TRIBAL MARK- A SIGNIFICANT MARK OF IDENTIFICATION AMONG THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF NIGERIA.

With a knife or some sharp objects, the local surgeon begins his traditional journey deep into your flesh. Almost immediately some red colour liquid substance ooze out to the depth and length of the surgeon’s design, then you have vertical and horizontal cuts as the case may be on each side of your cheeks, a little above the corners of your mouth. Now you can be identified wherever you go with that identity that would permanently be kept on both cheeks, rather than in your wallet. Facial marks have a long history on the African Continent. The archaeological findings reveal bronze heads fashioned in Ile-Ife, Osun State-Nigeria, 700 years ago with facial lines that are thought by many to be ethnic markings. Ancient Nigerian Kingdom of Benin also had sculptural objects carrying facial markings. The Greek Historian- Herodotus wrote in the fifth Century B.C. about Carians living in Egypt who cut their foreheads with knives as a means of proving that they were foreigners and not Egyptians.

In Yoruba Land, tribal marks are usually connected with a tribe or tribes; tribal art of people. If we check the cheeks of the vast majority of the people of Nigeria, especially the Yorubas, we would observe that a great variety of tribal marks consisting of a number of scars on the cheeks are arranged in different patterns. Quite a lot of people do not know the reasons for the tribal marks.

Why Yoruba people of Nigeria wear tribal marks? There was a story of this popular King who reigned in the old Oyo Empire. The king was said to be in possession of so many slaves which was common to all kings at that period. There was a day that one of the slaves- a female, misbehaved, she was caught in the act of adultery with one of the guards. The King inquired from his youngest wife the kind of punishment they should give to that very slave who misbehaved. The woman looked at the slave in question very well, she discovered that she was beautiful to behold and to her, that was why she was committing adultery. She then requested the guards to take the slave somewhere and be tortured. She gave them order that they should use various kind of sharp objects like razor, knife and so on to deface her so she would not look attractive to any man that come her way. The guards acted according to the instruction given to them by the Madam and they locked up the slave for seven good days. After the seven days, the King’s wife requested that the slave should be released and brought to the palace for her to examine. When the King’s wife and guards saw the tortured slave, they saw beauty in another dimension because the scars that came out of the torture have added another beauty to the slave and according to the giver of this account, that marked the beginning of tribal marks in the kingdom.

Another account attributed the reason for tribal marks to the incessant wars in the past which made some tribes, families to lose their loved ones. We mean those days when war was rampant in Nigeria, that was the period that children were missing. The strong folks sold into slavery the children of the powerless/less privileged folks, and along with their wives. Not only that, several adults were also missed. They were been sold into slavery to other countries. Those sold to slavery usually finds it very difficult to recognize one another, if by any means they met elsewhere- even if they are from the same family or from the same town. It was then, the elders thought that there should be an identity or means of identification when they see or meet one another elsewhere. This would make them know from which family or town the other person is from as soon as they see the tribal marks.

In Yorubaland, if you see some men or women wearing tribal marks, you would notice that it looks good on majority of them. Definitely, those one regard wearing tribal marks as an act of beautifying themselves. With close examination, one would observe that these tribal marks differ from one area to the other, one community to the other. These marks serve as identification of "membership" of one of the major sub-tribes among the great people of Yoruba: Igbomina, Oyo, Owu, Ijebu, Egbado, etc. The marks can be vertical or horizontal. In this case there is a pair of four short horizontal marks on each cheek. Four horizontal scars, in a number of variants, are typical for the Oyo region in Yorubaland. Most Scholars and researchers of African History believed it was a necessary means in the days of tribal wars and the slave trade when children were frequently lost or got mixed up

Today, the practice of facial markings is on the wane. Hardly will you find parents subscribing to the idea anymore. This is especially true in the cities. The pain and the risk of infections coupled with scorn from people not properly disposed to the tradition are some of the factors taking facial marking off many lovely faces.

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Olawale S. Olaniran is a freelance writer, youth advocate and Social Entrepreneur. He can be reached on olaniransundayo@gmail.com +234 7033955770, 8054031719 and BBM: 22666BFB.

