The power of magazines

I took an interest in magazine reading from about 12. I read everything that came home with Dad and Mum includingSpear magazine, magazine with cartoons; I enjoyed them thoroughly. My magazine reading got a boost when I was 17 and waiting to go to the University. The phenomenal set of Twins Onyanta and Ejima Ogunji […]

I took an interest in magazine reading from about 12. I read everything that came home with Dad and Mum includingSpear magazine, magazine with cartoons; I enjoyed them thoroughly. My magazine reading got a boost when I was 17 and waiting to go to the University. The phenomenal set of Twins Onyanta and Ejima Ogunji were our neighbours in Makurdi and their house held the most fascinating set of magazine collections I have ever seen. I visited every other day and travelled to distant places through magazines, found incredible fashion, enjoyed universal cooking and began to cultivate my interest in column reading and writing from the many features and write-ups I read in these magazines. It was my favourite place to go to every other day for the 3 months I was awaiting my university admission and after a while my mum had to draw some rules that reduced my visit to once a week. From then on, magazine collection, magazine reading, magazine spotting has become an amazing addiction and today I will spend my last five thousand naira on magazines. As a result of this journey, I have become with all modesty a most educated woman. University education, secondary education, workplace education do not come anywhere near the educational benefits of magazines and their sheer power.
Today I wish to share some information from some of the magazines I have been reading recently.
1)      Vanity Fair: This magazine is worthy of every dime you spend on it. There are historical features, tales of murder, unravelling of complex world situations and phenomenal essays on trending issues around the world. The recent edition of Vanity Fair is the unbelievable story of a 65 year old Olympic gold medalist, a macho man Bruce Jenner of the famous Kardashian reality show becoming a woman. “Call me Caitylin” (Caitylin been the new name of Bruce Jenner) is an engaging essay on this conversion in Vanity Fair of July 2015. The pictures are also something to behold. But then I am not surprised, Vanity Fair will always investigate, spending funds and time to follow a story to its logical conclusion. In addition, the story is told like a best-selling piece of fiction. I have learnt many things from every edition of Vanity Fair and I highly recommend it.
2)      Essence:  Essence magazine is in the same category with Ebony which is an African-American magazine. Essence magazine gives me an inside knowledge of the life of an African-American. For a writer, reader or historian, it is good to know what is going on with your siblings on another continent. There are fashion issues, diet; all these are of interest to me. African-American issues are of interest because there is more research in the United States so I have been learning new things health wise from Essence. I learnt from this magazine that one of the drugs for gastro problems and ulcer issues for men leads to impotence. The October 2015 edition has on the cover the exciting Kerry Washington and guess who this African-American super star is married to-my Igbo brother. So there is also news of investment, fashion, beauty and trending issues that give me great joy.
3)      Time & News Week:  These are two international magazines that have engaged my attention over the years. Timeshas remained consistent in elegant well written essays and features. They always give you in their column “verbatim”, questions by world leaders, movers and shakers of society and ordinary persons that are as profound as they are exciting. Take Hillary Clinton’s quote from “verbatim” in this month’s edition of Times “I’ve lost more sleep than all of you put together”. This is Clinton defending herself against republican critics during an 11 hour congressional hearing on the deadly attack in 2012 on the American consulate in Libya. News Week which went under for a while is now resuscitated. It is well known for its incredible pictures under the title “Big shots” and for its in-depth writings on all manners of topics.
4)      Metropole: Young, vibrant Metropole is published by my friend and brother Waziri Adio. It is a magazine that is not only targeted at Abuja but also has a global outlook. I am not recommending this magazine because I am one of its Columnists. I am recommending it because of the research, the time spent in writing beautifully, its interest in the Art and its attention to detail. Those who work with Waziri are young and hungry to deliver great journalism. I have enjoyed many articles in many editions of this magazine.
5)      Genevieve &Today’s Woman (TW): These are lifestyle magazines that have done well in the Nigerian women and lifestyle scene. There is always something to enjoy in both magazines and I always look forward to new editions. For instance October 2015 edition of TW has an interesting cover titled “Rent a man”. I bought it quickly because I was very excited to find out what it was like to rent a man. The picture cover was of a dapper man with a white bow tie over a dapper black suit looking ready to be hired. I was intrigued because the man’s head was not showing in the picture and then there was a female arm locked around him. But when I opened the inside pages to learn more, I was amazed to find that “Rent a man” was the name of a utility company ran by a phenomenal female entrepreneur Adama Salihu. Part of her interview suggested that women were always in a difficult place when looking for a plumber, electrician, a lot of the household chores to be performed by men is difficult for a woman to manage hence the company.
There is always something new to learn and the publishers of both magazines give us something to dwell on always.