The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

As Ile-Ife awaits a new Ooni

The palace of the Ooni of Ife which had always been busy round the clock is now bereft of life and activities. The signs are there for all to see. The evidence showing that the palace was in deep mourning mood was registered in the minds of some prominent culture technocrats who paid a courtesy call on the palace and some top chiefs of the Ife Kingdom last weekend.

Among the visitors were Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Yusuf Usman, the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and other top staff of the culture sector. They were in town to commission a new private museum and to also felicitate with the palace on its cordial relationship with the National Museums which has its Ife office located within the precincts of the palace.

Adejuwon, who until his appointment last years as the Artistic Director of the Troupe, had been resident in Ife for ten unbroken years was quick to observe this sudden change of mood in the palace and the sudden quiet that has now become the lot of the palace as the people await the announcement and coronation of a new Ooni.

He said: “Yes, the D.G. of National Museum, had been angling to pay a condolence visit to the Ooni’s palace, because the late Ooni and the people of Ife, had been pivotal to issues concerning the museums and artifacts. This is for obvious reasons, for Ife has some of the richest repertoires of artistic and historical elements in Nigeria’s history. They have some of the largest collections of antiquities in Nigeria. And so he thought by being in Ife for the opening of the dental museum, it would be proper also to be at the palace. We got to the palace, we had to be admitted through an alternative entrance. This was so because the main entrance was under lock and key and that in itself would tell you that the old palace is wearing a sombre look.”

He went on: “All entrances to palace were sealed at the demise of the Ooni. So we had to go through the other door and the palace secretary and the representatives of the high chiefs were on hand to receive us. After waiting for sometime, it was interesting to note that the whole palace looked like a ghost town. There were no more people milling around the palace with one activity or the other. I had been to the palace hundreds of times in my life and I had never, for once, seen the palace so quiet, so cold, so isolated and so bereft of social and cultural activities. It then dawned on me and others that this is how a palace looks like when a new Oba is being awaited.”

Adejuwon’s surprise did not end here. He continued: “I have lived in Ife for ten years. Yes, it is understandable if there is lack of movement, it would look so isolated. Even then we were received in the Ooni’s large hall where the D.G. of National Museums thanked the chiefs for the total preservation of some of the national artifacts in Ife Museum.”

At that event too, Ife Chiefs reiterated the importance of one of their most revered gods (deities) that would soon appear and no one would be expected to be seen in public. The people particularly identify with this deity, very powerful in its role in the lives of the people. Beyond this, the Ife artifacts have been part of exchange programmes between Nigeria, Spain, and some other European and American nations in the last few years.

Above all, the rich Ife antiquities have shown the whole world that Africa and Africans had history and culture before the advent of the Europeans. The visit was also topical in order to solicit the support of the incoming Ooni to keep the importance and prominence of Ife heritage ever aglow in national history and documentation. The Ooni’s role in this regard can never be thwarted.

The issue of making a bigger request and demand on the intending King was also brought to the fore. It was heartwarming too to hear Ife Chiefs commend the management of the National Museums as they advised them on how to go about asking for more in the future.

For a long time, the traditional Ife bronze with its remarkable facial marks depicting royalty and dignity has been adorning most art festivals world-over. This symbol, along with others which showcase heroism in warfare, courage in traditional fanfare and lots more are some of the topical issues that the visit harped on. In all, Ife historical and traditional properties in the National Museums and Monuments will continue to dominate the attention of those who love to make history an issue, indeed an enduring legacy.

September 27, 2015
Literature has deepened my knowledge

Chijioke Uwasomba, a senior lecturer in the Department of English Literature at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, is a literary guru in his field. In this interview with Edozie Udeze he talks about his love for Literature and how it has taken him to the highest height in his career.

What have been the most striking moments in your career as a Literature teacher?

The most striking moments in my career as a teacher of literature have been occasions when my students scored highly taken into consideration that many students who come to study literature do not have the capacity to cope with the course especially those who are not specializing in literature. But it is important to state that over the years, many part one Law students have demonstrated competence and have made me proud in their performance in the two literature courses compulsorily taken by them in their first year.

What books are you reading at the present time?

I am reading Adebayo Williams’ Bulletin From the Land of the Living Ghosts: Romance in the Reign of King Cobra,Helon Habila’s Oil on Water and Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist

Who are your favorite novelists of all time?

Fyodor Dostoeyvsky, Thomas Hardy, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Sembene Ousmane,

To you, who is the most outstanding Literature giant of all season and why?

Dostoyevsky. This is because of the issues his works raise about the human condition and his capacity to deploy the use of interior monologue to the best and further aligns his characters with the reader in such a manner the latter is made to identify with the former at deeper levels,

Back home in Nigeria, which books or novels motivated you to take to Literature as a career?

Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Soyinka’s The Interpreters

Of all the books you’ve read which characters have struck you the most?

Oliver Twist in Dickens’ Oliver Twist

What genres do you love and stick to in and out of season?

I like the three genres of literature and as a professional critic any critical work is a must read to sharpen my skills even if I disagree with the writer

If you have a task to convince a person to love Literature, which ten books will you recommend for him/her?

First of all I will introduce the person to religious tracts especially Awake from the stable of the Jehovah Witnesses not because of their religious content but for the insights and interest they generate in the reader. Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross and I will Marry When I Want, Eagleton’s Saints and Scholars, Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, George Eliot’s Silas Manner, Cyprian Ekwensi’s Drummer Boy, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Beckett’s Wating for Godot and End Game and Niyi Osundare’s Village Voices

What books are more noticeable in your private library?

I have books in my discipline and books and other materials on politics and political economy

Has teaching Literature lifted your status the way you expected, and how and why?

Reading and teaching Literature have given me all I wanted in life. Literature has the capacity to imbue one with great knowledge and satisfaction.

In fact, my involvement in the world of words [belle letting] has opened my eyes to the world in every material particular. It has given me the opportunity to engage other disciplines especially the Social Sciences. I have drunk from the spring and enjoyed the deep for the deep calls the deep. To paraphrase Shelly, one other redoubtable Romantic writer, the literati constitutes the legislators of the world and by extension the prophets for they see the now and the present. Being a functional member of this rare collective is indeed humbling and exciting.

Are you a re-reader – how often?

