ADDICTARIUM by NICOLE D'SETTEMI
ABOUT THE BOOK
EXCERPT
"Come on, Danielle!" Karen shouted over the raging winds, which were both loud and aggressive, due to April's unpredictable weather. We were scurrying down the wooden planks along the boardwalk, five minutes from our community. Karen, who was drenched in a thick, mauve turtle neck, and a pair of furry, suede boots, ran awkwardly about two feet ahead of me, her left leg shorter than the right making her look funny. She laughed loudly, nearly tumbling over, her voice ringing through the air, despite the howl of the heavy winds. I followed, out of breath, trying to inhale the last of a cheap, fat menthol cigar. Black-and-Mild’s, the box said, and they were delicious. Strong, and intense, scorching the back of my throat, just the way I needed something to be. We continued to run, as we laughed even harder. Tear drops were streaming down my face from my watery eyes, with the sun luminous and bright, but the weather still quite cold, at least for spring.
"I think I see her!" she shouted, referring to our mutual acquaintance August Delgado, who as always, was surrounded by a small cluster of people, all of them off into the distance. They were all people who lived in our Therapeutic Community; a long-term addiction-recovery program, named Safe Haven Village, or The Village as I liked to call it, because Greenwich had nothing on this place, it was a complete circus, a regular freak show by all definitions of the word.We both squinted to see further, but we didn't really know what we were seeing. We were higher than one of these New York City skyscrapers, tripping on acid that August had given us. Rockaway beach was five minutes from our community, so we decided to search for our dear friend, sure we had found her, but not so sure it was actually her, given the acid was really starting to kick in. As we neared just a little bit closer, we began to laugh giddily, as we could now see her waving erratically, heading towards us with two black guys, one of her comrades several sizes larger than any of us. We ran fast and furiously towards the rocks they were situated on, screaming and throwing our arms everywhere, as if none of us had seen the other for days on end. She caught up to us, moments later, all of us panting and out of breath, as we hugged one another, laughing gleefully.
"This acid's pretty wavy dude," August remarked, her mouth against my ear as she embraced me, "very mellow, it's like it takes ya on a long car ride into the country, a long car ride with excellent scenery," she added, as I could feel a slow, lazy smile spreading across her face, and I knew the acid was clearly hitting her as well. I felt her lumpy dreads in my hands, and realized I was still holding onto her. We let go of each other, and we both laughed again.
"What's the plan for tonight?" she asked us, looking back and forth between the two of us, her lively eyes twinkling with mischief. Oh, Karen and I, we had plans alright. We looked at each other and smiled, but said nothing.
"Okay we'll leave it at that," she told us grinning, as the two guys finally caught up to where we were standing. I smiled and said hello, and we all slapped hands.
"We actually have to get ready," Karen told her, as we lit a couple of cigarettes, and passed them between the five of us.
August slid her hand into her grey hooded jacket, three sizes two big, and pulled out a little piece of plastic cellophane. "Here's two more," she said blowing smoke through her nose, and then, finally out of her mouth. She handed me the small packet, and I laid it in my palm, delicately sizing it up.
"You women are crazy, I mean we are in treatment after all," Stefan, one of the guys, with a crisp, British accent, said. The other guy nodded in agreement, and then laughed, as he watched me eyeball Stefan's hand, raising an eyebrow. Between his fingers, he held a joint, which I already knew was filled with K-2, a new, hip form of synthetic weed, that no treatment programs were testing for.
"What? This? This is nothing!" Stefan said with a dismissive hand, but even as he said it, he had to laugh at his own audacity.
"They don't test for acid either," I pointed out.
His friend shook his head, "yeah, but that shit crazy, yo. Put you straight in the ward!"
"Thanks," Karen piped in impatiently, "but we have to get ready now."
"Have fun, you two," August told us, picking at a barrette that was attached to one of her dreads.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole D'Settēmi is a 34 year old creative writer, poet, and artist from Niagara Falls, New York. Born in a tiny town bordering Canada only five minutes from the legendary falls, Nicole says she had an eye for beauty at a young age, and that included poetry. She can remember from an age as young as six, being selected as part of the city’s "young authors club." She was interested in lyric poetry from the time she was a pre-teen into her early-to-mid-twenties, and moved into creative writing and fiction in her late twenties and early thirties.
