The 'American' Concept

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a little dinner party with a few African-Americans and Nigerian-Americans here in Lagos.

The introductions were made, food and drink choices were given to the Waiters, and then we got into the tedious part of socializing: making conversation.

Fortunately, I was the newcomer on the table, so I became the silent (and amused) observer. This group of people was remarkable in the sense that they are doing really great work with a group of young boys in Lagos.

They train these boys in the game of Basketball and provide a standard facility for them to develop the acquired sport. They have really good plans for the kids and were very excited as they traded stories about their escapades in ‘giving back’.

One of them spoke about how excited and in awe the boys are of the fact that an American or group of Americans actually take out the time and come all the way into their part of town to mentor them. Others spoke about how the program allows the boys dream that they too can go and play for the major leagues in America.


Photo-Credit: Lukesegars.com

Commendable as the efforts being made by this group is, I couldn’t help but wonder about a certain aspect of it. It was clear to me that like many Nigerians, these young boys hold the idea of ‘America’ (which to most represent the possibility of attaining the dream being communicated to them on TV) and the West in the highest esteem.

The fact that they are so in awe of their ‘American’ trainer even though for the most part, they don’t understand what he says, reminds me of the way a lot of Nigerians I have come across also view the ‘American concept’.

To a lot of Nigerians, anything foreign (not Nigerian) is synonymous with quality. Western fashion, Western music; Western accents, products, names and even cultures, are exalted above and beyond the indigenous Nigerian ones.

It’s actually only recently that a youth sub-culture spurn out of Entertainment has begun to birth a collective sense of identity in young Nigerians.

‘America’ and the West in a lot of Nigerian minds, holds the key to a better existence; the hordes of people you find laboring under the torturous sun (and rain) daily in search of visas, by any means possible, is a testament to the perception most Nigerians have of the West.

Who can blame these young, aspiring pro-Basketball players, for feeling ‘lucky’ that unlike their brothers, relatives and friends who daily go in search of their big Western break, most times to no avail, the West instead came in search of them.

I’m always the first to celebrate good deeds when I see them; I’m excited about the fact that these kids have found an opportunity to express their dreams and skills. However, I wonder; I wonder about the long-tem effect on the psyche of these boys.

I wonder about the possible outcome of their lives in the event that they have come to associate ‘America’ alone with the terms ‘progress’ and ‘opportunity’. What about the sense of racial inferiority they could possibly develop (if not already)?

‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’

How do you prevent a noble gesture such as this from further depleting the eroded sense of national identity and pride that is like a cancer in many young Nigerians?

Where is the balance?

The Nigerian Philanthrophic Forum

The TY Danjuma Foundation is a Private Philanthropy organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life of Nigerians by supporting initiatives that improve access to health and educational opportunities.

With a vision of a Nigeria where all citizens can access affordable quality Healthcare, Education and equal opportunity to realize their potentials, the Foundation works mainly through grants to non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs, and Community Based Organizations, CBO's, in the country.

Since the commencement of their first Grant Cycle in August 2010, about N400m in grants has been awarded or approved for award to Grantees implementing projects cutting across the Foundation’s broad focal areas: Community Health Initiatives; Education Interventions; Poverty Alleviation through Income Generation Initiatives; and, Policy Advocacy in Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Edo, Taraba, Ondo and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Foundation seeks to encourage affluent Nigerians to adopt a Philanthrophic Culture and as a result has organized The Nigerian Philanthrophic Forum, the first-ever of its kind gathering here in Nigeria.



The primary aim of this Forum is to speak directly to Nigerians on the nobility of giving for the good of all, and the essence of touching lives.

The programme is scheduled to hold in Abuja on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2010, and will feature the Foundation’s Grantees; participants from organizations selected from among those who could not fulfill all the requirements for award of grants under the Foundation’s 2010 Grants Cycle; Corporate organizations such as Guaranty Trust Bank, Procter and Gamble, Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, and the African Women’s Development Fund; as well as key actors from the Civic sector.

TARIERE will also be actively present during this Forum as we share a similar passion for touching lives. Two TARIERE followers who are interested in attending the Forum will receive FREE Registration to participate in the Forum.

Please send me an e-mail on tariekiyor@hotmail.com stating why you want to participate.

