The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • In Ethiopia, Literature thrives – Maaza Mengiste

    In Ethiopia, Literature thrives – Maaza Mengiste

    Maaza Mengiste is an award-winning author of Beneath The Lion’s Gaze.  Born in Ethiopia of Ethiopian parents, she moved to the United States of America at a tender age where she has continued her career as a writer.  Her basic concentrations are on the issues of political, social, religious and economic tendencies that shape the Ethiopian nation.  In this chat with Edozie Udeze, she shares her world-view on revolutions, on historical and political narratives and the place of Diaspora African writers in creating the necessary balance in rebuilding Africa

    Maaza Mengiste comes to you first as a model.  Her near impeccable smile, emboldened by her lovely face, first strikes you as you approach her for a chat.  She has this disarming smile that quickly warns you that even though she is a writer, she has her wits about her alright.  It is this wit and the charm that puts her in a class of her own.  She combines both charm and beauty to produce wonderful stories that have put her on a higher pedestrian not only in the USA where she resides but in her home country, Ethiopia.

    “I am a fiction writer,” she began, as she smiled profusely to reassure the reporter. “Our society is full of marvelous stories.  Although I am an Ethiopian, I now live in the U.S.  Why I took to fiction?  Why not friction?  You, why are you a journalist and not a teacher?”  She fired back, her eyes full of the zeal of a lioness.  “But then I also do non-fiction.  I do historical stuffs, so long as they pertain to people, to the issues of my society,” she explained.

    “I have done these for a long time and they have come to dominate and affect my imagination.  Oh yes, I do not come from a family of writers because people never thought highly of writers.  The professions that were in vogue were medicine, law and so on.  So, I never thought I’d be a writer.  It just came and I grabbed it and here I am today, a writer.  I love history a lot, I like reading a lot.  I spend most of my time reading or writing.  And the more you do these, the more you want to go on and on and on.”

    And so, when the time came for her to choose what to do, writing took over her realm of imagination.  In 2010, The Guardian Newspaper selected her work, Beneath The Lion’s Gaze as one of the 10 best contemporary African books.  This was monitored by Christian Science Monitor, Boston Globe and other publications.  “In Ethiopia, fiction is very much alive.  People tell their stories; people discover who they are and are willing to share their day to day experiences with you.  The Ethiopian Literature may not be widely known here in Nigeria because English is not our official language,” she said matter-of-factly.

    “In Ethiopia, there are many writers, very, very exciting writers who do not spare the people in power, who go all out to let out the steam.  Things are happening.  The only difference between what we have in Ethiopia and what we have in Nigeria is that you people have the wider audience in English.  In Ethiopia, we write in Amharic language which is not as popular.  But then, they give literature the necessary fire it deserves.  There are other languages too, but Amharic is the most widely spoken in Ethiopia.  For us, therefore, English is not automatic.  So, it is not whether literature exists in my country, but getting to know that it exists.”

    But basically, Mengiste goes home from time to time to collect materials for her works.  “Yes, my works have and will continue to have touches of the Ethiopian flavor.  That, I do.  I go home often.  I am interested in the way wars are fought, mostly in my home country.  So I want to know what is right and what is wrong.  I want to know the sources of the problems we have back home; who and who are behind those problems.  All these shape your writing; they influence your works and give them deeper touch.”

    Even though her stories are set in Ethiopia, she confessed that not all her stories are about Ethiopia.  “You can use the Ethiopian experience to x-ray other societies.  I go more to Ethiopia because, I started there and I am a bona fide member of that society.  I lived there when I was very young and I feel comfortable being there.  All the stories I built in my memories are still there and they help when I go back there to update myself.”

    Her first novel Beneath The Lion’s Gaze was set in 1974 Ethiopian revolution.  “There, all the major characters are male because they are the ones who spearheaded the revolution.  They were in the forefront.  So, you can’t say, basically I am a feminist writer.  Then I went on to talk about the World War II in which Ethiopians were involved.  The male soldiers were deeply in it and were fighting to conquer.  The Italians were there in Ethiopia but it was a tough war.  In the end, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia went into exile.  So, you can’t write your stories well, if you do not have a clearer grasp of all these salient historical facts.”

    In her second book titled The Shadow King she explained that her task is to explore both the roles of men and women with clearer demarcation of who is who.  “But you have to appreciate the role of women as well as the role of men.  Writing offers you such an opportunity to elaborate and distinguish.  This is why I talk more about the human nature.  But you know, human nature and politics are intertwine.”

    So far Mengiste has won fellowships from Yaddo in Virginia Centre for the Creative Arts, the Prague Summer Programme and the Emily Harvey Foundation.  In 2013, she was the Puterbaugh fellow and runner-up, for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize as well as the finalist for a Flaherty-Dunnan First  Novel Prize.  All her stories concentrate on migration, the relationship between photography and war and the flight of the Sub-Saharan immigrants always arriving Europe and America.  She also pays special attention to girl-child education globally and sees the need to encourage the world to refocus attention in that area.

  • Nwosu-Igbo installs her art for love

    Nwosu-Igbo installs her art for love

    The history of installation art in Nigeria cannot be complete without first of all, talking about the role of Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, widely known for her peculiar way of presenting her art.  Over the years, she has spent her time to improve her art that as it is today, she is the best known artist in that class.  She arranges and curates her art, adding all sorts of beautification to interpret what she has in stock for her viewers.