Addictarium was penned while Nicole spent time in an intensive rehabilitation center due to a devastating heroin addiction, and while this is a fictional memoir, many of the themes and tales are based around her own experiences during her two year stay in the notorious Queens, New York “therapeutic community.”
In April of 2010, Nicole lost 95% of her eyesight due to a poisoned bag of heroin she had injected, and was shipped to Manhattan’s Bellevue hospital 1,600 miles away from her city at the time, which was in South Florida, where she had been attending an art institute for photojournalism. She was forced to drop the courses, as she began a new, sober life in New York City.
Nicole was also separated from her fiancé and co-conspirator in 2010, while recuperating in Daytop Village. At that time, she was introduced to her current fiancé, who is also mentioned throughout the novel as the substance abuse counselor she fell in love with.
Today, both artists run a modest business creatively assisting others, and continue to hone their fine arts abilities, in their art studio and living quarters, residing in Pleasant Valley, New York. With their creative assistance-based company; LCDS Creative Services, they’ve dedicated a division to publishing novels, named; The Book House of Seviles. They look forward to venturing further into the writing and publishing world, in 2017.
GIVEAWAY
When the person purchases Addictarium's
ebook for $4.99 they have a chance to win:
Prize #1 - A subscription from mazagines.com for any
1 selection of reading material they pick (a 1 year subscription)
1 selection of reading material they pick (a 1 year subscription)
Prize #2 - A $10 giftcard for Barnes & Nobles, and
a signed photo-card of "Addictarium"
a signed photo-card of "Addictarium"
Prize #3 - A free ebook of their choice on Kindle (not
to exceed $9.99 for the ebook) and a signed/framed photo-card of
"Addictarium"
to exceed $9.99 for the ebook) and a signed/framed photo-card of
"Addictarium"
Prize #4 - An official "Addictarium Writer's Gift
basket" (includes gifts geared towards writing & Addictarium memorabilia
basket" (includes gifts geared towards writing & Addictarium memorabilia
Please email lcdscreativeservices@gmail.com, after the purchase with the email receipt and have a chance to win these amazing prizes.
Monday 5 September 2016
THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL AND THE LOOMING RISE OF ANOTHER
THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL AND THE LOOMING RISE OF ANOTHER
President USA 1961--1963
"Freedom has many flaws and our democracy is imperfect but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in "John Fitzgerald Kennedy
President USA 1961--1963
To many of us watching from the outside, the American spirit represents the ideal which we all continually hope for, and wished our leaders (especially in the third world countries ) would aspire to. Indeed no one can argue against the fact that as the leader of the Free World, America has the right and might to build its own walls if, and when it chooses to.
But when the spirit and the passion behind the call for the erection of that kind of wall is blurred along the lines of diabolical Puritanism and inflammable global impact -- when that spirit and passion is mixed in a crucible of racism, demagoguery and divisiveness, it leaves us scurrying to the annals of history in search of precedents.
The most recent that comes to mind is the Berlin wall. The second world war, as we learnt was a brutal affair. About a decade after the war ended, a new high in global suspicions, a growing cold war between the US and USSR, and dangerous diplomatic intrigues yielded a new world order: The Eastern bloc led by the USSR and WARSAW Pact Nations, and the Western bloc championed by the US, UK, France and NATO .
The USSR took charge of East Germany, (ironically called the German Democratic Republic) which at the time was the most advanced Communist economy. However, the USSR's Iron fist suppressed real democracy and stifled the economy in East Germany.
On the other hand, West Germany, (Federal Republic of Germany)had the opportunity to re-develop its economy and set itself on a path to economic growth. In the East, a certain paranoia developed. The walls of the Kremlin and the halls of government in East Germany became troubled. Deep suspicions grew deeper. The East German government prodded by the Kremlin decided to build an 'antifascist protective wall'.
The East German propaganda machine worked on its people. They created a state of perpetual fear -- fear of military aggression and political interference from the west. In simple terms, the story sold to the East German people (although they really had no say in the matter), was that the Berlin wall would protect East Germany from being invaded by West Germany and its NATO allies. In 1961, the Berlin wall was erected.