Yes I am a re-reader. The profession of literature survives on the plank of re-reading texts. It gives the scholar the advantage of arriving at new meanings. Meanings are dynamic and therefore require serious intellectual negotiations. By re-reading texts new realities and meanings are arrived at and this re-invigorates the discipline and places it at the fore front of other disciplines and engagements. Re-reading for me in a quotidian exercise.

September 27, 2015
Facial marks in a dental museum

In Ile-Ife, Osun State, a new museum on dental health and history has been established purposely to document and preserve the relics of various age and time used for oral dentistry. Edozie Udeze who witnessed the commissioning ceremony in Ife writes on the essence of this and why more of such projects and ideas should be encouraged.

The idea of having a private museum is not common in Nigeria. It is even more amazing to think of it when the museum owned and run by the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria are being neglected. In Ife, the cradle of Yoruba heritage, more of such ventures are daily being undertaken by different individuals. The idea of this sort of situation is to help register the essence of museums in the minds of the public and to ensure that some important aspects of the legacies of the people are not put in jeopardy or left to rot away.

In Ile-Ife, Osun State, Eyitope Ogunbodede, a Professor of Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has decided to establish a Dental Museum. Declared open last weekend in Ife, the whole concept was to use historical approach to preserve the relics of dental materials that have been of immense use to the people.

In other words, the Dema Foundation Dental Museum which took Ogunbodede many years to put together has in its storage, the history of Dentistry in Nigeria. It has all the requirements used in treating dental and other related oral health problems. The assemblage of these archival materials, in the reckoning of Ogunbodede, was “to mobilize society and then strengthen its capacity to play an active and significant role in expanding the frontiers of dental and general health. It is to inform and help the society.”

A non-governmental and non-profit making venture, the museum boosts of various profound historical materials which have been collected and preserved from around 1926 when Nigeria had its first dental doctor in the person of Dr. Sydney Obafemi Philips. As the first dental museum in Africa, the rich contents of the collections include the history of modern dentistry in Nigeria from 1903 to the present. Inside some of the rooms, there are relics of the first dental chairs used in Nigeria but were manufactured in the United States of America in 1907. The very first chair was used by one certain Dr. Ewart Gladstone Maclean who was a Baptist Missionary. He was noted to be the first to practice the treatment of tooth problems in the country.

The objects and relics are so well identified, dated and arranged that once you step into the foyers of the museum, you are struck by the aura of the rooms and the heavy instruments of old used to extract people’s dentition and treat other problems that pertained to the mouth. “We did this to ensure that nothing is left out,” Ogunbodede explained. This was why in addition to the halls housing these implements, he wrote a book entitled History of Dentistry in Nigeria. “This book is meant to complement the educational essence and mission of this museum. The proceeds will also be used to help fund the museum,” Ogunbodede said.

“Let me assure you,” the professor asserted before the large gathering of people from all walks of life, “that adequate thoughts have been made on how to preserve and run this centre so that it does not fizzle out.”

In addition, and indeed in order to really combine tradition and modernity to give the place a complete historic outlook, the museum houses life-sized heads bearing the different tribal marks in Nigeria. With over 30 of such important relics, the importance of the marks was to show some of the complications inherent in it and how this distorts the human face. In the process of giving these marks, parts of the dentition of a person may be disorganized. Often, this leads to bumps, dental diseases and oral and other hygienic disorders.

In order to make this aspect of the show explicit, the National Troupe of Nigeria, led by its director, Akinsola Adejuwon, was on hand to demonstrate the exigencies of oral problems and the connection with tribal marks. The play, written by Arnold Udoka and presented to the gathering, was titled Dokita Eji and it centred entirely on some of the myths people usually attach to most oral and dental problems and diseases. And in simplifying the show on stage, it became clearer that dance-drama can always be a huge and potent means to bring issues of life closer to the people.

Once you have a tooth-ache or decay, all you have to do is to look for a dental doctor to cater to your problems. The play was used to disabuse people’s minds towards some certain dental issues and challenges which they often link with witchcraft. There are different types of facial marks identified in the museum and how they have defaced people’s faces over time.

The principal types among the Yoruba are Pele, Abaja, Gombo, Baramu, Keke, Ture, Mande and Jamgbadi. Although it is not only the Yoruba tribe that gives facial marks, the import of the show was to let people know that it is not all facial marks that heal well or quickly. Therefore, some of the complications come in forms of infections, tetanus, keloids and hypertrophic scars that often lead to death. But the essence of the museum is to document issues and to enlighten the public on the dangers in it and how it distorts dentition and more.

Located on Ilesa road, Ile-Ife, Dema Foundation Dental Museum is an imposing one-storey building which has all the trappings of a modern museum. It was for this reason that the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Usman described it as a centre put in place to tell the story of events and activities of things in a society. “And for this, it is proper to encourage more people to follow the example of Professor Ogunbodede in order that we have more of such establishments to document our history.”

In his own opening remarks, Emeritus Professor of Law, David Ijalaye commended the idea and quickly added that “this is part of the mission of promoting oral, dental and general health with particular focus on the history, education, research and information aspects of this huge project.” This remark indeed set the ball rolling, for in his own contribution, Professor Jonathan Lawoyin of The Oral Pathology of the University of Ibadan described the book as a work of long years of painstaking research in which the author criss crossed the globe to secure detailed and valuable information. This is what this erudite scholar has given to the society in addition to this beautiful edifice and the rich contents of the museum.”

The occasion was witnessed by many scholars from different parts of the nation who indeed saw the need to have more museums in the medical realm. For Adejuwon, the combination of dance drama and dental issues was to bring the whole concept closer to the people. And since Ife is a university town, its location has many academic and social values to the people. In fact, the idea is to encourage more Nigerians who have the means to go into such wonderful venture.

September 27, 2015
My plan is to lift the Ooni stool beyond where it is now – Ayedun

Alhaji Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, immediate past Commissioner of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism in Osun State, is an Ife Prince from Moniki compound of Giesi ruling house. In this interview with Adesoji Adeniyi, he speaks‎ about issues relating to the race for the Ooni stool

How did ‎you receive the news that the Giesi from where you come is the only ruling house qualified to produce the next Ooni out of the four ruling houses?

First, I will give thanks to God and Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, because he is the one that has the authority to decide on where the declaration would go even though it is clean and clear as stated by the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration, but being the Governor of the state, he has all it takes to do otherwise. But being a man of justice, fair play and equity, he has given us what I would say gives happiness to all the families in the Giesi Ruling House. I was very happy when I heard the news.

Don’t you think politics would be read to your contest since you once served in Governor Aregbesola’s government?