BRAVO TO MY ALMA-MATER, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

…….Here shall be the University of Nigeria

The above was the statement made by Sir William Hamilton-Fyfe, the leader of the Inter University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies then, when on the mission to inspect the site provided by the Ibadan Native Authority for the proposed University College and ascertain its suitability. On that fateful Saturday, on the 28th December, 1946, Sir Hamilton-Fyfe and his team arrived at the pre-arranged clearing in the thick undergrowth, he stuck his walking stick into the ground and declared Here shall be the University of Nigeria. That famous walking stick known as ‘Sir Fyfe’s walking stick’ is still on display at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. This declaration heralded the series of activities that resulted in the opening of the University College, Ibadan as a college of the University of London in February 1948, thus completing the plans to establish a University in the Niger area of the British territories of West Africa. There was an urgent need to establish centres of higher education in Nigeria in the early twentieth Century. During this period, prominent Nigerian families had begun sending their children to the United Kingdom for University education. In fact, the recognition of this need led to the establishment of the Yaba Medical School and Yaba Higher College in 1930 and 1934 respectively. This made Yaba Higher College which was founded in 1934 to be the first institution of higher learning in Nigeria. However, Yaba Higher College could only award diplomas and its products were mostly employed as assistants to expatriates. Thus, another need to establish a degree awarding institution. The eventual establishment of degree awarding institutions in Nigeria was stimulated by four distinct factors (Raji-Oyelade et al, 2010). The first was the experience of experimental stations linked to research institutions in the United Kingdom which took advantage of the colonial potential. Secondly, the role of university-trained scientists in ending the Second World War. The third factor was the continued agitation of the nationalists, for the establishment of degree-awarding higher institutions in the country as part of their demands for independence as they saw the establishment of these institutions as a pre-requisite for the success of a post-independence Nigeria. The last factor was the pace of progress of the Yaba Higher College towards becoming a full-fledged University which was considered as too slow and inadequate enough to satisfy the intellectual yearnings of the increasingly enlightened middle class. It was too clear at the time that the cadre and number of products of the Yaba College gradually became grossly insufficient to service the needs of the country. The nationalists were joined in this quest by returnee graduates from the UK, several of who had joined politics. All these factors increased the pressure on the colonial government to establish full-fledged universities in the colonies. Two Commissions , the Asquith and Elliot Commissions, set up in 1943 to consider the principles to guide the promotion of higher education in the colonies, eventually recommended the establishment of universities in the colonies. Ibadan, the ancient City, was chosen to house one of such universities to be built in Nigeria. A generous donation of a vast expanse of land by the Ibadan people made Ibadan the first choice location. This led to the establishment of the University of Ibadan in 1948, as the first degree awarding institution in Nigeria. Academic work began on January 18, 1948 with 104 students under the Vice Chancellor (then known as Principal) Dr. Kenneth Mellanby. Then, the University was housed in the buildings of the General Hospital, Jericho, Ibadan. University of Ibadan grew rapidly in response to global and local academic and manpower demands. It had 104 students and three faculties in 1948, today, the University now has 14 Faculties with over 20,000 students running both full-time and part-time programmes. One interesting thing to note is that, University of Ibadan produced almost all the Vice Chancellors of other Universities in Nigeria, this actually made the University a pace setter in all ramifications. The University’s motto is Recte Sapere Fons meaning ‘For learning and Sound Judgement’. This has been the guiding principle for the university. Today, graduates of the university of Ibadan are found in leading positions in every facet of society in all nations of the World. As we celebrate another convocation and founders’ day ceremonies this week (15th-17th November, 2012), all I want to say to my ALMA-MATER is that-…….Continue Towering High. Further Reading Raji-Oyelade, A, Olapade-Olaopa, E.O., Aderinto, A and Obi-Egbedi, N. (2010) The Flagship: Six Decades of Postgraduate Education in Nigeria. Saphire Prints: Ibadan. ……………………………………………………………………………….. Olaniran, Sunday Olawale is a Youth advocate, Social Entrepreneur and Community Change Champion. He can be contacted on +2347033955770, 08054031719 and on BBM – 22666BFB.

OLAWALE BAGS LEARNING CONFERENCE AWARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

A Nigeria scholar, Olaniran Sunday Olawale, has bagged an award at the Institute of Education, University of London in the U.K. He was the only Nigerian out of 17 scholars recently honoured by the university. Olaniran, who is presently pursuing his Master’s programme in Community Development in the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, was conferred with the ‘Graduate Scholar Award’ by the institution after an international conference held last week in the U.K. Meanwhile, Olaniran has advocated for the speedy establishment of community radio stations across rural and urban communities in Nigeria if the goals of EFA will be realised by 2015. He made the call at the International Conference on Learning held at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK between 14 and 16 August, 2012. Olaniran, while delivering a paper, titled ‘Towards Meeting EFA Goals by 2015: The Role of Literacy-by-radio Programme in Nigeria,’ highlighted some significant contributions of the radio literacy programme of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC) to literacy promotion, especially in providing basic literacy skills for non-literate adults and out-of-school youths in Nigeria’s rural communities. Olaniran, a graduate of Adult Education from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, started his literacy campaign in Abia State where he won NYSC honours award in 2011 for establishing Literacy Library for Adult Learners in the state. He pointed out some reasons why the literacy-by-radio programme is dying, which include funding problem and proliferation of commercial programmes and advertisements on Nigeria’s public radio stations at both federal and state levels where Literacy-by-radio programmes were aired. He, therefore, advised the Federal Government to take a critical step in establishing community radio which is seen as a formidable tool for poverty reduction and literacy promotion, especially among rural dwellers. “It does not speak well that only community radio stations available in Nigeria are the ones being operated by the universities which only covers university communities,” he said. This year’s Learning Conference theme is New Media, Multi-Modality, and Learning with well over 500 participants across the globe who dealt extensively with learning issues, especially in the context of global knowledge economy. http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/23/nigerian-bags-varsity-award-in-uk/

Literacy Library for Adult Learners in Nigeria...

History was made this day (26th September, 2011) as I was privileged to establish Literacy Library for Adult Learners in Bende Local government of Abia State during my NYSC experience in Abia State. This Library is first of its kind in Nigeria and I have it in mind to get it established in all 774 Local governments in Nigeria with the help of God and the supports of mankind.

Adult Education is a special education. It is quite different from education for children and adolescents which is geared towards preparing the young ones for future aspirations. Adult education tends to solve situational/immediate needs of the learners.
Based on the peculiarity of adult education, I saw it as necessity to establish a special library for them for further studies and research after the classroom activities. The initiative began in February this year during my interaction with adult learners in one of the adult literacy centres of the Agency for Mass Literacy Adult and Non-formal Education in Abia State Nigeria where I Voluntarily offered my services as Facilitator.

Literacy Library has come to stay in Nigeria...To God be the glory

To have Literacy Library established in your Local government, you can contact me on 07033955770 0r 08054031719.

Victory at Last! Taiwo Akinkumi received National Award from Federal Government.

