King Ifey's Blog

I laughed when the news about the pastor who cautioned women about wearing  heels trended on Facebook. Do you know why I laughed? Yes, hundreds of years ago,  men wore high heels: that type that Denrele wears these days and other kinds of heels.  LOL. High heels were a sign  of masculine virility, royalty and wealth. It was only meant for alpha males.  Only the strong wore it. Sounds absurd? LMAO. In  the studio where I work,  I see a photo of PortHarcourt men in the 1970s,  they wore pencil-trousers. Yes,  they did.  It was just what it was,  pencil trousers. Even when I go through the photo album of my mum and dad,  I saw men wearing all sorts of outfits that we judge with our jaundiced view of fashion these days. I believe the norms affect our mindset. If men were to wear high heels as a sign of virility and masculinity today,  I am not sure anyone would throw stones at men who wore high heels; rather,  th...

Before I turned 14, I spoke English with a thick Anambra accent. Yes and I never even left Nigeria.  Those who have listened to my podcasts would ask How did you overcome it? I was shamed.  I was mocked. I always sounded hilarious. Although I am not from Onitsha,  my Igbo sounded a bit like Onitsha Igbo (I like their igbo well) I had three major issues. I couldn't pronounce 'r',  'ch' and 'dz' for (jug). I would always substitute them with 'l', 'sh' and 'z' as in genre.  The first public disgrace happened to me in  church when  I had to pray for the leaders (ndi na achi achi) and because I couldn't pronounce 'ch',  I substituted it with 'sh' and ended up with (ndi na ashi ashi)  which means 'liars' in  Enugu igbo dialect.  The whole church chuckled through the prayer. I was 9 . I was embarrassed. The moment I was in Jss1 and we had to read intensive English,  I still hadn't overcome my speech de...

WOMANISM IN AFRICAN LITERATURE: THE EXAMPLE OF FLORA NWAPA'S WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT Ubaji Isiaka Abubakar Eazy INTRODUCTION How do you begin speaking of African female writers without mentioning Flora Nwapa? That woman led the way for other African female writers whose bloom came after hers. I mean writers as Buchi Emecheta, Tess Onwueme, Zulu Sofala, Mabel Segun, Nawal El Sadawi, Aminata Sow Fall, Mariama Ba, Zaynab Alkali, Akachi Ezeigbo, Ifeoma Okoye, Tsi Tsi Dangaremba, Alifa Rifaat, Bessie Head, Nadine Gordimer, and of course Ama Ata Aidoo (in no particular order). These women are the doyen of African female writings yet Flora Nwapa is a pioneer figure amongst them. These writers kick started the depiction of the feminist ideology in African literature. An ideology which younger ones as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chika Unigwe, Amma Darko, Grace Akpan, Ehigiator Dumebi Ezar, and Maryam Bongel have kept its fire burning bright. In an essay titled "A House Di...

Afro beat?  Christian lyrics? This is so much fun. Here is Gift Bank's new single titled Wonder. It has massive pastiches of Fela's Afro vibes. It will make you feel as though Fela were singing  to God. Those guitars tunes are so reminiscent of the 80s Fela vibes.  Talk about the back up singers Well,  they did a pretty good job. Let Eledumare turn your life around with this one. There is something playful about beat.  You just want to prance and pose and be photographed while the song puts a big grin on your mouth. Gift Bank is an up and coming act. Support him. You have got to love his dramatic baritone and the way he played with his notes in  a more Afrocentric kind of way. Download the song here Download Wonder by Gift Bank

It was William Wordsworth, the 18th century Romantic poet, who defined poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings recollected in tranquility and he is correct. His definition of poetry has gone on to receive universal acclaim and has continued to serve as a pointer to what true poetry should read like. So, when I encountered Elizabeth Semende's Rays of a Bleeding Sun , I had little doubt that Wordsworth; were he alive; would have said much the same thing I said after perusing the young Zimbabwean poetess anthology. He would have exclaimed (and Wordsworth was a man given to much happy exclamation too!) thus: "Now, that's poetry you've got there!" Rays of a Bleeding Sun has the pulse of emotions and powerful feelings running through its poetic lines. Albeit in free verse, the poems come with the kind of rhythmic flow invigorated with the power to move the reader as no other poem would ever do. The thematic troupes range from grief over the lo...