Every one of us is a political animal. I had the opportunity to serve under the administration of Aregbesola and I believe if I had not done exemplary well, I might not have the support of the government and the essence of serving on any political platform is for you to be able to give service to the people which by the special grace of God, the four years that I have the opportunity of being a commissioner, I was able to make a great impact on our socio cultural environment and particularly, economic and human capital development of Ile-Ife. Reading meaning into it, if I had not being in this cabinet may be I would not have been able to facilitate all the road constructions that we did apart from the one done by the two local government councils in Ile-Ife. So, If I didn’t have this opportunity I would not be able to impact or deliver the legacy that would have given me an inspiration to aspire to be next Ooni Ife.

What qualities do you think qualify you for the Ooni stool?

In as much as it is said that a man should not praise himself, but it is also said that if you don’t blow your trumpet, nobody else will blow it for you. First of all, I will say I am an Ife man to the core. In any Yoruba setting, you have 16 lineages and of all these lineages, none is out of Ife township. I am from a royal family paternally and maternally too. My maternal grandfather had been the Wassi of Ile-Ife and with this, I have a very good opportunity. Aside that, all my educational studies were done in Ife. I would even say I was baked in Ife except for other educational advancement that I had. That is in terms of education. In terms of socio-economic and capital development, since I started working, I have been of great influence and impact on my contemporaries, my junior ones and the elderly. Wherever I found myself, with any opportunity to advance the course of Ile-Ife, I always try as much as possible to do that to the extent that even when I was serving in the cabinet of Ogbeni Aregbesola, it got to point that the Governor would say that you are not Commissioner for Ife alone, you are the commissioner for the entire state. But in as much as I am a blue blooded man I know that the development of the town is very important to me personally.

Will you be able to go through series of rites required by tradition to become the Ooni in view of your religious background as a Muslim?

In as much as it is traditional, Obaship is traditional, I have no choice. I will even ask a question, why are we all ashamed of our background? A westerner would tell you about Christendom; an Arabian would tell you about Islam, we are known in Yoruba land as being traditionalists. So, if they are doing it, God will support them, for them to still be in existence. I believe it is service that they are doing for God. Secondly, we all know it in Yoruba land, they said whoever abandons his culture has given room for everlasting suffering. Even in the developed world, places like China, Japan and Cuba, they hold our religion in high esteem and we know being the source and cradle of the Yoruba civilization, we must also hold it in high esteem.

Do you think you have the capacity to occupy this stool?

I will first of all say I have been an Ife man. Though I started my life as a man in Lagos but the first house I ever built in my life was my first house in Ile-Ife. I remain a tenant in Lagos when I am a landlord in Ife and this is a fact that home is home even though, my economic base is Lagos. But I believe that having a pet in Ile-Ife, would give me what I can call a nostalgic feelings about home and it gives me room to attend to the needs of the people and this is also what helped my political life though I work and live in Lagos, I still believe that Ife people don’t believe I am in Lagos because I come home fortnightly to attend to what I believe my people need. And aside that when we started the political journey, I saw it as an opportunity to have a good legacy I never knew that this would come as quickly as we are in now. I have been doing my utmost best even though I still believe I can do more. This is the singular reason, being Ooni, the father of all I should work for the development of Ife and attract more resources to the town which is beyond economic resources. I am talking about human resources.

Since when have you been nursing the ambition of becoming the Ooni or are you in the race because you are part of the current administration to curry favour?

It is not true that I am in the race because I am part of this government. I will say that my father, Sooko Adetoyebi Ibrahim Ayedun happens to be the head of Giesi Ruling House, they called it Sooko. He is the overall head of all Sookos. Who is a Sooko? Sooko is the head of the royal lineage in Ife setting. When he was being installed as Sooko in 1989, I was privileged as one of his sons to be at where the rites were performed on him and later we had a discussion. He said: “All that I am doing today, I am doing it because of you.” And since then and that is one of the reasons that informed my first house being built in Ife and I have been very conversant with my people at home and whether they are in Lagos or anywhere since then. I will always be a man of the people. Secondly, it is the legitimate right of my ruling house, Giesi, to produce the next Ooni. And with humility and sense of responsibility, I believe I have given enough of myself to the people to give me a better assessment for me to be the one not just because I woke up found myself in government.

How do you intend to make a difference if you become the Ooni?

Part of what informed my ambition is the level of degradation in the ancient town of Ile-Ife. Our youths are not thoroughly engaged and I believe our youths are our future; they are tomorrow for us to get to that lofty height. So, we must develop our youths. Also, Ife is blessed with minerals and agricultural resources, I have a plan to work in consonance with the government to have good road network, accessibility and movement of our produce because I know that we are commercial and there is need to develop the commercial activities of the town. This is paramount to us. I also have the need to develop the cultural opportunities that Ife has just like when I was the Commissioner, part of our programmes, the vision and mission of our government was to build what we call a new Ife City where all Yoruba whether here or in Diaspora would have Ife as their ancestral home and would be willing to be there at least once in a year and make Ife to be traditional society.

It is often said that there is no single day that there is no one ritual or the other in Ife. Will you be able to sustain this tradition if you become the Ooni?

I want to let you know that the Ooni of Ife is only an administrative head of the town. Yes agreed, it is 201 deities that we have in Ife, it is the Ooni that fixed the other 200 deities and speaks on their behalf. All these deities that we are talking about have their custodians, the only thing as an administrative head is to know who do what and how is it done.

Have you reached out to other eight families in the Giesi Ruling House apart from the Moniki where you hail for support?

We have nine royal families in Giesi Ruling House and I cannot do it but my father, uncles, brothers and friends are on their toes because they know that it will be their pride for me to ascend the throne and in as much I have been tested and trusted, they know that definitely I will be a good Ooni of Ife.

Do you have confidence in the kingmakers to make the right choice?

The only thing that I would say is that God should give them the wisdom to handle this situation. The decision that they want to take now is an everlasting decision that would make or mar the progress of Ile-Ife but God would lead them in the right direction.

Where have you received tutelage to prepare you for the race and throne?

