Music Mondays: Magic System - Premiere Gaou

If you're African in any capacity and don't know or haven't heard this song...you must been have been raised under a rock.

Magic System is a musical group from the Ivory Coast, who had little success until Premiere Gaou in 1999. The meaning of the song is "first fool". The song was written by Salif "A'Salfo" Traoré which is about his ex-girlfriend who left him when he was a struggling musician. Once he became famous, she tried to get back with him, in which he turned her down so not as to become a fool again.

This song is one of my favorite songs and will ALWAYS get me on the dance floor. Enjoy!!!

Wedding Video Trailer - Chioma and Chris

A video for the masses from Good Day Productions. It's been a long time since I've seen a wedding video done in all black and white. The groom's vows towards the end had a tear roll down my eye. Enjoy!!!!

What Do You Want to Know?

I can hardly believe that my last post was the 100th post on Naijawed N More.

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So in honor of my 100th post, I would like to give all of my readers a chance to ask me anything that they'd like.

Do you want to know how I ended up starting this blog? Or maybe if I have a boyfriend/husband? You can ask me anything you like. Ask the question in the comments section or contact me. I'll answer the questions in another post very soon. Thanks!!

Toasters - Falcons

This is the first guy that I was potentially interested in after my devastating breakup with my first love.

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It had been about 2 months since my first love and I had broken up. I was still nursing myself back to normal when I went out with my girlfriends to a club called Aquarium. It happened to be international night at the club, but the majority of the music being played was Indian and European techno, which I didn't mind cause I like anything that I can dance to. My girlfriends and I had a great time and towards the end of the night, I met Falcons.

Falcons wasn't really my type initially, but he won me over as he was quite charming. He was a very dark-skinned Jamaican who really had the gift of gab. After a few minutes of conversation in a dark corner of the club, he asked if I'd like to go to an Atlanta Falcons football game the next day as he had an extra ticket. I agreed and we exchanged numbers after he walked me to my car. Sure enough, the next day, he called and requested my address so he could pick me up for the game. We had a GREAT time at the game as I got to know him a little bit more, and he paid more attention to me, then the football game, which was very surprising.

When he dropped me home from the game, he said he would call me later for some chit chat....which he did...for the next few weeks. We talked, we laughed, we hung out and the potential of our relationship was developing nicely. He would send me texts throughout the day saying he missed me or that he couldn't wait to see me next. It was different for me as I never had that type of attention from my first love. Although we began talking about us developing into something more, he would constantly talk about his ex-wife.

It was always his ex-wife use to do this, or do that, or he couldn't believe the way that she treated him for this. ROOKIE MISTAKE on my part as I didn't even realize that this was what many would call a

RED FLAG!!!

I eventually got tired of hearing about him talk about his ex-wife, not to mention that I found out that he had a "sleeve" somewhere that it didn't belong (I found out because he told me, THANK YOU!) which was the icing on the cake for me. We eventually faded to the black and I never heard from him again.

Look For Less: Monique Lhuillier/Allure/Casablanca/Maggie Sottero

There hasn't been a designer yet that hasn't imitated the style of a lacy sheath with an open back. Check out these Look for Less options.

Monique Lhuillier Scarlet ~$4500


Allure C155 ~$1200


Casablanca 1982 ~$900

Maggie Sottero JD-8106 ~$700


If there is a dress that you would like to see a Look for Less on, contact me.

Aso-Ebi Outfit of the Week

I so wish that I had a picture of the back of this gown because I know it's GORGEOUS!!! I like how this aso-ebi outfit combines simplicity with complication. And the colors are banging too!!!

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Olufemi (Abo) - Folake and Jason

I absolutely LOVE the colors that this couple chose for their traditional engagement. I mean, you can't go wrong with wine and baby blue. Fantastic!!!

I also find the aso-ebi worn by the girls very interesting, as well. Enjoy!!!

Photography by John Stickel Photography

Location: King of Prussia, PA












If you'd like to see more photos of this ceremony, click here.

