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To be published on www.naijastories.com (February 2011)

When 2face released the solo single, µAfrican Queen¶ that brought him to the tallest stage of
his career, little was expected even while the µhit¶ rocked through the cities of Nigeria.
Rumour kept on eating him alive as he strived to reach the height of his dreams.

Earlier in 2face¶s life he was regarded by many around him as a failure when he dropped out
of school to face his music career. Rumours had it that neighbours used 2face¶s name as a
symbol of failure to caution a child who wasn¶t studious school.

The hit, µAfrican queen¶ catapulted 2face to the greatest height of African music, and from
Johannesburg to Accra, from Freetown to Dakar, many music enthusiasts had to learn the
lyrics of the song.

His career started while he was in the secondary school. He was part of a vocal group called
µBlack Universe¶. After giving up his education he moved away from his home to Lagos with
his band. It was under a different name this time, which was, µPlantation Boiz¶. 2face slept on
floors of friends¶ houses, having no idea of how the next day¶s meal would come. The lanky
6ft 2inches tall man was born as Innocent Uja Idibia on the 18th of September 1975. 2face
grew up in Makurdi, Jos and Enugu (all popular cities in Nigeria). His father who was a civil
servant had had a narrow perspective of life which made him shed tears that he would never
forget. It was during a peak of his son¶s career that the tears flowed. The father had been
seated among the audience watching his son¶s performance sending people wild, and
establishing history. That moment reminded the tearful father about the rejections he once
pronounced upon his son.

It was while 2face was still with the group µPlantation Boiz¶, the fame caught him. A friend
of the band, who knew what their talents weighed, gave them an interview in a show he ran
on television, and from that period henceforth the fire was ignited. Attention from other
television stations helped in the band¶s breeding. And this led to Nelson Brown inviting the
band to the studio to produce their first album for free. The album, till date, is a concrete
foundation of what is today called Naija Hip-hop.

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Even after the first album¶s release, the band was still not walking on the platform of riches.
But they did get to perform in front of large crowds and got the fame that upcoming Nigerian
artists longed for. It was around that time news began circulating about the numerous affairs
2face indulged in. 2face inability to settle down with a woman was the country¶s talk. He is
promiscuous, it was rumoured; he had so many kids from different women, it was rumoured.
All these led to a single story, a tale that said 2face Idibia did not know the meaning of love.
Today he has an established history through the bomb, µAfrican Queen¶. It is no doubt one of
the best of African music that has been able to define love so well in the Black Continent.
The music has become an anthem in most marriage receptions held around Nigeria and
Africa.

2face has recorded hits with American hip-hop star, Wyclef-Jean, and Reggae dancehall
master, Beanie man. It was at the 12th annual MTV award in November of 2005 that 2face
won international recognition by being named µBest African Musician¶. More is still being
expected from this great role-model to many young talents in and out of African.

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Published in December, 2010 by www.julemyles.wordpress.com

I spent five years in a Nigerian University, and out of five Student Union Elections I
experienced, there was only one that was credible. Life¶s path embraces the fact that, indeed
the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, and so the trauma Nigerians face is, µhow can
corruption cease to exist?¶ Youths are rigging elections better than the current leaders. Youths
are using diabolism to fight each other in the way politicians visit witch-doctors to fight
opponents. This foolishness called diabolism works to some extent for those who believe in
it. The cultism in Nigerian universities is all about the union of like-minds that come together
to glorify the acts of diabolism. Our politicians these days can decide to go through the means
of killing an enemy through the spiritual or the physical means. The university cultists are
available killers to be hired. We have witnessed various assassinations in this country,
Nigeria, like the death of Bola Ige (ex-minister) in 2001, which till today, the invisibly
accused has gone unpunished. The stirred-up controversies in our today¶s Nigeria are
questions. How can we say Yar¶Adua (ex-president) wasn¶t assassinated? How can we say
Chuba Okadigbo (ex-senator) wasn¶t assassinated? As worthless as diabolism can be, there is
a connection of some of these deaths to it. It is worthless and yet, a onetime governor of Abia
State was photographed in a witch-doctor¶s shrine going through diabolic processions which
appeared on a national newspaper. Where is the future of Nigeria? Of course among the good
eggs that currently breeds silently. There is need for a great revolution. The Muslims in
Nigeria are in the lesser circle of corruption, and that¶s why the development in Northern
Nigeria is far ahead of South-Western Nigeria. The problem of the northerners in Nigeria has
to do with the Islamic radicalism. Some vipers among the northerners are instigating some
false beliefs which might be very dangerous, and could separate the country. Another threat
of the country¶s dividing roars comes from the Niger-Delta, whose oil serves the entire
nation. The government¶s greed will always deprive the Niger Delta of their deserved rights.
Greed is one thing all politicians should not have, and once that is a possibility, Nigeria can
claim to be among the cleanest and peaceful countries in the world. Greed has caused
scammers/fraudsters to be envied by ordinary Nigerians. Greed has created so many false
prophets who build churches to siphon money from ordinary Nigerians. Greed has placed

