THIS WEEK IN A NUTSHELL...

*Oando loses big

*WHO identifies processed meet as major cause of cancer

*The new Ooni of Ife is Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi

*Kwankwanso tells Yoruba elders to shut up

*Delta Election Tribunal upheld Okowa election

*Wike loses at tribunal and supreme court

*The new James Bond movie Sceptre premiered in London

*Batch B corpers resume NYSC Camp all over the country

*Zaynab Ahmed dazzles all at the Ministerial screening, but misses a line of the National anthem

*Senator Ben Murray-Bruce blasts Bloggers ,Online and traditional News Sites, warns President Buhari against them

*Cross River State ministerial nominee, Mr. Usani Uguru, drew the ire of PDP Senators by giving a ‘God forbid’ response to claims that he had once belonged to PDP

*29 year old boss of H2 chicken dies in fatal bike accident in Lekki, Lagos

*Senate confirms the appointment of new INEC Chairman and Commissioners

*Emir Sanusi dethrones rival Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Ciroman Kano

*Cross River state bans morning devotion in primary, secondary school

*Saraki loses case against Code of Conduct Bureau

*PDP senators walked out during confirmation of Amaechi

*Amaechi and others confirmed as ministers

*Obafemi martins and Iheanacho called back to Super Eagle camp

*All deputy comptroller general at custom resigned

*China Adopts 'Two - Child' Policy After 35 Years To Curb Aging Population.

*Tanzania unstable after elections result

*Reps angry over 29,000 Nigerian deportees by UK

*NCC gives Nov 16 deadline to MTN to pay $5.2b fine as mtn stock crashes in SA

*BVN enrolment ends as sanction looms for defaulters

*Bond girl Halle berry files for divorce a day after Sceptre was released

*Video of a sheriff manhandling a student in Columbia, North Carolina went viral, USA

*Hurricane Patricia brings rare praise for Mexico's president

*Beyonce's ex, Lyndall Locke, spills the beans on their relationship

*Ubi Weds Lilian Esoro

*Genevieve screens Road to Yesterday

Congrats! You have made it to the end of the week and month... See you next month!

FAST NEWS BY RebirthRAIN

*FG orders dismantling of barricades on border highways

*IMG pupil not beaten to death by teacher –Oyo govt

*Nigeria broke, can’t pay ministers – Buhari …says powerful Nigerians frustrating anti-graft war

*If we can’t be one Nigeria, let’s disintegrate. Father Mbaka

*Okowa to recall 3000 dismissed civil servants

*Orubebe for arraignment at CCT Nov 9 over alleged N70m bribery

*Prospective NYSC members stranded in Delta camp over thumb print errors

*Fed Poly Oko releases 2015/2016 Post UTME result

*Ibadan Poly 2015/2016 HND departmental cut off marks ranges between 16 & 72

*UNILAG 2015/2016 Supplementary Degree and Direct Entry admission list on JAMB Portal

*China adopts 'Two - Child' policy after 35 years to curb aging population

*Celebrities converge at the African Futures Festival in Nairobi, Kenya

*Teachers Demand for September Pay, Kenya

BIZZARE CRASH IN LA

A fatal crash on a freeway in Los Angeles had a shocking conclusion.

The California Highway Patrol told KTLA the impact of a one-car crash sent the driver flying. His body landed on top of a freeway sign.

Authorities covered the body with a sheet.
The crash happened during the morning rush.
The CHP told KTLA he was not wearing his seat belt and driving at a high rate of speed.

Culled from CBS12

IT IS AN APPEAL FRIDAY!

Senate President Saraki and Governor Wike Nyesom are two public figures that have been trending due to their court cases, amongst others, and the last working day of the week brought a twist to their drama.

In the case of Saraki who is being tried for corruption, the Appeal Court judges led by Judge Moore Agumanen ruled against him citing that the Code of Conduct Bureau was properly constituted, another twist to the case is the fact that, the court ruling is coming on the heels of Saraki led Senate confirming all Ministerial nominees, Rotimi Amaechi inclusive.

