Dafe's Joint

Marriage is overrated

2011-08-04T12:55:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

“I noticed that your neighbour has moved out of the house”

“You mean Peter? Is he not your neighbour, too? I only discovered that two days ago when I ran into him at the cinema. I was complaining to him about the light situation and he looked blank and couldn’t say much”

“There was no way he would have known if he had not been staying at home. I don’t know what man would abandon his wife.”

“Bimpe, the way you are sounding, it looks like someday your husband might abandon you for always jumping into conclusions. Who told you he abandoned his wife?”

“I will pretend I did not hear that remark.”

“It’s true now. You just think a man will get up and leave his home, his wife and his property and take refuge in a peaceful place for no reason at all? And certainly Peter doesn’t look like he is psychologically disturbed to me, well not until I saw him at the cinema; he looked disturbed.”

“Ehen! Really?”

“Something to the effect that his wife is driving him round the bend and he just decided to move out before something dangerous happens.”

“Haha, that is bad.”

“Well, I don’t have details to give you if that is what you are waiting for. But I seriously think it is a wise decision to take all necessary precautions.”

“Men and their game. Abeg talk another matter. Are you sure he has not found a new lover and moved in with her?”

“Then the women should begin to examine themselves on why a man would go AWOL after just six months of marriage and abandon you.”

“Tam, you seem to suggest that people should just pack up a marriage because there is a minor misunderstanding.”

“Did you say minor, Bimpe? What is minor about someone you call your wife, your partner threatening to ruin you or poison you over whatever? You know me Bimpe, when a relationship is not working and simple issues are turning into a shouting competition it is best one of the parties involved packs out before you have a case in your hand. I think this marriage thing is just overrated. The church, the society and family want you to sit in an abusive relationship and expect it to work somehow.”

“It cannot be that bad now that they are not able to resolve their differences in an amicable way and move on. The thing is that you men just want to dominate always. You want to dictate always forgetting that a woman has her own opinion about how things should be done.”

“That is even a small matter. A woman can have her way a million times for all I care. But can you imagine Debbie slapping Peter?”

“Wow! That is, err... I don’t know what to say”

“It is good to see you speechless sometimes. What if he decided to teach her a good lesson that a wife is not supposed to lay her hands on her husband other than in a loving way?”

“That will be barbaric now Tamuno.”

“Ohoo. Really it will be barbaric, abi?”

“It takes a real man to walk away from a woman when he has been abused.”

“I agree with you but I also wish that women could be taught some lessons too when they won’t gag their tongues and launch into verbal assaults and throw expletives like they are going to be banned in a second.”

“I guess, I will agree with you on this one; walk away. Peter has handled the matter better than that ambassador that beat his wife. How can a man with that kind of position stoop as low as to beating his wife? That is really crass.”

“Have you read the man’s response to the accusation? Apparently there has been some kind of history of violence on the part of the woman from Nigeria to Tokyo to London and now to Nairobi. The woman’s violent behaviour does not know borders or respect diplomatic decorum and etiquette.”

“Did you expect that the man would just sit idly by and not present a story? I read it and I blame the man for inviting the woman back to his post in Kenya.”

“He was only trying to help her”

“More like he was trying to make himself look good in the eyes of the world. Remember, he married another wife at a point and that marriage did not last. He wanted a woman to fulfil a role and hold the office of a wife. Typical of an African man; marriage makes you feel responsible even if you do not act responsible. So it was a case of the devil you know better than the angel you do not.”

“Well, I guess you never know the devil. Brings us back to my point, flee from every appearance of evil.”

“You men always think you can tame a woman.”

“And we certainly won’t be thinking of taming if their acts are not so wild.”

“But do you think the woman is a gold digger?”

“Bimpe, I think every woman is a gold digger. It just depends on the tool they are digging with. But that is a subject for another day. The matter now is that people should not think an abusive relationship would go away. Our man in Nairobi obviously thought that giving that woman a status of prestige would solve the problem. The woman too should have just respected herself and continue to enjoy the perks till they go for another posting.”

“A man will never know what a woman wants.”

“My friend, Wole Oguntokun, said that much in his play, The Anatomy of a Woman. But while they are busy scheming, they should be careful not to drag the name of the country in the mud. They whole matter just looks like the script of a Nollywood movie, which I hear is very popular in Kenya.”

http://www.inlng.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=35703&print=1

Toast to Freedom Park

2011-05-28T08:52:00.000+01:00

Dafe Ivwurie

Revellers smoking, clutching bottles of their preferred lager or soft drinks, even water and dancing to the heavy beats of the music of 9ice, Naeto C, D’banj, D Prince, Duncan Mighty and several other new age chart toppers from the club of musicians who refer to their music as Naija hip-hop. The young boys (and girls too) knew all the songs, they sang along, they danced rhythmically, the new age dance - the woman in front, the man holding her waist and both of them gyrating back and forth and sideways, sweat dripping down their faces.

No. It is not a club, neither is it one of those carnivals in Rio or Notting Hill. It is twenty-first century Ikoyi Prisons. And no, these were not prisoners. They were free people, fun seekers, partiers and merrymakers within the confines of what was once a notorious holding place for troublemakers, political prisoners and those awaiting the hangman’s noose.

Back track to the twentieth century, to the political history of Nigeria and the names that you would find behind those walls will read Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macaulay, Michael Imoudu and Adeyemo Alakija, just to mention a few. They were either jailed for daring to ask for freedom from the colonialists or incarcerated for treasonable felony, for trying to “subvert the unity of Nigeria.” We may not go into a political discourse here as to whether the reasons these men were held as inmates in this place were justified, but we may draw a lesson or two on life and freedom and what they mean to different generations.

Sir Herbert Macaulay and Chief Michael Imoudu were among the first generation of Nigerians that began to ask for independence from the colonial masters. Their agitation and political activities were what landed them in the then dreaded Ikoyi Prisons. These were founding fathers of Nigerian democracy, of the rights that we now enjoy to organise political associations and organise ourselves into government that will benefit the people either on the long or short term.

For the men mentioned above, they probably never knew if their struggles would yield any tangible result. But for some of the characters in the scene described in the opening paragraph, they probably never knew the history that place holds or the history that these men wrote with their lives.

We have enjoyed 50 years of self rule and the journey has been long and hard for majority of Nigerians and it was proper that this once iconic landscape and piece of real estate of great notoriety be turned into something of value; a place where history can be learnt, a place where the human desire for freedom is perpetuated and given space and the wings to soar.

I am happy that this place was not sold to the banks, multi nationals and the money bags, who would have broken it down and built some money spinning high rise of no meaningful impact to the common man.

But greater kudos must go to Theo Lawson, that architect of impeccable reputation for conceptualising the idea of a Freedom Park out of the Old Ikoyi Prisons; of bringing out the beauty of modern Nigeria from the ashes of colonial and chequered history.

Since the commissioning by Babatunde Raji Fashola, governor of Lagos State, the Freedom Park has hosted dozens of cultural, dramatic and arts festival, the last being the CORA (Committee for Relevant Arts) stampede on Yeni Kuti at 50 and discourse of Nollywood as it is today.

Ten or 15 years ago, this same kind of event would have held in the premises of the Goethe Institute or the French Cultural Centre, which were the unofficial but de facto ministries of culture in Nigeria. The directors of these institutions would have sat at the head of the table to pontificate about us, our culture; our way of life, our music, our drama, our art, our being and point us in the direction to go. We had to defer to them because we did not have the venue or resources.

Today, Freedom Park provides that opportunity for big celebrations like the Black Heritage Festival where what used to be the hangman’s noose has been turned into a stage that hosted Ajantala Pinocchio by Bode Sowande; where the grounds that hold the invisible footprints of men once incarcerated now tremble under the feet of dancers stomping to the contemporary groove of Nigerian musicians.

Fashola hit the nail on the head and prophetically pronounced, “This is why we now christen it Freedom Park because it was a road to our freedom and we intend to keep it as a favoured destination to tourists and all those who seek freedom as a memorial in honour of all those eminent and illustrious nationalists who protested against and successfully ended colonial rule and dominion in Nigeria.”

The redeveloped site is now, indeed, the new destination on the Lagos social and tourism map.

On Broad Street, opposite Island Maternity, behind the tall archaic walls of an old prison there is rebirth and a cry for cultural freedom midwifed by Nigerians, for Nigerians; one that will make the founding fathers of a free Nigeria smile in their resting places and say “truly the labours...were not in vain.”

Trending controversy

2011-05-09T10:35:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

“Ol’ boy did you hear that Big Brother has started again?”

“Are you referring to America killing Osama bin Laden?”

“Who is talking about that? Do you not have time for softer issues? Must life always be about war, politics and where politicians are moving money to?”

“Well, I guess that is what defines our every day existence now; war, politics and thieving politicians. Are you not heartbroken by all the poverty, underdevelopment and gloom around you? There is more to life than a bunch of jobless children locked in a house full of booze and made to waste away in idleness while feeding the eyes of the entire world with their body parts. Since when did voyeurism become an African pastime? When I tell you that Africa is at the receiving end of the negative aspects of globalisation, you tell me that I refuse to see the bigger picture, that I am too negative in my analysis of situation.”

“I beg calm down jor. You over analyse issues. I agree that some of those boys and girls are dimwits but surely some of them have represented their countries, their families and themselves well. Besides, I think that the programme unites the youths of Africa; it makes us see how we are not so different from one another, how there can be a United States of Africa. Globalisation is not so bad because technology has brought us closer, you know the facebook, twitter and all the social networks on the worldwide web.”

