The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

Ibogun: A visit to Obasanjo’s ancestral home

Back from a visit to Ibogun, the ancestral home of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan recalls how his people celebrated their iconic son at 80.

Former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo recently turned 80. To celebrate him, the people of Ibogun-Olaogun, the rustic village where he hails from, tucked somewhere in the rural basin of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, decided to host a reception in his honour. The event, which witnessed a lot of wining and dining, according to sources, was financed through a contribution by indigenes of the village.

The people of the village, on the fateful day, put behind them, the obvious lack and what is clearly written all over the place, and trooped out to celebrate Obasanjo, a man many of them describe as the “emblem” of their birth place. To them, Obasanjo’s ancestral link with Ibogun-Olaogun is a blessing in many ways than one.

“What we did on Tuesday for Baba Obasanjo has never happened in Ibogun before. In all the 36 villages that make up Ibogun land, there has never been a time when the whole town decided to celebrate the birthday of an individual. What is usually celebrated collectively like that is the passage of a king or a great man amongst us.

“But we had to do this for Obasanjo because he is the real face of Ibogun. We call him the emblem of Ibogun land because anywhere you go and you say you are from Ibogun, people will call you ‘Obasanjo’s child’. And we are proud of that. It is an emblem that has opened many doors and also closed many doors.

“Even if you commit an offence and soldiers or policemen wanted to deal with you ruthlessly, once you mention Ibogun, they will soft pedal before doing anything to you. That is how important Obasanjo is to us here. So, it should not surprise you that we chose to celebrate his 80th birthday in grand style as a community,” a family source at the former President’s Bankole compound in the village told The Nation.

But another source, an octogenarian who was introduced to The Nation as a cousin of the former president, said she did not take part in the celebration because Obasanjo does not know her. The aged woman, speaking to our correspondent in front of a building said to have been rebuilt by Obasanjo few years back after the original mud structure collapsed due to age, added that it is those Obasanjo helped with his position who organised the party.

“I didn’t know they did anything here. I was not there and I did not contribute anything to it, though I heard that Obasanjo is celebrating 80 years birthday. I know him as my younger brother but he doesn’t know me. I am a daughter of Bankole, his grandfather. He doesn’t know me as such. But he used to come here and greet me very well.

“When he was here as a boy, we knew ourselves and used to be friends. But you know he later went to Congo. He forgot us. We didn’t forget him. But if he comes here to greet me, I greet him too. See his house there, I don’t go there but he comes here if he is around. But the many people he has helped did the party for him,” she said.

Ibogun as popular as Obasanjo

But speaking to The Nation about the former president, another cousin of his, who is also the Oluwo of Ibogun, High Chief Fayinka Adeoye, insisted that the party was organised in honour of Obasanjo by the entire town. According to him, no son or daughter of Ibogun would say Obasanjo is not important to the town.

However, Adeoye, who lives next door to Obasanjo’s mansion in the rustic village, was quick to add that the decision of the people to celebrate the former president on his birthday was not because the town has benefited greatly from him in terms of development and infrastructure, but because Obasanjo, with his rise in national and international politics, put the name of Ibogun on the world map.

“Ibogun is as popular as Obasanjo. That is why we decided to celebrate our illustrious son. Without Obasanjo, who will even hear of Ibogun, not to talk of knowing our village here? Many personalities have been here. Jonathan was here a few days ago. It is because God gave us a man like Obasanjo.”

The Chief Priest of Ibogun however added subtly that the popularity Obasanjo brought to Ibogun did not come with commensurate infrastructural development. He lamented what he called the “sorry state of a town that has produced a man like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,” saying it is sad that his place of birth is yet to feel any meaningful government presence.

“To celebrate him, we contributed N2,000 each here in Ibogun. It was our decision to do that for him. But what we are celebrating is more of the popularity he has brought to the town than the development he brought. Obasanjo, though older than me, is my cousin. People do tell me we look alike. He is a grandson of Bankole, who is also my own grandfather.

“Bankole it was who gave birth to his father and my father. Ibogun is known, but not developed. You can see things for yourself. Imagine the road you drove on while coming in here. That road has been like that for years while we continue to beg successive government to attend to it. And our son has been president thrice since 1976.

“It is my candid opinion that with Obasanjo’s status, it is very bad that the Coker/Ibogun road from Ifo down here is in that sorry state. Many governors, from Osoba to Daniel and even Amosun, have been promising to fix that road as a mark of honour to Baba.

“If it were to be another person, that road

would have been done into multiple lanes since. But because our son is a man called Obasanjo who cannot use his influence to force people to do something for his people, the governors have been ignoring Ibogun, his ancestral home. I can only beg Governor Amosun to write his name in history for good by respecting and honouring Baba Obasanjo with that road. Baba deserves that from him,” he stated.

Adeoye opined that unlike other towns that have produced leaders for the country, Ibogun is nothing to write home about. “We have read about Otuoke and Oghara. We have heard of what Daniel and even Amosun did in their towns. Ibogun has not been that lucky at all. And it has to do with the type of person our baba, Obasanjo, is,” he said.

OBJ in the eyes of his people

“If I am to describe baba, I will mince no word in telling you that he is a very nice person. He is extremely nice and good natured. I have never seen a big man who is as nice and good natured as Obasanjo. He has no air around him. His approach to life and living is exceptionally nice. You can hardly fault him in that regard.

“Whenever he is here, you will find him among his people, moving from house to house and relating with us like we are his equals. His gate is always opened for all to come in and see him. When he is eating, it is always a feast for all. He regards the people of Ibogun as his flesh and blood and we see him in the same light.

“You must not be surprised if you find Obasanjo sharing sugarcane or roasted plantain (booli) with a farm hand here in Ibogun. I recall an incident. One of these Igede boys helping us to clear our farmlands was eating roasted plantain one day along the road. He didn’t know Baba was coming behind him. Baba suddenly snatched the plantain from him and ate it.

“The boy was ecstatic. He went about the whole village telling everybody Obasanjo ate his plantain. It was as if something miraculous touched his life. He nearly refused to use that hand to do anything for weeks. Those are the kind of behaviours that endear Baba to us here. Whenever he is in Ibogun, he feels at home among his people,” Oluwo Adeoye said.

Babalola Akinside, a youth leader, also attested to Obasanjo’s nice nature. He recalled several instances when the octogenarian former president had given school children lifts in his car from Ibogun junction to their various homes before departing to his own house. “He is a nice person no doubt,” he said.

“I have witnessed him giving school children and other people lift in his cars on occasions. I observed that he would drop them all at their homes before departing for his own house or wherever he was going. He is not the usual aloof and segregated person people take him for, whenever he is here in Ibogun.