Just like a popular adage that says 'when there is life there is hope',Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi who designed Nigeria Flag was among 50 distinguished Nigerians recently Honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan to commemorate the 50 years anniversary of Nigeria as an independent Nation.
Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkumi was born some 76 years ago, an indigene of Owu in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Nigeria.
He attended Baptist Day School, Ibadan for his Primary education, Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan for his Secondary education and after that took up an appointment as a clerk with the old Western Region at Secretariat, Ibadan. His passion for education was so high that he has to quit the civil service, after working for a number of years when the opportunity came for him to travel abroad for further education. He discussed his intention to travel abroad with some of his colleagues who later advised him to have a change of mind because of so many challenges he is going to face as a black student studying in a white’s land. All the advice given to him by his friends did not yield any result as he later decided to face the challenges traveled abroad.

On getting there, Taiwo Akjinkunmi enrolled with Norwich Technical College, London, to study Agric Engineering. It was in this school that the opportunity knocked at his door to register his name with an indelible mark in the history of the most populous black nation of the world called Nigeria. It was a very bright morning that day when young Akinkunmi visited the Library of Norwich College where he was studying, as he used to do. He decided to go to the newspaper stand where dailies were displayed to catch some glimpse about the activities of the colonial government then in Nigeria. He saw an advertorial about the new national flag to be designed for Nigeria. The advert was calling for whoever that is creative to submit an entry on what to be the colour of the flag and the reason why it should be designed that way. Taiwo Akinkunmi quickly rushed back to his hostel with the information about the competition which he had already jotted in a piece of paper. He then quickly prepared his entry and sent it straight away to Lagos, where the colonial masters were using as their base then.
It was indeed a day of joy and surprise for Akinkunmi when he received a letter from Lagos that the entry he sent was picked as the flag for the independent Nigeria. Though, over two thousand (2000) people submitted entries, but his own was picked because of the uniqueness in colour i.e. green-white-green and the interpretation which really reflected the abundant natural resources of Nigeria. This flag, designed by Akinkunmi, in 1958 was used to celebrate Nigeria independence on October 1st, 1960 when the “Union Jack” i.e. British Flag was lowered for the flag of Nigeria to take its place on air.

The British government then, recognized the contribution of Taiwo Akinkunmi to his fatherland and appreciated him with a sum of one hundred pounds (£ 100) which they sent to him when he was still in London. In a bid to further contribute to the development of Nigeria, Taiwo Akinkunmi later returned home after his programme in London and
worked with Ministry of Agriculture, Ibadan, where he used the knowledge and skills acquired while away to contribute to the success of the ministry where he prematurely retired due to a brief illness.

TaiwoAkinkunmi is married with children, among whom we have Akinremi Akinkunmi, Omolola Akinkunmi , Akinwumi Akinkunmi and the rest.
Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi has received numerous awards from well meaning Nigerians ranging from Students Unions, Non Governmental Organizations, Religious bodies, as well as corporate organizations, for his patriotic contribution to his fatherland. Prominent among the awards he has received was the one giving to him by Altima Communication, the organizer of “who wants to be a millionaire”, a T.V. quiz programme sponsored by MTN Telecommunication which won him a duplex around Acedemy area Ibadan.

A new feather was added to the cap of Taiwo Akinkunmi on Thursday, 30th September, 2010, when Federal Government of Nigeria deem it fit to count him worthy among the 50 distinguished Nigerians of history. Member of the Order of Niger (MON), the much awaited national award was bestowed on Taiwo Akinkunmi for designing Nigeria Flag, on the occasion of 50th Independence Celebration of Nigeria. The award was given to him by President Goodluck Jonathan in Government House, Abuja, alongside 49 others who have made Nigeria proud.

I am, therefore, using this medium to wish Pa Akinkunmi long life and prosperity, and I still believe that more honour are still coming for Baba... God willing!
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Olaniran, Sunday Olawale is a freelance writer and radio presenter, he is the author of popular book titled "Nigeria Tit Bits'. H e can be contacted on +2348054031719 and +2347033955770, xundey22@yahoo.com.

My Newest book is out

I welcome you all to the Year 2010, a year of abundant harvest and grace of God. My new book titled NIGERIA TIT BITS is out in some leading bookstores. Those asking for the first 2 books i.e NIGERIA SO FAR and OMOLUABI can now get them as well. May God crown our effrots with success this new Year...Amen and Amen.... Olawale Olaniran Sunday to joko sibi ikoko Oga Ogo, ti o si maa figba gbogbo gbabe ojiji eledumare +234-8054031719,+2347033955770

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

GRADUALLY the year 2009 is going to an end. Stumbling upon the second half of the year today really worth thanking God for ........ HAPPY NEW MONTH MY FRIENDS!

PASSION FOR FOREIGN PREMIERSHIP-A NEO-COLONIALISM

There is no doubt that sports happened to be a veritable instrument that unites people together today. Sports especially the game of football has proved that a moment can come when people would unite together irrespective of their problems, race, background, religion and status. In fact, the concept of “communalism” that has once lost in African Society (as a result of the appearance of ‘intruders’) has so many times resurfaced through sports especially when a football match is being watched. There are times without number that I’ve witnessed people gathering together in a spot rejoicing, dining and wining together in a very light atmosphere getting ready for a football match(especially the one involved National team) or a particular sporting event. This is a period when the three major tribes in Nigeria unites likewise Christian and Muslim sees themselves as one. But the emergence of foreign league today has really hijacked the love and passions that our people has towards our local clubs and even National team. Gone are the days when the stadium is always full to the brim whenever there is a football match between our clubside like Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Rangers, Julius Berger e.t.c. Even the so called “Supporters Club” of our local clubs has turned themselves to an “agent of Man.U, Gunners, Blues, Red Devil” and the likes. Our Youths today are so current in matches and transfer deals of these so called clubside than what is happening in their environment. Some youth would rather endure hunger so that the last N50 in their pocket could be used to buy a ticket at the football viewing centre popularly called “Stadium”. Many lives have gone and properties destroyed in the name of watching foreign clubs playing, the recent clash between Man United and Barcelona was the best example which le to the death of two people in Lagos as a result of the baseless argument that ensued among the fans of the two clubsides. I even heard a case of a father and son in Ibadan where the so called father beat his son to a comma simply because his son’s club defeated his own club in the football match. I think the statement that “ European gave African Independence,but their actions and activities still dominates the entire African Society” is becoming true or why should we divert all our attention and resources to a place to the extent of harming each other. Adequate care must be taken so that the prophecy that "football (especially foreign league) might likely cause the third world war" will not come to pass.
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Olaniran, Olawale Sunday is the author of the popular book ‘Nigeria So Far’. He can be reached on (234) 07033955770 and (234) 08054031719. E-mail: xundey22@yahoo.com Website: www.olawaleolaniran.blogspot.com