    In the past two or three years, she has been in charge of the Lagos Art and Book Festival (LABAF) art exhibitions where she uses the power of the art for different aspects of discourses.  The one that touched on the conscience of the people most was in 2012 when her installations hinged on the power of the art to incite political change.  And in 2013 her theme was in the essence of art as a tool of social examiner and in 2014 the theme elaborated on the issue of the power art to heal past pains.

    This year the theme came closer to the people by reopening discourses on hope.  It was then titled art as a powerful tool to visualize a beautiful future.  Nwosu-Igbo brought all manner of decorations and colours to embellish her installations.  It was clear from the works she mounted for LABAF that she thought it worthy to build her ideas around bright colours; colours of immense depth to give people hope and expectations to face the world of tomorrow.

    For this, the theme of LABAF was anchored on smiles, hence they have asked us to smile.  This is a slogan Nwosu-Igbo found most intriguing, for she said in her comment – “We have brought together in rich force of artists to help interpret a better tomorrow in their own words, using hope and positive attitude as creative perimetres.  Can I then picture a corruption-free Nigeria?”, she asked.

    Installation art has become for her the tour de force of art practice.  It is an art she learnt at the Nsukka School of Art which she has perfected over time through her doggedness and determination.  In her works which include poetry, writing, mixed media, painting and curatorship of art shows, and she has created her own world, a world full of her own definite artistic expressions, fantasies and dreams.

    If colour, very freely used, can be a means to reaching out and brightening lives, Nwosu-Igbo is good at that.  To her, colours have to come into full art to give it its proper blend.  She once stated, “I often ponder the current economic and social conditions in Nigeria.  For those who have called Nigeria home, the adverse existential conditions in the country are horrible reminders of the tragic consequences of a failing state.”  But more life and hope and dreams can be brought into the society when people are made to see love in the horizon.

    “So, we have to leave the past behind,” she said about her most recent works.  “This is so because the work captures the effects the horrid Nigerian conditions have had on its people…  Yet we stand firm in the belief that nothing lasts forever.”  More often, her installations explore themes of faith, power, girl-child education and more.  Even when the installations are often crude, they also speak about life and dreams.

  • Most black women are susceptible to fibroids

    Most black women are susceptible to fibroids

    Senior lecturer/Hon. Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Dr A. A. Adewunmi, speaks on fibroid as black woman’s ailment, taking time to debunk the myths around it, treatments and more.

    Is it true that all women are susceptible to fibroids?

    Not all women are susceptible to fibroid, but majority of the women are susceptible to fibroids- particularly women of the black race. For instance, it is more prominent in black women than white women; and when we talk of prominence, we’re talking about between 7 to 8 out of every 10 women.

    Are there chances that a man can have fibroid?

    There is no way a man can have fibroids, because men do not have uterus.

    What are the basic causes of fibroids?

    Well the truth is that some people may have fibroids and may not even know. So in this case, we’re talking of those for whom it has becomes troublesome or begun to give symptoms of science. For some patients, you just stumble on it when they come to the hospital for a different reason – maybe infertility problems and we asked them to do a scan. But for now, nobody can say, ‘This is what causes fibroid’ – just like cancer. It is an abnormal growth or tumour in the womb of a woman – just that it is not a malignant tumour. Having said that, very few can become malignant – say 0.01 per cent or 1 in 100,000 cases. So nobody is definitively sure of what causes cancer, except that it is prominent in black women. It is prominent in women who marry late and in women, who delay child-bearing. Now, if we say it is more common in women, who delay child-bearing, the next question should naturally be, ‘Why should it be so?’

    This is because the womb is supposed to be carrying a baby, and if the womb or uterus is not carrying a baby, something else would grow there. That’s why it is usually said that ‘bad girls have babies, while the good girls have fibroids’ – the good girls are keeping their body because they’re not yet married, so that place is left empty. But at the end of the day, when such women eventually get married say, maybe at 35 as a virgin, they may discover that they already have fibroids.

    I know of a woman, who complains that the reason for her own fibroids is because she hasn’t been having sex. Her husband has been away in Europe for almost two decades, and she swears that she hasn’t slept with any other man since then?

    It has nothing to do with not having sex. The only correlation may be because she hasn’t been having sex and as such has not been pregnant for a long time; hence the place (womb/uterus) has been left empty for a long time and therefore the growth of the fibroids in it. Like in the good girl illustration, if you’re not having sex, then you cannot get pregnant. And nature abhors vacuum; hence the growth of the fibroids. If a womb is not carrying a baby, then definitely, something else would grow there. To link it up a little more, if that woman has been having sex, there is a possibility that she may have gotten, even if she ends up terminating it.

    How about those who started having babies early and eventually go for family planning; aren’t they making themselves susceptible as well?

    For those who have babies early and stop due to family planning methods, the possibility of having fibroids is not ruled out. But it’s not likely to give them problems. The reason is because by the time you decide to stop having children, more of the time, the woman is probably close or not too far from menopause; and because we know that fibroids only grow in women who menstruates, chances are that the fibroids may not have enough opportunity to grow and become troublesome to such women. So it is very rare for somebody to develop fibroid simply because she did family planning or stopped having babies; except if that person started having babies as a teenager and stopped maybe at 25.