Today, the most advanced economy in the world, America is being preyed upon by the grand marketers of fear, divisiveness and racism embodied in one lugubrious presidential candidate doling out sick vituperations and eerie jokes aimed at entrenching a climate of fear and suspiciousness in all of America.
Today the most advanced economy in the world is placed under enormous pressure by one presidential candidate running on the fuel of national fear and appealing to a macabre patriotism that is globally symbolic of fascism.
Today the most advanced economy in the world, with arguably the most advanced military apparatus in the world is belittled by one presidential candidate calling for the erection of a wall to prevent the invasion by 'economic refugees' and 'scant terrorism' . This is a visual we hope all of America will hold in their sights for a long time to come, because if that candidate squirms his way into the white house, the emergence of a new global chaos may be totally inevitable.
Let's back-track for a minute. So in 1961 the Berlin wall was erected ostensibly to keep West Germany and its allies from invading East Germany. Once the wall was in place the real reason behind the wall became evident. It was to prevent East Germans from fleeing the country whose economy was ailing and whose political ethos was stifling genuine growth and socio-economic development.
So may be in 2016 or early 2017 a wall would be erected in America (paid for by the Mexicans) ostensibly to keep the Mexican immigrants (economic refugees ) from invading America.
So may be in 2016 or early 2017 some 11 Million other undocumented immigrants whose sole purpose is to seek better economic environment for themselves and their families would be deported from America in a veiled act of economic cleansing, all in a bid to jump start the American economy.
So maybe in 2016 or early 2017 after the construction of this wall and the deportation of undocumented immigrants the American economy would immediately magically hit seventh heaven and leave the economy of China dazed in its wake.
Well unfortunately even if the wall was built today and undocumented immigrants deported today, this would have no positive impact on the American economy whatsoever. The reason is simple.
The State of America's economy is not independent of happenings in the global space. There is a global economic downturn. Any Nation whose leader cannot see this really cannot claim to have any idea of how to tackle his own country's economic problems. America's economy is in a peculiar situation. America's economy is the largest economy on the world. The American Government's expenses are the highest in the world and this did not happen as a result of Barrack Obama being President of the U.S. or Hillary Clinton being Secretary of State. To assume that either of these two personalities were the cause of America's economic woes would seriously question the present Republican Presidential candidate's understanding of the workings of a huge economy like America's.
America's federal deficit has been the subject of huge debate way before Obama even dreamt he would be President Of The United States. As a matter of fact this was one of the major issues championed by Henry Ross Perot in his campaign in 1992 for the Presidency. Perot (Independent) and Bill Clinton (Democratic) candidate, placed the Nation's economic deficit at the centre of their campaign arguments. As far back as 1992 Ross Perot had warned that the American economy would suffer catastrophically if the nation could not discipline itself and bring the National debt under control. This was as far back as 1992.
But the 1992 Presidential debates and campaign argument were not about racism and the psychological brutalization of undocumented immigrants because the major contestants understood what was important to Make America Great Again. And so a certain Bill Clinton won the elections. 8 years after, it is on record that America's record budget deficit became record budget surplus. It is on record that 22 Million new jobs were created and the country's unemployment rate and inflation really went down.
Clinton's government established a fiscal discipline and PAID OFF the America's debt. The key word here is PAID OFF not PARED. And in the 8 years of Clinton's government he did not 'build that wall', and he did not mass deport undocumented immigrants. But of course this is the less troubling side of my argument.
The more troubling side of my argument is this: If a candidate whose experience in business is characterized by corporate bankruptcy, and a twisted way of using the laws of the country to pare debt-- if that candidate manages to get into the white house he would hardly understand the intricacies of a huge economy like America's . Indeed with his mindset he would believe that once he built that wall and got rid of 11 million undocumented immigrants he would have created a brilliant economic surplus. And because he so is fixated on this, real issues that need urgent attention in American and global economics for even America to prosper would be left untended.
And God forbid, as the country begins to gradually drift into bankruptcy Americans would begin to leave America by the droves.
And because he has no idea of what global inter-relations mean, he would clamp down on America's Airports and prevent American businessmen from taking their businesses abroad. Then the real import of that candidate's desire to build 'that kind of wall' would gradually dawn on Americans: The wall would not be to keep Mexicans from coming in, rather it would be to keep Americans from going out. This candidate who is so fascinated with Russia would then gradually peel off all his pretences to democratic ideals and unleash the full weight of a new brand of communism in America.