There is no particular person. The tutelage takes a natural learning for any prince. It started with what we call ‘Akodi’ in Ile-Ife. In this Akodi this is where we have monthly family meetings and this is where we are tutored on how to speak, how to eat and how to address issues in society. My father, when we are growing up would always tell you what to wear, the shoe and dress must be neat and fashionable as a prince. When you are going to school and you don’t dress properly, my father would call you back, ask you to go and dress well because you are a prince. But we have been having this tutelage from childhood. My relationship with lots of monarchs has given me a lot of understanding. The likes of Oba Oladele Olashore, though an elder and father, we were like friends, even the immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, I had more time with him to understudy, learn and even get advice from him when he was alive. I also have relationship with lot of monarchs in the southwest.

How have you been inspired by your mother about royalty and family value?

First of all, I have talked about my royal lineage, both maternal and paternal. If I want to say, my mother was a woman of integrity and a fashion star. And with this, she really impacted on us. In whatever dealing she had with you, what she will first look for in you is your uprightness. She would always tell you never to allow any person or anything that does not belong to you attract you. There was a day I went out with my mother to visit one of her friends and the family was about eating lunch and I was hungry. The family invited us to join them to eat but my mother quickly said we have just eaten from where we are coming from and I felt bad because I was actually hungry. And when we got home she told me that to be a great man you must control your stomach, you must control your wants. So these are the part of the trainings that I took from her. There was the usual saying from her that as royal family, we are known for pride.

What about the funny things and the pranks you played when you were young?

No old man without history of nastiness. I think I have been a gentleman, the nasty thing I could remember I did was that my father is a produce buyer and seller and I happened to be his anchor person and he would always tell me that whatever I want to do I should think of durability. He will tell us that your father is not MKO Abiola because then Abiola is believed to the richest in Nigeria. There was a day I bought a jeans material, up and down not up to N10, and when he asked me how much I bought it, I was unable to tell him the amount and I told him it was my friend in school that gave it to me and he told me that what I bought are not durable that the clothes and the sandals cannot be put on when going for an interview and to the mosque or social outings.

Is your wife in support of your ambition?

First of all, I want to thank God that I have Adenike from Adebayo Adegbite of Igbajo as my wife. She has been a friend, mother, confidant and reliable person. She supports the aspiration. I want you to know this that she was the first person that told me that some years back that somebody prayed for her and was asking her whether your husband is a prince? This is about 10 years ago.

The late Oba Okunade Sijuwade elevated the status of Ooni not only in Yorubaland but in Nigeria and globally, how do you hope to sustain the standard?

I want to say that Rome was not built in a day. With my exposure, my educational background, business experience, political and administrative experiences would be exploited by the special grace of God. I am comfortable when it comes to issue of money. By the special grace of God, I will take it beyond where Oba Sijuwade left it.

September 27, 2015
IJERO-EKITI: A town at the mercy of illegal miners

Ijero is one of the major towns in Ekiti State. It is popular because nearly every household has a university graduate while the town can boast of many PhD holders and professors. It also derives its popularity, at least politically, to the fact that the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, the late Chief Akin Omoboriowo, during the Second Republic was from this community.

The residents, like many other communities, live in poverty. It has only one commercial bank. From Ijero-Ekiti one can go to Abuja thus the place is popular because of its location and the fact that it is a route to Abuja, the federal capital.

Aside the above, foreigners, especially from the West African sub region and a handful of Lebanese have turned the town to their base because of the mineral resources the town is blessed with.

Painfully, despite all these mineral resources the community still remains abjectly poor. The roofs over most of the houses are rustic and a lot of them are built with mud bricks, only a few are made of concrete bricks. The town also boasts of a Specialist Hospital which only a few of the residents can patronize due to its cost. There is no pipe borne water and not all the houses have electricity. The sleepy community has three major religions viz: Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion. This has not in any way affected their living together. Though an agrarian community, the land has been destroyed by illegal mining.

Land of gold

About 80 percent of the land is rich in mineral deposits. According to Joshua Oyewande Olukolade, a native and educationist, “Ijero is blessed with solid mineral resources and it is next to Jos (Plateau State) in mineral resources. What we have here can sustain this town if well tapped.” He continued, “We have a lot of mineral deposits among them are: limestone,bauxite, copper, tourmaline, cushy, feldspar, foundry sand, costar mica, tantalite, ruby, rubilite, sodonite, prodonite, tin, columbite, diamond , bauxite, iron and kaolin, We equally have gold which is yet untapped.”

The Alajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, the spiritual and head of the community is not happy that the town is neglected and the mineral resources remain untapped. He is furious that foreigners have invaded the town because of their precious stones. The monarch said, “We thank God this kingdom is blessed with mineral resources, and after Jos that is rich in minerals resources Ijero is next in the whole country. Our mineral resources were discovered in 1934 or 1935. Aside this, some of these earliest discovered minerals were used for war implements then. We still have trenches of these as evidence. In 1992 gem stones were discovered, fespa was also discovered between Ijero and Ikoro. Here we can boast of gold and tin and iron ore! We have several times appealed to the federal government to assist but little was done.”

As one goes into the town, women could be seen sieving some of these products and they display Kaolin for sale. A man who does not want his name in print said, “We sell a 50kg of kaolin for N30 to companies in Lagos. I believe they are exploiting us but that is all what we have to survive on.” Investigations revealed that Kaolin is used for chalk making and other things, while foreigners in the dead of the night cart them away at cheaper prices and resell abroad.

According to Olukolade, ”The foreigners come in here to buy our minerals at cheaper prices and use them to make saucer, plates, earrings, bottles and many other things while they import them back to us as finished products and expensive. Whereas we can make most of all these finished products here .We are richer than Oluwa Glass in Igbokoda in Ondo State in glass making but there is no industry here to produce the glass. When are we going to grow?” he lamented.

He added, “All these precious stones are taken to Europe, the headquarters of diamond production is in Belgium that was why Charles Taylor used diamond money to buy guns. They will put these diamond in a furnace, melt it and mix it with chemical products to produce chains, earrings, household materials to decorate homes, unfortunately our big men would buy them to decorate their homes. It is a mafia thing, as they will sell them back to Africa.”

Ecological and economic threat

To say the community is under ecological threat is not an understatement and to say that the water they drink from the ground is poisonous is not also far-fetched. Though, abundantly rich in mineral resources, it is like a fool who is thirsty in the midst of water. Dr. Femi Ayo Ajai, a veteran journalist and a retired Army Captain lamented “It is not only this town that is rich in minerals but other neighbouring towns also , and painfully despite being rich in mineral resources one cannot boast of any company located here while most of the youths are jobless . In a nutshell Ijero community is living in socio-economic degradation. They are psychologically in bondage and in economic mess no thanks to the untapped human and material resources. The hospital and some houses are under threat. I am begging the federal government to assist, unfortunately these mineral resources is giving outsiders false impression that all is well with the town.”

