Only Bad Boys Wear Jewelry; Good Guys Wear Wristwatches

Only Bad Boys Wear Jewelry; Good Guys Wear Wristwatches

Confession:  I thoroughly enjoyed looking for the picture to use for today's post. So many hot guys with or without jewelry. *fans self*

*in a deep Southern preacher's voice* : God is good!  *wink, wink*

So, after getting that confession off my chest, let me dive into today's post.

Whoosh! 

That was the sound of me diving.  In case you were wondering.  Or not. No, I didn't hurt myself.

Okay, let's start with a quick definition.

Jewelry are "decorative objects (such as rings, necklaces, and earrings) that people wear on their body."

Let's jump on the specific examples in the definition: rings, necklaces, earrings.

I can't tell you how many times I heard relatives (especially those in earlier generations like grandparents), pastors, teachers, etc make comments on a boy or man's character based on the jewelry he was wearing.

The common culprits are:

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Don't Marry from that Village!

Don't Marry from that Village!

I know the minute you read that title, the names of a dozen villages, towns, etc that you've "heard about" just floated through your head.  Apart from tribal stereotypes, we (Nigerians) also have specific stereotypes about people from particular villages or towns.

Here's a random list of stereotypes that come to mind (feel free to add your own):

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MUSIC: Tolu Okeowo - Be Thou My Vision

MUSIC: Tolu Okeowo - Be Thou My Vision

Tolu Okeowo is a composer and music producer, better known for his command of the piano.  He describes himself as a lawyer who is also a musician, and is currently based in the United Kingdom. [Source]

A few years back, I came across this beautiful song titled Ihunanya from his A Perfect Progression album.   It was written and performed by Kelechi Ify.

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Soundtrack for the Week: Take Five - Kileoleshe (Nothing is Impossible with God)

Soundtrack for the Week: Take Five - Kileoleshe (Nothing is Impossible with God)

How was your weekend? I hope you got lots of rest. This week is one of those weird ones where one month ends and another begins.

As you mark the end of April and step into May, my prayer for you is contained in the chorus of today's soundtrack, Kileoleshe by Take Five.  It simply says:

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AUDIO + LYRICS VIDEO: Brand New Generation (BNG) - Many Things

AUDIO + LYRICS VIDEO: Brand New Generation (BNG) - Many Things

BNG, which stands for Brand New Generation, is a group of three men whose actual names are: Daro Umaigba, Patrick Edwards, Nosa Umaigba.

Earlier this month, BNG released the audio and lyrics video for their new single, Many Things.  I love the highlife and cultural flavor infused into this song.  The cover artwork is a winner in my books! There are "many things" I love about this song, but I will let you listen and judge for yourself.

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This Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Kinsu CIA, Okey Sokay, Ketandu "KK" Ezeji, Nolly CIA, Lima

This Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Kinsu CIA, Okey Sokay, Ketandu "KK" Ezeji, Nolly CIA, Lima

How was your week? Mine was so-so.  Let's just say I'm looking forward to this weekend.  To ease your transition to the much-anticipated weekend, here are three songs that the following artistes have shared with me.  Download and have a blessed weekend!

1. Kinsu CIA (Christ I Abide) - Mindful

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Feeling Discouraged, Sad, Angry or Frustrated? Pray with a Psalm!

Feeling Discouraged, Sad, Angry or Frustrated? Pray with a Psalm!

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! 

Many are they that rise up against me.

Many there be which say of my soul, 

There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; 

My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Psalm 3: 1 - 3 (KJV)

---

This is what the wicked are like—

    always free of care, 

they go on amassing wealth.

Psalm 73: 12 (NIV)

---

Your word is a lamp to my feet

    and a light to my path.

Psalm 119: 105 (ESV)

There are moments in life when you open your mouth to pray but you just can't find the words.  While you can choose to listen to music or worship God in those moments, here's something else you can do: pray with a psalm.

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The Invisible Culprit Responsible for Making School Boys' White Uniforms Dirty

The Invisible Culprit Responsible for Making School Boys' White Uniforms Dirty

After all these years, this question remains unanswered: Whose idea was it to make secondary school boys wear white uniforms?