This is a gloomy picture, and I admit a stretch of my imagination. 
But maybe a little admonishing from a 1964 speech by Sir Winston Churchill would drive home a point: "The United States at this time stands at the pinnacle of power. It is a solemn moment for the American democracy. For with primacy in power is joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future. "
Accountability to the future.
Friday 26 August 2016
MINE by J. KAHELE BLOG TOUR
Welcome to my tour stop of Mine by J Kahele. The tour runs from August 22-26 and you can follow the tour here.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A simple trip to the attorneys turns into a life changing moment for 22-year-old Jenna Kramer when she encounters Andrew Carington for the first time. Their desire for each other is so deep that an affair ensues quickly. But Jenna's abusive and controlling husband Senator Benjamin Kramer will never give her up and soon Jenna finds herself plummeting into dangerous grounds.
TRAILER LINK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE1M2Hk-tcQ
EXCERPT
Fighting back the tears, I swallow a small breath, trying so hard to stay still, to be quiet. I have made him angry again, and I need to give him time to calm down.
I cannot see him, but I hear him behind me, breathlessly panting.
He is close, very close—too close.
I hear the soft sounds of his socks brushing against the wood floor. I hear the click of the lock, then the creak of the door, opening, then closing. Relief washes over me; he is gone, and it is over.
Breathing in and out once again, I press my eyes shut, welcoming darkness, my best of friends. The pain will soon fade, and I will find comfort in the one place where only I can go…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am a proud mother of three daughters who are my absolute complete existence. I write to relieve the scattered thoughts that stream through my mind, constantly. My biggest downfall is that I am a huge procrastinator, which makes my life at times hectic!
Tuesday 23 August 2016
A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW: TERRORISM SEEKS TO DEFINE US (AMINA'S STORY CONTINUES.)
A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW: TERRORISM SEEKS TO DEFINE US (AMINA'S STORY CONTINUES.)
Terrorism is on track to define the world we live in today. And today does not simply refer to this particular day or that particular hour, but quite nearly a generation now if not more.
Tune into your radio - it's ISIS in the middle East. Switch on your television , it's all about some draconian regime in Syria. Plug into the internet, it's wars and rumors of wars in Africa: Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al Shabab in Somalia. Each situation tapping into the inherent fears of mankind, coalescing our moments into one perpetual shudder of fright.
In a way Nobel laureate Toni Morrison (taking her out of context), was echoing the invasive nature of fear in her book "Song of Solomon" when she wrote:
"What difference do it make if the thing you scared of is real or not?
Toni Morrison (1931 - )
May be for us this could be transposed: What difference do it make if they are 'winning the war against Boko Haram or not --- especially when we still have over 200 of our girls being held hostage; especially also, when the army has 'killed' the Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekaru many times over, but every now and then the man seems to conveniently resurrect elsewhere.
Think about this for a moment: Just last week Boko Haram, through CNN and all the major international media houses, transmitted a video showing the girls still in captivity. That Boko Haram could produce that video showing that some of the Chibok girls are still alive may, I admit, be an indication that the group's strength has indeed been degraded by the long 'onslaught ' on it by the Nigerian army. Indeed this is what the army would have us believe.
On the other hand, the reason for that video may really be all too sinister; It may simply be -- another weapon to inflict fear on Nigerians and remind Northerners that they (Boko Haram) were still out there and could strike anytime. Indeed news filtering from the Chibok Area today August 23rd 2016, indicates that Boko Haram has struck again and abducted some more villagers.
While this is a national fear, and I believe that after the outrage that followed the airing of that video last week, parents within that territory must have returned to their shells even more wary and frightened. For me however, there is a personal fear : My fear is of a deeper nature, centred around a story that made local and international headlines two days after the Boko Haram video hit the media.
The headline says: "AMINA: I MISS MY BOKO HARAM HUSBAND".
To put this in perspective, Amina Ali Nkeki is the only girl as far as we know that has escaped from the Boko Haram stronghold in the Sambisa forests.
For me that headline immediately sent alarm bells screaming. First let me say this: I empathize with Amina. As a parent myself, I feel for her deeply as any normal parent would. I can only imagine the mental trauma she is going through beneath the facade of superficial tranquility.