“He is also a listening person. We have had the opportunity of being hosted and listened to by him in his house as youths of Ibogun. He would hear you all out no matter the length of time it takes for you all to speak. He would then take his time to answer all your questions, one after the other.” Akinside added.

Just as the people are unanimous in their perception of OBJ as a nice person, it appears they also share the belief that the former president is not much of a giver. The Nation learnt from indigenes of the town that aside the fact that Obasanjo has not attracted much development to his birth place, it is rare to see or hear of him doling out cash as gifts.

“When it comes to money, I cannot say much about Baba. I have not heard of him giving out money. I am yet to ask him for financial help though, so I cannot say whether he is stingy or not. But I am aware that it is a common saying here that if you ask Baba for money for anything, either as an individual or as a group, he will not give you,” Akinside said.

Funny experiences

Oluwo Adeoye also regretted that giving is not one of his older cousin’s virtues. According to the herbalist, “Obasanjo cannot give you money; and he cannot allow you to get money from anybody through him. I think it is a personal principle.”

Adeoye recalled an incident that happened during the recent visit of another former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to Obasanjo in Ibogun.

“You will recall that Baba played host to Jonathan and his people here that day. Our people were so happy to have the two men among us. We all went there to join Baba in welcoming his guests. As it is his usual practice, he received us all very well and went ahead to introduce us to Jonathan one by one.

“When it got to my turn, he told Jonathan that I am the Chief Priest of the town who usually offers supplication and prays for the people and himself at all times. Jonathan was impressed and he asked for his bag. As he dipped his hand into the bag and made to give me some money, Baba just grabbed his hand and shook his head.

“Many people were surprised but I was not. That is how Obasanjo is. It is a matter of principle for him and those of us who are his blood relatives have come to accept him as he is. I think he believes if you must have money, you have to work for it and not expect him or anybody to just dash you free money.”

Asked if he was not angered by the former president’s action on that day, Adeoye said he wasn’t in any way angry. “If you know him, you will understand why I wasn’t angered by his action. We are used to him that way. Everything is not about money. He is useful for us in many other ways. He doesn’t give out money. But that is not to say he is stingy.”

Asked if he could recall any act of philanthropy by Obasanjo, Adeoye narrated how without being asked or prompted, rebuilt about ten collapsed mud houses in the town some years back and handed them back to the original owners without demanding anything.

“The original mud houses collapsed due to old age and the owners couldn’t rebuild them. Baba came and saw them in that state and decided to do something about them. Nobody asked him for help, he just did it,” he recalled.

The name Obasanjo

The Nation also learnt that the former president is the only person in the town bearing the name “Obasanjo” as a surname. It was gathered also that Obasanjo is the only male child of his mother who survived into adulthood. His half-brothers by his father’s other wives are not bearing Obasanjo, but Bankole or Adebayo as the case may be.

“Baba is the only one bearing Obasanjo here. The name is his father’s name. The full pronunciation is ‘Obaluayesanjo’. His own full name is Sangosegun. His half brothers are not bearing their father’s name as surname. They stuck to their grandfather or great-grandfather’s names, Bankole and Adebayo.

“Obasanjo has always been a special person right from childhood. So we heard. He is older than me and he even left Ibogun for Congo before we grew up. So all we know about him are the things we heard from our own fathers and mothers who knew him as a child and young man. His decision to choose the name Obasanjo can only be explained by him alone.

“As we celebrate him today, we are asking him to use the latter part of his life more for the glory of God and the development of his hometown. He is a wonderful person and God placed him among us for specific reasons. He must allow God to use him for us and our ancestral home,” Oluwo Adeoye added.

April 2, 2017
Residents groan as sex workers invade Adeniran Ogunsanya Street

The once serene and enviable Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in the heart of Surulere, Lagos seems to be losing its innocence, fast. With the recent dualisation of the road has come a proliferation of night-clubs and by implication, the sex trade. Landlords and residents fear a repercussion, which may rub-off on their children and their future.
They raised their fear with Omolara Akintoye.

Iw was in the wee hours on a Saturday. But not so for these half-clad ladies busy tearing at each other. They chased each other around the parking lot, shouting obscenities at the top of their voices and literally constituting nuisance in the neighbourhood. Suddenly, a guy punched one of the ladies and another threw a champagne bottle at them. At this point, onlookers made to take sides with the ladies, and then it was pandemonium.

On another occasion, a fight broke out between a commercial sex worker and her customer. He had refused to pay the agreed price after a whole night show and the girl is not backing down. He held tightly onto his trousers and screamed all sorts of unprintables. It was indeed an eyesore for parents, who struggled to keep their children out of eye and ear shot.

But these are some of the horrid experience residents of highbrow Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere, Lagos are now treated to on a weekly basis. Suddenly, the high street, which used to be synonymous with everything class is deteriorating into another red-light district. Many, especially families, who live on and off the street and now fear the repercussions of such development on their children, cite the growing number of nightclubs, bars and lounges on the street as reason.

Over the years, especially since the 1.024-kilometre street was dualised and upgraded, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street has become a vital artery for innumerable flourishing businesses. Rapid and monumental increase in commercial activities as a result of conversion of residential buildings to commercial use followed, giving birth to entertainment and hospitality businesses. But now, residents are calling on the government to step in. Adeniran Ogunsanya Landlords/Residents Association wants their peace and conducive environment back. Cheetham-West, legal adviser to the association said there is need to checkmate the activities of commercial sex workers on the street before they become uncontrollable.

“Proliferation of clubs on the street has led to sleepless night to residents. You see customers quarrelling with Commercial Sex workers. There is also indiscriminate parking of cars in front of gates, such that you will be unable to go out at night in case of emergency. It is also a precondition for robbery attack. In the past, some of them had sound proof in their clubs but after some years, they relocated and new ones who don’t know the rules guiding the business moved in and we are back to square one.”

He said the association has held several meeting with the Lagos Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, without any result. “The waiting has been endless. The Ministry also said none of the clubs on the street have been given permit to operate, yet they operate freely.” He said the original plan of Adeniran Ogunsanya has been messed up and said all that they clamour is decency. “We are not against commercial activities going on in the street so long as they comply with the laws of the street and do things decently. Club owners constitute nuisance because in the early hours of the morning, their customers litter the street with dirt and rubbish, which nobody cares to clear out.”

Asked if owners of the clubs and lounges ever attend their meetings, Cheetham said “Some did initially but after telling them what we expect of them, they stopped coming.”

Human nuisance

The clubs and lounges, The Nation learnt, are high-brow and demand certain standard of dress code before admittance. As a result, those who fail to make the requirement are left stranded on the street and become targets for street hawkers who peddle alcohols and other stuff. This, they say, also provide fertile ground for armed robbers. This has also hampered the activities of religious organisations, as vigils have now become dangerous ventures.

Going down memory lane, Chairman, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street Resident Association, Engineer Olufemi Shobo, said the street used to be the cynosure of the whole of Surulere, which even the visiting Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles visited in the late 1980s because of its beautiful structures.

Engineer Shobo who said he has lived on Adeniran Ogunsanya for 51 years said the street was intended as residential. “I moved in to this street in March 1965. Then we enjoyed absolute serenity, until the recession came and quite a number of the residents decided to commercialise their houses. Some of the owners even moved way and let out their houses indiscriminately. People needed money, so they looked for the best way to recover and in most cases, they moved their residence to the back and commercialised the front.” He said some of those who took over these houses used them as banks, eateries other formal businesses, while some turned them into club houses.

Asked whether the association has made any attempt to engage Lagos State government concerning the proliferation of commercial sex workers on the street, Shobo said there was a time they complained about street pollution and officials were sent to control them. “Once these officials take their leave, there is chaos again; but we kept on engaging them.” He said the club owners are difficult to control, since they neither attend the street association meetings nor pay dues.

The Octogenarian therefore enjoined the Lagos State government to come to their aid and regulate. At the most, he would like their number to be pruned down to two. “They should be dispatched to other areas as well; government should have special areas for them, so they don’t mix with residents; Adeniran Ogunsanya was designed to be residential and it should remain so,” he said.

Secretary of the association, Gbolahan Ayoolu said the activities of the commercial sex workers speak cast a big question mark on the integrity of the landlords and residents of the street. “Often, in the early hours of the morning, you wake up and see condoms everywhere. Government should try and bring sanity back to the street.”

A visit round the street reveals that only three or four of the lounges and bars have signposts. The rest, it seems, prefer to operate anonymously. Ayoolu revealed that “Their activities are more pronounced on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.” He said the street enjoyed relative peace during the tenure of the former DPO, Divisional Police Headquarters on nearby Bode-Thomas but said things have not been the same since this current DPO took over.

“The street has not been enjoying peace at all and we want the current DPO to try and checkmate their activities,” he said.

Abimbola Onagoruwa, a landlady, said the development is a fall-out of the rising unemployment, just like street trading. While not trying to justify their activities, she said the government needs to be proactive and provide alternative livelihood, such as skills acquisition. “There is no point educating your child only for her to end up on the street. We have quite a number of them, even university girls who collect pocket money from their parents but who still prostitutes. But when government provides jobs for them, then they can begin to ask them to take up proper jobs.

Onagoruwa also lamented that the development has given rise to problems of illegal parking among others. “Customers park in front of landlord/residents gates without any regard; government should limit their number.” She said the commercial sex workers hang around on the street because people patronize them. “If they don’t get patronage, they will go away. The night clubs on the street poses a lot of attraction and for the call girls. That is why we are holding meeting and appealing to the government, that certain rights should be given to us as landlords and residents of Adeniran Ogunsanya Street,” she said.

On his part, Adetunji Santos, another landlord on the street said recession is not an excuse for parents to allow their children to become prostitutes. “It’s so sad that Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, a hitherto peaceful and quiet street has now become a shadow of itself. The commercial sex workers come in with their customers, making noise, disturbing the neighbourhood, drinking alcohol, narcotics, smoking hemp and littering the street. They also defecate in the drains and mess up the whole place. If indeed prostitution is illegal in this country, government should do something to contain the situation,” Santos said.

While charging parents and care-givers to give their children proper upbringing, Santos urged government to empower the commercial sex workers with adequate skills. For the club owners, Santos said they constitute major problem on the street even during daytime. “If in the daytime these people do all sorts of things, then you can imagine what goes on through the night.”

Worst, Santos say their customers are recalcitrant and have become a threat the even the security men. “Even when security officials ask them not to park at certain spots, they react violently and are ready to beat them up. Sometimes, they get drunk and fight amongst themselves, throwing missiles at each other, even at the risk of damaging properties. I personally have picked broken bottles in my compound and in front of my gate, this is appalling!”

He therefore enjoined the Lagos State government to license club for only commercial areas and not residential.

Apart from the residents, other business owners on the street also have axes to grind with the club owners. A female owner of a clothing outfit on the street, who requested anonymity, said most times on weekends, the customers of the club owners park in front of her shop, thereby preventing customers from patronising her.

The Nation also spoke with some of the pastors of religious organisations located on the street. A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Hagiazo Parish, said the development is something that is not acceptable at all: “The activities of the commercial sex workers are not helping our youth and we are not happy about it. Their night activities have drastically affected our all night services. Though they also have rights but these rights should be exercised with caution and respect for other people. As a church, we are trying to see if a skill acquisition programme could be organised for these ladies but the problem is that you don’t see them in the daytime. It is really a serious challenge and we want the government to step in and contain the situation,” he said.

We’re yet to receive any complaints – Commissioner

In an Interview with the Acting Lagos Commissioner/Special Adviser for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Adebimpe Akinsola, she said the ministry is yet to receive any letter of complaint from the association regarding their plight or any negative activities of the clubs, lounges and bars. She also said most of these joints are not registered with the ministry. “This Ministry is a regulatory ministry for the registration of hospitality centres, event centers, lounges, bars, hotels. Restaurants and tourist centers should and must be registered under the law, which was amended in 2003. They don’t have excuses at all for operating illegally. We have officials from the ministry going on monitoring and enforcement; I’m aware that they are yet to get to Adeniran Ogunsanya Street but I tell you that soonest, they will get there.

Speaking on the criteria required by the law for such ventures, Hon Akinsola said one major criterion is that such centre must be able to fulfill the environmental and sanitary conditions, among others. “With the new master plan that the state is rolling out, Akinsola said even centers that are registered should come for recertification and ensure that they meet up with everything concerning safety. Centers that refuse to conform to the new mega-city plan will be scrapped,” she warned.

We’re taking proactive measures – DPO

Reacting to the allegation by the residents that they no longer enjoy peace like they used to, the DPO, Bode Thomas Divisional Police Headquarters, Surulere, Lagos, who would rather not have his name in print, said: “The division has not received any complaints from the association. I have even attended their monthly meeting to educate them on security tips. Moreover, I personally, with my men, conduct night surveillance on a daily basis, especially on weekends when the activities of the night clubs are more pronounced. We are taking proactive measures to checkmate crime rate in the area, and so far, there are no ugly incidents or accidents in the area.” he said.

