The disturbing story of Edward Mordake, the man with two faces

According to a 19th century English myth, Edward Mordrake was born with a second face on the back of his neck and head. Although this extra face could not eat or talk, it would allegedly laugh out loud and even cry.

But that’s not the worst part.

The myth also claims that the face would whisper terrible things to Mordrake in the middle of the night. When he asked doctors to rid him of the monstrosity, they refused to do so because of the risks involved in such a surgery.

If you’re a fan of American Horror Story then you probably remember his character from Season 4, played by Wes Bentley. In the show, Mordrake was forced to commit horrible crimes by his second face.

In a book published in 1896, called Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, George Gould provides more information on Mordrake.

One of the weirdest as well as most melancholy stories of human deformity is that of Edward Mordake, said to have been heir to one of the noblest peerages in England. He never claimed the title, however, and committed suicide in his twenty-third year. He lived in complete seclusion, refusing the visits even of the members of his own family. He was a young man of fine attainments, a profound scholar, and a musician of rare ability. His figure was remarkable for its grace, and his face — that is to say, his natural face — was that of an Antinous. But upon the back of his head was another face, that of a beautiful girl, ‘lovely as a dream, hideous as a devil.’ The female face was a mere mask, ‘occupying only a small portion of the posterior part of the skull, yet exhibiting every sign of intelligence, of a malignant sort, however.’ It would be been seen to smile and sneer while Mordake was weeping.

Mordrake supposedly committed suicide at age 23, unable to handle the thought of living with his ghastly abnormality any longer.

Trump says trained teachers should carry guns to classrooms

The controversial aspirant for the US white house, Donald Trump, has said that he isn’t in favor of requiring teachers to carry guns into U.S. classrooms but believes some of them should be armed.

“I don’t want to have guns in classrooms, although in some cases, teachers should have guns in classrooms, frankly,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said in an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Sunday. “Because teachers, you know — things that are going on in our schools are unbelievable.”

Trump’s comments were in response to Hillary Clinton’s assertion that he would “mandate” U.S. schools arm themselves.

“He’d mandate that every school in America allow guns in classrooms,” Clinton said Saturday at an event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hosted by the Trayvon Martin Foundation. “That’s no way to keep us safe. If you want to imagine what Trump’s America will look like, picture more kids at risk of violence and bigotry. Picture more anger and fear.”

“I’m not advocating guns in classrooms,” Trump said. “But remember, in some cases … trained teachers should be able to have guns in classrooms.”

The former “Celebrity Apprentice” star blasted the former secretary of state’s stance on gun control on Friday in Louisville, where he accepted an endorsement from the National Rifle Association.

Seychelles Carnival: Classic global cultural feast of all time

Seychelles carnival otherwise known as Carnaval International de Victoria held recently was all pomp and celebration of a people’s culture, flair for fun and life in its sweetest form, writes GBENGA OLUBOYE who was part of the celebration.

Seychellois love for life and its celebration to the fullest has never been in doubt. It shines through the moment one sets foot on this pocket of islands, which is one of Africa’s best kept secret that many people across the world are beginning to discover.

If you call it Africa’s new frontier you may not be wrong because it is exactly what it seems to a first time visitor like this reporter who visited the country on the invitation of the country’s Tourism and Culture Minister, Alain St.Ange.

The visit, which turned out to be an historic, memorable and ever cherished one for me, was on the occasion of the celebration of the country’s yearly carnival, which is called Carnaval International de Victoria. It is one of the many events of the people that aptly depict their penchant for life and celebration.

It was an event that was witnessed by a number of tourists from across the world. This is one country where tourism is booming and it is the main source of revenue earner for both the government and the people. Beach and coastal life is on the high here as well as night life but the carnival event is when the country witnesses one of its glorious moments with everybody coming to the party.

It is an occasion for everyone, ranging from the lowly to the highest, children to the aged and government officials, including the president of the country who actually doubles as the main host, to catch fun and get their groove back.

