InandOutNigeria is a travel blog for anyone wishing to experience other cultures and non Nigerians wishing to experience the Nigerian culture. It's founded and owned by a Nigerian and German married couple Mr and Mrs. Balogun. May 2015
Topics: Travel, Entertainment, Fashion, Cosmetics, Politics, Wedding, Food, Inspirational Living.
Buhari, 72, takes over as head of Africa's most populous nation, top economy and leading oil producer [AP]
Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari has formally been sworn in as Nigeria's next president after he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan in March 28 elections.
Buhari, who was sworn-in in the captial city of Abuja on Friday, is the first Nigerian to oust a sitting president through the ballot box.
Dressed in traditional Muslim attire, Buhari stood on the stage clutching a Quran in his right hand, as he pledged to uphold the constitution and laws of Africa's most populous nation.
Buhari, 72, takes over as head of Africa's most populous nation, top economy and leading oil producer [AP]
Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari is preparing to formally take over as Nigeria's elected head of state following his election victory in March 28 elections.
Buhari will attend a swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, the capital, on Friday after becoming the first Nigerian to oust a sitting president through the ballot box.
On Thursday, outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan hosted a dinner event at the state banquet hall in Aso Villa, the presidential villa, to mark his handover to Buhari.
Attending Thursday night's event were former heads of state, representatives and presidents of various countries.
Earlier on Thursday, Jonathan, who as he entered his final week in office had offered up a prayer for the success of Buhari, showed the president-elect around his new quarters.
The 57-year-old took Buhari and his vice-president-elect Yemi Osinbajo on a tour of Aso Rock before submitting his formal handover notes.
United States President, Barack Obama | credits: File copy
United
States President, Barack Obama, has honoured a Nigerian, Adepeju
Jaiyeoba, and four other young entrepreneurs from around the world at a
Global Entrepreneurship event in Washington DC.
The White House, in a statement on its
official website, noted that the emerging entrepreneurs from across the
US and around the world were brought together to create innovative
solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges, including poverty,
climate change, extremism, access to education and health care.
The statement read, “The event comes
ahead of Obama’s travel to this summer’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit
in Nairobi, Kenya and provides a unique opportunity to galvanise global
attention on emerging women and young entrepreneurs.
“Jaiyeoba, who is a Nelson Mandela
Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders, founded Mothers Delivery
Kits in 2013 after losing a close friend to childbirth to address
maternal and child mortality resulting from unhygienic and unsafe
deliveries in Nigeria.
“She has been able to collaborate with
other entrepreneurs, build employee capacity through YALI courses, and
receive seed capital and mentorship from the US African Development
Foundation.”
According to the White House, Jaiyeoba has expanded her services to internally displaced victims of Boko Haram.
The grant has also reportedly enabled
her company to acquire new machinery, establish a storage facility in
northern Nigeria to address transportation challenges, increase its
Lagos-based staff, and reach nearly 80 community midwives and health
care providers across 23 states in the country.
“The event will recognize the impact made by a number of U.S. government-led initiatives.
“The United States has played a key role
in organizing all five previous Global Entrepreneurship Summits,
including the inaugural summit in 2010, designed to encourage innovators
to choose entrepreneurship as a profession and to empower aspiring
entrepreneurs, giving them access to mentors, networks, and capital,”
the White House further said.
Among the five entrepreneurs who spoke
at the event was Tony Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation
and former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the United Bank
for Africa.
He may not be known back home in Nigeria but John Boyega is set to
heat-up cinemas across the globe in the trailer of the forthcoming 2015
film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in which he played the lead role.
Born March 17 1992, Boyega played Moses in his 2011 film debut, Attack The Block. Trained at the Identity Drama School in Hackney, in 2011, Boyega was cast in the boxing drama pilot, Da Brick, loosely based on Mike Tyson’s life.
So impressive has his career been that Boyega was chosen by
Fionnuala Halligan of Screen International, as one of UK Stars of
Tomorrow in 2011. In March 2012, Boyega was cast in the film adaptation
of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book Half of a Yellow Sun.
Meanwhile, the appearance of a black storm trooper in the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens caused
quite a stir on social media recently due to the colour of his skin.
The movie goes on general release on December 18, 2015. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=95245
A typical Nigerian supper at Finger Licking Bukateria, with egusi and fufu up front and meat pies in the back.
