Drum Roll!!! and she shall be called...

Late last year when I went to my local guitar shop with the hope of buying an electro acoustic guitar to add to my Blue Vintage acoustic guitar, I was looking for something affordable that plays and sounds really well (I am still a guitar student; I picked up the instrument a year ago.)

The Shop assistant asked what I was looking as he took me round to showing me a selection of guitars within my price range. He took down a natural wood colour one and handed it to me to have a feel and play. As I started to strum & pluck, something caught my attention

The minute I laid my eyes on her, I had to have her.



I gave the guitar in my hands back to the shop assistant and walked straight to this lovely Pink Stagg electro acoustic guitar.... it was offered as a second hand sale and thankfully affordable.

I brought it home and my fiancé (now husband) said, what is this? (Still doesn't understand whyt I would go for pink! ;-o)

After a few rehearsals, I knew she had to be a girl (nothing to do with colour) for one, every gig I have taken her to, she gets all the attention and I get absolutely none. Which is good because then I am able to play with little or no pressure.

Yesterday, I decided to name her. After much thought I decided to follow the African community/family naming tradition by looking to the social network community of FACEBOOK and TWITTER. I declared my status a 'NAME MY PINK GUITAR DAY'

Over the Top (I know) but eh, why not ;)

At around 9PM I 'closed' the voting lines and started to count the entries; below are the submissions.

Barbie
Morenike
Jane
Pink Panther
Pink Lady
Pink drink
Raise your pinky
Lanre
Queen Nefertiti
Angel
Angeli
Twilight
Hot Stuff
Pucksy
Lady
Stella
Oluwatobiloba
Strings attached
Lassie
Jimi Hendrix
Fola
Jewel
Tiffany
Hephzibah
Pink strings
Pink Rock
Plonky
Plinky
Rudolph
Queen
L’Oreal

Thirty one in all!!! my guitar is definitely African, specifically Nigerian. HA! For those who don't know, it is not unusual for Nigerians to have several names. The other day a friend told me she had just been to a naming ceremony and the baby girl had 21 names (YEP! you heard that right 21!)

So, I went through the list above and got rid of names like; Pink strings, Strings attached, Pink Rock, Plonky, Hot stuff, Plinky, Lassie, Rudolph, Pucksy.. just because;
1) the last thing I want on my hands is a bullied guitar and
2) I wanted a name that means something; we are Africans you see and names has to have meanings)

I also got rid of names like L’Oreal, Pink Panther and Twilight because as far as I am concerned, they aren't original enough.

The next to go was Lanre and Jimi Hendrix just because;
1) this guitar already competes with me when it comes to attention so, it won't be taking my names (my middle name is Jimi) and
2) Being named after the Legendry Jimi Hendrix will be too much pressure for my lil' pink guitar to deal with.

After sifting through the lot, I was left with the following names;

Morenike
Queen Nefertiti
Stella
Angel
Fola
Jane
Oluwatobiloba (Tobi for short)

I had seven names to choose from and I just couldn't make up my mind or give a good reason why I would choose one above the other so I reckoned seven is a pretty good number; perfection, for those who are into numerology et al.

I think all seven names describe in one way or another what this pink guitar means to me (it really does) so this is what I'll do.. depending on how we feel on a particular day we may decide to go for all names or one.

SO tonight the 19th of January 2011, my guitar shall be called; Morenike, Fola, Oluwatobiloba, Angel, Stella, Jane, Queen Nefertiti by Stagg



Thanks to everyone who helped name her....

What's in a name you ask; another day, another blog I say!

and....Below is myself and Morenike in action (isn't she gorgeous?)

More than Music

A few days ago I watched Chrisette Michele being interviewed as she promoted her newest record "Let Freedom Reign" When asked what her motivation was her response for some reason stuck with me.

"Find your face in hsitory"

Sometimes as a creative person, you feel alone in your pursuit of what you think or know is your purpose and you have to look to history to get the much needed fire in your bones; so I started searching and looking to be inspired and came upon two amazing (in my opinion) people who resonated with me. Well, i say came upon not because they've been hiding or anything but have you read a note you've always read a book or a bible verse you have always read an a line jumps out at ya like it's just been inked in right there and then for you?


Well.... that's what this past few days have been like for me.

It all started with my Amazon order arriving in the post - Nina Simone, The Legend - DVD



If you are a Nina Simone fan, you'd need to watch this documentary because it's a very personal and honest protrayal of an artist who understood that her gift was way beyond music and eventhough she did sacrifice a lot (as seen in the first few minutes of the doc) for the sake of her art, I don't think she would have wanted it any other way.

A dear friend gave us a pair of tickets to see Fela - The musical at the National Theatre. (Something about Southbank makes me go AAAAAAAAAAH)




Anyhowly, I had read a few reviews prior, most of them were positive and even one journalist's comment about feeling bullied by the participatory element of the show made me all the more exceited about going to see FELA!

I have never been to the 'shrine' (Fela's club) before; not that I would have been allowed to go if I wanted to ( I can just imagine my paraent's face if I even had the gutts to ask for permission to visit; not even for research purpose) LOLOLOL!! but I imagine as I sat in the Olivier theatre (NT) a minute percentage of what the 'Shrine' must have felt like.

It was political, passionate, fun... i mean I have never been to a musical or play where I am asked to stand up and wiggle my waist! YEP! I left the theatre feeling proud and more than anything else inspired to be the best that I can be with the gift heaven has blessed me with.

Fela and Nina came to realise earlier on in their career that music was only the vehicle, for them, it definately was much more than music. Both started out not deliberatly setting out to change the world but what they did set out to do was be themselves - Original

Years after they've passed; people like myself are still being inspired by them ;)

Singers, Songwriters & Musicians

I am surrounded by so many creative people and I love it when I get to share the same airspace with them.

I can tell from experience that Monday mornings is the probably the worst day for most of them simply because they probably spent the weekend gigging or working on a project in the studio somewhere so, Monday really feels like crap and most wish they could find a away to make their creative juices pay for their day to day living but the thought of pilling bills shoots the energy needed to tap away at those keyboards in an open plan office, up their veins.

Tap, tap, tap….. goes the keys.

Well, on Saturday the 17th of April, you get to spend some time with a lady who has worked hard at making sure those dreams become a reality for her.

Her name is Isa Agape and you can check out her resource page at www.letmusicplay.com

For £25.00 only you get to hear how she transitioned from being a broke artists to selling thousands of CDs at the Albany Theatre – Deptford. (See fler above for more info)

To book your tickets please call Ayo 07957466322 or Lanre 0787 6541948

I hope to see you there…