If you'd like to have your wedding showcased here on Naijawed N More, click on "Submit Your Wedding" to the right or contact me

Featured Wedding - Efe and Gladys, Part III

We've come to the end of our first FEATURED wedding her on Naijawed N More. I would like to thank Gladys Ebhohon again for allowing Naijawed N More to feature her wedding along with getting her view and advice on her wedding. If you missed it, here is Part I and Part II. Enjoy!!!

How does being a West African bride differ from being an American bride? All the basic steps we have to follow like the traditional wedding and our different attire.




What was your biggest splurge? Renting a Rolls Royce for the wedding.




What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Never go over your budget... It's hard but at the end you will not regret it.





What's next for you as a couple? Achieve our set goals and travel round the world.




Who were your vendors?
Wedding Dress - Alfred Angelo, Bridal Boutique - Lewisville
Wedding Planner - Alexis M. Events
Photography - Excess Photos (he also did Nollywood actress, Ini Edo's wedding)
Beauty - Tokini, LyzaDora Beauty
Videography - Victory Media Productions
Wedding Cake - Panini Cakes


*All photos were provided by the bride herself.*

If you'd like to have your wedding featured on Naijawed N More, click on Submit Your Wedding to the right or contact me.

Featured Wedding - Efe and Gladys, Part II

We're at Part II of our featured wedding today. The bride is gorgeous!!! If you missed it, here's Part I.




What was your design inspiration for the wedding? Our love for nature, especially calla lilies.




Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Wow, I tried on about 12 different dresses before I found mine. I visited an Alfred Angelo boutique, a boutique called Bridal Couture, David's Bridal, and Bridal Boutique in Lewisville, Texas was where I finally found my dress. Immediately I saw it, I knew it was made for me. I paid for it same day I tried it on.






What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning the wedding? Making sure my bridal party was up to date with their clothes. We had a few disappointments where a few of the groomsmen couldn't make it to the wedding, we had to find replacements immediately.



*All photos provided by the bride herself* If you'd like to have your wedding featured on Naijawed N More, click on Submit Your Wedding to the right, or contact me.

Featured Wedding - Efe and Gladys, Part I

Welcome all to Naijawed N More's first FEATURED wedding. The difference between a featured wedding and any other wedding that is showcased on the blog is that we actually inquire about the bride's feedback about her wedding. So today, we have some of the bride's own personal feedback regarding her wedding. Enjoy!!!

Where did you get married? Richardson, Texas






How did the two of you meet? It was about three years ago, at a friends wedding in Houston, where I was one of the bridesmaids. As fate or destiny would have it, we met again in 2008. He said, "Here is my number, when you feel like talking to this Benin guy." I gave him mine too, which was something I rarely do. He then said, “I let you go the first time but I will never let you go now because I know destiny brought us back together." He also said to me, "One day you will be my wife", and I said, “Yea right my brother” jokingly. I finally agreed to date him and that was the best decision I ever made.






Describe the proposal? I always thought I will know when he would propose, but I was so wrong. He asked for one of my rings on one of my visits to Florida, I knew that the moment was coming but not the time. On a Saturday morning, my uncle called to ask when we were coming over to his place. I told him that it will be later that evening. We finally got to my uncles house, as I opened the door, it was quiet, which was so unusual.

Then I noticed my uncle got up and took his camera or camcorder, whichever, but I didn’t sense anything because I know my uncle loves taking pictures. Then I saw my future father in-law, I will never forget that feeling, immediately I screamed!!! He flew in from Houston for this, I knew what was about to happen.

Efe went on his TWO knees and asked me to marry him. He then brought a dried tree branch and said "this was my life before I met you," then brought out a set of fresh roses and said "this is my life since you came in ." I cried the way I never did before. I was so happy that finally I will be getting married to the one that completes me, my best friend and his missing rib.

*All photos provided by the bride herself*

Stay tuned!!! If you'd like to have your wedding featured on Naijawed N More, click on Submit Your Wedding on the right, or contact me.