Good morning KIB students. Since we love drama,  I  have decided to also teach through drama. Let's get down to brass tacks. Nne and Ada. Nne: How do you do, Ada. Ada: (smiles) How do you do,  Nne. Nne: I am fine my dear except I did not have a good night rest. Ada: um, Nne,  I didn't enquire about your wellbeing. Nne: But you asked how I was doing. Ada: I was just replying the greeting.  The expression isn't about you telling us about your health. It is a formal greeting for people who are just meeting for the first time.  Anyway,  I hope you have  recuperated from that sickness. Nne: Yes, Ada: oh so your doctor has given you a clean  bill of health? Nne: bill kwa?  He didn't give us any bill. Ada: (shakes her head in disappointment ) honey,  If you have been given a clean bill of health,  it means your doctor has certified that you are healthy Nne: oh that.  Yes,  I have a clean bill of health. Ada: S...

Gather around guys. I am still being stunned at how good music keeps gravitating towards me. Port Harcourt city may have been  over-glamorised,  but the creativity found in  her dwellers are beginning to seem incomparable. I may not be an ardent listener of rap music,   but heck I know good music when I see one. Bones by Degoldberg is a Christian rap song that will spur your adrenaline to do something great and spontaneous  for God. Here is the thrilling part of the song. I really can't keep it to myself. It started off with that 'Rolling in the Deep' kind of feel to it, and then  the powerful voice of Degoldberg  melded with it. It is a testosterone and spirit filled rap song which beckons on  dry bones to rise again. It gets even more emotional as the classical feel of the song becomes even more prominent  close  to the end of the song. You can only imagine how God is supernaturally waking dry bones and instant...

I was stuck in  traffic listening to Traffic by Tchella. It was the most sensible thing to do at that moment. I needed to calm my nerves and avoid  words being hauled  from drivers trying to meander through the massive Port Harcourt gridlock. Headset plugged and I revelled in  the beauty of the sound I heard. It was simple and adorable.  Dexterously woven  melodies, beautiful acoustics, one of the best lyrics that has ever happened to Nigerian music  since Airbrush by Sheyi Shay LOL.  Believe me. If you love Sam smith,  Adele,  Mike Posner,  James Bond blunt, Nonso Amadi,  Bez and Timi Dakolo then you MUST love Tchella. Nigerian youths aren't trying to follow the band wagon.  Everyone is trying to  be unique. Herd mentality may sell,  but unique mentality ensures your melodies are imprinted in  the minds of people.  By the way,  he produced the song.  Yes,  he did ...

Be part of King Ifey Academy. This is a training place for children as well as adults too. I am passionate about helping people improve their spoken English because this is very essential if they want to excel in their endeavours. Improving one's communicatory skill is of paramount importance. You cannot learn it in schools. I will give you practicals ways to harness your spoken English. Sometimes people write well, but cannot speak well.  Don't you fret. king Ifey can help you. Classes have begun already but will start officially first week of September. Are you an adult and you are passionate about improving your communicatory skills? You are a singer and you cannot articulate words and differentiate syllables to fit into musical notes, You are an actor but you can't break free because you are stuck with your mother-tongue You are a journalist and you cannot differentiate between British and American pronunciations. When you speak, people are confused. You prono...

Today's class will be absolutely lit. Good morning KIB students. You are welcome to class. Today, we shall look at animals and what their flesh could be called. Let us start with chicken. Chicken is the general layman's term for the species Gallusgallus domesticus. (domesticated fowl). The meat gotten from chicken is most specifically called  chicken too. In some cases, the meat of chicken can be correctly called fowl or poultry. Fowl ,according to Oxford  dictionary, is the flesh of domesticated birds as food; poultry. It means that the flesh of turkey, goose, duck etc can be called fowl. "a stew of various meats and fowl". Fowl isn't just a chicken. A Fowl can also be a turkey or a goose(plural: geese). A hen is a female chicken. A cock is a male chicken. In American English , a cock is also called a rooster. A young male chicken is called a cockerel . A castrated male chicken is called a 'capon'. Some native speakers believe that any meat ...

An 18 year old girl from Benue State , studying Industrial Biology at Benue State University, Shime Ahua, has just released her first song titled 'You and Me". She is the daughter of a pastor. She released her Debut single 'You and Me" in July 2017 and I think all music lovers should please  have a listen to her beautifully composed song. It is a simple love ballad that will flood your whole system with happiness. A thrill that awakens your inner spirit. And if you lost your muse, you will find it here. Trust me..Shime has the magic. Download Shime ahua's You and Me.

