The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • Uche Okeke and the Legacy of Beautiful Lines

    Uche Okeke and the Legacy of Beautiful Lines

    Artist and social commentator, Morgan Nwanguma pays tribute to late art legend, Professor Uche Okeke

    And the legend finally comes to an end; Professor Uche Okeke – the great master and pioneer finally goes home to his maker, leaving the ‘sensitive lines’ with us. As the originator of Ulism, the great son of Okeke worked the lines to frenzy as he ‘doodled’ his way right from the formative days in the 1950s, to the lofty heights we behold of him and his rich legacies. It was in the 1950s, when as a student in the Fine Art department of the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology (which later became the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) that his modernist tendencies shone clearly whiles he experimented with the motifs and philosophies of his native Igbo folklore.

    The avant-garde ‘movement’ was later carried down to Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria to perfect the new style at home from where the Uli art style took its mental roots. By the prodigious deftness of the young Okeke, line art grew from the early experiments to a crescendo no one imagined. And so the ‘Zaria rebel’ took form when he and his student colleagues worked tirelessly from their non-conformist postulations, and concept of Natural Synthesis; it was this which propelled a radical departure from the conventions of the day. Thus the ‘rebels’ began a march that birthed much of the nuances and creative vistas that we refer to today as the different schools and styles, or art movements in Nigeria.

    Okeke as a pioneer academic and scholar took the traditional Igbo body and wall decoration to the (art) schools, and then to our canvases, stretched papers, and to the galleries and collections the world over.

    In a mental journey to his roots while training in Zaria, Okeke, drew so much inspiration from the stories his mother and sister told him; he was thus enthralled with the folklore of his native Igbo background, and with it etched out a unique personal direction. He took this new found predilection back home to Nsukka, entrenched it finally and propagated the Uli movement while advancing the Nsukka style of art in the 1970s. The Uli bug was that infectious, as it took firm roots and bore fruits of adept proponents and adherents, even from beyond the rolling hills of Nsukka and its environs.

    The Uli giant is fallen, but the lines keep branching out, and etching out new songs in a forest of thoughts and kindred spirits. Oh the big tree is fallen; ‘oke osisi dachiri uzo’; the great Iroko that stood at the market square is no more! And now he lies before us, like a pillar gone down – the landmark that towered Nsukka and beyond the hills. Okeke’s oeuvre encapsulates the whole gamut of the traditional Igbo women’s art of decoration. The hues of earth colours and white lines that embellished bodies of traditional folks – prepared for outings, events, and communal rituals are captured in a new language; these are the indelible legacies of the master.

    Uli decorations are usually applied on traditional huts and walls of buildings, but this is also fast becoming a dying culture due to modernisation. Okeke’s landmarks and legacy is that he and his disciples have elevated and preserved this abstract art form for all times. Nsukka has ever remained a haven and fertile ground for the preservation and dissemination of the effervescent Uli spirit, owing to the vision and creative verve of the irrepressible grand master.

    Silence beckons; and a moment for the great lines, as we pay our last respects – treading the paths of Uli, and to Nsukka. And so it is the time of the big masquerades as Oke Osisi goes home. Omabe, Nnukwu mmanwu, Ijele, all come out to play, and his resplendent soul goes marching on.

    Okeke – the pioneer legend, and master artist was the grand exponent and originator of the Uli movement, and giant of the Nsukka School. Now he draws the lines no more; sweet repose to the great Uli master, the creative soul of beautiful lines.

    • Morgan Nwanguma (Artist/Writer) www.chiaroscuroartworld.blogspot.com
  • ‘Your death hour is 10 o’clock’

    ‘Your death hour is 10 o’clock’

    •Ex-Commissioner relives 16-day ordeal in kidnappers den

    Four years after his kidnap, former Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education Prof Hope Oghenerukevbe Eghagha has broken his silence over his 16-day ordeal. He was a guest at the Faculty of Arts Seminar Series at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he read excerpts from Your Death Hour is 10 O’clock, a short narrative on the ordeal, which will form part of his soon-to-be published collection of short stories. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, the professor of English, called for people-oriented job-creation programmes and a special anti-kidnapping unit in the army and the police to stop the lethal trade. 

    Why did it take you so long to come out with this narrative?

    It took me this long because I had to come to terms with what happened to me. It was a scary ordeal. I spent 16 days in the kidnappers’ den. This September will make it four years when I was kidnapped, but the incident is still fresh on my mind. I was not sure I would come out alive.

    I also felt that I should come out with the narrative after I left the government, when I had pulled back a bit and tried to understand why it happened and what lessons I should learn. And, indeed, after that, I said let me go public with it. This is a short story, but subsequently I would do a play out of it. And I do hope that it would go into a film as well.

    What lessons did you learn from your kidnap?

    The first lesson is one must be close to God at all times. Another is one should not take anything for granted – anything you think you can do today, don’t postpone. It also brought me face-to-face to the very rough guys in society; and I saw the depth of their anger. It also brought me closer to ordinary people of society. But the overall thing is that it brought me closer to God.

    Can you recall the morning the incident took place?

    It is still very raw on my mind. When I left the house that morning for Asaba, the state capital, I slept off. When we got to Eku, I woke up, saw that we were in Eku and dosed off again, because I went to bed late the previous night. My wife and I had a prayer session from about 12 midnight till about three, so I didn’t sleep until past three. And then by half-past five, I was up again. Inside the car, as soon as we left Warri, I slept off, got to Eku, I woke up, then slept again. When I woke up again, we were in Abraka, then I slept off. Indeed, when I woke up finally and I found that I have been kidnapped, I thought we were still in Abraka. But we were in a very deserted area of the road, so I didn’t even know anything. I didn’t hear those shots – 11 shots as I counted later.

    The way I’ve explained it is that God just shielded me because if I had been awake, perhaps I would have tried to take some steps and actions that would put me in harm’s way. But I was in a very deep sleep, such that shots are fired at your car and you don’t hear. For me, it was a very deep experience.

    What goes through your mind each time they stepped into the room, saying “the death hour is 10 o’clock”?

    Of course, when it started, it used to put fear in me – when the guy would say that “your death hour is 10 o’clock”. That scared me. But as it continued the first day, second day, third day, I said “maybe they didn’t mean it, they were just trying to put fear in me”. But you see when you are in that condition, there is no certainty about anything – anything could just happen.

     Did you know that you’d ever come out alive?

    There was no certainty. Indeed, I said my last prayers three times – I didn’t say that publicly. Because they had so threatened me, I thought they were really going to kill me so I had said my last prayers three times. But, much later I found that they didn’t want to kill, they just want to threaten. But you know, sometimes death is accidental; sometimes, they don’t plan to kill. So, I give the glory to God that I came out alive.

     Have you been able to overcome the trauma?

    I’m still on some of those pills. I saw the psychologist for three months and psychiatrist for six months. I was given some pills and kept taking those drugs. I was coming for a session here in UNIILAG from Asaba to see a psychologist for months; I wanted to understand what was happening. Abroad, it is the routine when one goes through such trauma; here in Nigeria, people don’t have the time to go and see a psychologist or counsellor; they feel they don’t need it. But I do need. So, I go evaluate myself. Mental health is very important. Your attitude to things; how you react to pains, worry and bad news are important.

    Going by your reminiscence earlier today, it appeared you had the premonition before the trip?

    Yes. Somebody called my wife that they’ve sent kidnappers around me but I said when you are in government, you’d hear all kind of things – they’d tell you all kinds of stories. If you live your life guided and guarded by those people and determined by prophesies and warnings, you are not going to go anywhere in life.

     You also said one of them described your place.

    Yes. What it means is that they’ve had connection with me before that day. He described my house – the building. He was asking some very personal questions about the house. And incidentally, about eight months before then, my security man told me that a group of four boys came to the place in an Audi car without a plate number and they were asking “where is your Oga?” And he told them that I hadn’t been there for three months. And then, this happened later. So, I’m sure that they had gone to look at the place and knew my house before they struck. I don’t have any belief that it was organised for any political reasons. They were hoodlums looking for money.

     Seeing that the boys had been spotted at some point checking the place, especially by the security, one would have thought such would have inspired some level of preparedness and safety consciousness. What does it spell of general safety/security consciousness?

    Kidnapping is a worldwide phenomenon. Over 500 people are being kidnapped in America every year. Why it is so prominent here is that Nigeria already has a bad name. So once it happens, they say: “there they go again”. For me there should be a people-oriented programme that would create jobs for the young. Also, the security network should be better: a special unit on intelligence should be created in the police and army. And anti-kidnapping squad created so that they can evaluate kidnappings. If, for instance, the rate of kidnappings goes up in Yaba, for example, somebody should be able to say, “last week a new criminal moved into this area”. And then they pick up the person. Intelligence gathering is very important. These are not spirits. They are boys; you can easily pick them. So our security agencies still have to do a lot of work.

    Should we be expecting a novel on your experience soon?

    Yes. It is out in a short story form but I would do a full-length work on it.

     Why the choice of the ‘third person’ narrative?

    It is because I wanted to detach myself as Hope Eghagha from the major character. That way, you could say and do certain things, express certain thoughts and ideas that people would not necessarily attribute to you, then you’d be very free. But if I use the ‘first person’ narrative, it would just be taken that everything that I’ve said is something that I have put together.

    What is next for you?

    I am back to my classroom as a teacher. I’m here. I am still writing.

    Besides this short story, what new work should we be expecting from your stable?

    I am working on a collection of short stories, poetry collection and a biography on somebody.

     Which of these will come out first?

    I want the short story collection of about 10 stories with the title Your Death Hour is 10 o’clock to come out first. It’s captivating isn’t it? Look out for it.

     

  • Battling diarrhoea, the global child-killer disease

    Battling diarrhoea, the global child-killer disease

    The fight against diarrhoea got a boost when Reckitt Benkisser, the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company, upped its commitment to its eradication among Nigerian children. The intervention could not have come at a better time than now when the nation is battling other health challenges, such as polio, Lassa fever and HIV/AIDS.  But, what are the socio-economic implications of its multi-billion naira partnership with the Federal Government to fight the scourge? Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports. 

    Unknown to many, diarrhoea is much deadlier than AIDS, malaria and measles combined as it kills 2,195 children daily. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described diarrhoea as a common illness and a global killer. Diarrhoea accounts for  one in nine child deaths worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five. For children with HIV, diarrhoea is even more deadly; the death rate for these children is 11 times higher than the rate for children without HIV.

    Despite the sobering statistics, strides made over the last 20 years have shown that in addition to rotavirus vaccination and breastfeeding, diarrhea prevention focused on safe water and improved hygiene and sanitation is not only possible, but cost effective: every $1 invested yields an average return of $25.50.

    According to the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the diarrhoea prevalence rate in Nigeria is 18.8 percent and is one of the worst in sub-Sahara Africa and above the average of 16 percent. Diarrhoea, it said, accounts for over 16 per cent of child deaths in Nigeria and an estimated 150,000 deaths mainly among children under five occur yearly. It is mainly caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

    Respiratory infections kill another 240,000. The body observed  that trends in the past five years allow for cautious optimism that significant progress will be made in reducing  the number of people globally, who practise open defecation.

    According to the Director of Project, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria –Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health, Remi Adeseun, no fewer than 195,000 children died of pneumonia while about 150,000 lose their lives as result of diarrhoea in Nigeria yearly.

    Diarrhoea is also closely linked to mal-nutrition, a condition that is associated with more than half of all under-five deaths. Undernourished children, in turn, have compromised immune systems and at higher risk for developing pneumonia – which also contribute to high children mortality in the country. This chain reaction illustrates that good hygiene practices such as hand washing are critical for child survival and development

    In fact, 2008 was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Year of Sanitation with the primary objective of mobilising both political and financial support for accelerating progress on sanitation development.

    In Nigeria, the Hand Washing Campaign is one of three targets outlined in the Action Plan developed by stakeholders for commemoration of the 2008 International Year of Sanitation (IYS). The two other targets are creating enabling environments to sustainably expand sanitation and hygiene programmes and construction of one million latrines.

     

    Timely Interventions

     

    However, it is not all gloomy for the Nigerian children. Already, the federal government in partnership with other NGOs and corporate bodies is determined to eradicate diarrhea among children. Recently, Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who admitted that these are tough times, assured that Nigeria has an ambitious plan to introduce new life saving vaccines over the next several years to tackle children related illness such as polio.

    On January19, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Reckitt Benkisser upped its commitment to the eradication of diarrhoea among Nigerian children with the announcement of a multi-billion partnership with federal government to fight the scourge of diarrhea among Nigerian children. This was disclosed when officials of the company paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo where they presented the ‘Save a Child a Minute’ N7.2billion  programme to him. Under the programme, Nigeria will receive N1.2 billion towards creating what the company called, a Healthier and Prosperous Nation.

    The RB delegation included- Rahul Murgai, Managing Director, RB West Africa; Andrew Fleming, Deputy Head of Political Section, British High Commissioner and Patty O’ Hayer, RB Global Head of External Communications & Affairs.

    Others are  Chairman RB Nigeria  Chief Olu Falomo, Marketing Director RB West Africa Oguzhan Silivrili and Chief Financial Officer RB West Africa Alasdair Peach, Deputy Country Director, Save the Children Kwame S. Boate and  Director of Advocacy and Media, Save the Children Dr. David Olayemi.

    Murgai stated that RB’s global vision is “to provide our consumers with innovative solutions for healthier lives and  happier homes”.

    He disclosed that RB has been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years and remains one of the key priority markets for continued focus and investment. Accordingly, he maintained that RB has been working to create a culture of health and hygiene and is present in country with its portfolio of trusted brands like Dettol, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Durex, Harpic, Mortein, and Air Wick.

    He said RB is not looking at the Nigerian opportunity over short term but see a longer term potential and that Nigeria will remain the epicenter for African growth and plays an important strategic role in serving and developing other key markets in West Africa.

    “With Dettol, a trusted name among Nigerian households and mothers, we have been actively partnering with Ministry of Health, Nigerian Medical Association, Save The Children and other NGOs to create scaled awareness around good health and hygiene. As part of our ongoing commitment, we have already reached five million mothers and 3.9 million school children over last six years to improve maternal health and reduced infant mortality in line with Nigeria commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.

    “However, these interventions though in right direction, need much greater participation and scale from like-minded corporate NGOs and government if we were to build a truly healthier and prosperous nation.

    ‘’We believe that the implementation of National Health Act, Rota-Virus and Wash Policy will all contribute to making Nigeria healthier,’’ Murgai said.

    The impact, according to the RB boss, is startling in human terms- as ‘one child dies every minute’ under the age of five from preventable diseases, specifically diarrhea.

    “Accordingly, we are announcing the ground breaking ‘Save a Child a Minute’ programme in partnership with Save The Children and Lagos State government being piloted in Shomolu LGA where we are working to reduce prevalence and incidence of diarrhea by 50% and mortality by 80 percent.

    “What  makes the programme ground-breaking is that for the first time, a holistic approach on the WHO Seven  point plan is being implemented in Africa. The knowledge is being shared with the Federal government in anticipation of creating a national movement to fast scale the programme,” Murgai added.

    Speaking specifically on Dettol’s commitment to increasing awareness around the importance of adopting healthy hand washing habits among children, Murgai revealed that the Dettol School Hygiene Programme (SHP) which was launched in 2009 has reached more than 3.9 million children since inception with various education materials and school visits to enlighten the pupils on the importance of personal hygiene

    ”Every year Dettol reaches over 1million new moms in hospitals and 1million school children through hand washing programmes in schools to reduce infant deaths and improve maternal health through its Dettol grassroots hygiene programmes,” he said.

    Not a few analysts agree that these joint interventions have become very critical as the Water and Sanitation Programme Research reports that Nigeria loses N455 billion yearly, which is 1.3 percent of the Nigeria’s GDP to poor sanitation and hygiene which increases the risk of disease and malnutrition.

    Diarrhea disease remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity of children in Sub-Saharan Africa, where unique geographic, economic, political, socio-cultural, and personal factors interact to create distinctive continuing challenges to its prevention and control.

    A number of different social, political, and economic factors are present in Sub-Saharan Africa which contribute to the constant morbidity from acute and persistent diarrhea, as well as intermittent epidemics of cholera and dysentery common to this region of the world.

    This continuing epidemic deserves sustained programmatic and research attention as international public health moves on to confront newer issues in infectious disease and the changing burdens of disease associated with the demographic transition.

    There are a lot of scientific evidence showing the significance of hand washing at critical moments to reduction in diarrhea which is the second leading cause of death amongst Nigerian Children (after malaria). The most recent study indicates that hand washing can reduce diarrhea episodes by about 30% and up to 47% reduction has been achieved in some cases.

    Globally, UNICEF is supporting 50 countries, including Nigeria, to implement Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS) such as Community Led Total Sanitation. This is aimed at empowering communities to identify their sanitation challenges and take necessary actions to end open defecation.

    Considering the critical role of healthcare system in a nation’s well being, no amount of partnership between corporate bodies and government will be too much in order to provide adequate and effective healthcare services to Nigerians especially the children under-five years. It is expected that multinationals and other corporate bodies should key into initiatives in critical sectors that truly touch lives.

    Little wonder that four northern states refused to let down their guards in the fight to kick polio from the region even though Nigeria has been delisted from polio endemic countries. Recently, the states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dangote Foundation, a pact worth about $100million to provide technical assistance to eradicate polio in the region.

    Aliko Dangote, while speaking at the ceremony in Kaduna, hailed the fact that Bill Gate believes that immunisation is life-saving, cost effective and a cornerstone of every primary health care system.

     

    Prevention and control

     

    There are key measures to prevent diarrhoea, which include: access to safe drinking-water; use of improved sanitation; hand washing with soap; exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life; good personal and food hygiene; health education about how infections spread and rotavirus vaccination. Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene.  Interventions to prevent diarrhea, including safe drinking-water, use of improved sanitation and hand washing with soap can reduce disease risk. Diarrhea can be treated with a solution of clean water, sugar and salt, and with zinc tablets.

     

    Causes of diarrhoea

     

    Infection: Diarrhoea is a symptom of infections caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which are spread by faeces-contaminated water. Infection is more common when there is a shortage of adequate sanitation and hygiene and safe water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Rotavirus and Escherichia coli are the two most common etiological agents of diarrhea in developing countries.

    Malnutrition: Children who die from diarrhea often suffer from underlying malnutrition, which makes them more vulnerable to diarrhea. Each diarrhea episode, in turn, makes their malnutrition even worse. Diarrhea is a leading cause of malnutrition in children under five years old.

    Source: Water contaminated with human faeces, for example, from sewage, septic tanks and latrines, is of particular concern. Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhea.

    Other causes: Diarrhoea disease can also spread from person-to-person, aggravated by poor personal hygiene. Food is another major cause of diarrhoea when it is prepared or stored in unhygienic conditions. Water can contaminate food during irrigation. Fish and seafood from polluted water may also contribute to the disease.

  • Ogun’s living galleries, monuments

    Ogun’s living galleries, monuments

    FOR about three weeks, over 500 visual artists of divergent talents and skills were deployed in various sites in three major cities of Ogun State-Abeokuta, Shagamu and Ijebu Ode–to realise a single cultural objective of planting visual aesthetics in the hearts of the cities.

    The artists drawn largely from among residents in the cities and, in other parts of the country, were given the task of systematically transforming portions of the flyovers that dot the various cities — to living art galleries and museums. And this objective they accomplished to commemorate 40 years of the creation of the state; and in readiness for the two-day august visitation of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state from Monday February 1 to Wednesday, February 3.

    Though the numbers of six-laner flyovers built by the Amosun administration in its five years, run into two digit figures, only seven of them were featured in the ‘40 legacy projects for Ogun at 40’ inaugurated by President Buhari in the course of his visit. Aside from massive road constructions all over the state, the flyovers are considered the signposts of Governor Amosun’s infrastructural development accomplishments in the past five years.

    President Buhari had the honour of not only commissioning the flyovers but also formally opening what has been officially described as the ‘Ogun Living Galleries and Monuments’.

    The President who led over a thousand guests to mark the state’s anniversary, said he was impressed with the colourful bearings of the flyovers. While urging other state governors to emulate Amosun’s examples of massive investment in infrastructural facilities, President Buhari also applauded the Governor for his visionary move of bringing beauty of the art to the reach of the general populace.

    Governor Amosun said his administration embarked on the project to conceptually link its infrastructural investment to its deep interest in Education, especially cultural and historical.

    The Living Art Galleries and Monuments bear paintings, drawings, illustrations and murals that reflect on, and document aspects of the historical, social and cultural landmarks of each of the cities. They are also conceived as educational museums through which people of the state, especially the youth could connect, or reconnect with the cultural resources ad knowledge systems of the state.  The motifs adopted for the projects vary in content and form and are as diverse as the vast material and immaterial resources of the state. They capture the different natural, occupational, cultural resources to each of the different areas of the city.

    In Abeokuta, for instance, the designated portions of the bridge — mostly the descending and ascending angles –were transformed to vast canvasses on which acrylic paintings and murals have been implanted in mixed media format. The colourful works, mostly rendered in abstract forms, impress from the distance, and viewed against the kaleidoscope of daily activities in their surroundings, they exude carnivalesquecandour. Mosaic is also adopted as embellishments, but also functional – for instance, to prevent rainwater from destroying the base of the artwork.  There was so much excitement in the air-scape of the city as the President opened the flyovers to commemorate the state’s anniversary; and the murals and paintings boosted the mood, even while projecting their testament to the coming of age of the city that was founded “under the rock”.

    Watching the many artists at work at their various allotted portions, one could feel their sense of pride and joy at having been privileged to be part of the visual transformation of the state. The artists were the obvious celebrities of the commissioning occasions. This was  thesort of stardom that could have probably eluded them if they were to sit in their individual studios working; or if their works were to sit idle in the various galleries in their respective locations awaiting viewers and patrons to walk in. Now, their works sit majestically, commanding magisterial attentions from thousands of people that commute through, and around the various locations of the projects.

    But there is also a deeper, and sure very significant reason for the artists to feel satiated and fulfilled. Economically, the project while it lasted blessed those who worked at the various locations with revenues, even if temporarily. And with the projections that each artist has an average of 10 dependents, it means thousands of persons have been fed while the project lasted. Local economy around each of the locations no doubt benefitted even as Ogun State-based paint manufacturers that supplied thousands of gallons of paints for painting of entire stretch of each of the bridges also reaped profits; deploying hundreds of artisans to realise the project. These artisans definitely made a living out of the initiative, thus affirming a cardinal objective of the project – to create employment either temporarily or permanently.

    It is this holistic approach to development that bedrocks the visionary Amosun administration, and it percolates to all areas of policy initiatives and developmental projections. It is the manifestation of a focused, benevolent, futuristic leadership that works for the common good of the people, and the collective interestof thesociety – one that ‘bridges’ the usually resistant gulf between and among various stratums of the society.

  • ‘Why some languages die’

    ‘Why some languages die’

    On Monday, the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) will be 50. In this interview with reporters, BSN General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Rev Richard Dare Ajiboye speaks on the society’s achievements and its challenges, among others. Joseph Eshanokpe was there.

    Why are you celebrating?

    Although we are celebrating 50 years, Bible work started in Nigeria in 1807 by The British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), The American Bible Society and The Scottish Bible Society. The three of them were in this country. American Bible Society will be 200 years old by May this year while the BFBS was founded in 1804. This our building was donated to us by The British and Foreign Bible Society when they were in Nigeria. They were operating from here.

    Between 1959 and 1971 we had three expatriate General Secretaries. Rev James Taylor, Ross Manning and Jacob Wood. The first indigenous General Secretary was Most Rev Dr. Joseph Soremekun; he took over in 1971. And from then till now we have had seven and I am the eighth indigenous General Secretary. When translation started, the first Bible to be published was the Efik Bible in 1868 but in 1965 the then Eastern state Governor Sir Akanu Ibiam agitated for the establishment of a Nigerian Bible Society and in February 8, 1966, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) was formed. Since then we have been doing our best to translate the word of God. In addition to what was done by the ABS, BFBS and The Scottish Bible Societies, we now have the complete Bible in 24 Nigerian languages and this year we should be able to add the 25th.

    We are celebrating the goodness of God to us as an organisation. If I am the eighth General Secretary, having eight succession is not a joke. For an organisation to pass through such generation of leadership and still standing in an environment like ours in Nigeria, it is not a joke. In our Bible distribution, in 2000, we distributed less than 300,000 Bibles in a year, but last year we distributed 2.3 million copies. In translation, before now, we have never completed any translation project in less than 38 years, but we started some projects last year and we are trusting God that before the end of 2020 we should be able to dedicate them.  These projects are Epie and Ogbia Languages in Bayelsa State. We are also starting this year Okun Bible Language translation. The language is spoken in Kogi State. We believe God that these projects will not take up to 12 years to complete.

    For an organisation that depends on donations, considering the nature of things in the country to survive for 50 years, it is the grace of God. That is why we have to celebrate. This would kick off on January 31, with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral church of Christ, Marina. On February 2, we would be in Enugu for a lecture to be delivered by Most Rev Emmanuel  Chukwuma to be chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku and on the 4th in Abuja for a lecture to be delivered by Bishop Matthew Kukah. It will be chaired by General Yakubu Gowon and on the eighth in Lagos, a lecture to be delivered by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and chaired by Mr Felix Ohiwerei. On February 6, a luncheon with staff and former staff and our donors. On February 5, a Mary Jones’ Walk to replicate what Mary Jones did in 1804. She was a young Welsh girl who loved the Bible so much and the parents could not afford it. So, she would go the church to read, but not satisfied, she was going to the house of a neighbour to read. Her parents could not buy, so she saved money for six years to buy the Bible. She walked a distance of 40 kilometres to buy the Bible. When she got to the place, the only Bible left had been paid for by a priest. When she was told, she broke down. The person selling the Bible had to arrange accommodation for her because it was late and gave her the copy, saying that the person that had paid for the Bible would wait until they got another consignment. So, we want to demonstrate what she did that led to the formation of Bible Societies. When the priest that sold the Bible to her got to London, he narrated his experience and asked the people, why don’t we form an organisation that will make the word of God available and be waiting for people, rather people waiting for Bible? That was how the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed in 1804. On the sixth we have another thanksgiving at Fountain of Life Church.

    We intend to give out 100,000 copies of the Bible free if the funds are available. This will cost us N50 million. We will unveil our legacy Bible. It is meant to be handed over from generation to generation. This process of bequeathing it can last as long as 200 years.

    What does it take to be executive officer of this organisation?

    Well, it takes the grace of God. Before now, I thought I had known much about leadership having occupied leadership positons at different levels, in this organisation until I became the General Secretary; I now know better. To influence people, for an organisation like this, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. You need also to be deeply rooted in the Word of God. You must be able to balance discipline in line with the word of God. I have seen that in a Christian organisation, people do not believe that discipline should be maintained. They will remind you that the Bible said we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves. So as a leader you should know when to draw the line and discipline people with love. Besides the spiritual competence, occupying this position requires that you have sound leadership competence. Now I have to think of how to pay the salary of about 200 staff members and, for me,  to do that, will not an easy task. It requires leadership competence. So, it means you must be versed in leadership skills. You must be sound in both educational and professional competence. Your attitude to money, women must be impeccable. You must have a good home to occupy this seat because you must be of good example to others.

    Does BSN have a printing press?

    Our business is not like the secular businesses because we are not profit making. We do not have a printing press because we cannot afford it. I went to China to find out the cost of a small press that can print two million copies of the Bible in a year. It will cost about N2.5 billion to buy such a machine. We do not have such money.

    What are BSN’s challenges

    My greatest challenge as the CEO is funding and the second challenge is piracy. If I have fund, I will drive away pirates out of the market.

    How has BSN contributed to national growth and development?

    In Nigeria we are near zero when it comes national growth or economic development. Nigeria is one of the poorest countries in the world. Her per capita income is very low. When we talk about economic growth, it is about increase in Gross Income or our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  In essence what other companies produce in a year can increase in terms of volume but if it does not translate into the personal life of people, in basic amenities, we cannot claim to have economic development. Translating to having housing, basic needs, transportation, security etc will mean economic growth and development. Let me relate BSN to national growth and development. In BSN, we are contributing to securing our culture. Somebody said that the death of a language is the death of a culture. Some of the languages that are dead today are dead because they did not have any orthography. They were not in any written form so when the older generation that could only speak the language pass on the language dies. Nothing for anybody to refer to. We have translated to 24 Nigerian languages and are working on 13 at the moment at the cost of N40 million per translation project. By this, we are securing the language and culture of the country. Culture, to a large extent, is communicated through language. By translating, publishing and distributing, we employ people and pay them salary. We pay salary of over 200 staff, helping them earn income which contribute to economic growth. We pay the Customs to clear our Bibles; we pay the shipping companies. So with all these, we are contributing to national growth.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Artist makes case for sexuality, women

    Artist makes case for sexuality, women

    What does female sexuality mean?  In an age where sexuality and violence against women are   raising concerns, banker-turned-artist Victor Mba has added his voice to the issues.

    He is set to stir up conversations on womanhood, women’s rights and sexuality through his art.

    For the artist, art is his medium of advocacy. Womanhood, according to the women’s right advocate, is “God’s greatest gifted to humanity that should nurtured and celebrated”.

    His debut solo exhibition, tagged: In The Beginning will be exploring the three subjects.

    The exhibition will openat Didi Museum on Saturday, February 13 and run till Friday, February 17.

    Mba does relief paintings and sculptures. He uses unconventional styles, methods and materials to create two-three dimensional sculptural or paint pieces on a flat surface to advocate his ideas.

    “Women are a gift to mankind. I have chosen to use art to explore these very important subject matters. I hope to stir up conversations around each, looking at the role and significance of each. Mine is a departure from the nude style of expressing sexuality. In an age where sexuality is an issue with growing concern, I am using my art to explore the notion of sexuality. Many are confused and do not even know where they belong,” according to Mba.

    Since 2011, Mba has featured his works at the Society for Nigerian Artists’ yearly exhibition tagged: October Rain when he became member.

    He said: “I like my works taunting the thoughts of viewers. One minute, you think you are seeing something and with a closer look it’s something else. Depending on what I’m trying to achieve, I use anything: sand, dust or cloth.”

    The exhibition is powered by Amarch Consultants. “Mba’s pieces force you to think deep about what preoccupation they expressed. His passion is infectious. We want to have a taste his talent. Supporting his dream meant the world would be blessed by his gift,”  Amarch Consultants Principal Partner, Mr Obehi Iyamabo, he said.

     

  • Jelili Atiku: Not just about the arts

    Jelili Atiku: Not just about the arts

    When Jelili Atiku was arrested recently following a performance in Ejigbo, the local and international art community felt the artist’s freedom of expression was under threat. What many didn’t know, however, is that there has been a battle for years between Atiku and the traditional ruler, who is also his uncle and that it only escalated this year. Udemma Chukwuma, who recently got to the root of the matter, reports…

    If you have been following the news lately, the story of Jelili Akitu, a performance artist and sculptor, who got arrested recently, would not be new to you. It all started when the artist announced on his Facebook wall on Sunday, the 17th of this month that he had been arrested. Because the artiste didn’t provide much information, apart from the lone sentence, “I have been arrested by the police,” speculations emerged and few knew which version to believe.

    That post also led to series of protests. Among the protesters were members of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), who gathered at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. On their banner was written: “Nigerian Artists say yes to Freedom of Expression, Nigerian artists condemn the incarceration of Jelili Atiku.”

    Comments followed comments on Atiku’s Facebook wall, and more comments even when he announced that he had been released. “I was arrested around 10:45 pm,” Atiku recalled, “I just returned home from my nephew’s place downtown, when nine policemen stormed my family house in Ejigbo with guns.

    “They knocked at my door and I opened it, and they entered with big guns. When I asked what they were looking for, they said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) wanted to see me.  When I tried to probe further, one of them shouted at me and said ‘you criminal, go and dress up’ because I was half naked.” Atiku, who said he was frightened “because they were with guns,” obeyed the command and followed them to Ejigbo Divisional Headquarters, not far from his house.

    At the station, Atiku said he was ushered into the DPO’s office, who ordered them to take him downstairs. There, the policewomen at the counter told him they had to detain him. When he asked for what reason, they replied him in pidgin that ‘na only DPO go tell you that one’.

    When he also asked if he could call two of his lawyers, Atiku said, “They said no. I was asked to drop every item on me and that they had to put me in a cell. I had N1,700 on me. I removed my shoes and my cell phone. I later requested that they should give me my phone, so I could turn it off. I collected the phone, opened it, and quickly typed on my Facebook that I have been arrested. We were about fifteen in the cell.”

    The artist said he was asked to make a statement even though he didn’t know why he was arrested. “In the night, I heard some voices outside the police station. They were my people and friends. It was around 8:00 am; one woman, Omowumi Alabi, said she was the sergeant in charge of the case. I asked what case? She said, ‘There was a complaint from the oba’s council.’ I asked, What complain? They said I walked the street of Ejibgo in masquerade.”

    Atiku said three people who were familiar faces were brought into the cell and asked to make statements. He also got information that some people, including members of the OPC were at his house and threatening to burn it down.

    Atiku said he knew that the oba of Ejigbo (Lagos) Oba Morufu Ojoola, was behind his arrest. He said the oba told him while he was in the police van and waiting to be taken to court the following day (Monday) that “I am ready to make war with you.” He was granted bail by the court, but was detained in Kirikiri Minimum Prison (where he was taken after the court session) until Wednesday when he was able to meet the bail condition. He also said the case was adjourned till February 1 (2016).

     

    The Oba’s story

    When this reporter visited the oba’s palace to get his own side of the story, he insisted that he would only grant an interview if all the reporters would come together at the same time, as he was tired of granting interviews in piecemeal to journalists, whom he said had been flocking to his palace on the same matter. His chiefs however prevailed on him to have a chat with this reporter. They said Atiku was arrested because he committed an abomination by parading a masquerade on Thursday, January 14, this year, which is not allowed in Ejigbo.

    Atiku on the hand said he was just doing his performance, which he said is a tool of communication for him as an artist and was never in any masquerade. But the chiefs said Atiku is a cultist hiding under the art. They said Aragamago oo, which was the title of Atiku’s performance, is the name of the cult which Atiku belongs to. Stating that Atiku and his members were performing a ritual on the day, they explained that “People may start dying in Ejigbo and terrible things may start happening because of his action, which is what we are afraid of.”

    One light complexioned man who was with the chiefs said, “Atiku mobilised his cult members to disturb the neighbourhood, hiding under art.”

    Atiku claimed that they went to his house while he was in prison to destroy his artworks and even attempted to rape a girl who lives with him, but the chiefs denied it, saying the last time they went to his house was back in 2014, when they heard a similar issue with him.

    During a visit to Atiku’s house, this reporter however saw heaps of artworks and broken glasses dumped together like refuse in his living room, which also serves as his studio.

    Atiku said all he was doing was campaigning and creating awareness on what he called “local terrorism,” which has been taking place in Ejibgo. He said he has been performing in Ejibgo for years and has had many confrontations with the oba and his chiefs.

    But the chiefs said Atiku didn’t just parade the area in a masquerade, but that he and his members on the day of the performance, threw stones into the oba’s palace, chanting the oba’s name and beating a gong.

    Atiku denied this and said they merely shared flyers, which “we flung into different directions for people to pick. In the flyer were written things such as “Clean Ejigbo from DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND IMPUNITY. Awonamajaoo, Ifa Priest of dream-worlds, Yepa! Won’t you tell us the cause of the continuation of OPC clash in 2001 and 2002 in Ejigbo – where many people lost their lives.”

    The chiefs who were about eight accused Atiku of going to the shrine where the oba performs rituals every three months, to drag a goat meant for sacrifices that month and slaughter it at the oba’s gate. This was in 2015.

    Atiku agreed that a goat was killed at the oba’s palace gate in October last year. He said “It was a deliberate attempt to stop the oba from entering the main shrine called Omagbo. But I was not there when the goat was killed, I was at the police station.”

    Atiku said his problem with the oba, who is his uncle, started in 1998. The oba at a point during this interaction rejected any kind of relationship with Atiku, although his chiefs acknowledged that Atiku is indeed related to the king and that he even trained him through school. They alleged therefore that “Atiku is biting the finger that fed him.”

    Atiku said: “The oba is related to me; he is my uncle; but he did not train me through school. My grandfather, who was very rich and a successful farmer, trained me in school. The oba’s maternal grandfather was the head of our family before my grandfather.”

    Atiku said the hitches between him and the oba started after the well publicised ‘sodomisation’ saga in Ejigbo market, which he says is his family land. He said some unknown person was selling the land, even though there had been a court injunction that nobody should sell the land. I went to the radio to announce that every member of the family should come for a meeting. We were about 120 people who came for the meeting. A committee was set up to verify who was selling our lands. When we went to the head of the family (the oba), he said he was not aware of the sodomy and knew nothing about the person selling our lands. We were also at the police station to make a report, but instead of the kabiesyi (oba) to resolve the problem, he went to the shrine. This angered the youths, because we have told him several times that the shrine which he usually goes to is an abomination.

    “The water, which they use to worship in the shrine was fenced in 1987 and he cannot get water from there. The stream is called the Odo-ogbe. The worshipers protested, but nobody did anything. The first thing the oba ought to have done when he was crowned, was to open up a space, through which they can get water from the stream for ritual performances.”

    Atiku said there are two shrines there: the outer, and the inner shrine, in which one must worship before the outer. Atiku said the oba has never told the family, who are the only eligible people permitted to worship in the inner shrine to do so since he ascended the throne.

    Atiku said it was the fact that the oba has been performing rituals at the shrine without the water that infuriated the youths and made them resolve that they would not allow the oba to perform any ritual until water is obtained from the designated stream. Atiku also concluded that it was the oba who was selling the family lands despite the court injunction.

    Recounting his Kirikiri ordeal, Atiku said: “I have never been so downgraded in my life before. I was striped naked and put in cell with other people. We slept on the cold floor and the food we ate was terrible.

    Aside Atiku, other people who were arrested were Fatai Oluwole, Jelilat Daramola (Mrs), Monsurat Fashola, Adeola Goloba and Azeez (often written as Lasisi) Muraino.

    However, all have been released on bail.

    Meanwhile, the DPO at Ejigbo Police Station, where he was initially arrested, declined to comment on the matter, saying it was already in court.

  • Artistes Village demolition

    Artistes Village demolition

    ‘We have receipts for the spaces,’ – Victims cry out

    Over a week after the demolition of the Artistes Village at the National theatre in Lagos, the dusts are yet to settle, as victims and the authorities trade words. Udenma Chukwuma reports

    When news broke that the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), also known as Artistes Village in Iganmu, Lagos, has been destroyed, lots of questions arose. Chief among them were: What could be the problem? Who authorised the demolition? Were there any notices?

    As one approaches the scene of the demolition, the sight that greeted this reporter was one of exasperation on the part of artists who had been affected and their sympathisers. A certain voice said, “Government get power o,” while another remarked that “What can we do? Na anything they like, they do.”

    Sources said the demolition took place on Saturday, January 23. One of the occupants of the place, Pelumi Lawal, said they suddenly saw a large number of policemen in the arts and culture council around 5am. He said it was a strange sight, especially at that time of the day and he and others were frightened. He told this reporter that before they could ask any questions, the structures which serve as studio and workshop for artists were being pulled down by a bulldozer.

    He said other structure that serve as stores went down as well. Majorly affected were some dancers and choreographers, whose rehearsal studio was destroyed.

    Now, the occupants are pointing fingers at Alhaji Kabiru Yussuf, General Manager of the National Theatre, wondering how come buildings of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) were left untouched.

    An attempt to get Yussuf’s version of the story was however not successful, as he was not in the office. It was however gathered that Yussuf was present during the demolition at NCAC.

    A source who works at the National Theatre said the demolished structures were illegal. “We did not demolish the NCAC building. What we demolished were the illegal structures and shanties,” he said.

    But the occupants said the spaces were rented to them by the NACA management before they erected the structures.

    The source said “Immoral activities were taking place in the buildings, insecurity reigned, some people were even rearing pigs in the area and Indian hemp were freely sold and smoked there.

    He said, “NCAC is competing with the National Theatre. They are renting events place, and showing cinema there… they wanted to create a kingdom for themselves but government said no.”

    He also said the place had been turned into a residential area and was fast becoming an eyesore, and that the government’s intervention was to give the place a new face.

    He stressed that no artwork was damaged, but a visit to NCAC showed lots of artworks scattered among ruins.

    Gubadia Monday, an artist, was affected the most. His artworks were scattered on the ground, while the saved pieces stood beside the debris.

    Wearing a sad look, Gubadia said there was no warning from the authority and he was not given any notice or chance to remove his works and belongings. He said before he knew what was happening, “Kabiru (referring to the National theatre GM) don carry caterpillar come here.”

    Presenting invoices, which he said were issued to him by NACA, the sculptor said he has been there for three years and legally too.

    Smart Owie, a visual artist, who was reported to have been shot during the demolition explained that he wasn’t particularly aimed at and that a bullet hit him on the calf when the artists followed the police in protest.

    Although our source at the National Theatre office said no shots were fired, Owie said shots were fired to scare the protesters. “Everybody ran away, but I stood there.” he said; “I felt it would be safer to stand still than run, because I knew they wouldn’t deliberately aim a gun at me.” Luckily for him the bullet passed through the back of his right calf.

    He also said he had paid for the space on which he built his workshop.

    Even as he recuperates, Owie said he is devastated and still in shock at the loss   at his source of his livelihood. “I have three children to pay their school fees and my wife is pregnant!” He said.

    Owie said the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammad, when he visited NCAC, offered to take care of his injury; but as at Monday when this reporter visited the scene, he hadn’t heard anything from the minister’s office.

    Aremo Tope Babayemi, who said he is the Coordinator of NCAC, Artistes Village, alleged that Yussuf is trying to get back at them because they opposed the idea of selling of the National Theatre. He stressed that there was a report in the media that miscreant disrupted activities at the National Theatre, which Yussuf used as a tool to convince the minister to demolish the structures.

    They asserted that the Minster had visited them and pledged to look into their matter.

    Popular Nollywood actor, Yemi Adeyemi, known as Suara, was also affected. His store where he sold soft drinks and provision was destroyed. Suara however said his heart goes to the artists “who have lost priceless artworks. “

    He also said “I paid for the store and sought government consent before building the store.”

  • I was there when Kalakuta Republic was burnt down

    I was there when Kalakuta Republic was burnt down

    Chief Awodeyi Obagbalode, aka Vasco da Gama, is an artist per excellence and a multi-talented instrumentalist, who performed with music greats like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Orlando Owoh and Admiral Dele Abiodun. Now in his 60s and cooling off in his country-home in Iyere-Owo in Ondo State, Obagbalode took Taiwo Abiodun into his world and down memory lane.

    His gallery is home to various artworks, ranging from paintings to carvings to sculptures. It is also a music photo library of some sort, with musicians like Michael Jackson, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Orlando Owoh and many more adorning the four walls. Also very conspicuous is a sculpted human head carved from a small tree in his compound. It also doesn’t take time for his love for music to register on any visitor or new company. On this occasion, he routinely sang lyrics a certain late Orlando Owoh song waxed in his praise. At other times, he sang songs of the late Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    As the interview got underway, Vasco da Gama as he is fondly called lit a stick of cigarette, looked at this reporter’s searching eyes and mocked in a baritone voice: “Yes, I smoked Indian Hemp while in the Nigerian Army, with Orlando and with Fela. But for my old age, I have no regret smoking it.”

    He however said it’s not everybody that can cope with Indian hemp.

    How he earned his nickname- Vasco da Gama

    Only very few people, apart from Obagbalode’s childhood friends know his real name, as he is fondly called Vasco da Gama by all and sundry. He explained how he came by the nickname: “My name is Awodeyi Obagbalode but I am known all over the world as Vasco da Gama. Back in primary school, while everybody was giving themselves nicknames, I read about this man, ‘Vasco da Gama’ who was an explorer in World History and chose the name for myself. Since then, it stuck on me till date. Only few people know my name; even Fela and Orlando called me Vasco da Gama.”

    Going AWOL

    Vasco da Gama who was once enlisted in the military, boasted that he joined the army as a corporal in 1968 and was in the Military Band in Lagos playing for the them when he met Fela. “I was in a Military Band called St. Augustine. We once waxed a record called ‘Asewo no bi Work, na management.’ Fela was there and when he saw my performance, he called me to join him; but when I told him I was still in the army, he asked how much they were paying me. So like an obedient servant, I followed him.”

    FESTAC 77

    Vasco da Gama can never forget FESTAC ’77; that was about the time he first met Fela. Going down memory lane, he said, “I had already known Fela but I went to join him in 1977. Incidentally, it was Fela who was asked to come and do the Opening Glee for FESTAC, but he quarrelled with the federal government over it. They had invited him to come to the venue to perform but he bluntly refused and told the federal government to instead come to his shrine at Kalakuta Republic. That was how they invited King Sunny Ade and he ended up doing the Opening  Glee.”

    The Duro Ladipo fire drama

    Vasco da Gama recalls how the late legendary actor, Duro Ladipo lit the torch flame using African magic. “They had worked the gas to light the torch flame, but the late Duro Ladipo, one of the greatest Yoruba cultural artistes declined, saying since it was an African festival, it should be done the African way. Ladipo and his wife, Biodun went round the National Theatre seven times and at the seventh time, he (Duro Ladipo) stretched out his hand and fire sparked from nowhere. There was thunder and lightning, and fire came out and everybody shouted in awe. It was a drama I will never forget in a hurry. Duro Ladipo used African power to daze all. Later King Sunny Ade went to the podium and did the opening glee, where he sang “Welcome, welcome Ladies and gentlemen…” That was one great song that soon became like a National Anthem, even till today.”

    On Fela

    “I became intimate to Fela and at night, I would go to play. He spoke about his film the ‘Black President,’ which he was about to produce in Ghana. One day, we were in Kampala Hotel in Ghana, when the policemen came to arrest Fela; it was the then Military Head of State, Flight Lt. Jerry Rawlings, who came to his rescue.”

    Kalakuta Republic

    Speaking of the legendary Kalakuta Republic, Vasco da Gama said, “I was there when the Kalakuta Republic was burnt down. It was John Uman, who took our machine (motorcycle) and went out, but because construction work was going on at Ojuelegba, he took one-way to be faster and he was pursued by traffic officers into Fela’s compound. One thing led to the other and the traffic officers were beaten up; then some policemen came and were also beaten up; later soldiers came and they beat everybody. They also beat Fela’s mother and threw her down from upstairs. They then set the house on fire. It was hell! That was how the film, Black President was burnt.

    “Fela was also beaten up, and Kalakuta was burnt down. We went to court and in the end they called it ‘unknown’ soldier.”

    Vasco da Gama also testified to Fela’s generosity. “Fela was generous to a fault, he was not selfish. He would say ‘We all worked for the money and we should equally share the money.’ Do you know that some Lagos boys who hibernated in his house had free food, drinks and ganja 24/7? Fela was a millionaire before Millionaire; when his house was burnt, foreigners came: Kitigaya, Steve Wonder, Peter Tosh and many other international musicians. They came to sympathise with him. They brought a vehicle for him. He later moved from Mushin to Ikeja.”

    On Orlando Owoh

    Vasco said, “We knew each from home before I joined the army; but in 1969 we were in Garrison. There was one Major Adewoti from Ifon in Ondo State, who came to meet Orlando (and later invited him to Agbor); that was where he sang the song of ‘Madam Dupe’. They had bought a vehicle and instrument for Orlando, and finally when I came to Lagos, I was going out to play with him. He also used to settle me differently, I was an instrumentalist. I took Indian hemp as a military man, we ‘ate’ it like roasted yam, but it is not good for ‘Omoluabi’ (a responsible man) to smoke it.”

    Between Orlando and Fela

    “In smoking Indian hemp, Orlando cannot compete with Fela. Fela had a wrapper who had no other job but to wrap Indian hemp for him. While Orlando will not smoke igbo in the public, Anikulapo, may God bless his soul took igbo every hour.”

    Vasco da Dagama finally relocated to his country-home, Iyere in Owo, Ondo State in December 1983. He said he was hearing voices beckoning on him to return home.  “Whenever I slept, a voice would be instructing me to go home.”

    On his talent

    “I did not train under anybody. God gave me the gift. I was even an actor in theatre. I was leading actor in my class, while in primary school. Then, I didn’t even know I could draw. When I was with Fela, there was a boy called Lenin Garoko who was designing Fela’s album; I used to go and play with him in his shop; later I thought I could do it and Lenin encouraged me. I joined OCB Ade, another musician and was playing jazz for him. We waxed a record but money became the problem and we parted.”

    Orlando Owoh’s travails

    I was not a permanent member of Orlando’s band .When I heard of his death I was sad, he was a man. He once sang my praise: ‘Vasco Da Gama E ma ku Odun, barika de sallah Musulumi  ododo….’ That record was a big hit and very popular. I remember one occasion when he got into trouble. He was to play for one Colonel Aina, but he went to play in two places and it blew in his face. But that was all. Like Fela, he was accused of armed robbery, but it was just to tar his name. Both were never into robbery.

    “He was not selling cocaine; he was more popular abroad than in Nigeria .They arrested him many times over Indian hemp and when his house was searched, they found cocaine. But his wife said she was the owner.”

    Vasco also praised Orlando’s wife for defending him in that moment of trial. He said: “That Sade was a great woman. You can’t have another woman like that.

    He however said King Sunny Ade was different and unique in this regard. “You would never see Sunny Ade with drug or cigarettes, and he can hardly finish a bottle of coke.” He said.

    On the rivalry among musicians

    According to Vasco da Gama, fans were the ones causing the problems. “For example, Bob played a tune in guitar for Sunny Ade and it was translated into something entirely different and negative to hurt another musician. He was referring to Obey. And when Obey played his own guitar, they claimed he was referring to Sunny Ade.

    “Due to this rivalry, I could remember Bob Aladeniyi, Adeyeye Salaja, Arakatura. There was a time some perceived enemies were accused of seizing Salaja’s voice. Bob played guitar and it almost caused problem between him and Sunny. They turned it to ‘Haa, Guitar Sonu, Obey wa ti, Sunny mu’ (meaning: Obey’s guitar got lost, they searched for it and it turned out it was Sunny who took it.) All these were the machinations of the fans. Yet these musicians love each other. If you are not close to them, you will not know. To the public and fans, they are the greatest enemies, yet they are best of friends.”

    On his age, the multi-talented artist said ‘Soon, I will be 70; that is why I have come down to Iyere-Owo, my home town in Ondo State, to spend my last days and relax.