Aso-Ebi Outfit of the Week

I absolutely love the bubble sleeves on this aso-ebi outfit. I think it adds a certain amount of flare. With a cinched belt and cute black heels, one is sure to look outstanding. Enjoy!!!

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Music Mondays: Prince Nico Mbarga - Sweet Mother

Probably the biggest and most well known song in all of Africa...

Prince Nico Mbarga was a Nigerian high life artist who released the song for today, Sweet Mother, in 1976. Before I did research on this song, I had never known how old the song was but knew that you can't go to ANY African event without this being played.

Prince really hit the jackpot with this song as it is his only legacy. Prince's life was cut short in 1997 when he was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 47.

Sung in pidgin English, the meaning of this song basically explains how a child is telling is mother that no matter what does in life, he'll never forget the things he has learned from him mother. Enjoy!!!

Toasters - Florida

Can't believe I fell for the okey doke on this one...

We'll call him Florida because he went to the University of Florida - Gainesville.

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I met Florida when I was out with my girlfriends at a Latin club. We didn't really know it was a Latin club when we arrived, but we decided to go with it just to try something different. We had a GREAT time that night.

Florida was in town for a concert with some guy friends and was only here for the weekend. He asked me to dance and I obliged. After a couple of songs, he asked for my number and stated he would call me the next day (which he didn't). Florida actually wasn't my style, looks-wise. He was shorter than what I prefer (he was 5'6"), and he wasn't that cute in the face, but I'm always one to give people chances.

I ended up hearing from him that following Monday and let me know he made it back to school okay. I have this thing about people who don't keep to their word when it comes to simple promises, but I decided to bypass it this time around and didn't harass him about it. I found out that he was actually Nigerian (Akwa Ibom to be exact) and was getting ready to graduate. We talked on a regular basis for about a month before he asked me if I would come to see him. Florida made it SEEM as if he was very interested in a relationship. Although I was hesitant, I agreed. In hindsight, I would never agree to go see a guy first, I mean, he has to be the one to chase you a little, right?

I drove down there to go see him and he pretty much was a gentleman the whole time. I slept on the bed while he slept on the couch and was fairly entertained the 2 days that I was there. The only thing about it was that I wasn't entertained by him...I was entertained by his friends. Instead of spending time with me, he asked his friends to take me around. The 2 days that I was there, I probably spent no more than 4 or 5 hours with him tops.

When I was getting ready to leave, he tried to get all sentimental and act like he was still interested in a relationship. Although I was unhappy with the amount of time we spent together, I was still willing to give him a chance. I told him I would call him when I got home from the trip.

When I did call him, all of a sudden, he didn't want to return my calls. About 3 days passed from my last phone call before he returned my call with the excuse that he was busy with school. By that point, the writing was on the wall for me and I asked what the real deal was (even though I already knew, I wanted him to say it). He told me that he really only saw me as a friend and that he didn't want a relationship. When he said it, I immediately said "Thanks, for letting me know." and promptly hung up the phone.

I was a little pissed that I had invested some time into someone who wasn't worth it, but I came out for the better (thank God I wasn't hurt about it) and I haven't heard from him since.

Wedding - Tiwa and Kunle

To say that this wedding was done up to the Ts, is an understatement. Everything looks opulent and is absolutely beautiful. I especially love the outfit that the bride changes into. Enjoy!!!

Photography by Tunji Sarumi Photography

Photography Excerpt: I shot Tiwa and Kunle’s wedding in Lagos Nigeria on December 30^thArchbishop Vining and the reception was at the Balmoral Hall in Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. The wedding was so beautiful and filled with a lot of happiness, joy and laughter. Everything from the floral to the table settings, and center pieces were incredible. The couple created a beautiful atmosphere for their guests and the day went smoothly as they had imagined.

To see more photos from this wedding, click here.

If you'd like to have your wedding showcased here on Naijawed N More, click on Submit Your Wedding to the right, or contact me