Barrister Passes on

Barrister Dead

Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Nigerian Fuji music legend, passed on, December 16, Saint Mary Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
Born on 1942, Barrister, started his life under rough financial circumstances. He attended a Qurannic school and later Yaba College of Technology but later dropped out of the college because he could not afford the tuition fees. He went to train under a stenographer and later volunteered as a soldier in the Nigerian Army during the civil war of 1967 and 1970.

Meanwhile, Barrister had developed an interest in music at the age of ten, and had mastered a music style that was traditional used during the month of Ramadan. Signed to Africa Songs Ltd, a Nigerian record label, Fuji Garbage, as he was famously known, produced many songs alongside the Supreme Commanders, a 25 man band, that not only carried moral and religious depths but were financially groundbreaking. He later worked with the African Musical International, a smaller music group.



Fuji Garbage, as he was famously called, also experimented with Apala, Juju and other older Yoruba music forms, which he introduced with enigmatic use of percussions. He was also a musical genius who used his voice to convey the pulse of the people in many national issues while some of his songs re-enacted some of the experiences of the people. Some of the albums produced by Sikiru Ayinde were Ejeka Gbo T’Oloun in the late 1960s, Alayinde Ma De O, Itan Anobi Rasaq, Ori Mi Ewo Ninse, late 1970s, and Aiye Dun Pupo/Love In Tokyo, 1975.



He also produced popular albums, Fuji Exponent, 1976, Omo Nigeria, 1977, London Specials, 1978, and Iwa, 1982, among others. His fuji movement has grown with young fuji musicians like Osupa Saidi, Pasuma and others.

Barrister Passes on

Barrister Dead

Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Nigerian Fuji music legend, passed on, December 16, Saint Mary Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom.
Born on 1942, Barrister, started his life under rough financial circumstances. He attended a Qurannic school and later Yaba College of Technology but later dropped out of the college because he could not afford the tuition fees. He went to train under a stenographer and later volunteered as a soldier in the Nigerian Army during the civil war of 1967 and 1970.

Meanwhile, Barrister had developed an interest in music at the age of ten, and had mastered a music style that was traditional used during the month of Ramadan. Signed to Africa Songs Ltd, a Nigerian record label, Fuji Garbage, as he was famously known, produced many songs alongside the Supreme Commanders, a 25 man band, that not only carried moral and religious depths but were financially groundbreaking. He later worked with the African Musical International, a smaller music group.



Fuji Garbage, as he was famously called, also experimented with Apala, Juju and other older Yoruba music forms, which he introduced with enigmatic use of percussions. He was also a musical genius who used his voice to convey the pulse of the people in many national issues while some of his songs re-enacted some of the experiences of the people. Some of the albums produced by Sikiru Ayinde were Ejeka Gbo T’Oloun in the late 1960s, Alayinde Ma De O, Itan Anobi Rasaq, Ori Mi Ewo Ninse, late 1970s, and Aiye Dun Pupo/Love In Tokyo, 1975.



He also produced popular albums, Fuji Exponent, 1976, Omo Nigeria, 1977, London Specials, 1978, and Iwa, 1982, among others. His fuji movement has grown with young fuji musicians like Osupa Saidi, Pasuma and others.

Coca-Cola Lights Up the Moment

In the spirit of the yuletide Coca-Cola Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s beverage brands, ushered in the festive season with its annual Coca-Cola Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 10, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The place was filled with both A-class business personalities and youths who came with different shades of red as dress code to savour the moment.

Signalling the festive period was the presence of the landmark 33.5 meters tall Christmas tree which have been regarded as the tallest in Africa. The Christmas tree, fondly “Red Coke Tree” weighed 15 tons and was placed on a 2.5 meters high platform, it would remain at the location for 30 days. A myriad of Individuals who attended the event described it as “It was a spectacle of sparks, music and merriment”.

Micheal Ufomba, Marketing Director of Coca Cola Nigeria told pressmen that the tree lighting ceremony began in 2007 and has being widely embraced by Nigerians. Ufomba noted that the event foregrounds the company’s commitment in unifying families during the festive season. “As the Universal beacon of Happiness, Coca-Cola, more than any other brands, embodies the essence of the festive season-Joy, love and sharing. Coca-Cola is synonymous with celebration and a toast to open expression of love”, He added.



Unlike in previous years where the tree lighting ceremony was performed by dignitaries, this year’s ceremony was meant to honour Sharon Douglas, one of its major distributors who started small but had grown to colossal heights in marketing. Douglas, who declared the tree lighted, acknowledged the tremendous support she had enjoyed from Coca-Cola Nigeria and Nigerian Bottling Company in growing her business. “I am truly blessed to be here today at this remarkable event and I thank Coca-Cola for being true to their word and upholding me till this day”, she added.

Clem Ugorji, the company’s Communications Manager attested to her story of perseverance. Ugorji recalled that Douglas ventured into business as an unemployed graduate with one crate in 2004 but today sells 12, 000 crates monthly. For him, she represents all the companies’ distributors who are key partners to the business. Coca-Cola is capable of providing a new lease of life in areas of economic employment especially for women who constitute over 60 per cent of its distributorship across the country, He noted.

Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited is a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company. The company produces Eva water, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite and Cappy Fruit Juice. Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, represents one of the country’s largest private sector employers with about 6000 direct employees and more than one million others indirectly employed in its vast network of distributors and retailers nationwide.