I don't know o.

I know though that when these boys go to school in the morning, their uniforms are white and clean.  But, by the time they return home in the evening, all sorts of strange stains have attached themselves to the same uniforms.  Needless to say, bleaching is a daily routine for any serious uniform washer.

Since I can't get an answer to the first question, I decided to temporarily abandon it and instead, ask another one: Where do all these stains come from?

My suggestions:

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Blended or Step Families in Nigeria: Painting a General Picture

Blended or Step Families in Nigeria: Painting a General Picture

I think the little ones on the left and right fell asleep while the other two were "kabashing"

I remember discussing family structures in our social studies class, back in secondary school.  These two types in particular, should be familiar to you: Nuclear Family and Extended Family.

Let's talk about the Nuclear family.

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Soundtrack for the Week: Our God - Cute Sagay

Soundtrack for the Week: Our God - Cute Sagay

So how was your Easter? Wonderful, I hope.  I got lots of rest o, and actually celebrated on Saturday (as in did all the cooking and eating on that day), so Sunday was quite laid back.

Before it's too late, let me wish you a Happy Easter Monday.  I pray that the resurrection power of Jesus will remain alive in you all 365 days of the year.  I hope you said Amen.

In continuing our series, today's soundtrack is Cute Sagay's new single, Our God.

DOWNLOAD OUR GOD

The pertinent lyrics I want you to meditate on throughout this week, especially as April slowly draws to a close are:

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Hallelujah, Jesus is Alive!

Hallelujah, Jesus is Alive!

He is not here, 

but is risen.

Luke 24:6 (KJV)

We celebrate our Risen Savior, today.  The foundation of our faith is this: that Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead.

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Lyrics + Yoruba to English Translation : O ti j'Oba - Dimeji Olayinka-Israel and NCR Featuring Selma

Lyrics + Yoruba to English Translation : O ti j'Oba - Dimeji Olayinka-Israel and NCR Featuring Selma

Happy Holy Saturday!  Yes, today is the day when in some parts of the world (e.g. Nigeria), people take sticks and flog Judas to punish him for betraying Jesus.  I am hoping nobody volunteered to be Judas for this sole purpose.  A stuffed pillow with a naughty face drawn on it will suffice, right?

Anyway, regardless of what you're doing today or this weekend, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Easter.

I wanted to share with you, the lyrics and the Yoruba to English Translation for a song I shared in the previous post.  It's called O ti j'Oba by Dimeji Olayinka-Israel and NCR featuring Selma.

Special thanks for Gbenga Awomodu who graciously provided the lyrics and translation.  Even for a Yoruba speaker like myself, it was very helpful to see the translation instead of guessing what Oludande (Redeemer or Savior) for example, meant.


In case you missed it, here are the download links again:

DOWNLOAD O TI J'OBA

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MUSIC: O ti J'Oba - Dimeji Olayinka-Israel and NCR Featuring Selma

MUSIC: O ti J'Oba - Dimeji Olayinka-Israel and NCR Featuring Selma

Happy Good Friday!

Earlier this week, I was silently complaining to myself that unlike during the Christmas season, there are very few songs released for Easter by Nigerian gospel songs.

Until I checked my inbox and found this treasure.  Needless to say my complaining ended there and then.

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When all else Fails, Invent a New Language

When all else Fails, Invent a New Language

This usually happens in church, but you know, you can probably think of other non-Church settings where this occurs. What "this" am I referring to?  Well, I'm glad you asked, but unfortunately, it doesn't have a name.

Let me explain.

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Do Nigerians Hate their Own Accent?

Do Nigerians Hate their Own Accent?

Let's try an experiment.  Go to Tunein.com.  It's a website where radio stations are streamed live from all over the world.  Since Nigeria is in the world, our radio stations are also included.

Next, go to the Nigerian radio stations.  Here's a shortcut to make your life easier: Nigeria Radio Stations on Tune in.

Then, just pick a random radio station on the list.  Any one.  Note the accent of the presenter or on air personality (assuming they are not playing commercials).