“You miss the point, don’t you? United States of Africa? You know that will never happen; forget all that ranting by Ghaddafi. Did Africa not embark on unification before Europe? But today we have a more cohesive, more united and better organised Europe with the success of the EU. Technology is what the west has used to deceive you people just like they deceived your forefathers with looking glasses and religion in the past. How are your people taking advantage of the cyber space? Fraud, internet scam, that’s how.”

“Still you over analyse issues. We have contributed very positive things to the worldwide web than you ever give credit for; there are countless ezines and blogs pushing Nigerian contemporary culture to the fore on the Internet. Remember that the last election was largely successful because of effective real-time reporting by the youth of this country, many of them who have never voted before, got on the bandwagon and contributed their quota to ensuring that the elections were credible. So you see, it’s not all doom and gloom.”

“I hear you. But that still doesn’t make Big Brother a show for any responsible adult to watch when there are more important things like killing Osama happening in the news. I mean, don’t you just love the Americans; they waited 10 years to avenge the death of their citizens in the hands of those terrorists.”

“Yea, while their President was playing big brother watching the ‘movie’ real time. I find all that surreal...”

“My guy, forget surrealism. But if you must, what could be more surreal than a bunch of heartless fellows flying fully loaded commercial airplanes into high-rise buildings? You would agree with me that that changed the world as we know it. As for Obama watching the operation live, I thought it was a smart thing to do before people start coming up with all sorts of conspiracy theory. I hope you know some Americans do not believe that the guy is an American; they don’t believe that he was born in Hawaii.”

“Are you minding Donald Trump? He won’t get anywhere with all that. But I am happy for Obama. The guy told them that America had the capabilities of smoking Osama out of his hole. Right from the beginning he told them to wind down the war on Iraq and focus on finding America’s number one enemy. That is great insight for someone who has had no military or intelligence training. Just three years into his administration he has delivered on his most important campaign promise. I just hope that our politicians are watching and learning on how to deliver on campaign promises.”

“You are obviously smitten by that guy, Obama. Well, I offer you two Nigerians that you should show a lot of respect for at the moment.”

“Who are they?”

“Fashola and Amaechi.”

“I hope they can sustain the momentum in their second term and not get drawn in by complacency. But it is President Goodluck Jonathan that I want to see action from. He needs to deal with violence that is fast becoming a culture in this country.”

“On the Jonathan matter, me I’m not holding my breath. I want the guy to surprise me and it is not the violence that is his greatest challenge; I believe that violence should be tackled, but I beg the economic issues are more compelling these days. What really divides us in this country is the increasing gap between the poor and the rich, the haves and the have nots occasioned by the collapse of the industries and the entrenchment of corruption by the political and business class. Give people jobs, give them something to do and see whether the violence you are talking about will not end.”

“Much as you have a point, you have to realise that the Arab Revolution was spearheaded by professionals – doctors, lawyers and students – who were fed up with the way thing were going in their country. So it is not only enough to give the youth something to do, the government has to create an enabling environment. The same things that we were clamouring for 20 year ago are still the same issues today - power supply, good roads, qualitative education and water supply. It seems to me that rocket science is even easier to comprehend these days than how to provide basic amenities in this country. It’s a shame.”

“So what are you doing this weekend?”

“Soccer o, I’m watching the entire Premiership games, particularly the Manchester United and Chelsea game on Sunday. And I am hoping Chelsea shocks Man U. Their own don too much. I hope you know they can end up winning nothing this season.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

So Broadway brought Fela to Lagos

2011-05-02T10:42:00.000+01:00

I never saw Fela Anikulapo Kuti perform live anywhere, not at the Shrine, his spiritual and musical enclave where fans, followers, protégés and wannabes congregated for what could be referred to as a convocation of the faithful, not at the countless places he performed before his demise.

I was cultured to be contented with his philosophy that blared from my father’s Grundig vinyl player and speakers that was amplified by a Kenwood amplifier. His words and ideas, which I came to know as Felasophy, his sound, big, loud, elaborate and delightfully long-winded made from a fusion of jazz, highlife and the big band combined to create what is now known all over the world as Afrobeat, was part of what I had to listen to every weekend when my father played DJ and was trying to impress us that he had an eclectic taste in music. He would also play Handel, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Gustav Mahler amongst other classical greats.

I took to Fela quite easily probably because I could relate to the language and the issues that he sang about rather than for his musicianship; I was completely smitten by the latter after I started studying music and understanding the role of musical instruments and their arrangements in ensemble. Fela was a genius. He brilliantly brought the colour, energy and character of the musical instruments to life in one lively orchestra that lives in your head after the music’s last cadence.

That was what Fela in Lagos did.

Afrobeat may be about Fela, his idiosyncrasies and wild life of women, weed and war waged on him by the establishment and the ones that he also instituted against numerous oppressive military and civilian governments, the Broadway re-enactment made it all beautiful, classy and sassy. I guess it had to be to appeal to the politically correct taste of some people who were too scared, too prude and too fly to visit the shrine when the chief priest was alive and doing his crude non-conformist thing.

Sahr Ngaujah, the primo oumo, may not look like Fela; he however made up for it with the energy he brought to the stage and the good understanding of the character he was playing. Playing an energetic, iconic and revered character on stage or in a movie could be the most difficult venture any actor can ever embark upon, Sahr rose up to the occasion squarely just like Morgan Freeman ‘killed’ the Madiba role in ***Invictus***. If Sahr had any flaw it will be that he ate his words sometimes at end of some sentences betraying his true accent.

The trinity of Fela’s deity (I am not one of those who believe in that deity) were present on the night; I speak of the sound, the word and the energy. As with the Trinity of the Creator, the three are inseparable.

The whole movement was backed by Antibalas, the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band modelled after Fela’s African 70 band. Fela’s music was replicated note for note, nuance for nuance, bringing you to a place of complete adoration and pride that something from Africa, nay Nigeria has crossed borders and influenced cultures. The intensity and stamina from the stage was reinforced by the dance routines, the multimedia application and the synergy between them.

The conversation has arisen on why it had to take America to bring Fela to Nigeria, to the world. The simple truth is that, as with almost everything in this country, a project dies at conception because of vested interest, lack of structure and unprofessionalism. I doubt if we would have been able to pull it off. Now, do not get me wrong, we have the personnel to do it; after all, Fela’s children and family are still alive to provide some perspective to his being, most members of the Egypt 80 band are also still very much around to help re-enact some of the sounds that they helped Fela to create, we also have some of the best trained theatre artistes around who can recreate the Fela story from the eyes of a Nigerian in a language that we can understand. The whole entertainment industry in Nigeria has a question to answer.

In Nigeria, we love imported things. Fela had a word for it, ‘colo mentality’.

In spite of his shortcomings, Fela’s image will always loom larger than the lives of the unknown soldiers and those who ordered them to rape defenceless women, maim and kill people who were only armed with music during that infamous Kalakuta raid. Not that I think that music is powerless, it is just that I shake my head in pity at the stupidity of those who think that they can kill a message by killing the messenger. No messenger is bigger than the message; Fela was certainly not bigger than the message, he took the message seriously at the risk of losing his life.

So Broadway may think that they brought Fela to Lagos; they only gave us the show, the razzmatazz and showed us how to celebrate legends, but the real experience belongs to us. I guess Broadway can only celebrate him, it is our turn to immortalise him.

Basketmouth's 'The Lord of the Ribs': My thoughts

2010-10-20T09:44:00.003+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Last Sunday, Bright Okpocha, the dreadlock-spotting popular comedian known as Basketmouth, staged a comedy show at the prestigious and newly built Expo Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. The show tagged “The Lord of the Ribs” was to celebrate his 10th year on stage and it paraded top Nigerian comedy acts along with invited comedians from South Africa, America and the United Kingdom. By all accounts, it was an impressive show that lived up to all the hype and publicity it got from the print and electronic media.

Perhaps, the only comedian who has staged anything bigger than what Basketmouth did is the impresario himself, the Don of the comedy clan, Alibaba, when he celebrated his 20 years on stage as a comedian and master of ceremonies per excellence.

I will not attempt to analyse the performance of the men and woman who graced the stage, because they all gave very good account of themselves and justified why the host invited them. Comedy, like music, is a universal language. At every point in time in our lives, we all feel the need to laugh, to see the brighter side of life in spite of the whatever difficulty we go through. Sometimes, in the midst of all the chaos and uncertainties around us, we manage to bring out the funny side of life; and the comedians are adept at doing this.

The success of the show brings to the fore a number of issues – on a personal level for Bright, on a wider level, for the comedy industry and even much bigger level for Nigeria.

Basketmouth was doing a diploma at the University of Benin when Alibaba, the Delta State born pioneer of stand up comedy spotted him during a show he was anchoring in one of his visits to the Ugbowo campus of the university. Bright had been invited to perform as a rapper and in the middle of his rhymes and reason he would throw some banters and ‘yabbies’ at the audience. Alibaba thereafter invited and encouraged him to abandon being a rapper and embrace stand up comedy. That was in 2000. Today, the protégé has become a major force in the make-people-laugh venture, a testimony to talent, resilience, consistency and I must add, to Basketmouth’s humility and readiness to learn, take criticism and the ability to carve his own niche.

But the greater kudos goes to Alibaba, for being able to spot a talent and redirect the energy and the destiny of the young lad from music to comedy. It takes faith, courage, belief in oneself and chosen career to convince another to follow you. Alibaba had no mentor in the true sense of the word, just precursors and forerunners in the likes of, Babasala, Aluwe, Samanja and Jagua. Although names like John Chukwu and Muhammed Danjuma were fully entrenched in the entertainment circles, Alibaba made stand up comedy a profession and anybody who introduces himself as one need to give him that respect, if possible pay him tithes for taking the lead. Well, his colleagues already call him the Grand Comedian of the Federal Republic, GCFR. May be the federal government should begin to think of a national honour for him in recognition of his vision, pioneering work and entrepreneurial spirit in a field of endeavour that was not taken seriously.

