A while back I did a post saying I'd answer any questions you guys had and here's what I got. I also had some questions left in my formspring inbox so I thought I'd answer them here.

1. Are you happy?

Yes... mostly. I think I can honestly say now that I am generally happier and more content than I have been in a very long time.

2. Why do you put so much of your private life on your blog?

Because I blog in order to deal with my feelings and stressful situations that I can't emotionally cope with. My therapist things it's great that I have a place to process my feelings and I agree. The fact that other people / the public read my blog is one big coincidence. I primarily blog to keep from losing my mind.

3. As an illustrator would you ever consider doing children's books?

Yes I would!!! ^_^

But the problem is, what if the parents stone me for drawing boobies in their children's books? I think breasts shouldn't be hidden from children but parents these days are so freaking scared of everything (not to mention under the influence of the moralistic hordes of Nigerian society), so I dunno.

4. Do you have a DeviantArt account?

Yep! http://sugabelly.deviantart.com

5. What are you looking forward to?

Paying off all my bills and being debt free!

6. You're an interesting person and a very good artist, do you mind sharing on your blog about how it all started?

Thanks!! ^_^ I started blogging because I needed an outlet for my feelings and emotional / psychological issues and my mother and other people were forever trying to steal my journals so going digital at the time was the obvious way to go. Of course at first absolutely nobody read my blog (that's the way it always is) but by the time people started reading my posts, I was already going through some pretty messed up stuff and needed my blog to cope. I used to draw when I was little and I absolutely loved it, but somewhere along the line I got sucked up in the whole Expectations Placed on a Nigerian Child rubbish coupled with the fact that my mother randomly decided I was going to be a Plastic Surgeon, end of. and came to my school and made me change my subjects from Art to Physics, and Chemistry (which I have NEVER used in my adult life since, so thanks Mom!!), I just stopped drawing. I only picked it up again a year ago, and I haven't looked back since. Drawing rocks. Period.

7. What was your proudest moment?

I honestly think it hasn't happened yet. Or at least I hope it hasn't.

8. If reincarnation was true, who would you like to be born as in your next lifetime?

This is so cliche, but I'd totally want to come back as me. Maybe a seriously prettier me .... with a bigger butt... and wider hips (shallow, yes I know), but as much as I've been (and still am) at odds with myself, when I like me, I think I fucking rock.

9. Without any equivocation, I often enjoy reading your blog.However, I would want you to clear the air on certain issues you mentioned in some of your posts. First, what yardsticks or benchmarks did you use to determine the best school in Nigeria?

I think if a school regularly churns out well-rounded, thinking folks who can hold a decent conversation, come up with decent ideas, and know what they're about then it's a pretty damn good school.

10. Second, don't you think educating Nigerian students about the Biafran war might re-invite hatred and bitterness that we had put behind us as a nation?

Don't you think sweeping it all under the carpet is an insult to the memory of the people who died in the Biafran war? It's extremely important to talk about the secession and the war and examine our issues as a country so that we learn from our past ignorance and start appreciating our differences as Nigerians instead of using them as a platform to launch campaigns of hatred.

11. As traditional igbo culture was a breathtakingly patriarchal one (no inheritance rights for women, primacy of the male in society etc), in focusing on courtesans and footwear are you somewhat whitewashing the oftentimes grim reality of your fore mothers?

Sorry but your information about inheritance rights for women in Igbo culture is wrong. Igbo women have always had inheritance rights. Igbo inheritance is DUAL inheritance not patrilineal inheritance. What this means is that most of what a female child inherits is from their mother and then a limited amount from their father, while most of what a male child inherits is from their father, and then a limited amount from their mother. If you think this system means women end up with less, you'd be surprised. As breadwinners of the family, Igbo women usually had an immense amount of riches to pass on to their daughters while men usually passed on land. Admittedly, there is inequality, in that women weren't getting the same number of opportunities to automatically get land as men, but land can always be bought with money, and since traditionally, Igbo women had the utmost freedom to pursue any kind of business they wanted, there was nothing stopping women from advancing economically in society. Successful women have always been well respected in Igbo society. Also, if you wanted to compare how the concept of intestacy works in the western world as compared to ours, you'd have to read up more about it!

Also, courtesans and footwear are still part of our culture, and I think they are equally important so I like to discuss them!

12. You reject western imperialism, racism and white supremacy, yet embrace their god and religion. And as an igbo catholic your religious leader on earth was a member of the hitler youth. Do you see any contradiction in this?

The Pope isn't "my" religious leader. I'm just as likely to start cooking food because he told me to as I am to start thinking women are inferior to men. If he was a member of the hitler youth then that's his (seriously messed up) problem not mine. And I don't "embrace" anything. I was born into this religion and unfortunately once you've been exposed to something you can't unexpose yourself. Once the idea has been planted you can't get rid of it completely without doubt. This is the reason why most people don't change from their birth religion... because it's very hard to accept the new religion without an enormous amount of doubt. That being said, I am very happy for people who follow Nigerian traditional religions and I think more needs to be done to stop Nigerian discrimination against them. There's a national Mosque and a national Church in Abuja, why isn't there a national Shrine? There really needs to be at least a national Ifa Shrine and a national Odinani shrine in Abuja.

13. How come you know Igbo so well as to be able to write a blog to teach the language. Did you ever study Igbo formally apart from just speaking it at home?

I studied Igbo in school in JS1, but aside from speaking it frequently, I study the language independently.

14. In the pictures on your blog, there is aaaalways some sort of food item present in them. Just an observation lol.. Any explanations for this?

Heh heh!!! ^_^ I like Kit Kat and many other yummy things.

15. Let's go on a diet together! I need to loose weight for my retreat in Vegas next month!!!

Yay! Let's!!! By the way, I was also suggested supplements like TriTrim, which can be acquired at an affordable price with Gundry MD coupons. Heard that they can help manage weight conveniently. Just saying!

16. Is Sugabelly an artist or a graphic designer?

An artist. I'm not a graphic designer, I'm an illustrator. (And hopefully a mangaka)

17. I know this is probably a stupid question, but how did you come up with your artist's signature? Does it mean anything?

Trial and error. It means Sugabelly. And it's not a dumb question.

18. I wrote you earlier, about your pain, about my being mixed race etc. I just want to know that you are happy. You are wonderful and talented, please be happy....

Thanks for writing me! I love all the emails I get. Even the mean ones. And yes, I'm happy now, so thank you.

19. Hi I found your page while doing research on Yoruba art. Do you have any additionnal infos on the Yoruba Box you show there? Thank you for your help & kind regards Jean

Hi Jean, it's from Hamill Gallery. www.hamillgallery.com

20. Do u still keep in touch with HL? do you know if he was affected by the earthquake in japan?

Unfortunately no. I haven't spoken to him since March of this year. I called him when the earthquake happened and his parents and his grandparents are fine and as far as I know noone he knows was hurt in the quake.

21. What made you smile today?

I made the first page of my graphic novel! I'd been putting it off for ages because I was scared. But I feel happy and like I broke through a barrier that was holding me back so I'm really happy.1