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  • France: Friend or foe of Africa?

    France: Friend or foe of Africa?

    By Olabode Lucas

    Recently, I came across a video recording by the newly elected president of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, which I presumed was recorded before the presidential election in his country which he won decisively. In the video recording, the 44-year old Faye condemned in an impeccable English language, France’s interference in the affairs of its former colonies in Africa. He urged France in an unmistakable term, to loosen its oppressive grip on Africa as he alluded to years of human trafficking, exploitation, colonialism and neo-colonialism by France that had brought nothing but misery to Africa. Faye urged France to emulate Germany that does not have any colony to exploit and yet it is the economic powerhouse in Europe and the third largest economy in the world. He further urged France to stop its inference in political development in Africa through imposition of unpopular leaders, who are nothing but lackeys of France.

    With this explosive exposition of French atrocities in Africa, coupled with the recent open and unapologetic rejection of France in Mali, Guinea, and Niger by the patriotic new young military rulers of these countries, the days of reckoning have come for France in Africa especially in its former colonies. France is no longer at ease in Africa as its heinous policy in Africa is now unravelling.

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    In the sixties, the imperious President De Gaulle of France gave paper independence to French colonies in Africa and corralled them into an unholy French community. In doing so, he imposed puppets as new rulers of these so-called independent countries. Some of these puppet leaders were, Leopold Senghor of Senegal, Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast, Ahmadu Ahidjo of Cameroons, Maurice Yameogo of the then Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, Ahmani Diori of Niger, Hubert Maga of the then Dahomey now Benin, Tombalbaye of Chad, imbecilic Jean Bokassa of Central African Republic and other pliable leaders. These leaders could see nothing wrong with France and they were installed as leaders to take care of French interests instead of the interests of their countries. They were simply French people in black skin who wholly imbibed French culture.

    The terms of independence given to these leaders by France were punitive. All the foreign exchange earnings of these countries were domiciled in Paris, where they were linked to French Franc. They could only withdraw their legitimate earnings only with permission of the French government. It is also known that all French former colonies in Africa are paying back to France colonial tax for money France claimed to have used for the infrastructural development of the colonies, as if people in these colonies did not pay any tax when they were under the oppressive tutelage of France. At present, this colonial tax amounts to $500 billion. In order to ensure compliance with terms of independence, the French kept paratroopers in these former colonies at independence for the purpose of ousting any recalcitrant leader. This was the lot of Sylvanus Olympio of Togo who rebelled against these heinous terms of independence immediately after his country’s independence. France, eventually after some years was able to impose Eyadema as president of Togo, and who throughout his oppressive 38-year reign, was a lackey of France.

    The two leaders who defied De Gaulle and refused to join the suffocating French community with its punishing terms for independence were Sekou Toure of Guinea and to some extent Modibo Keita of Mali. For his audacity, De Gaulle unleashed all French colonial venom on Sekou Toure. Overnight at independence, he withdrew from Guinea, all French technicians and administrators leaving the newly independent country high and dry. De Gaulle wanted to cripple Guinea but for the prompt intervention of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, who provided necessary assistance to Guinea. For this heroic role of Nkrumah, he became a marked man for destruction by De Gaulle and his co-oppressors in the Western world.

    Apart from the atrocities committed in its former colonies, France has never meant well for Africa, It is on record that despite all the entreaties, France under President De Gaulle tested atom bomb in the Sahara Desert in the sixties. These tests caused a lot of serious health problems in many countries in Africa including Nigeria, where the new independent government under the conservative and cautious Tafawa Balewa cut diplomatic relation with France. De Gaulle could not stand this, as he was irked at the temerity of Nigeria in giving diplomatic snub to France. De Gaulle had his revenge during the Nigeria civil war when he tacitly gave support to the ill-fated Biafra and encouraged Ivory Coast to recognize the secessionist Biafra. It is also on record that France did all within its power to frustrate the formation of ECOWAS because it thought that such a union would lessen its influence in its former colonies in West Africa.

    Far afield, France is responsible for the present poverty and economic dislocation in the hapless Haiti through the punitive reparation it imposed on Haiti at independence. After the people of Haiti revolted to have their independence, France callously made Haiti to pay it 90 million gold francs which presently is equivalent to $21 billion. Up till now, no French government has come to the aid of Haiti by paying back the money extorted from that country.