A day before the night of the formal opening ceremony, which held at the Stade Popiler with the president, James Alix Michel in attendance, St. Ange hosted a pre-festival press conference, using the occasion to reel out impressive results about the country’s tourism and the carnival itself.

Just to underscore the importance of the carnival and its growing following, over 23 foreign carnival troupes and 124 media houses’ representatives from across the world, attended the event while a new hotel, 40 chalets Carana Beach, was opened on the eve of the celebration in Mahe, one of its main islands.

Last year the country’s arrival figures, according to the minister, rose by 19 per cent on a year-on-year basis with over 275,000 visitors coming to the islands by air and cruise liners while for this year, in spite of the many global challenges, for the first three months the numbers were already 11 per cent ahead of that of 2015.

“It took the Seychelles 40 years to reach 130,000 arrivals, and in the space of the past seven years we more than doubled that figure. It shows we are doing something right. When a market goes soft, like after Paris, we are now able to accelerate growth from other market places. This development must be safeguarded,” the minister said.

Guests at the media parley were later treated to the world premiere of the film ‘Aldabra, Once Upon An Island’ featuring the Seychelles’ second UNESCO World Heritage site after the Vallee de Mai on the archipelago’s second largest island of Praslin.

Located nearly 1,000 kilometres south of Mahe is the Aldabra atoll, often described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, closer to Madagascar and Mauritius than to the capital, Victoria. Then came the day of the carnival proper, with Victoria, which is the country’s capital city, taking on a new colouration as all the streets’ corners and crannies decked in pomp and celebration from Bois de Rose Avenue to Palm Street, stretching all the way to Manglier Street and filled with people of all colours and different customs amidst colorful floats as the sixth Carnaval International de Victoria got underway.

Leading the roll call were St. Ange; Principal Secretaries of the two departments – Benjamine Rose and Anne Lafortune; and the Seychelles Tourism Board team led by the Chief Executive, Sherin Naiken, with the parade commencing at 3pm from Bois de Rose Avenue, and down 5th Avenue.

Also in the mixed crowd were such notable personalities like the former president of Seychelle, Sir James Mancham, vice president Danny Faure, designated minister Vincent Meriton, and other ministers as well as government officials, and a number of international dignitaries, including South Africa’s Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom; Madagascar’s Tourism Minister, Roland Ratsiraka and the Conseillere Regionale of Reunion Island, Faouzia Vitry.

Just before the outburst of energies and boisterous celebration, the formal opening ceremony witnessed two brief speeches by both the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Ms. Sherin Naiken and St. Ange who used the occasion to also showcase his trilingual nature by addressing the crowd in English, Kreol and French.

In her opening remarks, Naiken said: ‘‘The Seychelles carnival makes a strong statement at a time of great international turmoil. The Carnaval International de Victoria points the way to a better world – one in which we can live together side by side with no regard for differing ethnicity, faith or political persuasion.”

While St. Ange attempted to paint a picture of what the celebration holds for the people as he said that “through culture you will find your soul, and through culture you will consolidate your respective tourism industries.”

The performance of the annual carnival theme song was one of the opening acts, which set the tone for the celebration with the whole crowd erupting in feat of celebration and enveloped by sounds of music and later by enchanting dances and gyrations by the likes of the steel bands, Brazil, China, Vietnam, India, Sweden, South Korea, and Ethiopia alongside South Africa and Reunion Island. Both were the two co-host countries for this year’s carnival event.

In his speech St. Ange referred to the Seychelles carnival festival as the “United Nations of Culture,” which it truly turned out to be judging by the diverse cultural floats and countries that paraded the streets alongside the host country.

It was a perfect feast with the natural elements in their best form, as the weather was clement and the night balmy, cooperated for Seychellois to once again deliver a perfect carnival celebration, a feat for which the country and city of Victoria have become famous over the years.

