Dec 2020 BREAK-OUT EDITION Richard Mofe Damijo T H E N A M E | T H E M A N | T H E L I F E S T Y L E 2020: The Year that 20 African Models Who Nigerian Achievers Award 20 Most Creative Reshaped Our Lifestyle Took Over the World 2020: All You Missed African Designer Labels W W W . P L M A G . N G Inside This Editor’s Note Edition: hat a year 2020 has turned out to be; what a year! We will remember it as Wthe year of the COVID-19 pandemic – a year which redefined our lifestyle and choices. The year also turned out to be a significant one for Africans across the globe – who have battled the stigma of racial discrimination and poor governance for so long. 2020: The Year that 20 African Models Who Reshaped Our Lifestyle Took Over the World With a mandate to become one of Africa’s leading lifestyle magazines within its first two years, Premier Lifestyle Magazine debuts with a compelling edition which will undoubtedly leave readers spellbound with stories that enlighten, educate and entertain a broad section of society. In our special December 2020 Break-Out Edition, we have looked inward as a means of Nigerian Achievers Award 20 Most Creative capturing the world. The choice of using 2020: All you Missed African Designer Labels Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe Damijo as our cover personality was in recognition of his work in the entertainment industry and his reputable lifestyle off the scenes. Team: Premier Lifestyle Magazine is on a mission to Michael Mgbeahurike disrupt the lifestyle space by promoting Publisher personalities who are role models in society and Chidiebere Mgbeahurike showcase exemplary values. As a wholesome family lifestyle magazine which aims to capture a Editor-in-Chief broad audience across different divides, we will Sebastiane Ebatamehi continue to publish editions which our readers Managing Editor will be proud of. Amenna Daayo Contributor (Paris, France) Lastly, do not forget to satisfy your fantasy and visit our online magazine on www.plmag.ng for Sasha Bokamoso daily trending lifestyle, entertainment, fashion Contributor (Cape Town, South Africa) and breaking stories. Glory Uyi Contributor (Nigeria) All I can say is, #ANTICIPATE. Merry Christmas King Hogan and Happy New Year in advance. Photography Executive Precious Nbanugo Yours truly, Interview Assistant Sebastiane Ebatamehi Writers Empire Editing Consultants Pg 01 Richard Mofe-Damijo The Name. The Man. The Lifestyle Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer, and lawyer. In 2008, he was appointed a special adviser, and in 2009, he became an honorable commissioner of culture and tourism in Delta State. He is a legend in the movie industry. Early Life Richard was born on July 6, 1961 in Aldja, Udu LGA, Delta State. He attended Midwest College, Warri, and Anglican Grammar School. He further moved to University of Benin, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated in 1983. Later on, he attended the University of Lagos where he studied Law, graduated in 2004, and was called to the Nigerian bar in 2005. and RMD the actor. It is an entertainment platform that produces creative content, television and radio Early Career productions, broadcasting e.t.c. It is the producer of Richard started his acting career by performing in the the popular sitcom – Trying and Mr. X family. It also drama club in his high school. Later, he started produced a kiddies show Bed time with Granpa, and reporting for Concord Newspapers, Metro Magazine talk/live shows Bridging the gap and Made in Warri. and The Guardian. In his 30s, he published and sold White Water Limited is a Nigerian PR outfit that deals Nigeria's first all-gloss magazine for men titled Mister. with public relations consultancy. Mofe also featured in a television soap opera called Also, for his love for charitable causes, he Ripples after he graduated from school. Also, he established the RMD foundation, a platform that wrote and produced his first film, Out of Bounds. mentors for greatness. Personal Life The Name. The Man. The Lifestyle Richard married Jumobi Adegbesan, a television personality in 2000. He was once married to May These are six things you didn't know about him. Ellen-Ezekiel (MEE), a Nigerian journalist/publisher who died in 1996. RMD is blessed with 4 children. 