TAIWO AKINKUNMI Clocks 73-Deserves National Award

Nigeria is no doubt the giant of Africa in terms of human and material resources. When we are talking about history of Nigeria today, it is not yet complete if one fails to mention the symbol of Nigeria in the place of “National Flag” which was designed in the colour green-white-green. Talking about National flag without mentioning the hand that designed it is like acknowledging the mere ingredients in the soup without referencing the hands that prepared it. Taiwo Akinkunmi has indeed registered his name with an indelible mark that can never be erased in the history of Nigeria by putting together the unique colour of the flag which really granted independence to Nigeria in 1960.
Saturday 30th of May, 2009 was very historic in the life of the man fired with patriotic zeal who gave his country its flag. It was a day of joy and appreciation to God as Akinkunmi clocks 73. A visit was made to his residence on 29th of May, 2009 (Democracy Day) and Baba used the avenue to give thanks to God for sparing his life. He also thanks some eminent Nigerians and organizations who showed him care when he needed it most. Among them are ALTIMA COMMUNICATION (The organizer of “who should be a millionaire T.V. Programme sponsored by MTN), Oodua Investment Ltd., Broadcast Media (both print and electronic) e.t.c. Baba Akinkunmi used the occasion to thank Almighty God for the privilege to witness his 73rd birthday on earth and also used the occasion to appeal to Nigerian Leaders that they should allow the dividend of Democracy to flow to the people at the grassroots. Despite the abundant natural resources of Nigeria, over 60% Nigerians are still experiencing what we can call abject poverty, even those who have spent their apex years serving the Nation could not boast of three square meal after their retirement. Democracies that suppose to bring relief to the people have now turned to an avenue of the few privileged that are in power and living big at the expense of the ruled, he lamented.
Taiwo Akinkunmi who hailed from Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State was a Student of Norwich Technical College, England when he saw the advertisement in the national daily that the entry was going on for Nigerian National Flag. Akinkunmi, who was a student of Agric Engineering then got the zeal to contribute to the independence of his fatherland quickly prepared his entry and sent it to Lagos where his entry was eventually picked in 1958 as the best and the flag was used to celebrate independent Nigeria on October 1, 1960 when the Union Jack (British Flag) was lowered for Nigeria Flag in the colour green white green to take its place on air.
Taiwo Akinkunmi though still living in penury believed that gradually Nigeria is gaining her image back as a sovereign state since 1999 when we switched back to democratic system of government. He further added that Nigeria can only gain a full stature of a democratic state if all joins hands together to fight corruption and elevate justice, equity and human right which are the bedrock of democracy.
Akinkunmi who have received numerous award from both individual and organizations is presently living in Ibadan and he’s looking forward to a day that Federal government would deem it fit to honor him with National Award.
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Olaniran, Olawale Sunday is the author of the popular book ‘Nigeria So Far’. He can be reached on (234) 07033955770 and (234) 08054031719. E-mail: xundey22@yahoo.com Website: www.olawaleolaniran.blogspot.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2009 TO ALL MY FANS BOTH HOME AND ABROAD........YEAR 2009 IS GOING TO BE A YEAR OF ELEVATION AND BREAKTHROUGH FOR US IN JESUS NAME............Amen

Always listen to my Programme "OPON ODU" ON Nigerianwebradio and other stations to keep on enjoying the gist about entertainment in Nigeria..Shalom!
Click to Listen to Nigerian WebRadio

ABOUT MY PROGRAMME

You can now listen to my Programme called "OPON ODU" wherever you are.Distance is not a barrier as you can listen from any part of the world. Just log on to www.nigerianwebradio.com anytime anyday to enjoy an uninterrupted Nigeria Music and Programmes 24/7.

NIGERIANWEBRADIO(located in Houston, Texas U.S.A.) is a diasporan radio station for Nigerians living overseas. The idea behind it is to take Naija entertainment to Nigerians abroad so that they can feel at home while away. Millions of people do listen to OPON ODU forom U.K, U.S.A, CANADA, CHINA, IRELAND, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA and some other great countries of the world.

OPON ODU is a programme that showcase the real Nigeria entertainment from the root. There are some people that really fought for the survival of entatainment industry in Nigeria and most of them are no longer in the news while some have passed on to the great beyond.

I found it neccessary to celebrate them and thats what I do on my Programme called OPON ODU. The people like: I.K DAIRO, AYINDE BAKARE, TUNDE NIGHTINGALE, DIIPO SODIIPO, VICTOR OLAIYA, HUBERT OGUNDE, VICTOR UWAIFO, OSITA OSADEBE, TUNJI OYELANA, KING SUNNY ADE, EBENEZER OBEY, MOSES OLAIYA e.t.c. have done a lot for entertainment industry in Nigeria and I think they worth it to be celebrated.