Beautiful Nubia and the enthronement of musical Performance

Beautiful Nubia thrilling the crowd who left their seats...)

(All pictures were taken by Lolade Adewuyi of lagoscityphotos.blogspot.com-He is one of the finest and dynamic photojournalist I have met).

All roads led to Ile-Ife and Oshogbo, Osun State for the Eniobanke Music Festival, EMUFest, a musical tour with the purpose of bringing alive folklore, performing arts and African consciousness, 28 and 29th of November at the Amphitheatre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and at the Delightsome Hotels and Resorts, Oshogbo.

It was no doubt a funfare filled with felicity and musical fecundity as it featured acts like Orlando Julius, Jimi Solanke, Beautiful Nubia and Yinka Davies. The day which coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of Rauf Aregbesola, the new Osun State governor, a pedestal Aregbesola got after rigorous legal battles, further magnified the joy in the people hearts, in the state.

For Nigerians, there was no better escape from the strain of modern rigours meanwhile for students of OAU, it was a time to close the chapters briefly and relax
as the examinations stare into their faces.

Although the events started a little late at Ife, the amphitheatre was soon full to the nostalgic feeling of the oldies. Songs like Columbia, Asiko lo laiye Adara, by Orlando Julius and His AfroSanders, one of Nigeria’s highlife icons, with ecstatic dance steps from his female dancers, it was not only a festival it was a musical of the greats, as Orlando thrilled the students with incandescent thrill and expert combination of musical instruments. For almost everyone, they were reliving childhood memories and rekoning with the need for Africans to be united.

Talk of reliving childhood memories, Jimi Solanke, was the champion of children folklore and had remained so since the 1960s when he started his musical experience with the late IK Dairo. With all sense of simplicity and with his usual tale bearing swagger, Solanke brought the crowd into another session of dancing steps, with unforgettable folkore from almost all the ethnic groups in the country.


(Professor Oxford, far from the maddening)

In fact, the audience travelled as far as Jamaica from Story land to Ibadan to Onilegogoro as Solanke danced like a young man in his twenties. Solanke’s funny and sensual innuendos, songs and limericks have not left him either, people were no doubt comfortable with that part of our culture that entertains in sensual codes-so there was no cause for alarm. Solanke also raised socio-political issues with his song titled By the year 2000, as he sang about the eternal postponement of basic amenities and Teacher, a song about the importance of teachers in society.


( Jimi Solanke, King of African Folklore)

Yinka Davies, award winning singer, was the dame of the night as she humbled herself in doing several duets with Orlando Julius, her dance steps where no doubt like a mermaid in her natural habitat. Beautiful Nubia, reknowned performance poet and dredlocked musician, came into the stage with uproar and a standing ovation from the crowd. Songs from his albums, Jagbalanjubu, Irinajo and a host of others were sung by him and Roots Renaissance Band, his band.


(Yinka Davies with her enchanting swagger)

However, this serenity of soul was interrupted by students of the Awolowo Hall, famously called Awo Boys (for their creative eccentricity), who decided to disrupt the programme if Beautiful Nubia did not prostrate for them. This demand made by students of Awolowo Hall was stated as customary for any musical star that performed in the University.

However, Beautiful Nubia refused to prostrate because he felt in the Yoruba hierarchy the elderly do not prostrate for the people of younger ages. For Nubia, “it is only those who do not know their roots that abide by such laws”.
This statement brought the festival to a standstill as there was an exchange of words between other students and students of the hall.

Until the timely intervention of Fredrick Joel,FJ, President of the Students Union and other members of the Union who reminded them of Nubia’s contributions in the past. “You will recall that when the union was proscribed in 2006, it was beautiful Nubia who took it upon himself to do a show for the students to help raise money for the union” FJ pleaded with Awo boys. In response Nubia apologised to the students stating that “we have invested so much to come to this great school to perform some of us have not slept for the past five days-anything I may have said that may have angered you. I am deeply sorry”. After all tensions had seized, another round of celebrations began.


(Orlando Julius, Icon of Hilife)

The dredlocked Afrocentric artiste mounted the stage again, this time totally adorned by the regalia of regard by Ife students. At the end of the show, he was lifted up as a sign of respect. The event at ife came to a close with a song in remembrance of Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s indefatigable political icons. Speaking to Yemisi Akingbola, a campus journalist, she stated that “Awo boys were not like this in the past-I am embarrassed, a lot of Alumnus, Press men, were around and they behaved without any sense of caution”.

Yinka Davies also complained profusely to the magazine that some students disrespected her as she was trying to placate them, “OAU used to be a dream school but now, I don’t know what to call it any longer-I am not impressed, and if you journalists don’t write about this, then you will be encouraging such barbaric behaviour”. Aspiring performance artiste like Edaoto and Femi were at the event.


(Beautiful Nubia summoned by the the drums)

A delightsome resort, Oshogbo, a haven for lovers of serenity was the next stop. It was as if all strengths were renewed as the people of Oshogbo and visitors danced all the way to the morning. Edaoto and Yinka Davis had separate duets with Orlando Julius. The artistes also had the opportunity to interact with the musicians as they exuded a high sense of simplicity and commitment to youths. For Nubia , “It is not time for the youths to listen to stupid songs but to steady their minds to the voice of change, let us join our hands together to bring change to this country”.