1. Sunday school teacher According to currentschoolnews.com, his net worth Richard Mofe-Damijo says he would have become a is estimated at $7 million. He is one of the richest and lecturer in a university if he hadn't become an actor. most influential actors in Nigeria. In November, 2018, One would think RMD's interest would solely be he signed an endorsement deal with a real estate connected to his acting career or maybe a few company, Land Lagos. branches of the media industry. Well, it will surprise you to know that the actor would have Businesses become a lecturer in a university if he wasn't a The veteran actor is the founder of RMD production, movie star. Surprisingly, RMD taught as a Sunday White Water Limited and RMD Foundation. school teacher for over a decade. The RMD Productions is an umbrella for the RMDtvng Pg 02 "I'm a teacher. That's what I do. I taught Sunday school for over 13 or 15 years and I still teach whenever I get the chance to. I just love to pass on the knowledge that I have," he said during a chat with Pulse. 2. Favourite food Unkown to many of his fans, RMD's favourite food is beans. He used to love beans and dodo (fried plantain) but changed the diet plan for health reasons. So if you are trying to set a lunch date at your home with the movie star, here is a scoop of what should go down in your kitchen. 3. Once a journalist Aside from acting, RMD has tried his hands at a couple of things. One of those ventures include his stint as a journalist. Before joining the entertainment industry, the 59-year-old worked with the defunct Concord Newspaper and Metro Magazine as a reporter. 4. Honeymoon in Paris Mofe Damijo remarried in 2000 to his wife, Jumobi Adegbesan, a former journalist after the death of his first wife, May Ellen-Ezekiel. After their beautiful wedding ceremony in Nigeria, the couple flew to Paris in France where they had spent their honeymoon. "We did not realize there was no Television in my room for the next four days," he told Harmony Family magazine in 2019. 5. A young grand-daddy Mofe-Damijo has one of the most beautiful families in the celebrity world. He is also a grandfather to two adorable grandchildren. From time to time, the Nollywood veteran blesses our timeline with cute photos of his grandkids. 6. Dream role RMD can be described as one of those actors who have played literally every role you can think of in Nollywood movies. Well, he doesn't see it that way. The Delta state born actor believes there is still one role he hasn't played. "I want to play god. It's one of my bucketlist. I played the devil in one of my soon to be released movies. I missed the chance to play god recently. But I want to play god," he revealed during an interview. Pg 03 20 Most Creative African Designer Labels But, it’s harder than it should be to find t’s pretty much impossible to walk amazing black designers to support — into a mall and find black-owned and there aren’t many lists directing Ifashion brands to shop. people where to make a purchase. Even the fact that we live in the glorious So, to make things a little easier, I’ve digital age of shopping doesn’t seem to rounded up 23 of my absolute favorite help; discovering black fashion designers black fashion designers. It’s essential to is still a significant challenge. use my platform as an editor at InStyle to give these talented people some shine. Sure, I’ve personally come across one or two brands while scrolling through Keep clicking through discover some of Instagram, conducting Google searches, the best up-and-coming labels ahead, and have learned about a handful through and even get a refresher on the black organizations like Brandice Daniel’s. runway stars while you’re at it. Designer: Anifa Mvuemba What makes the brand stand out? Anifa Mvuemba, the founder of the Looking for statement pieces that are direct-to-consumer fashion label high-quality but aren’t ridiculously Hanifa recently unveiled her recent expensive? Add Hanifa to your collection despite the pandemic. The bookmarks right now. The brand collection was inspired by her initially started making custom pieces homeland, the and specializing in alterations, but Democratic Republic of Congo. now its collections are blowing up on Hanifa Instagram. Designer: Ade Hassan What makes the brand stand out? speaks Yoruba. Both of her parents Here’s one of the first brands to are in business. She received her recognize that nude means more than advanced education at Duke just beige. Brown skin girls will fall in University in the United States, where love with these multi-tone tights, she studied English and economics. lingerie, and bodysuits. She completed a master’s degree at the School of Oriental and African Hassan was born in April 1984. She Studies in London. was raised partly in Nigeria and Nubian Skin Pg 04 Designer: Dumebi Iyamah What makes the brand stand out? model.