Contact the Foundation on +234 70 4306 9156 or e-mail npf@tydanjumafoundation.org for more information

My Thoughts on the Independence Bomb Blast

We have all just been saddened by the news of the Bomb Explosions outside the Parade Ground in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as we celebrate our 50th year of Independence.

For the first time in a while, Nigerians were united in the celebration of something of national value. Everyone has something planned and the mood in Lagos and other major cities, towns and villages around the country has been festive.

And then this sad news that 8 people have been killed in the Blast!

What is this supposed to mean?

Who wants Nigerians to remember this occasion with mourning and gloom?

How are we supposed to react to this?

Are we to cancel all the celebrations we had planned today in honor of the lives which have been lost in this tragedy?

Should we all wear black and adopt somber long faces, forgetting that only hours ago, we were optimistic about our nation’s future?

Is it our civic responsibility to mourn on a day when we should ordinarily be celebrating?

*sigh* Nigeria..why?!

I would have liked to say right now that even though I commiserate with the families of those whose lives have been lost and am deeply sorrowful about their loss, that I refuse to be depressed by this tragedy.

However, I can’t help but wonder how I’d feel if one of those 8 people was my friend or family member.

Would I be so willing to continue the celebration then?

Will we be expressing a form of national Solidarity if we decided to collectively mourn this loss of Nigerian lives OR still go ahead to celebrate in spite of it?

Which of these options will speak well of us as a Nation?

If I were to be Goodluck Jonathan right now, in whose words lies the direction the rest of today (and after) should take for all Nigerians, what would I have said to 'My Fellow Nigerians' at this time?

My question remains: What is supposed to be the mood now after this Golden Jubilee Explosion??

The Green Concert - Celebrating Nigeria's Golden Jubilee

My beloved Nigeria is turning the big 50 on Friday October 1st, 2010!!!

Preparations for celebration of this Golden Jubilee are underway from street corners to the Presidency!! Needless to say, every Nigerian all around the world should be unleashing their inner party animal to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our great nation!!

The GREEN CONCERT is perhaps the biggest Independence Day Party which will be holding in Lagos come October 1st. Organised by DuJour Events,a frontline Event Company in Lagos, it is set to feature the richest blend of Nigerian Artistes who will be on ground to tear the roof apart in Celebration!!



M.I, Durella, Ikechukwu, Terry G, Sauce Kid, General Pype, DJ Zeez, Skuki, Lara George and many more of the hottest Artistes in the Nigerian music scene will be on ground to give Nigeria the birthday performances she deserves!!

The legendary DJ JIMMY JATT will be in the building rolling out the hottest party tracks!!

You also don't want to miss the grand FIREWORKS display which will be bringing the Event to a climax!!

Tickets can be purchased from the following locations:

> 160, Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos
> Ground Floor, Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos
3rd Floor, E-Center, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Lagos.

Regular Tickets cost N3000, VIP - N10, 000 & VVIP - N20, 000

TARIERE will be there and is also offering 7 FREE tickets to the first TARIERE followers to indicate interest in attending!!

'Bars' & The Collective National Psyche

Tones and I were just having a conversation about 'Bars' in Lagos.

No..not alcohol serving Bars, but iron bars that barricade most homes and general buildings in Lagos and other parts of the country.

The purpose of these bars is to protect the inhabitants of a building from Armed Robbers and other such 'Visitors of the Dark'.

Tones is of the opinion that they are very necessary for every home to have if you want to be safe.

I agree.

However, I wonder about the fact that in this country, we need to imprison ourselves to feel safe.

What differentiates us from the inmates of Rikers Island or Kirikiri?!

Goodluck Jonathan in his Election Speech, spoke about fighting crime and putting punitive measures in place...sounds good!!

But we also need to SEE it happen by feeling safe in our own homes without the ominous prescence of 'Bars'.

I also wonder about how jaded we've become as a people if our illusion of safety is with us behind 'Bars'.

We really do need an overhaul in our collective national psyche. Imagine the state of mind a child who is being delivered right now in St. Nicholas Hospital or at a Maternity Centre in my village, Patani, is being born into.

Please people, let's vote wisely in this Elections.

Our Collective National Sanity depends on it.