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policemen as robbers on highways to extort money from travellers. The gene of sleaze that
runs in the veins of Nigeria¶s leaders, also run in their children. It runs among the next
generation of leaders. A lot of aspirants of the upcoming elections have some similarities up
sleeves which is corruption. Thank God for EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes and
Commission), but how genuine will they claim to be if x-rayed properly? They may be guilty
but the success acquired in exposing Nigeria¶s corrupt elites has stirred up a trend among the
growing politicians in the country. Some of them now hide money in their ceilings. A lot of
problems stand as a challenge for Nigeria. Where do we start if change is given a chance?
Who replaces the corrupt? How long will Nigeria take to get healed of corruption¶s impact?
How satisfied will workers or the police become and stop collecting bribes?

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Published by Blueprint Magazine, Vol.1 No. 5, 2nd Quarter, 2010
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That¶s how easy it is for a male to meet a female just by the rattling of fingers over a
keyboard. An online romantic chase for a male is easier than pursuing a lady through the
streets. The reason may involve a lot of potholes like shyness, parents monitoring, and
insecurity of privacy. But on the internet where one chooses his/her likes and has security that
only a password can reveal has become a high preference.

And why were arranged marriages okay in the days of old? The bachelor could also be shy...
The spinster could be shy too... Parents come in for rescue and it is the same rescue mission
that the internet has brought today. People are getting married months after an online
meeting. It was thought as µwhite madness¶ before now but Nigerians are in the practice at
the moment like never before.

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‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘

And yes the male is always desperate to walk ahead of his shoes. The female resists at first
but as the male persists, she gets so attached, plays along and will definitely get carried away
if the affair moves over the golden path. It used to be same during arranged marriages. The
female cries and laments over being forced to marry a man she doesn¶t know. The bachelor is
greedy and doesn¶t care if the supposed wife is crying or not. But as the marriage gets on
mature grounds, the now devoted wife gets to love her husband more than ever. He too, turns
from being greedy to a dear loving husband.

‘ ‘ ‘ !‘ ‘  ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ !‘ ‘
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These are the words a lady wants to hear... Men, be careful with what you tell women
because, words are the foundation of every occurrence that sets up around a woman¶s life.
And words are what a man who is serious about dating online really needs to possess.

‘ ‘‘‘‘‘#‘‘#‘‘‘‘#‘!‘
‘‘ ‘$‘

Life is not always rosy and so challenges should be tossed to a corner. Just in the way storms
and turbulent winds come against marriages, courtships and any relationship, it should be
expected during an online drama.

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‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
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And yes, she agrees to meet with him. She may travel from a far distance or just take a stroll
down the street to meet with her riddle. She will be as nervous as a dangling thin plant at
first. The man would have to be in control. It has to be like he has always known her. He has
a duty to make her laugh, make her smile, make her talk and make her fall for the real and

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physical presence. Those same romantic lines via internet, should try to build up the manly
tone.

Just like the in the way that children of the present generation detest the idea of old fashioned
parents arranging a village marriage, so will these old fashioned parents bite their tongue if
they hear that one of their children met a lover online... It is of proper safety not to reveal the
circumstances of an online meeting to parents in present day Nigeria.

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The value of online dating opens a path of maintaining the purity of not indulging in pre-
marital sex if you sing a song of religion. It is not a hundred percent safe house against pre-
marital sex either. Discipline plays an important role. It gives a romantic relationship a touch
of a blissful escapade.

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123 

Published in December 2010, www.julemyles.wordpress.com

The novel begins introducing Julian Treslove who has been in and out of so much of life¶s up
and downs. Humour also kick-starts along with lots of Jewishness in the novel. Treslove met
a foreseer in the early pages of the book who tells him he will meet a lover whose names
starts with J U« And Treslove in his journey looking for the lover either gets slapped or
some humour dents a rosy relationship with prospects« He tries to conceal his shame when a
woman assaults and robs him of a wristwatch and an identification card« He thinks he was
mistaken for one of his Jewish friends.

Deep into the pages of the novel, Jacobson uses the lines below in which I quote to describe
his main protagonist:

D‘"
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Julian Trelove¶s two children get introduced in the novel through a path of humour« I do
attest to the fact that Jacobson is funny but he lost the flow of wit deep into the book.
Treslove¶s story gets sadder in his quest of becoming a Jew/Finkler (Or rather discovering his
Jewish identity). He gets into a relationship with a Jewish woman, Hephzibar (Libor¶s
relative) who helps him in his plight. Finkler and Libor, Treslove¶s Jewish
friends, respectively play discouraging and encouraging roles in Treslove¶s plight of
becoming Jewish.

Tragic circumstances that hit Jews in life are scattered all over this novel, and I praise the
writer¶s success in mixing sadness and hilarity. The novel gets gripping when Treslove¶s
suspicions of Finkler¶s chase on Hephzibar materializes into reality. Treslove who had once

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slept with Finkler¶s late wife in the past lets Libor to grab the deepest of his secrets. However
one begins to wonder if this novel is a romance thriller or perhaps, just about Jewishness.