As one who had in my own very early adult years, spent years aways from family who were caught up in a war zone -- not a word from them-- the media and grapevine awash with stories of one man's dehumanizing treatment of men, women and children-- stories and images of rape, torture, amputations, all on compact discs -- the agony of not knowing whether they were alive or not and me being powerless to help. As one who experienced these too, I can say, yes indeed, I do relate to what young Amina is going through emotionally and psychologically.
It is for this reason that my heart sinks that we, here in Nigeria, collectively lean too easily on the shoulders of a simplicity that's hard to understand. Let me situate this properly. After some 2 years in captivity, Nigeria's Army declared one day that they had rescued one of the 'Chibok girls' taken hostage by Boko Haram . The circumstances of that discovery or rescue were shrouded in some kind of mystery. The discovery/rescue came at a time when labour was about to embark on a national strike as the cost of petrol jumped out of the reach of the masses. And Civil Society Organizations danced rigorous reasoning in the hallways me media blitz. Amina and her Boko Haram husband became stars. And then all went quiet.
Herein lie my worries: While superficially we believe everything is now alright for Amina, my heart tells me there are deeper issues tugging at the young woman's inner core.
For her, the trauma of her experience in captivity did not end with gaining freedom, rather that trauma is living with her every day. The evidence is in a living , breathing, baby-- one she has to support, and care for -- one who reminds her consciously , unconsciously and subliminally about the distressing experience she went through in the Sambisa Forests or wherever it was Boko Haram took the abductees to .
For Amina to have said these words : "I want you to know that I'm still thinking about you , and just because we are separated doesn't mean I have forgotten about you." ( Courtesy CNN) , clearly indicate there are deep seated 'inflammable' emotions that could spark a conflagration if not handled properly. Amina's quiet proclamation is an emotional scream for help. She is a young woman who needs complete, exhaustive, medico- psychological evaluation and support.
Amina's quiet proclamation is an indication that her reintegration back into society has not turned out as she had hoped for.
For those of us that think a little differently from the way others think, this is exactly where the danger lies. If at this stage, at this point in her life Amina is quietly longing for what was, and not looking forward to what brilliant possibilities lie ahead of her despite all that she's gone through, this carries a certain scary message and leaves behind a medically disturbing sign-- anhedonia.
The implication of this is terrifying. The questions that arise from this premise are not simply frightening, but very frightening:
Could Amina be at that point in her life where she is extremely susceptible to the radicalization? Is she at that stage in her life when psychological infantilism is taking over and she is beginning to feel an emptiness inside and a certain desire to cling to her 'husband' -- that man who was once in the group of her captors?
Is she at that point in her life when the sane society that we live in is about to lose her because we do not remotely understand the depths and intricacies of her emotions and situation? For God's sake she belonged to sane society once! We cannot all pretend all is well and exploit her in our media shows without crying out with her for the help she needs.
We all cannot afford to sit and watch while we lose her to the other side. She has passed on the message to us. It is our duty to help her and help any of the others who may one day escape from their captors. Amina needs a careful, supportive medical and psychological help. It's the least sane society can do for her. May her cries be on all of our consciences.
And while we think about this, may we also remember these words from Baroness Margaret Thatcher:
"We must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend."
Margaret Thatcher (1925 -2013 )
British prime minister.
Speech to the American Bar Association, London
Terrorism is on track to define the world we live in today. And today does not simply refer to this particular day or that particular hour, but quite nearly a generation now if not more.
Tune into your radio - it's ISIS in the middle East. Switch on your television , it's all about some draconian regime in Syria. Plug into the internet, it's wars and rumors of wars in Africa: Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al Shabab in Somalia. Each situation tapping into the inherent fears of mankind, coalescing our moments into one perpetual shudder of fright.
In a way Nobel laureate Toni Morrison (taking her out of context), was echoing the invasive nature of fear in her book "Song of Solomon" when she wrote:
"What difference do it make if the thing you scared of is real or not?
Toni Morrison (1931 - )
May be for us this could be transposed: What difference do it make if they are 'winning the war against Boko Haram or not --- especially when we still have over 200 of our girls being held hostage; especially also, when the army has 'killed' the Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekaru many times over, but every now and then the man seems to conveniently resurrect elsewhere.