My Thoughts on Goodluck Jonathan's Declaration Speech

In my attempt to be patriotic, I decided to dedicate 20mins of my Sunday evening to the Declaration Speech given by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on his bid to run for Presidency come 2011.

Certain people usually expect that I'd be actively campaigning for Goodluck for no other reason than the fact that he is Ijaw and I happen to be as well. I’m not even moved in the slightest bit by that and it surprises me that we haven't gone past that way of thinking in this country.

The criteria for me in deciding who to vote for rests on one principle alone: Do I believe in this person?

Whether the Candidate is male, female or confused; Fulani, Efik or Ogoni, all that really matters to me is if I can sense that is there is a heart within that person that actually cares for the welfare of the least Nigerian.

So I finally gave Goodluck a chance on Sunday to make his pitch to me. I have drawn out specific statements from his speech that caught my attention and these are my thoughts on them:

“As you can see from the lower quantities of diesel that you are buying today, power generation has significantly improved.”

Now I must confess I am more than a little worried about this statement. When speaking, you have an idea of the specific audience you are addressing. By this statement, do I assume that GJ is speaking to Industries and those affluent Nigerians who can afford to buy diesel? What about those tons of people who use petrol to power their ‘I better pass my Neighbor’ generators? Or the masses who can’t even afford a generator but have to endure the stifling heat and mosquito bites that accompany a night with no electricity. What about Joseph, who sells frozen chicken and fish in the market and constantly runs at a loss because his goods get rotten due to the absence of power? Has Joseph ever dreamt of one day owning a generator that he’ll be buying diesel for? How many years does he need to toil for to be able to afford that?

Mr. President, who really are you addressing in your speech? Does the entirety of Nigerians in your mind consist only of diesel buying people?



“We saw to it that normalcy began to return to the Niger Delta by ensuring government's fidelity to its promises, and this has helped to stabilize our national revenue.”

What about healing for the physical, psychological and environmental damage that has been suffered over decades by the people in the Niger Delta region? Do you measure success in that troubled region merely by the effect it has on ‘national revenue’?! Enlighten me..I’m just asking...

For the entirety of the first section of this speech and even through the Body, GJ was very vocal in his use of the word ‘I’. This troubles me because Goodluck is simply the face of an administration. The choice of the word ‘I’ as opposed to ‘We’ just makes me wonder if there will arise a day in this country where we will vote for ideology rather than personality. I would feel more comfortable if he had spent time saying what his administration stands for, because let’s face it, Goodluck is not going to be sitting down at a desk in a government parastatal, implementing what he personally believes.

It may be unfair to him for me to even say this, because it’s not his fault that our systems are so rotten, but the profound and continuous usage of the word ‘I’ is always scary in any human endeavor.

“In the circumstances and after a thorough self examination and prayers with my family, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan have decided to humbly offer myself as a candidate in the Presidential Primaries of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in order to stand for the 2011 Presidential elections.”

The ‘prayers with my family’ bit made me laugh!! At least he’s not clueless about the highly religious nature of his people.

“Our country is at the threshold of a new era; an era that beckons for a new kind of leadership; a leadership that is uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past; a leadership committed to change; a leadership that reinvents government, to solve the everyday problems that confront the average Nigerian.



I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.


In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.


In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree.

Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it!

My story is the story of a young Nigerian whose access to education opened up vast opportunities that enabled me to attain my present position. As I travel up and down our country, I see a nation blessed by God with rich agricultural and mineral resources and an enterprising people. I see millions of Nigerians whose potentials for greatness are constrained by the lack of basic infrastructure.

I see Nigerians who can make a difference in the service of their country but are disadvantaged by the lack of opportunities.

My story symbolizes my dream for Nigeria. The dream that any Nigerian child from Kaura- Namoda to Duke town; from Potiskum to Nsukka, from Isale-Eko to Gboko will be able to realize his God-given potentials, unhindered by tribe or religion and unrestricted by improvised political inhibitions. My story holds out the promise of a new Nigeria. A Nigeria built on the virtues of love and respect for one another, on unity, on industry, on hardwork and on good governance.”

Okay at this point, I literally had to stop myself from giving him a standing ovation!! THIS is what we are talking about people!! THIS is what Nigerians need to be hearing right now!!