Have you ever been imbued with so much emotions while listening to a song, and you can't hold back tears as they come coursing through your tear ducts, seeking to be set free? Happy tears. I could sit all day and listen to this song 'Despite me' by Victor-UK. The song reminds me of how I am a terrible sinner but he still loves me, despite all my shortcomings, despite all my cravings, despite all my weaknesses, DESPITE ME. He loves me when I don't deserve to be loved. The song starts with with some mellow piano and builds up to the chorus, then releases the powerful ROCK in it. Victor UK's tenor is that kind of voice you get scared of notes it's is hitting  with so much ease. Just play the song as you are driving to work and you will wear a smile all day. Download his song  right here and share your thoughts with me. Download Despite me by Victor-UK here

Beautiful symphonies abound in the city of Port Harcourt. Ucee Nwachukwu is a vibrant gospel artiste in Nigeria and he has released a new song for your listening pleasure called 'Everlasting love' It is a song that ministers to us about the Everlasting love of God. It was dexterously rendered  with a dramatic and powerful tenor that has this beautiful growl to its texture. The emotions built up in the song can easily overwhelm you. The production is quite good. A mixture of strings and some traditional percussion. A classic example of contemporary Nigerian gospel music. Download Everlasting Love by Ucee Nwachukwu Get the lyrics  here

Elshadai, Glory to your Name For what you've done for us we sing this song to you Our alpha and Omega and our sure defense You are the answer through it all We give all praise to You.  (2X) This is our song to you Alpha and Omega You are a mighty God Everlasting LOVE This is our song to you Alpha and Omega You are a mighty God Everlasting LOVE You are great and greatly to be praised Lord you are strong, Strong and mighty One You are the king and you rule in every Nation You are God over all Our lives belongs to you. This is our song to you Alpha and Omega You are a mighty God Everlasting LOVE This is our song to you Alpha and Omega You are a mighty God Everlasting LOVE Alpha, Omega, Mighty God Everlasting Love.

Let's talk about 'subs'. I have read many dramas emanating from this platform. People who are always waiting for someone to obliviously give them the slightest  chance so they could walk into the person's hearts and pierce it multiple times with their sabres. Yes,  many minds are like that. These days, many hearts are filled with raging darkness, bitterness and the urge to drag someone to the gallows and have him/her hung while they watch as the person is being asphyxiated , they pour wine to make merry. It is the human heart. You feed it with hate, it comes with all the vices that make the world a bitter place. You feed it with love, it comes with all the virtues that make the world a better place. Who knows who would be the next person thrown into a stadium full of lions; and spectators would watch and cheer the lions up as they  devour the innocent soul. People may just be here on your list waiting for the day someone would besmirch your hard earned reputation ...

The first time I listened to this song, I actually didn't know what to expect. Cece kings already looks beautiful and I wondered if her voice could sound beautiful as well. More importantly, I wondered if the producer did a good job. Then I press play and symphonies began to waft through. 'It is just starting' I said to myself. Then, I relaxed to savour the song. Then I was weak, then I felt goose pimples, then my eyes began to well up . I wasn't too sure if it was  the simple lyrics or her voice and the modulations she had to conquer as she sang into the soprano's stratosphere. It was magic. Cece Kings is really awesome and she is another big thing in  Nigeria gospel scene. Download her song and listen to it Download Beautuful by Cece Kings here

The Folktale Tradition in a Technological World: A Review of Onyemaechi Maxwell Opia-Enwemuche's The Oracle of Isieke Ubaji Isiaka Abubakar Eazy I salivate for times bygone When we assemble at night At feet of elders to gladden Out minds with juices from Their oral repertoire         - - - from 'Dele Bamidele's "Konko Jabele" When I was young and my elders say to me that their younger days was better than ours, I was forced to ask myself how such assumption could be possible. What do they mean by better when my age was fortunate to have the television, air condition, radio, Internet and better health facilities. It was not till I grew up that I realised the wisdom in their words. I was not fortunate to be born in the village but my father was the old traditional type who felt the need to gather his kids once in a while at nights to tell them stories; stories of the tortoise and his willy ways, of how the tortoise came to have a seemingly cr...