On the issue of indiscriminate parking, the DPO said “I have warned all night club owners to ensure that there is no violation of laws. And when vehicles are parked indiscriminately, we tow such vehicles. We will continue to do our best and all other relevant bodies that should enforce other laws should also play their part,’ he concluded.

March 26, 2017
Come to our aid, Iba LCDA residents appeal to Ambode

Residents of Harmony Estate in Iba LCDA are currently in the throes of environmental deterioration and call on Gov Ambode to come to their aid. By Gboyega Alaka

It”s the season of the rains yet again and the landlords and residents of Harmony Estate, Isashi, Iba LCDA are already living in anxiety. This is on account of their bad access road, which they claim hampers movement and has cost them millions of naira.

The road, which branches off the Iyana-Isashi road, passes through the estate right through to Bayoof Estate along Badagry Expressway. According to the chairman of the community, Orji Eze, the road, aside serving residents of Harmony Estate and environs, should also serve ordinarily as a connectivity route for motorists coming from as far as Ikeja, Igando, Ikotun and going to Ijanikin, Agbara, and as far as Badagry. He however cited bad spots, swamp and general impassibility of the road as its greatest bane.

In order not to fold their hands and watch things deteriorate, Eze said they have over the years filled the very bad portions of the road with tippers of sand and stones, just so their vehicles do not sink and are able to pass through and link the nearby Badagry Expressway.

He also said the road, which is about 3km, when repaired, will take a lot of pressure off the Iyana-Isashi-Badagry bus stop/junction, which normally causes serious traffic logjam and consume numerous man-hour.

“On our own” Eze said, “we have been maintaining the road by pouring stones and tippers of sand. Just last month, we poured 23 tippers of sand. This month, we have poured about thirteen and the cost is affecting us. Our members are also complaining. It is for this reason that we’re calling on the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to come to our rescue and fix the road for us. It will also be of great economic importance to the state, as workers and businesses will move freely.”

They appeal to the governor to come to their aid now that the rainy season is yet to fully set in, insisting that during rainy season, even jeeps find it hard to navigate through the road, let alone cars. The Vice chairman, Akin Oluwatosin, a senior civil servant with the Lagos State government, said the road was opened up through self-help and their effort can no longer sustain its maintenance. He also spoke of the canal in the area, which he said gets taken over by weed and overflows its bank, flooding houses from time to time.

Said Oluwatosin, “To clear the canal the last time, we spent N350,000 each day to bring Slumberger here to clear the carnal, and for the two days they came, we spent N700,000 and you’d agree with me that that is huge. As you can see, we still have to clear the other side of the bridge, but we have run out of cash.”

No response from Alausa

The chairman also said the community has written to the Lagos State government three times, without any response. They appeal to governor Ambode to impress it on his Ministry of Works and Ministry of Environment, to come to their aid and save them from yearly headache and anxiety.

March 26, 2017
On trail of the scarlet ladies

When American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote and published The Scarlet Letter: A Romance in 1850, it was to highlight how grave promiscuity was viewed even in America of yore. Today however, it is no longer big deal and women of the night flaunt their bodies for sex unabashedly. The expression, Scarlet ladies have also stuck with women of the sex trade, ever since. This crew of The Nation’s crack team, comprising Gboyega Alaka, photographer, Rapheal Olusegun and Graphic Designer, Sherrif Atanda, following complaints by landlords and residents of Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, had hoped this adventure would be a stroll in the park, but it took them two full nights to catch these ladies at work.

The first evening, Wednesday, proved to be an evening of wild goose chase, as none of the girls or women was sighted. From the Bode Thomas end down to the Alhaji Masha/Stadium end, the street was calm with nothing unusual. Of course, there were the late evening taxis, young boys and girls, taking light evening strolls, hand-in-hand and the eateries winding down.

A couple of youths hanging out near the popular Leisure Mall however volunteered that these reporters may have come out too early. Although it was about 10.00pm, they said it may take the girls another one hour to come out, if they were going to come out at all. To really catch them at work, they advised that this crew come out on Friday evening. “Bros, na Friday dey bubble for here o. I swear, you will see them in different shapes and sizes.”

Friday, 10.30pm: These reporters took their advice seriously and returned to the sight two days later. Initially, it looked like it was going to be another fruitless night. The street was as clean as a whistle. No, not that there were nobody or activities going on the street, but sex hawkers were nowhere to be found. Aside the exclusive lounges like Temptation, which appeared to have a bit of life, nothing much seemed to be happening. However, there was plenty of life and partying at the Leisure Mall. The popular open air drink and suya joint was alive. But it was the traditional Surulere Friday evening party life. Significantly, these also appeared to be young boys and their ‘mummy’s girl’ girlfriends, enjoying their late evening dates. The girls were quite homely and timid and most of them clung to their dates like a leech would a dog’s skin. An attempt to chat a couple of them up also met a brickwall; as they quickly retreated into their shells. They would neither stop nor yield ground for any form of conversation. To top it up, they quickened their steps, as if to run away from danger.

Surely these were not prostitutes, and yet this was far into the night. 11.25pm to be precise. But just as the crew cruised down the street one last time, they appeared in the dark horizon. They were a potpourri of girls and women. A good number of them looked to be just emerging from puberty, while several were full blown women. The shapes and sizes also varied, from the fully endowed both in front and behind, to the twiggy. They stood in twos and threes, while some, perhaps to stand out or avoid competition, stood alone. Right in front of a popular clothes shop on the street, some of the girls were busy getting ready for the business of the night. One of them, quite buxom, sat, legs wide open, as if without care, her plum laps, inviting. She was making up her face. The sight of these prospective customers didn’t bother her. There’s plenty of time, she probably thought. After all, it’s a Friday night.

One of the girls sauntered up to the car that conveyed this crew. She is the type Wale Adenuga in his days of publishing Ikebe Super magazine would describe as ‘double land cruiser.’ “How do you want it? Short time or TDB (till day break),” she asked without wasting time. She gave her name as Sandra and said she was available. But first, she wanted to know where this reporter was taking her. When she was told it was on the Island, she asked “Where? Is it your house or a hotel?” When this reporter said “Kosoko Close,” she asked “Where is that?” Surely, she seemed to be on top of her game.

And then she said, “I hope you know the price, 25k!”On noticing the surprise on this customer’s face, she threw back, almost coquettishly, “Yeah, I’m expensive. Abi you no see my package?”

Going back and forth, she finally agreed 15k, but said it had to be a well known hotel, since she didn’t know any Kosoko Close.

When this reporter asked how long she’s been plying her trade on the street, she leaned back, squinted a little and asked, “How’s that an issue. Do you want show or you want to be asking JAMB questions?”Her English wasn’t bad and you could tell that she’s had good education. But she would not divulge any information. Is this customer interested in business or just out to waste her time? As if noticing a sign of indecision on the part of this customer, she stepped back, stooped to take in the sight of the three men in the car and waltzed away without a word.

Cynthia’s first question the moment the vehicle conveying this crew came to a halt before her was “Na the three of you?”

To this, the three gentlemen in the car burst into laughter. “Can you handle three people?”

“Well,” she said, sizing up the trio, “it depends. How much are you willing to pay?”

Like Sandra, she asked “Where are we going?” She also would not like to go to the Island. Instead, she recommended a nearby hotel. But this crew insisted on the Island. The deadlock eventually became the escape route for the crew. But before then, she had volunteered that she only joined the ladies of the night train a few months back. She needed the money badly and Lagos seems a hard place to survive.

She would however not disclose her educational background or if she’s had a child, although this crew noted that her stomach looked much like that of a mother, despite her ‘packaging effort; the sort often referred to as “After one”.

When asked if the police ever disturbed them, her response was sharp and short. “Police no be person?”

Asked why they chose to operate on Adeniran ogunsanya, she again said in her short and sharp manner, “Na here dey bubble now. Na here the guys wey fit spend dey.” Inadvertently, she confirmed the allegation of the landlords and residents, who said it is the presence of the highbrow clubs and lounges that is attracting them.

Tina looked buxom in her crimson red baby-doll dress. Unlike several others who stood in clusters, she was standing alone this night. That may be due to her age, as she looked well past her youth. In spite of her effort to cover the wrinkles on her face with make-up, they were still visible enough. But still she would not take less than ten thousand naira for an all-night romp. She said it is the job she does now and that she only comes out on Fridays. Once in a while though, she does Wednesdays. As a result, she tries to maximise the day. For a short time, she would take five thousand naira.

She said business was bad and wondered why this reporter was asking too many questions. On second thought, she asked if this reporter was a “police officer,” or wait for it, “reporter.”

However when Sherrif asked if she would take N5,000 till dawn, she seemed to get annoyed. “How can you expect me to take N5,000 for TDB? You think say na so I cheap?”

With this, she turned away; but this crew had had enough. The Scarlet Ladies have indeed taken over the street and it is left to see how many more will be joining them if nothing is done.

March 26, 2017
Mission for ‘bold change’

About 100 works by over 40 women were on display at the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos during the 2017 International Women’s Day celebrations. The all-women exhibition was also to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN). The theme was: Be Bold for Change, Women Arise! EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

THEIR mission was clear and they were vociferous about it. They wanted what they called “bold change.”
Consensually, they demanded women’s inclusion in governance, zero tolerance for genital mutilation, end to violence against women and freedom for women to aspire to any position and more. Their weapon? Their art. Behold Nigerian women artists.
In the last five years, under the aegis of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), the women have marked the International Women’s Day (IWD) with well-packaged all-women international art exhibitions. This year was no different. Along with its 15th anniversary, FEAAN commemorated the IWD with the theme: Be Bold for Change, Women Arise!
The three-storey building of Nike Art Gallery in Lagos was the venue of this year’s event. The gallery came alive with artworks by over 40 women artists from across the country and abroad. The artists brilliantly interpreted their thoughts for a better world for all, especially for women, in various forms, such as painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, ceramics and crafts.
Spearheading the women rights crusade through art was FEAAN President Mrs. Ngozi Akande. Her two works, Let The Action Begin Now (mixed media 34cm X 52cm) and Despite All Odds (acrylic on canvas), were part of over 100 works featured at the six-day exhibition.
“The World Economic Forum predicts that the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186. This, in our opinion, is too long to wait,” she noted.
And so, the art movement-cum exhibition, Mrs. Akande said, was “in line with the Beijing 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, which proposed gender mainstreaming as a key strategy to reduce inequality against women”.
“The International Women’s Day activities including our exhibitions can serve as catalysts in achieving this sooner. This year, the members of FEAAN took bold actions through our works to accelerate gender parity. Through the exhibition, FEAAN is, therefore, campaigning for more gender inclusive world which will ensure the promotion of women rights throughout the world,” she said.
The diverse thought-provoking artworks drew dignitaries from all walks of life, including art scholars and students, their male counterparts, gallery owners, art collectors and diplomats, particularly from French and Pakistan embassies, among others.
In attendance at the opening ceremony, which also featured a presentation of Chukwuemeka Bosah’s book The Art of Nigeria Women, were Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya; former President, Society for Nigeria Artists (SNA), Kolade Osinowo; Chief Frank Okonta; famed art collector founder/Chief Executive Officer Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Arts Foundation (OYASAF), Prince Yemisi Shyllon; former Head, Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Peju Layiwola; and former Central Bank (CBN) Deputy Governor Mr Victor Odozi and his wife, Princess Tessy, who is the founder, Greenhouse Art Empowerment Centre.
For pioneer FEAAN President Prof Bridget Nwanze of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Nigerian women artists are “making giant strides and having their lives transformed as they freely practise their art,” unlike in previous years when “they shied away from actively participating in public art”. Prof Nwanze’s two large works, Bold Steps and Prayer for Nigeria in Distress, were part of the women’s artistic movement for change.
Citing the art and creative industry as an alternative economic route out of recession, she called for government’s support and empowerment for women artists. This, she observed, would lead to Nigeria’s financial growth and economic development.
Prof Nwanze said: “The works of the Nigerian women artists have always been excellent at interpreting everyday experiences in visual forms, making them easier to appreciate and understand. This has made the works of the female artists invaluable.
“I urge all women artists to remain focused and refuse to be distracted by the pressures of life that every modern woman must face. I believe that as we all walk our various paths in diligence and with dignity, we will walk into the destiny we were born to fulfil.
“I congratulate the FEAAN President Ngozi Akande, the exhibition team and all women artists who have made effort to participate in this year’s exhibition. Of course, I also appreciate the support of the Embassy of France; Pakistan High Commission in Abuja; UFUK Dialogue; National Gallery of Art (NGA), National Council for Arts and Culture; Nigerian Television Authority and Nike Art Gallery.”
In his goodwill message, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, praised the women’s efforts at calling for social/cultural/political change and gender parity. According to him, the 2017 International Women’s Day theme Be Bold for Change calls on women to forge a better working and more gender inclusive world. “This year’s underlining theme, Women Arise, is chosen to urge women to make giant strides, conquer pressures and excel in their various fields. We, at the French Embassy, congratulate the talents and commitment of the FEAAN and are proud to be associated with you’’.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan High Commission in Abuja, Lt. Gen. Agha Muhammad Umer Farooq (rtd), said: “Nigeria is blessed with cultural, artistic, performing and creative arts potentials which are being well projected by institutions like FEAAN”. In his opinion, the art, culture, artists and artisans portray soul and spirit of a nation, adding that FEAAN is projecting Nigerian culture and providing a conductive environment to women artists.

