Yoruba Spirituality and Their Culture

The Promotion of the Culture and Tradition of the Yoruba people is one of the keys to achieving this. The promotion of our medicine, music, dance, nutrition, fashion...

We must first publicly identify with them irrespective of how crude we perceive it to be; we must be proud of them. We must own them. Then we will know that it is our responsibility to evolve them into enviable standards.

First responsibility of a Yoruba is the promotion of its culture and tradition. 

There are several ways in which one can do this. All Yoruba must find the area where they are to get involved in the promotion of the culture.

LET ME TELL YOU ONE IMPORTANT REASON WHY ÌTẸFÁ IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE.

Ifa, Osanyin, Ọ̀ṣun, Ògún, Sango, Obatala are some of the highly Important social organizational geniuses that we intellectuals must interact with.

Bulk of its practical knowledge exist with the natives and can't be handed down to non-initiates, but, a few literature that should awaken our interest into wanting to have a personal experience with these entities are available.

These geniuses are the individual energies that you and I represent.

Those who think Sango, Ògún, Èṣù, Obatala, Ọ̀rúnmìlà are fallen angels (demons) would find it hard to accept the truth of the Yoruba religion because it will set their minds against itself to now begin to try to comprehend that they are descendants of fallen angels (demons). 

But I believe some of us have evolved to a point in the understanding of these entities howbeit partially for who/what they are.

If Ogun is recognized as the divinity of engineering and Ìtẹfá revealed that Ogun is your guardian Òrìṣà, it simply narrows down your journey in life into the area of your natural genius. You would do better in fields that are directly linked to the Ogun complex of universal order. 

And since energy can neither be created nor destroyed but simply transforms from one form to another, Ogun as an energy complex will continue to manifest in all life forms in the universe to continue its essence in one form or another. 

At this Time (T) and Space (S), you are an Embodiment of a certain energy. Its essence is what you carry and that informs your place in the giant scheme of things going on in the universe.

It is important to state that we are a mixture of all the energies but one is dominant in each one of us. It is that one that has the most pronounced influence in that subjects life.

This is where the Yoruba begins social organization from.

#Idafa #esentaye #akosedaye #itefa #orisa

Contributory Factors To Progress and Success

One of the strangest phenomenon I witnessed was at Hallam. I saw PhD holders who decided to stay behind at Sheffield to earn salaries below a certain tax bracket rather than go to London. They didn't want to work harder only to pay more taxes and have similar income. Privilege.

It was the privilege not to chase wealth because you were in a society that provided basic comforts as long as you were ”productive enough”. There were also a few who became millionaires from working on their research and papers without the headache of the London rat race.

Our Strategy Professor Kevan Scholes owned no car and never visited shopping malls. He was widely published and was very rich. He lived a simple life in Sheffield. I learned a lot of lessons observing people like him. It is not about a career race but quality output.

I realized that where you live was more likely to make you rich than how hard you think you are working. Many times, what people think is hard work is just overcoming obstacles to exist. The hardest work is deep thinking and creation. It is not jumping on buses and trains.

You need comfort and lack of distraction to do your best work. Each time I am in Palo Alto seeing the simple homes without fences, I remember Lagos homes in supposedly affluent areas. I will always choose Palo Alto over Banana Island. Even Napa over the San Francisco Bay Area.

I took some time off once in San Francisco to go to Napa to get an article written. It was the best work I ever did. Suffering to be productive because of the hardship and limitations in your environment is not a virtue. This year has changed the nature of work permanently.

By Asemota

The Essence of Celebrating Christmas

On 25 December many people only know it as Christmas but the essence on that day is Summer Solstice meaning the Sun and Earth is close in point of orbit where Northern and Southern Hemisphere is most inclined towards the sun. On that day more hydrogen is pumped on earth and the sun makes a return, it goes now to the North where they welcome Winter. Now they made that day a European pagan holiday. Christmas is foreign to Afrikans that is why it is celebrated in winter with the Father Christmas wearing a winter suit. Ask yourself again why is Santa wearing suit on the Summer?? During this day usually in Southern hemisphere it hot here, the suit for Santa itself is telling you that Christmas it is a winter festival. Afrikan people can be anything for anyone except being themselves. Know yourself, we have been lied to many times but this is very obvious.

Our ancestors understood Mother Nature and saw Spirituality through natural forces. They payed homage to those forces as they knew positions of natural object such as Moon (Inyanga), Sun, Planet and Stars Signs and Seasons/Time. They would know time/season spi(ritual), when to plant for certain seeds for harvest to come, that made spirituality. They knew Divination about human affairs or natural phenomena from relative positions of celestial bodies. Within the cosmological scheme is found the mandate of spirituality. Know divination and real seasons not fairy tales. And we must know that the year ended in the September. Our New Year begins today 23rd of September (UMANDULO) - Aries where the sun is exalted at the beginning of Spring here in Southern Hemisphere and is also the beginning of the agricultural year. It is the phase representing the renewal of life through the plantation and germination of seed.

There is a confusion that December is time for harvest which is not rather for eg. In Swaziland and KwaZulu Natal is a time/season for Ukuqinisa UbuKhosi/Royalty. We plant, store and harvest on a wrong time/season. If they say December is end of the month on the last day of that month the Moon is still not finished but rather still in a waning stage not end of the moon(inyanga). The moon must not be visible in the sky in that day and year as most make new year resolution on a wrong time that why it does not materialize. Nature confirms it not a new year in January it Summer season and in September it Spring season where mother nature celebrate new leaves, grass, snakes shade old skin to new, new year resolution. Izinyanga (moons) should really know the stage and the significant of the full Moon, waxing, waning in a spiritual world so they will know how to manifest real magic.

Be open, many of you may be well vast in many things which they may be little room for new information for others if I may put it that way which is both a good thing and a bad thing. You may ask questions as it offers something you have to work with as it is not new under the sun. You must know that our enemies changed almost everything to confuse us so I encourage us to be open to a new learning.

Celebrate this day and season for it is real and has meaningful essence.

By Joshua Maponga (Zimbabwe)

ÈṢÙ IN IFÁ.

Èṣù is the ruler over the forces of darkness/evil. They are called Ajogúns in Yoruba mythology. 

Ajogúns are eight in number, they are Ikú, Àrùn, òfò, Ẹ̀wọ̀n, ọ̀ràn, èpè, Ẹ̀ṣe, Ẹ̀gbà. (Prof. Wande Abimbola).

From the above, it is convenient to say that Èṣù is Satan, because in the western idea, Satan is the Supreme evil force that is against the order of God almighty who is infinitely good.

But one major difference between the Yoruba worldview and the western worldview is that while the Western worldview posits Satan as an infinitely evil creature worthy of nothing but scorn, curse and perhaps a future annihilation, Yoruba worldview sees the constructive role that Èṣù plays in Olódùmarè's order. Èṣù is not considered as infinitely evil. He is seen as the enforcer of Olódùmarè's order. One whose disposition to you is based on your disposition to the order of Olódùmarè. 

For this, the Yoruba has found a way to coexist with this very powerful divinity that Olódùmarè has given the freedom to exist with the light that he created. Olódùmarè created light to coexist with darkness, in his wisdom, that they should together govern planetary affairs and that has been the case from the day the world was created.

Considering that Èṣù superintends over darkness being his own region, it is important to note that Olódùmarè did not create Èṣù. Èṣù is self-existing. The first very creation of Olódùmarè has to be Ọ̀rúnmìlà and then Ẹ̀là (Light). Olódùmarè did not create darkness but upon his creation of light, there was an arrangement for the co-existence of both phenomena. (Osamaro Ibie).