A more favourable verdict was delivered in Governor Wike Nyesom's case, the Appeal Court struck out part of APC’s petition against him in Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday. The three-man panel of Justices of the Appeal Court headed by Justice Datti Yahaya, struck out portions of the petition which alleged that security agents were used to rig the election in favour of Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, on the grounds that the accused parties were not joined in the petition, so therefore, they do not have the opportunity to defend themselves

Please stay tunes as the drama unfolds!



Stay tuned as the drama continues.

NOT A GOOD DAY TO DIE

The possibility of sudden death can happen anywhere, whether it’s a sudden boko haram bomb blast, accident or street violence the victim had no part in causing.

Meet the Saudi Arabian man with the "luckiest man alive title" in the month of September, that has been trending on Social Media. He won the title by simply simply walking on the street. This man literally came within inches of losing his life in a most horrific manner.

The video shows the man wearing a flowing white robe and traditional keffiyeh casually walking down a sidewalk outside of a cafe. A large plate of glass suddenly entered the top of the picture and crashed to the ground right next to him.

In fact, the sheet of glass likely brushed his shoulder and arm, glancing off to the side to shatter on the street instead of slicing him in half. We hope the second chance he has been given is put to good use.

What do you think this man should do with the second try at life he has been given?

Watch the video below and let us know what you think!

https://youtu.be/eMPuQDqrwi0

Fast News by RebirthRAIN

Fast News by RebirthRAIN

*There will be no coordinating Minister for the economy- VP Osibanjo

*Religious tension brews in Cross River as Government cancels morning devotion in primary, secondary schools

*Ekiti, Israel to partner on agric –Fayose

*Late Dora Akunyili's daughter, Njideka Crosby wins the 2015 Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize

*UCH, USA universities discover “permanent” cure for sickle cell anemia

*Oliseh invites Martins, Iheanacho

*Teacher flog student to death in Ibadan

*27 Nigerian students graduates from the Royal Jordanian Air Academy
*Plateau PDP guber candidate, Senator Pwajok dies at 49

*2 directors of Nigerian Film Corporation killed in a car crash on their way back from NBTE engagement

*ABU 2015/2016 admission list on JAMB portal

*FUTO increases school fees

*IMSU releases 2015/2016 2nd batch admission list

*President Kenyatta rejects Higher Education Board (HELB) bill to give all government-sponsored students loans

*Hilarious tweets as Kenyans reminisce on childhood memories for tbt #WhenIWasGrowingUpIKnew

*Hilarious #KenyansVsNigerians tweets

FAST NEWS BY RebirthRAIN

*PMB congratulates Quattara of Cote D’Ivoire over his reelection

*Emir Sanusi dethrones Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Ciroman Kano

*Boko Haram detainees removed from Ekwulobia prison

*Former champions reign as hosts depart: Australia's crash out of U-17 Fifa World Cup in 6-0 loss to Nigeria

*UNILORIN wins hosting rights for National Youth Games 2016/2017

*4 nurses, guards face sack over UNIPORT student Kelechi Precious death

*YABATECH set to graduate 11, 957 students

*Nigeria needs to put more money in education' — UI VC

*Corruption is the fundamental root of unemployment, insecurity – Agbaje

FAST NEWS BY RebirthRAIN

*NCC plans to cut off MTN over N1.4trn fine

*Fatima Bombom Sani makes history at Law School, carts away 9 prestigious awards

*Nigerian junior tennis champ's mother killed by mobile police
during altercation

*Senator Ben Murray-Bruce blasts Bloggers, online sites and Print media, advises President Buhari on handling them

*JAMB modifies procedures for 2016/2017 admission seekers to increase the chances of gaining admission

*NYSC Batch B Orientation Camp registration commences on the 28th October, 2015
*NASU to NABTEB, refund alleged illegal deductions from members

*Help The Child Foundation and Dave Entertainment International fed 370 School Children in Edo State

*Nollywood, Gambian filmmaker at war over President Jammeh’s land gifts

*Eaglets in make or mar clash with Australia

MORAL DECADENCE AMONGST YOUTH BY SAMUEL MEYIWA KHALIL

Moral decadence amongst youth: Who is to blame?

                                             Photo credit: Huffpost

Any society that is not morally sound is bound to witness all sorts of social menace. Moral values are found in our religion, culture and traditions yet our youth, for one reason or the other are not that religious. They consider our indigenous culture outdated and our traditions barbaric. Therefore they queue up to embrace westernization in its totality; abandoning our indigenous culture and tradition entirely, thereby losing their identity.