OPON ODU is spiced with old genres popularly called "old skool" as well as latest songs in Nigeria. It is a programme to listen to if you want to know the latest in the entertainment world in Nigeria and also the biographies of Nigerian artistes who have contributed trenmendously to the growth and development of entertainment industry in Nigeria.

OPON ODU is presented in yoruba language and goes with so many interesting songs just for your listening pleasure. To listen ,just log in to www.nigerianwebradio.com and u are listening automatically.

OPON ODU comes up every MONDAY and SATURDAY at 9:00am U.S Central Time (which is 3:00pm Nigerian Time) on saturdays and 2:00pm(8:00pm Nigerian Time) on Mondays. The Programme is open for sponsorship,interested organizations and individuals can place their advert on the programme

Other Radio Station where Opon odu is being aired :

Premier 93.5 FM(Ibadan)

Adaba 88.9 FM(Akure)

For any information/enquries, pls call or text my cellphones on:

+234-805 4031 719 & +234- 703 3933 770 or e-mail me on xundey22@yahoo.com

Thanks and God bless..Shalom!

WHAT MANNER OF WORLD IS THIS???

In a period like this when there is fear and anxiety on the faces of the people, when "great powers" of the world seems powerless, when giants are swimming in their tears, when the nursing mothers have forgotten their sucking children, when fathers fails to provide for their families and households, when the elders are around and yet the household becomes an empty shell, when those living in the glass houses are throwing stones simply because somebody has already put their own houses in a dilapidated condition, when Nations fail to discharge her responsibilities adequately for the citizens, when our leaders remains adamant in their corruptible manner despite the consciousness of death,murder and assassination has become an order of the day, Terrorism here and there, bribery, corruption and embezzlement are the locust, cankerworm and the caterpillars that have eaten deep into the head of the government leaders, even our religion houses has become the den of lions..... America is currently in danger of Terrorism, Europe is no longer at rest over safety and protection/defence, Asia is faced with flood, hurricane/saars/overpopulation/, Africa is swimming in abject poverty/disease/malnutrition ............... In a period like this, where can we run to? where can we go for the solution? Will there ever be peace in the world again? Is there really a freedom anywhere on earth...? (earnestly waiting for the answer to these questions from readers)

What I just know is that this world will soon come to an end and each and everyone of us that are opportuned to stop-over here will give account of our activities while here and that is what is going to determine your next place of abode.....so get to the right path, stop quarelling with your creator, come to where your salvation is assured...remember He's the only way to the everlasting rest...so come back home today and get yourself ready for the earnestly awaiting trumpet which will sound any moment from now. There can never be peace in the world, nation will continue to rise against each other and killing and shedding of blood will continue, all this will persist so that the word of the Holy book might be fulfilled. This may be your last chance of reading this kind of message,so what's keeping you aside? it's better you get rid of it and do the right thing at the right time b4 it's too late..."Aabo oro laaso f'Omoluabi, to ba denu re yoo dodidi"and dont forget... JESUS IS LORD

WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW EDITION

Welcome back to my homepage. The new edition of my latest book titled NIGERIA SO FAR will be released soon. All thanks go to Almighty God and those who are able to get a copy of the previous publication. The new edition fully packaged and reloaded with the latest happening in Nigeria since we had the new administration under Alh. Umar Yar'adua/Goodluck Jonathan as President and V.P respectively.

NIGERIA SO FAR is a book that contained both the current and past affairs of the most populous black Nation of the World called NIGERIA. The book also contained the biographies of some notable Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria as a Nation. Peolpe like Hubert Macauley, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, M.KO.Abiola e.t.c. The book also have a live interview withTaiwo Akinkunmi, The man who designed Nigeria National Flag...and lots more. It's a must to have for everybody that want to get updated about what make up Nigeria....... So Watch out...

I.K DAIRO - THE ARTIST OF THE WEEK (16TH MAY, 2007)

I.K DAIRO, Juju Exponent and the first truly international star of African music .Born in Offa, Kwara State, Isaiah Kehinde Dairo joined his first juju band in 1942, and spent the next ten years as a migrant laborer and cloth trader, while continuing to perform music on the side. In 1956 he returned to his family's home town, Ijebu-Ijesha, and formed his first band, the Morning Star Orchestra. In 1959 the band was rechristened the Blue Spots, a name retained until Dairo's death.
I.K. Dairo's meteoric rise paralleled the emergence of Nigeria as an independent nation (1960), and his music still symbolizes that period for many Nigerians. Kings, Ambassadors, Businessmen, Heads of state all counted themselves among his fans. Beginning in the late 1950s, he introduced new elements into juju music, including the ten-button accordion and Latin-derived rhythms. At the same time, Dairo conducted research into the oral traditions of the various Yoruba sub-groups. His ability to extend the appeal of juju music across ethnic lines while at the same time reaffirming the genre's links to 'deep' Yoruba culture lay at the heart of his success. Dairo was also a brilliant arranger, one of the first African musicians to master the 3-minute song form, required by the recording technology of the time.

Another source of Dairo's appeal was his skill as a composer. His songs covered a range of topics: "Salome," a love song in praise of a young woman with "eyes like traps and teeth as white as cowries"; "O Wuro Lojo," a song about the value of hard work (" The morning of a person's life is like the foundation of a house--lay it on rock, not on shifting sand"); and the 1963 song "Ka Sora," in which Dairo prophesied the Nigerian Civil War years before the outbreak of military hostilities. Mr. Dairo said that songs often came to him at night, in dreams, borne upon the wind and the wings of angels.
In 1963 Queen Elizabeth awarded Dairo the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his contributions to the culture of the Commonwealth. He is the only African musician ever to recieve such an honor. In 1966 a music poll was held in Spear, a popular Nigerian magazine, and I. K. Dairo won handily. The readers' responses convey some sense of his enormous appeal: "Sensible hedonist. . Dairo's consistent drumming, sedulouslity, impartiality and unservitudeness make him the Shakespeare of Music. An earthly god of music!"; "His music contains a lot of the up and down of his world. It teaches us knowledge, moral spirits and other things." "His is music without tears."