The position of the Yoruba culture to the existence of evil is different from that of the western culture. (Prof. Sophie Oluwole)

In philosophical paradigms, the Yoruba culture believes in the Binary Complimentary Framework, that is, the existence of Two opposite forces (realities) that are not opposing each other but compliment each other. This philosophical framework was set up by the wisdom of Olódùmarè - Ọ̀rúnmìlà for the benefit of the human race. It is the foundation upon which the yoruba spirituality is built. 

The Western Culture Philosophical Framework is known as Binary Opposition. This is what forms the basis of the western religion of Christianity. They believe in absolute good and absolute evil. They believe that the forces of good must completely destroy the force of evil. 

They believe nothing good comes from evil and nothing evil comes from good. This is what explains the stand that they take against those who do not share the same religious views as them. To them, Satan will be completely wiped out by God someday.

But this is not the knowledge we have of Èṣù in Ifá. 

Èṣù, though a very complex entity, one which can upset the best laid plans and also known as the king of mischief, was "defeated" by Ọ̀rúnmìlà from the beginning of time.

Olódùmarè realized that Èṣù would be a problem to the Irunmoles he has created and thus set up a test for them to know if they would be able to still achieve their goals even with the existence of Èṣù. Ọ̀rúnmìlà, through divination was able to know how to get by even with the unlimited power of Èṣù and his determination to upset whatever Olódùmarè creates. 

Upon the victory of Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Olódùmarè dubbed him the divinity of wisdom and thus Ọ̀rúnmìlà was he who brought the word of Olódùmarè (Ifá) from Ọ̀run to Ayé to teach both Irunmoles and Ènìyàn alike how to navigate the world without being hindered by Èṣù or any of the Evil forces.

Olódùmarè taught the Irunmoles a very big lesson in the test that he gave to them. The lesson that they took from there was that it is important to make sacrifices. It was the contest that instituted the wisdom of Ẹbọ in Ifá. Olódùmarè said that to get something, you must be willing to part with something.

In Ifá, only sacrifice can save. 

Rírú Ẹbọ ní ń gbe ni. 

This is why Ifá practitioners don't engage in fall down and down prayers against enemies. Ifá teaches us that all the Ajogúns are under Èṣù's command and once a person makes sacrifice, Èṣù tells the Ajogúns to back off.

Note this:

Olódùmarè instituted sacrifice, not Èṣù. 

Èṣù is to ensure that those who obey Olódùmarè's injunction to make sacrifices will get that which they have desired. 

Èṣù will also ensure that those who do not make sacrifice will suffer for not making the sacrifice. 

Olódùmarè instituted sacrifice not because he needs the sacrifice but because of Èṣù. 

Èṣù vowed to frustrate the creatures of Olódùmarè right from the very beginning of creation and it is in the wisdom of Olódùmarè that Èṣù keeps existing with his creatures, hence his intelligence made a way out in Ẹbọ.

This is the summary of the Yoruba spirituality.

So, is this Èṣù the same as Satan of the Bible? If he is, then the followers of the Bible will treat him differently from the way the followers of Ifá will treat him. 

The followers of the Bible believe that he is a temporal entity and that his time will soon come to an end. The followers of Ifá believe that he is a permanent entity and through Ẹbọ, humans and Irunmoles are going to learn to coexist with him from generation to generation, forever. 

He exists to punish the disobedient. 

He exists to reward the obedient. 

To Ifá practitioners, he is a law enforcement agent and as such, his role is very crucial to the sustainance of order in the universe structured upon the principle of sowing and reaping.

*If you have any questions you can ask*

*References: Àwọn Ojú Odù Merindinlogun by Wande Abimbola; Complete Works of Ọ̀rúnmìlà by Osamaro Ibie; Socrates and Ọ̀rúnmìlà: Two Patron Saints of Classical Philosophy by Sophie Oluwole.

Happy Èṣù Day!!!

LAYING OF THE SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR ILE IFE OBATALA GROUP OF SCHOOLS

Today, The Oonirisa HIM Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Oguwusi Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ile-Ife as represented by Oba Elejesi of Ile-Ife alongside HDG O.O.O Dada (Obalesun Obatala Agbaye, Oloja Iranje-Idita), the President of ASHE Foundation Prince Justice J Faloye and his members, The School Management Committee under the leadership of Oba Olufemi Dada Oludayo-Akowe, Oba Alamo Ile-Ife, Iranje-Idita community amongst others performed the landmark foundation laying ceremony for the construction of a state of the art school in favour of Obatala Group of Schools at Oreole, Mokuro, Iranje-Idita, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The facility, which is being planned architecturally to have complete modern facilities of international standard, is intended to meet the growing need of the school in terms of space, branding and expansion.

In his keynote address, HDG Obalesun Obatala Agbaye said the building was a good legacy for the present and future children of the school.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Prof. Samuel Cookey in 1986

After he overthrew Muhammadu Buhari, self styled military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida promised Nigerians that he would enthrone a new social order by doing away with the politics of the past, bring in new breed politicians and change the political landscape.

He sought and got a Professor of Political Science, Samuel Cookey to chair a Political Bureau, which was saddled with the responsibility of fashioning out, after wide consultations with Nigerians via memoranda and public presentations, a new political order.

On Friday, February 28, 1986 therefore, Cookey wrote a letter requesting the sage, Pa Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo, to avail the Nigerian state the benefit of his wisdom.

To that request, Awolowo replied:👇🏽

“Dear Sir,

“I received your letter of February 28, 1986, and sincerely thank you for doing me the honour of inviting me to contribute to the National Political Debate.

“The purpose of the debate is to clarify our thoughts in our search for a new social order.

“It is therefore neat and proper that all those who have something to contribute should do so.

“I do fervently and will continue fervently to pray that I may be proved wrong. For something within me tells me, loud and clear, that we have embarked on a fruitless search.

At the end of the day, when we imagine that the new order is here, we would be terribly disappointed.

“In other words, at the threshold of our New Social Order, we would see for ourselves that, as long as Nigerians remain what they are, nothing clean, principled, ethical, and idealistic can work with them.

“And Nigerians will remain what they are, unless the evils which now dominate their hearts, at all levels and in all sectors of our political, business and governmental activities are exorcised.

“But I venture to assert that they will not be exorcised, and indeed they will be firmly entrenched, unless God Himself imbues a vast majority of us with a revolutionary change of attitude to life and politics or, unless the dialetic processes which have been at work for some twenty years now, perforce, make us perceive the abominable filth that abounds in our society, to the end that an inexorable abhorrence of it will be quickened in our hearts and impel us to make drastic changes for the better.

“There is, of course, an alternative option open to us. To succumb to permanent social instability and chaos.

“In the premises, I beg to decline your invitation.

“I am yours truly, Obafemi Awolowo”

👆Is this not prophetic?

FIGHTING THE RIGHT FIGHT

If you go to the mountain to pray that Ogun Èṣù (Èṣù's forces) be destroyed in your life, I have to ask you first, who told you that the problems you are going through was caused by Èṣù?

And secondly, who told you that going to pray "die by fire" is what will solve the problem?

This is why it is important to understand who/what Èṣù is so that you don't just go about doing vocal exercises from mountain to mountain without any real change going on in your life.

First, if you were told that your problem was caused by Èṣù by someone using the Bible or Quran, you have been misled. Whatever character is explained to you as the source of your problem from the Bible or Quran is not Èṣù - except if the person carrying the Bible or Quran is one that has a third-eye but just using the Bible and Quran as a camouflage.

The only place where you can be told that your problem originates from Èṣù is from Ifá during a divination. 