Photo by Troy Fields
Tackling Nigerian cuisine so early in the Here, Eat This series? Why
not? Nigerian food is some of the most accessible "ethnic" food out
there -- or at least, it will be for anyone who grew up eating Cajun,
Southern or soul food. I'm looking at you, Houston. See also:
- Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to Korean Cuisine
- Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to Indian Cuisine
Nigerian
cooking is the mother of many American cuisines. Tina Edebor -- the
friendly woman who runs Nigerian restaurant Finger Licking Bukateria
with her husband, Eghosa -- admits that despite this, Nigerian cooking
can be a little daunting for newcomers. Especially the dishes spiked
with Guinea peppers, alligator peppers and a whole host of spices that
make Nigerian dishes ideal for heat-seeking diners.
"Our food is not mainstream," Edebor once explained. "So you have to be willing to come in and taste it."
Nigerian women man the kitchen at Finger Licking Bukateria.
Photo by Troy Fields
The good news is that most Nigerian restaurants -- Finger Licking
included -- are equally willing to help you. Indeed, I've gently argued
with many a waiter who wanted to direct me to the "beginner's dishes" on
Nigerian menus, but this same attribute is what makes dining out in
Houston's West African restaurants so approachable for newcomers. And
perhaps in a few years, as Little Nigeria continues expanding into its
little triangle between Bissonnet, Highway 59 and Beltway 8, the cuisine
will no longer be considered so eccentric.
"I think a lot of
these ethnic restaurants [in Houston] underwent a general resistance by
the populace until time changed their palates," agreed Edebor. And even
if time doesn't, perhaps population density will: Houston is the
undisputed American city with the most Nigerian expats (thanks the oil
and gas industries) -- expats with the highest education level of any other immigrant group in the United States. As demonstrated in Little India,
wherever there's a concentration of immigrant residents -- especially
well-educated expats with strong ties to their home communities --
restaurants and grocery stores will spring up to feed them.
That
said, Edebor advises that "it would be wise to start out with something
familiar like rice with plantains and stew, because that's a familiar
thing to the palate." Today, however, we're starting out with fufu.
Fufu, like this example at Suya Hut, is usually served
in plastic wrap that keeps the dough moist and keeps the balls of fufu
from sticking to each other.
Photo by Troy Fields
Fufu
Much like injera bread in
Ethiopian cuisine, fufu -- which is typically made from pounded yam
flour -- is used as both a starchy side dish and a utensil. It's served
in a large, soft, white mound that looks and feels like raw dumpling
dough. Fufu (also called tuwo in other West African
restaurants) is used to scoop up the so-called "eating soups" in
Nigerian cuisine, while "drinking soups" such as pepper soup are eaten
either with a spoon or drunk straight from the bowl. Tear off a piece of
fufu and fashion it into a small, edible spoon, then dunk it into your
"eating soup" -- like egusi -- and swallow the entire bite whole.
A pot of egusi simmers on the stove at Suya Hut.
Photo by Katharine Shilcutt
Egusi
Egusi
is the classic example of an eating soup and my personal favorite. The
thick stew is accessible in its basic flavors and comforting in its odd
familiarity -- yes, even if you've never eaten it before. The soft,
fatty seeds of the egusi melon (a sort of wild African watermelon)
thicken the tomato-based broth and add a sweetly nutty flavor to the
greens and onions underneath. Another thickener -- okra -- is also found
in egusi, and its spider-silk strands will stretch playfully as you
scoop up bites with your fufu. Don't worry about making a mess; just
lick it off your fingers (as Finger Licking Bukateria's name would
imply) and keep eating.
Oxtail pepper soup was a personal favorite at Peppersoup Cafe before it closed last year.
Photo by Katharine Shilcutt
Pepper soup
If egusi doesn't appeal to you, try the spicy pepper soup -- a typical drinking soup and the long-lost cousin to gumbo.
Like the Creole version of gumbo, pepper soup is based on a meat and
tomato broth flavored with thyme, onion and pepper. The traditional
African utazi leaves used to flavor it further even taste a lot
like filé, which is made from ground sassafras leaves. Goat is the
standard protein for Nigerian pepper soup, but you can also choose from
oxtail, catfish and tilapia. The goat will certainly be too gamy for
most mainstream palates (especially since Nigerians tend to leave the
rough hide intact on the chunks of goat cooked down in the soup), but
the catfish is both highly approachable and highly delicious. Pepper
soup is also named for the fact that it's saturated with ground chile
pepper powder, so beware if you have a low tolerance for spicy food.
Freshly made meat pies at Finger Licking Bukateria.