This is freaking RELATIVITY mehn!! People on the street or in the creeks can damn well relate to this and that’s what Leadership is all about: the people being able to see themselves in whoever they choose to vote for!!

GJ I doff my hat to you on this one!!

“I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.”

Then he worried me again after this nice paragraph with what I consider to be a contradiction. He has no enemies to fight but later in the speech, he declares:

“We will fight for JUSTICE!

We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to POWER!

We will fight for qualitative and competitive EDUCATION!

We will fight for HEALTH CARE REFORMS!

We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians!

We will fight corruption!

We will fight to protect all Citizens!

We will fight for your rights!”

My dear country men and women, give me your support, give me your votes and together we will fight to build a great nation of our dreams!

Emphasis on the continuous usage of the word ‘FIGHT’

Which one is it GJ? I understand that it might be an oversight with word usage, because Corruption and all those other things are actually the enemies, but c’mon Mr. or Mrs. Speechwriter, GREAT job, but the stakes are way too high for oversights.

All in all, this is the first time I’ve ever been inspired by listening to any Politician in Nigeria, well, except one random speech Babatunde Fashola gave at a private event.

Things are looking good for Nigeria I guess! So now the big question: Do I believe?

Hmmnnn..a little more ACTION is all I need to be convinced.

Read the FULL text of his speech here

Go Team IBB!!!

Bumped into an interesting group of people at Base Lounge, Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.



They were like the usual everyday young people we know, only that they were boldly proclaiming their support for Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida!!

I couldn't resist going over to speak to them; I was shocked and impressed at their audacity to publicly identify with the One who majority of Nigerians regard as the Enemy.

They claim to not be paid for their support...they say they actually believe in him as the solution for Nigeria!!

In their words, "Let the person who spoilt the country come and fix it by himself"

Alright...and there I was thinking nothing could shock me anymore in this Lagos of mine!!

YES WE CAN: The Femi Olagbaiye Story

“You either run the local Derby or you run the Olympics. If you decide to go for the Olympics, you have to aim to beat the World record”

This is the story of a man who has chosen to walk the higher path. A man in whose mind there are no limitations, boundaries or impossibilities.

Femi Olagbaiye is the C.E.O of One Entertainment, a 360degrees Entertainment company with interests in Radio & TV Broadcasting, Film, Talent Development and Music Production.

Their flagship channel is One Music, a content-driven music channel which targets an International audience in the U.K USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates and across Africa, providing them with compelling music-based content.

Until a year ago when he set out to explore new opportunities in Nigerian Entertainment, he was the Operations Manager for MTV Networks Africa, managing their entire West Africa operations.

Early Life, Dream VS Passion

Femi Olagbaiye was born into a tight knit family of seven in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. As a child, Femi dreamed of one day becoming a Pilot. He wanted to build planes and fly them. Somewhere in between his fantasies, little Femi would also find time to perform musicals like Sound of Music for his family’s entertainment.

His aeronautic fantasies drove him to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos. However in school, he found himself constantly being active with the promotion of one show or the other.

His path with his mentor, HiTV’s Toyin Subair, first crossed during the promotion of a show the latter had organized in Unilag.

Torn between his dream and his passion, Femi got on his knees and asked God to direct Him in the right path. He clearly heard from God that his path was in pursuing his passion in Entertainment, but Femi was reluctant to give up on his dream, which was becoming closer to fulfillment as he was getting prepared to enroll in Flight School.

He eventually obeyed the prompting of his heart and there was no going back after that.


A Life-Transforming Experience

One specific event in his life was particularly responsible for setting Femi Olagbaiye on the path of Global Excellence upon which he now treads.

As a young Music Producer and Promoter, he was working with a promising young Artiste, who he passionately believed was ‘the next big thing’. He finally got an opportunity to showcase the Artiste’s album to Gbenga Shokefun, a Record Producer and Show Promoter based in the States, who was also a role model and father figure to him.

Mr. Shokefun quietly listened to the album Femi had presented to him, then took out the cd from the music player and right before Femi’s bewildered eyes, broke the cd into two.