Now that the issue has reached an alarming rate, and as it is the tradition in our dear country whenever an issue arises, we point accusing fingers and play the blame game instead of brainstorming on how best to tackle the problem. Some blame the parents, some point accusing fingers at the media while others believe it’s the youth who are responsible for their behavior or misbehavior.

Whichever of them you think is responsible, you may be right and as well be wrong for the following reasons;

Parents are responsible for training their children and teaching them compassion, respect as well as acceptable do’s and don’ts in line with societal values and religious dictates. As such, they become responsible for the action or inaction, behavior and attitudes of their children towards others from childhood to maturity.

If a child behaves well, people conclude that the child is from a disciplined home and if they behave otherwise, people fault the parents for not properly training the child. You hear people complain “didn’t your parents teach you this?” or “didn’t your parents teach you that?”

The unfortunate thing now is that parents abandon these responsibilities. For example in working class families, the fathers and mothers go to work in the morning when the children are going to school. The mother will not comeback home till 5pm and the father till 9pm.

These children comeback from school and have the whole house to themselves. They do whatever they like, with whatever they like and however they like. This is not because they are alone, but because the house-help was instructed by madam and Oga to play nice with the kids. Should she do otherwise, she stands the risk of getting fired. Or maybe there was no such instruction but she herself wasn’t trained properly.
So what is she going to teach them? Imagine asking someone to give what they never had!

Photo credit: Esa Alexander

Now let’s examine the media. The role of the media in society is to inform, educate, entertain and serve as the watch-dog of the society. Unfortunately, it is no longer so. The entertainment industry for example through music videos, movies and some publications have successfully polluted the minds of the youth and promoted indecent dressing, drinking alcohol and other dangerous intoxicants, smoking, and jamborees among others.
Such youth model their lives in accordance with any of their favourite actors, actresses, musicians, models and the like. This reminds me of the hypodermic needle theory and the bullet theory of mass communication which says that all the media needs to do is to send a message and the receivers will respond accordingly.

They therefore dress, talk, walk, and misbehave like their unworthy role models with the highest sense of justification. This may include not paying attention to school or drop out of the school, and worst of all dedicating their most productive stage of life to temporary fun. What a mistake.
For those who blame the youth, here’s your score. Some children are good liars and perfect pretenders. They act and behave like saints in the house and become demons the moment they step out of it. It is universally believed that once a child is 18 years of age, he or she can think and make decisions, discern between truth and false, right and wrong, good and bad and so on.

But the truth is, they need guidance and counselling of the old in order to avoid making an ill-conceived decisions the repercussion of which may not be faced by the individual alone.
The time for blame game is over, and each and every one concerned should take up their responsibilities. Parents, no matter how busy you may be, find time to train your children to be the good children you want.
The media should be socially responsible to the society and promote morals and values found in our indigenous culture and traditions.

Whereas the youth need reorientation and these includes compassion, respect, tolerance and understanding.
Above all, it must be understood that training the youth is a collective responsibility of the members of the society. If you train only your children, my untrained children whom are friends and go to school, mosque or church, play and socialize together can spoil your trained children. By joining hands together we can achieve morally sound society that we can be proud to call home.

Over to you RebirthRAINers! What is your opinion?

A LECTURER RESORTS TO LABOURING JOB DUE TO LACK OF PAYMENT

It is indeed hearbreaking that the state of the Nigerian Educational sector has gotten this bad. All tiers of Government need to flag this as an emergency.

nigeriacamera.net/see-lecturer-whos-now-labourer-in-kwara-due-to-non-payment-of-salary-for-6-months/ has reported that, A Lecturer in Kwara state College of Education, Oro, Mr Kayode Odeyemi has appealed to the Kwara state government to pay workers salary. He uploaded his picture while working as labourer in a building construction site to earn a paltry N1,500 to cater for his family.