Chief Dairo was well respected by his peers and fans throughout Nigeria. In January 1991 over 2,000 people turned out to celebrate Dairo's 60th Birthday and his "official retirment" from music. Among the crowd were all of Nigeria's top musicians civic and business leaders. Less than a month later he recieved an invitation to come on tour of North America and so posponed his retirement to take the Blue Spots on the first of three North American tours.
In the 1970s and 80s, I.K. Dairo continued to develop his cosmopolitan-traditionalist approach to juju music, touring England, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Russia, Japan, and North America. He worked for the welfare of musicians, helping to found the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and serving as President of the Nigerian chapter of the Performing Rights Society (PRS). The leader of a burgeoning syncretic Christian movement in Lagos, he was subject of several published biographies.

I.K . Dairo's final professional position was as a member of the Ethnomusicology faculty at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1994-95.
At the time of his death Dairo and the Blue Spots were working on material for a new album. Using material he composed during his stay in the U.S., Dairo was ecstatic about recording this new material influenced by contact with musicians from all over the world. Unfortunately, that record was never to be.

The first truly international star of African music, . Dairo specialized in juju music, a lively mixture of traditional Yoruba social dance drumming, songs, and praise poetry, Latin American rhythms, and Christian church hymns, performed on guitar, percussion, and talking drums. In a career spanning more than fifty years, Dairo made hundreds of records, and toured Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, paving the way for younger musicians such as King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, SIna Peters and many others.

Isaiah Kehinde (I. K.) Dairo, MBE, the Nigerian musician and religious leader, died Thursday (February 7, 1996) in Efon-Alaiye, near Akure, Nigeria.

He was 65 years of age then.

He's survived by his son who really took interest and passion for Music after him. Paul I.K. Dairo popularly known as "PaulPlay"(his lyrics mostly drawn from his father past works is best seller in the market) is now going worlwide promoting his father's Image and that of his own which he called comteporary Highlife Hi-Hop.

K.S.A. - The Artiste of D Month (April,2007)

ALL HAIL THE KING!

King Sunny Adé was born. Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, September 22, 1946, in Oshogbo, Nigeria to d Royal Family from Ondo. When Adé dropped out of school in 1963 in order to play with Moses Olaiya & his Rhythm dandies, a Lagos juju band, his parents - from the royal family of Ondo town - were horrified. In Nigeria, as in much of Africa, music was regarded by 'respectable' people as a very low-caste occupation.In 1966 he formed his first band the Green Spots, in 1974 he renamed the band the African Beats. By 1975, he felt sufficiently powerful and financially secure to set up his own label, Sunny Alade Records which was his main recording vehicle through 1990.

In the 1990's he set up Sigma Disc records now a major independent in Nigeria, and Masterdisk Nigeria Ltd., which releases all his domestic releases.By the early '80s, African music was finding a growing audience in the UK, where a number of the more adventurous labels were looking around for African artists to put under contract. In 1982, Island Records signed Adé for Europe and North America (promoting him as 'the African Bob Marley'). The three albums were - Juju Music, Synchro System and Aura. When the artist and the label ultimately disagreed on the artist’s future artistic direction, they parted ways amicably.

For almost ten years, King Sunny Adé continued to release records and dominate the domestic music industry in Nigeria, while only vinyl imports trickled out to the rest of the world.In 1996 Adé signed a new deal with Atlantic Records subsidiary, Mesa/Bluemoon under which he released three records. E Dide / Get Up. Odu, and Seven Degrees North. It was only when Odu, a collection of early rearranged classics and new material was released that it re-confirmed that King Sunny Adé could still create brilliant albums; the album was nominated for a Grammy.Adé has remained a powerful force in Nigeria.
Not only is he a pioneer in juju music; using hawaiian guitar and reggae-style effects; A sort of capitalist-cum-philanthropist, King Sunny has channeled the monies earned as a music superstar into holdings in a multitude of companies, including an oil firm, a mining company, a nightclub, a film and video production house, record labels, pressing plants, even a PR firm. Ultimately, it appears King Sunny's greatest investment is in the lives of others. He estimates that over 700 people work for him in one way or another, with 200 of them directly employed in music.In January 2002, he completed a four year term as President of The Performing Musicians Assoc. of Nigeria (the national musicians union) Still performing weekly at a wide variety of parties and events, both public and private, King Sunny Adé intends to use his newly recaptured free time to focus on his music.

With 111 albums to his credit already in Nigeria, African music fans can surely look forward to more great things to come.Juju Music Juju music is a music of broad social messages. Rooted in the ancient Yoruba tradition of conveying broad social and cultural messages. Musically it is a thrilling hybrid of Western pop and traditional African music that incorporates electric guitars and synthesisers with such indigenous instruments as talking drums.

For 30 years King Sunny Ade has been thrilling audiences and listeners with dynamic live performances creative videos and innovative recordings.

ARTISTE OF THE WEEK(Dec. 29,2006)-OLA ROTIMI

OLA ROTIMI - THE GREAT PLAYWRIGHT/DRAMATIST OF OUR TIME






ROTIMI, Ola (1938-2000), Nigerian dramatist, was born in Bendel State, Nigeria to a Yoruba father and Ijaw mother. After study in the USA, where some of his early plays were performed (including Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, at Yale in 1966), he returned to Nigeria and in 1967 was appointed to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he was a leading founder of the Ori Olokun Theatre.