And except the Babaláwo who made the divination for you specifically instructs you to go on mountain and pray that Èṣù should die by fire, that exercise is in futility with respect to solving your problems.

Satan might be able to die by fire, but I doubt if that can happen to Èṣù. Whatever Èṣù will take to back off your matter - if he is the one at the center - will be prescribed by Ifá during the divination. 

Even if Èṣù is not the one in charge, whatever force is in charge of your problem can be influenced by Èṣù. So upon doing what the Babaláwo says, Èṣù will intervene in the situation. 

This is how Traditional Ifá Religion works:

So first, before you enlist Èṣù as an enemy of your progress, ensure that you make the proper diagnosis from the appropriate quarters to be sure it is really Èṣù that is your enemy and not Ẹlẹyẹ, your Ìwà (character), Ègbé Ọ̀run, Imọlẹ̀ ìdílé or Èpè ota that is at play over your circumstance. 

The Ifá traditional religion works like Modern Medicine. Before a treatment is prescribed, a diagnosis has to be made. This is why a Babaláwo cannot apply the same pattern that works for Mr. A to Mr. B simply because their symptoms are the same. 

After finding out what the source of your problem is, you can decide not to make the prescribed Ẹbọ because you don't believe in it, and head to church or mosque to pray it off. 

But in Ifá, Ẹbọ is used and Èṣù is still the one that takes the Ẹbọ to the appropriate place in Ọ̀run (the abode of the divinities). This means that it is impossible to do without Èṣù in Ifá Religion. Èṣù is the one that takes Ẹbọ (supplicatory sacrifice) to Ọ̀run for humans. 

A demonizing of Èṣù therefore is a complete demonizing of the Ifá Religion because nothing can be done in Ifá without Èṣù. In Ifá, Èṣù helps and can achieve his aim of helping those who make Ẹbọ (the sacrifice) through any means. He is a craft master. 

So, you see why taking the pain to explain that Èṣù is NOT Satan is not just a matter of fighting for Religious liberty as calling Èṣù Satan is tantamount to religious persecution and victimization which ought to be criminalized in Yoruba land. It is also to get people informed so that in their fight against the enemy of their soul, they can know how to position themselves rightly for the assurance of victory. 

If you don't have adequate knowledge of your perceived enemy, how can you be assured of victory?

Copyrights: © 2020

NELIDA KARR

Nelida  Karr was born and raised in Malabo the capital of Equato-Guinean, she is known to be the "contemporary revelation of Equatoguinean music" and the voice of the new generation of Equatoguinean musicians that creates a great cultural and international impact on the present-day Equatorial Guinean music industry. This soulful singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist and winner of many awards, has move in to enrich the world music scene with her undeniable talent and exciting eclectic musical tunes of her singing and the hypnosis of her rhythms amongst her traditional roots and world music.

Surrounded by a family of artists, Nelida is the daughter of producer Samuel Karr and singer Domitila Rosario. Drinking from the various musical sources of her culture, it is not surprising that some sounds from Spain were a persistent in her infancy. But beyond the Spanish cultural heritage, the roots of Nélida's music are found in African, Equatorial Guinea.

She classifies her music as "Afro-Fusion" suffused with the many influences she assimilated while growing up in Malabo the capital city of Africa’s only Spanish speaking country, Equatorial Guinea. Her sound is  an eclectic mix of the music of the Bubi ethnic group and Equatoguinean rhythms like Katya, kotto, bonko, mokom and antonobe, as well as jazz, blues, Spanish and Latin music that she nevertheless incorporates into a sound all her own.

She recorded the first of her three albums to date in 2010 at the age of 20. After the release of her second album “Batobiera” (2013), she had a tour in Colombia organized by the Alliance Frances Colombia and was nominated for various awards giving her the opportunity to reached a sweet spot in the new pool of emerging talents in Africa. She is currently self-producing her new album which will be released in October 2018.

At 17 years old, Nelida Karr won the first prize in 2007 of the Song Contest of the Spanish Cultural Center awarded in Malabo. 2013, nominated among the ten best finalists of the RFI Découvert 2013 finalist prizes, won the first place, the winner of the Polyglot prize of the 6 people to watch out for in Central Africa in 2014 from "The African Report Magazine", named the new voice of Equatorial Guinea by the magazine El Mundo in Spain. In 2016, nominated the most promising female artist in Africa of the Kora Awards. 2016 winner of the best national female artist in Equatorial Guinea Jon Cham Media Awards.

The singer and performer is also the founder of "MOSART", a free school of music and art, a non-profit organization in Equatorial Guinea with the purpose of helping children and young Equatoguineans to discover, learn and develop their talents in the area of ​​music and the arts.

Early in 2018, she won the first prize of the Spain and Equatorial Guinea 'vis a vis' talent promotional festival, which led to a successful tour in Spain, where she graced some of the largest Spanish world music festival stages with her exuberant talent with diverse musical synergies both vocal and instrumental dexterity. Nelida is selected to perform on the WOMEX 18 showcase to showcase her talent and music, and open up to more opportunities for her music.

She is an incredible artist that will raise your expectations to the maximum with an exuberant demonstration of powerful vocals and stage control that at the moment will make you remember the great divas of soul & jazz, in the style of Aretha Franklin, or the great voice of Ella Fitzgerald. Nelida Karr a discovery of the type that you will want to listen again!

Source: www.nelidakarrmusic.com

KYRGYZSTAN

The grand, rugged Kyrgyz Republic is an adventurer’s dream! Over eighty per cent mountainous, it boasts some of the highest altitudes and the second largest mountain lake in the world. On one border lies China and the eastern realms of the Silk Road. On the other sides it is surrounded by its sister countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. 80 different nationalities live here and rest assured that you will never find a warmer welcome; be it in a yurt in the valleys or in a home in the capital of Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan Customs and Traditions

The Kyrgyz are descended from ancient Turkic tribes, and have been nomadic cattle breeders for centuries and a large part of the population remains semi-nomadic, with sheep often outnumbering the population!

As in Kazakhstan, the culture of the horse is omnipresent. Competitions like Ulak Tartysh, a team game resembling a cross between polo and rugby and Jumby Atmai, the object of which is to break the thread holding a large bar of metal by shooting at it at a gallop reflect the importance of riding skills and games on horseback.

Kyrgyzstan Weddings

In Kyrgyzstan the ancient practice of "bride kidnapping" is now prohibited by law. Of course, now some of these abductions are staged, either for romantic reasons or by couples who would otherwise face family opposition!

The majority of Kyrgyz weddings, how young take place through matchmaking arrangements between the parents of the bride and groom. And, nowadays, many young young people - especially in the cities - prefer to get to know each other first by "going out" together and thus have a more active role in the decision of who they will marry.

Kyrgyzstan Festivals

Colorful, eventful and full of fun, festivals are held throughout the year. These reflect the culture and enthusiasm of the people of Kyrgyzstan. The new year Nouruz is celebrated on the vernal equinox in early spring. Bright new clothing is prepared, a multigrain porridge sumolok is served and wishes for peace, prosperity and health are exchanged.

Along with the national Horse and Game Festival in July, there is also the Birds of Prey Festival celebrating golden eagles and falcons. Falconry has been a Kyrgyz tradition since ancient times and these birds of prey are some of the best hunters.

At the Kyrgyz Kochi Festival - Cuisine and Folklore Festival, which takes place in the Djety-Oguz Gorge, a large variety of traditional dishes from different countries are presented. It is a wonderful opportunity not only to taste the many succulent dishes, but to watch as they are prepared. The festival also includes an exhibition of national crafts and felt making, as well as competitions among local folk groups in singing and dancing.