Ekejuba Innocent, student and performance poet agrees with Nubia, “Africa used to be the citadel of leaning and civilisation, the first University was in Timbuktu, but all that has changed, we are now foot mats and mere markets for foreigners-our leaders are also not helping us. We need to form alliances and change the situation of this country-Africa will change if Nigeria changes”.

A Writer’s Dilemma: For the Life of me!

I have been contacted by Cederwood Productions, a publisher that had taken up Silent Drummings, my first collection of poetry, to co-author a collection of poems with Tokunbo Dada. Tokunbo Dada had published his first book with Cedarwood and with many research books roiling in his head every second. He had published a book on child abuse in Africa and the side effects using the story of Shaka the Zulu as a formidable example and the publisher, then based in Osun State was impressed.
Now, Tokunbo had moved higher with a bigger purpose, he had produced Ufiala, a radio drama on the problems of Nigeria and had gone to co-produce other ones depite the fact that he had been employed as a communication enginner at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.

As for me, I am just an unrepentant poet and journalist that I had been and that I had retained except that I just bagged the prestigious Megaphone News Agency’s Award for Meritorious Service to the press, with Silent Drummings doing fairly well. Poetry had never successfully fed anyone in Nigeria, so let me not boast too much.

Cedarwood has opened its new headquarters in Ibadan, the traditional publishing hub in Nigeria, that was a deliverance of some sorts, When I got wind of the romantic collection, I was supposed to co-author, I began to wonder, with who?

Tokunbo Dada had grown to be a bosom friend of mine, a more mature and unselfish friend that had this creative fire, one I respected. I had written a couple of monologues in his room using his directions of how a drama should look like, we had joked a lot about women and we had also learnt a lot from our disappointments. He had told the publisher about the idea and it was bought.

The problem was that I had left the idea of writing love poems since 2005 and I had gone from the simple romantic poet to a thorough-going modernist. I had evolved a personal style after reading TS Elliot, Segun Adekoya, Dogga Tollar, Franz Kafka, Ernest Hemingway and Robert Frost.



Love had not been fair to me. Apart from the fact that I had had a rough upbringing as a third child, I also had a backlash of shattered and interrupted relationships. In fact, my recent girlfriend recently called off what seem to be a compassionate union. So I had begun to retrace my steps in writing love poems, stopped listening to love songs, stopped flirting, totally shut down. It was gradually. In fact I had been mulling on destroying the ones I wrote when the going was going-I don’t know whether it’s good or bad-That was when the call from my publisher came.

Another problem was that my job as a journalist seems to only allow you to think of the next story, the ongoing story or the deadlines-there is hardly any time to write two lines of poetry. The only blessing it offers is that it exposes you to the realities and hypocrisies that make up the society, through printable and unprintable discourses.

So I took my old poems out-my fiery and passionate old poems that I had purposefully dumped at the deep ends of my home’s warehouse. A look at them-they were whack, for God’s sake, I had grown up, I had grown out of it. I am now officially in a dilemma. Can I succumb this dilemma? Will I survive?

I think so, the book must go on, for the life of me, my life is poetry!

Achebe, A month and a Writer

I am happy to tell you that I share a birthday month with one of Nigeria’s greatest writers . This does not however mean that my destiny as one of Nigeria’s youngest poets is sealed, it only means that if Achebe can make a mark as a writer, I too can.

Chinua Achebe, one of West Africa’s award winning novelists, turned 80, November 16. Born in Ogidi, Anambra State, Achebe who is known for his novels, Things Fall Apart (1958), No Longer at Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964), studied at the University College Ibadan, now University of Ibadan. He is a recipient of the Order of the Federal Republic, 1979 and the National Productivity Award, 1999. He was listed for the Commander of the Federal Republic in 2004 but rejected it as a protest against the lack of infrastructures in the country. Achebe is also the author of the novels, A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987), amongst a long list of Short Stories, Children Stories, Poetry Collections and Essays. He is the current winner of the Gish Prize, an award for extraordinary impact in their field.

Nigeria and the Church

I had just gotten from an event.One of the events I particularly have reservations for are a religious events, because you begin to wonder whether you are in a church service on a Saturday. Perhaps, you begin to wonder if you have converted yourself from the sunday pentecostal churches to the Seven Days Adventist or the Jehovah Witness. I had attended some of these events but today's event was different.

It was an Annual Anniversary Lecture of Providence Baptist Church, Dopemu Lagos titled The Church and the Problem of Political Mandate in Nigeria at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday 13th November 2010. It was the fourth lecture series that had positioned and posited the Nigerian Christian Community on their roles in Politics and Democratic governance. Professor Yessufu Obaje of the Nigerian Baptist Seminary, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria and the erstwhile Presidential Adviser on Christian Religious Matters to President Olusegun Obasanjo, (now former President)presented a paper which was originally titled "2011 Election: You and God" was readjusted to the latter topic. President at the occasion were Anointed Men of God from the Baptist Church, Nigerian Convention such as Reverend Bolaji Oduola, Pastor-in-Charge, Providence Baptist Church and his wife, Grace, Rev. Dr Ademola Ishola, General Secretary, Nigerian Baptist Convention, ably represented by Rev.GA Awotunde, General Secretary of Conference, Lagos East Rev. Dr SAA Olaide, Rev J Aremu,Confernce Chairman, Lagos West, Adeniyi Adeniji, Conference Secretary Lagos West.