Mr Kayode said the hardship many lecturers are going through as a result of the non payment of salaries is unbearable.
He said he has no option than to do what he’s doing so as to be able to feed. See more photos:

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Cynthia Osokogwu, Court adjourns for written address

*Nigerians need attitudinal change to end HND discrimination, Kwankwaso

*Kalu withdraws from FIFA’s presidential race

*Igbos in the United States build village for their kids for cultural integration

*Tribunal sacks Rivers Speaker, 19 other PDP lawmakers

* Governor AYADE of Cross River State presents 360 billion naira 2016 budget to State Assembly

*Tribunal upholds Delta State election

*Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the new Ooni of Ife is a Polytechnic of Ibadan graduate

*Polytechnic graduates can be as successful as university degree holders, OSCOTECH Rector

*Telecom giant MTN fined $5.2bn by NCC

*Processed meat can cause cancer – WHO

*UNIPORT releases 2015/2016 Sociology and Theatre Art supplementary list

*DELSU releases 2015/2016 2nd batch admission list

*University of Pretoria scraps registration fee for financially needy students, South Africa

*Education Cabinet Secretary told to quit over exam leakage, Kenya

*Mount Kenya University in collaboration with Leipzing University of Germany to host ICABUMPA International Conference

*Happy 54th birthday to President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya

RED PROCESSED MEAT ALERT! BOYCOTT PROCESSED MEAT, SAYS WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has today released a report on the cancer-causing effects of red meat and processed meat , and the news, as you might expect, isn’t good. Although there has been a smorgasbord of evidence in the last decade suggesting that the overconsumption of processed meat
increases your chances of getting cancer – particularly bowel cancer – later in life, this new report highlights just how bad for you a few extra slices of bacon can be: Just 50 grams of processed meat a day increases your chance of developing bowel cancer by 18%. Consequently, the WHO has now classified processed meats as carcinogens . Red meat, on the other hand, is “probably carcinogenic” but there is limited evidence to support this at present.

These statements were made after consulting the findings of its specialized cancer research group, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC ). After scrutinizing decades’ worth of data across more than 800 studies, it has come to the conclusion that a mass of processed meat equivalent to less than two slices of bacon increases the chance of someone getting bowel (colorectal) cancer by almost a fifth.

A carcinogen is any chemical substance or form of radiation that either damages the genetic material or disrupts the energy conversion processes (metabolism) of an organism, and processed food is thought to contain a large quantity of carcinogenic substances. Any meat that has been modified to increase its shelf-life or to improve its taste is called processed meat. This includes techniques such as smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives; it is the addition of these methods and chemicals that is thought to induce a carcinogenic effect in the human digestive system.

The WHO has given processed meats (sausages, salami, bacon, ham) the definition of being “ carcinogenic to humans,” ranking it alongside alcohol, asbestos, arsenic, cigarettes and plutonium. This, of course, does not mean that a slice of bacon or ham is as dangerous to a person as one cigarette is. As BBC News reports, 34,000 deaths from cancer every year are possibly caused by diets high in processed meat. In contrast to this, there are roughly a million deaths from cancer caused by smoking and 600,000 caused by alcohol each year.

The WHO notes that there is limited evidence that 100 grams of red meat (pork, beef, lamb, veal) a day increased the risk of bowel cancer by 17%. While an increased incidence of pancreatic and prostate cancer were shown to be linked to consuming red meat, the link between red meat and these various cancers is currently not strong enough to issue a definitive statement on it, unlike processed meats.

As reported by BBC News , Professor Tim Key, from the charity Cancer Research UK and the University of Oxford, said: “This decision doesn't mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat, but if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down. Eating a bacon bap every once in a while isn't going to do much harm – having a healthy diet is all about moderation.”
The WHO was quick to also stress the health benefits of eating red meat, noting that it is a valuable source of proteins, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

Culled from IFL SCIENCE

10 TIPS TO GROW LONG AND HEALTHY BLACK HAIR 

It is an open secret black sisters are heading back to their roots, yeah, technically! And the hair industry has been forced to listen, since the black hair sector now rakes in over a billion dollars annually! Goodnews? Yaaaas! The down part is that Sistaz that have been straightening their hair with cream crack for easy maintenance are finding it difficult during transitioning. Well, slow and steady will definitely win the race and I wish you a lot of patience because it will be worth it when you finally see your saassy, fierce looking kinky curls. Hairgasm!