Repeat the process 5 or more times.

What were the results in terms of Nigerian accent versus American, British, etc?

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Define the Nigerian Dream: The Usual Suspects Served in Five Music Related Answers

Define the Nigerian Dream: The Usual Suspects Served in Five Music Related Answers

That's a Bugatti

Assume for a moment that you are sitting for an exam (WAEC/SSCE/JSCE/JAMB) or test (not a driving test sha), and the first question that is jeje-ly printed on the paper in front of you is this:

Define the Nigerian Dream

Please note that if you turn the paper to the other side, hoping that maybe it is a multiple choice question and the teacher mistakenly printed options A - D on the back, then you need to be flogged.

*in a teacher's voice, trying to sound important* "This is an essay question and you have fifteen minutes.  Start!"

Okay, so we are not really in class.  You can wipe that cold sweat off your forehead now.  *grins*

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That Noisy Church (or Mosque) on Your Street

That Noisy Church (or Mosque) on Your Street

National Christian Centre, Abuja a.k.a the Nigerian Ecumenical Centre,
located on Independence Avenue in the Central Business District 

I used to think that the trend of having local churches located in residential areas and having loud and noisy services at all hours of the day was a purely Nigerian affair.  That is, until I discovered that it happens in other parts of the world too, including Brazil.

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Soundtrack for the Week: Faith Yebo - Still Beautiful Featuring Nikki Laoye

Soundtrack for the Week: Faith Yebo - Still Beautiful Featuring Nikki Laoye

Today, I will be starting a new series: Soundtrack for the Week.  And because I know soundtrack might mean something else to you, I need to clarify what this series is about.

By Soundtrack, I don't mean the song was the theme song for a movie or similar production.  I mean that this is the song I want you to meditate on for the rest of the week.  Let it play in the background of your week, in the back of your mind while you get your hustle on (or take a break).  I think you get it now. :D

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This Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Sophie Jolaosho, Toluwalope, Nate, IK Worships, Izik Aga, Tex, Trubreed, Angeloh, Dr. Sankty, God's Own Radicals

This Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Sophie Jolaosho, Toluwalope, Nate, IK Worships, Izik Aga, Tex, Trubreed, Angeloh, Dr. Sankty, God's Own Radicals

Relentless, you did not share enough music with us, last month!

I know, I know!  Which is why I intend to overfeed you am trying to remedy that this month.  The following artistes have generously shared their music with me, and I am in turn sharing them with you:

1. Sophie Jolaosho - Great Jehovah
2. Toluwalope Adebowale - So Great
3. Nate (Nathaniel Edoka Adoyi) - Egbega
4. IK Worships - Na God
5. Izik Aga - God is Able Featuring Tex
6. Trubreed - Bigger than Featuring Angeloh
7. Santi & The Radikalz (i.e. Dr. Sankty and God's Own Radicals) - King

P. S. Sorry for the secondary links as opposed to the widgets I usually post directly. I had some trouble uploading the original tracks. Blame it on Hulkshare :-(

1.  Sophie Jolaosho - Great Jehovah

Download Great Jehovah here

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Cover Art Candy | Featuring Henrisoul, Faith Yebo, Gameman, KK, Provabs, Dr. Sankty, Fizzikal, EmJoy, Jessy McJessiey, Playne

Cover Art Candy | Featuring Henrisoul, Faith Yebo, Gameman, KK, Provabs, Dr. Sankty, Fizzikal, EmJoy, Jessy McJessiey, Playne

Although I have seen some album / song / single cover artwork that I liked, I have not shared them here in a while.  But today, that changes.

Behold this week's selection of eye-catching artwork for singles, albums, etc by Nigerian gospel artistes! Nice, aren't they?  Well, I thought so too.  Let me know which ones you particularly liked or don't care for.  Yes, tastes vary so I expect that you won't like some of them.

If you come across any you think should be featured here, please send the link(s) to music@therelentlessbuilder.com.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Henrisoul - New Life Muzik

An illustration of Henrisoul wearing a red cap with a feather,
 rendered in nice, warm colors.  What's not to love?

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