Thriving illegal mining

Illegal miners, both natives and foreigners have taken over the town. At Sabo are Ivorians, Cameroonians, Nigeriens, Togolese, and Lebanese. They have all turned the town to their homes, most of them are illegal immigrants engaged in illegal mining. Not only this, at night one could see big lorries and cars coming in and going out filled with some of these precious stones. Only very few of them have license to mine, according to investigation. From these few an indigene said, “We are not even sure whether their licenses are genuine for they could be brandishing fake licenses.”

A visit to these mining grounds could make one develop goose pimples as very deep trenches have been dug round some buildings. One of these is the Specialist Hospital, which is in a dangerous state.

When the reporter visited one of the mining sites, he saw four people, including a woman with her daughter scooping sand which they claimed to be precious. Their illegal activities has clearly created ecological problem for most of the buildings in the vicinity, including the Specialist Hospital.

The reporter met two of the local miners whose age range could be in their thirties or late thirties, they were seen inspecting some stones, the other who identified himself as Uba Ahmed said he came all the way from Kano to look for some precious stones to sell. Ahmed, armed with his tools and confidence went down into the tunnel he was happy that his photograph was being taken. He boasted that he would come out from the end of the tunnel in an hour. While the reporter and his guide waited, and within one hour Ahmed was out with a tiny shining stone, which he said was diamond and could be sold for about N1.5million. According to him, there are different types of diamonds with different qualities and they are sold according to their qualities.

Another illegal miner met at the spot, Abubakar Bauchi, said he came from Bauchi to trade in the business, he was found inspecting the stones, but refused to talk to the press.

On how they found and extract the minerals, a Nigerien, Abdulai said, “It is easy to detect precious stones in an area when some particles or special stones are found on the surface of the land. When we sight a certain stone we would dig the ground for about 200 feet deep and when we sight another stone then we continue digging until we get some certain stones which only an expert in this business would know, then you know that that you are getting closer to where these precious stones are. In fact, sighting one stone leads to other stones, it is like a compass which is being used to show the way to these precious stones. We would dig and dig till we eventually get these stones.”

Another method used by the miners are chemicals to blast stones, this was revealed by an indigene who begs not to be mentioned. “We would fix a stone with a wire and connect it with a battery and move away from the place, at least some feet away and then press a button that would blast the stone or small rock and within 30 minutes to one hour it would go off and some stones would be exposed while water would gush out from the area and the next is to use pumping machine to drain the water and continue blasting another rock discovered there. After that we are through , as we would see these precious stones like diamond, columbite and some that we are looking for. The diamonds are of different sizes, but it is not easy getting these real diamond which could sell as much as N20 million.”

Another miner who simply identified himself as Ade said, they normally go in a group and divide themselves into seven “We have about 10 people in each group and then buy some portions of land in about seven places, when we buy a space for N400 per day, another group would buy same thing and part ways and be digging and checking whether we would get these precious diamond , if a group sees diamond the group would call the rest to work there, and it’s our luck but if we don’t get them we have lost the N400 paid for a space of land to be dug. At times we would use rope to go down into these trenches searching for gold. This is the reason why there are trenches everywhere in Ijero and thus affecting farmlands too.”

Deaths

The mining sites have recorded a lot of deaths, according to another local illegal miner. “In a year over 10 deaths are reported aside those secretly buried. Many have died as the heap of excavated sand sometimes cave in while many fall into the ground and die. While pulling a miner up with a rope the rope could cut and the miner could fall in the deep hole and sustain spinal cord injury or broken head or even be buried alive while mining. At times we leave the dead ones in the cave or bury them there while family members would be looking for such people but no one would tell.”

Investigation reveals that in most cases the foreigners’ numbers of unannounced deaths is higher than the natives because they are foreigners and no one would ask after them so they would be buried there or their bodies thrown away. “Many have fallen headlong and died while we would use long ropes to bring their dead bodies out of the holes,” a source said, adding, “at least an average of 20 people die in this process. Last year I know about six people who died.”

A native said his cousin died in one of the dug holes last year, he said ” we were at home when his friends came to inform us that my cousin had died while scooping the earth. We cried and cried and cried for he was yet to get married. Another incidence happened when a boy after he had finished digging the tunnel and was being pulled up with a rope fell back into the deep tunnel when the rope cut, he broke his neck and his back and that was all. He was eventually tied on his waist again and brought out dead.”

Lack of development in the town

Olukolade is concerned about the poor development of Ijero. He is worried that “there is no development here. There is no impact that these precious stones are found here because they are carted away with the connivance of big men in our community. Many have become sick in the neighbourhood because of the activities of these illegal miners. The illegal blasting has created a lot of problems as many have hearing problems, and lead poison has also led to deaths of many. Madam Mary Adefebi said she had no peace and her sleep was always disrupted when she was admitted at the Specialist Hospital where blasting was done behind the hospital.” In the night I would be hearing blasts and my eardrum is always affected. A woman collapsed and died one day as a result of the blast because she was hypertensive,” According to the reporter’s guide.

Another complainant whose house was near the fields of mining said, “Many houses are shaking because they had dredged most of these places. One day houses would be sinking. I pray the state government to assist us in this.”

Olukolade’s prayer is that what happened in Zamfara (people drinking poisoned water) should not happen in Ijero-Ekiti.

The royal father, who is not impressed about the environment frowned against the illegal mining saying, “look at what we have here is pure looting as people come from other countries to loot our resources for example they come from Sudan, Moronvia, Togo, Cotonou , Senegal, Europe and many other countries to steal our resources”.

The way out

Group Captain Firopo Aiyegbusi (retired), one of the notable indigenes of the state decried the situation and said the fault belongs to some of the leaders of the community, whom he refused to name. “I am a retired Group Captain, and I found it unworthy for our children and youths to be unemployed .The youths are roaming about while some had joined bad gangs and steal from the resources and from there many have died. Many of our leaders did not cooperate with the vigilante group. How many have they arrested since we learnt they are stealing our gold? I believe it is with the connivance of some of our people. We have many foreigners here who are staying here illegally because of our precious stones.”

According to Layi Oderinde, a former Councilor, “I remember during my time as a Councilor, I tried my best to intimate the Federal Ministry of Mines, they came for some time to guard the area and later nobody was there to see things again. The illegal miners are stealing and looting here.”

Adumati Adeyinka, a onetime chairman of the town said “let us be honest not all of these miners are illegal but most of them are illegal. During my time I tried to make sure they obey rules and regulations on mining. I would advise them to pay the local government fee. But I am still appealing to the state and federal governments to please help us stop this illegal mining and let there be jobs for our youths and let this town be developed.”

As activities of illegal miners continue in Ijero-Ekiti, the question the poor

September 27, 2015
LUTH excites patients

On a recent visit to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Our Reporter writes about the encounter.

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Lagos is calm in a way that contrasted sharply with the picture of crisis and intimidation of workers being painted in the media by the LUTH branch of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Lagos branch of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

The two have been calling for the sack of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Chris Bode. However, a Senior Lecturer and Consultant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that there are actually a few disgruntled unionists in the hospital who are kicking against some reforms and policies introduced by the CMD.

According to the consultant, “There is no crisis in LUTH in the real sense of the word. What is really happening is that some hospital workers don’t do their jobs, and they delegate duties to their junior colleagues and trainees while they run their private affairs.” He added that the new CMD is saying, “if you don’t work you don’t get paid. Of course, that didn’t go well with them.”

“Not only that some of the ARDs who are supposed to be on training, also do private practice outside and they love to go on strike at every little opportunity. Everyone knows the new CMD has zero tolerance for strikes and sharp practices that have given medical practice a bad name. He believed that too many patients have lost their lives during strikes because we don’t seem to care.”

Akinola Bello, an administrative staff said the hospital has witnessed massive improvements “Before now, most CMDs who are doctors, only took care of their colleagues. But Prof. Bode has given everybody a sense of belonging. He even has the courage to tell his colleagues, his own constituency, that if they don’t work, they won’t get paid. All other groups have taken a cue from this and will not go on strike anytime soon. We know that most CMDs are scared of moving against these groups because once you do, they either call for your removal or embark on strike.”

New ways of doing things

Incidentally, a staff of the institution agreed that it has witnessed quite some growth. These include the establishment and construction of the Surgical Skills Training Centre wherein training of surgical procedures, medical procedures and other trainings are routinely done. “The centre is a world class where people from all over the world hold training programmes.”

Another staff Bola Oseni said, “LUTH is now a leading centre for international and regional collaborations in various training programmes that attract eminent specialists who come to Nigeria to transfer their skills to our own trainers and trainees in Dentistry, laparoscopy, endoscopy, pediatric surgery and many other disciplines.”

Oseni said the biggest project done so far by the new CMD is the construction of the 3.48mw gas-powered generation plant which will provide uninterrupted power supply to the institution and its surrounding communities.

The CMD could not be reached for comments. However, from a glimpse of his thoughts from a recent lecture, he had said “Appropriate legislation is the only thing that can mitigate all these unnecessary strike actions. If we, as Nigerians, say from now on, healthcare, an essential service, should only be a sector where those employed by government cannot go on strike. If we make such legislation, only those that have interest will remain to serve the taxpayers.”

Chairman of the Lagos NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, recently alleged “intimidation of workers, non-payment of arrears” by the new CMD. He cited the case of a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, identified as Dr. K.S. Okunade whom he said was maltreated and called for Bode’s retirement, saying he was past the mandatory age of retirement.

September 27, 2015
‘My daughter has made me rich

Emmanuella Chire, 10, has made her mother a millionaire. Adetutu Audu reports.

SOMEWHERE in Jos, Plateau State, a ten-year-old girl has changed the fortune of her family through the Peak Milk ‘Reach for Millions’ promo.

To 10-year-old Emmanuella, it was like a normal game, but with hope of getting something out of it. Not really for herself, but her dear mother.

When she saw the advert of the 60th anniversary Peak ‘Reach for Millions’ promo on television, her attention was focused on every tin of peak milk purchased by her mum. Like an addicted habit, she kept sending codes on the tins as directed in the advert.

She later informed her mother who is an Immigration officer about the promo, but she never took her daughter seriously because she does not believe in promos.

Emmanuella’s mother, Mrs. Franca Chire told reporters at the prize presentation ceremony that she never believed in promos hinging her reasons on lack of trust on past promos she has come across.

According to her, “Actually, I never believed in promos, when my daughter told me about Peak ‘reach for millions’ promo, I thought it was one of those fake promos where only families of organizers are always the winners.

“So, when my ten-year-old daughter, Emmanuella Chire told me that there is a promo concerning Peak milk going on, I waved it aside.”

Unbelievable luck

In defiance to her mother’s stance on promos, little Emmanuella who is a JSS 1 student would not relent; she kept sending codes until she got a response.

A response that soon brought fortunes to the family, she was informed through a text message that she has just won a million naira in the Peak ‘Reach for Million’ promo!

As expected of a little girl, she ran to her mother to show her what she’s got on her phone. Mrs. Chire claimed she did not believe what she saw, and had to read and read again.

“So, when I collected the phone from her and read the message, I read it again and again and still couldn’t figure what’s in the content. I gave the phone back to her and asked her to go and wait for me till I finish what I was doing.

“So, when I finished what I was I doing, I read the message again and it was clearer. When I started seeing ‘you have just won N1 million in the Peak 60th anniversary ‘Reach for Millions’ promo. Keep your pack to claim your prize…’ and so on. I started thinking how do I tell my girl this thing is real in spite of my discouragement and all that. So my daughter was right all the while, Peak milk promo is real, my daughter has won N1 million in a promo, one amazing million naira!” She added joyfully.

Doubting Mrs. Chire and her ‘golden’ daughter, Emmanuella were full of Joy at the cheque presentation ceremony. She narrated how she discouraged her little daughter and even told her “she was wasting her time and credits.”

“When my daughter told me that there is a promo going on, I waved it aside. But she would not let me rest; she kept on sending codes on every tin of Peak milk we bought. In fact, I once told her she was wasting her time and credits but she would not listen.

“However, we decided to buy more Peak milk, of course we’ve been taking the milk for years even before she was born. So, I was not buying the brand because of the promo, we bought it for usual consumption.” Mrs. Chire narrated

After the cheque presentation, the joyful immigration officer said “it was all like a dream, so my daughter is now a millionaire through Peak amazing million-naira promo.”

The Jos based Immigration officer however disclosed how what she described as ‘a rare gift’ will be invested in her little girl’s future.