Here are the 10 tips to grow that hair;

1. Wash and Condition at least once a week.
Black hair is very curly thus the longer it gets, the more difficult for sebum (hair natural oil) to get to the ends, thus making the hair to dry out more easily. Therefore nourish by shampooing and conditioning weekly.  Wash your hair in colder water to help fight frizz and keep your hair shaft smooth and healthy. I am sure y'all know this.

2. Dry your hair with care.
When you get out of the shower, gently squeeze excess water from your hair and pat dry with a soft towel. Don’t rub or massage wet hair with a towel. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb to work through tangles. Try to let your hair air dry as much as possible!

3. Style your hair gently.
If you do blow dry your hair, use a cooler setting. Be sure to always use a thermal protectant on your hair before styling with heat!

4. Avoid chemicals.
Commercial shampoos, conditioners, and styling products contain a lot of chemicals that make hair look good in the short term, but dry it out and damage it in the long term. Choosing healthier products will prevent your hair from getting dull and dry while its growing out. Use shampoo that doesn’t contain sulfates. Also avoid conditioning products that contain silicone.

5. Eat well.
You are what you eat! Eating a healthy diet will help hair grow faster, thicker and glossier. Be sure to get plenty of vitamin B, found in fruits, veggies and nuts to keep hair thick and strong. Protein is the building block for your hair so eat plenty of meat, fish, legumes and leafy greens. Omega-3s like salmon, olive oil, nuts and
avocados can help keep hair glossy and smooth.

6. Drink plenty of water.
Hydrating your body can help hydrate your hair. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and avoid drinks that can dehydrate you.

7. Take vitamins.
Biotin (5000 mcg a day) promotes healthy skin, hair and nail growth. Prenatal vitamins are also packed full of folic acid and other nutrients to promote healthy hair and skin.

8. Let your hair down.
Avoid hairstyles that are tight and can cause breakage, like tight ponytails or
buns.

9. Massage your scalp.
Give yourself a scalp massage 2-3 times a week to for 10 minutes to increase blood flow to the scalp and promote hair growth.

10. Trim split ends.

It is important to trim your hair when you are growing it out, but only trim when necessary. It is okay to skip your 6 week trim if your ends are strong and healthy!

RABIU KWANKWASO CHIDES YORUBA LEADERS ON SECESSION TALK, ARGUES THAT FULANI HERDSMEN NEED EDUCATION

Ex Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso expresses displeasure in the way some Yoruba leaders are handling the aftermath of Chief Olu Falae kidnap.

He urged that instead of instigating division in the country by unguided statements, they should focus on finding ways to educate Hausa/Fulani herdsmen. He argued that no ethic group in the country is an island. Furthermore, he stated that underdevelopment is the major cause of the herdsmen nomadic life, since developed economies have more advanced technologies to curtail this menace, because they do not subscribe to the present archaic way of rearing cattles in the country. He advocated compulsory education for all Fulanis.

He addressed this issue at the just concluded Silver Jubilee of the set of 1965-1971 of Government College Ibadan. Other dignitaries in attendance were Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo Stat represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Group Managing Director of Vitafoam, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, National President of GCI Old Boys' Association, Chief Abiodun Jolaoso, Principal of GCI, Rev. Oladele Olusola amongst others.

HOW SAFE ARE PROCESSED FOODS? STUDY FINDS HUMAN DNA IN SOME HOT DOG BRANDS. ALARMING!

Clear Food, a company that genetically tests food products, decided to investigate. It used genomic analysis technology on 345 hot dog and sausage samples from 75 brands to see if you were really getting what's advertised on the package.

Turns out, 14.4 percent of the time, you aren't.

"Problems included substitutions and hygienic issues," the report states. "Substitution occurs when ingredients are added that do not show up on the label. Hygienic issues occur when some sort of non-harmful contaminant is introduced to the hot dog, in most cases, human DNA." That's right. Human DNA.

Clear Food says its testing found human DNA in two percent of all hot dog samples. Even more disturbing, 66 percent of those cases were found in vegetarian-labeled products. It did not however specify which brands contained the human DNA or what exactly caused the contamination.