Rotimi's plays from this period - The Gods Are Not To Blame (1971), Kurunmi (1971), Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1974) - are among the best known of all Nigerian plays, frequently set as school texts and (especially The Gods) widely performed. In 1977 Rotimi left Ife and joined the University of Port Harcourt, where he remained until 1992, returning then to Ife to establish a professional company, African Cradle Theatre.

Although several radio plays, a large-scale historical play entitled Akassa Youmi (first performed 1977), and a popular short Pidgin comedy, Grip 'Am (adapted from a Yoruba play by Agedoke Durojaiye), remain unpublished, the seven published plays demonstrate Rotimi's versatility. Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again (1974) is a genial political satire (with a somewhat wavering aim); Holding Talks (1979) is much less genial, an often scathingly funny satire on the abuse of language in the interests of power relations.

The Gods Are Not To Blame, one of many Nigerian adaptations of earlier stage plays, reworks Sophocles' Oedipus in the context of a pre-colonial Yoruba court. Although this play has provoked critical controversy (over its language, and its perceived cultural contradiction), it is undeniably a compelling experience when effectively staged. Kurunmi and Ovonramwen Nogbaisi are historical plays that deal with crises in nineteenth-century Yoruba and Benin history respectively. These plays have been criticized on ideological grounds, the suggestion being that here Rotimi becomes fixated with the trials of the tragic leader-figure and neglects to explore the conservative nature of the state and the conservative implications of so massively foregrounding the role of the governing elite.

Two more recent plays have also been highly successful in production: If (1983) and Hopes of the Living Dead (1988). The former deals with the lives of the inhabitants of a working-class city tenement. Here Rotimi focuses, with humour and with sharp sympathetic concern, on economic privation and political manipulation. Hopes dramatizes strategies for collaboration against oppression, drawing on an event from the 1920s when, under Ikoli Harcourt Whyte's guidance, a group of lepers resisted attempts by the colonial authorities to have them evicted from a Port Harcourt hospital. If and Hopes are Rotimi's most successful attempts to date to popularize literary drama.

He's one of those that left an indelible mark in Nigeria Theatre industry which we find the vacuum very difficult to fill.

OLA ROTIMI LIVES ON -your works speaks for you

ARTISTE OF THE WEEK (Dec 11,2006) - BOB MARLEY

Robert Nesta Marley aka Bob Marley was born on 6 February 1945, in St. Anns, Jamaica. His father was Norval Sinclair Marley, a white marine officer and his mother was Cedella Malcom, an 18-year old black woman.
When Bob Marley was a teenager, his mother moved the family to Kingston, ending up in the shantytown of Trenchtown. Whilst working as a welder, Bob Marley got together with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

In their early days they were ska orientated. Their first single was Simmer Down (1963). It was a huge hit in Jamaica and dozens of songs followed. Bob Marley married vocalist Rita Anderson in 1966 and spent time with his mother who had gone to the USA. When he returned several months later, the music of the Wailers became much more overtly rasta.

If he had done nothing but record Catch a Fire, Bob Marley would still be known as the person who introduced reggae music to millions of Americans. But more than just a cultural ambassador, Robert Nesta Marley was a fabulously talented songwriter who could mix protest music and undeniable pop as skillfully as Bob Dylan; even before Marley's death at age 36, he was becoming a true culture hero -- the first major rock artist to come out of a Third World country. More than 20 years on, his records sound as fresh as ever, something proved every week by the astonishing continued sales of his greatest-hits package Legend.

The Wailers recorded some of the earliest reggae hits, and with the help of Lee Perry produced songs like Duppy Conqueror and Small Axe. International success came after they joined Island Records. Their first album for Island was Catch a Fire and soon after they supported Bruce Springsteen. Their next album was Burnin' which contained I Shot The Sheriff which was covered by Eric Clapton, as well as Get Up, Stand Up. However, in 1974 Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the group to pursue solo careers. They were replaced by a female vocal trio including Bob Marley's wife Rita.

They then enjoyed huge success with albums like Exodus and Kaya. Bob Marley's religious and political views became increasingly important. He tried to be a force for peace in the midst of Jamaica's turbulent politics. A flavour of Bob Marley's philosophy can be gleaned from the song War from the album Rastaman Vibration: "Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war ... and until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes, me seh war. And until the basic rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained ... now everywhere is war."

I believe the words are based on a speech given to the UN by the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie. Just before the "One Love" peace concert, on 3 December 1976 gunmen broke into the Marley home and shot at the musician, his wife, and others. He was awarded the United Nations Medal of Peace for the concert.

Bob Marley died from cancer on 11 May 1981, in Miami, Florida.

Artiste of the Week-Fela Anikulapo Kuti

ALL HAIL THE LEGEND


Fela Anikulapo Kuti will remain evergreen in the mind of Music lover in Africa due to an Idelible mark he left as a great highlife performer, born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938, was a singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Kuti was one of Africa's most controversial musicians and throughout his life he continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria. Born to Yoruban parents, Kuti was strongly influenced by both parents, his mother being Funmilayo, a leading figure in the nationalist struggle. Practically all of his records are dominated by political events and discussions from the approach of Pan-Africanism.

In 1954, Kuti joined the Cool Cats as a singer in that highlife band (highlife being the rage of the Lagos music scene at the time). During this period Kuti developed his own unusual sound which he described as highlife-jazz. In 1968 Kuti announced the arrival of Afro-beat, within the year was promoting his sound all over the USA on a 10-month tour where he became influenced by American jazz.

