Lift Off....!

Finally, after months of preparation, the London launch of 'small chops' is ready to lift off!

On Saturday 12th June, in the basement of Antony's Restaurant (54 Porchester Street, a stone's throw from Royal Oask tube station), C.R.E.A.T.I.V. will be hosting an event to raise awareness of who we are and what we do as well as funds for Child Lifeline (http://childlifeline.org/)

So bring an open mind, and an open wallet!!

See you there.

K.O.

WASN'T BORN TO BLOG!

Can I just say I sooo wasn’t born to blog – I mean I must be the only writer I know who doesn’t actually like to write! Kai! Ok a little dramatic but world worst blogger is my name and after months and months of being told by my fellow member – BLOG Femi! BLOG! BLOOOGGG!!! I’m finally blogging. Soooo the next question is what to blog about – hmmmm . . . .

The inconsistency of man

So a few months ago I was crying about Haiti feeling this need to do something, this need to show that I care, this need to primarily make myself feel better about a situation I had absolutely no control over. Months have passed I go around live my life and Haiti almost seems like a thing of the past. Don’t misunderstand me I wanted to help Haiti but in the end how does one reconstruct a nation unless you decide to become part of it and since I wasn’t making the decision to leave all I knew to go over to Haiti (although I did consider it) and actually do something then what difference did I really want to make. It’s weird because one day I couldn’t sleep thinking about the devastation and the next week I was sleeping like a baby disillusioned that somehow I was doing all that I could and that others were helping and that had to be enough. *sigh*

I find this to be the odd thing about human behaviour and situations such as this. Once we hear about the plight of others we sympathise, at times empathise and then we sleep easy and forget! Why you may ask? Because emotionally we feel we have given enough. I don’t know if that makes us fickle or just me fickle- but I do believe to a great extent what you do, where you stand and what you chose to stand for defines you. Like they say it is not what you say you will do that matters - it is what you actually do- and hey I guess if you do nothing you don’t feel like you have much to do and that’s cool. Me on the other hand I have lots to do so I’m out – Like I said in the beginning “THE WORLDS WORST BLOGGER”

Taste of Africa : Pepper Soup

This weeks dish is taken from Nigeria and it is a popular dish eaten widely in Nigeria.

be Ata (Nigerian Pepper Soup) is a traditional Nigerian recipe

for a classic local version of the hot chilli based stew made with tomatoes, meat, chilli peppers, red palm oil

and onions.

The Soup is made entirely of meat broth. It is commonly made with goat meat but in modern times, people have been known to make pepper soup with chicken or fish. Turkey has also been seen once or twice in some African pots.


Ben JK Anim-Antwi

Taste of Africa: Rice Bread

This weeks african delicasie comes from the west african state of Liberia.

Liberian Rice Bread is a traditional Liberian recipe for cake made with crean of rice cereal and flavoured with ginger and nutmeg.

Ingredients
50g rice semolina (Cream of Rice cereal)180g granulated sugar3 tbsp ground ginger1 tsp nutmeg1 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt240ml milk180ml vegetable oil
2 eggs1 tsp vanilla extract4 plantains, mashed (or 4 green bananas)

Looks delicious


Ben JK Anim-Antwi

Taste of Africa : Shito

Every week I will be turning into an african culinary expert !

Well not quite, but I will be showcasing the wonderful variety of foods and delicasies our vibrant continent has to offer.
First up is a popular delicasie from my country of Orgin, Ghana.

Shito or Shito din as its sometimes referred to is a spicy pepper sauce. Shito sauce consists primarily of fish oil and/or vegetable oil, ginger, dried fish and/or tomatoes, garlic and spices. The blend of spices and fish differs between different regions and villages.

Its a big hit in GH though not with me !

Untill Next time peeps

Ben JK Anim-Antwi

Stranded ! ( Volcanic Ash)

Volcanic Ash in the skies continues to disrupt Airline Flights around Europe.
Millions of air travellers are stranded as thousands of flights are being cancelled, airlines are losing some £130m ($200m) a day in an unprecedented shutdown of commercial air travel.

Creativ's very own Olamide Udo-Idoma has been affected by the chaos, as she is unable to return home to the UK due to flight cancellations and is currently stranded in NYC !. My thoughts and prayers go out to her at this traumatic time as she kills time by trawling for NYC's shopping malls and lounging in Central Park no doubt........


However good news as the signs are all the disruption chaos may be coming to an end as BBC news reports that Airspace in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England is due to reopen on Tuesday after days of travel chaos caused by a volcanic ash cloud. air traffic control body, Nats, said from 0700 BST on Tuesday airspace south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool will reopen.

It added that mainland Scottish airports would be open.

Nats said restrictions to airspace above the rest of England and Wales could be lifted later on Tuesday.

