LOUD WHISPERS: Free Readers Association – Humans & Animals
Welcome back to the Free Readers Association, a group of friends who analyse headline newson their way to work. Let us hear from them as they follow the news offline and online. Theyare always spot on! Benson: Oga Moses, Oga Musa, good morning, I hope you are well?Moses: I am well, thank you Oga Benson. […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Anyhowness
Have you heard of the ‘Cake Picnics’ that are happening around the world? During the summer period, bakers and cake enthusiasts organise ‘Cake Picnics’. It is a fairly straightforward concept. Invitations are sent out to people to attend the Cake Picnic, there is a modest admission fee, but the main criteria for attendance is you […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Reframing narratives on African Philanthropy
I recently attended the 6th Africa Philanthropy Conference in Cairo, Egypt. I gave one of the keynote addresses. I was asked to talk about Reframing Narratives on Philanthropy and Resourcing Development in Africa. I am grateful to the Africa Philanthropy Conference for giving me this year’s Africa Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award. I am deeply honoured. […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Home Is Not Where The Heart Is (For Kemi Bandenoch)
A home can be made anywhere you wish Wilderness, mountain top, seaside, forest You can stare at stars in the sky and wish they were neighbours Who knows, perhaps one day they will be We were taught that home is where the heart is Wilderness, mountain top, seaside, forest If it is your home, love […]
LOUD WHISPERS: The Value Of What Is Ours
In December 2006, I attended a Ford Foundation philanthropy retreat in Bahia, Brazil. My first visit to Brazil was in 2004 to attend a conference in Rio de Janeiro, and even though I enjoyed the experience, I felt I had missed something by not being able to go up to Bahia which has strong African […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Cassie & Diddy
In 2024, I wrote an essay on the case of Cassie Ventura vs Sean (Diddy) Combs. Diddy is currently standing trial for a long list of offences, and his relationship with Cassie has come under much closer scrutiny than it did last year when she sued him for the many years of abuse she suffered […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Nigerian Fashion To The World
A few years ago, I was chatting with a friend of mine about a party we had both attended some days before. She told me she loved the black and white dress I was wearing, and asked if it was ‘an Escada’. I laughed and told her that it was not ‘an Escada’, it was […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Saturday Afternoon
Think about being home on a Saturday afternoon. Saturday is when you allow yourself an indulgence of pounded yam and Egusi soup Then it starts to rain Loud, rumbling, angry, quarrelsome rain You finish your hot pounded yam, with Egusi, snails, oxtail and a chunky chicken wing You try and waddle around so the food […]
LOUD WHISPERS: A Day At Great Ife
On April 15th2025, I had a book reading hosted by the Center for Gender and Social Policy Studies at OAU. There were two panels, one led by students who had read some of my writing, and another by senior academics. I had a delightful time discussing feminism and gender, policy advocacy, lack of accountability for […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Kolostica
I watched a video a while ago There is this Auntie I do not know her name So, I will call her Kolostica She has a husband – she is not a widow She has children – she is not on praying mountains begging God She has a house to live in – she is […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Free Readers Association-Breaking News
There is a group of friends we enjoy listening to as they discuss headline news in the morning. Let us hear from them as they follow the news online and offline. We have missed them! Benson: Oga Moses, Oga Musa, good morning, how are you today? Moses: I am well, thank you Oga Benson. Joe, […]
LOUD WHISPERS: If Only
A man in Anambra State quarreled with his wife. As the argument progressed, he poured fuel over herand set her ablaze. She is now dead, leaving five children behind. The man claims she was committingadultery. Sadly, she is no longer here to defend herself. He had been married before and that unionended. He said his […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Sounds Of Noisy Birds
For those who know me well, January is not my month. January is the time that heavy clouds gather over me and it rains as if the world is coming to an end. January is the time I feel breathless, listless and resigned. January brings back memories that I fight hard to hold on to, […]
LOUD WHISPERS: You Are Beautiful
For Chidinma Adetshina The sparkle in your eyes that lights up the room The bright smile that dispels, if only for a moment, all the gloom and doom that feels entitled to our lives The glistening of your skin Unblemished and unbothered by the temptations to shed a layer or two or three The ease […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Home Is Not Where The Heart Is
For Kemi Badenoch A home can be made anywhere you wish Wilderness, mountain top, seaside, forest You can stare at stars in the sky and wish they were neighbours Who knows, perhaps one day they will be We were taught that home is where the heart is Wilderness, mountain top, seaside, forest If it is […]