Meat pies and sausage rolls
An interesting aspect
of Nigerian cuisine is the vestigial English influence left from
colonial British occupation of the country that lasted for more than 100
years (or only 60, if you're being super technical about it). You'll
find that influence in everything from oatmeal to beer, and in the
popular British snacks that are now as common in Nigeria as fufu. Meat
pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs are standard lunchtime dishes, and
your British friends may be surprised to find that while few "British
pubs" in Houston make any of these three from scratch, almost all of the
Nigerian restaurants do. Jollof rice
The mainstay dish of Jollof rice is usually served alongside fried plantains and skewers of suya. Think of it as paella
sans the seafood, or as the West African version of fried rice: The
rice is cooked down with tomatoes, tomato paste, onions and red peppers.
From there, you can add nearly anything else -- vegetables, meat, fish,
spices -- and make your jollof rice into a proper meal.
Suya skewers on the grill at Suya Hut.
Photo by Troy Fields
Suya
Do you like kebabs? Then you'll
like suya. You'll like them even better if you like Thai food and/or
peanut butter. Ground peanuts and spices coat the chicken and beef
pieces that are skewered onto long wooden sticks and grilled. Just as
the tomato was brought from the New World to the Old, so was the peanut
brought from South America to Africa via the same routes that shipped
slaves back and forth over the oceans. Peanuts grow incredibly well in
West Africa and are a now popular ingredient in many Nigerian and
Ghanaian dishes.
Grilled tilapia in pepper sauce at Finger Licking Bukateria.
Photo by Troy Fields
Whole grilled fish
Whole grilled fish is pretty
much what it sounds like. Nigerian restaurants in Houston typically
serve tilapia or catfish, so it's not like you're going to get a sheepshead
on your plate -- that fish whose mouth is filled with human teeth and
is the stuff that horrorshow nightmares are made of. This is standard
stuff.
Akara
Wondering what Nigerians eat for breakfast?
(Aside from scrambled eggs? Because: scrambled eggs, mostly.) This is
one popular item, a fritter that's made with ground black-eyed peas. Akara
puffs up when it's fried, and has the same texture and consistency of
falafel, but with a very mild flavor. This breakfast pastry is fine on
its own, but is at its best when dipped in akamu. Ogi / akamu
If you've eaten grits, you've eaten akamu (a.k.a. ogi).
The two breakfast porridges are virtually identical, save for the way
that they're served. Whereas Texans and Southerners flavor their grits
with salt and butter, akamu is sweetened every so slightly with the
addition of condensed milk. The resulting hot cereal is extra creamy and
delicious when scooped up with fluffy bites of akara. Heineken
I
hope you like lagers, because Heineken basically runs the beer game in
Nigeria. Beer is a popular beverage in the country owing to its colonial
heritage and the fact that a cold pilsner tastes really fantastic on a
hot, humid day. But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you
Houston?
Photo by Troy Fields
Where to start: Finger Licking Bukateria:
The "home base" for West Africans in Houston, operated out of an old
Bennigan's by the same people who also run two Nigerian community
newspapers and Houston's Nigerian Foundation. FLB turns into a full-on
club with a DJ and drink specials by night and has awesomely late hours,
but also a great breakfast. Afrikiko:
Afrikiko is about as close to a bona fide African experience (an
experience, by the way, that usually includes soccer on the eatery's
satellite TV) as you're going to get here in the States. Owned by a
Ghanaian family, Afrikiko will tone down the spice if you're an obruni (the Twi language term for "white person") -- so just ask if you want your food hot. Suya Hut:
Suya Hut specializes in suya, as the name would imply. But here,
prepare for your mouth to be set afire with the sweetly spicy
ginger-habanero marinade on the meat and order it with a side of jollof
rice and plantains to keep your tongue from blistering. Just order a
Heineken if you need to cool off.
Influenced by an array of tribal traditions and culinary diversity, Nigerian
fare fuses together a variety of recipes rooted in a rich culture. Also
drawing inspiration from its colonial legacy, the dining scene of its
capital city, Abuja, blends together typical African flavours with
various European cuisines. This cultural and culinary mix is best
experienced in these top ten restaurants in Abuja.
Established
in 2007, Salamander Café is a favourite spot for the expatriate
community in Abuja, but its cool vibe attracts native crowds as well.
Located in the district of Wuse II, both the café’s shadowy outside
terrace and its indoor space provide a homely feel whether you find
yourself at a table or nestled in one of the soft-cushioned sofas.
