The Friday review

This weekend find harmony between the past, present and future because there is awesomeness and contentment there.

You see there is something magical about the past, an allure, a calling. You get it when looking back over past loves, remembering the good times, so this Friday, make sure you revisit the throwbacks. Taking the time to reflect on good music and events from the past can be a useful yard stick or scale against which to measure the present. Take time to out this weekend to relish and immerse yourself in the sounds of some of the greats, especially those we have lost like Prince.

<br />LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 19: Musician Prince performs on stage at the 36th NAACP Image Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 19, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Prince was honored with the Vanguard Award. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Prince of Musicality gave us timeless music from “ Kiss” to “ When Doves Cry“. When these types of songs come on, little can beat the delicious feeling of nostalgia and funk that they create. Prince did not only gift us with great music in the 80’s, he continued to do so until he died, leaving us just last year with two beautiful bodies of work : Hit n Run Phase 1 and Hit n Run Phase 2. And he’s not the only one.

For #thekazbah fans out there, a true throwback is to the sounds of  African Legend Papa Wemba.

Congolese singer Papa Wemba has been one of the biggest names in African music for the past 40 years (AFP Photo/Pierre Verdy)

You cannot look up Soukous, African Rumba or Langa Langa without his name popping-up somewhere. A true pioneer and propagator of African language, he left doing what he loved and continued to  perform to the very end; slumping on stage during a show in Abidjan on the 24th of April 2016, his final act. Enjoy jiving to to classic songs Like “Sai Sai” and  “Oldies are Goodies”  weekend, but also be delighted and nostalgic with his last body of work an album titled “Maitre d’cole” released in June of 2004 with Songs Like “Rumba Na Rumba” which are truly a celebration of the beautiful African Rumba.

Now while it is all well and good to revisit the past, it is key to an awesome weekend to just Live in the moment. Easy to say but hard to do right? And anyway what does it mean to live in the moment? Trying out something new and spontaneous that is probably an easily achievable item on your bucket list, is a good Idea. Getting involved in something as adrenalin-fueling as boxing could be just the thing to make you feel alive, plus you get to be social too. Lagos in this way can be full of surprises because here you will find mixed ability boxing classes on the weekend in Lagos Island; They’re called Elite Box Fitness. 

And you can find them over at www.eliteboxng.com and just consider the fact that  boxing is not the only surprising activity to try in Lagos.

Instagram image via @eliteboxfitness

It’s a city with a growing love for water sports and now kayaking in lagos is also an option!

Pick a weekend and take off with some friends to kayak in the lagoon surrounding Ikoyi. Viewing Lagos by water is quite a treat! It’s definitely a unique experience and one more thing to tick off your bucket list today! The outfit running these experiences is called Kayak Lagos and you can contact them at nothingtodoinlagos.com

If your idea of “ living in the now” does not involve getting beat up by a sweaty man( or woman ) or any form of physical activity designed to make you sweat (Lagos is too hot) then might I suggest dining out.

Now eating out in Lagos is a tricky business and if care is not taken you might end up out of pocket over lack-lustre meal eaten at a hygienically questionable establishment and dealing with hostile staff to boot. So always go with a recommendation otherwise you eat at your own peril.

Few things make you as grateful to live in the now, as indulging your senses in good food. This Friday set a date with gastronomical delight at Craft Gourmet by Lou Baker.

Instagram image via @craftgourmet

Located on the 3rd floor of Mega Plaza, Craft Gourmet’s decor is simple, elegant and minimalist; its glass walls mirrored pillars and open spaces are the perfect backdrop to the enticing French and intercontinental cuisine served here. The meals are creative with unique flavours running through every bite, leaving your tongue as a swallowed prayer for more.

But one of the biggest game changers in life and in the quality of your Friday (and by extension your weekend) it is,  preparing for the future.

The  lessons and experiences lived in life so far have taught us that when we are handed lemons, we should make Lemonade.

Photo credit: HBO

You see the difference between a Snap-worthy weekend and one spent questioning your decision to go clubbing, is planning a few weeks in advance.

After a slow start to the year, the future of events seems to be quality over Quantity marked by  Asa’s  first ever solo live concert (a spiritual experience i tell you) in Lagos and making plans for future event’s also means that you have time to get your loved ones involved in the fun (again being able to stand on chairs with friends and be caught up in the rapture of Asa’s music was amazing)!

Planning ahead also means that you can spend time travelling and slowly taking things off your bucket-list. Travelling from Nigeria to Kigali in Rwanda or  Jinja in Uganda could be what you need to look forward to an exciting future, a few Friday’s from now.

Visiting  either of these two countries is relatively simple as visas can be obtained online or on arrival, so start saving and looking forward to your much needed holiday!

Whatever you end up doing with your weekend, if you do it right, you’ll catch yourself living in the now,pause to reflect on how you got there, and then smile as you look forward to many more such moments ahead.

Until another Friday filled with musings and meanderings, have a great weekend!

via @egidemugande