Versatile Blogger Award [Featured Artistes: Tolu Okeowo / Kelechi Ify]

Versatile Blogger Award [Featured Artistes: Tolu Okeowo / Kelechi Ify]

It is always nice to have your work appreciated, and that is precisely what the lovely Toinlicious did when she gave me the “Versatile Blogger” award.  Thank you so much, Toinlicious.  I truly appreciate this.  As you kuku know, there must be a catch somewhere, and in this case, the “catch” is more like a set of conditions, i.e.

• Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
• Share 7 things about yourself.
• Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it

I know I just met the 1^st condition, but I feel almost a compulsion to do it again… So, from my anonymous but truly grateful heart, thank you again Toinlicious! (I almost wanted to add “Ile ise yin o ni jona o” (Your workplace will not go up in flames) until I remembered where I was – Blogsville).

Now, for the rest of the conditions….

7 Random Things about Relentless 

1. I cannot decide which of the Nigerian comedians I love the most.  I have an even harder time deciding which one of them is the funniest, but I tend to gravitate towards these people: Basket mouth, He I go die, Julius Agwu and of course, Helen Paul (in Helen’s voice: “Ayam NOT tayad of being a fine geh!”) 
2. I have been called a Pan-Africanist.  I am not sure I agree.
3. I cannot stand dreads (a.k.a “Dada” hair).  Long, short, medium … I no like am! If you dye it again, you haff fall my hand!
4. Cooking is very therapeutic for me.  I have gotten some really good ideas while preparing a pot of stew. 
5. I love discovering new Nigerian gospel music artistes (and buying their albums), particularly the ones nobody has ever heard of. 
6. My guitar’s name is Gbenga because I literally “gbe” (carry it) to play it … him *winks* (or at least “pretend” to play it…him).
7. I love acquiring (abi she na “collecting”) classic Nollywood movies (both English and Yoruba), and of course watching them. 

15 Recently Discovered Blogs

Feel my pulse and tell me what it reads - http://thepetprojects.blogspot.com/

Joy of My World - http://jemima-joyofmyworld.blogspot.com/

Travel Buff - http://travel-buff.blogspot.com/

Amaka’s Notepad - http://amakaobi.blogspot.com

Luciano’s World - http://lucianochinwe.blogspot.com/

Priscy’s World - http://apysworld.blogspot.com

Trusted Visionaire - http://trustedvisionaire.blogspot.com/

I am Lily Johnson - http://bodyandmindforallwomen.blogspot.com/

A Fulani-Nigerian in England - http://hausanigerian.blogspot.com/

Straight from the Revolutionist’s Pen - http://xpressmind-uzi.blogspot.com/

21^st Century Career Mum - http://hazel-muses.blogspot.com/

Another Shot - http://dollchic.blogspot.com/

Missy Tee - http://missytees.blogspot.com/

Ore’s Notes - http://orenotes.blogspot.com/

My Naija Lifestyle - http://mynaijalifestyle.blogspot.com/

Featured Artistes: Tolu Okeowo & Kelechi Ify

The reason why I have two names in the Featured Artiste section today is because the song in question (Ihunanya) is actually  on Tolu Okeowo’s “A Perfect Progression” Album, but Kelechi Ify is the one who actually sings the song (and plays the guitar too).  So, I thought it would only be fair to put both their names here.  Ihunanya is a beautiful song in Igbo, and although at first I did not know what the words meant, I still fell in love with the song.  I finally came across the lyrics (and translation) on Tolu Okeowo’s blog a few months ago and the song has an even deeper meaning to me now that I actually know what Kelechi is singing about.  Here are the lyrics to Ihunanya, courtesy of Tolu Okeowo (www.toluokeowo.com/blog):

Ihunanaya nemetu m obi (Your love touches my heart)

Onwu I nwuru nobe nemetu m obi (Your death on the cross touches my heart)

Ibe namara gi o nemetu m obi (Your grace touches my heart)

Akwa I kwara nobe nemetu m obi (Your tears on the cross touch my heart)

E mere gi ogbe kodiri m nma (You were made poor & humiliated so it could be well with me)

Ihunanaya nemetu m obi (Your love touches my heart)

Ihunanaya nerue m obi (Your Love pierces my soul)

Ndu I nyere muo nemetu m nobi (The life you’ve given me touches my heart)

Onye kworo muo nemetu m nobi (The one who carried me touches my heart)

Tolu Okeowo / ReverbNation

Now, for some brief information on these two talented gentlemen:

Artiste’s Stage Name:  Tolu Okeowo [Tolu is actually a music producer, director and composer]

Artiste’s Real Name:  Tolu Okeowo

Official Website: www.toluokeowo.com

Official Blog:  www.toluokeowo.com/blog

ReverbNation page:  http://www.reverbnation.com/toluokeowo

Featured Album / Song:  A Perfect Progression / Ihunanya

Purchase Information: Itunes, Amazon

Kelechi Ify / MySpace

Artiste’s Stage Name: Kelechi Ify [Kelechi is also a music producer, multi-instrumentalist and music minister)

Artiste’s Real Name: Kelechi Ify? (I doubt that Ify is his last name, but I don’t know it, so….)

Official Website: http://www.kelechimusic.com/

ReverbNation Page: http://www.reverbnation.com/kelechiifycelebrity

Finally, here is a live recording of the song, Ihunanya, performed by Kelechi Ify and the Hill City Mass Choir in London (I prefer this version to the actual recorded version on the CD).  Enjoy and have a blessed week!

Ihunanya Video: