The Nation Newspaper

Tag: freedom park

  • Discussing freedom

    Discussing freedom

    At the Freedom Park, Lagos, recently some literary eggheads met to discuss In search of freedom and what it constitutes to societies across the world. The issue of what societies do with freedom and their aftermath was the bone of contention. Edozie Udeze writes

    In every situation in all parts of the world when people agitate for freedom, what first comes to their minds is how far-fetched is this dream of obtaining freedom. There is nowhere in the world; whether in Africa or elsewhere where freedom is obtained on a platter of gold. But even then, when this freedom is finally got, what else follows; what do the people do with it to ensure that they consolidate on the gains of this freedom in order to take their society to a greater height?

    These and more were some of the issues that preoccupied the minds of Olayinka Oyegbile, Toni Kan, Derin Ajao, Kola Tunbosun, Femi Odugbemi and others during the just concluded 16th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). In the theme of the discussion which centred on freedom and its aftermath the discussants took a swipe at the works of some authors who have written variously on this theme. In search of freedom, and freedom of what? This was the rhetorical question on the lips the of discussants.

    In introducing the topic, Odugbemi opined that books have helped societies across the globe to view their situations better. From apartheid in South Africa, to the cold war years and the fall of the Berlin walls, it is important to see how some very critical books have emerged on these sensitive issues to help the world grasp the situation in such a way as to guide against reoccurrence.

    Oyegbile’s topic which was unique both in its presentation and subject-matter dwelt on the work of Alaa Al-Aswany, an Egyptian author resident in the United States of America. In his book entitled Chicago, Al-Aswany, an award-winning writer dealt with the crisis of identity for most Arabs who are torn between their own strict moral lifestyle in Egypt and the sort of freedom and loose society that pervades the United State of America. “It is the story of sex, love, freedom and identity”, Oyegbile averred.

    Yet it is the story of some Egyptians sent by the government to the USA on scholarship to return back home to Egypt to help rebuild their society. Most of them now find themselves in a confusing state; being immersed in a country where morality is loose, yet the people are making progress. “They could not understand it; yet God has blessed and will continue to bless America. Back in Egypt, the people are made to live a strict religious life, yet there is strife everywhere; there is war and peace eludes the people. Even the Jews are better placed in the world. Is it because they are friends with America, that things are better for them?” Oyebile intoned, dwelling on the deep psychological impact of the book, both on the Egyptians who are torn between the two worlds and some Americans who keep the company of these Arabs.

    It is intriguing, but mostly, Chicago exposes the trauma of a people who live amidst the deluge of an endless lie; a people who are not, as it were, allowed to be true to themselves, to their beliefs and convictions. “Based essentially on a university campus lifestyle, it chronicles these experiences in a post 20/11 Chicago and also brings to the fore the inevitable role of America as the land of freedom and diverse ideas,” Oyegbile surmised.

    In the second book which he discussed, Oyegbule equally ex-rayed the place of the News magazine and its founding editors in championing the cause of freedom from the clutches of military rule. “It was tough, yet these brave writers rose to the occasion. In devising all sorts of strategies and methods, they were able to rattle the military,” Oyegbile said. This story of the News, is the story of democracy in Nigeria today and it is incomplete to celebrate this dispensation without giving kudos to the likes of Bayo Onanuga, Seyi Kehinde, Kunle Ajibade, Dapo Olorunyomi and others for their sense of commitment and bravery that gave freedom to Nigeria.

    In his own contribution, Toni Kan dwelt on the situation in Jos, Plateau State, at the moment where fear and trepidation rule the hearts of the people. “This is a place where love ruled before; where people from all over the world converged to enjoy the bliss of the society. But today man-made strife, hatred and anarchy have taken over. What we see today is a replica of the Berlin wall. You have to be restricted to your own area in the city if you want to enjoy your life,” Kan revealed, “Jos, may not be the same again in a long time to come,” he lamented.

    There is so much fear in the city of Jos. Kan related this scenario to the early years of the Berlin walls when the two Germanys were so scared of one another. Not even social contacts were made possible. Communism and capitalism were then pools apart. The issues of the beliefs of the people along social lines were the basis for deep mistrust. So then, what do we have in Jos now? Anarchy and fear for tomorrow have taken over the entire enclave. If that is the case, what then is freedom; how does man obtain freedom in order to prosper in the world? These are the salient issues in search of freedom raised and they are issues that indeed trouble the soul of humanity.

    How can man himself work to keep the society trouble-free? Tunbosun who discussed apartheid per se, was not happy that the world did not or could not see the true ironies of this monster until years later. By then, a lot of damage, deep-rooted for that matter, had been established to keep the Blacks perpetually backwards. “And this is what the Black South Africans are suffering today. That trauma of a situation so long perpetuated in their society is still haunting them. As a matter of fact, it will take a long while for them to get out of it,’ Tunbosun argued.