    What is the mortality rate of fibroid surgery cases today, compared to say, 20 years ago? A lot of the women who are afraid of going under the knife are so scared because of some fatality cases they know or have heard of years back.

    Mortality rate resulting from fibroid surgery is not something you can put a figure to because by the time most of these women get to competent hospitals, they would have sought help in wrong places. For instance, a woman has fibroids and is bleeding, but rather than go to a hospital, she goes to an herbalist, who gives her something to drink, something to rub and something to insert. And most times, the things they’re given to insert are usually things that may result in burnt tissues there; and when it burns off, by the time that place starts to heal, it’s going to heal the scar tissue. Even the opening where menses would pass may even be blocked in the process; but meanwhile, she would have started passing out some blood clot, and the herbalist would tell her that it is the fibroid that is coming out. Now that’s one aspect.

    Another aspect is: you have fibroids and you’re going to a general practitioner, who is not a specialist. It’s not just enough for you to know how to cut. You may be operating and discover that the woman starts bleeding uncontrollably; if such doctor has not been trained in the act of operating fibroids well, that may be end of story for the patient. And that’s because at that stage, the doctor may not know what to do next. And that is the major group of people that die. However, if you come to a facility like LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) to operate on your fibroids, I’m not saying patients cannot die, but the percentage is so small – maybe one or two in a hundred. Usually when we want to operate on a woman, especially cases that are already complicated, we have something we call double consent, in which the patient signs that she wants her fibroids removed; she also signs a consent that in case during the procedure, bleeding becomes uncontrollable, her womb should be removed, for her to stay alive. Once you give us that consent, you make things easy for us; but that’s the aspect that actually drives people away from us. You hear such women go about saying, ‘They said I should sign that they should remove my womb, so that I’ll not be able to have a child again.’ But that is wrong. Your womb can be removed and you may still have a baby because your ovaries are still intact and you can have babies through surrogacy. The baby would still be yours, just that somebody else would be carrying the pregnancy for you – so what’s the big deal! People need to be enlightened that it is better for them to do the operation at a competent place and stay alive, than die because they’re scared and running away from certain conditions. My niece had fibroids surgery in Abuja about eight years ago before marriage; she got married about three years ago and it came back. Now that’s one of the peculiarities of fibroids in the black race, compared to the whites. So she needed a repeat surgery, but I insisted that if she was going to have a repeat surgery, it had to be at the National Hospital, Abuja, because that is the only place I could vouch for, except if she was going to come down to Lagos. So on that second occasion, they ended up removing one hundred pieces of fibroids; and within a few hours after she came out of the theatre, they noticed that she was bleeding; but because she had already consented to the second surgery, she was taken back to the theatre, and the uterus was taken out. If she hadn’t gone to such a competent hospital, the chances of her surviving would have been nil.

    What are the factors that can cause it to grow again?

    Because the underlying factors causing it are unknown, nobody really knows what to do to prevent it. If the woman has been lucky to have had children, then she may even take the decision to remove the womb, because really, that is the definitive treatment for fibroids. Removing the pieces is like a temporary treatment. To answer your question, if I’m to compare the mortality rate of fibroids surgery 20 years ago and today, there is a lot of difference – because there is improvement in technology; there is improvement in drugs, there’s improvement in anaesthetic techniques; everything has changed. Some fibroids can even be operated without opening up the patients, through what we call a key-hole surgery or minimally invasive surgery. In such cases, the woman goes into the theatre in the morning, and by the end of the day, she’s home with her family.

    Are there drugs that can help?

    There are drugs to stop the bleeding if the woman is not ready for surgery, and even stop the fibroids from growing. The only thing is that you cannot use some of those drugs for more than six months, because of the terrible side effects they have.

    On point of discovery, are there drugs that can be used that can actually suppress its growth on a permanent basis?

    No. It may just be suppressed on a temporary basis. Once you stop the drug, there would be a rebound.

    A local herb seller claimed that it is a condition that they handle routinely and that all the patient needs do is come to them and use their herbs for a certain period of time and follow their instruction? What do you say to this?

    I’ve told you already that that’s where we get most of our terrible cases. They would claim anything, and unfortunately, you journalists (he probably meant media here) are not helping us in making things better, when it comes to the health behaviour of our people. We have promoted the traditional herbalists to high heavens. I don’t understand how certain people in the name of trado-medical practitioners can buy air-time on the TV for a whole one hour, because journalists want to make money. And then he now starts telling the world that one particular drug will treat HIV, treat fibroid, treat abdominal pains. By the time I watch such programmes; it hurts me and hurts my conscience, because the question you now ask yourself is: ‘Is a journalist only after the money this man is going to pay to the television station?

    Well that has to do with the business angle of the media house and is beyond the journalists working there. The owner of the media may not even be a journalist….

    Let me tell you, there must be ethics that guides every profession, and the moment you throw ethics away, then integrity is not there anymore. I operate fibroids on a weekly basis here and if I tell you what I see….  A lot of cases are so hopeless, because the women have gone round and round. Some have even lost their marriage because they can no longer have sex; hence the pleasure of marriage is no longer there. I mean, when you insert a corrosive into her vagina that would burn it off, chances are that the penis may not even be able to go into the woman up to half way, and so the man abandons the woman. I have seen several cases like that, not ten, not twenty! So what are we talking about? And they keep going back, and going back. Unfortunately, these are things they cannot prove scientifically! We as Africans have to throw away sentiments and face the reality of life. It is failure to do this that is stopping us from moving forward as a people.