The lord of the Ribs was a first of its kind event. It was the first time anybody would bring international comedy acts to Nigeria. What that signifies is that the entertainment industry in Nigeria is big. Entertainment as a cultural phenomenon has always had the power to cross borders, build bridges, cement relationships and create a platform for peace and unity. Nollywood, the Nigerian music scene and now the Nigerian comedy industry are the truly Nigerian exports that have defined us positively in the international community. Nigerians actors now collaborate with their counterparts in Europe and America with already released flick like ‘Ije’, which starred Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and the yet to be released ‘Anchor Baby’ by Omoni Oboli. If you watch Big Brother, the Mnet reality TV hit show, you would notice that seventy percent of the music played at intervals in the house is by Nigerian artistes and the interesting fact is that housemates from other African countries know these artistes and their music as if they come from the same country.

The most interesting performances of the night for me at the lord of the ribs show were that of Kevin J, the Peckham born British comedian and Ndumiso, the very intelligent Xhosa South African. Both of them literally tore down the borders, if you will, the walls, the way the Berlin walls that divided East and West Germany were crushed in that famous unification. There are hordes of Nigerians in Peckham, just like there are in Johannesburg and Nigerians, irrespective of whether you have visited those two cities, are quite familiar with the cross cultural linkages.

Comedy might very well be the new type of diplomacy; we poke fun and laugh at each other’s idiosyncrasies and come out not feeling insulted or feeling that our national pride has been violated. Kevin and Ndumiso did just that in their performances.

I am not sure how much money went into the planning of the very commendable event, but it is heart warming and noteworthy that international brands support this effort by a single Nigerian with a plan and a vision. The success is not Bright’s; the success is for the Nigerian spirit of determination and drive to succeed when the world does not give you a chance to.

I remember my first interview with Basketmouth about seven years ago and how he was filled with trepidation about starting ‘laffs and jamz’, his first shot at being a comedy impresario. It looked like a dream too big to achieve back then, but he pulled it off just like he pulled off ‘the lord of the ribs’.

By next year, the O2 arena is expected to play host to the UK edition. This is an opportunity for western media to celebrate Nigeria positively. A five minute news feature would do a lot of good for all the negativity that have been reported.

Duke’s Assignment For Jega’s INEC

2010-07-24T10:28:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Donald Duke does not cut the look of a typical Nigerian politician and certainly does not speak like one.

We may not go into his mien, panache and graciousness, which in truth, make you look upon him with a sense of admiration and trust. However, it is his recent moves and utterances that should come under sharp focus.

Well, it is no news to those who follow Nigerian politics that elections are rigged in this country and I guess we can fathom in our minds the extent to which politicians go to win elections. Fathom no more, because Mr. Duke has just put flesh on all the figments of your imaginations of how elections are rigged in Nigeria.

Donald Duke is someone who should know, having been governor of Cross River State for two terms from 1999 to 2007. In a recent extempore speech to pro democracy Save Nigeria Group, in Abuja, the former governor delivered a candour’s niche remark of how governors rig elections in Nigeria.

It is important for you, like they say, to hear it from the horses mouth: “This is what happens; the resident electoral commissioner (REC) is usually from another state. The electoral officers, they move around. They are usually from that state, but for the conduct of elections itself, you would probably move from Cross River to Akwa Ibom or to Abia, but these musical chairs don’t mean anything.

“When the resident electoral commissioner comes before the elections are conducted, of course, when he comes to the state, usually, he has no accommodation; monies have not been released for the running or conduct of the elections and all that because we always start late. He pays a courtesy call on the governor. It’s usually a televised event you know, and of course he says all the right things.

“Your Excellency, I am here to ensure that we have free and fair elections and I will require your support.”

Mr. Duke went into some details of how a governor can ‘support’ a REC, including providing comfortable accommodation, cars, funds and even personnel as a run up to ensuring that he discharges his duty of delivering free and fair elections in the state.

I personally do not think that this is an indictment on any governor or any political party. Politicians are by nature meant to take advantage of any situation that would favour them. It is, instead, an indictment on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the whole electoral system of Nigeria.

I think Donald Duke’s revelation buttresses the argument for a truly autonomous electoral body in terms of funding and modus operandi. Why should the INEC wait for the National Assembly before it can get funding? Why should REC go to a state without being adequately officially catered for? Why should a REC ask for personnel from a state governor and also the resources to train them?

In a not so surprising response to Duke’s remarks, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the chairman of INEC has read the ‘riot act’ to RECs, who would be working with him not to ask for or receive any assistance or support from state governors. That, in fact, they should get clearance from the headquarters before receiving any support. According to Jega, his directive to the RECs is necessary in order to maintain the independence of INEC, saying, “you will agree with me that such measures are essential in ensuring public confidence in your work.”

Granted that this is a good sound bite coming from Jega, his directive to his men may well be just about a quarter of the solution needed to make INEC truly independent.

What about this other issue raised by Mr. Duke: “On the day of elections, each polling booth has no more than 500 ballot papers; that is the standard. There is not a polling booth that is more than 500. So only 200 people appear here, 300, 100 there, 50 there, 400 there, at the end of election what happens? The presiding officer sits down and calls a few guys and says, “hey, there are a few hundred papers here, let’s thumbprint. This is the real election. Well, this is not a PDP thing. I am not here to castigate the PDP; it’s a Nigerian thing. This process may sound comical and jovial; it happens throughout the country, whether it is Action Congress (AC) or APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance), it’s the same thing. We are all the same. They start thumb-printing, some are overzealous. So at the end of the day you find some voting more than the number of people that were registered to vote.”

You see, all that talk about RECs getting support from the state governors is just a prelude to the above quoted remark by Mr. Duke and that is where the activist umpire, Prof. Jega, has his work cut out for him. This is what will make or mar his tenure as INEC chairman and his reputation as an activist and thoroughbred intellectual. It will be interesting if he will be looking in the way of Option A4, which was highly successful under Humphrey Nwosu or will he be relying on technology knowing the illiteracy level of those in the rural areas or a hybrid of both.

I once had an interview with Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, former FEDECO boss and the old man told me that “Nigerians are master riggers”. I think Mr. Duke has just given Prof. Jega a blueprint on rigging in Nigeria, the ball is now in the INEC chairman’s court to provide Nigerians with a blueprint on delivering credible elections not only in 2011 but beyond.

IBB Is Following Me!

2010-07-17T17:59:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

I was stepping out of my house, heading to the pub to see the final match of the just concluded FIFA World Cup, when my Blackberry beeped. The message simply said “Ibrahim Babangida is now following you…”

The first thing that came out of my mouth was “Oh my God!” as I looked downstairs to be sure that there was nobody lurking around in the compound. Then I looked at my phone again to be sure that I had not been in a trance. I read the message again, this time around to the end and it read “Ibrahim Babangida is now following you on Twitter.” I heaved a heavy sigh of relief and became intrigued about the guy’s seriousness to contest the 2011 presidential election and engaging Nigerians, especially the youth on the World Wide Web. I was particularly taken in by the fact that his ego is actually not larger than the World Wide Web and he can condescend to the realms of mere mortals and the platform of the talakawas; quite impressive, indeed.

IBB is not the type of leader (and I use the term ‘leader’ loosely in reference to the fact that he has led this nation before not necessarily because he has espoused any democratic or developmental ideology) that we expect to show up on Twitter and Facebook or any other serious social networking site. IBB, has over the years, been presented as a man, in and out of uniform, who is larger than life and can get whatever he wants in Nigeria. So it should come as a surprise that he intends to use the Internet to prosecute his much talked about presidential bid.

It is interesting that quite a number of politicians have imbibed the Barack Obama strategy to solicit support for whatever office they are gunning for in the coming elections. The Obama inspiration on politicians and the political landscape is huge and should be studied by sociologists, political scientists and historians. A certain writer had described Obama as the mythical cipher to all mans aspiration and dreams.

But shall we return to our man IBB. I am not impressed by the fact that IBB has chosen to follow me on Twitter. If anything, I am the one who should be inspired by him for me to follow. If we must follow the Obama example, I am not sure how many people Barack Obama follows on Twitter. People follow Barack Obama. I follow him, too. That is because the first Black American President has become a big inspiration for ethnic minorities, for hard work, for self-belief and for the demise of impossibilities to every man who believes. Those are credentials that you don’t buy in the market place. You earn it. IBB should show me, nay Nigerians, your credentials to command any serious following.

On the first day of Goodluck Jonathan opening his Facebook account, the page registered about 23,000 fans. Now three weeks old, the fan base has increased to about 114,000. Not that I consider Goodluck Jonathan a leader other than he is the President of my country, I think the fact that he became President under divine and extraordinary circumstances make people look up to him. But he himself is about to go the way every privileged Nigerian leader has gone in the last 30 years that I can recall; they get there achieve nothing and want to sit tight.

I hear a lot of people talk about the quality of followers that we have in Nigeria, how they expect government to do everything for them, how they are perennially pecuniary in thinking and how they cannot take initiative or take their destiny in their hands. My answer is let’s go back to the leaders and how they have deliberately made this impossible.

Politics in Nigeria up to the late 60s when I was born, as I read, was vibrant and based on ideologies with an eye for developing the region even though there were a lot of ethnic and regional undertones. I doubt if there is any Nigerian my age or older than me who does not know what Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe or Ahmadu Bello stood for. Historians even coined words like Awoism and Zikism. People were eager to listen to and follow these men to the ends of the earth because they were compelling and persuasive. I am sure that we still have a few politicians of the Awoist and Zikist schools of thought. Some of the ideas they espoused may be archaic to present day realities, but can someone show me a contemporary Nigerian leader with fresh thoughts, fresh ideas, persuasive thinking, compelling ideologies and commanding charisma to match.