    It is an irony that France that has been turning black people into serfs in their continent, collapsed like pack of cards under the onslaught of Germany, just nine months after the commencement of the Second World War that lasted for good six years. France was humiliated and forced to sign an armistice agreement on June 22, 1940. Also, the same France that is flexing its muscle in its former colonies in Africa was booted out in disgrace from its colonies in Indo-China, after it was decisively defeated in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

    French policy in Africa is collapsing and it is gratifying to note that young Africans in the former French colonies in Africa are throwing away the suffocating toga of French neo-colonialism. By July this year, eight former French colonies in Africa would stop using CFA but will have their own independent currency called Eco, which would be tied to Euro instead of French Franc. This is a welcomed development. It is a pity that the youthful French president, Emmanuel Macron fails to see the handwriting on the wall and instead of initiating new French African policy based on collaboration between equal partners, he is still pursuing the imperious policy of the De Gaulle era which is archaic and subjugating. This policy is now roundly rejected by leaders in French former colonies in Africa.

    In his reaction to the new development, Macron arrogantly asserted that Niger and other Sahel countries would collapse without French support. The policy of France in its former colonies is a mockery of the French motto of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. It has not extended this to its former colonies in Africa where many people now regard France more as a foe.

    • Prof Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.

  • Incredible but Macron straps on gloves for boxing

    Incredible but Macron straps on gloves for boxing

    Where politicians once looked to project health and fitness with jogs in the park, martial sports like boxing have now gained the upper hand, with France’s Emmanuel Macron the latest to strap on gloves.

    The 46-year-old president was pictured on Wednesday pounding a punching bag, forearms bulging, in images posted to the Instagram account of his official photographer, Soazig de la Moissoniere.

    ”(Macron) is a technocrat having a go at the populist style, by trying to respond to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin on his own turf,” said Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, an expert in political communication.

    AFP did not republish Macron’s pictures, as it does not use hand-outs from the French presidency.

    The images follow weeks in which Macron has defended his comments about not ruling out sending NATO troops to fight in Ukraine, invaded by the Russian leader more than two years ago.

    Putin has often sought to project physical prowess with judo or boxing bouts and a now infamous bare-chested horse riding excursion in 2009.

    French voters were more used to seeing conservative former president Nicolas Sarkozy in a tracksuit or on his mountain bike, or 1970s leader Valery Giscard d’Estaing on the football pitch or the ski slopes.

    With boxing, Macron has turned to a sport “compatible with exercising state power”” Moreau-Chevrolet said.

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     “It’s a violent sport but with rules – like politics. As often with Emmanuel Macron, it’s also a very theatrical image of a hero overcoming suffering,” he added.

    The French president is far from the first Western leader to pull on gloves.

    Justin Trudeau’s defeat of a conservative MP in a charity bout in 2012 may have contributed to him claiming the Canadian premiership three years later.

    Boxing has numerous acolytes in the French political class, with Macron’s former prime minister Edouard Philippe a passionate fighter.

    The sport taught him to “overcome the fear you can feel in scary situations”, he has said.

    Conservative women politicians have also stepped into the ring in France, including the leader of the Paris region, Valerie Pecresse, and Rachida Dati, now Macron’s culture minister.

     “Even if people might think it’s an odd sport for a woman, it projects the image of being a fighter,” Pecresse told weekly Le Point.

    Some sections of the political spectrum did have an immediate allergic reaction to Macron’s pictures.

    Voluble Greens party MP Sandrine Rousseau complained of “masculinist codes used to excess” in a post on X, the same language she had used to condemn Macron’s talk of sending troops to Ukraine.

     “What a miserable form of politics. What a defeat for progressivism. What lazy political communication,” she added.

    Turning to physically robust sports has not always played well for politicians.

    Britain’s Boris Johnson – himself pictured in the past wearing red boxing gloves – was left red-faced in 2015 when he flattened a 10-year-old Japanese rugby fan while playing during a visit to Tokyo.

    But the number of fans among the public keeps leaders from throwing in the towel.

    In France, the national boxing federation boasted 60,000 members last year – more than double the figure for 2021.

    Boxing has also migrated from being a working-class sport once beloved of the French Communist party to a more middle-class pursuit, with gyms springing up in wealthy cities like Paris.

    Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has also been growing in popularity since the sport, which combines kickboxing and wrestling, was legalised in France by Macron’s government in 2020.

