BENIN OBA IS 30 YEARS ON THRONE.

The Oba of Benin, Omo'N'oba Erediauwa, on Monday 23rd March, 2009, celebrated the 30th year anniversary of his coronation as the traditional ruler of the ancient Benin kingdom.
The monarch ascended the throne of his fore fathers as the king of the kingdom on March23, 1979.

Baba BAbalola 'rele, o digba'

Emeritus Professor Solomon Adeboye Babalola, B.A, M.A (Contab), Ph.D Litt., NMON, is dead.
The Late S.A. Babalola, Author of many books, became a full professor of African Languages and Literature, University of Lagos in 1969. The position he held until 1986.
In 1987, he became Professor Emeritus Of Yoruba Literature, University Of Lagos.

ADIEU PROF. ADIELE AFIGBO

Prof. Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo, a foremost Nigerian Historian passed away in Enugu, Enugu State on March 9, 2009.
Afigbo was born in Ihube, Okigwe in Imo State. He attended Ihube Methodist Boys Central School, Ihube in 1944 and later moved to St. Augustine (CMS) Grammar School, Nkwerre, Orlu Imo State Through an Okigwe Native Administration scholarship won in competitive examination.

MULTI CULTURE CHIEF IS 75

Otunba Olasubomi Balogun is not only the Chairman of the First City Group alone, he also holds series of chieftancy titles to make him qualify as a cultured man.
Born March 9, 1934 at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, he was educated at Igbobi college, Lagos; Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan, London School Of Economics, London University, London, He was called to English Bar in 1959.
He was former Crown Cousel, Ministry of Justice, Western Region, 1961, Parliamentary Counsel, Secretary, Nigerian Industrial Development Bank Limited, 1966--1975.
Executive Director, ICON Securities Ltd.,1973; ICON Ltd. (Merchant Bankers), 1975 -- 1977; Executive Chairman, City Securities Ltd.,1979 -83; Chairman, First City Monument Bank Ltd., Chairman CSL Stock brokers Ltd; UI Ventures Ltd.(University of Ibadan), since 1989; First City Group.
Member and fellow of many professional associations, NIM, CIBN, CIS e.t.c. Confered with Honourary Doctor of Law degree LLD (Honoris Causa), University Of Ibadan, awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science, D.Sc (Honoris Causa) in Management Science, Ogun State University,(now Olabisi Onabanjo Univerity), Ago Iwoye, 1999, Commander of the Order Of Niger; Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Law School by Legal Coucil of Education, 2004.
He holds the traditional title of Otunba Tunwase of Ijebu-Ode, The Olori Omo Oba of Akile Ijebu and The Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians.
N.B. profiled culled from the new WHO'S WHO in Nigeria third edition, NIBC.

VILLAGE HEADMASTER FATHER IS 74

Chief Olusola Segun, Diplomat, broadcaster, television producer and director was born on March 18, 1935 and will be 74 on March 18, 2009.

He was educated at St. Jones Catholic School, Wesley school, Iperu, Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, Ogun State; Syracuse University New York, USA; Pittsburg University, USA; National Institute For Policy And Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.

His career span through Junior Technical Assistant, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation [(NBC), now Federal Radio Corporation Of Nigeria(FRCN)], Ibadan, Broadcasting Officer, NBC, Features Producer.

He was Africa's first television producer, Western Nigeria Broadcasting Services/Television; Executive Producer, Controller Programmes, NBC/T; General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority(NTA), Lagos and Zonal Managung Director, Director Commercial, NTA.

He was former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Organisation of African Unity. He was the founding Director, Players of the dawn, Ibadan, Founding Director, Theatre Express, Lagos, Chairman, National Festival Committee, Nigeria Arts Council, Director, Second All-Nigeria Festival Of Arts and Culture, Vice Chairman, National Museum Society.

Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation Of Nigeria Planning Committee, Second All African Games, Lecturer, Nigerian Institute Of Journalism, Chairman, Lagos, Centre for Cultural Studies, Founder/President, African Refugee Foundation, Chairman, Ajibule Moniya Gallery; Talents Associates Of Nigeria Ltd; Vice Chairman, Didi Museum, LAgos.