    You’re saying claims by alternative medicine practitioners are false?

    Yes. Somebody cannot have a tumour and then you turn around and say he should just rub something and it would disappear. Most times, what they see and claim to be fibroids coming out of the women’s private parts are clotted blood. I’ve been practising medicine for over thirty years, so I should be able to tell you certain things categorically.

  • Osogbo looks forward to another day of uncommon feast

    Osogbo looks forward to another day of uncommon feast

    The large expanse of Tunde Badmus’ compound at Government Reservation Area, Osogbo, Osun State reminds you of the fabled ‘Paradise City’ in James Hadley Chase. The GRA is where the affluent in the city resides. Like Paradise City, you only see the affluent drive in and out of the area. Gbenga Aderanti reports.

    But come next January, the barrier would be broken as the compound hosts the less-privilege and  the affluent in the town as they feast and dine under same umbrella..

    The only time one sees the retinue of the not so rich is the festive season when the Asiwaju  Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Tunde Badmus opens the door of his house for the less-privileged. That is a time for them to have unfettering access to the mansion of the Badmus’, whom majority prefers to refer to as ‘Tuns’.

    Since  another festive season is here again;  most of these ‘August visitors’ are already  looking forward to January when they would have an opportunity to dine  and mingle with other men and women of the ‘higher class’ without any hindrance.

    The gifts being distributed right now are in preparation for the grand finale which is hosting the less-privilege, which comes up in January.

    Known to be a festive season usually celebrated by Christians, it does not make any difference to Badmus. Even though he is a Muslim and the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, he is not bothered. He mixes freely by celebrating Christmas and the New Year like any other Christian. He proves his open and tolerant nature to people of other religion by hosting not only his close friends but other people from all walks of life.

     Like he has done in the past, Badmus will on January open the gate of his big compound to the less-privileged. The occasion always avail them the opportunity of not only seeing him personally but also hob- knobbing  with other men and women of high standing in the society.

     During the last Eid- el- Kabir, aside food and drinks, the ‘August visitors’ were also treated to music from different musical groups in the town.

    Millions of naira was spent for the needy during the last festive season, aside the food and other gifts they received from Badmus.

     Speaking during the event, Muhammed, who has been crippled from birth was full of praises for Badmus. He confessed to always looking forward to the festive seasons when he would have the opportunity to meet with people who ordinarily he would not have access to. “I have been coming here for the past three years, and I always look forward to festive season.”

     For 52 year-old widow, Taibat, Badmus is God-sent to the less-privileged. The woman who came with her two daughters said words could not express her feelings. “To me and my family, we always look forward to the festive season. It is the time we have the best of times, as we have unfettering access into his house”, she told the reporter.

     Suraju was one of the beneficiaries during the last Eid- el-Kabir celebration was struck by polio when he was young and now depends on crutches to walk. He was quick to add that Tuns’, uncommon generosity that is worthy of emulation.”

     Explaining the reason why he prefers to host the less-privileged during the festive season, Badmus asserted that the less-privileged in the society should not be left unattended to, saying that they should be made to feel the impact of the festive season. “As long as Sallah is ongoing, no family should go to bed with empty stomach,” he affirmed.

    The daily distribution of gifts by the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Badmus has been described as a worthwhile gesture by many who have been privileged to attend the ceremony.

     Reports had it that last year December, hundreds of truck loads of chicken, gizzard, Semovita, bottled water, loaves of bread were given out as Xmas gifts to the different class of people in the society. Beneficiaries range from Christian associations, government officials and individuals.

    Speaking, Mr Dawood Ajetunmobi, an aide to Badmus, said;  “What he did  last December is going to be replicated this December.”

  • Behold an artist without hands

    Behold an artist without hands

    Shaidatu Abubakar, 19, is unlike many of her peers. Born without hands, she has demonstrated that there is ‘ability in disability’. She paints, draws and designs with her feet. But her dream is to set up her own studio,
    reports OJI ONOKO

    With ease, she picked the drawing pen between her toes. From sitting, she stretched her leg to the pad and began to draw. Soon, a pattern emerged. The audience cheered. But she was not done yet.  This time, an National Gallery of Art (NGA) staff member, Hadiza Muazu, volunteered to be her model. The artist did not waste time in putting an intricate design on the back of her palm known as Henna in Hausa, which is quite popular with women in the North. The design is akin to Uli in the Southeast.

    For those at the Sixth National Visual Art Competition and awards organised by the (NGA at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, that Thursday, the feat was a marvel from a 19-year-old girl born without both hands, who chose to rise above her defects. The attention of the management of NGA was drawn to her special talent during the competition. For this, a Special Award was given her.  As the DG, NGA, Abdullahi Muku, put it: “Abubakar has demonstrated that there is ability in disability. If she is encouraged to set up a studio, she can become an employer.”

    But for the teenage artist, it has been a life of tenacity, doggedness and never-say-die.  A native of Lapai, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Abubakar was born on September 23, 1996 to the family of Ndeji Abubakar. She attended Bani Primary School, Lapai, passing out in 2009.  Thereafter, she proceeded to Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Lapai where she obtained her National Examination Council (NECO) Certificate in 2014.