He called the album ‘CRAP’ and asked Femi to honestly compare its quality to that of the music being churned out by International artistes. Femi tried to give excuses for his mediocrity by saying that they only had access to limited equipment and were recording from a tiny 2 x 4 studio.

Mr. Shokefun tossed all the excuses aside as being unacceptable and told Femi that no-one actually cared about what he had or did not have, but only about the quality of the final product delivered.

That experience with Gbenga Shokefun changed Femi’s life forever. It woke him up to the realization that he could compete globally in whatever area of Entertainment he was involved in. No longer did he limit himself by trying to make good ‘African’ music that would be all the rave within the continent but nowhere else.

The experience made him from then on, always rate everything he was involved in with the best available, in determining the quality which is satisfactory. He measures all his creative work against Hollywood standards and knows that even when he has met those standards, the challenge will be to go beyond that.

Mr. Shokefun also gave him a book called ‘The Business of Music’ which taught Femi a great deal about being successful in his first love – MUSIC.

Career Journey

His career journey began with Silverbird Communications, when Vice-President, Roy Bruce gave him a job as a Radio Consultant. Even though he had no prior experience in Radio Broadcasting, he was given the crucial task of training and developing the scores of young talent who showed much promise to the future of Broadcasting in Nigeria.

Femi developed training formats out of his head and invested himself in developing the skill of a number of On-Air Personalities who have all risen to become the very best at what they do.

He attributes his ability to successfully train people, to his drive for excellence and a keen ability to analyze and discover what is missing. He also applies this ‘building’ philosophy to his relationships with people, as he is able to see the direction in which each person is headed, and will do everything to make sure they get there.

Femi himself has enjoyed effective mentorship from great Nigerians such as Fela Durotoye, Toyin Subair, Roy Murray-Bruce, Jimi Awosika and Alex Okosi.

From Silverbird, he moved on to MTV Africa, where his first task was as a Talent/Artiste Representative with the primary assignment of finding music videos to air on the Network. The major problem though, was that at the time, there was barely any quality material worth airing on the MTV platform.

At that point Femi had no choice but to begin to understand the basics of Video Production, and work with local Directors in coming up with material which could be played alongside the foreign videos which were being aired on MTV.

Femi later forayed into the Marketing and Sales operations while in MTV, and dedicated himself in this area, such that the MTV operations in Nigeria became the most profitable in all of Africa while he was at the helm of affairs.

Before he left MTV in 2009 he was overseeing all of the corporation’s interests in West Africa, as the Operations Manager, a role yet to be filled since his exit.

His Thoughts on Piracy

Regarding the scourge of Piracy which has eaten deep into the Nigerian Music Industry, Femi Olagbaiye believes that Piracy only flourishes because there is a gap in the market, and piracy fills that gap.

In Femi’s opinion, Piracy can be curbed through Marketing and Volume of a GOOD product, as well as ensuring that the product is also well distributed.

He uses the album of gospel group KUSH as a Case Study, explaining that the Marketing Plan, which he was actively involved in the creation and implementation of, was foolproof and did great in sales, without Piracy.

Mediocrity VS Excellence

Femi expresses the frustration he sometimes experiences working in Nigeria where mediocrity has been embraced by the majority as a culture. Once in a while, he meets people who also aspire to the level of excellence and good quality he aspires to.

Then, he is comforted by the knowledge that he’s not alone in his journey.

He admits that there is immense talent in all the Creative fields in Nigeria, but hardly any skill. Which is why he is passionate about Training and through One Entertainment is starting an Academy which will help people in all aspects of Entertainment to develop a high level of technical and creative skill.

Femi is also a Voice Coach.

Personal Fulfillment

More than anything, what Femi Olagbaiye wants is to be the best at something.

He wants to know that he gave his best at everything and to be a heavily impacting force wherever he finds himself. Satisfaction can only come with the knowledge that he made a difference in lives, projects and every single thing he was ever involved with.

For him, the biggest reward for any investment he makes is for people to be able to say ‘that’s a great job’ and he agrees with them.

God and Spirituality

Femi Olagbaiye humbly declares that God is and has always been the driving force of his life. He believes it is the God in him who does not allow him settle for anything short of Excellent.