    To him, the white supremacy in the enclave was perpetuated mainly to deny the Blacks of the right to vote. They were also denied the right to go to school and be exposed to the world. This worked for a long time, until people like Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others began to challenge the white rulers of South Africa. And when the centre could not hold anymore, freedom came; came in such a way that the era of trauma cannot be easily forgotten by the people who were at the receiving end.”

    The discussants harped on the need for people to begin on time to stand for their rights. No one has the monopoly of victimization or the withholding of other people’s rights and freedom. Freedom is freely given to every man and therefore every man has the right to be respected. Why would people assume the policeman of the world or even go as far as dictating to other societies on how to order their lives? This was the main thrust of the matter and so where these rights have been knowingly or unknowingly infringed upon, people should rise to fight against it. And once this freedom is won, let there be concerted efforts to make the society better so as to justify the need for this hard won freedom.

  • From Prison to Freedom park

    From Prison to Freedom park

    Three years after the former  Broad Street colonial prison was transformed from an old and abandoned prison to  a place for relaxation called Freedom Park,  Okorie  Uguru visited there and relates his experience.

     

    The irony of  a place of repression and curtailment of man’s freedom by the  state  becoming a Freedom Park, a place that gives full rein to man’s creative freedom, has  always  appealed to me since it was opened.    That was the thought running through my mind as I made my way to the Freedom Park in Marina.

    It is one of the few tourist and leisure sites in the country that impact one with a deep sense of history, appreciate the whole gamut of art and still not compromising the aesthetics and the leisure content of the complex.

    The uniform of the attendant at the gate brought vividly some of the old black and white pictures of colonial law enforcement agents to mind. The long dark grey knickers complemented by the double-breasted khaki shirt with bibs, the normal security forces mode of attire.

    What was missing to complete the dressing was the long round cap or something close to that. But the first impression of trying to take any visitor back to the Nigeria’s pre-colonial era is from the walls of the park.

    There are still the ancient red burnt bricks that  although had been hardened by years, are still standing.

    The attendant at the gate collected the sum of N200 and issued a ticket. Just by my right, loud rap  music was blaring from a speaker.

    A group of teenagers, five in number, three boys and two girls, were practising some dance steps. It was an admixture of intricate steps, a kind of robotic  movement mix with swivelling acrobatic display.

    Just beside where they were dancing is an inscription: Prison Cell Block C.  About three years ago, when I visited the park when it had just opened,  the greenery unfolded before my eyes was not as lush as what I was seeing.

    The model cells just facing the entrance used to have a kind of bright sunlight inside , but this has been covered by ornamental plants. Except for the small size of the cells, many might volunteer to be offered these  prison rooms for accommodation. Some of the staff of the park could be seen putting together plastic chairs and reclining on them to have a rest.

    On the way to the amphitheatre, there is an ancient tree with some of the chains used for prisoners by colonial warders.  There is also a fountain gushing out water. The geese stable is further down. There is a mart with rows of shops.

    There are bars displaying choice wine, beer and non-alcoholic drink. As I passed through a shop,the aroma of food was in the atmosphere. I then looked in. At the back of the shop which is a kitchen, a male chef was preparing a meal. He was manipulating and waving the greenish rice.  If one could judge by the aroma, it would be a delightful culinary experience to dine there.  Although it was on a Wednesday, canopies were being set for a programme. Behind is the main theatre. There were no activities going on there. It used to be a place for condemned criminals in the colonial prison, but now an arena that gives wings to creative imagination.

    However, for me, the biggest addition to the Freedom Park in the last three years are the works of art commissioned by the Omooba Yemi Shyllon Foundation. The works are statues painted black with fibre class as the medium. They are almost life-size statues that capture the Nigerian way of life from different ethnic groups of the country.

    A Northen flutist blowing  kaakaki, a kind of royal flute to announce the presence of royalty; a woman displaying her kolaunts in a wooden bowl; a blacksmith working on a material; and  an appreciative Urhobo  groom with his in-laws. There are  others in the park that take one on an imaginary trip to different parts of the country.

    So, within the Freedom Park, one could see and experience history, the creative imagination of  some of Nigerian leading artists and have an experience of the culture of the country.   Prince Yemi Shyllon, an art patron and one of the avid collectors of works of art in the country must be commended for  deepening further the mental and physical experience of visiting the Freedom Park.

    The  park is located on the site of the colonial prison where prominent Nigerians had their jail terms during the colonial era. The park, which is now a peaceful place for individual and collective contemplation and interaction, is open to the public daily.

    The park is a brainchild of a Lagos-born architect and visionary, Theo Lawson.He transformed  the colonial prison to a symbol of freedom.

    This prison was used by the British colonial masters to torture, imprison and hang those who opposed the colonial rule in Nigeria, including Herbert Macaulay, Chief Cbafemi Awolowo, Chief Michael Imodu, Sir Adeyemo Alakija and others.

    Freedom Park is a memorial leisure park to preserve the Lagos colonial heritage and history of the old Broad Street prison.