    According to Ezekwesili Mgbemene, the NGA Curator in Niger State, who traced her to her 44, Bani Road, Lapai modest home, “though born without hands, Shaidatu is a practising artist, who draws, designs and writes with her feet.  She has in no way resigned to her physical challenge as can be seen with many in this part of the world, but she is always busy drawing, designing, browsing on her lpad and making phone calls;  giving words of encouragement to other people. Daily, she does Kwinchi henna beauty designs on female clients who patronise her at her home.  Her ambition is to own an art studio and to be a renowned artist.”

    Shaidatu has a good command of English language and she is a good conversationalist; what she lost in hands, she has more than made up in words and feet.

    At the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, promised to use his office to assist the artist.

    Observers said what Shaidatu needs are artificial arms. She awaits succour to come to her through well-meaning Nigerians? For now, Shaidatu paints on with her feet.

     

    • Onoko wrote from Abuja.
  • WFM 91.7 makes its debut in Lagos

    WFM 91.7 makes its debut in Lagos

    FM 91.7, the female-centric radio station, which also caters for men and the family, was formally presented to the public last Friday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The launch was attended by top celebrities across various strata of society, led by the wife of Nigeria’s president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, graced the occasion.

    The grand event, with the theme: Using Radio as a Tool for Women Development, has been described as epoch-making in the history of radio broadcasting in Nigeria. The proceedings of the event were transmitted live and the world listened and contributed from Africa, United States and the United Kingdom. ý

    Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, an oil tycoon, fashion designer and philanthropist who was the keynote speaker at the event, challenged women on the issues of development in the 21st century. Alakija noted that WFM has started a movement to inspire and unite women for development in Nigeria and Africa. She emphasised that women cannot be ignored in the process of development of nations and therefore urged government and society to remove all forms of ýdiscrimination against women.

    Mrs. Buhari who was represented by  Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a former legislator and broadcaster described the promoters of WFM as a team of missionaries on a journey to emancipate women and their families.

    ýDirector General of National  Broadcasting Commission,(NBC) Emeka Mba,, who was represented by Mrs. Bunmi Cole, Director of Lagos Zone, maintained that the Nigerian society will be better with the launch of the station. He noted that more specialised radio stations like WFM will allow for more creativity in the broadcasting industry.

    Dele Momodu,  publisher of Ovation magazine enjoined the promoters of the station to sustain the noble ideas behind the project. The celebrity journalist, who wrote his M.Sc thesis on the oppression of women in Africa, described WFM as the voice of women in Nigeria and Africa.

    Toun Okewale Sonaiya the CEO of WFM 91.7 said women are key to finding solutions to the global problems of insecurityý and poverty and promised that WFM91.7 will be part of the global march to provide security and prosperity.

    When WFM91.7 hits the airwaves on Monday, November 16, 2015, the radio station, primed to be a reliable, leading and trusted source of all information and matters of interests for women and their families, has engaged in issues of local, national and international importance to all.

    Personalities who graced the event included the Lagos deputy governor, Mrs Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, Dr Olatunde Ayeni, Chief Mrs Sade Okoya, Oloris Olabisi & Yetunde Tejuoso, Joke Silva, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Funmi Ajila, Seun Olagunju, Shy Shy who flew in from UK, Ambrose Somide amongst other dignitaries.

  • Anyaoku decries decay in museum

    Anyaoku decries decay in museum

    The management and staff of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and their guests last Thursday gathered to celebrate the commission’s 70th anniversary with an exhibition titled:  An Enduring Legacy in Lagos, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME. 

    In spite of the cash crunch, the premises of the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos wore a new look last Thursday. Its car park linings got retouched with new green and white paint while the murals on the walls got a facelift by some in-house artists. The colourfully dressed staff especially the women who turned out in gorgeous traditional attires captured the festive mood of the 70th anniversary celebration.

    But, all these got lowered when the chairman of the occasion former Secretary General of Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku decried the poor state of museums across the country. Chief Anyaoku who urged Federal Government to savage the nation’s museums that are in dire need of rehabilitation, said almost all the 45 museums across the country are in bad shape and are poorly funded.

    “If the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was to be present at this event, I would have appealed to him personally to consider the rehabilitation of the museums,” he said.

    He also frowned at the removal of history from the nation’s school curriculum some years ago and therefore urged Federal Government to redouble its efforts in reviving the teaching of history in the schools. He noted that since independence, Nigeria has promoted African culture in the continent and the Diaspora and that museum has a critical role to play in development and pride of Nigeria.

    “Museum has priceless collections such as Nok terra cotta, Benin bronze, Ife bronze, Igbo Ukwu and the third man made craft–Dufuna canoe to show the world….The  international exhibition-2000 years of Nigerian Art, organised by the museum in London some 40 years ago, was a hugely successful one because it opened the eyes of Europe to the fact that Nigeria has history. There is the inestimable value of artefacts in the museum of Nigeria. It is important that there are different artefacts that represent and tell the story and culture of Nigerian people as well as promote cultural aspirations,” he added.

    He stated that unlike in Nigeria, the intrinsic values of museums are recognised and appreciated in most developed countries.

    Chief Anyaoku, however, urged museum management to collaborate with other museums in Africa and the world to tell the story of Black race, adding that by so doing ‘you will be winning respect in the comity of nations.’