Featuring its own little bookshop, at Salamander guests can browse
through bookshelves and attend one of the regular poetry readings. The
menu offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, including a variety of
rich international and local dishes.
When dining at Wakkis,
you can watch your food being prepared by a busy team at work behind
the open kitchen. Housed in hut-like niche made of bricks, wooden poles
and straw, the kitchen’s core lies in its open charcoal pit, visible
from many corners of the spacious building. Opened in 2000 and
originally located in the Central Business District of Abuja, Wakkis is
now located in Wuse II and focuses on bringing the flavours of Indian
cuisine to the Nigerian capital. Spanning different cuisines from the
Indian continent, the menu is particularly strong on classics like murgh
malai and tandoori chicken.
Situated within a high-end complex that includes a beauty lounge, swimming pool and gym, BluCabana
offers both indoor and outdoor seating, the latter along the edges of
the pool’s waters. In a relaxing atmosphere, the elegant wooden flooring
of the outside terrace and the comfortable feel of the indoor hall
invite guests to relax and enjoy a rich and varied fare. Including
international appetisers and mains with a strong Lebanese
influence, the menu spans different world cuisines to include pastas,
salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and succulent dishes from the barbecue which
include beef, chicken, and fish suya, a Nigerian favourite, consisting
of grilled skewered meat coated with spices.
Housed within the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in central Abuja, Bukka’s
ample and airy dining hall is flooded with natural light coming in
through the large windows. Finely decorated, its light flooring and dark
wooden furnishing convey a refined feel in which to enjoy the flavours
of the traditional cuisine of the country. The menu offers local dishes
based on the classic ingredients typical of Nigerian cooking like oha
soup, based on the vegetable from which it takes its name, yam porridge,
plantains, and goat meat, while at the buffet, guests can also choose
from a large choice of continental favourites.
Located in the Maitama district, the British Council
in Abuja features its own Rooftop Café. The rich fare and the panorama
one can glimpse when sitting at its tables made it a popular destination
for both expatriates and locals. Nestled on top of a building, the café
enjoys a privileged location, allowing guests to take in the panorama
of the Nigerian capital city. A varied menu of African and continental
dishes offering daily specials is available for lunch and dinner, and
many also choose to pick the café’s widely appreciated takeaway pizzas
and shawarmas.
The Charcoal Grill and Restaurant
is situated in Aminu Kano Crescent, in the area of Wuse II. Decorated
in a contemporary style, this large restaurant consists of an indoor
hall, and an outdoor covered terrace. Renowned especially for its
chicken dishes, as its name suggests, the Charcoal’s strength resides in
its grilled specialties, which fuse together continental and local
fare. The selection of burgers, grilled seafood, alongside the infused
tilapia, number among favourites dishes from the grill. Also open for
breakfast, the Charcoal offers numerous other local delicacies like
grilled plantains, known as bole.
Vanilla’s
cuisine fuses together notes from a variety of different cuisines
around the world. Starters of peanut chicken kebab and spring rolls can
be found on the menu alongside international mains like the coconut
chicken curry and Jamaica jerk chicken. Pork chops in apple gravy and
curried goat go hand-in-hand with dishes from the African tradition such
as the ofada rice, with tomato and pepper sauce, locust bean seeds and
beef, and jollof rice, a Nigerian dish prepared with tomato sauce,
coleslaw, and plantain, to go with either chicken or prawns. Decorated
in tones of yellow, cream and brown, diners at Vanilla can enjoy hopping
from one continent to another while lingering in a refined and softly
lit atmosphere.
Jevinik
in Abuja prides itself on being part of a group of restaurants with ten
branches spread across Nigeria’s major cities, which specialise in
fusing together the best of African
specialties in their cuisines. The variety of traditional tribal
recipes is immediately visible on the restaurant’s menu, which combines
the richness of the different local cooking styles with continental
options as well. Set in an ample dining hall where the decor is rustic
and the style essential, Jevinik provides its guests with a light and
warmly hued ambience to feast upon a rich meal.
Located
in the Maitama district, the Dunes Centre encompasses a selection of
stylish quality shops, boutiques, pastry shops, cafés and restaurants.
Among these, Dunes Continental
stands out as an elegant eatery and one of the favourites restaurants
in Abuja. Decorated with elegant tables and chairs in the tones of brown
and cream, Dunes is warmed by soft lights reflecting on the wooden
decor. Featuring strong Middle Eastern
accents, the menu draws together a fusion of flavours from across the
world, and dishes like fattoush, kibbeh, and sujuk appear on the side of
crispy tempura prawns and wings Provençal.