Rather than following me on Twitter and asking me to be your fan on Facebook, can we please meet in a town hall meeting where we can put your democratic ideals to the test? And this also goes for all politicians seeking elective offices in the coming elections.

Okay, IBB you can follow me, but I am sorry, I will not follow you.

Mr.President, We Need Jobs

2010-06-19T12:02:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Dear Mr. President, I have this funny feeling that you will not get to read this, because I am not Reuben Abati, or Simon Kolawole or any of those big-men-editors and commentators who write on the back and opinion pages of the newspapers in Nigeria. Perhaps you do not even read Nigerian newspapers, except for their comic relief, like the man who handed over to you and your late boss, Umaru Yar’Adua, whose position God has so chosen that you occupy today.

But sir, if your media aides let you read this, I wish to inform you that young Nigerians need jobs. I will suppose that the message is simple and clear enough, but just to make you understand the full import of this no job dilemma, may I ask you to please patiently read the story of someone I met recently and see if this will spur you to help countless youths that get out of Nigerian universities yearly and find it easier to get water in a desert than get a job in the country that you are so fortunate to lead.

Peter walked up to me at the place that I call my favourite spot in the world, the Lagos Bar Beach. I usually go there in the evening since the former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, upgraded it to what it is now. I go there to watch people come and go, lovers hold hands and play pranks in the sand, to watch the waves and the ships coming from distant places, to observe the ‘area boys’, able-bodied men hustling to sell you fake parking tickets and also offer different services including choko (choko is the street slang for marijuana) to people like me who have come to bask in the serene space.

Pardon my digression, Sir. Peter came to sell me a wristwatch. It was a Tag Heuer. I am sure the President knows that name. He offered it to me at N10,000, to which I said “no thanks”. He persisted, reassuring me of its quality and the fact that I was getting it at a give away price. Not really interested, I beat the price down to N1,000 and after much haggling he told me to pay. I knew we would come to that. So I said to him, “you know this watch is either fake or stolen from a ship at the wharf and I do not buy fake or stolen items.”

His reply to me was direct and straight to the point, this time dropping the Pidgin English. “My guy” he said.

“You know very well that this country is hard and I am just trying to make ends meet. I’d rather do this than steal. Stealing is not an option but it is becoming enticing these days. So even if you are not buying, please find something for me make I take chop, anything at all will do.”

I didn’t know what to read in his voice or in his eyes. But for the first time in our almost 10 minutes encounter, I looked at his face; his mien was confident and his eyes were not dimmed or bloodshot like countless other vendors that I’d encountered on the beach almost on a daily basis.

“How am I sure that you won’t go and do gbana when I give you some money?” I said deliberately. By the way, Mr. President, gbana is a term for getting high on marijuana.

He smiled and said: “Somehow I trust that you’d know if I have been smoking weed.”

I ignored him and asked him to follow me. We sat at a table under an umbrella by the seashore and I asked him to order food and drink. His order was modest. I cracked a few jokes to make him fill comfortable; I wanted to hear his story. Not that I was sure he had a story, but it turned out that he had one.

His mother died of malaria. His father couldn’t raise enough money to buy drugs at the hospital. Peter himself had gone out to hustle for daily bread. The only person who had money to spare was his 24-year-old younger sister.

“Why didn’t she pay the bills?” I asked

“My parents didn’t want her money and I understand why.”

“Why?” I probed.

“She does runs.”

“Prostitution,” I said.

He was quiet. So I said to him, “you sound educated; what level of education did you get?”

“I have a degree in business administration,” he said as he fumbled into a bag that he had across his shoulder to show me his certificate. There was no reason to doubt him because I didn’t think that he knew that from just introducing a fake wristwatch to me we were going to have this long conversation about his background.

“Why are you not working?”

“I was. I lost my job as a security man in one of the banks some months back. I got the job as soon as I finished NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) and was hoping to get something better from there; I was there for just two years. Oga, you know there is no job in this country. I have a lot of friends who have very good degrees from Nigerian universities who still have not got a job even after five years of graduation,” he said.

I listened to him and I felt helpless, wishing there was something I could do to help. I told him that I lost my job too in the bank but was lucky because I was a journalist before going into banking.

“Ha, so you are a press man? I enjoy reading Reuben Abati and Simon Kolawole. You journalists have access to government; you should tell them some of these things happening in the country. As far as I am concerned, we youths we don’t care what these politicians do, we just want them to create jobs for us so that we can earn a living,” he said.

He told me that he is sure that his sister would leave what she is doing if she gets a good job.

Eventually, I gave him some money. I think he appreciated it. He thanked me profusely. He didn’t ask for my name or my phone number, he just said, “please tell the President to create jobs for youths, otherwise”, by this time we were by my car. I smiled and told him to stay out of trouble promising him that I will write and hope that the President will read it.

There, Mr. President, is a message from a young Nigerian.

Jibola And His Daughter

2010-06-15T13:34:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Jibola rushed into the pub to catch up with one of the games of the just concluded English Premiership League. It was one of the high profile matches between two of the biggest teams in England. The pub was full with an eclectic mix of men – the bankers, the oil workers, the telecommunications guys, the neighbourhood lads, mobile policemen and security guards, who left their duty posts, artisans and of course some ladies to ensure that soccer is not gender biased and if you like, to keep the guys going.

The smell of cigarette and the smoke thereof was pervasive, almost choking. The white silky plume was sailing in the now musky air entangled with human perspiration; it was coming from every direction. What was also coming from every direction were all the swear words, the F words and the S words and the new inventions of suggestive words that seemed to define moments in the game in an uncanny way. Men (and women, too) say all sorts when they are under the influence, more so, when the influences are alcohol and the adrenalin that comes from such high octane and passionate encounter between rival teams.

Jibola did not come alone. He came with his daughter. She should be about 10; pretty young thing with very inquisitive eyes. She came dressed like her father in the colours of one of the teams, which her father supports, obviously. Suddenly, all eyes that noticed their entrance turned away from the television screens positioned strategically around the bar, to the direction of the father and daughter.

In no time the ladies in the pub and some of the men stampeded and yelled Jibola out of the bar for his wrong judgment and lack of discretion and circumspection. A silly looking guy, who I could not tell whether he was drunk or excited over nothing, actually quoted a Bible passage: “Train up a child in the way that she should go and when she grows up she will not depart from it.” His argument was that Jibola was teaching his daughter to be a supporter. A few voices and heads mumbled and nodded in agreement. I was shocked. I was scandalised on their behalf.

Since when has a pub filled with misbehaving men become a playground for a 10-year-old impressionable girl? Alas, Jibola did not see the point, until someone told him that the only places you can take a girl to at such tender age is the church, the bookshop, a family picnic and her friend’s birthday party, not a booze parlour filled with people who have come to vent in the most offensive language you can imagine.

I am not a father and may not understand the relationship between parents and children, but I had a father who, by all means, I refer to as a role model in some things, that I still find it hard to engage in certain things just because I think the old man will turn in his grave when he sees me engaging in them. But trust me, I’d rather not be a chip off the old block when I look back at some of the things he did, too.

There is something in your subconscious that holds on to things you picked while growing up at home, in church, in school, in the hood, from your parents. This does not explain why some children of pastors and imams are far away from what their religious parents teach. The mind of a child naturally explores possibilities; so the opportunities we expose them to provide veritable grounds to imagine scenarios as they grow up.

I was unfortunate to have seen drugs at a very early age in secondary school. I mean, addictive drugs like cocaine, marijuana and one that they called Chinese capsule. If you must know, I only saw, I did not take. I did not take for a very simple reason; because my father told me that “if you take it, you will go mad” and gave me countless examples of so-called role models of my days who were messed up by drugs. The option of being mentally deranged was not appealing to me, but I doubt if it was my strong will that saw me through the excitement, attractive and adventurous escapades of my peers. I got drunk once out of curiosity on a mixture of palm wine and stout at the age of 15. My siblings and cousins had to lock me up in a room in the BQ till I got sober. The feeling was bad and nasty and I still wonder why anybody would want to live permanently on the edge with a hangover. I think I prefer my red wine, which the doctors say is good for the heart (and the bones, too?).

I wonder what story Jibola must have told his daughter if she asked “daddy, why did they ask us to leave?” or “daddy is that place a bad place?” as they left the pub. I wonder where they may have gone to that afternoon. I wonder what impression about good judgment and fatherly love may have been etched on the girl’s mind. I am positive that the girl must have some mind boggling interminable whys which she may not even ask but which she may explore in the fullness of time.

Perhaps, we did a good thing for Jibola and for his daughter, because I guess that the impression of men belching beer and swear words and making suggestive and lewd remarks would be heavy on the poor girl’s mind. Who knows what images her inquisitive mind would have painted thereafter? We may never know.

Today’s children know too many words at 12, which I am ashamed to say I did not know when I was 15 and I thought I was hip. How did the words French kiss, wet kiss, lap dance and threesome get into the vocabulary of teenagers or am I getting old?

Wishing the Super Eagles Good Luck

2010-06-07T17:01:00.001+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Will it be right to say that we are in a season of good luck? If we are, I think it is in order to wish our own super Eagles of Nigeria luck as they participate in this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament taking place for the first time on the African continent.