    Director-General of the commission, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, said as a prelude to the celebration, a national art competition for secondary schools and cultural festival at the first National Museum in Esie Kwara State was held on November 15. He noted that other events would hold in April and May next year to coincide with the International Monument Day and International Museum Day respectively, adding that a gala night would hold in Abuja in January to appreciate museum friends, benefactors and officially launch some publications.

    The ongoing exhibition is featuring 70 exquisite objects and antiquities dating back several centuries. The objects are of great historical and aesthetic values that have been carefully selected to reflect the traditions of every part of Nigeria.

    An Enduring Legacy seeks o highlight and accumulate objects from various ethnic groups and thus reveal the common traits in the nation’s cultural diversity that bind the people together as a nation. It portrays, to a large extent, cultural objects collected by Nigerian archaeologists, ethnographers and other researchers under the watchful eyes of the fathers of Nigerian museums such as Kenneth C. Murray, Bernard Fagg, Eko Eyo, Ade Obayemi, Sule Bello, Yaro Gella, Eluyemi Omotoso, Joseph Eboreime and  Yusuf Abadallah Usman.

    Chairman Senate Committee on Culture Senator Matthew Urhoghide who was represented by Mr., Neda Imasuen described culture and tourism as “veritable sources for many nations and that Nigeria is replete with potential cultural and tourism sites that need to be developed to increase our earnings and make us less dependent on oil”.’

    “To this end, we at the senate will work with our colleagues in the lower chamber of the National Assembly to ensure that we increase the capacity of the NCMM at developing and maintaining these sites,” he assured.

    Present at the event were dignitaries such as Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Mr. Frank Okonta, and representatives of some chief executives of parastatals in the Information and Culture Ministry. The first museum was established in Esie, Kwara state in 1945.

     

     

     

     

  • N6b tourist centre lands in Ogun

    N6b tourist centre lands in Ogun

    How much does it take to bring a planet into existence? Solutions Media has spent about N6 billion on such a project. The multibillion naira High Impact Planet project on Kilometre 12, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway opened last Friday as an avant-garde tourist centre, Paul Ade- Adeleye reports. 

    High Impact Planet is a kind of project that posterity may one day study in order to replicate and develop upon in order to advance the seemingly dysfunctional sector of tourism in the country.

    It is the product of intense brainstorming on what could be done to grant the children of the country a new childhood experience without their travelling abroad where they would get abridged entertainment and fun.

    From facilities such as freestyler to hoopla, Mexican fiesta, Samba balloon, dream machine, jump around bumper cars, watermania, Rio train, Boeing 777 always outperforming ride and ice rink, the tourists centre, which sits on about 185,000m2 land boasts of state of the art equipment.

    In addition to the attractions are a clinic, banking hall and ATM, guest accommodation, food courts, and a multi-purpose hall. This multi-purpose hall is capable of accommodating between 6000 and 8000 people, depending on the arrangement for the event to be held there. Also, provisions have been made for a souvenir court where the guests can purchase souvenirs.

    However, the Planet is not only for children, as adults too will find themselves having a lot to helplessly grin about. There is no better way to elucidate on what can only be described as the ultra-modern specifications of the planet – a planet that will soon have Disney Land looking over its shoulder – than to individually pick out its many facilities.

     

    Size and location

    The tourists centre sits on about 185,000m2. It is located at Kilometre 12, Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, opposite Mountain Top University. According to the Solutions Media’s chairman, the location was deliberately selected for a number of reasons. First, it would be perilous to erect steel structures where there is salt water. Many of the equipment at the amusement park are made of steel. Also, it is a way of shifting focus from the already congested Lagos town planning system. It has so far brought development to the area it is situated. In addition, the journey away from the city will add to the recreational feel of things. The journey will provide an added effect of holidays and recreation to the experience that will await the children at the park. So far, only 35 percent of the land has been used.

     

    Facilities and features

    This is the juiciest part of High Impact Planet. All equipment has been designed to maximise the relaxing ambience of the planet. It is important to note that provisions have also been made to ease the experience of those on wheel chairs. They were all designed by European technical crew, and it would be imperative to note that they are all state of the art equipment. There is a surfing simulator called the freestyler. For those willing to be tossed about a bit in all directions, the hoopla would be a welcome ride, and for those willing to try a little South American fun, there are the Mexican Fiesta, and the Samba Balloon. Another amusement ride to try out is the Dream Machine, a flying carousel that can accommodate about 1240 people/hr. For the automobile savvy, there are the Jump Around, an avant-garde interactive family ride; and the indoor Bumper Cars; a set of flat electronic cars. The aqua lovers are not left out too as there are the Watermania rides, as well as the indoor Bumper Boats. No room has been allowed for lovers of the locomotive and all other such railroad vehicular system to feel left out. There are the Rio-Train rides and the Convoy rides which both operate on the rail system to simulate the real transport effect, complete with a thumping engine emitting fake smoke. Those who have a morbid fear of just about anything can attempt conquering their fear can have a go at the Haunted House where they are promised a terrific time, and they can also stroll through the jungle for a less terrifying but equally amusing time with the ‘animals’. Other death defying rides are the Vertical Swing, the Spring Ride, and an enterprise spinner (a 40m high Ferris wheel) that spins people out of whatever misery dogged them there.