A total of 37 floats were on parade on the day with each displaying rich and diverse theatrics of music, dance, magical acts and singing of all sorts. What was quite apparent and perhaps the most attractive and enchanting element of the carnival, was it global fascination as pervading the air and unfolding before the people was a classic world cultural performances because it was truly cesspool of some sorts for the various cultures of the world to answer to their names in a very enthralling and appealing manner for the people to savour.

St. Ange put the entire celebration and configuration of people in attendance in better perspective when he said: “Showcasing one’s culture is putting the people of our respective countries in the forefront. Today, the world needs to understand each other, as to know each other, if we are to see a more understanding world. Seychelles has become the melting pot for the world through culture.” Besides, the tourism and culture minister also waxed lyrical when she spoke glowingly of the theme of the carnival, which is that of unity.

“Touching on the theme for this year’s event the 2016 Carnaval International de Victoria is dedicated to unity. Here you are safe and will be safe because we, Seychelles, are proud to say we are friends of all and enemies of none, and here in Seychelles immaterial of your political affiliation, immaterial of the colour of your skin, or immaterial of your religious belief, you are welcome, and you can all stand side by side, walk side by side, and shake hands with each other, because we are all part of the children of this world – our world.”

The Notting Hill Roadshow Carnival, which was the biggest float, came in the rear and it made quite an impression on the people, gathering huge following along the way and entertaining the people to some fascinating and enthralling displays.

But not before the crowd soaking in high sound and scintillating performances from the likes of the Brazilian Momo Kings Group from Sao Paulo, Indian dancers and drummers from Réunion Island with such local heroes as Patrick Victor, Joe Samy and the Mardilo dancers from La Digue and other places within the country, creating such an ecstatic mood with the joyous sounds of ‘karnaval de karnaval Mae Sesel’ filling the air.

The night performance at the stadium climaxed with an exciting and breathtaking fireworks display. Sponsors of the carnival included Air Seychelles, Etihad, Airtel Seychelles, and among others also Kenya Airways while the over 26 countries in attendance included South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, China, Sweden, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, Reunion Islands, United Kingdom, Cuba, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Italy.

The three days global fiesta was brought to a befitting close with the children’s carnival, which debuted this year and a Family Fun Day in Freedom Square. Stage performances included high-energy dance and music from Mauritius (that brass) and Réunion with plenty tea and pandas from China, pyramidal acrobatics from India, elaborate costumes and an emotive soundtrack from Indonesia, and an excited drummer from Ethiopia. Then there were prizes presentations to the different groups for their performance thus officially putting a lid on the celebration this year.

However, the city celebrated far into the night with all night parties set up at different spots by the people. To think that the carnival is only six years old as it was first introduced in 2011 and has become such a success, so magic, artistic and entertaining as well as defining the offerings of the country and Sights and scenes from the carnival. its tourism, said St. Ange, is something for which the people must be appreciated because they fully embraced it and sold it to the world.

Therefore, he was full of praises for his fellow Seychellois for making the country proud. One of the local people best described the feeling of the country when he said that “carnaval brings out our identity as a people. I have been part of this since its inception and I am happy to see the different cultures of the world in my small capital of Mahe.”

Winners

Notting Hill Carnival came top as the best international float making it the fifth for the band, which had taken part in all six editions of the carnival. Reunion Island and Indonesia trailed behind respectively. The Ile Perseverance float won the prize for best local float; Perseverance is a reclaimed island adjoined to the Seychelles main island, Mahé. Seychelles third largest island, La Digue, retained the title for best cultural float won last year, depicting the economic activities that take place at L’Union Estate.

South Korea and Zambia won the second and third prize respectively in the best cultural float category. The Seychelles Tourism Academy charted away the prize for best school float, while China and India were acclaimed for their wonderful and exceptional showpieces La Retraite showcasing the pirates theme won the best kiddie float.