The artists’ works
The exhibition, which featured works of varying sizes by notable women artists, ran from March 8 to 13. Widely acclaimed artist and founder Nike Art Gallery, Chief Nike Monica Okundaye, who provided her gallery at no charge, also had on display three of her large works – Listen to the Birds Song, Landscape and Your heat spread Peace. Her works called attention to the preservation of nature and for peace. Acclaimed print artist and Vice President of FEAAN and former Vice Chairman of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Stella Awoh had three of her works on display: Determination I and II and Unity. Pioneer Head of Department of General Arts and industrial Design at Auchi Polytechnic, Olajumoke Kukoyi, had three of her works of mixed media on display – Stages of Life, Under Water and Headgear. Dr Sukanthy Visagapperumal Egharevba of the Cross River State University of Technology featured three of her exhibits – Burden We Bear, Seasons of Festivity and Aathi Shakti.
National Gallery of Art (NGA) Curator Kaltume B. Gana, also featured two of her works, Lorusa I and II, showcasing the beautiful hand design of Kanuri brides.
The chairperson of FEAAN Southwest Zone, Mrs. Omovo Ayoola Oluwaseun’s three works of ink on paper -Effects of Change, The Bride and African Pride – depict the need for true change in all spheres of society.
Appearing like a treasure chest from the sea, Anyaeji Ifeoma’s work, Sit with me, 2013 caught the eyes of guests. Interestingly, her chest-like installation which also looked like a table or seat, as the case may be, is made of discarded plastic bags, bottles, wire mesh, twine bubbles and found wood. It calls for waste management. Fatima Hassan’s The all Seeing focuses on the omniscient power of the Divine.
There were works using fashion fabrics as tool to make creative statement and advocacy, such as Degarr Ayam Abur’s large fabrics on board Unity of Purpose, Scattered pieces and Festac 77; Ochuba Primrose’s Famille and Izu Umunna I and II; and Mayen Owodiong’s Ankara throw pillow collection and Ankara Fascinators. There was also Naomi Oladipo’s work of oil on canvas including Between Wealth and Happiness, Ore Ijinle and Deep Expectation; Suowari Onajite’s Queen of Hearts and First Love; Odili Blessing’s How Market and I remain bold and beautiful; and documentary photographer Evelyn Osagie’s three photo-works – Harmony, Let’s dance and Wenger’s Art, among others.
The exhibition also had works of two guest artists from abroad: Pakistan’s Mehrjabeen Iftikhar and documentary photographer Demiral Emin. While Emin’s three photo-works – Chronicles, nations Wealth and Not Stopping Here – showcase women in northern Nigeria; Women in Harmony, Four Women & Butterflies and Patterns of Friendship were Iftikhar’s three brushworks on display.

March 22, 2017
New DG unveils plans for NTDC

Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has described tourism as the alternative to oil.
During his inaugural meeting with workers at NTDC Headquarters in Abuja, Adalikwu pledged to reposition the corporation and also to revive the Presidential Council on Tourism.
He said: “We shall work with the National Assembly, all other stakeholders to restore NTDC’s lost grounds, to enable the corporation move tourism in the country to the next level.
“We shall engage and partner with state governors who are serious to develop tourism in their states. While, I will ensure that all NTDC’s zonal offices are positioned to deliver on the Corporation’s mandate.”
The Corporation, he suggested, should be renamed the “Nigerian Tourism Authority” in line with global best practices. He promised to engage some stakeholders on improved funding of the sector and the corporation.
Adalikwu promised to improve the Corporation’s capacity building through staff training, welfare and improved collaborations with the private sector.
“Let’s join hands. Through team work, we would reposition this industry. I came here to work. Give me time, I’ll deliver. I am very focused on making positive changes in the Corporation and the tourism industry. If you have ideas on how to advance Nigerian tourism, come to me,” Adalikwu told the workers.
Unveiling his plan for a befitting corporate office for the Corporation, Adalikwu said he would establish more departments to enable the agency deliver on its core mandates.