Kyrgyzstan Cuisine

Over the centuries, people from many regions have passed through or settled in Kyrgyzstan, and influenced Kyrgyz cuisine. The visual appeal of dishes is important, and a variety of spices are used for flavor and color.

The national dish of Kyrgyzstan is besh-barmak "five fingers" - so-called because it used to be eaten without utensils. It is made with meat - usually mutton or horse and noodles that are boiled in the broth. Another Kyrgyz dish is oromo "filled bag", in which minced meat and vegetables are steamed inside a pocket of soft dough. The most common drink is kumis - fermented mare\\\\'s milk, and other traditional drinks are made with camel or sheep milk.

Kyrgyzstan National Dress

The sharp continental climate and nomadic culture demand practical clothing. Padded layers, sheepskin coats – the chapan, silk tunics and felt hats provide warmth and mobility. The kalpak, the white men’s wool hat is worn everywhere. Made out of four triangles of felt, the bottom can be rolled up to form a brim. It’s certainly a distinctive feature of dress in Kyrgyzstan.

Girls traditionally wore long white dresses with embroidered velvet vests. Heavy skirts would be worn over these in winter. Their hair was arranged in about forty braids and covered with elaborate headdresses. Her wedding dress would be more elaborate with a cone-shaped hat and veil. After marriage, two plaits were the norm.

Kyrgyzstan Music

The Kyrgyz have been famous for their musical talent since ancient times. Through the oral traditions handed down from generation to generation, these epic and narrative songs have developed, as each performer introduced new variations and details.

The most famous Kyrgyz epic is Manas, the thousand-year-old story of a hero who defended his land and his people. Longer than the Iliad and the Odyssey combined, it recounts the lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people - their customs, traditions, morals, religious rites, knowledge of medicine, and diplomatic relations.

Kyrgyzstan Bazaars

In Bishkek, you can visit the Osh Bazaar, the most vibrant and fascinating place to immerse yourself in the local culture. This, the city\\\\'s most popular market, has everything you can possibly find in Kyrgyzstan, including Moorish sweets and beautiful fabrics.

The Dordoy Bazaar, on the outskirts of Bishkek, stretches for more than a kilometer, and is a major shopping center. It is also the main outlet for imported goods from China and Europe.

The Karakol market, open on Sundays only, is the most famous and colorful horse market in Central Asia. Here you will find livestock of all kinds: roly-poly piglets, woolly sheep, and all kinds of cattle. The market includes a section for cars and used car parts, with bits of scrap metal artistically arranged on the ground.

Kyrgyzstan Applied and Decorative Art

Felt is the most popular material for several products in Kyrgyzstan, including ornamental carpets and other elements of the yurts. Shirdakcarpets have beautiful repetitive patterns taken from the natural environment in deep rich colors. Ala-Kiyiz, another popular type of carpet, are variegated and have subtler, "washed-out" colors that leave less definition to the borders and have their own unique appearance.

Other handcrafts that you will find in Kyrgyzstan includes beautiful embroidery with a great variety of stitches creating different textures and patterns unique to the Kyrgyz. Jewelry is crafted with a combination of various decorative techniques, such as filigree, engraving, and coralwork. Leather is intricately patterned and tooled. The Kyrgyz also make beautiful braided screens, using reeds that grow in the foothills of the Kyrgyz mountains.

Source: www.centralasiacultures.com

IFÁ OLÓDÙMARÈ, AWO, THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

We do not create a PR around the truth because the cost of PR will affect its price. At least someone has to pay for the cameras.

This is why Ifá does not have a body that says it wants to "fight" the cause of Ifá itself, because Ifá is set on its cause already, eternal, unchanging, you either align willingly or you will be aligned irrespective of your will - FOR THE COUNSEL OF OLÓDÙMARÈ SHALL STAND. AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, SO IT IS NOW AND SO SHALL IT BE, WORLD WITHOUT END - How do you then take up responsibility to fight for this supreme existential all encompassing being by waging a war in its name on fellow creatures for the purpose of establishing your political footing. (This is an entirely different discussion - I know you already know where this is coming from and where it is going).

Ifá is not a tool for manipulation but a tool to align you with itself - the word of Olódùmarè - the ultimate truth.

If you therefore see Ifá as a tool to manipulate, at least, you yourself know within yourself that that is not what Ọ̀rúnmìlà teaches. And that can be excused. You can not be judged for it by any of us, not even Ọ̀rúnmìlà, it is very much between you and your Orí. The only person you actually owe an apology for going against the eternal order is your Orí. Orí is your all in all. 

A good Babaláwo will help you to connect with your Orí so that you will be getting directions from your Orí through your own prayers. 

Heal allows you experience what is called Awo - and he will not brainwash you into his version of what he wants. 

Awo does not mean "Mystery", it means the state of ONENESS with the UNIVERSE. 

This is the essence of Ifá practice, that is the utmost Holiness - One with the Universe. In Ifá, you are not disconnected from the world (universe), you are a contributing part of it. And your energy must be in order with the eternal order at all times for good vibes for you and around you (the universe). 

I assume that this ONENESS with the Universe will be the closest experience (for me) to what the Christians and the Muslims call Heaven in their Holy Books. - A State of Absolute Peace.

It is a practice designed to connect you with the real you, not psyche you into the possibility of a better you when you do not initially know the real you. 

It is not based on creed recitations. forced convictions and dogmas, it is a being.

Awo (Ifá) is about becoming the real you. When you become the real you, then you can be improving on the right things and avoiding the wrong things to become a better you - thus your own uniqueness blends with the entire order of the universe as set by Ifá Olódùmarè. Irrespective of what is going on around you, you just stay focused.

Thankfully, the Babaláwo is not gifted with the skill of manipulation, if he does, his clothes will be tattered, he knows. So, those who go and meet Adahunṣes to help them alter the cause of their lives are simply doing that at the detriment of themselves. 

The Adahunṣe's own is to give you what you ask for, how you ask it. If you ask for what the repercussion might be, he might tell you. If you do not ask, he will keep quiet. If he proceeds to do it for you then he too will have to know that it is not affecting his own Orí, if not, he himself will come and reap out of the repercussions. There are umales that strike their Aworos down with sickness that will eventually kill them when they use their hand to do bad thing. 

Such Adahunṣe, if he is lucky to see a Babaláwo or Ọlọ́ṣun, then they will be able to let him know that it is his umale that is dealing with him and might be able to guide him into the steps to take to survive.

If you go to a Babaláwo, it should be because you want to know the truth about yourself or a particular situation as it affects your wellness and the wellness of your family and community. 

If you want to travel abroad, ask if that step would be right for you or you should hold on? 

Not, "Baba, I want you to give me something that I will use to apply for visa and they will grant me". 

Or if you love a woman, ask your Iponri if such woman will bring goodness into your life and both of you will have a long life and be successful together with kids and all good things of life. Not "Baba, give me something to make this girl fall in love with me".

Even if what you are doing is fraudulent because of the situation of the country/world, ask if such step is okay for your Iponri to not fight against you but to assist you. Don't say "Baba, give me what I can use to be talking to clients to give me money". Sadly, this is what most people think Ifá is, thanks to Nollywood and other misleading woods!

The Babaláwo is meant to help you correct faulty steps and foundations that are in your life maybe from your action or by reason of your elénìní (chosen ọ̀tá) that is accompanying your particular ayanmo or family background enemy or from a wrong association in your immediate environment. 

Ọ̀rúnmìlà came to make life easy for the inhabitants of the earth by teaching them how to know the mind of Olódùmarè (who deals with each Orí individually) concerning their own situation in order to avoid what needs to be avoided and have the grace and patience to endure what needs to be endured as it has been forewarned. 