Chef
Victor is the mastermind behind the creative fusion of French and
African fare presented at his eponymous restaurant. After a career spent
between his native Togo and Burkina Faso first and then in Europe, the chef established himself in Abuja and opened Chez Victor
in 2005. In a warmly red-hued, dimly lit, and classy ambience, chef
Victor welcomes his guests and prepares elaborate dishes delivered in
ornate presentations. On the menu, the names of French dishes like the
entrecôte royale, or the filet de bar à la sauce Duglaire, blend with
those of the traditional African soups and meat dishes, like the chicken
pepper soup or the poulet (chicken) Yassa, marinated in wine and
spices.
As the most populous city in Nigeria, Lagos is one of Africa’s
most eclectic mega-cities. Named after the Portuguese word for ‘lagoon’
due to its geographical composition of islands and sand spits, Lagos
has a turbulent political history and was stripped of its capital city
status in 1991. However, Lagos still remains Nigeria’s definitive city
of culture, thanks to its art, music and cuisine. Here are 10 places to
get the taste of Lagos.
Celebrating Lagos’ European culinary influences is Villa Medici.
This restaurant has been developing its reputation and status in Lagos
for its cultured cuisine for the last 15 years and, as a result, has
become a firm favourite among local and global food lovers. The menu has
a prominent French flavour, with frogs’ legs and escargotsa la bourgignonne
among the highlights of les hors d’oeurve. These intercontinental
dishes are perfectly accompanied by an extensive and exquisite drinks
menu of wines and cocktails. There are also el fresco and private dining
options, for that extra special and memorable Lagos dining experience. Villa Medici, 1, Alhaji Babatunde Jose Road, Festival Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Métisse
Opening its doors in 2009, Métisse
brings a fusion of Asian flavours to Lagos. Priding itself on being the
first and only pan-Asian restaurant in the city, Métisse is situated on
the second floor of the AIM Plaza, between its sibling eateries Café
Royal and Chocolat Royal. With its sea themed décor, exotic food and
cocktail menu, Métisse achieves its aim of blending the tastes of the
Orient and Asia with the seascapes of Lagos. Chilli prawn and Mongolian
beef are among Métisse’s renowned dishes. There is often live music,
which punctuates an evening in this restaurant’s ambience and setting. Métisse, 267A, Etim Inyang Crescent, AIM Plaza, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. + 234 1271 415658
Courtesy of Metisse
Terra Kulture
Lagos’ premier arts, education and food centre, Terra Kulture
has been an important and leading promoter of Nigerian culture since
2004. The food court at Terra Kulture celebrates the very best of
Nigerian cuisine, offering an ample choice of locally grown and
traditional gastronomic delights, such as the ofada rice,
catfish and boiled yam or plantain. Not only is the food
quintessentially Nigerian, but so is the food court’s décor of
hand-crafted wooden furniture, and even the waiter’s uniforms. When
visitors have finished dining, they can also feast on the rich Nigerian
art on display in the adjoining gallery space by travelling across the
bridge located in the restaurant. Terra Kulture, Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage, Off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. + 234 1270 0588
The Jazzhole
Away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos is an oasis of calm and solitude called The Jazzhole.
A trinity of culture, The Jazzhole is an iconic record shop, a renowned
book store and a cutting edge café. Beginning in the 1980s selling
vinyls, The Jazzhole has grown into the ultimate cultural retreat in
Lagos. Their café offers nearly forty varieties of tea in individual tin
teapots, and are sumptuously complemented by their freshly made
sandwiches and cakes. The Jazzhole invites visitors to sit back, relax,
sip ginger tea, and escape chaotic city life with the help of live jazz
and soul performances. The Jazzhole, 168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 702 559 5697
Eko Sky Restaurant and Lounge
Providing another way to take a break from the busy streets of Lagos is the Sky Restaurant and Lounge
at the Eko Hotel, the highest restaurant throughout the city. With
unbeatable views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean, the Sky Restaurant
and Lounge transports diners on a round the world tour, with Nigerian,
Asian, European and North American bites available, suiting any culinary
palette. The worldly cuisine is complemented by their delectable wine
and cocktail range, and together with the restaurant’s tranquil and
serene atmosphere, the Sky Restaurant and Lounge makes it to the top of
any visitor’s list. Eko Sky Restaurant and Lounge, 1415 Adetokunbo, Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 1 2772700
The Yellow Chilli
Returning to more traditional African dishes with a contemporary twist is one of Lagos’ newest restaurants, The Yellow Chilli.