I must confess that I am particularly not expecting anything spectacular from the men and boys that Lars Lagerback has drafted to the team. There is, to say the truth, no discovery in the team to cause any excitement, the kind that the merciless Messi of Argentina, the ruthless Rooney of England, the ageless Ribery of France, the calculating Kaka of Brazil and of course the capricious Ronaldo of Portugal would cause any back line.

But it is not that bad. The name of our president is Goodluck and we can just hope that the cosmic powers will use that to our favour. I do not expect that we will beat Argetina in our first outing. But with some good fortune, we can expect that after trailing 0-3 fifteen minutes to the end of the game, Maradona’s team will lose focus and capitulate forcing them to make errors like own goal, handling the ball in the 18 yard box and under a lucky, cheeky one from the never-say-die Kanu Nwakwo.

I predict that the only team that we will beat fair and square will be the Republic of Korea by one goal. I expect us to draw with Greece. That will leave us with five points from the possible nine. That should take us through behind Argetina who will have 7 points. Once we qualify, we would need the services of Baba Eleran of IICC fame (is Baba still alive) or at least get someone who has learnt his trade of balubalu. Or we go to Warri to seek Rev. Gbejero, the pastor and emergency sports analyst who insists that the mere fact that he is invited to analyse matches means good luck and victory for Nigeria. See, we need all the good luck in the world.

I suspect that we might play England either in semi finals or the finals. I know this will annoy my friends who are Manchester United and Chelsea fans, but I am sorry to say that it is likely that Rooney’s injury might resurface and John Terry marital wahala might take a new twist that will force him to pull out of the competition. We will qualify for the final play either England or Brazil. Once we do, President, Goodluck Jonathan will lead a powerful delegation of men in government and eminent Nigerians to go and see and give the players moral support as well as to impart some goodluck anointing to them. We will win by a 'hand of God' goal which the referee will not see of course and bring the trophy home to Nigeria and to Africa for the first time.

Please be informed that this analysis is not based on any informed knowledge or understanding of the game, only on the fact that I choose to guard my heart against anything that will cause undue palpitations. I just want to enjoy this World Cup and I hope you do, too.

IBB’s ‘imoratlise Abiola’ heresy

2010-06-07T16:50:00.001+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

The dictionary defines the word heresy as unorthodox religious opinion or the holding of an unorthodox religious opinion; one that is inconsistent with and contradicts established religious teaching, especially one that is officially condemned by a religious authority.

Permit me to remove the word heresy from its original contextual habitat and place it in an environment that is also as delicate, organized and subject to a lot of human abuses like religion - democracy. The simplest definition of democracy is “the government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The setting up this government and its powers is derived from the constitution agreed upon by the people. So it irks me when men who have raped, battered, refused and rejected the thriving of democracy in the history of Nigeria come out and mouth words about democracy; words that in my own opinion amount to profanities.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and whatever he does or says does not excite me. But it is important that just in case there is somebody writing a script for him on national issues, the Minna-born general should consider firing the person because the fellow is a bad script writer. And if some of his recent pronouncements are a product of his thought processes, therefore his considered opinion, then he has completely lost the battle to redeem himself.

It is utter heresy, down right profane, for General Ibrahim Babangida, former military head of state, military president and democracy batterer to state that MKO Abiola should be immortalized. IBB’s statement is an insult on the sensibilities of many Nigerians who fought for civil rule and democracy and who are still alive to tell the story today. I am also sure that it will make those who died in the struggle to turn in their grave when they hear him pontificate on a matter that you do not ‘have a mouth in’.

Abiola or any other person who died or suffered while fighting for democracy to be instituted in the country, do not need the government to immortalize them; they do not need a political proclamation that only seeks to keep the like of IIB on the front pages of newspapers. Abiola is already immortalized in the hearts of members of his family, in the thousands of newspaper stories and millions of words that have been written about him and his overwhelming victory at the polls that General Ibrahim Babangida annulled to his shame.

Whatever General Babangida’s achievement as head of state for 8 years pales in comparison to the impact his annulling the June 12 1993 elections has had on the nation. I think the general should take his words back.

Glossary Of Current Nigerian Political Terms

2010-05-22T11:32:00.000+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

In Nigerian politics there are no dull moments. There is always something to talk about at the national, state or local government levels. And we must give kudos to the Nigeria press for always bringing us up to speed with happenings all over the country. Had it not been for members of the Fourth Estate of the realm, we would not have known the intrigues and power play that almost consumed the political soul of the country at the height of the Yar’Adua-is-sick-Goodluck-must-take-over debacle.

I am wondering, is anybody writing a book on “The Politics of Sickness and Presidential Succession”? The title can always change depending on what you prefer to focus on. But that is not our concern here at the moment.

I have been looking at a number of words that have been used profusely in the Nigerian press in the last six months and how they will shape the coming campaign and election season. Although I call it a glossary of current buzzwords in Nigerian political conversation, it is not in alphabetical order, neither is it exhaustive. I have chosen to start with the word cabal.

The dictionary meanings of the word cabal are; a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority; the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue. The word came to national prominence when all the shenanigans about the politics of the health of the late Umaru Yar’Adua were on. It was reported that a certain cabal, a group of plotters, intriguers or junta were taking advantage of the late President’s incapacitation to ‘arrange’ themselves. In case you are not familiar with Nigerian street language, the word ‘arrange’ means to manipulate a situation to achieve a desired selfish motive. Reports had it that Hajia Turai Yar’Adua was the head of that infamous group of arrangers or cabal.

However, the death of Yar’Adua does not mean that the word has been expunged from current political usage. Probably relegated to the background but also assuming a more strategic role in the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as the would-be presidential flag bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Please note names like Theophilus Danjuma, Mike Oghiadomhe, Ima Niboro, Cairo Ojougboh in the coming months and many more that will come up. Synonyms for cabal are manipulating (manipulators), collude (colluders), conspire (conspirators) and scheme (schemers).

The next word is zoning. It would help for you to disregard the geography and regional planning definition of the word. Also, it has nothing to do with the time segmentation of the earth or the allocation of land. Zoning is a political term coined by the ruling PDP. It became popular in the run up to the election that brought Olusegun Obasanjo into power in 1999. The argument was that the acclaimed winner of the nullified June 12, 1993 election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, was from the South West of Nigeria; and since he was not allowed to take up his mandate before he died in prison, it was politically expedient to pacify that zone, region, geographical location by ‘enthroning’ one of his kinsmen. The pattern, which is enshrined in the constitution of the PDP and which is almost being peddled as if it is entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was what brought Yar’Adua and Jonathan to power in 2007. Please note that if PDP did not zone to the North, Goodluck Jonathan would not have been vice president and invariably president today. But is the largest party in Africa about to jettison or scrap that constitutional provision now that it seems that Goodluck may be interested in the presidency? Will Jonathan himself begin to plot with his own cabal to change the pattern? PDP seems to be boxed in now as they will have to contend with credibility issues when they begin to tinker their constitution again to achieve an arranged result. Synonyms for zoning are exclusion and elimination.

Governors’ Forum: Note that this noun is a political organisation. There are different factions of the Governors’ Forum like the Northern Governors Forum, the South South Governors Forum, the South West Governors Forum and of course, the PDP Governors Forum. It is not a political party but when its members are united, there is nothing they cannot achieve. For instance, it was reported in the press that the President was only able to choose a vice president, a governor from Kaduna State, after a meeting with the forum. Remember that Yar’Adua and Jonathan were members of that group when Lucky Igbinedion was the chairman. It will also do a world of good if you put this other fact at the back of your mind; that the governors played a major role in bringing the political impasse occasioned by the late president’s ill health to an ‘expedient resolution’. Synonyms for governors forum are power brokers, kingmakers and deal brokers.

Niger Delta: May I urge you to do away with the images of AK-47-wielding, grenade-launching and trigger-happy militants that have so much become the images that come to mind when the Niger Delta is mentioned in any conversation. It used to be that the images that the Niger Delta conjured in the past were that of environmental degradation, depravation, neglect and abject poverty amongst the people from whose community the oil that greases the wheel of development in other parts of the country, especially Abuja, is tapped. It seems to be convenient for some political players that militancy is drummed up as against the need to resolve the neglect that has been the case in the region forever. Goodluck Jonathan is from that region and a former governor of Bayelsa State, which is very active in the agitation for desired development of the people of the region. Now that one of their own is the Commander-in-chief, will they make it mandatory for the status quo to remain in order to ensure peace and speedy development? Will the ruling party use the current amnesty programme as a political tool? More than ever, the Niger Delta will play a major role in the coming election. Will the states that make up the region remain loyal to PDP? I get the feeling that if there is a candidate strong enough to sway the people into thinking that PDP has failed in most of the states in the region, PDP might lose some of them. Synonyms of Niger Delta are cash cow, neglect and troubled spot.

There are other words like, consensus, lobby, credible elections, electoral reforms and wait for this, IBB.
Published in Saturday Independent, 22 May, 2010: http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=13980

My Name Is Goodluck, I Sleep With Patience

2010-05-16T12:49:00.001+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

Few people are as lucky as Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The only other person I can think of in modern political history, who has had the opportunity of a good fortune is Barack Obama. If Obama was the renegade that broke all the rules about American politics leading him to win the biggest prize in politics, then Jonathan is a study in how we can be predestined by our names, in fact, a study in what some Pentecostal preachers refer to a ‘sweat-less’ struggle in the attainment of your goals in life. I am not even sure that being president of the most populous black nation on earth was part of what Jonathan wanted in life.

The comparison between Jonathan and Obama probably stops at breaking a particular set of rules that makes the politics of both countries notorious and closely monitored around the world. While Barack Obama fought hard and long, with hundreds of speeches and town hall meetings to impress Americans, defeating political institutions in the process, Goodluck Jonathan can hardly be pinned down to any sociopolitical and economic ideology whether they be adopted, propounded or redefined by him.