    The first bouts organised by global outfit Ultimate Fighting Championship were held in 2022 and are now broadcast regularly on TV channel RMC sport.

    MMA counts tens of thousands of fighters and hundreds of clubs across France.

  • Netanyahu to Macron: condemn Hamas, not Israel

    Netanyahu to Macron: condemn Hamas, not Israel

    Netanyahu has responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comment on Israel killing civilians in Gaza. Israel’s PM stated that: “It must be remembered that Israel entered the war due to that terrorist organisation’s brutal murder of hundreds of Israelis and holding hostage more than 200 Israelis.”

     He added that “While Israel does everything in its power to avoid harming civilians and urges them to leave the battle areas, Hamas – ISIS is doing all it can to prevent them from moving to safe areas and uses them as human shields.”

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     Netanyahu also warned that “the crimes being committed today by Hamas – ISIS in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and all over the world. The leaders of the world should be condemning Hamas – ISIS, not Israel.”

     In his interview to BBC released earlier on Friday, Macron said: “De facto – today, civilians are bombed – de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So, there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So, we do urge Israel to stop.”

  • Macron, Fela and African slaves

    Macron, Fela and African slaves

    Like one on a holy trip to mecca, French President Emmanuel Macron waltzed into the ecstasy of Fela Shrine. Smitten by the whirligig of rhythm, voice and beats, he acted like one of us. Nigerians praised him for embracing the abami eda. He descended from his Eifel tower to croon like us, dance like us, and blend into the smoke and tone of Afrobeat. Here was one Caucasian icon shorn of racial contempt on his white face.

    Don’t be fooled. Sooner or later, as American writer Toni Morrison once posited, such white persons would betray you. Like autumnal leaves in Paris, Macron has unveiled his true colour. He declared that without France, there would be no Gabon, Niger, Mali or Burkina Faso. In simple terms, he asserted that there was no country until France made them. Macron ought to withdraw that statement. It is racist. For one, no one begged France give us nations after their own imperial heart. We have never lauded the British for lumping peoples to form Nigeria. They did it for themselves and not for us. He implied French West Africa had no past before their imperial adventurism into our lands.

    President Macron is in league with white historians who have been banished from African historiography. He is like the Oxford Professor, Hugh Trevor-Roper, who, in 1962, wrote, “Perhaps in the future there will be some African history to teach. But at the present there is none; there is only the history of the Europeans in Africa. The rest is darkness…and darkness is not the subject of history.”

    We can understand the fury in Niger and other French West African countries asking the French to leave their lands. Coup plotters have exploited this fever. It feeds their cynical egoism. The French treat Africans like children. Historians call it paternalism. Their colonial policy, assimilation, was a condescending strategy to hoodwink the black subjects and tell them they had promoted them from slaves to children. The French were superior, so everything they did must conform to French civilisation. If you wanted to mail a letter to the next street in Cotonou, it must pass through Paris.

    Macron meant we should applaud colonialism. We should be grateful for slavery. They set us free. It is not restricted to the French. The British thought so, too, as witness the words of the Oxford professor. Lord Lugard’s companion Margery Perham wrote same points about Nigeria. Their great philosopher, John Stuart Mill, loved liberty so much that he recommended colonialism for societies like India and Africa. We were too primitive to be free. It’s like the Austrian nationalist Metternich, who the poet Lord Byron satirized. “He had no objection to true liberty,” wrote Byron of Metternich, “Except that it would set them free.”

    Macron needs a little lesson in African history. Before the whites started taking over our territories, we were building our nations in the sweep of the 18th and 19th centuries, even into the early hours of the 20th. It reflected in the quality of resistance.

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    Did he hear of the Dahomey kingdom, the Amazons of their army and the glorious soldiery of women who defied breasts for martial glory. They cut out of Oyo thralldom and even walloped some Yorubas into their fold until they chafed and fell, especially to the Egba. Did he know of the Agbajigbeto, the spies who might have given the CIA a model? Also, we had Samori Toure, the African Napoleon, who played the French against the British, and the Malinke hero of the Dyula Revolution introduced war strategies to stalemate the white colonialists for 15 years.

    Macron should plough into the biography of Mahmadou Lamine of the Senegambia, and it was he, the great warrior of the Sarrakole tribe, who built a great coalition and a people with Islam to rattle the French and the conniving Tukolor. The French had to build the French Marine Corp as well as what was known as the Senegalese Sharp Shooters to mow down a great race. My later professor, Olatunji Oloruntimehin devoted a book, The Segu-Tukolor Empire, to the exploits of Lamine and his Sarrakole people.