    The indoor attractions are mostly simulators. There is a ride called the Boeing 777 Always Outperforming ride, simulating an air travel system. Then the Ice Rink awaits those who want to try their legs at Ice Skating, and for the movie lovers, there is a 5D cinema which will enable the viewers to engage their senses and feel virtually every nuance of the movie world. Hunting enthusiasts will enjoy the hunting experience of the Big Buck Panorama and sci-fi lovers would be adequately advised if they try the Aliens Armageddon. Crazy Jump, the indoor trampoline system is available for children. Other attractions are the Transformers Deluxe, Pacman Smash, I Combat, and Pump It Up Fiesta.

    royal horsetail, and garbed in the kente attire peculiar to Ghana, but now worn widely in Africa. That the symbols in question are derived from the African culture speaks volumes concerning the Pan-African nature of the organisation. The elephant symbolises strength which means that High Impact has the strength to accommodate very many people, which is a staggering 120,000 people. The beads and the horsetail are indicative of authority like that which used to be bestowed upon the rulers of old. They symbolise Solutions Media as an authority in the field of entertainment and tourism, as well as being a scrupulous organisation that sets great store by integrity.

     

    Restrooms

    Apart from the many restrooms inside all the structures in the planet, there is a general restroom system which can accommodate 90 people at a go – 45 males, 45 females. Provisions have also being made for little children who have not yet mastered proper usage of the water closet system. They will use specially constructed water closets crafted to their size.

     

    Security

    One of the reasons High Impact Planet has been constructed is because of the difficulties in going abroad due to the security threats now prevalent in Europe. As such, High Impact Planet is fitted with maximum security systems. Upon entry, all baggage will be scanned with ultra-modern scanning implements and explosion-detection device. Before entering the amusement park, guests are going to have to go through turnstiles which will once more scan them, and there are cameras at all points that will ‘keep an eye on things’ in order to prevent mishaps. In case of emergencies, guests would be required to gather at certain points which are located throughout the park from which exits can be made without the danger of a stampede. There is an expandable parking lot which can, so far, accommodate 2,500 cars and these cars are not parked at owner’s risk. They will be constantly watched. Added to this, a police station is under construction nearby to provide additional security to both the community and the resort.

     

    Staff

    High Impact has dealt with the issue of inefficiency on the staff’s part by employing staff which are well trained in their duties. According to the chairman of Solutions Media, 85 percent of the staff have been trained overseas in the best possible environments. The in-house doctor of the clinic has been trained in the United Kingdom as well as Nigeria and is certified to practise in both countries. High Impact Planet can employ about 2,000 staff which is a great way of solving the issue of unemployment in the country.

     

  • ‘Judicial reform key to anti-graft war’s success’

    ‘Judicial reform key to anti-graft war’s success’

    As the year runs to an end, the founder of Bible Believing Mission Incorporation, Pastor Kingsley Innocent, is lamenting the state of the nation. He is calling for collective efforts to fight corruption and insurgency. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, the man of God  speaks on  the December deadline to crush the Boko Haram insurgency and more.

    The situation in the country is quite unfortunate. It is so sad that the Nigerian economy is today gripped by a crisis of declining income and low savings, corruption and terrorism, especially Boko Haram insurgency, mass unemployment, retrenchment of workers, huge debt burden, etc.

    Kidnappings, corruption, armed robberies, assassinations, child and drug trafficking, stealing, internet scams are evidences that the country truly needs God’s intevention and true change.

     

    War against corruption

    Even though the Bible says everyone is born corrupt, (Romans 3:23), corruption in Nigeria has become a social problem, involving not only those in government, but people in public and private positions, traditional rulers, parents, the military, etc. It is the bed-rock of dishonesty and bad behaviour, for personal gains, abuse or misuse of power or position of trust. It is sad that it has eaten into the fabric of our country. To fight it, it would require a collective effort.

    In most times, it takes the form of organised crime, involving more than one party, and can even be said to be contagious. Often times, most perpetrators do not fear the consequences, as a result of immunity clauses attached to their positions in government. These manifest more in the award of contracts, political intrigues, diversions, dispensation of justice, staff promotion, misuse of public offices, positions and privileges, embezzlement of public funds, etc.

    Corruption in Nigeria is systematic. So, it requires systematic approach as well, focusing on the pulse of the nation at this time. The judicial reform is key to its success. The anti-corruption fight is not expected to be won in a day.

    Enforcement of the anti-corruption law must be to the fullest, if prioritising of the “fight” must make the impact. The process must be sustained in all fairness and sincerity. Recovering all the looted funds must be practical, as a signal to those presently in political offices. Crude oil stealing is demonic and must be avoided.

    Strategies must be in good place, but not suggesting a witch-hunt in tackling the issue, but the one that will destroy corruption. Wellmeaning citizens will support the fight, but the corrupt ones will oppose it with bottle-necks.

    With the incorruptible credentials of the President and his determination to wipe out corruption and with the interest of the common man in focus, it is believed the fight will be won, all things being equal.

    Finally, I am grateful to God for keeping Nigeria together as an entity till this day. We lean not on our own understanding or powers, but of God’s because when the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice. We all must prayerfully encourage and support the President and his cabinet, appreciating the fact that not all politicians are corrupt. The corrupt ones know that they are corrupt.

     

    The December deadline to end Boko Haram

    The deadline to rout insurgency could  have been feasible if the war were to be conventional. Unfortunately, Boko Haram is fighting a gorilla war, particularly in the North-East. The service chiefs told Buhari that their efforts to end terrorism were being threatened by weather and logistics attest to this comment. They are clearly telling the President about their challenges.