In a statement, Nats added: "The volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK.

"Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions, we are now looking at a continuously improving situation.

"This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 0700 local.

"However, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow."

That will be welcome news to all stranded holidaymakers.

Ben JK Anim-Antwi

In the name of Religion ?

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who lost loved ones in the senseless violence that erupted in the town of Jos, central Nigeria on 08 March 2010.

Rioters armed with guns and machetes slaughtered hundreds of people in three Christian villages on Sunday - less than two months after the last bout of sectarian violence around the town of Jos.
With an estimated death toll of 500 victims, its apparent this Christian vs Muslim 'turf war' has gone too far.

All we can do is pray for peace. Stop the violence and lets get C.R.E.A.T.I.V people.

Amen


Ben JK Anim-Antwi

While C.R.E.A.T.I.V. are away our friends shall PLAY!

As per the previous post, C.R.E.A.T.I.V. are working on various projects, so I have come to you with recommendations of what to do in London.

- PLAYS

• Cat on A Hot Tin Roof

It was the critics top picks in Evening Standard, Independent, Daily Telegraph, Independent on Sunday in the opening month. I have seen it twice, and apart from sitting so far away the first time, I enjoyed the play both times. Find out more at http://www.catwestend.com/

at the moment there are limited £10 seats available daily from 10am at the Novello Theatre Box Office

Dates and Times
Showing till mid April (Check website for details)
Monday - Saturday - 7.30pm
Wednesday & Saturday - 2:30pm

• Every Year, Every Day I am Walking

This play is an awards wining African play set in South Africa. It tells a story of two women's journey across Africa. I haven't seen it, but it is something I would love to see, time permitting. It is at:

Oval House Theatre
52-54 Kennington Oval
London SE11 5SW

Dates and Times

Wednesday 24th February 2010 - Saturday 13th March 2010 7.45PM, Thursday 4th March 2010 4.30PM, Thursday 11th March 2010 4.30PM

http://www.ovalhouse.com/cn/getting_here/getting_here.php

- FESTIVALS

• East Festival

The East Festival is a six-day festival, led by the Mayor of London, that celebrates the uniquely rich creative mix of East London. It takes place over six days from Thursday 4 March to Tuesday 9 March. This looks like great, because its an excuse to eat good food, be out and about in East London and learn something new about the different communities living in East London.

http://www.visitlondon.com/events/east/

- TOURS

• Flirting & Walking tour of London

I saw this and thought how fun! You take a tour around London with 20 or so other Londoners and also get tips on flirting from Anthropologist, Jean Smith.

Dates & Times
7:30 for Thursday tours, 6:45 for Friday tours
Price: £25
Meeting in foyer of National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE

You have to book before: 07950 694639/allure@allureseminars.com
http://www.flirtology.co.uk/london-flirting-walking-tours

- MUSIC

• Angie Stone and Dwele

Both these artists are performing at the Hammersmith Apollo Friday 5th March 2010. With these two artists it promises to be a soulful night. I have seen Angie Stone perform at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, and apart from me not liking the venue it was a great night; intimate, good, live music, great band, and it was nice to hear old Angie with new Angie.

http://venues.meanfiddler.com/apollo/full-listings/featured/742/angie-stone-tickets

- ART

• Kingdom of Ife, Sculptures from West Africa

The papers seem to be impressed: 'Potentially the exhibition of the year' Daily Telegraph, 'Exquisite sculpture' The Times, 'Ravishing figures and heads' Sunday Times.

Dates and Times
4 March – 6 June 2010
Room 35
Open daily 10.00–17.30 (last entry 16.20)
Open late Thursday and Friday until 20.30 (last entry 19.20)

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/future_exhibitions/kingdom_of_ife.aspx

• Ron Arad: Restless

This is an exhibition at the Barbican Gallery. It is the first major survey in the UK of the internationally acclaimed design maverick. His designs question the norm, and therefore are something of innovation.

Dates and Times
18 Feb 10 - 16 May 10

Barbican Centre
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS

http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/series.asp?id=810&t=month&yr=2010&mn=4&dy=4

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. update!

What has CREATIV been doing lately?

It may seem CREATIV have not been too active of late, but we have!!! At the moment we are planning all the events for this year, and planning is important.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin

So you may not see us being as active as we have been previously.... but we are working away like ants, and soon enough you will see the fruits of our labour.

So be patient, stay logged on to our updates and keep in touch via http://twitter.com/creativafr or on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=500139460#!/group.php?gid=62005819140&ref=ts

BUY, BUY, BUY!

Finally, after a successful launch in Nigeria at the beginning of the year, SMALL CHOPS is available to purchase online!

Click on the icon below and support the cause:

K.O.

Glorious Coppers !