    Macron ossifies views of inferiority in our people. Again, it should challenge our people to read history. We had our exploits here, too. Did we not have the Habe dynasty for centuries as well as the Kanuri Empire or Kanem Borno, with the longevity of the Saifawa dynasty? Was that darkness? Did warrior Uthman Dan Fodio not capsize tradition with his 1804 jihad for over two centuries now? The Yoruba Wars gave a pageant of warriors: Sodeke, Kurunmi, Ogunmola, Latosa, Fabunmi, Ogedengbe, et al. Or the impregnable Itsekiri blockade under the doughty Nana Olomu, who puzzled the British Navy. Shall we forget the great Benin Kingdom and how its prosperity enticed the rapacity of the British to trade in the Benin River. Their historians called it massacre. I insist it was Benin Resistance. As we had heroes, we had traitors like the Obaseki ancestor of the present governor of Edo State. A similar story played out in Dahomey, now Benin Republic, when the king, like Ovonramwen, hid after the European onslaught. A palace quisling exposed his whereabouts.

    If what the Africans were doing was to build wars of integration and nation building, the western historians called them barbarism. Yet, in the same period, Europe was embroiled in their own hostilities. They had what was called the Westphalian Treaty that forbade any nation to disrespect another’s sovereignty. Yet, we had Napoleon fight wars of meaningless conquests across Europe, leaving a trail of butchery all the way to Russia. There was no Gaul until France, only Prussia until Germany. The French roared against the Germans in brutal wars until Bismark humbled her with Alsace and Lorraine. The Roman Empire viewed some of the so-called civilized Europe today as barbarians, including the Germans and people of northern Europe.  Cavour and Garibaldi revived Italy. Professor Femi Omosini, in my European History class, interrogated the view that there was no concept of Europe until about the fifth century. It was seen as a period of total darkness. Its Middle Ages was also seen as a period of darkness. But their historians, who were waking up from the sway of Roman swagger, saved their continent from the somnolent narrative. When they woke up, they set Africa to sleep in the night of their historiography. Macron is a product of that prejudice.

    Today, the French West African countries still store their treasures in French Central Bank, and African leaders beg in order to withdraw. In 1958, France browbeat colonies to sign an accord called Loi Cadre where France determines how they run their country. Guinea’s Sekou Toure, who had Samouri’s DNA, said no, until he imposed a sit-tight tyranny.

    You understand why Macron is nervous. During the Second World War, Charles De Gaulle set up the Free French when Germany overran his country. It rallied blacks to help liberate France. They were colonial subjects being asked to save France that had now become a colonial subject. Africans became slave of slaves fighting for their master slave. The 19th century African warriors were the precursors of 20th century Negritude movement that highlighted African dignity with poets like Diop, Senghor and a subtler Soyinka,  who said “a tiger should not shout its tigritude.”

    For all his charisma, De Gaulle expressed discomfort over photo-ops with visiting African leaders when he was president. At the Fela Shrine, Macron was friendly but not a friend.

    The Bard’s barb

     Professor Wole Soyinka threw a broadside at the Obidients last week, and they turned crybabies on their familiar turf: the social media. The bard said Peter Obi came third and his followers know it but are just indulged in what the Yoruba  call Gbajue. He translated it as force of lies. I would rather translate it as “lies by force.” In his Nostromo, Joseph Conrad described it as “the bravado of guilt.” No matter. But what is striking is that when Soyinka described Obi during the hustings as a “new kid on the block,” the obidients had love for the bard.  He was not a Yoruba man then. A new kid who was governor with old guard, in bed with Atiku in 2019, pitched Catholic against Anglicans, cannot explain why he stashed money offshore while a governor and erected Abuja marque supermarket, etc.  Soyinka’s intervention shows that there were a few fair-minded Obi supporters who have sat back and seen through his fraud. Obi is the Gbajue in chief. Soyinka is sincere enough to admit that the man did not win. The obidients have no such grace or integrity. They cannot abide the barb. They are innocent of facts and processes. They cavil at the Tribunal verdict without asking Obi’s lawyers why they had no facts for their claims. Of such persons, the Bible says, “I will send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.” Like Pharoah’s hardened heart. Their pastors as well as the Catholic elite should read their Bible. A teardrop for them.