For those feeling adventurous, The Yellow Chilli’s menu offers exciting
options such as Isi-Ewu, which is goats head pieces drizzled with a
spicy palm oil broth, and their yam pottage special with beef and snail.
There are also continental plates available, resulting in a diverse
menu that fuses the very best of local and international gastronomy.
With two bars, a large dining area, a smaller private room and a
terrace, The Yellow Chilli caters for any Lagos visitor’s gastronomic
needs. The Yellow Chilli, 27, Oju Olobun Close, Off Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 17100958
Bungalow Restaurant
Since 2004, Bungalow Restaurant
has been bringing the very best of global gastronomy to Lagos. From
pizzas, to burgers, crepes and fajitas, Bungalow Restaurant has food for
every culinary mood. There is also live jazz music every Thursday,
which contributes to the restaurant’s lively and relaxed atmosphere. The
restaurant also has a modern twist, with food ordered from iPads
located at the table, which is an experience in itself. With its homely
ambience and worldly food fair, Bungalow Restaurant aims and succeeds at
celebrating both Nigerian and international cultures. Bungalow Restaurant, Plot 1296 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.+234 803 403 0129
Courtesy of Bungalow Restaurant
Veggie Victory
With authentic Nigerian food and flavours at the heart of their ethos, Veggie Victory
is one of Lagos’ first vegan and vegetarian restaurants. The chefs at
Veggie Victory reveal their innovation through their culinary creations,
using tofu and wheat protein to produce meatless versions of
traditional Nigerian and North African dishes, such as suya and shawarma.
The restaurant promotes healthy eating both to its locals and tourists,
with no soft drinks featured on the menu, replaced by ‘smoochies’,
which are a blend of seasonal fruits. Furthermore, Veggie Victory will
also play part in the World Vegetarian Festival and Vegetarian Day that
will take place in October later this year. Veggie Victory, Freedom Park - Old Prison Ground Broad Street, No.1 Hospital Road, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 808 975 0576
Bottle's Restaurant
For the taste of Mexico in Lagos, Bottle’s Restaurant
tops every list. Renowned for their fajitas and frozen margaritas,
Bottle’s Restaurant also brings the lively and homely atmosphere of
Mexico to Lagos. The restaurant got its name from the various bottles
decorating the premises, which were gathered from the delta, having been
thrown in by sailors and traders through the centuries. Together with
live music and the restaurant’s colourful interior design, Bottle’s
Restaurant achieves its aim of a Mexican home away from home. Bottle’s Restaurant, 8 Imam Agusta Close, off Olosa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 700 268 8537
Rodizzio
Rodizzio is
not only a restaurant, but it also promotes itself as a bar, café and
events centre. Inspired by the culture and cuisines of Brazil, Europe,
and Nigeria, Rodizzio offers an unlimited array of barbequed meats and
grilled seafood, flavoured in the local Naija style. Rodizzio also
prides itself on its distinguished cocktail menu, with a drink to suit
any mood. While visitors enjoy their food, they can also enjoy live
comedy and music. The restaurant states it has a few house rules, one of
which is that knives and forks are optional. Rodizzio, 29, Isaac John Street, G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. +234 703 004 4414
A bomb threat has led to the sudden cancellation of the Germany’s Next Top Modelfinale. So what happened?
German reports say the broadcast of the Heidi Klum series suddenly cut off midway through the finale. Initially, the station blamed a technical malfunction. But sources now say the entire theater was evacuated because of a bomb threat. The local police chief told Bild in Germany
that an unidentified woman called in the threat, leading officers to
evacuate the building as a precaution. So far, no explosive devices have
been found.
More than 10,000 people, including the spectators, models and judges,
had to leave immediately. Alleged video has since emerged of everyone remaining calm while exiting the arena.
Britain's Shadow Business Secretary
Chuka Umunna speaks during the annual Labour Party Conference in
Brighton, southern England September 23, 2013.
Chuka Umunna, a
centre-left politician who specialises in business policy, said on
Tuesday he would run for the leadership of Britain's opposition Labour
Party after it suffered a heavy defeat in a national election last week.
Umunna, the
son of a Nigerian immigrant, is a former lawyer who was first elected to
parliament in 2010 and has been Labour's business spokesman since 2011.
He is one of the bookmakers' favourites to win the job of party leader.
Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Andrew Osborn for Reuters.
During my time when I studied dance, I remember spending time in New York and going to the famous Broadway Dance Center to get my training update on american Hip Hop moves.
It was the best choreography I had done in a long time. We did our dance routine to LL Cool J's "Something like a phenomeon". It was brilliant and they even do dance competition in a circle just before the class ends.
However when it comes to innovation of street style and hip hop dance moves Nigeria is at the forefront.
New dance styles such as the famous Azonto Style which was developed in Ghana is one of my favorite, or famous styles such as the Shoki Dance are always developing, especially in Nigeria. Nigerian's have such class and style when they dance and even me as a trained dancer find it challenging trying to copy the amazing steps full of swag. My husband tried to teach me the Shoki Dance and I looks like the trained dancer compared to me.
Check out one of my favorite youtube video showcasing the Azonto Dance.
Or check out the Happiness - Event from the Nigerian Comedian AY. He is Nigerians Comedian of the Year 2014 and scored a blockbuster movie hit with "30 Days in Atlanta".
The yearly Happiness Comedy event is the biggest comedy event in Nigeria.
Nigeria starlet Kelechi Iheanacho has won the inaugural International
Premier League Cup for Manchester City U-21 team, scoring the only goal
in his team 1-0 victory over FC Porto on Friday night,
africanFootball.com reports.
Benfica, Schalke, Celtic and Leicester City were the other teams involved in the competition.
Iheanacho, who is due to soon join Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the
training camp in Nurnberg, Germany, put the hosts ahead inside five
minutes.
The Flying Eagles star lasted for 62 minutes before he was replaced.
The 2015 Lagos Carnival comes up today Saturday 9th May.
In the past, Carnival has been held during the Easter weekend, on
Easter Monday, This year however, the carnival was shifted due to the
postponement of the general elections in Nigeria. The Easter weekend
fell in between the two election dates.
It would have been impossible to hold carnival at the time.
There will not be a Junior Carnival this year as the date is well
within the school session without a holiday weekend. The 36 adult groups
will however perform as always.
We hope you will enjoy yourself at Carnival 2015. Come out to have fun and make a family outing of it.
There are many tribes and cultural differences in Nigeria.
For the Yorubas, the general mode of greeting is
by bowing or by to the elders. As for the Igbos, no problems
with shaking hands. They mainly greet Good morning, good afternoon and
good evening.
There is no danger as to the right way of greeting because as a visitor Nigerians don't mind if you just say hello and shake hand. Nigerian are generally friendly to visitors they are ranked No. 1 in the latest BBC Happiness survey even though they have some challenges as a country.
It's your first time out of Nigeria and you are trying to adapt to the social life in Germany or anywhere else in the world? The best way to connect with the international community in the city your are in, become an Internations Member.
What is Internations? With InterNations, you can make new friends – online and offline, Share thoughts and advice.
You won't feel alone or as an outsider, because you can even connect with people that are also from where you come from.
We highly recommend it because it is were we met each other.
When Nigerians travel to Germany they might not know what kind of food you can get. What is delicious? Every culture has different snacks and fast food to offer but if you are insecure what to pick I can always recommend getting a DÖNER KEBAP. It is in every city in Germany mostly to be found around streets and areas near the local train stations or in the city centre.
It is a hot bread pocket stuffed with hot spices and barbequed meat varieties (chicken, beef, lamb). The meat mix does not contain pork. It was invented by the Turkish culture and first premiered it's store in Berlin.
The chancellor of Germany even eats the delicious meal.
As a produce of Nigeria, I am proud to say that the best seasoning for meat, noodles, potatoes or any other meals is the MAGGIE cubes.
Living in Germany you can buy them in any African or Asian supermarket.
The Maggie cubes available here in Germany are actually produced in Nigeria and exported worldwide, we also get them here in Germany.
Good food is love for the stomach, and having something from my home Nigeria here in Germany makes me feel even more at home when I prepare my cooking.
Top left: Osamor; top bottom: Onwurah; middle: Cameron; top right: Grant; top bottom: Umunna.
Against all odds, David Cameron has won his re-election bid in one of the fiercest polls in British history.In one of the most keenly contested general elections in British history, four Nigerians won seats to the revered parliament, making it the first time such feat would be recorded
Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain, led the Conservatives to almost a landslide victory against the Labour Party – a development that forced arch-rival – Ed Miliband to step down as head of the opposition.