That's not the only cross contamination. Clear Food says 10 percent of all vegetarian hot dogs had some sort of meat in them. Some dogs were labeled pork-free but still had pork in them. Other's included chicken, beef or lamb even though those ingredients aren't on the label.

Despite the results, the company said most hot dog makers scored well on the tests. It named Oscar Mayer's Premium Jumbo Beef Franks as the best overall hot dog and named Butterball as the best overall maker of all hot dog and sausage products.

Culled from ABCN.

Eat wisely, health is wealth...

SAUDI PRINCE ARRESTED ON PRIVATE JET WITH 2 TONS OF DRUGS

Lebanese security forces are interrogating a Saudi prince on charges of carrying drugs on his private plane after they allegedly retrieved 2 tons of narcotics from the aircraft, local media reported.

Abd al-Muhsen bin Walid bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud was detained on Monday in Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport.
The prince was about to conduct a flight on his private plane to Saudi Arabia.
Lebanese TV station Al Mayadeen also said that 40 packages of drugs, weighing 2 tons in total, were confiscated.
The prince was arrested and taken in for questioning along with four other people.
According to Press TV they were charged with attempting to smuggle pills of captagon, an amphetamine allegedly widely used among fighters in the Middle East.

Culled from Reuters.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

*Ogunwusi Adeyeye Enitan emerges 51st Ooni of Ife

*6 students rescued from female kidnappers in Lagos

*Nigerian parents call on NBC to ban “ I Am Jazz ”  transgender kids show from airing on DSTV channel 172

*4 Adamawa State Poly students die in bomb blast

*Kogi State University expels 68 students for exam misconducts, poor academic performance

*Female student is best graduating student in Caleb University, as 13 earn 1st Class degrees

*3 Kwara State University students invent space technology with local materials

*UNIJOS lecturers embark on an indefinite strike

*Unoaku Anyadike a student of UI becomes Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria  2015

*MOUAU releases 2015/2016 direct entry result & 2nd batch admission list

*UNIZIK releases 2015/2016 direct entry screening result

*Fed Poly Oko 2015/2016 Post UTME screening date is 28th-30th Oct, 2015

*ABU 2015/2016 admission form into Diploma now on sale

*FUTA 2015/2016 supplementary admission form now in sale

COMING SOON

Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra, An Emerging Voice in Diaspora, Man United Vs Chelsea, Made in Nigeria, 19 Quick facts about Nigeria, Ban Zits right about now, Lupita the New Queen of Harlem... And so much more.

Space Booked!

WELCOME TO RebirthRAIN BLOG

Get all the scoops on rebirthRAIN in this welcome video...

https://youtu.be/au1ZSE9mERA

'Hello there! Thanks for stopping by. Welcome to RebirthRAIN blog. RebirthRAIN is a Non Governmental Organisation founded in 2009 to support the Nigerian Youths by empowering them via education and preparing them for the New Nigeria.
RebirthRAIN blog is informative and entertaining, we would feature everything and anything that affects us as a people. For example Nnamdi Kanu of Biafra, Nigerians within and in Diaspora...'

Watch the video for the full gist.

EVERY PART THAT DIED

I want to be an Architect with a big ‘A’
My life will be perfect, eeeeh!
I doubled all efforts working towards this
Not for a second did I blink
It showed in my grades
Everyone thought it was grace
We have a new C
I walked into her office sheepishly, unannounced
She went through my grades, I was confident
But you neither have Physics nor Chemistry, it is a dent
My tummy churned out gas as I whispered
No one told me this Maam I whimpered
I pleaded with my eyes saying ‘I can draw’
I have drawn since I was in the womb, No! Since I could crawl
She looked at me with motherly empathy
Though through my eyes it was anarchy
The Counsellor said firmly, daughter you cannot be an Architect
See how a day has been made imperfect
Oh! A part of me has died
I pretended it was alright
You are a very successful artist, they said moments later
Well well well, all I did was to cater
The President wants your work
Yesterday, the world most powerful President bought your work
Oh girl! We want this your luck
Hmmm, a part of me had died in the Counsellor’s room
And no one even knew i was doomed