  • Without France there’d be no Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger – Macron

    Without France there’d be no Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger – Macron

    • Paris vows response if Niger targets French facilities

    • Nigeriens set to launch rallies to demand French troops exit

    As tension grows between the two countries, French President Emmanuel Macron told French publication Le Point that without France’s military operations in the Sahel “there would probably no longer be a Mali … Burkina Faso, and I’m not sure there would still be Niger.”

    Macron was referring to the former colonial power’s interventions in the mid-2000s, Operations Serval and Barkhane.

    French troops were moved from Mali to Niger after its military leaders cut ties with the former colonial power.

    He said the interventions were done “at the request of African states” and were “successful” as his policy is facing scrutiny in the face of losing the allyship of last remaining ally, Niger, and increasing negative sentiment from Africans.

    He went on to explain that while these operations reflect France’s “honour” and “responsibility”, France could no longer remain involved “when there is a coup d’état, and the priority of the new regimes is not to fight terrorism” even though this is “tragic for the states concerned”.

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    In the interview, Macron defended his administration’s policy in the Sahel as one of partnership rather than focusing on security.

    Paris vows response if Niger targets French facilities —Army

    The French military yesterday warned that it would respond swiftly should  further  tensions in Niger target its military and diplomatic facilities in that  country following the recent coup.

    French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere said “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger.

    “Measures have been taken to protect these premises,” he said.

    The junta had given French Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to “leave Nigerien territory.”

    Itte refused to comply and remained at his post.

    The authorities thereafter withdrew his diplomatic immunities and asked the police to get him out of the country.

    Nigeriens set for rallies to demand French troops exit

    A coalition of Nigerien civil society groups opposed to the presence of French forces in the country yesterday launched a three-day sit-in to demand the departure of the French contingent.

    There are about 1,500 such troops in Niger, who are mainly deployed to help fight the jihadist insurgency in the region.

    The M62 group said the French have outlived their usefulness in their country while another group, the Patriotic Front for the Sovereignty of Niger plans to kick off its own protests today and will continue “until the departure of all French soldiers.”

  • Macron’s aide put on compulsory leave for hitting protester

    An aide to President Emmanuel Macron was put on two weeks compulsory leave after he was seen hitting a street protester in demonstrations in Paris in May, the French president’s spokesman said on Thursday, a decision deemed too soft by opposition leaders.

    Labour unions hold demonstrations every year on May Day in France, which often lead to police intervention.

    A video, shared on social media, showed a man wearing a police helmet hitting a demonstrator with other policemen.

    He was later recognised as a member of the French presidency staff.

    “The collaborator, Alexandre Benalla, had been given permission to witness the demonstrations only as an observer,” Bruno Roger-Petit said in a filmed statement.

    “Clearly, he went beyond this … he was immediately summoned by the president’s chief of staff and given a 15-day suspension. This comes as a punishment for unacceptable behavior,” he said.

    A judiciary source told Reuters the Paris prosecutor had launched an investigation into the matter on Thursday after being made aware of the incident.

    Several opposition leaders voiced criticism over Benalla’s punishment, arguing it was too lenient.

    “This video is shocking. Today, we have the feeling that in Macron’s entourage, one is above the law. It is obvious that Macron has to speak up about this,” Laurent Wauquiez, president of conservative opposition party Les Republicains told Europe 1 radio.

  • And Macron markets Nigeria to the world

    The memories of late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, as a musician, culture promoter and social crusader somewhat became highpoint of the visit to Nigeria by President Emmanuel Macron of France, leading to a new narrative about the place of African tourism, arts and entertainment in the global space.

    From his body language, unreserved passion for the Afrika Shrine where he was hosted into the night on Tuesday, and his interactions with entrepreneurs from different sectors of the Nigerian economy, Macron exuded the qualities of a new breed of politician from Europe whose desires for Africa is for the continent to free itself from neo-colonialism from France and Europe. His fresh democratic ideology appears to be one that sees how big the world can become with Africa at its full potential.

    For the creative industry, the 40-year-old leader is spearheading an African Cultural Season to take place in France, in year 2020.

    According to him, “This Season is a unique one and it will be the new face of Africa in Europe… It is about a team of young creatives coming from different parts of Africa. You’ll have contemporary artistes, painters, people involved in Fashion, movies, visual arts, architecture… all the different arts existing and present in Africa, especially Nigeria. It will be about a young generation of artistes coming from Africa.”