    Invariably, there is no guarantee that the December deadline would be met. However, the military may achieve their task if, as we hear, American comes in fully to assist in terms of logistics and personnel. Extension of time appears to be the best option.

    Where do you hope to see Nigeria in the next four years?

    This question appears too wide to discuss in such a short space of time. There are many sectors in the subject that require indept analysis and discussion. However, an attempt would be made to touch on some vital sectors of our national life. They include: politics, economy, education, power and energy, agriculture, foreign affairs, industrialization, infrastructure, healthcare, etc.

    Buhari came in on the mantra of Change, but I don’t think that change is going to occur overnight. I also believe things will get better. Politics in Nigeria is getting more matured with the introduction by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Attahiru Jega’s Card Reader. By the next election, I want to see the perfection of the electoral process for efficient polls and a more credible result.

    I also hope to see corruption controlled or brought to the barest minimum. So, funds would be deployed to pay workers, tackle insecurity and insurgence, education and general welfare of the people. Nigeria’s economy is in a poor state. This is a challenge to the present government, meaning the nation has expressed optimism that the future is bright; because of Buhari. We also believe all hands must be on deck to see it happen. Nigeria lacks infrastructure, I hope to see modern road networks, modern railway system-surface and underground trains, why not? I want to see hospitals that are well-equipped, modern education facilities, uninterrupted power supply, law and order and above peace. I want to see a system that I can be proud of, that can match other modern systems in the world. It is possible if we have the will and fear of God to employ the resources He has given to us to develop our own country and not put it into individual pockets.

     

    Politics of the nation

    When Nigerians voted for him, they were fed up with the endemic nature of corruption and insecurity. There is a brighter future ahead of us now. Since the President assumed office, he promised to change the trend with zeal and commitment to plug all avenues of leakages, redefining priorities, slashing cost of governance, and to invest more on infrastructure. He has started to fulfill that promise through the anti-corruption fight, and restrategising on insecurity.

     

     

     

     

    I believe that his military background, tough stance and disciplinary credentials are the  driving tools needed to face insurgency, the perennial clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers, and other national challenges. The President’s rapport with ECOWAS, the G7 leaders in Germany, and the international community is going to be quite helpful.

    For me, Buhari has so far shown that the era of “sacred cows” are over. It is hopeful the trend will be maintained across board. The President must keep close eyes on his cabinet to keep off sycophants as was the case in the past government.

    Having promised the nation, and his moves against corruption so far, it is believed with God and prayers, he will deliver. There is, however, the need for patience, understanding and support from the citizens.

    Our President is expected to have public spirit, which is the willingness to do things for the good of the people and society, regardless of party affiliation. This is a focus of the policy-making in any good government. As a popular opinion says, leadership is not about titles, positions, etc, but about one’s ability to cause a change and influence lives positively.

     

    Ministerial appointment

    Buhari has insisted that honesty, transparency, commitment, integrity, patriotism and experience are factors that informed his choices of ministers. He is at liberty to appoint whom he believes he can work with, provided they meet the expectations of Nigerians. What is important is for them to discharge their responsibilities for the benefit of the people. Integrity must be of a great consideration in choosing the ministers. The nominees must be honest, reliable and people who are not selfish, but ready for accountability to God and man. Therefore, with good mechanisms from federal supervision, close monitoring and accountability on the part of the ministers, expectedly, there will be hope of good performance.

     

    Journey so far

    My journey so far in the course of the ministry had been quite interesting, because it is fully and divinely backed by the Almighty God of Talk-Na-Do. All I do is as the Holy Spirit directs and as I do His work, He confirms them at all times.

    I remain a chosen servant of The Most High God, called and anointed to carry the prophetic mandate of God of Talk-Na-Do. “God of Talk-Na-Do” simply means, that God that says a thing and it comes to pass, as in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3. “And God said, let there be light, and there was light.”

    As the nation faces national challenges, we too, face religious challenges. But in all these, I have remained steadfastly and strongly committed to doing the work of God, which I am mandated by Him to do, by restoring tampered human destinies, and redirecting them back to Christ. The feat and impact had been quite tremendous, which the increasing population and network of branches attest to.

    So, we are on a divine journey to win more souls, as directed by God.

     

     

  • Film house opens in Akure

    As the festive season commences, residents of Ondo State, particularly those in Akure, the State Capital are expected to celebrate the Christmas and New Year in a more exciting mood as more fun spots hit the state.

    One of these fun spots is the Film House Cinemas at Akure Mall in Igbatoro, Akure, launched recently.

    The film house has joined other outlets in Lagos, Calabar, Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt and Asaba, which have been serving as relaxation centres for their residents.

    Co-founder and Managing Director of the company, Kene Mkparu, who took reporters round the cinema house, said they saw Akure as a strategic area and the state government has given them a good platform.

    He noted that his team was prepared to give its guests the best entertainment solution in all the latest movies.

    Mkparu explained that their ticket price  is N600, while for a VIP seat, it is N1200.

    He said the cinema offers films for every age group.

    He said: “We have the best sound system. We have films for different age groups and we are staring our Saturday and Sunday children’s club. We also show Yoruba Nollywood movies because we are passionate about Nigeria movie industry.”