Before becoming the president of Nigeria, he had in almost similar circumstance been the governor of Bayelsa State when Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was deposed because of allegations of corruption. He was a loyal deputy governor then, just as he was a loyal vice president to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. When the late president became incapacitated, Jonathan patiently waited for the National Assembly to bend the rules on the altar of political expediency to provide a leeway for him to act as president after so much agitation by the civil society and eminent Nigerians. And now he is president because the president died. How lucky can a man get in a lifetime!

It has been said that President Goodluck Jonathan is a very patient man. I guess the only thing to be when you are Goodluck is be patient and watch your good fortunes unfold. On top of that, he went and married Patience for a wife. When you sleep with patience (pun intended here, please) it does not take long for you to eat the good of the land.

In time, Jonathan will find out that Nigerians are not as patient as he is. They cannot be patient with unemployment rising, the unsolved power problem, the apprehensions over credible elections, the security situation and a lot more.

Aspiring to and attaining the highest office in any country, especially Nigeria, should not be based on any sentiments – ethnic, religious and certainly not on any astrological permutation and dependence on the bad fortunes of others, it must be earned by presidential candidates espousing their core beliefs to the electorates. Jonathan has said he will continue with the Seven-point Agenda of his former boss. Three years into the presidency of Yar’Adua before his sad demise, it is difficult to hold on to any concrete achievement on any of the key performance indicators he set for himself.

I am particularly wary that very soon the President’s aides will begin to talk about how it is difficult to achieve anything in just one year and how Jonathan should be allowed to run in 2011. I do not think that anything other than the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, (because of their zoning policy) stops Jonathan from contesting the presidency. If he gets the PDP ticket then it will be a very interesting election to watch. It will be interesting because we will have an opportunity to grill him on a number of issues. Furthermore, if credible candidates come up, it will be quite intriguing to note how he fairs in a national debate. I am also sure that a lot of Nigerians will want to know how he would allow the PDP machinery to work for him or otherwise.

He runs the risk of being accused of getting to Aso Rock on the back of an incredible election just like the one supervised by Maurice Iwu and stage-managed by Olusegun Obasanjo, if he runs and wins. The best option is for the President to play the role of a statesman; lay down the framework for and deliver free, fair and credible elections that will usher in a government that will be respected by everyone including the international community.

Nigeria does not need and does not deserve a sick president. Neither does Nigeria deserve a president that emerges from some kind of political arrangement. I expect the political class to be more circumspect this time around and not allow anybody to have an overbearing influence on what affects our collective destiny.

The UK elections has just ended with Gordon Brown resigning as head of the Labour Party and invariably as prime minister, giving way for David Cameron, the leader of the opposition Conservatives, to form a government with Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats. The beauty of elections in the UK and America, especially, is the focus on the economy, internal security and foreign policy, not necessarily in that order. I hope that for once since the departure of the Awos, the Ziks and the Balewas, Nigerian politicians will take Nigeria seriously. We have been ruled for too long by sentiments and it has only gotten us this far.

By the way, does anybody know the names of Goodluck and Patience’s children? I hope they are not Longsuffering, Tolerance and Contentment? In any case, I’d rather Jubilee in this 50th year of Nigeria’s independence.

Understanding Naija Hip Hop

2010-05-16T12:46:00.001+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

The word ‘swagga’ or ‘swagger’ or ‘swag’ as the case may be is perhaps the most used word in Nigerian hip hop lingo in the last one year and it is a noun that simply means “a very high degree of belief in one's own abilities” or “extreme self-confidence”. Your swag can be seen in the way you dress, the way you speak and the way you generally carry yourself. So when you hear KC Presh and Terry G say “ginger your swagga”, it only means boost your self confidence or believe in your self.

Hip hop is unarguably the most listened to genre of music in Nigeria today. That is simply because this is what Nigerian radio and television stations play, with the exception of those set up to take care of more eclectic and classic taste. The newspapers, glossy magazines and the soft sells (some of which you might prefer to call junk and I wonder why) celebrate them. They are identified by their whole get up; the bling (which Lagbaja refers to as panda (imitation) in one of his albums) the raunchy video with ill clad girls, the oversized sagging pants and shirts and of course, the general joie de vivre around them: hip hop in Nigeria and pretty much anywhere else the music enjoys patronage is all about the good life. It celebrates Moet, Hennessy and Bacardi in the company of starry eyed giggly girls.

But it is not the exuberant and flamboyant lifestyles that fascinate me, rather it is the language as you may have noticed from the intro of this piece. One thing that delights me from the trend in the genre is the code-switching; the switching from the English to Nigerian languages. Nigerian languages have become a major part of the hip hop textual content; hence you hear artiste switching between the English language and Yoruba or Igbo (the two languages that enjoy prominence) Hausa and Pidgin English. For me, two artistes epitomize the trend and they are not necessarily the most popular: they are 9ice and the rapper known as That Nigga Raw. The former with Yoruba and the latter with Igbo. They are good examples of the fact that you can understand your language very deeply, sing in it and still sound hip. The fact is arguable, though, that no other artiste brought hip hop to the fore of popular culture like Ruggedman when he released ‘ehen’, the Pidgin English rap song that ‘dissed’ those that hip hoppers call ‘wack MCs’. The lyrics were very clear and appealed to the masses. A lot of rappers took a cue from the delivery and style that finally broke all barriers. The hip hop stage opened up and we stopped seeing rappers as just some bunch of kids throwing tantrums on stage.

However, much as I love what we all refer to as Naija Hip Hop, I am a bit worried about lyrical content. When I was growing up the word choco or choko meant either chocolate or any chocolate drink. It is interesting how words take on new meaning. Can someone please tell Sean Tero that his choko is dangerous to his health? But I love that song:

pass me the choko, choko/
I gbadun the choko, choko/
I choko the choko, choko/
anywhere wey you see me make you pass me the choko.

I am sure a lot of you like the song, too, but when your daughter or son walks up to you and asks “daddy what is the meaning of choko?” please be honest to tell her or him that choko means marijuana or Kaya according to Bob Marley, Mary Jane according to Wyclef Jean or Kpoli according to Tuface Idibia or cannabis or ganja, according to my idren in Jamaica. Do you still want the choko?

I used to think that the expression or acclamation, Hallelujah, belonged in the church until I heard this song by Terry G in the club:

Everybody shout hallelujah, hallelujah
Maga don pay, hallelujah
Everybody shout hallelujah, hallelujah
Mugu don pay, hallelujah.

Our focus is on the words maga and mugu. I have known the word mugu since I was probably 6 as a word that described someone that is daft. Maga, I want to believe, is a recent coinage, a mutation of the word mugu which means the same thing. But because we know that words can be ambiguous and can have sociological connotation, it will interest you to know that a maga is someone who falls prey to a scam, especially the Nigerian type called 419. Now, scamming or gbajue as the Yoruba would refer to it has been around for a long time. However, there was a new dimension added to it when the internet came into existence and Nigeria became synonymous with this special brand of electronic scamming. Those who engage in it are referred to as ‘yahoo boys’. I do not suppose that these were the guys Olu Maintain was glorifying in his song ‘Yahozee’ which became an anthem with its own dance moves in Nigeria almost three years ago. But I suspect that only people who make money from ‘yahooing’ others would engage in the kind of ‘lau lau’ spending that Olu Maintain and Eldee sang about in ‘Yahoozee’ and ‘Big Boy’. Good music not doubt, at least it got Collin Powell dancing in London the other day.

The notion that Nigerian music can be better than the celebration of wine, women and revelry that is today is debatable. Musicians pick their materials from the prevalent situation in the country, the continent or on the global stage. Gone are the days of ‘Fire in Soweto’ and ‘Papa’s Land’ by Sony Okosuns; South Africa is free now. Gone are the days of ‘International Thief Thief’ and Unknown Soldiers by Fela; Nigeria is democratic state. Interestingly, while Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Sony Okosuns were busy sharpening their lyrical dexterity against Apartheid regime in South Africa and Corruption in Nigeria, some Nigerian musicians were busy feeding the party life. Musicians are free to choose their materials and sing about anything under the sun, what I worry about is do they worry about posterity?

Popular music in whatever form – afrobeat, reggae, fuji, juju, hip hop to name a few - belongs to the street and from the street it must derive its language if it must stay relevant to its patrons. As classic as ‘Sexual Healing’ by Marvin Gaye may sounds, I think it is a bit too heavy for the ears and so does ‘I wanna sex you up’ by Colour Me Bad and the expression ‘je ka sere omo’ or ‘ka gbetan le tan’.

Some contemporary Nigerian artistes are actually getting innovative; ever heard the expression minimini wanawana or shokishombolo? They actually mean the same thing that the previous words conjure in your mind.

Of Sound, The Spoken Word, Technology and Nigerian Politics

2010-05-16T12:40:00.001+01:00

By Dafe Ivwurie

“Of sound, the spoken word and technology; it should not be long before audio/visual recordings become untenable as evidence. Cleverly manipulated and placed in a different context, your utterances would acquire new meaning.”

The above quote was taken from Lagbaja’s tribute – a collection of four songs to Fela – the most controversial and most revered activist-musician that has ever come out of Nigeria. Two of the songs in the album titled Abami used Fela’s voice profusely in a prearranged sequence that gave the impression that Lagbaja had sat with the late creator of Afrobeat music in the studio to have an actual conversation. The songs are ‘Vernacular’ and ‘Put Am Well Well’.