    Certain that Africa is capable of upholding its business independence, Macron believes that providing the window for African ventures to thrive might just be what the continent needs in the meantime.

    “European leaders are not here to lecture African leaders. African leaders are here to take care of their people. They are not there to lead the young generation to believe that their future is outside Africa. They have to build their future here in Africa,” he said.

    According to Macron, the Africa Cultural Season 2020 will be organised by Africa and for Africa “in order to show France and Europe the real culture of Africa. It is going to be financed by African leaders and businesses. It’s not going to be sponsored by European or French businesses, but by African businesses, it is brand new.”

    Macron decries a situation whereby the international media appears to dictate the narratives about Africa.

    “Some people say this is a tremendous continent; this is a unique place. And at the same time, some people say Africa is a place of terrorism. These two messages are true at the same time. But I believe it is possible to change all these negative messages because what we need is for African people to speak about Africa. Because you always replicate, mirror Europeans impression about Africa. When I say we need new narratives, what I mean is that we need you people to make these narratives. I see a new generation of artistes, of entrepreneurs, of people coming from civil societies, of journalists, of intellectuals coming from Africa and explaining, speaking about Africa in Europe and everywhere.”

    For spending 95 percent of his time in Lagos – a historic visit to the Afrika Shrine for a ‘Celebration of African Culture’, the official unveiling of Alliance Francaise in Ikoyi, and his engagement with over 2,000 Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) alumni – Macron has strengthened the Shrine as a tourism attraction, promoted Lagos as a tourist destination and pepped the Nigerian entrepreneurs to make a difference in the world.

  • Macron: Old fans rock Fela’s Shrine again

    For most of the Nigerian bigwigs spotted at the New Afrika Shrine Tuesday evening, President Emmanuel Macron of France who chose the venue to mingle with stakeholders in the Nigerian creative sector as part of his state visit to Nigeria had just rekindled an old flame in them. He came ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the Alliance Francaise office in Lagos.

    The list of politicians, diplomats, government officials, showbiz entrepreneurs, and entertainers was as unprecedented as the long wait, as the visitor, who had earlier touched down in Abuja to see President Muhammadu Buhari got to Lagos three hours behind schedule. But the night, at the Shrine, was unusually charged for these old folks who not only recalled old times in their private conversations, the media kept them busy with questions bothering on the legacy of the late Afrobeat founder, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti  vis the place of culture and tourism in the export reserve of Nigeria.

    From the likes of former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba to former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; Senator Ben Bruce; Senator Florence Ita Giwa; former manager of Fela, Mr. Femi Esho, founder of Africa International Film Festival, Chioma Ude; CEO of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, and entertainers like Olu Jacob, Joke Silva, Jide Kosoko, Kunle Afolayan, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde among others, the Shrine shone with eminence.

    Touted as a celebration of African culture, the evening of music, fashion, Nollywood, dance, visual arts, and performances with President Emmanuel Macron of France had celebrated singer and actor, Banky W, as Master of Ceremony while CNN presenter, Keturah King and French media personality, Claudy Siar were Nigerian and French hosts respectively.

    Macron who arrived the venue with Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was first taken on a tour of some art exhibitions of artists like Ndidi Emefiele, Victor Ehikhamenor and Abraham Onoriode Ogbobase, and just before his brief media chat on stage, he requested to be ushered round the Shrine, climbing to the topmost floor from where, having attained a full view of the venue, he made the Fela signature fist, earning a louder ovation across the hall.

    Footprints of David Youth Group had opened the show, doing the Sango dance with attendant energy. Their song eulogised Macron and Ambode, while a shimmering effect portrait of both men presented by the group sealed their show. This was just as a portrait of Macron, painted by an 11 year old boy named Kazeem was added to Macron’s souvenirs.

    Put together by Trace Events, a division of global broadcast and digital company, Trace, a highlight of the event sponsored by Ecobank was the official launch of Season of African Cultures 2020, an initiative of Macron for the showcase of the best of African creative endeavours in France.

    There was no dull moment as Afropop queen, Yemi Alade, opened the stage for musical performances on the night. Guests were also treated to the dexterity of Ara with the talking drum as well as the sonorous voice of Cameroonian singer, Charlotte Dipanda. Giving a befitting climax to the musical segment was Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela and his sister, Yeni Kuti with their electrifying performance.