I and a good friend Abraham Oladipopu of the guardian newspaper were there to cover the event.

Now straight to the words that made the event worth it and better than other religious events. Lest I forget, Obaje is a professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, the President of Peace on Earth Mission and the former president of the Baptist Convention. He is a completely intellectual, philosophical and spiritual personality. A situation largely missing in the Nigerian Christian Commmunity. Obaje was also the Former Chancellor, Bowen University, Iwo, Ogun State and Former Chaplain, State House, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has also contested for the post of Niger State Governor which he lost. According to him, he lost because he was not ready to bribe his way into the Niger State house.



Read these words if its difficult to read the above

On the National Assembly

There is a need to sanitise the national assembly. These are one of the national evils. lawmakers are not supposed to lawless but these ones are ready to breach the constitution " after all we are the lawmakers

.

On Politics

Politics is not a dirty game but 90% of Nigerians who say they are politicians are satan-centered politicians

God is a politician, whether we like it or not. Its about God's authority over creation

(note, I used to say this at the University back then and people used to hate me for it, now a priest turned politician is saying it again.

On Politicians

They Steal and Steal until they steal their own souls out of heaven

Let us have a law for people who steal our money (as a nation, in corporate world), all your titles would be dropped and any occasion they go they should introduce them as Thief this, thief that for ten years

On Nigerian Education

honourary degrees are given so that they (the awardees)can give them money.Even those who can hardly spell their names

On the Church

We need to act and pray, else we would have trouble on our hands

The church must come to terms to the reality of its role in politics, else it will lose its relevance. Politics is the mission of the church.

It is now our responsibility to rewrite of our theological history

On Nation building

There are three national cancers that needs to be attended to in Nigeria, Wickedness, Ignorance and Poverty.

On Nigerian People

The phrase, Good people, I respect Honourable Minister, Dora Akinyuli but I cannot accept it. How many Nigerians can spend their children to the village. You are afraid of the good people who are there

The highest level of dehumanisation is for people to control your conscience

Christians are uncommitted spectators in politics

On Free and Fair Elections

Nobody should expect free, just and fair election. Ignorance is pivotal to the problem of Nigerian elections

A Deadly Cargo from Iran

pics courtesy The Punch Newspapers.

But for the vigilance of the police, the State Security Service and the Department of Military Intelligence 13 containers of ammunition would have gone into wrong hands through Apapa Wharf Port in Lagos. The ammunition including 24 crates each of various sizes of rocket launchers, grenades and other small ammunitions which were impounded last week, were allegedly imported from India. It was reported that MV CMA-CGM Everest, a ship which sailed from the Nhava Shava port in India from the 15 0f July and berthed in Nigeria in the early weeks in October.

Security officials claimed that documents about the containers indicated that they were building materials from an unknown shipping agent. But it was discovered that crates of tiles, glass wool and other building materials were used to conceal the ammunitions in the containers. The behaviour of the consignment’s clearing agent was said to have raised suspicion as he tried to bribe officials so that the containers could be moved from the AP Mollier Terminal, the major port terminal to an off-dock terminal. The agent also requested that screening of the goods should take place outside the ports. This therefore made the custom to invite other security officials to help search the containers.

Marilyn Ogar, SSS Assistant Director, Public relations told journalists that “ on opening the first container, security operatives discovered rocket launchers, grenades and other smaller ammunitions”, Wale Adeniyi, spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service also confirmed the discovery of heavy ammunitions in the containers. In a statement credited to Dikko Abdullahi, Comptroller General of Customs, he assured that the customs were investigating the matter. “Our system is configured to block suspicious importation of this nature” Abdullahi noted. He also informed pressmen that the importer did not complete the necessary papers and that they suspected that his name was also fictitious.

Owuye Azazi, National Secretary Adviser accompanied by police commissioners, senior customs officers and Chris Olakpe, commandant of police bomb squad visited the APM Terminal. Azazi told journalist after inspecting the confiscated artillery that those behind the importation would be arrested speedily. He promised that “ investigations will unravel those behind it and what they intend to do”. On the suspicion that the weapons would be used to disturb the peace of the forthcoming elections, Azazi refused to agree to those suspected intention as he said “ investigation would uncover the intention of those behind the act. We do not want to make hasty conclusions on the matter” Azazi said. President Goodluck Jonathan had lauded the nation’s security agencies for their vigilance which led to the discovery of imported arms.

Gun running through the nation’s porus lax land and sea borders has created serious security threats in the country bringing about an increase in the number of smugglers, kidnappers, armed robbers, and political thugs. In June last year, security men impounded a Russian aircraft with 18 crates of firearms believed to be on its way to Equatorial Guinea. The aircraft landed in Kano City to refuel, when it was impounded.

The heaps of ammunitions dropped by the Niger Delta militants under the amnesty programme caused a stir considering their quantity and level of sophistication. In May 2010, a car bomb explosion occurred along in Yenegoa few metres away from the hotel belonging to the Peremobowei Ebebi, deputy governor of the State. His home was also attacked in July 23 and heavy explosives and guns were used. Although none of his family members were injured a private guard was killed. Nigerian’s were shocked when on the day of the country’s golden independence anniversary, two car bombs exploded near the Eagle Square in Abuja killing no fewer than 15 persons.