That way you know what you exert energy upon and what you allow to play out.

This is a simple summary of Yoruba spirituality, I do not know how this can get to the skull of everyone but we can not force it there. Not like some people do/did their own. 

My own solace in all of this is that I believe that humans are intelligent enough to know when they are being used or manipulated. And they also know themselves when they are the ones playing the fool for what they enjoy having. If not, well, maybe such people need to be subjected to manipulation in order for them to be able to evolve into full humans. 

Even the air knows when it is being manipulated and it responds appropriately!

There is an autocorrect mechanism that is follow-come with the universe, it is the reason why I believe that statement "we will be alright las Las". The Counsel of Orí will stand. 

My friend Iyanifa Efe Mena Aletor puts it this way, if you don't align with your Orí, what you get is Ibi and if you align with your Orí, what you get is Ire. So the ball is pretty much in your court.

By Ayobami Ogedengbe

ÌWÀ (CHARACTER)

To’ju iwa re, ore mi,

Ola a ma si lo n’ile eni,

Ewa a si ma si l’ara enia.

Olowo oni ‘nd’olosi b’o d’ola,

Okun l’ola, okun n’igbi oro,

Gbogbo won l’o nsi lo n’ile eni;

Sugbon iwa ni m’ba ni de sare’e,

Owo ko je nkan fun ni.

Iwa l’ewa omo enia,

Bi o l’owo bi o ko ni’wa nko?

Tani je f’inu tan e ba s’ohun rere?

Tabi ki o je obirin rogbodo,

Ti o ba jina si’wa ti eda nfe,

Tani je fe o s’ile bi aya?

Tabi ki o je onijibiti enia,

Bi o tile mo iwe amodaju;

Tani je gbe’se aje fun o se?

Toju Iwa re, ore mi,

Iwa ko si, eko d’egbe;

Gbogbo aiye ni ‘nfe ‘ni t’o je rere.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Enhance your character, my friend,

Prosperity could depart from one’s home,

And beauty could retreat from people’s bodies.

Today’s rich could become poor tomorrow,

Opulence is like ocean’s surfs; it is like ocean’s waves,

They come and go from one’s home as they please;

But, only good character follows one to the grave.

Money is not everything to anyone,

Good character is the beauty of a mortal,

What if you are wealthy without good character?

Who would trust you with something serious?

Perhaps, you are a gorgeous woman,

If you are far from societal norms,

Who would marry you as a wife?

Or you are a fraudulent person,

May be you are well educated;

Who would transact business with you?

Enhance your character, my friend,

In the absence of character, education is a waste;

The whole world appreciates a well-mannered person.

•Poetry by the late Chief J.F. Odunjo, renowned Yoruba playwright, poet, politician, and statesman – from one of his popular Alawiye series.

Eastern Security Network Launched

The launching of the latest security outfit by the Biafran leader to protect all the lands under the jurisdiction of his Biafra is a reminder of the early stages of defunct Yugoslavian crisis before the then socialist country of Tito eventually gotten broken to its natural manageable constituent parts. The Croatians, under their own indigenous government in Yugoslavia armed their people and able bodied men against the Serbians Federal controlled government of Yugoslavia (the equivalent of the Fulani in Nigeria) Yugoslavia. While other regions or federations are seeing  the Croatians as trouble makers and as enemies of the greater Yugoslavian project. The Croatian Regional leadership,  formed and armed young boys and men,  to protect the people of Croatia against all odds,  was responsible for the  positive advantage of Croatian republic,  quickly broken away to protect their people,  and not the pockets of the political class from Croatian extraction,  benefiting from the Yugoslavia political fiasco.

The Croatian people merely suffered minimum human and physical destruction from the invading Serbian militia backed by federal troops, just like what the Buhari administration is doing with Boko- Haram, Fulani herdsmen and bandit debacle in Nigeria.

Those regions in Yugoslavia, just like the Yoruba Nation and people, that  are not decisive in their quest to armed and protect themselves ,  as those regions were doing in Yugoslavia same thing, other ethnic nations in Nigeria are doing right now, while  the Serbians,  with the Federal control of power are preparing to invade their land and subjugated their respective peoples and regions,  under Yugoslavia. Others who refused to prepared became the major victims of the wars of Serbian supremacist (Fulani Replica in Nigeria)  agenda in defunct Yugoslavia.

Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Slovenia and the others suffered greatly because their political class, their profiteers and puppeteers businessmen were at that time benefiting from the Serbian lead Yugoslavian federal Government and other Regional structural arrangements, refused to see the impending danger and supports the process of securing and eventually safeguard the lives of their people by aiding their efforts to pullout of Yugoslavia. 

The above message is the interpretation of the  actions of the IPOB leader, for lunching the Regional security outfit under the control of his command and not in the hands of their one Nigeria hungry eating political class. 

The above stage is where the Yoruba Nation and people are now as where Republic of Bosnia once was.

By Adigun Makanjuola.

OGBÈ PẸ̀LẸ́ (Corpus of Easiness)

Ọrúnmìlà hí pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́

Mi pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ 

Bara-mi-Àgbọniregun

Hí pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ 

Ni ojú ńmọ́.

Ọrúnmìlà hí pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́

Mi pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ 

Bara-mi-Àgbọniregun

Hí pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́ 

Ni ilẹ̀ ǹṣú.

Igbá pẹ̀lẹ́ 

Kìí fọ́ 

Àwo pẹ̀lẹ́ 

Kìí fà ya 

Ohun a fi ẹ̀lẹ̀ mú 

Kìí bàjẹ́ 

Ohun a bá fi agbára mú 

Níí le koko bí ọta.

Hárá-hárá gbì 

Ni a ngbọ́ 

Ẹnìkan kìí gbọ́ 

Pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́ gbìì.

Ò ní ẹ̀yìnkùlé Àùrẹ̀ 

Mà ni wọ́n ti ńgbé òkú 

Alágbára kọjá o.

Ifá ní kí a lọ ṣe pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́!

Translations:

Orunmila said with ease 

With ease; I repeated 

Bara-mi-Àgbọnìrègún 

He said the day breaks 

With ease.

Ọ̀runmila said with ease 

With ease; I responded 

Bara-mi-Àgbọnìrègún 

He said the sun sets 

With ease.

A calabash handled with ease 

Will never break 

A plate carried with ease 

Will never fracture 

What we tend with ease 

Will not rupture

That which is handle with force

Is as tough as stone.

Impatience leads 

To a sudden fall.

No one falls 

With an easy ride.

A dirge for the Mighty 

Will be sung 

Passing through the backyard

Of the Meek.

Ifá admonishes us to imbibe the virtues of easiness. 

Everything happens at its appointed time. The bitter truth is, you cannot force the hand of time. 

You are but an infinitesimal

part of the entire cosmos. 

At the appropriate time, everyone will be served what he deserves. You can only rush things at your own peril.

OGBÈ PẸ̀LẸ́

By Oluwo Akomolafe Wande

Copyrights: © 2020

Explore: Origins of Egyptian Folk Music

The Zar Masters band - courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Folk music in Egypt has roots stretching all the way back to the ancient past, even before the time of the Pharaohs.

Egyptians, of course, have always loved music. It was a sign of civilization, a gift from the Gods. Paintings of music players adorn the walls of ancient tombs; amongst the earliest instruments found is the Simsimiyya, a five-stringed lyre thought to be the instrument of lovers.

Much like most folk traditions of the ancient world, Ancient Egyptians likely passed on their music and techniques down orally, which means it has since been lost to the sands of time. Other instruments included drums, rattles, bells, cymbals, and trumpets, amongst others. Egypt’s immensely long history has ensured that an endless list of cultures, from neighboring tribes to the Greeks, contributed their part in shaping and influencing its sound.