Nigeria’s aviation to suffer worse decline 2016, NBS forecasts 

The aviation sector caters for 3.5 billion passengers globally and is said to be a major facilitator for as much as 25 percent of world trade annually, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But given the global macro challenges, industry sources estimate that air transport business in some African countries have declined by US$1 per passenger since the slide in oil prices two years counting. 

Nigeria happens to be in the bull’s eye of crashing oil prices, yet IATA could see huge potential for air transportation in Nigeria, owing to the country’s population size put at 170 million. The association held that getting the huge population into flying required a sound business policy that would bring about low cost airlines. It also gave a yardstick to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure that the nation’s airports become fully functional if this potential is to be realized. 

The state of airports in the country hasn’t won a pass mark yet as the remodelling exercise is still underway while some airports are already rated worse in the process. But even with that, latest reports from the National Bureau of Statistics show that air transport grew by 3.7 percent year-on-year in 2015 and contributed 0.1 percent to total GDP, the equivalence of N63bn or (US$317m).

The report showed an increase of aircraft movement in/out of Nigerian airports in 2015 put at 61,692 approximately 6.9 percent. However, the NBS noted that in the third and fourth quarters of 2015, there were 11.3 per cent and 14.3 per cent fewer domestic flights than in the same quarter of 2014 respectively, which resulted in a total of 46,157 and 50,686 flights in the third and fourth quarters.

It also added that the year-on-year declines in the number of international flights recorded 3.3 per cent and 10.5 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of 2015 respectively, which resulted in a total of 11,547 international flights in third quarter of 2015 and 11,006 in the fourth.

The Bureau explained that there was a large quarterly increase in domestic flights in the fourth quarter of 2015 (of 9.8 per cent) international flights saw a decline of 541 flights, or 4.7 per cent, reversing the increase of 344 flights (3.1 per cent) recorded in the third quarter.

This revelation indicates that the difference between the number of domestic and international aircraft to pass through Nigeria airports tended to be smaller than the difference between the number of domestic and international passengers, reflecting the fact that international aircraft tended to be larger, and therefore carried more passengers.

The NBS, also recorded a total of 89.5 per cent of cargo movements across the country in the last quarter of 2015 stating that whereas the third quarter of 2015 saw a year on year decline of 13.9 per cent, the fourth quarter saw a year on year increase of 12.8 for the airport.

The bureau said that the third quarter of 2015 saw a quarterly increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Nigerian airports of 724,792Kg or 1.8 per cent, to reach 41,636,713kg.

The bulk of the weight of cargo moved through Nigerian Airports as the NBS declared, went through MMA in Lagos during the second half of 2015.

The data added, “This airport accounted for 91 per cent and 88.2 per cent of the weight in the third and fourth quarters; the decline in the share between these two periods is in spite of an increase in the weight of cargo to move through MMA of 14.8 per cent.

“The decline was mainly the result of a large increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Kano Airport between these periods. Whereas in the third quarter of 2015 the weight of cargo to pass through Kano was 1,681,772kg, this rose by 2,474,862kg (147.2 per cent) to 4,156,634kg in the fourth quarter.

“As a result, Kano significantly increased its share of cargo between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, from 3.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent. Port Harcourt also saw an increase over this period, from 2 per cent to 2.7 per cent, as despite a year on year decrease in the weight of cargo moved of 4.6 per cent, this decrease was considerably less than for Abuja (16.3 per cent) or Calabar (44.4 per cent).”

Typically, the report highlighted the gains in business activities at Nigeria’s airports in the previous years. But with the current lagging indicators hitting hard on the industry – fuel scarcity, crash of the naira giving rise to high maintenance cost, the NBS forecasts that the aviation industry may suffer the worst of times in its history this year – 2016, if measures are not employed by government to tackle these challenges head-on.

Reports on airline business performance released by the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA) in Q1 2016, showed that flight delays recorded 8,478 while 281 flights were cancelled within the period under review. These records are the highest of all times compared to other previous quarterly reviews.