“Well the money will definitely have positive impact in our lives, there will be a huge relieve in the area of her education and other sundries. Of course our plans with the money are obvious as her education will definitely be on top of our priority and again we will get at least a plot of land and do some other little investments as well.” She explained.

Mrs. Chire however thanked FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak for the laudable promo she claimed she never believed in.

In her words, “We give glory to God for this marvelous gift from peak and of course we thank the entire Peak family for this rare reward for patronage.”

Peak ‘Reach for Millions’ promo is part of 60th anniversary celebration of the Peak brand in Nigeria. The promo is targeted towards rewarding consumers for 60 years of loyalty and patronage and also to build brand love with consumers who have been consistently consuming and are willing to consume more of Peak.

September 27, 2015
2015 Uganda Film Festival: Nigerian chairs jury

Celebrated filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, has just returned from another successful international assignment serving as the Chairman of Jury of the just-concluded Uganda Film Festival (UFF) held in Kampala, Uganda.

Odugbemi, a three-time lead judge of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, was also jury’s chair of last year edition when he headlined the festival’s international guests along with Nollywood star actress Patience Ozokwo.

At that time, the organisers of the festival, the Uganda Communication Commission, through its Executive Director Mr Godfrey Mutabazi, wrote a glowing tribute stating that Odugbemi’s “professionalism and commitment displayed during the task, together with the quality of decisions made contributed highly to the resounding success of the UFF 2014.”

It was no surprise, therefore, that Odugbemi was invited once again to chair the jury along with distinguished international members, including a professor of Literature at Makerere University, Kampala, Dr Sister Dominic Dipio; an German film curator MsBarbel Mauch; President of the East Africa Film Network, Mr Leonce Ngabo of Burundi and pioneer Ugandan TV Producer, Faustin Misanvu.

The Uganda Film Festival, in its third outing, showcased films of Uganda filmmakers and other East African countries, including Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda. The festival also featured exhibitions, a film market, training workshops and master classes. The final day of the festival was capped with an elaborate gala evening of glamorous red-carpet and awards in various categories.

Speaking at the gala awards, Odugbemi revealed that the jury began work over three months ago with over 130 entries into the 2015 UFF. The pre-selection process for the competitive categories was electronically conducted over the course of 60 days and five nominees per category were identified and announced by the organisers in the first week of August.

The jury then reconvened in Kampala from August 24 to 27 to select the winners. While congratulating the winners, Odugbemi expressed delight at the remarkable progress in the talent and technical quality of the nominated works, especially in the areas of storytelling, casting, performance, visual aesthetics, cinematic values, sound and music.

While calling for more efforts in the areas of additional dialogue recording (ADR), sound design, music score and final mix, he noted that there has been an improved in the quality of sound, which was usually a weakness of some films in the past..

The celebrated winner of the festival was the feature film Joseph Ken’s House Arrest which carted prizes for Best Feature Film, Best Sound, Best Screenplay and Best Actress. Other winners of UFF 2015, included Boda Boda Thieves, which won the Best Cinematography and Best Editing prizes; Walk With Me by Peter Muhumuza and Johan Oetitinger which won Best Short Film; Matovu Francis’s Chimp-Boda which won Best Animation and “HALF A DOLLAR” by Oris Ssebowa which won the Best Documentary prize.

September 23, 2015
Behold, man of figures, words

He used to play with figures. Now Dr Sunny Oby Maduka is feasting with words. Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), has presented two novels – The Surviving Twins and Tears for Love in Lagos. The Accountant-author, EVELYN OSAGIE reports, is calling for peaceful coexistence and cultural re-orientation.

They call him a man of many parts. He is an accountant-turned-writer, a marine expert, motivational speaker and filmmaker, among others.

Dr Sunny Oby Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), brought friends and associates together at the presentation of his books in Lagos.

But they were not his first. The author has three other works – The Whispering Voice (2013), My Nation My Agony (2014) and The Collection of Iluminatory Poems (2014). He has also produced a film, titled: Blood Communion.

In appreciation of the man and his gifts, guests thronged the Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island.

Many wondered where this multi-talented executive finds the time and energy to churn out five creative works and a film within three years.

Moved by Maduka’s agility and flair, Mr Chidi Ogboku, who chaired the event, described him as “an immutable talent” who is influencing many, particularly the young, across the nations.

“Maduka is a man of many parts that is committed to whatever he does. I am not surprise that he keeps churning out books yearly. He is also very passionate about people, especially the young. The best we can do for posterity is to document our aspirations. Great minds, like the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka and their peers, have done their parts. It is inspiring to note that Maduka is following in their footsteps,” he said.

Besides praising Maduka’s ability to merge diverse vocations, guests eulogised the intellectual depth in his works. They linked it to his being an avid reader. It was also observed that the multitasking author is also an ardent advocate for literacy, culture and moral values.

The book reviewer, Mr Chris Emeka Mba, described the books as motivational, observing that the love expressed by the author in both works transcends “human understanding”.

Mba,, an engineer, was of the view that the literati hold the power to change society. He, therefore, commended the didactic lessons Maduka’s books, while urging guests to borrow a leaf from the author’s efforts at promoting reading culture and intellectual expressions.

He said: “Having read his five books, I cannot but buy into his rare ideals. As an intellectual builder, he is indeed a comparative professor whose books talk about topical issues of global interests. Maduka makes case for culture and tradition. Both books are fascinating but similar in many ways in that they both hammer on the universal benefits of love and cultural reorientation.”

Asked how he is able to keep abreast with the demands of his diverse endeavours, accountant-turned-writer said: “Multitasking has been a part of me from a very young age. As I grew older, I became used to doing many things at the same time and doing each well. I only sleep for few hours; and I am happy my wife understands the kind of person I am and supports me.”

Maduka called for proactive steps to ignite the reading culture in the young, noting that in promoting and supporting writers and their works would improve the literacy rate.

He said: “African must refuse the epithet of literary illiterates with the assertion that we don’t read. We must cultivate the cultural heritage of great who were/are not only good in writing but excellent in reading. Africa must arise and honour our literary giants who have put us in the world’s hall of fame, such as Wole Soyinka, Zainab Akali and the late Chinua Achebe.”

While observing that “every creative work has a pondering and reflexive lessons for mankind”, Maduka emphasised that “no nation succeeds without its citizenry understanding the place of reading”.