Jacobson tries to suit his main characters (i.e Treslove, Libor and Finkler) with the kind of
women each respectively deserved although all are related with the stigma called µloss¶.
Libor, who is a good man had had a good wife in Malkie, Finkler who is an adulterer and
very crafty had had an adulterous wife in Tyler, and Treslove inconsistencies led to his two
earlier µunfleshy¶ girlfriends walkout on him with pregnancies at different moments of his
life, and also Hephzibar (his latest lover) is expected to fade away.

It is left for the writer to say if this novel ends tragically or not. Did Libor die for good?
Dying at the age of a hundred as a widower after fulfilling his promise to his faithful wife that
he wouldn¶t leave the world before her was something to feel happy about, but did he die
under happy circumstances? As in Treslove¶s life, it started in a mash and still ends in a
mash. He never had any successful relationship with a woman. And Finkler, he will always
remain a Finkler, an Ashamed Jew, and a controversial philosopher who keeps hunting
Treslove¶s conscience.

 





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µA Heart to Mend¶ is a beautiful romance novel with lots to teach. This novel is not just about
a love story as most readers would analyse. This has a lot to do with morals. I might point out
some African morals and deeply relate them to one of the novel¶s protagonists, Gladys
Eborah.

Gladys, who falls in love with a man at first sight, cheaply accepted a relationship.
According to the ethics of an African girl¶s modern day, it is expected that Gladys would play
the µhard-to-get¶. Living in a country that has its morals melting, it happened the other way
round.

In as much as Gladys cheaply dives into a relationship, she is able to thicken her will against
sex which became a headache for Edward (her lover). This part of Gladys is indeed a tall
standard set and should be a message to all young spinsters.

Whitman is able to sketch a typical Nigerian man in the highlighted relationship. Edward
Bestman seems more concerned at first about his career and money. It is really selfish of him
to think Gladys was coming into his life to µeat his money¶. I don¶t blame him though
because it is the typical nature of some women to siphon a man¶s pocket dry.

Whitman who lives outside Nigeria might have lost the touch of a classic Nigerian gossip
story that spreads like a wild fire. It is expected that a gossip would light up the air when the
news of Gladys¶ affair escalated« The news should have been be a source of worry for her
aunt, it should have also journeyed a long way and become a source of controversy in Enugu,
Gladys hometown. But this does not occur in the novel. Instead the story goes on sailing
rosily.

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Whitman¶s researches in stocks, business and markets add a lovely taste to this novel. This
taste doesn¶t completely render the novel into a purely romance story. It interlaces around the
deepest problems that would nearly ruin the colourful love affair in question.

Whitman knows her characters so well. But they appear predictable. I also wonder why a
tough-minded Edward, who had the world at his feet, would embrace weakness. It could have
been easy for any tough-minded man like Edward to say, µI love you¶ even if it was a lie, just
to establish a one night affair with any lady. It could have been easy for a tough-minded man
like Edward to relieve himself with prostitutes « But Whitman stigmatizes her Edward with
a flaw which was rare. Whitman¶s tough-minded Edward cannot double-date neither can he
raise a voice against Gladys.

Whitman was once quote saying, µI enjoyed myself while writing the novel«¶ And so will
the reader. It is difficult to put down this novel after starting. Whitman also said it took her a
short while (few weeks) to write this novel, putting aside the editing. So also, will the reader
want to finish the book in a haste to undress the suspense chronicling to the end.

Chief Okrika and his wife are introduced deep into the novel. They had been Edward¶s foster
parents. His relationship with the foster parents became sore before he had turned eighteen.
This incidence had made Edward to spend a year in jail. All this had happened before Edward
had met success in life and also Gladys.

Edward¶s past hunts his business. The iniquity of Edward¶s foster parents later plots to
destroy his relationship with Gladys and also the business. The romance novel ends happily.
Chief Okrika and his wife lose the battle disgracefully. The trouble I find with the battling
episode concerns Chief Okrika¶s brilliant strategies in taking over Edward¶s business and
manipulating falsifications that no judge was capable of ruling against. Why does Chief
Okrika become so stupid not to suspect that his watery conversation with Gladys could be
recorded? Why does he have to meet with Gladys openly? I doubt Whitman¶s pen in this
case.

This novel is written in simple smooth sentences that had so much beauty that matched the
romance genre. It is very detailed in which I air an opposing view. There are some scenes that
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didn¶t need to appear. The novel is mostly seen from the point of views of either Gladys or
Edward although Whitman tried to pull in the third person narrative in some short scenes.

The novel has the ability of filling eyes with tears. It is a story that can carve up personal
memories from the past. It can bring laughter to a face unexpectedly and can also make the
reader want to smack the characters for acting inappropriately. A µHeart to Mend¶ portrays a
success story of a µnobody¶ who became somebody. It portrays a good harvest of decency. It
stands against the financial frauds and corruption that had Nigeria poisoned long ago.

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