Many Nigerians are worried that discoveries and seizures of arm caches do not go beyond mere arrests of the suspects and media blitz. Many of the suspects and their sponsors escape trail and punishment shortly after arrests. Meanwhile, Isreal has claimed ownership of the ammunitions, we hope the Nigerian government applies the global laws on Arms dealing. The nation should also be vigilant about the impounded ammunition falling into the hands of political thugs and religious bigots.

FELA’S Biography Comes HOME

Cassava Republic, a publisher in Nigeria would be publishing in English, Fela; A Bitch of Life by Carlos Moore. The authoritative biography was first published in French language in 1982. The 350 pages book takes the reader around the labyrinth of the life, struggles and Times of Fela, one of Africa's most celebrated music icon. Moore writes from the humble beginnings of posthumous Grammy award winner to his black consciousness days as a student in England. His musical evolution and his return to Nigeria to fulfil purpose was not left out in Fela: A Bitch of Life.
Fela was no doubt a brazenly fearless agent of change who guided the mind with his music with both blunt truths and satire. The book also reveals Fela's stunning music skills, his anti colonial, anti oppression messages that made him a regular visitor of the Nigerian prisons during the military era. Nevertheless, Moore notes his undoubting and undaunting spirit of the late Icon in the face of these threats.
The book does not limit itself with the musical prowess of Fela alone. It gives pages to interviews with Fela's wives. Opening up aside of Fela many people do not know, Fela as lover and husband.



Fela remains one of the few Nigerians with both an authorised book, a film on Broadway in Hollywood and a yearly celebration in the famous kalakuta shrine. Felabration, the yearly event for the late icon is scheduled for October. Also, the author of the biography will be will be touring Nigeria this coming October. He will be at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Sabo Lagos, French Cultural Centre, Wuse, Abuja on the 9th and 16 of October respectively.




Carlos Moore is a cuban political scientist in exile. He was persecuted by Castro when he opposed Castro racial policies. He left his native cuba for guinea in 1963 and had since served as an in house journalist for Agence France-presse. Moore who is fluent in five languages is also a specialist on West African affairs for the international weekly, Jeune Afrique. He also served as personal consultant to the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, now African Unity,AU. He specializes in African, Latin-American and Caribbean affairs. Moore is currently a honorary research fellow at the University of West Indies. He currently lives in Brazil.
Other books written by the author are, Pichón. Race and Revolution in Castro´s Cuba, África que Incomoda, Racismo e Sociedade, African Presence in the America, and Cette Putain de Vie.

A Date with Toni Kan’s Infidelity

A Date with Toni Kan’s Infidelity



Literary Buffs and friends of Toni Kan’s have been wondering what has become of Kan’s creative stories. Kan, the current editor of The Sun’s Art page is known for Night of the Creaking Bed, his collection of Short Stories, published in 2008. He is also the author of When a dream lingers too long, a poetry collection, and Ballad of rage, a novella, which he got honourable mentions at the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, and Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG literature prize in 2003 and 2004 respectively. He is involved in Infidelity amongst other things at the moment.
Infidelity is Kan’s forthcoming collection of urbane short stories set to be published later this year. Readings of Harbinger and Wasiu Karimu don Hammer, two of the stories of the unpublished collection was organised by the author and Kaine Agary, winner of the NNLG prize for Literature 2009 and author of Yellow Yellow, at Lifehouse,Victoria Island on 0ctober 14. Kan said that infidelity talks about crime, conning, and unfaithfulness.
Harbinger is about a Nigerian military man with the responsibility of informing family members of the demise of their breadwinners fighting at the Liberian peacekeeping front. Although the harbinger keeps to his duty, the story reads “he sleeps with the widows,...who told you...my Dad told my mum, my mum told me. The harbinger truly does use the loopholes of the military structure to feather his sexual nest, as he drives his 504 to the homes of emotionally troubled widows. The Harbinger lies to the wife of a military man who is alive in Liberia and had his way with her, that began the end of such activities. Wasiu Karimu don Hammer is a funny story about the frustration of the average Nigerian who began a life of infidelity with policemen in order to gain financial standing.
see pictures,
Highlights of the event were a room for questions and discussions. One of the issues discussed was the portrayal of negatives and poverty in Nigerian Literature. While some described it as a sort of exoticism that has cast a shadow on the existing hopes, excellence and aspiration of the people, others justified these writings, they said, “it was the duty of writer’s to create out of the existing realities”. Other issues were about the Art, philosophy and influence of Fela on the individuals present, and books that gained the approval and disapproval of Toni Kan, as fela’s song played at the background.
“Infidelity is about being untruthful, not being faithful. It does not necessarily have to do with sex as one may think” Kan told the magazine. He also revealed “ I am also engrossed with writing a novel entitled Lasgidi and its so interesting, I can’t stop writing”.