    The potpourri event was also spiced with a cultural segment including art exhibition curated by Tokini Peterside of Art X Lagos; a fashion show by Jane Michaek Ekanem; a Nollywood skit designed by Kunle Afolayan and a short video presentation by Chioma Ude, announcing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF)’s partnership with French film school, CineFabrique.

    In his opening remark, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Charles Kie noted that one of Ecobank’s aims is its strong resolution to help grow and develop Africa’s businesses and economies, adding that Africa’s strong heritage in dance and music has brought many together by integrating them through entertainment and sheer interest.

    According to Kie, “Sales of African art at Christies in Paris raised €6.1 million in June and just over a year ago Sotheby’s inaugural sale of modern and contemporary African Art generated £2.8 million in aggregate sales. Nigeria’s British-based artist Yinka Shonibare MBE’s ‘Crash Willy’ sold for £224,750.”

    Ambode, while reiterating his determination to tourism, hospitality, entertainment and sports for excellence, as components of his T.H.E.S.E agenda, described Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa, and Macron’s visit as a dawn of a new era between France and Nigeria, “especially for the myriad of talents that have made Lagos their home.”

    Macron who said he has a different view of Africa than a lot of people in Europe, said he is determined to champion a new narrative about how Africa is perceived, adding that the African Cultural Season 2020 is one of the ways to project the continent positively.

    “I believe that we have to build together, a new and common narrative. And this new common narrative is not based on what is important for Europeans, but what is important for Africa about their culture – how they want to build their culture, how they want to explain their culture, how they want to promote their culture and which places are important for them for these promotions.

    “European leaders are not here to lecture African leaders. African leaders are here to take care of their people. They are not there to lead the young generation to believe that their future is outside Africa. They have to build their future here in Africa.

    “We decided to organize African Cultural Season 2020 in France for several reasons. It is about a team of young creatives coming from different parts of Africa. You’ll have contemporary artistes, painters, people involved in fashion, movies, visual arts, architecture… all different arts existing and present in Africa, especially Nigeria.

    “Some people say this is a tremendous continent. This is a unique place…. And at the same time, some people say Africa is a place of terrorism… these two messages are true at the same time.  But why I believe it is possible to change all these negative messages is because what we need is for African people to speak about Africa. Because you always replicate, mirror Europeans impression about Africa. When I say we need new narratives, what I mean is that we need you people to make these narratives. I see a new generation of artistes, of entrepreneurs, of people coming from civil societies, of journalists, of intellectuals coming from Africa and explaining, speaking about Africa in Europe and everywhere…,” he explained.

  • 11-year-old Kareem draws Macron on the spot

    Master Kareem Olamilekan, 11, artistically drew a portrait of President Emmanuel Macron of France during his visit to the New Afrikan Shrine in Lagos.

    The event held to showcase and celebrate African culture was hosted by Nigerian Artist and performer Banky W and Kenturah King.

    President Macron praised and congratulated the talented boy on his official Presidential twitter account

    @EmmanuelMacron “Very touched, congratulations to this young boy.

    Despite the pressure of drawing the President of France on the spot, Kareem completed the hyperrealist drawing In 2 hours, reports suggest.

    The visiting President emphasised on the importance of the shrine to the African culture.

    Read Also: Macron unveils French cultural centre at Ikoyi

    He wrote on his twitter account @EmmanuelMacron

    “The Shrine is an iconic cultural hub. And I say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of African culture.

    Also present at the event were Nigerian Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Veteran Nollywood actor and actress Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva.

    The New Afrika Shrine is the venue of the annual Felebration Music Festival which is currently managed by Femi Kuti and Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti.

  • Macron urges Nigerian youths to join politics

    French President, Emmanuel Macron has urged  Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the nation’s politics  in order to change the narrative of the country.

    Describing politics as important, the French Macron said only Nigerians could change their image and that of the nation before the comity of nations.

    Macron who was accompanied by governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, threw the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged “Celebrate African Culture”.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, stressing that the youths have a crucial role to play in the quest.

    “Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world,” he said.

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society. He described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela, as a politician who wanted change for the society.

    “I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place — Shrine is a music place as well as politics, which is needed to change the society. So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved,” he said.

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African Cultures Season in France. He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode said the President’s visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos state in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture, which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    The event had in attendance personalities which includes, Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sen. Ben Bruce, among others.

    The event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.