He has been in a fulfilling relationship with God since childhood and has come to realize now that no matter how far away from God he strays, he will always return to that godly foundation which is the bedrock of all that he can ever be.

He doesn’t hesitate to extend forgiveness to people who offend him; because he is aware of how much he himself has been forgiven.

Family & Marriage

Family is of the greatest essence to Femi Olagbaiye and he is a strong believer in sacrificial love.

Family to him consists of having people with whom one can be vulnerable, sincere and open. Femi is very particular about Integrity and Trust and can only be comfortable around people who have nothing to hide.

He looks forward to having a family of his own, with a wife who is an extension of who he is. Femi believes that his wife is to be the building everyone sees, while he is the foundation. His ideal woman is someone who will be to him a Supporter, a Fan and a wise Counselor whose opinion can be trusted in the sense that it comes un-condescendingly and without bias.

She is someone who will always be there even when he has badly screwed up and would help him back up when he is down.

She also has to be a Dreamer, as it is only one who dreams themselves that can support another Dreamer.


YES WE CAN

Femi Olagbaiye is a reflection of the New Nigeria. He embodies the spirit of the new generation of young Nigerians who have refused to be limited by the physical, cultural and psychological boundaries which have held us hostage in the idea that we cannot.

His story is an inspiration to anyone, young and not so young, Nigerian and non-Nigerian, who believes they have something to give, not just to their immediate environment, but to the world at large.

The Boundaries are there to be broken; YES WE CAN.


Femi Olagbaiye

The Concubine Factor

Reading Elechi Amadi's classic novel 'The Concubine', has reminded me about why I grew in love with Literature in the first place.

Its been such a long time since I was drawn into a novel; into the lives of the characters within, rooting for them and carrying their experiences with me into my own reality.

At some point, I actually began to believe there might be something terribly wrong with me, because I just wasn't enjoying any books!!

Every book which has been raved about recently, I went and bought, but was unable to go beyond the first 5 pages, as the Writer's failed to engage me in those all important moments.

I'm a very impatient Consumer of Literature. I'm that person who would walk out of the Cinema in 10mins, if my attention has not been gripped by then.

I even assume that consumers of my work are as impatient as I am, so I bust my ass in every piece to hold your attention from the very first line and keep it till the end.

But reading 'The Concubine' re-awakened my love for great material. The characters were so alive; their experience so rich, yet simple and relatable.

I could see myself in their thoughts, their struggles; and could mirror my own desires, in their motivations.

Ihuoma: a woman of great moral courage.

I finished the book like two weeks ago, but I still think about her. A timeless and universal Heroine; a globally relevant character, even though her entire experience remained within the back civilisation of an ancient Eastern Nigerian village.

At different points in the story, I put the book down, and challenged some of Elechi Amadi's theories, his perspectives and even the traditions practised and highly esteemed by his characters and their society.

I googled him, to try and get an understanding of his values, so that I could project how he would end the story.

I asked myself, "Is he a Romantic, a Realist or a core Traditionalist?"

After a while, I decided to stop being obsessive and just like every other sane person, wait to see what will happen at the end.

'The Concubine' re-affirmed my belief that some of the greatest stories ever told, have come from the African Writers Series.

Can you ever forget that proud chauvinistic, Man's man called Okonkwo?!

I still cringe at some of his unapologetic actions, but doff my head in admiration at his unwavering stand against the obliteration of his culture, in the face of the greatest challenges.

Literature is all about the communication of stories.

Great stories contain timeless characters, with journeys that transform even the lives of those who are told the stories.

Our classic African Writers told us stories just as they saw them. They did not try to conform to any foreign standards, or bow to the pressure to be a bit more 'Western'.

They documented our Culture shifts, celebrated our African-ness and connected us in the simplicity of our shared heritage and values.

To the Elechi Amadi's, Chinua Achebe's, Ama Ata Aidoo's, Wole Soyinka's and all those rare set of African Literature Giants, known and unknown, who embraced no compromise in their sacred responsibility as Custodians of our Culture, my STANDING OVATION is for you.

WE ARE AFRICANS....Awuuuuuuuuu!!!!!

MTV Africa Music Awards : The Little White Lie

For every time I ever heard the tag-line of the MTV Africa Music Awards commercial, I felt a cringe somewhere inside me.