March 22, 2017
Safeguarding a vanishing treasure

Adire is the name for the indigo blue fabric patterned with resist types of designs. There are two resist types. Those with raffia or cotton thread for resisting through typing, stitching, or a combination of folding and typing before dyeing are known as adire oniko. Those with painted or printed types using starch from cassava flour as resisting agent on the fabric before dyeing are referred to as adire eleko. Our focus in this work is on adire eleko, and this is because of its great and wide range of changing motifs, themes and symbols, which the other type lacks.
Adire eleko fabric originated among the Yoruba in Nigeria in the first decade of the twentieth century in response to the British colonial trade policy of the time. The uses of cassava paste as a resist medium for painting or printing on fabrics among the Yoruba is unique because it is not found elsewhere in Africa. In the beginning, the marketing of adire fabric faced competition from cheap imported European textiles. It survived the competition. It also gained entry into the arena of international trade and yielded good dividends. However, its gains were short lived because later colonial policies scuttled its further growth. Its advancement in post-independence Nigeria up till the end of the twentieth century was not any better because it contended with greater and stiffer competition from the changing fashions of the times, including handcrafted wax batik fabrics.
The production of the classic adire eleko type declined sharply and progressively, portending the final eclipse of the industry. Perhaps in the near future, these classic adire eleko fabrics might not be seen in the market again. The vanishing industry was witnessed by some of its stakeholders such as the dyers, traders, traditional rulers, local chiefs, and expatriate firms. These groups responses to the various developments in this industry has been analyses in previous publications. These publications are however, silent on the response of adire eleko artists (aladire) to the vicissitudes of the industry.
The published works do not shed much light on the artists struggle at sustain the ‘new profession’ particularly as it relates to production processes, tool acquisition and improvisation, design motif development, and to ways of competing favourably with machine-produced trendy fabrics and even with other handcrafted cloths. They are equally silent on the abysmally low patronage of adire eleko in the last three decades or so prior to the end of the twentieth century, and how the decline led to a great defection by the Aladire to other more lucrative businesses.
Throughout the time of struggle, the development of adire has been one of innovation, adaptation, and changes. The Aladire created changing unique designs, which captivated the attention of many people locally and internationally, not only for their aesthetic qualities, that is, their variety of designs and general excellence of technique, but also for their themes, which mirrored certain aspects of the social, economic and political history of the Yoruba, and Nigeria in general.
As a result of changing conditions, the adire eleko artists also derived their forms, styles, themes, tools and techniques from both local and foreign sources. They creatively chose and modified borrowed traits for their production. Consequently, the trade in adire eleko survived for a while because the artists continued to innovate. Our study addresses the ways and manner in which the adire eleko artists responded to the changing challenges associated with their trade in the face of fluctuating fortunes and misfortunes.
This work thus accounts for the history of adire eleko art and how the artists coped generally with their challenges from about 1910 to the year 2010. It discusses the design motif types, configurations, organisations and their relationship to symbolism for the purpose of design analysis. Through this, many designs yet unpublished are illustrated and interpreted. Again, it establishes the origins and chronological development of the designs, and the possible factors which affected their persistence and change. The study examines the numerical strength and human capacity building of the artists in order to shed light on the calibre of artists who produced the designs and sustained the industry. Lastly, it assesses the factors which led to the gradual termination of the industry between the 1970s and the year 2010.
The author relied on photographic records and actual adire eleko samples, which were collected from museums, private collections, artists and the author’s collections, filed investigations were conducted in Ibadan and Abeokuta intermittently between 1979 and 1981, between 1987 and 1989, and between 1994 and 2000 for studying changes between the periods of investigations.
This study provides an opportunity to expand the previous record on adire eleko art. It has benefitted immensely from Barbour and Simmond’s systematic and thus far unparalleled primer, Adire Cloth in Nigeria (1971), which is a collection of essays on the various types of adire including adire eleko. In this publication, Barbour and Simmond outline the origins of some dire designs and suggest areas that could be addressed by future research, namely, the importance of adire in Yoruba culture and the relationship between the motif used and Yoruba symbolism. These suggested themes are part of the subject examined in my work.
Jackson’s observation and deductions on the jubilee design, an adire eleko type, in Adire Cloth in Nigeria is also commendable. Perhaps, one of the most recent and colourful catalogues on the various types of adire is the 1997 exhibition catalogue, Adire Resist Dyed Cloths of the Yoruba, published by National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C. other works focusing on designs include publication by Adetoro, Dendel, Berkley, and Oyelola. These are more or less extensions of Barbour and Simmond’s model on the analysis of production techniques and designs.
Wolff studied Eicher’s collection of adire and provided a brief historical analysis of some adire designs and production, pointing to the disappearance of classic adire types because they were no longer being produced, and also showing Eicher’s documentation of these adire as a rare resource. The present publication, Adire Eleko Fabric Art: A Vanishing Nigerian Indigo Impression is a detailed documentation on design history and the artists’ response to changing significant events of their time. In essence, it is in part a type of memoir of the Aladire.
The introductory chapters examine the preparatory stage for the take-off of general adire trade and subsequently, the adire eleko sub-sector. In chapter One, we introduce the Yoruba who occupy southwest Nigeria as the producers of adire eleko and historically trace the social, political and economic factors that support the development and character of this domestic industry, including some novel fabrics that were developed prior to the advent of the adire. This overview shows the relevance of the evolution of the adire as just a part of the developmental continuum of the textile craft industry among the Yoruba.
In chapter Two, we establish that the British colonial economic policy in Nigeria provided the infrastructure for economic exploitation, including markets for their foreign products. We also discuss the importation of cheap plain fabrics (shirting) and dyestuffs, which the Aladire found very useful for the continuity of their production. This chapter thus provides a crucial base on which adire trade was promoted.
Chapter Three delves into the establishment of adire eleko workshops in some Yoruba towns, particularly Ibadan and Abeokuta, discussing the specialised techniques of production on painted and stenciled adire eleko and the revealing records of high sales in and outside Nigeria in the early years of the industry.
Next was the period of creative flourish. It was a time when many ardent adire eleko artists were engaged in the trade and when there were an unprecedented exploration and transformation in adire eleko designs and production, albeit in a challenging environment. Chapter Four discusses how the adire artists went through harsh economic situations leading to drastic decline in the volume of adire trade between 1930 and 1970. The focus was on how the artists created and used their designs at various times to respond to certain major political and economic situations in Nigeria, and to express their fears and anxieties in relation to their trade detractors, as well as their personal philosophy and thoughts on sundry matters during the period.
Chapter Five discusses efforts by the artists to provide a wide range of options in styling certain popular motifs. It illustrates the techniques used and probable sources that influenced the choice of motif styling. It also attempts to capture the chronological sequence of the styles created.
Chapter Six examines the manner in which the adire eleko artists re-used some of their foreign and local rivals printed and woven fabrics as foundation fabrics for printing their adire designs, in order to forge ahead in the midst of fluctuating fortunes. The exciting and successful outcome of the experiment is analysed by highlighting the merging hybrid designs.
After the preceding period of flourish came the years of decline. These were trying times when the Aladire’s occupation started to lose economic significance because of factors beyond their control. Consequently, in Chapter Seven, an evaluation is made of certain militating factors that contributed to the vanishing practice of adire eleko production.
Chapter Eight discusses the nature and background of the artists, their numerical strength, an appraisal of the significant contribution to the expansion of the craft by some of the notable artists among them, and a general assessment of the Aladire’s strength and skills, concluding that these features could not collectively withstand the superior marketing strategies of other competitors in the face of changing market demands.
In the conclusion, we reaffirm that it was not surprising that another African craft industry became subsumed and eventually obliterated by the importation of machine-produced goods from the West. The weak human resource capacity building of the Aladire largely constrained their competitiveness in the local and international market, which thus affected the much higher impact this industry would have made to Nigeria’s economic growth.

March 22, 2017
‘Change does not come overnight’

On April 14, Embrace Assembly International, Ikorodu, Lagos will hold its yearly programme titled: Embrace. In this interview with Joseph Eshanokpe, the church’s Senior Pastor, Rev Isaac Adeyemi, speaks on the 10th anniversary of the event, his forthcoming 60th birthday and other issues.

