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Green Sands Shandy: A Nostalgic Drink of the 1970s and 80s

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Green Sands Shandy holds a special place in the beverage history of West Africa and the Caribbean, remembered for its refreshing taste and the nostalgia it evokes among those who enjoyed it during its peak decades. Emerging in the late 1970s and gaining wide popularity through the 1980s, it became a light alternative to stronger alcoholic drinks and remains a symbol of a vibrant social era.

Origins and Popularity

Green Sands Shandy became popular in Nigeria, Trinidad, and other markets such as Ghana and Jamaica at a time when young adults sought something more sophisticated than traditional non-alcoholic drinks like Maltina or Chapman, yet milder than full-strength beer. For many, the drink symbolized a gateway between non-alcoholic beverages and beer, making it a common choice at parties, beach outings, and family celebrations.

The brand was associated with Heineken-linked breweries operating in West Africa and the Caribbean, which gave it both international quality control and local appeal. Its presence in bars, hotels, and supermarkets made it a defining beverage of festive gatherings.

Composition and Flavor

Marketed as a unique blend of lager beer mixed with apple- and lime-based soda, Green Sands Shandy offered a crisp and slightly tangy taste. The combination of beer’s subtle bitterness with the sweetness and citrus notes of soda created a flavor that stood out from both conventional soft drinks and traditional alcoholic beverages.

Low Alcohol Content

One of the drink’s defining features was its low alcohol content—around 0.5%. This allowed casual social drinking without the heavy effects of beer and made it acceptable to a broader audience, including those who typically avoided stronger drinks. In the late 1970s and 1980s, when lighter beverages were gaining global attention, Green Sands Shandy captured a growing preference for milder refreshment.

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Historical Roots of the Shandy

The concept of mixing beer with a non-alcoholic beverage long predates Green Sands. Its ancestor, the Shandygaff, originated in 19th-century Britain, where beer was mixed with ginger beer or ginger ale. By the late 1800s, lemonade or lemon soda often replaced ginger ale and the name was shortened to “shandy.” Green Sands Shandy continued this tradition, adapting the idea to tropical markets and proving that global drink culture could evolve and flourish in different regions.

Cultural Significance

Green Sands Shandy is more than just a beverage—it is a cultural memory. In Nigeria, it captured the excitement of the 1980s social scene, where families and friends gathered for parties and community events. In Trinidad and the wider Caribbean, it evokes the warmth of family get-togethers, beach limes, and youthful experiences. Its distinctive green bottle and bright label remain vivid in the memories of those who grew up in that era, a visual cue for the taste of a bygone time.

Even today, conversations about Green Sands Shandy stir a sense of nostalgia. For many, recalling its crisp flavor is like opening a window onto the vibrant social life of the late 20th century.

Sources

Smith, Andrew F. Drinking History: Fifteen Turning Points in the Making of American Beverages. Columbia University Press, 2013.

“History of Shandy.” Oxford Companion to Food and Drink, Oxford University Press, 2015.

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Declare Your Lineage – Royal Family Tells Musician KWAM 1 Over His Interest In Becoming Next Awujale Of Ijebuland

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December 7, 2025

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KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, next in line to produce the new Awujale of Ijebuland, Ogun State, has instructed Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to confirm his family’s royal lineage to validate his membership in the ruling house.

KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

KWAM 1 also stated that his candidacy aligns with Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.

In an interview with Punch, the Chairman of the ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, said only bonafide members of the family would be allowed to participate in the selection process.

Owoyemi explained that KWAM 1, Olori Omooba of Ijebu land and others interested in the stool have been directed to complete the Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form.

According to him, the form, which requires contenders to trace their genealogy back seven generations, ensures that only genuine princes from the family can participate, thereby blocking “strangers” from claiming the throne.

He said, “The first step for anyone interested in contesting for the Awujale throne is to declare their lineage by filling the standard Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form. Once confirmed as a legitimate member of the ruling house, they can then apply for the expression of interest form.

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“We have told him, just like everyone else interested in the Awujale throne, that the first step is to declare his lineage. He will do this by completing the royal lineage data form, showing his full name, which parent and grandparent he descends from, and continuing up to seven generations.

“The completed form will be signed and submitted to the head of the ruling house unit of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, who will affirm that he is a genuine member. Only then will the process move forward.”

Owoyemi emphasised that although the application window for the throne officially closed on December 5, KWAM 1 had been given a five-day extension, which would lapse on December 10.

He noted, “We won’t shut anybody out of picking the next Awujale, but we must ensure that you are a legitimate member of Fusengbuwa. Every right comes with responsibilities. For a royal family, everyone must prove their legitimacy by completing the royal lineage data form.

“When we receive the form, we will review it meticulously. If clarification is needed, we will contact the applicant. We welcome men of influence who will use their influence to enhance the throne, not to claim it, ensuring that what truly belongs to our family is preserved.”

Owoyemi explained that the local government has given them 14 days to select candidates, and the ruling house hopes to have a new Awujale by the second or third week of January 2026.

He added, “The local government has given us 14 days to select candidates, which expires on December 18. After that, the kingmakers have seven days to deliberate and choose one candidate, whose name will be forwarded to the governor.

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“Legally, the government then has 21 days to conduct background checks and security clearance, allowing for objections or protests. After this period, the State Executive Council will ratify the nominee, and the governor will announce the next Awujale, after which coronation rites will commence.

“So, combining the candidate selection, kingmakers’ deliberation, and legal objection period, we are looking at around 42 days. Therefore, we expect the next Awujale to emerge between the second and third week of January.”

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VIDEO: I’m Married But Not In My Husband’s House; I Didn’t Have The Experience Of Living Happily Ever After – Singer Shola Allyson Reveals

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December 7, 2025

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While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sola Allyson, the popular Nigerian gospel singer, has revealed that she is not currently living with her husband.

The musician made this known in her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV.

While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sharing her marital experience, the singer said she has never enjoyed the kind of happiness many people describe.

“I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We live separately. He in his house and I in mine.”

The interviewer asked: “You sang ‘Eji Owuro’, did you experience genuine love from your husband?

She replied, “We lied before. Those older than us didn’t inform us that it’s tough. They made us believe that so long as you both love each other, you will live happily ever after, but it’s a lie.

“That’s not the experience I have. I didn’t have the experience of living happily ever after. I did all I could to make it work.

“Marriage has been a big challenge. I hear people talk about joy in marriage, but I have never experienced it.”

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VIDEO: Shola Allyson Finally Opens Up, Reveals Why She Does Not Reference Jesus In Her Songs

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19 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Shola Allyson, the renowned Nigerian songstress, has opened up on the real reason she avoids mentioning the name of Jesus in all her songs.

Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Reacting to her critics in a post on X, the songstress stated that “No one can bully me into joining their darkness that looks like light because indolent souls find comfort in it”.

Finally revealing her reason for not mentioning Jesus in her songs, Shola Allyson on Saturday during her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV, stated that Jesus did not ask her to do PR for him.

She said “I’m not a religious singer. As I am, I have never introduced myself as a gospel singer. My name is Shola Allyson. I’m a singer”.

Interviewer; “Some people said you don’t mention ‘Jesus’ name’ in all your songs”.

She quickly responded “Jesus did not instruct us to mention his name in songs nor did Jesus ask us to do PR for Him”.

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