Jack and Jill - The Edge of a Masterpiece by Sylvia Onyeka
by Alewa House, published 2 years, 6 months ago
Singer: Edge Golbador
Title: Jack and Jill
Genre: Soul Rock!
“Do you remember when . . .?”
It’s a trip back to the days when everything he did with his companion, Jill, provided joy.
He enumerates, in the song, specific escapades:
“We used to ride in Surulere
Take a bus to Ikeja
Spend hours on the Mainland Bridge on our way to the Island
To have fun.”
Jack further recalls his constant smiles even at things not worth smiling at (another evidence of the happiness experienced). Presently, though he only has memories of him and her and all they used to be.
There are times in our lives, when we look back at things we had done or created, and we extremely get one of these two kinds of feelings – regret or pride. Regret that we could have done better than we did; pride that we couldn’t have done it any better.
Jack opens up on his own feeling, regret:
“I’m not proud of everything we did
Just to get some Naira . . .”
It is remarkable, though, that most times, we do not see the outcome of our actions at the moment we do them. Almost always, we are carried away by the spur of present realities – “to have fun. Do you remember? It was fun. It was wrong. So wrong.”
One could tell that Jack’s regrets were triggered by something, just the way, we as humans might never know that you have something unwelcomed in your hair until someone else sees it and brings it to our attention. It is safe to say that the feeling of regret following man’s action is felt only after it is triggered by something. This trigger marks a thin line between then and now.
Then: When the action is presently happening
Now: When it has become a story
Only after Jack is made aware of his wrong, did he realize his so-called fun was a life he presently regrets living. He now calls it not just a story, but a super story adding credence to the fact that every human has a unique experience, a super experience.
“Wanna share my story; my super story.”
. . . A story constantly in a state of flux
To Jack, his then – the “fun” reached its end, and his now – regrets for the kind of life he lived was triggered by someone he met along the way:
“I met Jesus.”
Jack was given an opportunity to change his story.
Tomorrow grants us this opportunity. It allows us experience a new reality. It doesn’t always give us a new slate, but at least offers us a slate clean enough to rewrite old stories we do not like; stories that cause us to regret. We could now choose to rewrite this story rightly and share with other people or repeat the old story. This decision is left to each of our moral understanding.
Jesus was the tomorrow, the hope for a clean slate, that Jack got. He is willing to share this newly found hope with the ready hearts, with Jill if she pleases.
“Can change your story, like He changed my story . . .”
He names this new hope, this tomorrow, “home”.
Home, truly, is where the mind is at peace. Clearly, Jack no longer dwells in the past of regrets; he no longer beats himself up for not doing better then. He has found a home in the now, in Jesus. His heart is at peace. At home he feels peace – no more regrets – the mind is now able to think of positive ways to rewrite his story. Nevertheless, he invites Jill to share in this new story, this new experience.
We must notice that Jack’s “present” isn’t occupied only by regrets. It contains also a new story. Thus, we must always look to better times. Instead of dwelling on thoughts about what could have been done better, we must move on, we must cling to doing better. When, eventually, we have succeeded in rewriting our story, we now must share the good news with others, for it is in sharing our lives that we truly are able to hold one another accountable.
Edge Golbador, amidst the chaos and troubles bedeviling our world today, in this masterpiece “Jack and Jill” gives us hope that our future need not be created with the bricks of past misdeeds, rather can be forged in the fires of redemption and glory!
Enjoy!
One of my all-time best!
Written by Sylvia Onyeka
WRITER / REVIEWER / TEACHER
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Press Release: The Jos Festival of Storytelling (Beyond what you are told)
by Alewa House, published 1 year ago
The Jos Festival of Storytelling, an annual festival of the craft, will take place from April 28 to April 30, 2023. Especially powered by Egija Naija, Alewa House, and Everyday Money. The festival will feature a wide range of storytellers and performances that showcase storytelling's potential to uplift, inform, and entertain. Emerging storytellers, actors, dancers, spoken word performers, and authors will all perform during the event. During the festival, there will also be panel discussions, stage performances, and workshops to explore the craft of storytelling and its role in society.
"We're excited to be bringing together such a group of exceptionally talented storytellers and performers for the festival," said the festival's organisers, Omale Abraham. "Storytelling connects people to themselves, their environments and other people and we're excited to showcase the many different ways that stories can be used to create meaningful connections and build understanding."
The festival's opening ceremony will feature a keynote lecture by Profesor Ademiju Bepo Diran, former Head of Department of Theatre Art at the University of Jos, who will speak on the art of performance storytelling. Other festival highlights include performances by spoken word artists Younglan Ceazer, Envoi Vate, and Miss She. Dance by the Eagles, stage plays by Akolo Anthony James, Mark Musa and Omale Abraham and Art Exhibition by Onyechi Christina Ukeni.
In addition to the performances, the festival will include workshops that will explore many aspects of storytelling, such as how to develop appealing narratives and how to execute stories on stage, which will be facilitated by Dorcas Seffy Bello and Omale Abraham (Da Storyteller).
The event is designed to promote storytellers, the African storytelling tradition and Plateau State, as well as imprint the culture of storytelling in the minds of the younger generation, so as to sustain our history, culture and identity as a people.
You are part of US. So please be our guest. Tickets for the event are now available and may be purchased by dialing a number (+234 8142926295). Visit all of our social media handles @egijanaija for additional information on the festival's lineup and itinerary
Omale Abraham
Festival Director
Email: egijanaija@gmail.com
Phone: +234-8142926295
Herbeembola, with the support of Alewa House, announces the release of their song: Keke
by Alewa House, published 1 year, 2 months ago
As you may have already known, there are very few emerging female artists in the Nigerian music industry and Alewa House seeks to increase this demographic by increasing women participation. On this note, we present to you Herbeembola, the first Afrobeat Artist to ever enrol on the platform.
Herbeembola, with the support of Alewa House, announces the release of their song "Keke".
Keke is set to hit most streaming platforms worldwide on the 10th of February 2023.
We would love your support in allowing an exceptional music artist to reach a wider audience. Even as St. Valentine's love season approaches and love songs are the norm, this artist has a different perspective to unburden with this release.
Her vocal prowess shines forth from the intro, accompanied by an engrossing instrumental, while her message urges a disloyal lover out of her life. The blend of English and Yoruba language on this track is seamless as well as endearing, keeping you wanting more.
Herbeembola (Abimbola Oyewo) boldly launched her music career with a 5 song EP in 2021, including Soul, Pop, Afrobeat, and Dancehall genres. Having sung in the church choir from a young age, Herbeembola has been following a dream of becoming an icon of positive influence through music. She was largely influenced by Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Teni, Kizz Daniel, and very indigenous styles. Her dexterity is however not limited to attracting foreign consumers. It was well established in her last project, and "Keke" is a continuation of the journey of exploring her sound. She is convinced that floating a successful music career is her destined path in life.
Her achievements include Voice 2Rep "Top 10 Finalists Material" from a pool of over 1,000 artists.
You can connect with her on her social media handles as follows
Instagram: the_herbeembola
Twitter: The_herbeembola
Tiktok: @the_herbeembola