What is your view on the political situation in the country?
I know that God in heaven cannot fail. I will be 60 this year and all this time, I have witnessed successive government promising electricity, potable water, good roads, good healthcare, but they have never delivered on their promises. How would I think that in two years, President Muhammadu Buhari would do the magic of what has not been done in the past 40 years? We are just in a hurry and maybe politicians are the ones hiking our expectations. Change doesn’t come over night. Change is gradual and I think those in government also need to demonstrate that they are serious about the change they are talking about.
What is the theme of your church‘s forthcoming programme and what is it all about?
This year’s Embrace marks our 10th anniversary and we are also using the opportunity offered by the occasion to launch the Isaac Adeyemi World Evangelistic Outreach. God just gave us the vision to reach out to the world and we believe that Embrace would be the vehicle to accomplish that purpose. In addition to what we have been doing yearly, we intend giving free drugs, eye glasses and other things to the public. We also intend feeding about 20, 000 people being expected at the event. As usual, we believe that souls would be attracted to His kingdom. Some artistes have been shortlisted to perform at the occasion. They include Evangelists Ebenezer Obey, Tope Alabi, Cobhams, Tim Godfrey and Boys Olorun. So, we are believing God to make it a time of breakthrough for soul-winning, signs and wonders. The event comes up on the Good Friday, April 14, and the venue is Ikorodu Town Hall. We are starting at 8am with the medical outreach, and it ends at 4pm. The musical crusade starts from 8pm till dawn.
The theme of Embrace Season 10 is: “Rejoicing in our King,” taken from Psalm 149:2. We rejoice in this King because He brought salvation and deliverance. He allowed Himself to be killed, so we can have salvation and without Him we are nothing. If there is anyone to be praised, it is this King. So, this year, we are approaching it from the angle of praise, to open people’s eyes to see what this Man has done for them. This is the first year I would be ministering at Embrace since we started, and the reason is to explain more clearly the vision God gave to us on Isaac Adeyemi World Evangelistic Outreach. Before now, we have been reaching out to communities here, but with the new vision, we realised we need to go beyond here. Jesus said when we receive the gift of Holy Spirit; we shall be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem, Judea, and in Samaria. Jerusalem is our locality, where we have been witnessing in Judea. Now, we have done Jerusalem and Judea, and we believe it is time to go to Samaria and the outer part of the world. And I know that God who has brought the vision has monitored it from afar. I believe He knows we are due to leave the mountain, where we have operated for so long. We’ve stayed too long on this mountain and God is saying we should move to the next mountain. We believe Embrace Season 10 is the auspicious time for us to launch out.
He says we should go to Ghana, of course, we will head there.

March 22, 2017
Theatre rises against corruption

Fake claims, ego, arrogance, emptiness and greed characterise the relationship between a politician business man, Paulinus, and his lover girl in Thespian Family Theatre and Productions’ new play Beyond The Garb running at the Cinema Hall One, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Written and directed by Ayo Jaiyesimi and assisted by Stage Marshal Nissi George, Beyond The Garb mirrors the larger society, especially corporate bodies and individuals’ actions and inactions that threaten the survival of social norms and values. It is a rich production of music, dance, song and drama. The banter is humorous and rib-cracking, but underlying this are salient topics and conversations that tug at the cord of national citizenship.
The 70-minute total theatre performance, according to Jaiyesimi, is one way to key into the change initiative in the fight against corruption in the country. “Except we look inward and allow the change to start from us, we will not be able to make progress. The play for now is deliberate considering the time we are. For instance, we are quick at pointing accusing fingers at others such as the police on the road, but we don’t examine ourselves. So, we are using theatre to look at the fight against corruption via persuasion,” she said at a preview session in Lagos.
Of all the scenes in the play, the one that shows the police encounter with Paulinus (Omololu Sodiya) and his lover girl and the intervention of a fake prophet captures the many prophecies and deceits of our time. Also, the get-rich- quick syndrome by some Nigerians is reflected in the attitudes of the police who surrenders his loot from the road block to a fake prophet in order to make it big. However, all these were passed across to the audience with lots of humour. Musical interludes featuring songs and dances drawn from major ethnic groups spiced the presentation. Among the casts are Michael George, Samuel Perry, Stanley Okeke, Teco Austin, Owumi Ugbeye, Joy Amata, Adesina Adejoke, Agunpopo Olamide and Victor Sunday.
Beyond The Garb, which opened on Saturday at the National Theatre, will be on stage from March 25 to 27, a special command performance in commemoration of World Theatre Day 2017.

March 22, 2017
Amosun, Gbadebo, others for Adire Eleko launch

After 25 years of in-depth research, a new book on the history of Adire craft industry among the Egba (Yoruba people of Southwest), Adire Eleko Fabric Art (A Vanishing Nigerian Indigo Impression) written by Prof Tunde Akinwumi is ready for launch.
The 300-page book, which is an off-shoot of an initial research on the Egba textile industry during the reign of Oba Ademola, reflects the process, domestic and international market breakthrough of the past and the designs on the fabrics highlights certain Nigerian political memoirs and Yoruba culture.
It will be presented to the public tomorrow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos by 11am.
Expected at the launch are Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo Chief Ernest Shonekan, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso and other traditional rulers and guests. Foreword to the book is written by Emeritus Prof A, Asiwaju.
According to Prof Akinwumi, the book actually began as an assignment he was given by the late Oba Lipede in 1992 on the Egba textile industry/Art during the reign of Oba Ademola, which was to form the Egba history. “From that beginning, I expanded the research into a book. But, funding was a major challenge as I had to use part of my pension money for the production of the book. In fact, I spent about nine million naira to get the book ready for presentation,” he said.
In a chat, Prof Akinwumi said the book is on the labour history of Adire Eleko artists who are mainly men, their lifestyles, as well as to examine the many challenges they faced as craftsmen. He noted that the Eleko art is vanishing because the designs are not what they used to be when they were used. They serve as mirror of the political issues of the day and historical documentation.
He stated that most of the artists are all gone with no younger ones replacing them, adding that Adire Eleko takes more time to produce unlike Kampala and batik.
“The book reflects the story of dedicated textile artists whose passion for excellent production, whose products were sought across West Africa up till Congo before the Nigerian civil war, whose interests were dampened by fierce competitions, by rivals such as production of mass imported fabrics, Kampala artists whose works were copied by current commercial outfits and others.
‘’They survived the hard time nevertheless they were always innovative in designs. Consequently, the artists started reducing in numerical strength, reducing in textile arts excellence, the decline sets in. What we used to enjoy in their works started vanishing such as records, comments by artists on political situation as impressions of thought, experiences of Yoruba cultural ideas started vanishing; sayings, proverbs, personal ideals as impressions are no longer shown on clothing all due to low morale. Those dedicated artists in Abeokuta are dead. The new young textile artists are interested only in Kampla,” he added.
Notwithstanding the many challenges, Prof Akinwumi feels happy and elated each time he looks at the book, noting that the book that was written before his was by a foreign author on the production techniques of the various adire.

March 22, 2017