With the victory, Cameron returns to the iconic Number 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British Prime Ministers to continue with his work of massive reforms and making Britain greater.
But it is not only Cameron that has been left smiling following the announcement of winners – four politicians of Nigerian descent also tasted victory during the general elections in the Queen’s land.
Before Thursday’s keenly contested polls in Britain, not many within and outside it were familiar with Chuka Umunna, Helen Grant, Chi Onwurah and Kate Osamor. But by mid-day Friday, the four have almost become celebrities of sort after an elaborate media focus on them.
The four Nigerians won seats into the British parliament, making it the first time such would be happening in the highly conservative United Kingdom. While Umunna, a Labour Party politician who has served Streatham as Member of Parliament since 2010 and has enjoyed a meteoric political rise in recent years is a relatively known face outside Britain, the profile of the other three was largely unknown until Friday, a day after the keenly contested elections, even though Grant and Onwurah had been Members of Parliament over the last five years.
Umunna
Born on October 17, 1978 to a Nigerian father – Bennett and British mother – Patricia, Umunna began his education at Hitherfield Primary School in Streatham, South London, and the Christ Church Primary School in Brixton Hill. He later moved to St. Dunstan’s College, Catford, Southeast London where he played the cello and became a respected prefect in the school.
Pursuing higher education, the eloquent Umunna bagged an upper second class in English and French Law from the University of Manchester before going to study for one term at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. He would later pick up an MA at the Nottingham Law School.
Umunna did not just get to the top all of a sudden – he slowly but vigorously climbed his way to the centerpiece of British politics. In 2002, after graduating from the university, the 37-year-old began working as a solicitor for Herbert Smith, a law firm based in the heart of London. Four years later he joined Rochman Landau, specialising in Employment Law.
However, he soon began writing and providing commentary on the Labour Party, as well as broader social and economic issues, usually in his capacity as a member of the Management Committee of the Labour-aligned Compass pressure group. He also wrote articles for theFinancial Times, Tribune, The Voice, The Guardian and the New Statesman, and began to appear on various radio and television programmes as a commentator. Umunna would later go on to establish and edited an online political magazine, The Multicultural Politic.
In early April 2013, his law firm was linked to favourable updates made on his Wikipedia page in 2007, which included a reference to him being tipped as the “British Barack Obama”. Earlier in June 2010, he was elected a member of the Treasury Select Committee while in October of that year, he was appointed to serve as a Parliamentary Private Secretary and, in May 2011 rose to the position of Shadow Minister for Small Business and Enterprise until his promotion to the Shadow Cabinet.
Grant
Grant, born on September 28, 1961, is a Conservative Party politician and solicitor who was first elected into the British parliament in 2010. By that feat, she became the first black woman to be selected to defend a Tory seat and the Conservatives’ first female black parliamentarian. She has served as Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities.
In September 2012, Grant received her first government appointment when she earned the dual roles of Under-Secretary of State for Justice and Under-Secretary for Women and Equalities. She was born in Willesden, North London to an English mother and Nigerian father but grew up with her mother’s family after her parents separated. She lived with her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Onwurah
Onwurah, born on April 12, 1965, is a Labour Party politician, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central. Onwurah is Newcastle’s first black MP.
During the depression of the 1930s, her maternal grandfather was a sheet metal worker in Tyneside shipyards. Her mother grew up in poverty in Garth Heads on Newcastle’s quayside. Her father, from Nigeria, was working as a dentist while he studied at Newcastle Medical School when they met and married in the 1950s.
After Chi’s arrival in 1965, her family moved to Anambra State when she was still a baby, only two years before the Nigerian Civil War. The situation forced her mother to take the children back to England while her father stayed back to fight for the Biafran army. She had been a strong voice in the parliament and her victory this time around only goes to confirm her rising reputation in British politics.
Osamor
Osamor, a National Health Service manager, would be representing Edmonton constituency in London on the platform of the Labour Party. A respected trade union activist and women’s charity trustee, she made funding the NHS and standing up to government cuts the main theme of her campaign.
Emerging one of the Labour Party’s shining lights during a generally poor election outing, Osamor was declared winner in the North London seat with 25,388 votes. Her closest rival, Gonul Daniels of the Conservative Party ended up with 9,969 votes, making it an overwhelming victory for her.
The triumph of the four parliamentarians is seen as a major boost to Nigeria’s international image especially at a time when leadership has also changed hands at the centre in the oil-rich country. The victory is also viewed as cheering news for Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom who are often the subject of racism and segregation in the highly conservative region.