He decried the decadence in the social order, while naming the failure of government, corporate bodies and society at large to promote worthy causes as its source.

He said: “Together let’s teach ethical values to generations beyond ours by becoming positive change agents in the gloomy earth’s systems. Let us be part of that generation that abhors any form of tribal and religious disunity that has knifed our great African communal heritage. No true African writer would devalue our values through their works. Writers should endeavour to promote our rich moral and cultural heritage through their works.

“I have been inspired by the pains of the rich, the pleasure of the poor, the laughter of a home filled with love, the screaming of the exact opposite. I draw inspiration from the rat race where the rich out runs the poor and unfortunately too, the poor become architects of their doomsday by smiling ingloriously at glaring acts of injustice.”

This writer-cum advocate brings his beliefs to bear on his writings as his works speak of a better future engineered by people-oriented change.”

In The Surviving Twins, Maduka hazardous condemns anti-social traditions, such as the killing of twins. In it, the “abominable” twins and their mother were to be killed in Agafe forest. The task of execution was to be shouldered by two noble sons of the soil,but were murdered. Saved from death, the condemned and supposedly abominable soon became the turning wheel of Afigbo’s progress.

Tears For Love is a love of Michael. The trouble is that Michela is not w in love with the woman he’s agreed to marry: he has hopelessly fallen for Phina. After meeting briefly her at the airport, his whole world turned upside down. But what and how is he going to tell his bride to be, Oluchi? And there’s also the problem of his all-controlling mother; not to mention the fact that Phina has no feelings for him and is barely aware of his existence, except as someone who is destined to marry someone else. Under pressure from all sides, Michael goes ahead with the marriage, but he can’t forget Phina, and begins an exciting journey to find her and make his feelings known.

September 23, 2015
MultiChoice content providers offer exciting bouquet

Driven by the desire to satisfy its subscribers, MultiChoice Africa provided a unique platform for leading content providers from across the globe to showcase the best of their packages. The event was held penultimate week at the OutRigger Resort, Mauritius Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

Our passion for Africa is in everything we do – as a home grown company our roots are firmly in African soil and our growth over the last 20 years has been a result of massive investments we have made in people, content and technology – but as with any business not all of these investments or changes have hit the spot…. so we have from time to time re-evaluated our position and made changes to our strategies.

At the end of the day, however, it is really our subscribers we have to thank for staying with us, trusting us to deliver the best television experience and customer service to make their experience world class.” That statement from the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Africa, Mr Tim Jacobs set the tone for media interaction that featured DStv’s and GOtv’s biggest channels such as Sony, SuperSport, Zee World, A+E, Disney, MTV Base, BET, Comedy Central, BBC and M-Net.

MNet Regional Director West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said M-Net is launching and redefining channels while expanding its content offerings to viewers across the continent. She stated that the Africa Magic Original Films initiative saw M-Net producing made for television films with fresh, up and coming talent behind and in front of the cameras in the Nigerian film and television industry whilst the Lokshin Bioskop movies on Mzansi Magic tell compelling local stories which are hugely popular with viewers.

Mba-Uzoukwu noted that the ongoing and significant investments in local productions have positioned Africa on the entertainment global arena and with new technology ‘we continue to reach even more people, ensuring that no one ever misses the M-Net Magic.’

According to her “Our investment drive remains geared not only towards the industries in which we play, but also in the people who power them. Every year, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards celebrates the best film and television talent across Africa and other stars are discovered every day by M-Net just like the international superstar model, Oluchi, who won the first ever M-Net Face of Africa competition in 1998, and the Big Brother Housemates who have over the years carved out exciting careers in entertainment all across Africa.”

Senior Channel Director Comedy Central, Evert van der Veer disclosed that the Comedy Central International Festival, an event which will witness the best comedians from across the continent will be at Johannesburg, South Africa early in 2016 to join talents from the UK and USA for an epic feast of comedy. He said there is also another Comedy Central Roast in the works, which will take the brand outside of South Africa for the first time.

Nickelodeon Senior Channel Manager Tasania Parsadh spoke on the channel’s new application Gameshakerslaunched on 1 September, which brings the ‘second screen’ to life and can be played globally, at any time. Nickelodeon Genius will also be launched shortly – Nicktoons’ first game show, which seeks to inspire kids in the fields of mathematics & science. “We believe everything is fun and interesting, so we’ve created an amazing game show which makes these difficult subjects, fun,”said Parsadh. “We really want kids, parents and teachers to get involved. ”Nickelodeon also shared news of a West African edition of the hugely-popular NickFest, which will see pre-school, kids, teens and their parents entertained in true Nickelodeon style – with the iconic Nickelodeon Slime sure to be a star attraction!

But from MTV Base, comes new prank show You Got Got and the fourth season of MTV Shuga – outside of the hugely-respected MTV MAMA’s, which have put Africa’s top entertainers on the global stage. “Very few brands can talk about the amazing talent and contemporary youth culture space like MTV Base,” said Tim Horwood, Channel Director MTV Base. “We’re constantly trying to grow and push new talent and celebrate the continent’s big artists. We have a show called Rate or Hatecoming soon, which will give artists who don’t make it onto the playlist, the chance to get some exposure online and in promos on-air. People will be able to vote for them, and if the audience demands it, they’ll get their shot on the channel.” Horwood also announced that an East African Chart Show would be launched in 2016 to showcase the amazing things happening in the East African music scene.

The newest member of VIMN family on DStv– BET – is also growing and incorporating more local content. Top Actor SAproduced excellent talent, so the show is being expanded to Top Actor Africato broaden the search for African acting and presenting talent. Announcements about the audition process will be made soon and the show will begin flighting early in 2016.

Channel Manager BET Kgomotso Matsunyane said the channel was particularly excited to have launched BET Buzz on 1 September – a daily show which showcases all the glitz and glamour of the African and international entertainment scenes. A continental version of the prestigious Black Girls Rock event is also on the cards and will form part of BET’s impressive tentpole music awards events, which include the BET Hip Hop Awards, the Soul Train Awards, the BET Awards and the international version of Black Girls Rock. The 4th season of Real Husbands of Hollywood, starring Kevin Hart, is coming soon, as is Being Mary Jane.

MTV Base VJ Nomuzi, said Viacom’s talent development programme – a project she, herself, is a product of, having win the 2012 MTV Base VJ Search has changed her life. “I stood in line for hours and hours to get my chance, and now I work for hours and hours, living my dream,” she said.

September 23, 2015