Mandela Reflects, Conversations with Myself

Mandela Reflects, Conversations with Myself

What has been described as Mandela's last and definitive biography before he goes whereever he goes was made public on October 12.Conversations with Myself, a book written by Verne Harris, an archivist at the Mandela Foundation with the help of a team of archivists, editors and collaborators with materials such as notes, letters, recorded materials, amongst others. Mandela, the 92 year old South African former president’s new book throws up the psychological conflicts in humans just like in James Joyce’s Portrait of a Youngman as an Artist.
Conversation with Myself reveals the human frailties and the pains of sacrifice of Anthi-Aparthed Hero. The Book is a huge deviation from the brave and saintly tone in Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela's 1995 autobiography. Long Walk to Freedom was reported to have been used to elevate Anti-Aparthied Activists to new roles as South-African leaders and to unite the white South-Africans with the Black ones. Conversations with Myself, seem contrary with the 1995 autobiography as Mandela reavels "My installation as the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa was imposed on me much against my own advice," saying he would have wanted a younger person to be the first president of the Country.
In Conversations with Myself, Mandela reveals his frustration of not spending time with his children due to the several imprisonments at the behest of the Anti-Apartheid Struggle."I find it difficult to believe that I will never see thembi again. On February 23 this year he turned 24. I had seen him towards the end of July 1962 a few days after I had returned from a trip
abroad. Then he was a lusty lad of 17 that I could never associate with death...I was deeply touched for the emotional factors underlying his action were too obvious. For days thereafter my mind and feelings were agitated to realize the psychological strains and stresses my absence from home had imposed on the children." This was an excerpt from the book, originally a letter written to his then-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, after he was informed of the death of his eldest son, thembi, in a car accident in 1969.
There is no doubt that Mandela did not only lose his youthful gait but also his relationship with children, for his activism. Mandela says in his new book that "I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." He also talks about his many divorces, first with Evelyn Ntoko Mase was troublous as she never supported his activism while his marriage and was reportedly froth with scences of violence. His second marriage to Winnie Madikizela came crashing in 1992, two years after he came of 27 years in prison for sabotage and attempted coup plot against the Aparthied government.
All of Mandela’s life is not full of sadness, as one may be wont to think. Conversations with Myself also recalls the humour that has not left Madiba. He also reveals that he was offered up to 1 million rand ($145,500) for a picture of himself by a magazine shortly before his release,"So I refused, and poor, you know to be poor is a terrible thing," Mandela said. The romantic yearnings of Mandela towards Winne are also sources of inspiration for lovers, "my sleeping without you next to me and my waking up without you close to me, the passing of the day without my having seen you".
Barrack Obama, sums it all in the forward he wrote in Conversations with Myself, "By offering us this full portrait, Nelson Mandela reminds us that he has not been a perfect man. Like all of us, he has his flaws. But it is precisely those imperfections that should inspire each and every one of us,". Obama says in the foreword tha his full portraiture makes him gain a high respect for Madiba.

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: காம்பஸ் ஒப் தி Heart

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: காம்பஸ் ஒப் தி Heart: "Review, Compass of the Heart These last months, I have been reading a book titled Compass of the Heart written b..."

காம்பஸ் ஒப் தி Heart

Review, Compass of the Heart

These last months, I have been reading a book titled Compass of the Heart written by Priscilla Cogan. Drawing extensively from the rich indian tradition, the book reels on the importance of tradition and the fact that rich traditions of the world are going into extinction.

I bought the book at the University of Lagos,Lagos, Nigeria, where I went to attend a political conference. It took some time to read it because I felt that I was in for a boring anthropological lecture in the form of a novel.However, one of the first attractions for me was that it was published by HarperCollins, one of America's formidable publishers. Also, that there was no problem with clarity. It's a book with a universal appeal-anyone can relate to it.I bought it 500naira but according to Random House it nineteen dollars.

Love also takes centre stage even by the title. However, beyond the famed tale of love battles and triump. Compass of the Heart gives insights into the psychology of the average human being. Characters are well shaped, well carved.

Another great attraction for me are the use of worlds, quotes, limericks and songs from the indian tradition. For me, there is a lot of similarity between indian and African traditions.Check the next post for quotes for 10 best quotes used in the book.


Nevertheless, one should not be to surprised about the full grasp cogan has on her subject. Cogan is a Clinical Pyschologist with a PhD.A practitioner of pipe and sweat-lodge ceremonies . She is also the author of Winona's Web, winner of the Small Press Book Award.Its a book you wont drop when you start the very first lines. Visit for more info.

காலேஜ் நியூஸ்

A Boston man was arraigned this morning in Waltham District Court in the stabbing death of a Waltham man last week on the campus of Regis College in Weston.

Judge Gregory Flynn order Robenson Daniel, 20, held without bail.

Police arrested Daniel this morning and charged him with last week's stabbing death of a Waltham man at Regis College.

Daniel, 20, is charged with murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and armed assault with the intent to murder.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, in a statement, says Daniel killed Elhadji Ndiaye, 18, of Waltham, on Friday, Sept. 24 at 3:50 a.m. in a parking lot at Regis College.

Authorities said Ndiaye and Daniel were both with groups of friends and visiting students at Regis College when the two groups got into an argument inside the dorm, which spilled out into the parking lot.

Once outside, the argument turned physical. Daniel stabbed an unidentified 22-year-old Waltham man several times. He then stabbed Ndiaye as he was standing nearby, the district attorney's office said in a statement.

However, Daniel's lawyer, Mark Shea, argued his client should be released on low bail because he was defending himself from a group of men, including one who claimed to have a gun, and the alleged victim, who had a crowbar.

He said the whole incident was caught on video and will prove it was a case of self defense.