The modern Egyptian folk tradition originated in the turn of the 20th century, when musicians became interested in preserving the music of the people around them. In particular, rural Egyptians or the ‘Fellahin’ and Nubian; Ethiopian and Bedouin tribes shared in their folk music.

An interesting example of Egypt’s many folk music traditions is the mysterious ‘Zar’. Both mystic and musical, Zar is believed to have originated from the ancient Ethiopian tribes, who passed on the tradition to the Egyptians. Considered to be Egypt’s oldest folk tradition, there is much disagreement as to its origins, with some scholars suggesting it emerged with the influx of Sudanese immigrants, and so the truth is shrouded in mystery.

The purposes of Zar go beyond the creation of pleasing sounds; it is a form of exorcism, believed to cast away evil spirits. Egyptian Zar in particular involves the usage of female singers in the forefront, with men playing drums.

Unfortunately, Zar has been struggling in more modern times. Religious backlash and fears that the music might be ‘black magic’ have always plagued Zar’s reputation, and lack of public demand threatens that the tradition could fade away. Thankfully, there are still those who hold on to preserving much of Egypt’s folk traditions. 

Last week, the Wanas Festival concluded its third edition, which ran from November 9 until November 11. The festival brought together numerous local bands in one place, with an aim to help bring back these precious traditions and introduce them to a new generation of Egyptians. Educating and encouraging an interest in the beauty of Egypt’s rich musical heritage is the festival's reason to be.

The festival was the effort of the El-Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folklore Music, which started its first edition back in 2014. As Abdel Hamid Awwas states in the center’s official site, folk music is the glue that holds communities together and its importance cannot be understated. Founded all the way back in 2000 by Zakaria Ibrahim, the El-Mastaba Center aims to help struggling folk musicians who cannot compete with modern bands. The antidote to this dilemma is to help revive folk traditions by reminding people of its unique value and priceless history.

Still, the issue goes even deeper, trying into the heart of classists' attitudes among richer Egyptians who view folk performers as poor and uneducated. The tourist industry, only just recovering, does little to help encourage folk traditions further and in some cases the artists are devalued as just another product to consume.

The heart of Egypt’s folk music is that it is by the people, about the people, and for the people. To forget this is to forget what it is that truly defines a culture; those who live in it.

By Nizar Ahmed

Source: www.egypttoday.com

Traditional / folk music of Egypt

Egypt is one of the most ancient civilizations in the history of mankind. And music had been part of this great culture from long time ago.  Many ancient music instrument has been discovered in Egypt although nobody knows how exactly the sound was or how they played them. For example some kind of flutes have been discovered on rock drawings and pottery from Egypt circa 3000 BCE. Or some kinds of harp, pipe and clarinet style music instruments have been found in Tombs circa 2686 BCE.

Cairo, capital of Egypt has been one of the main music centers in Middle East and Arab worlds. (with Syria, Lebanon and Iraq). Cairo has the biggest recording industry in Arab world. 

Before Islam, folk music of Egypt was consist of Caravan songs and folk songs related to mundane life events. In the early days of Islam, folk music was permitted for entertainment and sometimes it was used for immoral behaviors.  For example non Arab singing slave girls were used for entertainment.  Their name were Qaynas. Of course later, they were banded by Islam.

Arabic Classical Music 

The classical Arabic music which is also very common in Egypt as a traditional music. It is very similar to other classical music of countries in Middle East. It is said that it was started in 7th century in Syria and it was formed under the influence of modal music of Persia and India. This traditional music when it came to Egypt it had also influence of Greek music. One of most significant aspect of this traditional music is quarter notes, which gives very special taste to the music and its feeling. Egyptians generally are very fond of this music. 

Nubian Music

This type of folk music is related to Nubian people. They live in south of Egypt and north of Sudan. Also many of them today live in Cairo. In the traditional way, Nubian music accompanied by daf (kind of drum) and hand clapping. One of the most significant Nubian musicians was Ali Hassan Kuban. He was known as the "Captain" or "Godfather" of Nubian music. He converted traditional Nubian music into urban music by inspiring from jazz bands in Cairo night clubs. Hamza el-Din   is also another important Nubian musician who collaborated with many western musicians.  

Saidi (Upper Egyptian)

Egyptian musicians from Upper Egypt play a form of folk music called Saidi (Upper Egyptian). It is played with the flutes, the oboes, the two-stringed fiddles style instrument, and impassioned vocalism and drumming of a peasant culture with strong gypsy roots, in which popular and classical met.

Shaabi

This type of folk music is in fact street music and pop Arabic music. It is one of the most popular music of Egypt and today it is also mixed with different western music genres. Ahmed Adaweyah was one of the most important singers of Shaabi music. 

Some of the instrument which are used in folk music of Egypt are oud (kind of lute), rahab (kind of bowed single stringed), qanon (kind of zither), violin, nay or ney (end blown flute), darabukka (kind of goblet drum), and daff(kind of frame drum). In the early times of 20th century, typical Arabic orchestral was consist of oud, qanun, ney and violin.  The name of ensemble was “takht” which means “sofa”.

If you have more information about the folk music of Egypt, please kindly let us know through the contact us page. If you know some traditional songs from Egypt, you can send it from “Post a song” link in the top menu. If you see something wrong in the tags of list below, please kindly let us know.  

Source: www.soundcloud.com

Five Festivals in South Korea

These five fun festivals in South Korea are perfect for the entire family.

While we love exploring the islands around Hong Kong, taking in the best hiking trails and luxing it up on a Hong Kong staycation, sometimes we need to go further afield, somewhere like South Korea. Beyond the K-Pop, the kimchi and the karaoke, there are so many wonderful things to do in the Land of the Morning Calm, and these five festivals in South Korea should be at the top of your list. With Seoul just a short four-hour flight from Hong Kong, you’ll easily be able to fit in some K-Time; we promise you’ll thank us later.

5 festivals in South Korea that you won’t want to miss:

Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival 

The Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival is so much more than just snowmen! Expect entire cities and sculptures crafted from snow (Photo: Josh Dunn via Flickr)

South Korea really does love a good winter festival, and there’s none quite like the wonderful Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival. Held every year in Taebaeksan National Park, Gangwon-do, thousands of people gather to see some of the most mind-blowing snow sculptures that celebrate the winter season.

If you’re picturing a variety of below-average snowmen, then think again, because these snow sculptors create entire scenes and cities that will have both old and young mesmerised. Along with all the beautiful creations, visitors will enjoy music and dance performances, live karaoke competitions, Igloo cafes and a family-friendly vibe resonating throughout the town.

Handy hints for Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival:

•  Wrap up super warm for this one folks, as Korea in winter time can be very harsh.

•  Consider a hip flask of something warm to keep you well heated.

•  Getting there: Take the train from Seoul station. The journey takes around four hours.

Taebaek Mountain Snow Festival, annually in January-February.

Jeju Fire Festival

The fire historically cleared the grass of vermin in time for a new harvest, and is quite a sight to behold (Photo: Garrett via Flickr)

Even if you’ve already been to the beautiful island of Jeju, eaten the oranges, ridden the horses, seen the pearl divers and taken the honeymoon pictures, you’re not going to want to miss the Jeju Fire Festival.

Held every year from late February to early March, and coinciding with Lunar New Year, Saebyeol Oreum, a hill in Jeju city is set alight to welcome both good health and good harvest for the upcoming year. Originally, the fire was a way of getting rid of vermin, but now it’s simply a wonderful spectacle to witness. There’s always a great fireworks display to mark the end of the festival, as well as many performances, games and cultural workshops throughout the city. So put this on your must-do list of festivals in Southwest Korea to visit soon.