The same report held that Arik Air, Nigeria’s air giant of the moment, topped the chart with 2,801 delayed flights and 99 cancelled flights out of the 4,926 flights it operated in the first quarter. Second on the list was Aero Contractors, which recorded 1,762 delayed flights and 94 cancellations out of its 2,823 flights operated in Q1. Other airlines like Air Peace, Azman, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland were also captured in the report.

This one worrisome signal has been blamed on scarcity of Jet A1 -- Aviation fuel – by the airlines. In a statement, the Arik spokesman, Mr. Ola Adebanji said: “With over a hundred flights daily, this limited supply of aviation fuel has resulted, regrettably, into flight delays and outright cancellations.”

Should the fuel enigma persists, some airlines may not stand the hard times. It appears Aero is currently having the toughest of times as the airline hasn’t been keeping to its schedules lately, raising doubts about its survival in the face of managerial challenges and the prevailing doldrums in the industry.

Crash of the naira is another snag that poses great danger in the future of Nigeria’s aviation. It has prompted hikes in air fares, particularly on foreign routes, slowed down passenger movement and frequency of inbound and outbound flights. Some of the foreign airlines – Virgin Atlantic and Iberia -- are already contemplating pulling out of the country due to inability to repatriate their revenues into Pounds and Dollars without losing the value.

Seychelles, Reunion discuss inter-island cooperation to boost tourism

If you haven’t seen a honeymooners haven with aquatic playground and inspiring shorelines, you might just make a trip to Seychelles, an archipelago located 1000 miles east of the African coast in the Indian Ocean at the crossroad between Asia and Africa. And if you ever wish for a dazzling mesmeric experience in a real tropical environment meshed with the active Piton de la Fournaise volcano, natural amphitheaters formed by collapsed volcanoes, offshore reefs, beaches and Creole culture, Reunion Island would be the right choice.

The authorities of these great Islands have officially signed a symbiotic relationship to attract tourists, honeymoon prospects and vacation seekers to their alluring destinations domiciled in the Indian Ocean.

The Conseilliere Regionale of Reunion Island, Faouzia Vitry, and Sophie
Jasmin, the Cultural Director of the Island tied the business knot recently with the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange.

The ground-breaking synergy took place at the 2016 Carnival International Victoria of the Reunion Island held in April. Mme Vitry and Mme Jasmin were the Official representatives of the French Insular (Reunion) alongside Sherin
Naiken, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Lynda Mow Sim, Seychelles' Conseillere Regionale, was also part of the Island’s long cultural delegation that participated at the carnival. Both the Reunion and
Seychelles delegations discussed the firming-up of a working program that will be formalized in the coming weeks when Reunion’s President, Didier Robert with Mme Vitry will visit Seychelles.

With this bilateral union, the Islands are looking forward to a stress-free cooperation that will benefit their tourism, culture and trade by removing all barriers at their international borders and allowing hitch-free air connectivity.

Reunion is a French Insular with a population running close to 900,000, according to a 2015 report. It also has a landmass covering 2,512 kilometers almost the size of Lagos, Nigeria. It has a tropical climate, one cooled by southeasterly trade winds. Those winds help supply copious rainfall, driving an occasional cyclone into the area. The rainy season runs November through March. Daily highs in the mid80s are commonplace, and overall, mean temperatures average in the high 70s; with slightly cooler conditions in the higher elevations.

The Seychelles are definitely one of the world's most beautiful tropical Islands. The archipelago consists of 115 Islands spread over 1.3 million km² of the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, with a total land area of 444 km², making the Island nation just about the size of Andorra, or 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

About half of the islands are of granitic origin, with narrow coastal strips and central ranges of hills rising up to 900 m. The other half are coral atolls, many of them uninhabited.

The relationship between Reunion and the Seychelles is not misplaced, as both are neighbours in the Indian Ocean, use the same official language – French –, same culture, same landscape and same business ideologies.