About the songs Lagbaja himself had written: “A few questions may arise in your mind. When and where did this conversation take place? Did it even take place at all? Were the sentences uttered in the context in which you hear them now? Were those the exact words and sounds uttered in that exact order and context? In fact, did Fela utter some of these words and sounds? Whatever your self-inflicted answers, remember not to believe everything you see on television. Neither should you believe all that you hear…”
Although this is not a music review, it is apropos to opine that the Abami (A Tribute to Fela) album is the best, most radical and most creative musical tribute that has ever been paid to Fela since his demise. Lagbaja, the masked musician has MEE Mofe Damijo, of very blessed memory, to thank for the materials he used for the songs. MEE had conducted one of the most comprehensive and in-depth interviews with Fela. It was a most creative and clever manipulation of the spoken word by Lagbaja to create a different context than it was originally intended.

Guess who is manipulating contexts again. Tiger Woods. Well, not exactly. On the eve of returning to competitive golf after a five-month, self-imposed hiatus, NIKE, one of the sponsors who have stood by him through the sex scandal that stunned the world, released a commercial that got the world talking again. I think it is germane to see the original context of the recorded voice, which I have managed to transcribe. It is from a Tiger Woods DVD documentary released in 2004. In what I suppose is an answer to the question on whose character traits between his father and mother he possesses, Tiger had said:

“I am a mixture of both, ‘cos when I play, I can see both of them in me. I am pretty fiery but at times I am calm.”
Earl’s response, in the documentary, to Tiger’s comments was:
“… yea. Tilda (Tiger’s mother) is very authoritative and very definitive, so yes and no. I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. And did you learn anything? So, we (Earl and Tilda) are two different types, but we co-existed very well.”
In the advert, some parts of the above comments were expunged or discarded or jettisoned to create a different mood and context of Earl Woods speaking to (scolding, admonishing, counselling) a somber looking, stoned face Tiger in an apt atmosphere of pin-drop silence as Tiger could only manage to blink two or three times in the 30 seconds clip with these words: “(Tiger), I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. And did you learn anything?” In the original recording, Earl was not speaking to Tiger but in the NIKE ad, Earl was speaking directly to tiger.

We will never agree on whether the ad is good or bad (and I have actually heard some people say it is eerie and creepy) but we would all agree that it achieves one major thing; it’s got people talking.
The veracity or authenticity of Earl’s voice and words and Fela’s voice and words in the two examples of contextual meanings are not in doubt. But we must look at another example; the Yar’Adua/BBC ‘interview’. I, in particular, did not hear the original broadcast on BBC Hausa service, but I heard a voice that the BBC (British Broadcasting Service) say is the voice of our ailing President, Umaru Yar’Adua, posted on their website. Who are we to doubt? The voice sounded sick and tired when it (the voice) said:

“At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I’m getting better from the treatment. I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home. I wish, at this stage, to thank all Nigerians for their prayers for my good health, and for their prayers for the nation.
“As soon as my doctors discharge me, I will return to Nigeria to resume my duties. I would also like to wish our team, the Super Eagles, success in our Nation’s Cup matches in Angola.”

The question that comes after hearing the voice requires a yes or no answer. If you heard the voice, was that Umaru Yar’Adua’s voice? We would remain divided on this when we look at it from different perspectives. The nagging questions are: Why BBC? Why BBC Hausa Service and not BBC World Service? Why not Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria? Why not Voice of Nigeria? Perhaps, nobody puts it more in context than the National Assembly that admitted that interview, indeed, the voice in evidence, in the case of Yar’Adua and the Presidency Vs Jonathan and the Nigerian people. The honourable men of the Assembly unanimously agreed that the voice was that of the President and was tenable in evidence. It is based on this that Goodluck Jonathan is able to act as president. Thank God for the voice. But let us suppose for one minute that it is discovered that the whole Yar’Adua/BBC thing was a ruse, would Jonathan’s acting presidency be illegal?

The President has since returned as he predicted, albeit like a thief in the night and we have yet to sight him anywhere, except in rumours that he sometimes receives fresh air by being driven around in Abuja and of course by Muslim and Christian clergies, who were invited to pray for him. Note that none of the clergies admitted that they heard his voice clearly, only gestures, grunts and moving lips. Men of God don’t lie, whatever the context.

By the way, does anybody know where the video tapes of a certain coup in 1995 that implicated many military leaders are being kept?

The Nigerian music debate: setting an agenda for today’s stars

2009-07-25T19:33:00.002+01:00

Let me say straight away that I am not a big fan of rap, which can be described as the precursor of hip hop in the sense that ragtag was of jazz or in the sense that brass bands formed the basis for highlife before it became a Nigerian or Ghanaian or West Coast phenomenon.

However, having spent years in the university to study the sound, rhythm, motifs, melodies, of different genres of music and the culture that gave rise to them, I am the last to seriously condemn any type of music. I choose what I listen to and trust me I listen to all sorts except rock and roll in whatever form it comes. Hip hop or rap draws my attention sometimes because I love words and poetry and rhymes and meaning (surface or underlying). So you might catch me listening to Tupac (I think he was a philosopher). I also do ‘Yahoozee’ and ‘Bumper to Bumper’ (in the club).

My interest in rap, invariably hip hop music, was kindled by two of my friends – Sam Umukoro, whom I thought had more than a passive interest as he would go on and on with the lyrics of ‘Dear mama’ and ‘California’ by Tupac. He would also go on and on about the sense other lyricist were making in their music. The other person was Recky D. His real name is Ogechi Agomo and up till today I still find it curious why he would choose the former over the latter as his stage name. Ogechi, as I always choose to call him, is a lyricist with a mission and a message. It was always a delight to hear him lay life changing words on the sound track of Lionel Richie’s ‘Easy’. That was how my curious interest in the phenomenon called hip hop started.

Two of the most devastating things to have happened to Africa are slave trade and colonialism. Africa has never remained the same since the last of the colonialists left her shores and independence became an accepted political term. America and other nations with slave history are still buckling under the heavy burden of tampering with the natural course of human existence.

But let me assure you that I am completely apolitical and return to the music. Culture, which includes knowledge, belief, morals, laws, customs, or any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society (including music) is the first thing that suffers the most devastating blow when cultures clash. Those who are students of history know enough stories of how African culture was dominated and brought under subjection by the colonial masters in the name of religion and a ‘better way of living’; everything colonial became mainstream and everything African became second place at best.

How we got out of colonialism (as a system of governance) is better told by the Ajayi Crowthers, the Herbert Macaulys, the Alaja Browns, the Awolowos, and the Azikiwes of this world. But decades after the struggle we are still tied to the apron strings of the west and America in what is now known as neo-colonialism, a term that refers to the political and economic domination of underdeveloped countries by their former colonial masters. I am of the opinion that neo-colonialism is even much stronger in its ramifications because of globalisation where the world has become a global village still dominated by the stronger nations especially America.

The black man in America had to find a way of expression. They did it in Negro spirituals, the gospels, jazz, blues, rap and hip hop. They did it to break away from domination. They did it to assert their nationhood in a community that would concede nothing them.

Today, hip hop is alive and strong all over the world including Nigeria because of their creativity, ingenuity, resourcefulness and relentless spirit. One thing you can not take away from hip hop is its African origin of oral poetry, audience participation and its syncopated percussive nature. But hip hop is not just music; it’s a culture, a movement, a people’s way of life. Which people? The African American.

I am curious to know if the African American ethos and pathos are still completely aligned and in consonance with present day African realities.

Pardon me if I seem to stray every once in a while to distant subjects. But let us return to the music. Jazz is an (African) American music with universal acceptance. So are blues, soul and hip hop. So when you work into a music shop in New York, London, Shanghai, Dubai and Lagos, you would most likely find records or CDs in these genres properly categorised and segmented. Same goes for classical music (even if they may be subdivided in to western and oriental) and country music.

I will pose a question here: where do record stores abroad place hip hop music from Nigeria? Certainly not under the American version of hip hop. You may wish to look for your 9ice, D’Banj, Wande Coal, Paul ‘Play’ Dairo, Eedris Abdulkarim, Ruggedman, Modenine, Tony Tetuila, Sasha and MI in the ‘others’ or at best African Contemporary music shelf.

The biggest musicians to have come out of Africa in the mould of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Papa Wemba, Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, Angelique Kidjo, Manu Dibango, Baaba Mal, Salif Keita, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Oliver De Coque, Haruna Ishola, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Kofi Olomide, Awilo, E.T. Mensah to mention a few, had definitive sounds but could only make it as far as the ‘world music’ shelf. But they were afrobeat, juju, fuji, highlife, soukous, makosa musicians.

Afrobeat is still largely dominated by the immediate family of Fela, especially his two sons – Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti and a hand full of those who backed him up as instrumentalists in the Egypt 80 band. Makosa and soukous were the rave only in the 90s even though it still remains a strong force in Francophone countries. The biggest name in juju music till date is still Sunny Ade after Ebenezer Obey became a preacher. You might decide to add Yinka Aiyefele who plays juju music with a ‘gospel’ slant. Highlife as simply remained with those who produced what we refer to today as evergreen. It is said that Sunny Neji plays highlife. That is debateable.

Lagbaja, of whom I am a very big fan, was bold to christen his music Africano about five years ago. Although he is the most creative and research-oriented artist that I know in Nigeria at the moment, his music still borders on experimentation. It remains to be seen if future generations will carry on with what he has started.

American culture through Mtv and the internet may have influenced this present generation of hip hop artistes, I think the Nigerian government through the different culture and broadcasting agencies are accomplices and have collaborated with the west to erode our musical and cultural heritage. So instead of consolidating, our musicians are simply deviating and propagating foreign musical cultures.