Handy hints for Jeju Fire Festival: 

•  Jeju is a popular local and international travel destination, especially at Lunar New Year, so definitely plan ahead for this one.

•  Getting there: A number of airlines, including HK Express fly direct to Jeju from Hong Kong.

Jeju Fire Festival, annually around February/March.

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival:

If you’re looking for gorgeous natural beauty, then look no further than the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival (Photo: Hoju Saram via Flickr)

So, you think Japan is the only place with a blossom festival? Not true! The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most magical festivals in South Korea, and it’s definitely one that you should try and time your trip to enjoy.

Hundreds of thousands of stunning cherry blossoms can be found during the spring time, turning the areas around both Yeojwacheon and Gyeonghwa Station into vistas that look like something straight from a movie set. In fact, K-drama fans will probably recognise the ‘Romance Bridge’, which has found its way into many a Korean drama.

On top of the wonderfully photographic cherry blossoms, visitors can also see some sharply choreographed military performances and enjoy a selection of street foods, including swirly potato sticks and whole pigs that roast over open flames. Food, flowers and fancy footwork? Who could ask for anything more from a festival?

Handy hints for Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival:

•  Traffic from Seoul to Jinhae during the festival is insane, so definitely opt for the train.

•  It’s all about timing when it comes to this festival, as when the blossoms bloom is quite difficult to predict, so keep an eye on the weather and forums to see what people in Korea are saying.

•  Getting there: Korail makes special trips to Jinhae from Seoul Station during the festival, which takes approximately four hours.

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, annually around March/April.

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is definitely one of the quirkiestu Korean festivals (and so much fun!) (Photo: Hypnotica Studios Infinite via Flickr)

When it comes to festivals in South Korea, you haven’t lived until you’ve visited the Boryeong Mud Festival. Held on Daecheon beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do (just a few hours drive from Seoul), this is the perfect event for everyone, whether you want to hit the Hite beers with your crew or if you’re with the whole family. The highlight of the festival, unsurprisingly, is mud, but Boryeong mud has special cleansing and anti-aging properties, meaning that getting covered head-to-toe in the stuff is actually good for you skin, as well as being hilariously amusing.

There’s a Family Zone that includes a range of toys and games for the kids (covered in the obligatory muddy-goodness of course!) while adult children can amusek themselves with delights like mud wrestling, mud slides, or a variety of skincare treatments that are set up around the boardwalk. Being on the beach means you can nip into the water to clean off before hitting the food zone that features delights from across the Korean peninsula, and don’t miss the live entertainment that pops up throughout the event.

While the Boryeong Mud Festival may not be the height of traditional Korean culture, it is a genuinely good time.

Handy hints for Boryeong Mud Festival:

•  Wear clothes that you don’t mind destroying; you’re going to get dirty, no matter what your intentions.

•  Book your accommodation well in advance for this one, as this is one of the most popular festivals in South Korea, and locals and expats flock to it every year.

•  Getting there: Buses depart from Central City Bus Station in Seoul to Boryeong at regular intervals and the journey takes around two hours.

Boryeong Mud Festival, annually in July.

Busan International Film Festival

Film buffs throughout Asia can’t get enough of the Busan International Film Festival, and for very good reason. South Korea has a thriving film industry (did you know it’s the only country in the world where Titanic didn’t make it to number one at the box office because a local film bet it out?) and every year in October sees guests gather in the southern city of Busan to watch hundreds of films from both South Korea and further afield.

Set across five theatres, lovers of classic cinema will want to check out the Korean cinema retrospective programming, while others may prefer the range of international and local premieres. One of the highlights of this festival in South Korea is the outdoor Busan Cinema Center that hosts the opening and closing screenings, as well as selected programming throughout. The stunning complex is quite spectacular, so don’t miss out on treating yourself to the experience. What’s more, the general buzz of the city during the festival is so overwhelming that you can’t help but fall more in love with the coastal city that seems to just burst with culture and creativity.

Handy hints for Busan International Film Festival:

•  Book both your tickets and accommodation for this well in advance, as many K-fans from China, Japan and Taiwan travel to this event along with large groups of locals and expats.

•  Getting there: A number of airlines fly direct from Hong Kong to Busan, and it only takes around three hours.

By Sophie Cullen

Source: www.thehoneycombers.com

China ‘shocks’ the world with 6G amidst 5G controversies

While most nations of the world are still rolling out 5G at a very low pace, China has gone a step higher with the 6G network.

In fact, the rest of the world barely grasps the truest essence of 5G, let alone agreeing on what 6G will even be. On the 6th of November, 2020, China successfully launched a Long March 6 rocket and sent a payload of 13 satellites into orbit. Among them was what was described as “the world’s first 6G satellite”.

5G can be referred to as the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. The deployment of 5G Networks by the telecom industry began in 2019 across the world, and it is the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cell phones.

However, 5G has become intensely controversial in many locations, with people, and a few scientists, expressing concerns about the possible health effects of radio-frequency (RF) energy transmitted by 5G base stations.

The oppositions to the 5G network focuse on two characteristics.

5G systems will operate in several frequency bands, including one that is slightly below (and will eventually extend into) the millimetre-wave part of the RF spectrum that extends from 30 to 300 GHz. While millimetre waves have not heretofore been used for cellular communications, they have been used for many other applications, including airport security scanners, anti-collision radar for automobiles, and to link present-day cellular base stations.

Second, 5G systems will rely on a multitude of “small cells” mounted close to subscribers, often on utility poles running along public streets. These small cells will incorporate “smart” antennas that transmit multiple beams (up to 64 with present designs, eventually more), which can be independently steered to individual subscribers. They operate at much lower power levels than “macro” cells used by present systems, which are typically located at the tops of buildings in urban areas.

To be fair, China has been at the forefront of 5G networking, with the country already adopting the newer and faster bandwidth into its infrastructure. Now, the economic powerhouse is moving forward with 6G networking, while other nations, including the US, are still struggling to roll out 5G networking. The race for 5G is largely responsible for the heightened US-China trade dispute, including sanctions imposed on Huawei, the leading 5G gear manufacturer.

First, what is 6G?

This is the 6th generation of connectivity technology. To put the high speeds into perspective, 6G is capable of downloading a high-definition movie in just 9 seconds and 3,800 high-resolution images in under a minute and 30 seconds. With the advent of the 6G, a surgeon from Abuja can use robotics to operate on a patient in Rivers State or even be used to save a life on the battlefield through another robot.

According to an explanation by the National Science Foundation’s Thyagarajan Nandagopal, the satellite Star Era-12 has a frequency band so high that it had to be tested in space to avoid signal disruption due to the atmosphere. Nandagopal estimates that a range of 100 and 500 Gigahertz, or GHz — 100 times faster than 5G. To understand that speed, compare 5G and 4G cellphones, a 5G model is 100 times faster than a 4G, depending on the carrier.

Recently, Google and Apple both joined a new 6G industry group, a North American trade group known as “the Next G Alliance.” That is perhaps a sign that we can likely expect 6G iPhones and Pixels to be known in the coming years.

Meanwhile, some industry critics believe that “it’s a bit of nonsense to call what China have just launched, 6G“. Perhaps because Chinese engineers claim that the satellite, jointly developed by the Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Technology, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Beijing Weina Xingkong Technology, could boost data speeds dramatically.

Japan has begun planning a comprehensive strategy for “post-5G” (6G) technology that achieves communication speeds 10 times faster than 5G by 2030. Even the South Korean government is planning on launching the pilot project for 6G networking in 2026.