He was writer/series producer, Broke Time Bar, a radio drama series, 1962; Associate Producer, Taiwo Sango, a television feature film 1965, Writer/Director, Morning Moon and Night, Lagos, Edinburg, 1967; Writer, Series Creator, Village Headmaster, 1968, Writer, Associate Director, My Brother Children.

He married Elsie Thomas-Nkune, (Deceased) a.k.a Sisi Clara of the famous Village Headmaster's fame.

NB: the profile is culled from the new WHO'S WHO in Nigeria, third edition by Nigerian International Biography Centre.

ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL COMES OF AGE

The year 2009 annual Argungu cultural fishing festival was held on March 14th, in Kebbi State, Nigeria.
The fishing and cultural festivalwhich originated in 1934 has transformed into a big tourist attraction.
Men and boys in their hundreds would enter the river with large fish nets, accompanied by canoes full of drummers and men, rattling huge seed-filled gounds.
They move to the shallow water for a catch.
Kebbi State Governor has reaffirmed its commitment to developing its socio-cultural endownment by continuing to hold the annual Argungu international fishing And cultural festival.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman main committee of the festival, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, said the present administration was committed to sustaining the festival through public private partnership.
He said the 75 year-old festival was born during a diplomatic visit of the 16th Sultan of Sokoto to Kabi kingdom. The festival was staged as part of the activities to welcome him.

PASSAGE OF ARTS AND LITERARY

Passage Of Arts and Literary Icons

The year 2008 witnessed the passage of so many people and as well as many births.

Death is inevitable as we will all be pronounced dead one day, but why it is painful is because some are avoidable and can be avoided if the right things are done at the right time. A stitch in time saves nine, so they say.

For instance, if there are good road networks, accident would be reduced the bearest minimum, and where we can boast of good health facilities, untimely deaths will be controlled.

The long arm of death caught erudite Professors like Prof. Ime Ikiddeh of former University of Legon, Ghana, University of Makerere, Kenya, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, University of Calabar and University of Uyo after a brief illness.

Also, Dr. Femi Fatoba, schorlar, writer and actor, lost his life to an untimely death, occassioned by a road accident with some lecturer colleaques.

Others are brillant editor, Abayomi Ogundeji, reknowned musicologist, Steve Rhodes, Ozidi King, Sunny Okosun, highlife Musician Oliver de Coque; Kenerry highlife musician, Orlando Owoh; young musician Sunny Needle.

Also lost to the insatiable hand of death were two former lead characters in Village Headmaster; Oba Funso Adeolu and Oba Wole Amele.

SUSAN WENGER IS CULTURED.

The parents of Susan Wenger did not know what the future had in store for their daughter when she was born. If not, culture would probably have been included in her name.

They also did not know that she would not live and died an Austrian, they would propably have travelled down to Africa, precisely Nigeria, to give birth to her.

But man proposes, God disposes. Susan Wenger, an Austrian-born popularly called Adunni Olorisa, carved a niche for herself with her legendary devotion to Orisa Obatala.

At first, critics were really confused of her genuine motive for Yoruba culture when she came to Nigeria, until she became so devoted and committed.

Adunni arrived Nigeria in 1950 at age 35, as the accompanying wife of Ulli Beier and settled in Ede where she proclaimed her devotion to Obatala, later with the aid of New Sacred Art Movement, a group of artists she founded, built shrine and erected some sculptures for Orisa at Osun groves where she finally settled and died in January 12, 2009, at age 93.

Adunni used her wealth of experience to uplift African art and culture to an international standard.The Osun grove where she proved her mettle was transformed to a level that made the UNESCO confered recognition on the sacred forest as a world tourist centre.

According to Osun State Action Congress (AC), governorship candidate, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, the federal government should immortalise renowned Osun devotee, Susan.

Aregbesola who was represented by his media aide, Gbenga Fayemiwo, described the death of Wenger, a.k.a Adunni Olorisa, as "the end of an era".

He also asserted that "her promotion of Osun festivalas a veritable cultural heritage of Yoruba, Nigerian and African peoples is remarkable and historical.

she worked tirelessly for the creation of the Osogbo School of Arts while it is a final testimony of her promotion of contribution to the promotion of our culture most especially Osun Osogbo.

We called on the federal government to immortalise Adunni Olorisa for her leading role in the making of Nigeria as a cultural heritage where the past is preserved for the present and as beckon for future" Aregbesola said.

Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola described her death as a national loss.