The state medical examiner's office ruled that Ndiaye died of a single stab wound to the chest. The other man was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where he was treated and released.

"This is another tragic example of the deadly consequences that too oftentimes occur when young people resort to weapons as a way to settle disputes,'' said Leone. "Because of the alleged violent actions of this defendant, a young life was lost and his family's lives altered forever. We continue to expand our efforts in schools to include colleges and universities in Middlesex County, as the issues such as these that we see in high school do not disappear when students go off to college. In fact, the freedom that college provides often exacerbates such issues.

Peanuts for Writers

This poem is culled from my unpublished Collection of Poems titled Love,Thoughts and Melancholy.It's long but It's so interestingly realistic that you will be through before you know it.

The poem also give an opinion on the question on the poll.

PEANUTS FOR WRITERS

Peanuts
When the ramblings are greater than the deep thought preambles
The lyrics of mumblings and weed
Are rich in pockets but poor in nuggets
Peanuts for writers
Journeying in dangerous filth
Of scrapping paper and internet dustbins
When the mere shouts of jollying and gallivanting
Needs no journey to be what needs to be


Pea
The nuts are getting cracked
The bad ones are getting glad
Paradise for the bad
Hellish smiles of worn clothes and burdened heart for the good

‘man , be grateful’
‘I am’
Grateful that nobody reads,
Little ratio with all sense of scrapping rationale
Grateful that MILLS AND BOON gives Amanda and Teju Cole, ‘fisan and ‘dare trouble
Grateful that nobody knows the readings as much as they know the CONCERTS




This is a heavy cross
Many horsewhips landing on the back and near the eye lid
To be a writ in the uncommon book of ordination
To be a madman troubled by the tales and the cymbals of the muses
Is a cross crossing like the corner piece; the proud home of the terrible witches
Rushdie must shake hands with JAYZ
For what draws them apart is not only the senses
it is far more than 50cents



‘I will be wished away soon by family
For nothing is my salary’
I am the salary of mankind
They buff and give nothing
They spit into their voices and clad it in their hatred
Thank God, their voices have a separate throat.

Peanuts for writers
Peanuts for writers
Though proud and regal in scribbling
Conjoining phrases in the sanity of spaces
The mad ones have the loot
The jives
The laughs
The cloth and clout
The murders
The robberies
The healing miracles
The strategic politics
All well paid like the gluttonous god; the mouth
And his cousin the stomach
But the keeper of remembrances
Left in the beggarly embrace of nil existences.




Eat the groundnut like a chipmunk
Be rough and scraggy
Walking into the sun- ‘so hot, nice global warming’
See your others from the same university and find it hard to eat
Find it hard to get married as you’re marred even before marriage
Rage within, smile and inquire
That earns you a slap from a useless policeman
Get shot and die- a reportage turns the hand to a pottage for the earthworms



If you like yourself become a writer
Become a writer
It is a severance from the goodies
All you will earn is respect
But respect cannot eat three square meals
Respect cannot bask in the euphoria of the times
A name that has no stomach
A voice that has no pocket
A mouth that eats peanuts
A hand that types till daybreak and beyond
If you like yourself become a writer
Blog till you die
Whether your blog makes you better than the blockhead!


Life has thrust upon the writers, a life to write
words begat everything
God is a writer
ALAS, we are the devils cast upon the earth to propagate the divine gift.

HE takes time to write the book of life
and the sequel, death
Invoice in, Invoice out
Writing will outlive man
But can the writer outlive hunger?



HOPE, I SAY HOPE
Amidst the peril of Soyinka
ALL MAY END WELL LIKE A CHILD’S STORY
HOPE, I SAY HOPE
But all mankind struggles for the single space
The doorway of hope is small in NIGERIA
The heated saucepans too many.
HOPE IN STRONG BEER
HOPE IN EMPTY LAUGHTER
HOPE IN WORLD CUP TICKETS
HOPE IN the awards but pretend ‘I don’t write for the awards’
‘Then I guess you write for the failures’-in the fragments of failed royalties.
Peanuts for writers
Lengthy scribbles breeds shorter audiences.

Laughing! When it's not Funny

You don't need to know what happened during the great flood if you were in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, this evening. It was a great flood but this time with less disasters.
It was raining heavily and even the gutters were vomiting their contents on the road. the road meant for cars became very close to being used by Speed boats. I was drenched, so drenched I was competing with Yemoja in wetness.



But I was laughing. I really don't know laughter filled my throats these days. I wanted to curse but I just couldn't ...I was so cold I need a warm embrace from...(haahahah)
Women were shouting on top of their voices, passengers were complaining that the buses were not as good as umbrellas. the air was a backlash of angry airs. My shoes were soaked, my socks sucked till it began to convulse. It was all good though, it was some form of baptism.


Today of all days, today that I almost got my first memo from one of my no-nonsense editors. Today... but after the issues were sorted out-that's what I can tell
you.Then I was shocked, so fast? so fast! As in, so fast! but I think the angels waded in.

After all the troubles, I can only say I have been prepared for the worst. My past failures as a growing child and as a student in the University have made me
tough at heart and with enough pricking pins to kick back. I am left in this wide pool of life and I am learning to swim. I have grown my gills. I am left to
grow my skill. I love reality than fiction. I love harsh reality than fictional hope. I have gotten gashes but I have decided not to stop the gashes in this warfare of thoroughfares. In many trains of traducers, I have fought. What else do you want from me but laughter.