So we're having a universal 1p drive ! The Idea is simply to collect as much pennies ( coppers, brass, those bronze coloured things that somehow stay in the bottom of peoples wallets for eternity) as possible.
I knew that large tin of coppers in my room would come in handy one day, and to think when I started collectiong I was doing it solely for my benefit. So the first donation is on me !

We hope local schools will be participating or should I say competing to see who can collect the most coppers. You see we have got to make it fun for the lil youngsters, not only are they enjoying the excitement of competition they are also learning about basic fundraising to boot.
Team C.R.E.A.T.I.V we're all about the Kids baby !

All procceds to go to C.R.E.A.T.I.V and the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

All that's left to say is, let the games begin !

Ben JK Anim-Antwi

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. meet again!

2nd meeting of the year, and its now February, how time flies. Next thing I know C.R.E.A.T.I.V. will be 1year old..... WOW!

So, a lot was discussed and debated, ideas were thrown around the little Café Nero that we met at yesterday, Sunday 7th Feb. We have definitely made some head way, especially with our 2 new members, but I do not want to give everything away.

BUT, I will tell you that the London Launch of Small Chops will be taking place this March.... wohoooo.... This means that everyone, all over the world will be able to buy a copy of Small Chops online.

March Here C.R.E.A.T.I.V. Come!!!! (not that I am wishing away the year)

p.s. I will post on the fb group when our next meeting is, as we are inviting new members to join, so click on the link and come a see what we're all about...!

Africa gives to Haiti

So C.R.E.A.T.I.V. are all about positivity, especially when it comes to Africa... so I thought it only right to highlight that though Africa is a developing nation some countries contributed to the aid needed in Haiti.

'Nigerians are already part of the UN police mission in Haiti that are assiduously working to rescue people who are missing and trapped in the fallen building structures. The Nigerian Vice President Jonathan Ebele Goodluck has promised to follow up with more assistance. Rwanda and Liberia governments have contributed US $100, 000 and $50,000 respectively. Senegalese government has promised to offer land to Haitians, those that are willing to come to Senegal. And "South Africa - The government has announced a three-phase assistance package: deployment of doctors to a search and rescue team led by Rescue South Africa, a non-profit company; deployment of forensic pathologists to help identify bodies; provision of unspecified humanitarian aid in partnership with South African NGOs".'

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. think that these countries should be recognised for their help. They obviously did not give as much as the US, but they gave what they could. It is a something I think that we as people should emulate.

Picking New Charities?

The charity we have been supporting so far during C.R.E.A.T.I.V. Nigeria, has been SOS Children's Villages, Nigeria. We have been happy to support them on our journey so far but one of our aims is to support charities that do not receive global help.

So we have decided to give the money raised so far to SOS Children's Villages, Nigeria and to find two new local charities to support.

At the moment we have been looking into:
1.Little Saints Orphanage:



2. Child life line



We are aiming for these to be the two new local chirites in Nigeria that C.R.E.A.T.I.V. will help in 2010, but if you have any other suggestions please comment on this post or send us an email at c.r.e.a.t.i.v.afr@gmail.com

HAITI, Adoption and Education for life

So I come here as no expert on any of the topics mentioned in the title, but this is a plea to get people involved in any of these topics.

Haiti
I guess the first topic is Haiti. I am not going to spend to long on this because I have a feeling an article on Haiti will appear on this blog soon enough. You can google the country and find out about where it is and its background, but just a couple things:

• First independent nation in Latin America and the first black-led republic in the world
  
• It gained independence as part of a successful slave rebellion in 1804
• It is the only predominantly Francophone independent nation in the Americas
• Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
• The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) took over as security with a provisional governement after a rebillion on the president in 2004.
  
• A new President Rene Preval, was elected by general election in 2006.
  

As you can see Haiti was already a troubled country and the devastation that happened this January, has caused this country to cry for help. C.R.E.A.T.I.V. strongly believe in showing the positives and not just the negatives, so I went in search and I found a great blog entry written by a lady (Cheri Kay) who is helping children in Haiti and the comments that followed. The one that appreciated the most was the beauty of the country. Here are a couple more that may make u laugh, or at least smile about things that are easier to do in Haiti:

• It's easier to drive from one coast of your country to the other.
• It's easier to find and go to an extraordinarily beautiful waterfall.
• It's easier to get super fresh delicious amazing bananas, avacados, pineapple,
• It's easier to meet BelO (my favorite singer.)
• It's easier to get whistled at by a man....or 100 men all in one day! (not that it is flattering)
• It's easier to teach your children to be thankful for the basics in life
• It's easier to find a pay phone (they walk up to you)
• It's easier to take a bus (tap-tap) because they run every 15 seconds

(http://cherikayinhaiti.blogspot.com/2008/12/looking-at-good-things.html)

I know there are many countries that need emergency/humanitarian aid and many more that will need it, but I am urging everyone whether it is 1pound or 10p or more, please give something to Haiti. There are other ways to give, so if you want to get something for your donation you can buy the album, Hope for Haiti, or just google away I am sure there are so many organisations collecting and sending aid to Haiti.