When he returned to his homeland he opened a nightclub, the Shrine, and changed the name of his band to Africa 70 (and later to Egypt 80). His bands traditionally included the typical huge line-up consisting of many singers and dancers, numerous saxophonists, trumpeteers, drummers, percussionists, and of course, many guitarists blending African rhythms and jazz horn lines with politicized song lyrics.

His music was intricate, rather than calling it Afro-beat you might more arguably consider it Afro-jazz. Entire recordings often consisted of just a few songs and this propensity for jamming set up a roadblock for Fela to attain commercial acceptance in the United States. He also abhored performing a song after recording it, and this led to audience disinterest in the U.S. where the people wanted their music to be recognizable hits.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti died on Saturday, August 2, 1997, at 4pm (local time) in Lagos, Nigeria. It had been rumoured for some time that Fela had a serious illness he was refusing treatment for, many said he was suffering from prostate cancer. But as it turns out, Fela died from complications due to AIDS. As Fela's brother, Olikoye Ransome Kuti, said at a news conference:

"The immediate cause of death of Fela was heart failure, but there were many complications arising from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome".

Fela was a man with great influence in the African music world, he is irreplaceable and his presence will be sorely misssed.

Thanks for Visiting my Site ( O se pupo too wonu Ile mi wa..)

Name : Olawale Olaniran Sunday

Birthday : Every December 25

State of Origin: OYO State

Nationality : Nigerian

I like meeting people and learning about different Culture..................

Vision and Mission : To continue promoting African and Nigeria culture and heritage through entertainment to the world at large .



Favourite artistes: Beautiful Nubia , Lagbaja and Onyeka Onwenu

My e-mail: xundey22@yahoo.com

my cell No. : +234-8054031719


I also have a section on this site called artiste of the week where I celebrate great artiste of our time each week. Check the Icon on the right hand side to see featured aritiste for this week..............Cheeers


STAY BLESSED.........

Taiwo Akinkunmi, the Hero without Honor

INTERVIEW WITH PA AKINKUNMI TAIWO
(The Nigeria Nationa Flag Designer)

Nigeria as a giant of Africa is greatly blessed with both human and natural resources. In the process of this book, I decided to appreciate the effort and contribution of some people who did one remarkable thing or the other in our Country by putting their biography in the this book. That was what brought about the inclusion of ‘section 4’ of this book which I tagged –Nigerian Heroes/Heroine- where I revealed the biographies of some foreigners like Lord Lugard who did the amalgamations, Flora Shaw who coined Nigeria, Mary Slessor who stopped the killing of twins in the country and Mungo Park who discovered the river Niger.
As the research progresses, I just developed a thought in my heart that there is somebody left behind which I have to include. A man whose commands honour and respect among the over 20 million young ones everyday. Students (when singing national anthem) stands attentively to honour the flag of Nigeria which the man used his initiatives to design 48 years ago. Visit any School in the Country, you find it there, it’s hanged in many offices even in the Presidential villa in Abuja, it’s there and other Nigerian Embassies abroad.

Recently, I and my crew decided on a trip to give honour to whom honour is due. We paid a visit to Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed Nigeria National Flag in the year 1958.

We were ushered in by his son named Akinwumi Akinkunmi and we had a brief interaction with Baba who just clocked 70 years on earth. Enjoy the interview:

Author : Good day Sir,

Pa Akinkunmi : Good day, you are welcome

Author : Can we meet you sir?

Pa Akinkunmi : My name is Taiwo Akinkumi, I hailed from Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State.



Author : Sir, can we know your educational background?

Pa Akinkunmi : Yes, I attended Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan for my Primary education, Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan for my Secondary education and after that I took up an appointment as a Civil Servant at Secretariat Ibadan. After working for a number of Years , I decided to travel overseas for further education. I discussed it with my colleagues and they told me the challenges in studying abroad. I later decided to face the challenges and I traveled abroad.

Author : What Course did you study then and at which College?

Pa Akinkunmi : I studied Agric. Engineering at Norway Technical College and after my graduation, I returned to the Country and served in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Author : We all knew and believe that you were the one who designed Nigeria national flag in the colour green ,white and green

Pa Akinkunmi : Yes, of course

Author : Sir, can you let us know how the whole things happened?

Pa Akinkunmi: Yes, I was studying in London and on that particular day I visited the Library and came across a publication in the newspaper that competition is going on for the production of the National flag and the flag will be used in celebrating the independence of the Country.

Author (cuts in) : What year was that sir?

Pa Akinkunmi : That was the year 1958.

Author : So, what happened after reading the publication?

Pa Akinkunmi : I was so interested in the competition, so I decided to participate. I quickly rushed back to my hostel where I jotted down the details about the Competition. I immediately prepared my entry and sent it straight away to Lagos. Later, I received a letter that the entry I sent was picked as the flag for the independent Nigeria.



Author : Sir, do you have the idea of the total number of entry submitted then?

Pa Akinkunmi: There are were over 2000 entries submitted.



Author : And your own entry was picked?

Pa Akinkunmi : Yes.

Author : Did you receive any award or prize for winning the competition then?

Pa Akinkunmi: Yes, they gave me the prize of one hundred pounds (100 pounds)

Author: Who gave you that?

Pa Akinkunmi: The white men gave me as the man that designed the flag.

Author : Sir, after that time, have you ever received any award or honour locally or nationally?

Pa Akinkunmi: The prize then was the only one I received

Author : You mean when you came back to the Country you have not been honoured?

Pa Akinkunmi : I was in London when I received the prize of one hundred pounds and I’ve not received any award or national honor since the time I came back to the country. Although I received a lot of congratulatory messages from different set of people but I'm still expecting the Government of Nigeria to honour me with any National Honor