Think about this for a moment: Just last week Boko Haram, through CNN and all the major international media houses, transmitted a video showing the girls still in captivity. That Boko Haram could produce that video showing that some of the Chibok girls are still alive may, I admit, be an indication that the group's strength has indeed been degraded by the long 'onslaught ' on it by the Nigerian army. Indeed this is what the army would have us believe.
On the other hand, the reason for that video may really be all too sinister; It may simply be -- another weapon to inflict fear on Nigerians and remind Northerners that they (Boko Haram) were still out there and could strike anytime. Indeed news filtering from the Chibok Area today August 23rd 2016, indicates that Boko Haram has struck again and abducted some more villagers.
While this is a national fear, and I believe that after the outrage that followed the airing of that video last week, parents within that territory must have returned to their shells even more wary and frightened. For me however, there is a personal fear : My fear is of a deeper nature, centred around a story that made local and international headlines two days after the Boko Haram video hit the media.
The headline says: "AMINA: I MISS MY BOKO HARAM HUSBAND".
To put this in perspective, Amina Ali Nkeki is the only girl as far as we know that has escaped from the Boko Haram stronghold in the Sambisa forests.
For me that headline immediately sent alarm bells screaming. First let me say this: I empathize with Amina. As a parent myself, I feel for her deeply as any normal parent would. I can only imagine the mental trauma she is going through beneath the facade of superficial tranquility.
As one who had in my own very early adult years, spent years aways from family who were caught up in a war zone -- not a word from them-- the media and grapevine awash with stories of one man's dehumanizing treatment of men, women and children-- stories and images of rape, torture, amputations, all on compact discs -- the agony of not knowing whether they were alive or not and me being powerless to help. As one who experienced these too, I can say, yes indeed, I do relate to what young Amina is going through emotionally and psychologically.
It is for this reason that my heart sinks that we, here in Nigeria, collectively lean too easily on the shoulders of a simplicity that's hard to understand. Let me situate this properly. After some 2 years in captivity, Nigeria's Army declared one day that they had rescued one of the 'Chibok girls' taken hostage by Boko Haram . The circumstances of that discovery or rescue were shrouded in some kind of mystery. The discovery/rescue came at a time when labour was about to embark on a national strike as the cost of petrol jumped out of the reach of the masses. And Civil Society Organizations danced rigorous reasoning in the hallways me media blitz. Amina and her Boko Haram husband became stars. And then all went quiet.
Herein lie my worries: While superficially we believe everything is now alright for Amina, my heart tells me there are deeper issues tugging at the young woman's inner core.
For her, the trauma of her experience in captivity did not end with gaining freedom, rather that trauma is living with her every day. The evidence is in a living , breathing, baby-- one she has to support, and care for -- one who reminds her consciously , unconsciously and subliminally about the distressing experience she went through in the Sambisa Forests or wherever it was Boko Haram took the abductees to .
For Amina to have said these words : "I want you to know that I'm still thinking about you , and just because we are separated doesn't mean I have forgotten about you." ( Courtesy CNN) , clearly indicate there are deep seated 'inflammable' emotions that could spark a conflagration if not handled properly. Amina's quiet proclamation is an emotional scream for help. She is a young woman who needs complete, exhaustive, medico- psychological evaluation and support.
Amina's quiet proclamation is an indication that her reintegration back into society has not turned out as she had hoped for.
For those of us that think a little differently from the way others think, this is exactly where the danger lies. If at this stage, at this point in her life Amina is quietly longing for what was, and not looking forward to what brilliant possibilities lie ahead of her despite all that she's gone through, this carries a certain scary message and leaves behind a medically disturbing sign-- anhedonia.
The implication of this is terrifying. The questions that arise from this premise are not simply frightening, but very frightening:
Could Amina be at that point in her life where she is extremely susceptible to the radicalization? Is she at that stage in her life when psychological infantilism is taking over and she is beginning to feel an emptiness inside and a certain desire to cling to her 'husband' -- that man who was once in the group of her captors?
Is she at that point in her life when the sane society that we live in is about to lose her because we do not remotely understand the depths and intricacies of her emotions and situation? For God's sake she belonged to sane society once! We cannot all pretend all is well and exploit her in our media shows without crying out with her for the help she needs.