If you have not got money to give, then why not post a comment or send us an email on how C.R.E.A.T.I.V. can help raise funds. We are aiming to do one fundraising drive from April till June (a time when people may be giving less, as it will not be publicised as much) to raise money. But we would love to hear more ideas and raise more money.

Adoption
So this is a bit of a random, or maybe not so random topic. Well I personaly would like to adopt when it is my time to have children, when I am stable and have the knowledge, time, living environment to raise a child. Many people do not understand why, but it really has nothing to do with not wanting to go through the pain, because ever since being a young girl, I have longed to nurture a child, and feel it growing within in me. But this isn't actually about me, and I don't want to preach that everyone should adopt.

BUT, I came into contact with a charity this Sunday that encourages adopting children, not the adoption like I described above but the adoption of a child in a developing country, where you agree to help fund that childs life from your home. I think it is a great thing, if you can afford it, I do encourage it. I was a little sceptical as to whether the money will always be used for the young child's education, health... But I think if you do decide to this, maybe the right thing to do is to go to the country with the charity and meet your adopted child... more than once, so you can see the improvements and if what you are doing to help is really helping.

Education for Life
Last topic, and I promise it will be short. Since I finished my masters last January, actually since I finished my Bachelor Degree, I have felt like I know nothing. During my Masters I learnt and agree that 'The more you know, The less you know' (the more you learn, the more you realise that you do not know anything, and the more questions you have), I think the guy below put it very well (thumbs up):

Imagine an infinite checker board, and what you know is one square. What you "know" you don't know if the adjoining squares (meaning, the eight squares around your knowledge are the questions you can form based on your current knowledge. If you expand your knowledge to four squares now the adjoining squares are 12 squares. They larger your knowledge base (in squares) the larger the perimeter is so the more you know the less you know (meaning the more things you DON'T know about but can formulate a question for.
Happy Hiram

So since, at the moment I have a lot of time on my hands, and I also need to keep my brain working, and keep up with what is happening in the world, I have been attending lectures and seminars. So here I am again encouraging something, education for life. Even if it is not a seminar or lecture, but just a Spanish class one evening a week, or meeting up with your friends to discuss a topic you want to know more about. I definitely think it will encourage your mind to work, to encourage questioning the world, making you a better person, to help find yourself and define yourself, and maybe make you more knowledgeable in something you didn't know you were interested in.

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. are recruiting!!!!!!

Hi People,

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. needs your help!!!! Due to all the plans we have for this year we need more hands, legs, bodies, lips.... you name it, if it is a body part we need it!!!!

So you know who we are, and what we are about, but if you have more questions and you would like to work with/in a fundraising organisation email us on c.r.e.a.t.i.v.afr@gmail.com.

p.s. You do not have to be a creative genius, or a charity guru, or even live in London... whatever skills you have or do not have, as long as you have heart and a good work ethic, we would love to hear from you.

Have an amazing day, and email us or drop us a message on fb (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=500139460#/group.php?gid=62005819140&ref=ts) TODAY!!!!

Happy New Year C.R.E.A.T.I.V

Yes, I know it is a little late as we are now in the 4th week of January, but C.R.E.A.T.I.V. took a little break after the Lagos book launch of 'Small Chops' on the 5th January. Trust me we needed it!!!

Lagos was hectic, hot, and we arrived in the middle of a fuel shortage (this amazes me as Nigeria exports oil). But apart from the craziness, the launch was a success. It took place on a nice warm evening (yes, mosquitoes probably chopped a lot of people), near a pool side. It was all pretty chilled out, as we introduced C.R.E.A.T.I.V., spoke about SOS Nigeria and had a reading from one of the writers, Chiedu Ifeozo until.... Our guests took over. They felt we hadn't given the book enough of a celebratory launch... so they did it for us, and in doing so, we raised more money from people pledging tens of thousands of Naira.

Quick preview: We raised approximately 2000 pounds. We will disclose the total amount at a further date when we have collected all donations.

So we have now had our first meeting of 2010, and there is a lot to be done!!!! We have big plans, and even bigger ideas, including a 24hr play, running the Majorca Marathon.... climbing Mt. Everest, changing to world to be a better place.... Ok, I am getting carried away, but without dreams and hopes where do we go?

HAPPY NEW YEAR WORLD!

C.R.E.A.T.I.V. on 103.1 FM... (C.R.E.A.T.I.V. in Lagos)

We choped, we laughed, we enjoyed... the launch of Small Chops...