I have learnt to prepare for the worst.

Now I am just reflecting. No disrespect to my boss. In fact, I love her and her leadership technique.But before, I would have being in tears even after
the saving grace. All that innocent fear is gone at life's gun point. when you learn that there will be many Gun points, you prepare yourself with
experience or other techniques to prevent being gone.

Life is teacher with grey hair, big spectacle like a retired postman, laughing at all of us for hurdles we cross, we manage to cross and fail to cross.

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: We are going Roundabout

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: We are going Roundabout: "We are going Roundabout on the Roundtable Rounds upon Rounds Punching the punching bag to denegrating pillows We are Rigging, just as we al..."

We are going Roundabout

We are going Roundabout on the Roundtable
Rounds upon Rounds
Punching the punching bag to denegrating pillows

We are Rigging, just as we all Rigmarole
In every hub that vents, lies a mole

Our Father who art in heaven...
in Hallowed... these hall of godfathers

Yet we have the patience of the pastor and his parishioner
ready to perish for their commission and commissioners

President, all that we know about you is dent
dented
Contestants, you are doing a good job at hiding your satans
Electorates, the fool nobody rates
the fool that bears the brunt of beer rates.
Nothing to add but adverts.

my love

my love
thy hair is one kingdom
the king whereof is darkness
thy forehead is a flight of flowers

thy head is a quick forest
filled with sleeping birds
thy breasts are swarms of white bees
upon the bough of thy body
the body to me is April
in whose is the approach of spring

thy thighs are white horses yoked to a chariot
of kings
they are the striking of a good minstrel
between them is always a pleasant song

my love
the head is a casket
of the cool jewel of thy mind
the hair of thy head is one warrior
innocent of defeat
thy hair upon thy shoulder is an army
with victory and with trumpets

thy legs are the trees of dreaming
whose fruit is the very eatage of forgiveness

thy lips are satraps in scarlet
in whose kiss is the combining of kings
thy wrists
are holy
which are the keepers of the keys of thy blood
thy feet upon thy ankles are flowers in vases
of silver

in thy beauty is the dilemma of flutes

thy eyes are the betrayal
of bells comprehended through incense
Written by e.e cummings

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: Bearing It

Churning Spades and Spinning Yarns: Bearing It: "My lover would leave in the morning at 5 o'clock Oh sorry-off to work before 5'o clock she will tell me my fight was seduction and that sh..."

It is BUT Fear

It is but fear of a paint
to sit beneath the pail

It is but fear of a painter
to paint what is stale




It is but fear of a portrait
to be ignored by the grand visitors



To miss the reference of the holy grail
is but fear of a priest



It is

IT IS
but FEAR of mankind to fail

Bearing It

My lover would leave in the morning
at 5 o'clock
Oh sorry-off to work before 5'o clock
she will tell me my fight was seduction
and that she enjoyed us.



My lover will come home late at night
and will not seek me-thought I am there unhearing the tales of terrible traffic
By 4'o clock, she will spur for a fight
that fight!



IS IT AN EARLY MORNING DOSAGE?
WHAT IS ALL THIS ABOUT?
SO THIS IS WHAT ALL THIS IS ABOUT?
the world is a hybrid of pigeon holes and roundabouts
what we feed on, is not what we live on.



She wants what I don't want
-to make babies-I guess, I don't really know what she wants!
When I want her to hold
she leaves me in the cold
to rein over rains and the lonesomeness of the early rays




My love leaves at 3'o clock
with a quarrel of some sought
I AM FINDING SOMETHING TO EAT
TO MAKE ME HAPPY
JUST ANYTHING TO FINGER AND TASTE
TO ANYTHING TO DIP IN A HASTE-told my elder sister the tale.

She knocks loudly at 4'o clock
Open
And without caution, rushly gets what we both want
SPONTANEOUS!
Conflict and climax like a book by anybody worth it.

Wait
Wait what does she want?
She will be leaving at 5'O CLOCK
with her unstable heart being crested
with my unstable mind still feasted.
Femi Morgan

Memories through the lenses of lesser words

Picture 1: Reading a poem from an anthology to a couple of friends on my birthday. A lot of them enjoyed it. For those who endured it thanks for not spoiling the party with grumbles. For those who did, thanks. Now to your tents oh Israel.

An exclusive with Nigeria's motion picture dame, Kate Henshaw-nuttal, published on Tell Magazine. She is not only an artist but a woman of fine words and intelligence. Guys should find this kind of woman.

Coherence

Coherence

Are you dumb?
that's just a question
has nothing to do with you

there is no need to strap yourself
to the wheels of mystery
to the wiles of philosophy

there is no need to win at all cost
for what was once found was once lost
all the costly
runs to the fellowship of fishes beneath the river



As I await a descent publisher to get his acts straight
There is no pub to drink like a fish in water
my lady of silence
I am running mad with rewinded issues
and scripts upon scripts
Milestones heaped upon milestones
without your caressing grace
without the warmth of your smile
without your fingers...
without the excitement of mischief

gardens are guarded
goals are goaded
graces are strangely grappled
but the weights
by life is lightened by you
With you,I am a calmly colored Art Work
published in the most distinguished heart
flipped with heart beats
always left open.