Oyinlola said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr LAsisi Olagunju, that Wenger's efforts earned global recognition for Osun Osogbo festival.

He said, "This is the end of an era. Wenger came to Yorubaland in the early 1950s with her partner, (Ulli) Beier, in search of their spiritual essence (Ori Inu), which she found in the serene spirituality of Osun.

"Wenger represents the enduring bridge across continents and cultures".

Also, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Oyewale Matanmi, said the Osun devotee lived a fulfilled life.

welcome to the world of cultural tips

If i choose to address my audience as cultured colleaques, its not supposed to be out of context afterall, lawyers too are 'learned colleaques'.

I welcome you all once again to the world of cultural tips, where we can brainstorm on issues of culture as it affect our lives as individual or as groups. Africa without mincing words is home of culture and we can not discuss Africa culture at this fora, but we can discuss what we have at the time we have it, that is if there is any festival or issues relating to culture at a particular period, we are going to dwell on it here, you can also get informations, news items on culture here.

Furthermore, every other time, we will always discussed other issues on culture but mainly Nigerian culture, and yoruba culture as case study.

welcome on board.

NIGERIANS ARE THEIR WORST ENEMIES

Although, this headline may sound somehow, but each time i ponder on the problems combating this nation and tried to proffer possible solutions to it, i therefore, concluded that they are self inflicted.
To start with, since i came to the earth, about forty years ago, no mortal in this country comprising both the rulers and the ruled have exhibited love for this country, i can not found a single iota of patriotism in any citizen.
This is a country where an office aspirant will stand before the people promising heaven and earth to seek for mandate. After getting into office they Lord it over to the citizen.

Everything about him will change, his children will not school with the 'talakawas' in the country again, but the best brain in the best schools abroad. The wife will not buy foodstuffs in the country market again but abroad, everything in the country becomes inferior to him.

The security around him will not allowed old friends to visit him again, except some selected boot leekers. He will come out to preach to us to patronise made in Nigerian goods, but will take the back door to Germany to shop for himself.

If our friend has promised good roads, good healthcare facilities, the best of education, regular electricity supply, better transportation e.t.c, the first one and half year would be used to understurdy the country situation and to see how much the past leaders have ruined the country.

The second year is to start the campaign of calumny, destroying the former occupants of his seat so that their families name be brought into disrepute in order to make sure that such persons or their families will never assume the mantle of leadership again, so he will be seen as a saint who brook no nonsence.

The third year is for payment of the debt the country have been lured to incurred so that he can make friends with other rulers to give him grants and debt forgiveness to manage the country.

The fourth year will be to start patching of roads, importing fake drugs to our hospital, buying 'molues' and giving to private operators to run, digging wells and calling them bore-holes.

After all these so called laughables achievements, he will roled out drums and praise singers will start praising him to stay in office for another twelve years or forever and started campaigning for the bastard again.

Nigerians are like our local bus drivers who lack the culture of protest, each time our rights is infringed upon, we can't slug it out. Our leaders knows that we areilliterate elites, and they threat us like that.

We the governed are our worst enemies. our royal fathers and spiritual leaders who supposed to be the custodian of our culture and faith becomes bad examples to us, royal fathers can prostrate to thieves in the open in order to get what to eat, while spiritual leaders will assured even hired killers of God forgiveness after praying for them and collecting offerings for God.

There is no dignity in any labour again, because all of us are not committed to our works. Teachers only go to classes to mark their presence, whether the children who are tomorrows leaders achieved or not, that is their own cup of tea, all the teachers want is money, after school hours come and pay extra money to learn more.

Security agents are no more interested to defend and protect sovereignty, what they care for is money. Infact, in all sector or in all our daily lives, corruption have eaten deep to the extent that we don't value any other thing in our daily lives than money which they term as the root of all evil.

This is acountry where lust for money and selfishness have turned citizen against one another. There are stories that husband kills wife, children, mother, father and vice versa all for money making rituals.

This country where corpse of dead person is decomposing and people will still eat, dine and embark on trading activities, all they do is to keep some distance so that law enforcement agents would not come to quizzed them for questioning concerning the death.

I witnessed somew years back when a trailer crushed some roadside traders under a popular bridge in Lagos, killing six people in the process. The place was deserted but after about two hours, the place started bubbling again for business.

It is when we changed our attitude