Banana Island Living Podcasts

Anyone claiming to know anything about the art scene in Nigeria who hasn’t heard of Jess Castellote really needs to get out more; or perhaps just get out of the art scene altogether. Jess himself is rather more self-effacing, self-deprecating and ultra-low key. He arrived in Nigeria as an architect volunteer in 1984, fell in love with ART (the capital letter is the story) and, fast forward forty years, he has conceived, designed and built probably the best university museum in West Africa. Oh, and managed to write six art books and obtain a Ph. D along the way. Impatient, passionate and incredibly driven, Jess is driven to live that elusive purpose-driven life. In this episode, we discuss:Art in Nigeria – a view; from the panoramic to the vignette;The dummy’s guide to actualising your dream – the story of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art;Collectors, gate keepers and dealers – the market as a measure of quality;Churching and chilling – stay with us on this one, it will all make sense;Football, Lamin, Luz Casal, Teresa (not the Mother T) and the art of turbo charged multi-tasking.Jess’s admiration and reverence is not for the obvious or usual. He is a builder – of people, ideas, structures and yes, of self. This episode might just trigger some angst-ridden navel dissection.  But so, so worth it. Links Mentioned: Arthur C Brooks – Build the Life You Want Luz Casal -  Piensa En Mi Jess Castellote - Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/ Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

With nearly 30 years as an international civil servant working with the UN, Yewande Odia has been in all the hotspots - Somalia, Haiti, Goma, Tchad and yes, even New York (the original hotspot)!  In this episode, we discuss:UN or bust - how to get your foot through the door;Trevor Noah, Chris Rock and the attraction of the educated comic;Theatre arts, school band, UN? Not the most obvious of career paths;Dangerous situations and intense friendships - the correlation;Korean dramas, Old school R & B and the turgid book that doesn't bear finishing;The bucket list - and yes, even Yewande who has done it all and seen it all still has things to tick off.Yewande finds a joke, a pun that needs some thinking about but that, surely, is the point. This episode will get you thinking about resilience, perseverance and the changing nature of friendships as we grow older.Links Mentioned:Barack Obama - A Promised LandD' Angelo-  How Does it Feel? Robin Thicke - Lost Without YouHer Private Life - the movieSponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island LivingBanana Island Living's YouTube channel

As if Sarah Boulos’s backstory (past imperfect?) was not epic enough, her present continuous one merits its own Hollywood (or is it Nollywood?) biopic. Born in Burkina Faso, schooled in France and US, Lebanese father and  French mother; living in Nigeria for many decades, Sarah has truly bloomed where she was planted.Vibrant, passionate and a muse, Sarah’s life has been one of great highs and horrible lows, heady peaks and shattering troughs, filled with sublime moments and truly ridiculous phases. And still she rises.In this episode, we discuss:Being white in Africa - privilege or albatross?;Yes, trust fund babies also cry;Losing multiple family members within 24 hours;That epic marriage cum merger - yes, that one;The soul preserving discovery of faith  - for Sarah it’s all encompassing;SPAN (Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria) and finding your purpose.The bucket list - step aside Oprah;Between Chat GPT and Google’s Bard, Sarah tells a joke, or rather, finds a joke and tells it sweetly. This episode will give you a whole new respect for that delicate high wire oxymoronic space between supreme confidence and touching humility. Yes, the future is conditional.Links Mentioned:Clint White - Tattoos, not BrandsT Y Bello -  The Morning SongbookChevalier - the movie.You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitvah - the movieSponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island LivingBanana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Blessing Adesiyan established WorkLife Africa, a think-tank focussed on transforming the continent's workforce and work spaces. She has made quite a journey from tech to care, not the first pivot that springs to mind  but as the mistress of making lemonade from lemons, she now sits comfortably in her own skin.In this episode, we discuss:Finding yourself pregnant in Uni and making it work;The incredible power of a loving father;Growing up in Nigeria, being fearless and that unquantifiable super power;The squeezed middle, the never ending care giving age and the sheer soul sapping burden of care;Japa, japaing and japadaing - hmmm;The pastor's daughter way to spirituality (and no, it doesn't involve church);Powerlifting, weights and we are in awe!Blessing tells a joke, actually a true story but an absolute cracker.  This episode is a close up of a mega motivated person and one that just might get you lifting weights.Links Mentioned:Peter Attia - OutliveAsake - Work of ArtAdekunle Gold - OgaranyaBanana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island LivingBanana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Ugoma Ebilah is a polymath - she has been an economist, successful financier, clothes designer, art dealer and now, one word which might just work when trying to box the unboxable would be 'creative entrepreneur'. In this episode, we discuss:The corporate lane, having an eye, wanting more and the side hustle mission creep. Clarity vs choosing not to know.The indefinable attractiveness of being light.The secret dream job, the Mercedes Benz dream car and that most un-pc of creatures - the petrol head.London, the Barbican, then and now.Women vs men - and a new take on the us/them dynamic?Nina Simone, Davido and Wike - from the sublime to the ridiculous?.Mbari Mbayo - Mbayo + Kola = Mbari Kola; clue - it's members only.Ugoma's joke is smutty, graphic, laugh out loud but, thankfully, coded - you have been warned!This episode is a mega eavesdrop - it will get you turning up the volume.Links Mentioned:I. E. Echeruo - Expert in all StylesNina Simone - Ain't got no/I got lifeDavido - FeelWarning by Jenny JosephBanana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island LivingBanana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Only the paranoid survive! Only the paranoid survive? Yes! Tokunboh George - Taylor lives by that mantra and she really should know. She is THE foremost PR strategist in Nigeria and founding Managing Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Nigeria. Served her and her clients well (very well) and in this episode, we discuss:branding, self branding and positioning;that line between branding and pushiness;knowing what you want and getting ready to get it;Ikoyi Club, Golf and strategising;Charity work and image laundering;Korean dramas (help - can't get away from them);And Snoop Dog!! Nope, that's one we definitely didn't see coming!Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island Living

Uzo Nzeogu, a talented artist who studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with greats like Bruce Onobrakpeya and El Anatsui seemed all set to claim his place as a fine artist. But then, he did the maths, ditched paint and chose pragmatism. Pragmatism led him to Newswatch, to Dele Giwa,  to Ray Ekpu, to Dan Agbese and to 'the happiest time of my life'. The newsroom rush, the boardroom manoeuvring, the tragic, shocking murder of Dele Giwa, Uzo was in the thick of it.In this episode, we discuss:Pragmatism and paying the bills.The halcyon days of Nigerian news magazines.There but the love of God and barely dodging the bomb.The Nigerian war and PTSD.IPOB and the lessons of Rwanda.To repatriate or not to, Uzo has a view.And choosing to ditch the Nigeria project.... and here we agree to disagree.Nope, no jokes in this episode but Uzo admits to listening to BIL podcast. What a gent!Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island Living

Helen took a short trip away from university and came back as Miss Nigeria 1979! Sharp, shrewd and always impeccably turned out, Helen Prest Ajayi neatly turned the beauty currency into entrepreneurship, into businesses way ahead of the times. In this episode, we discuss:using what you have to get what you want.spotting trends way ahead of time.Buka (yes, that Buka) and the fast food thing.SPARE, Prince Harry and telling your own story.Jogging in Banana Island really can inspire you - no, honestly.And Helen tells a joke - a good, groan-inducing joke. This episode will have you upping your glam game and then start spotting trends.Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's TwitterSee More of Banana Island Living