It is heartbreaking that they do not realise they are, indeed, the most privileged generation ever, with the technology available to them. They do not see an opportunity for cultural renaissance beyond the bling, sagging pants and effeminate fashion. What a time to break away from all the things that so easily hold us down and assert our African musical heritage! It is heart-wrenching that when nations are busy pushing their ideals and ideologies forward on the global platform we are busy soaking-in what they have on offer without giving back anything indigenous and tangible in exchange.

Some people say our artistes now win Mtv Base awards. Fair enough, but awards are subjective most times. In any case, that medium is still looked upon as a medium of cultural subjugation. Ask why MI, Ruggedman, Modenine, 9ice, Dbanj or Lord of Ajasa can not be ranked and judged in the same category with NAS, Jay Z, Akon, 50 Cent or Eminem.

No musician whether popular, classical or traditional lives forever. But their works live long after the have passed on. The other reality also is that some musicians make more lasting and enduring impression than other with their music. I think of Handel, Fela, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and many more in other genres in all the cultures of the world.

With everything that is available to them to etch their names boldly and gloriously in the hearts of men and women too, most musicians in this present generation have short-changed themselves by being just about Hennessey, Moet, Bacardi, Bentley, Hummer and chicks. It is not all about the money.

Before the eloquent ones amongst you pick up your pen or start pounding the keys of your computer to write a blog, think about this: when you stand with your contemporaries around the world, what kind of music do you tell them you perform?

SIMPLY JAZZ

2008-10-23T14:51:00.001+01:00

It's SIMPLY JAZZ and it's SIMPLY Timely... Review to follow.

Asa: The Subtle Message of a Rejected Voice

2008-07-20T17:20:00.003+01:00

If you get rejected in your church choir, you almost certainly (operating word being almost) wouldn’t make it as a singer.

But Asa, the soulful songbird from Nigeria, broke that rule to our collective delight and to the dismay of the church. Don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe that the church is the best place for voices, session musicians and music careers to be nurtured. It is still the best place to discover musicians (singers, songwriters and instrumentalists) in a country where our music ‘stars’ are at best mimes.

According to Asa “People didn’t understand my low-pitched deep voice, the choirs didn’t want anything to do with me. I had to get to church first (early) if I was to have any chance of getting near the mike!”

I understand very well Asa’s frustrations, if we may call it that, having been in and directed the choir myself for a while. In the church, your voice had to ‘ring’; it had to be able to make the worst sinner work down the aisle to the front of the pulpit to accept Jesus. Plus you had to cut the image of a ‘sister’; the bible-clutching one with an air piety. Unfortunately, our Asa spots dreads, is a tomboy and worst still, has a voice texture that does not sound like her gender.

So she was rejected. But the rejected voice has become a precious gem, again to our collective delight.

We all waited with baited breath when they told us that Asa had gone to France, her birth place, to start mixing her musical broth. I, in particular, wanted to know what she will sound like – home girl or western. Luckily the French didn’t quite tamper with her – her voice, her nuances, her language and her message.

I was not expecting her voice to give me the chills like Yinka Davies’ (don’t even attempt a comparison). But it did in a ‘be careful’ kind of way; not one to hit the high note, she flirts with it, dancing around it then moves past it intelligently and keeps your ears on her message, which to me may well be the defining factor of her music and career.

Where are the messengers?

With her self titled debut, Asa seems to answer that question “we are coming out from the trenches and you better sit up and take notice”.
Oh how she speaks to all of us – the government, the rebel soldier, the father, the media like the voice of one crying in the wilderness singing “there is fire on the mountain and nobody seems to be on the run…” she speaks to the soldier “fighting for another man’s course” and doesn’t even know it.

The subject of war is so apt and relevant in the political clime of Africa. It is one that African writers have devoted their pen to recently from Biyi Bamidele’s Burna Boy to Allah is not obliged by Ahmadou Kourouma and Helon Habila’s Measuring Time. Hollywood also has its own offerings on the theme with movies like Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda and Sometimes in April. Asa lends her voice to this subject in such a sing-along way, that even when we decide not to read or when the make-believe effect of the big screen fades from our memories, we can still sing the song to ourselves in our cars, our homes, our offices and everywhere in the city.

Time was when the African safari was the jungle of grass cutters, antelopes, elephants and lions; when men wore their medals of elephant tusk and lion’s mane proudly for their bravery. Today, the African field is replete with fratricidal killings; brothers killing brothers for diamond, oil, indeed, for what should be a commonwealth and even sometimes for no reason at all.

“What did he say to make you so blind to you conscience and reason? Could it be love for your country or for the gun you use in killing”?

She also speaks of how the whole world has become morbid:

"I wake up in the morning
Tell you what I see on my TV screen
I see the blood of an innocent child and everyone is watching…"

… then we blame the children for not reading. But “whose responsible for what we teach our children, is it the internet or the stars on television”.

In Jailer she has a message for you:

“If you walk in a market place don’t throw stones
Even if you do, you just might hit one of your own
Life is not about your policies all the time
So you better rearrange your philosophies and be good to your fellow man…”

Although she might not stand a chance on the church’s stage, but she has her own stage now. She also has her own message, which is not very different from the original message of the church; “love thy neighbour as thyself” and she packages the message with such soul and candor that you think she took direct lessons from Bob Marley.

Asa is a refreshing departure from the dance hall, party anthem, almost pedestrian and commercialism that is currently associated with Nigerian music. She may currently be an opening act for the likes of Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Manu Dibango and Co; she is however, subtly but surely carving a niche for herself in the mould of Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Oliver Mtukuzi and Lucky Dube.

I hope her next album proves us right.

Hip Hop: The Nigerian Definition

2008-07-02T10:10:00.001+01:00

I am an avid follower of music; music generally, Nigerian music in particular.

The reason I turn to music is that it provides a way of escape for me. Escape from the everyday madness that is Lagos – the traffic, the heat, the lightlessness, the rat race, office pressure, and the general swinging moods of the city arcane to that of a pregnant woman.So I escape to music to get my sanity, to set my spirit free, to put my thoughts in order.

Music is the way I get my kick. That is why I agree with Shakespeare that “the man that has no music in himself nor is not moved by the concord of sweet sounds is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils”.

I listen to everything under the sun from Apala to Zouk and everything in between, except Heavy Metal, which I think is utter noise and too culturally non-conformist.

At the moment my focus has been on the Nigerian music scene, which has become very vibrant in the last ten years. The focus actually is on those that label themselves Hip Hop heads. The truth is that Hip Hop is running the street and nobody puts it more succinctly than the enfant terrible of the Nigerian music scene, Rugged Man, when he said in his too-hot-to-drop hit ‘Ruggedy Baba’, “back then the world only knew juju, fuji, (highlife) and afrobeat, but now I cleared the whole area and hip hop is rocking the streets”. True.

What gladdens my heart, though, is not the fact that hip hop has taken over the airwaves. It is the way Nigerian artistes have injected a refreshing local flavour to this musical culture that makes everybody want to listen. When Rugged Man dropped ‘Ehen’ and ‘Big Bros’, where he dissed fellow Nigerian artiste, Eedrees Abdukareem and his benefactor, Kenny Ogungbe, that put all other artistes in check or practically sent them back to the studio.

A strong advocate of using your mother tongue to transmit your message, Rugged Man showed the example by inviting the current rave of the Nigerian music scene, 9ice for a collabo (the slang for collaboration coined by practitioners in the industry) in the song “Ruggedy Baba”. That song brought 9ice to national consciousness. I remember calling Rugged Man to ask him where he fished him out from.All of a sudden, 9ice is on everybody’s lips, I mean the song “Gongo Aso”. Even my colleague from Sao Tome, Airamindra Torres, could not get enough of it in spite of the fact that she could not understand a word of what the light skin artiste was saying.

9ice’s appearance on the scene has brought a number of issues to the fore; first is the need to get Nigerian languages to the younger generation and I’m not talking about the everyday Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Urhobo that we speak. We need to hear more of our languages on the radio and television.

One veritable way to do this is what 9ice is doing with his brand of hip hop that is laced with strong Yoruba proverbs. Chinua Achebe had said in one of his books that “proverbs are the palmoil with which words are eaten”.Second is the need to do things in a new way. I will stick to music.

Time was when only what was allowed in the church was one-part singing, and then the revolution of SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) came, giving room to more melodious harmonies of voices. One of classical music major revolution came from Ludwig Van Beethoven with his 9th symphony. Symphonies were not supposed to have voices, but Beethoven shocked the world when he introduced voices (solo and chorus) to the 9th symphony and called it “Ode to Joy”, actually a poem by Friedrich Schiller, in the last movement. It is the first example of a major composer using the human voice on the same level with instruments in a symphony, creating a work of a grand scope that set the tone for the Romantic symphonic form.

There are countless examples of musical trail blazers; Scot Joplin, who created Ragtime, the precursor of Jazz; Bob Marley, whose lyrics and bass line (instead of his mien, dreads and ganja) made Reggae a mainstream genre of music. In Nigeria we had the irripressible Fela, who took on the establishment with his poignant messages and delighted the hear with his elaborate instrumentation. There is also Lagbaja, who is probably the most eclectic artiste Nigeria has ever produced, with his very evasive style of fusing music types making it difficult to tell if he is a Fuji, Juju, Highlife or Afrobeat musician.

9ice has impressed us by delving deep into the heart of Yoruba language to pass a message with an unlikely vehicle – hip hop and it sounds good on the dance floor, too.

Success stories have always started with someone doing things differently. This is the spirit which has advanced mankind through out the age.

By the way, can anybody tell us in simple English the meaning of “Gongo Aso” or “gudugudu, akin kanju ara kan gudu, okurin ogun” ? I actually picked the latter from 9ice’s song titled “Street Credibility”.