We all cannot afford to sit and watch while we lose her to the other side. She has passed on the message to us. It is our duty to help her and help any of the others who may one day escape from their captors. Amina needs a careful, supportive medical and psychological help. It's the least sane society can do for her. May her cries be on all of our consciences.
And while we think about this, may we also remember these words from Baroness Margaret Thatcher:
"We must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend."
Margaret Thatcher (1925 -2013 )
British prime minister.
Speech to the American Bar Association, London
Wednesday 17 August 2016
MUSIC AFRICA BEACH SPLASH 2015-- HUGE SUCCESS OR GRAND SLAM 5?
MUSIC AFRICA BEACH SPLASH 2015-- HUGE SUCCESS OR GRAND SLAM 5?
When the chips are down and you're looking for a little soothing of the soul, or a firing-up of the spirit, music wins it every day, any day. And when you've got huge stars like Kiss Daniels in the groove and Victoria kimani getting it down, thrilling your crowd , you know you've got a grand slam in your hands.
KISS DANIELS:
This 2013 graduate of Agro-meteorology from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta took the audience by the scruff of the neck and Chaka Beach went wild. His 'afro-pop' brand of music appealed to both young and old. The crowd loved him and it did not matter one bit to them that he hit the stage later than scheduled. Kiss Daniels delivered. The crowd wanted more.
Although Kiss Daniel (real name: Adinugbe Oluwatobiloba Daniel ) lost his dad on May 9th 2015, the MABS 2015 December 20th show simply provided a channel for the young music star to break out of 'mourning drive' and hit the entertainment super highway with an action packed performance of his hit track "L'aye" . His super charged performance remains one the big 'take-aways' of the Music Africa Beach Splash 2015 .
VICTORIA KIMANI:
Vivacious Victoria Kimani. The American born Kenyan thrilled the MABS 2015 crowd in this segment with her seductive dance jam, 'SWEET CHOCOLATE'.
Victoria Kimani an amazing singer-songwriter, shuttles frequently between Nigeria (where she spent part of her childhood) and Kenya. Victoria's parents who are evangelists spent a few years in Nigeria where she attended secondary school. She started out in the church choir before opting to do popular music.
Today Victoria Kimani is signed on to Chocolate City, a label under the Chocolate City Group chaired by one of Nigeria's richest Hakeem Belo-Osagie who recently dropped off the Forbes Africa 50 rich list, no thanks to Nigeria's dwindling economic fortunes.
Victoria Kimani rocked at MABS 2015.
When the chips are down and you're looking for a little soothing of the soul, or a firing-up of the spirit, music wins it every day, any day. And when you've got huge stars like Kiss Daniels in the groove and Victoria kimani getting it down, thrilling your crowd , you know you've got a grand slam in your hands.
KISS DANIELS:
This 2013 graduate of Agro-meteorology from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta took the audience by the scruff of the neck and Chaka Beach went wild. His 'afro-pop' brand of music appealed to both young and old. The crowd loved him and it did not matter one bit to them that he hit the stage later than scheduled. Kiss Daniels delivered. The crowd wanted more.
Although Kiss Daniel (real name: Adinugbe Oluwatobiloba Daniel ) lost his dad on May 9th 2015, the MABS 2015 December 20th show simply provided a channel for the young music star to break out of 'mourning drive' and hit the entertainment super highway with an action packed performance of his hit track "L'aye" . His super charged performance remains one the big 'take-aways' of the Music Africa Beach Splash 2015 .
VICTORIA KIMANI:
Vivacious Victoria Kimani. The American born Kenyan thrilled the MABS 2015 crowd in this segment with her seductive dance jam, 'SWEET CHOCOLATE'.
Victoria Kimani an amazing singer-songwriter, shuttles frequently between Nigeria (where she spent part of her childhood) and Kenya. Victoria's parents who are evangelists spent a few years in Nigeria where she attended secondary school. She started out in the church choir before opting to do popular music.
Today Victoria Kimani is signed on to Chocolate City, a label under the Chocolate City Group chaired by one of Nigeria's richest Hakeem Belo-Osagie who recently dropped off the Forbes Africa 50 rich list, no thanks to Nigeria's dwindling economic fortunes.
Victoria Kimani rocked at MABS 2015.
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