Samsung Electronics, a South Korean tech giant, in a white paper titled “The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All”, said it is expecting that the next generation of networking will arrive as early as 2028.

By Abraham Ebini

Source: www.neighbourhoodonline.com

A COUNTRY WITH NO VALUES

A British Lieutenant General Sir Fredrick Stanley Maude was tasked to conquer Baghdad in 1917.

Upon arrival to Iraq he came across a shepherd and his herd in a field, he asked his translator to offer a shilling to the shepherd and ask him to slaughter his dog.

A dog is very important companion to a shepherd. It warns him of all impeding dangers and guards, the herd from wolves and thieves, but at that time, with a shilling one could buy half a herd.....

The shepherd agreed to the deal, grabbed his dog and slaughtered it at the feet of the General.

General Maude said to the shepherd: "I'll give you an additional shilling to skin the dog!

The shepherd took the shilling and skinned the dog.

Then the General offered the third shilling to cut the dog into quarters.

The shepherd took the shilling and chopped the dog.  

Now the shepherd told the General that for a fourth shilling, he would eat the dog, to which the General answered: "I wanted to learn about your values in this country, and I discovered that you slaughtered, skinned and chopped your most trusted friend and companions for three shilling!

You were even ready to eat it for an additional one....That's all I needed to learn about your country!".

Then he addressed his soldiers and said:

"As long as this kind of mentality prevails in this country and you can buy anyone, don't fear anything and no one!' 

Since that time, and till our days in that part of the world, officials have sold their countries, their people, their friends, their honor and their principles for a house in Europe, or a bank account in Switzerland.

Are you any different from that shepherd?

Are our shepherds in this country different from shepherds in Baghdad, Iraq of old and indeed other parts of the corrupt and selfish world?

Let Us Change The Face Of Our Country For The Better!

15 THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE NEW LAGOS-IBADAN TRAIN RIDE

I took the Lagos-Ibadan train ride on the second day after it was officially opened for commercial business. It was a wonderful experience. I know  many people would write about the train as more people get to use it, so I would only focus on salient points that people may miss in this essay of mine.

1. Very few people know exactly where to board the train, not even people who live around the train station. So, in Lagos, the place to board the train is the train station at Alagomeji bus stop in the Yaba area. You go on the road from Ojuelegba through Tejuosho to burst out at Yaba. Once you get to the end of Tejuosho road, turn right and just keep going down like you are going to the end of the road. Keep looking at your right where you have the BRT lane, you would see Alagomeji bus stop. Right next to the bus stop is the entrance to the train station. It is an old building.

2. You need to go with an I.D card. Any I.D card is being accepted for now. Without an I.D card,  you CAN'T purchase a ticket. It is MANDATORY.

3. You want to get to the train station at least 30 minutes before departure time. This is to allow you have time to purchase tickets, register and do the trek to the platform. The train leaves at the dot of time. 4PM!

4. Except you go in a group,  or you want to be lonely, don't bother to buy the Business class or VIP tickets for now (I made that mistake), just buy the economy ticket and you would enjoy the trip more as you would meet people and have valuable conversations. I actually  left the VIP cabin to go sit in the economy cabin all through the journey.

5. The train ride is a great way of networking. I made valuable contacts on the train. You would be surprised at how an innocuous looking person  is a high network personality.

6. The least ticket is NGN 2,500 while the highest VIP ticket is NGN 6,000. The 2,500 ticket gets you to sit in the 88 passengers cabin while the 6k ticket gets you to sit in a 24 passenger cabin. The prices are a bit lower if you are dropping at Abeokuta instead of Ibadan.

7. The train carries 412 people at once in full capacity, that is an equivalent of 23 18-seater passenger buses. There are cabins for 88 passengers, 68 passengers, 56 passengers and 24 passenger.

8. The A.C in the train can be very chilling at times, you can call on the train hostesses to adjust the temperature (I actually did this).

9. For now, there is only one station where the train stops, that is the Abeokuta station. Most other stations on the route are still being built.

10. The last train station in Ibadan is at Moniya. It is a 10 minutes drive to Ọjọọ main park in Ibadan, and about 20mins to Iwo road park.

11. For now, you would always arrive in Ibadan at dusk (around 6.30pm), so you need to make provision for your transportation out of the station as it would be dark when you arrive. The ride is currently a 2hrs 30 mins ride. It would be reduced to less than 2 hours after some time. The current speed of an average of 70km/hr is to allow for the soil compartment and safety reasons (people still don't know about the trains and they still just walk across rail line or graze cattles across). Speed would be increased as time goes on.

12. Currently, there are no cabs to take people from the train station to Moniya town (I couldn't get uber to send me a cab), so be prepared to trek for about 800 meters before you get to Molarere junction where you would get a tricycle to Moniya town itself, before you can then connect to other areas of Ibadan. So,  for elderly people who can't do the trekking, please arrange a pickup at the train station before you arrive.

13. There are affordable hotels around Moniya, for those who just want to fulfill their curiosity like me. There are fair hotel rooms of 4,000 naira.  I slept in one of such.

14. For now,  foods or drinks are not served or sold on the train, this is to comply with Covid rules (another reason why VIP ticket is a waste at this time).

15. Consumption of Alcohol is NOT allowed on the train (yes,  even if you bring yours in, you can't drink while in the train).

It was a very smooth and stress free ride. Also very convenient. People going for the Christmas holidays in Abeokuta, Ibadan, Oyo, or Ilorin should use the train service instead of buses, they would find out that traveling during festivities can actually be fun.

Two things that need to be looked into from the beginning :

1. Availability of Online purchase of tickets 

2. Prohibition of preaching in the cabins. 

By- Otunba Fadairo Olufemi

SOLUTION TO TOOTH PAIN

Tooth ache is a pain or inflammation in or around the tooth, often caused by tooth decay or infection. Toothache has been one of life is worst nightmares. Throughout history, man has been searching for solution that will help with healing and to reduce swelling and pain. Local plants were recognized for their medicinal properties but efficacy does not last as the pain resurfaces after a while.

If you eventually go to hospital to seek for solution to your tooth ache, they will remove the affected tooth and after a while, the infection will be transferred to another tooth, if you go back they will happily remove that one and so on, for me there is no solution there because they keep removing your teeth and making money without solution, until they empty your mouth.

There is a simple remedy that solve the problem of toothache permanently and without much cost, this remedy has been tested as trusted by thousands of people who previously had tooth challenges. This remedy is ALUM.

Alum , is a transparent ice/salt like substance that is used in filtration of pond water, as well as for medicinal purposes. There are various types of Alum such as Potassium Alum or potash. This is the remedy that had been sought, for centuries without success. We are lucky to have it here as i unveil the direction for usage.!

How to get ALUM

Alum is sold in all the food markets in Nigeria, just visit food market and ask of Alum, they will give it to you.

After your dinner, brush your teeth with our normal tooth paste, take a piece of ALUM, put it directly to the affected tooth, close your mouth and not swallow your spit (not that it is dangerous to the health), the spit in your mouth is what is going to react with ALUM. After about 10-15minutes, remove the first spit and repeat same again, then your can go to bed.

Secondly, before breakfast put a small quantity of the alum at the affected part of the teeth, hold it tight and gaggle the saliva for 10- 15 minutes before spitting it out, after your breakfast, repeat the remedy as instructed, you must definitely notice that the pain had subsided. Do not relent as the pain has gone down, repeat the process for 5days, then watch and see the miracles unfolding.

After reading this, share to some of your contacts , you know that everybody will not be having the opportunity to get the information. Many people are dying in pain caused by tooth ache...

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