I want to be a beauty Queen
I spoke the Queen’s English and pronounced it Kwi:n
Practise makes perfect I said, No they said
Practise practise practise, was all I fed
Now I see, the glorious day in my view
Yippee I have been scheduled for an interview
See me oh! Plain face Plain Jane as required
This people want to make me retire
So I sat facing the recruiting lady
She stared at me and called me baby
Beautiful one with a beautiful skin
You would have made a beautiful queen
But you are five feet four
What is she telling me my height foor
What does that mean Maam
I was Alams, sorry I meant alarmed
You are too short she said with regret
Did she just say something about eating short bread
Haba! Not again, i am taller than Halle Berry
She muffled her laughter with ‘those days are buried’
My dear, fake this fake that made pageant more competitive
You can be a photo model and this is not pity
I exhaled the part of me that died again
And to pretend was my only bargain
Aaaah! Successful super photo model and loaded
They all goaded
Friends teased with envy
I kept quiet hoping it would end it
See your car and bag, see your house and baffs
No one could tell that a part of me died because i laughed
Yes! a part died at the recruiter’s office
On the street close to Murphies

My friends are settling down
And I am wearing Chief Bridesmaid’s gown
I must be a Mrs Somebody, Nobody, Anybody soon
Ehen! And a mother too
My first love was nowhere to be found
I got me a Brownie, not so handsome, not so far from the ground
Aaah! He was rich, played golf and also buff
We were in love, oh, this is love sent from above
We got married, everyone merrily gathered
It was time for tiny patters, to make him a father
And someone to call me mama
We tried, cried with fright, yet no baby
I became worried he would find another lady
You cannot bear a child the Gyna said
Your womb is XX whatever dead
And a part of me died again
I pretended that I still had a brain
Moments later, some said ‘you are a good woman’
Far nicer than Mrs Nurlan
You are a good adoptee mother another quipped
They told me how others were being whipped
Aaaah! You are a good wife
We really love this home made apple pie
My inlaws said, our wife, you are so humble
And you never grumble
My Oyibo friend said, you are so lucky in cockney
You have a husband who is not cocky
But why cant they see?
I thought, but I grinned
I wished they could see how a part of me had died in the Gyna’s office

I became sick, one two three four and more doctors said i had cancer
Aaah! Cancer ke? I rejected, I panicked, eeeh! Tufiakwa
I want to be an old woman with old hussie and friends
Tending to my garden in the latest trends
We are sorry there is nothing we can do
Pscheeew, see that Doctor with her ugly hairdo
But you can make peace, yes, peace with everyone
I am not feeling well I warned
Oh just when I thought
Their voices jolted me, pretend to be old
You can do it, you are bold
Doctor! I am done pretending, I wailed
Cancer ravaged the remaining part as I laid
Hai! Not a part this time, but the whole of what is left
Rock of ages cleft...
Keep quiet! Cleft for who? I asked them
I panicked as I slipped into darkness
A darkness darker than Guiness

And there He was, an old man
I almost thought he was Uncle Dan
He smiled and said daughter
I can make you whole faster
If thou art willing
This time, with no billing
Oh purlease you came too late, I rolled my eyes
And I was beginning to feel like ice
I have lost a large irredeemable part of me
Well, it was meant to be
Que sera sera
I shrugged as I prepared to sleep forever
You lost nothing Oludewa
Who told you my name and what do you know
If you had become an Architect
There would have been an accident
A crane would have crushed your bones
On your first day at the Dome
If you had become a beauty queen
And your joy filled to the brim
Your plane would have crashed
And your achievements trashed
If you had married your first love
That boy you treated like god
You would have been a widow by now
And black the colour of your gown
As for a baby from your womb
it is not too late don't feel doomed
It is too late, I have cancer
I am going to heaven to be a dancer
Wait a minute! He knows every part that died
I was shocked, awed, I was... Pscheew, I dont know I lied
He held my hand and I was at peace
Oh this feeling, who is this
Ooluudeewaa, if thou art willing I will heal
Cancer's job is done
You are back to the place you first believed
I never believed joor
But I am willing, heal me Lord
Daughter thou art healed

I woke up! It was a dream, it was Jesus
Oh He always finds a way to ease us
Doctors ran the test again, again and again
And with great trepidation they proclaimed
You are cancer free

(A poem by Alero Aghotse to commemorate the Breast Cancer Awareness Month)