I never really investigated the reason for that cringe, but I knew there was something terribly wrong with the statement being made at the end of the MAMA’s commercial.

“Giving Africa a Voice”

A few weeks ago, after hearing it yet again, I actually repeated it to myself a few times and it was immediately clear to me why I always had that negative reaction toward it.

It is a blatant LIE.

The MTV Music Awards is MTV’s signature continent specific Annual music Awards event. The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA’s), MTV Asia Awards, MTV Australia Awards and now MTV Africa Music Awards are held annually in celebration of musical achievement around the world.

The MTV platform is very well recognized globally, and Africa was proud when in 2008, the first ever MAMA’s was held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Everyone was excited about this huge opportunity for African artistes to be recognized on an International platform. I was so excited about it, that I actually went to Abuja just for the Event.

Finally, we had our very own MTV Awards Event, as opposed to the African Act Category the entire continent had to struggle for on the Europe Music Awards (EMA’s) platform.

Nigeria’s TuFace and D’banj won the Best African Act Award in 2005 and 2007 respectively.


D'banj receiving his EMA

Without a doubt, African artistes have benefitted tremendously from the MTV Award platform and I celebrate that in every way I know how.

However, to make an outright claim that the MAMA’s platform ‘gives Africa a Voice’, is something I find completely absurd and insulting.

I think it’s just WRONG to say that.

It would have made a lot more sense if the tag-line was “Letting Africa’s Voice be heard”, that would have been a home truth that cannot be contested.

When someone says they gave you your Voice, doesn’t that mean that apart from them, you have no voice?!

So does this mean that before 2008 when MAMA’s was established, Africa had no voice??

But isn’t Fela Anikulapo-Kuti an African Voice which has been heard for decades before 2008? How about Mama Afrika, Mariam Makeba, who died in November 2008, but through her music, had been a Voice even in Apartheid South Africa?

What about Youssour Ndor, Brenda Fassi, Papa Wemba, Oliver De Coque, Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, Sound Sultan, Daddy Showkey and all the thousands of great Artistes who through their Music, have been a Voice for the millions of Africans they represent; did the MAMA’s give them their voice?

Let’s not even talk about our folklores; traditional music passed down from generations of Africans. Did your forefathers in the villages have televisions or any clue as to what MTV is?!

Even in personal relationships, the concept of “say what you mean and mean what you say” is an invaluable one, so it actually confuses me that a global brand like MTV, backed by a major indigenous Telecoms company, can confidently make such a profound claim, which is clearly a Lie.

Someone actually wrote that line, it passed through an Approval process, and has now been on Television for quite a while; a clear deception, being communicated to the millions of young Africans who watch and believe everything they hear and see on MTV daily.

How do you now convince the 13year old Nigerian boy, whose entire worldview is shaped by what he sees and hears on MTV Base, that Africa didn’t get her voice from the MAMA’s?!

How do you teach this same boy the concept of Individuality and the value of finding his own voice as a tool for making an impact in his world?

How do you convince him that there is pride in being African and much to celebrate about who we are and our history as a people?

I’m sure we all know that the best way to get anyone to accept an idea, regardless of how absurd it is, is to continuously confront them with it until they have no choice but to believe and accept it.

Why is it that the tag-line for the MTV Asia Awards doesn’t make the same claim?!

Have we as Africans become so desensitized to our own sense of Identity that we gleefully accept whatever we are told about ourselves, in exchange for an International Platform for our music?

Is that what it is?!

What about me? I have a Voice, it took me a long while, but I finally discovered it, and I have never been on the MAMA’s platform.

Neither has Tosyn Bucknor, whose voice gives hope to thousands of young people on the radio every week-day, or Funmi Iyanda who for years was a Voice for people who otherwise wouldn’t be heard, through her Talk Show on NTA.

Are these not African Voices?!

No matter how nicely wrapped a Lie is, it can NEVER become Truth. It will always remain a Lie.

The MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, DOES NOT and DID NOT give Africa its Voice.

And that’s a Home Truth.

Let the Children BE Children

There was the recent International uproar about the marriage of Senator Ahmed Yerima, to a 13year old Egyptian bride, who is the daughter of the Distinguished Senator’s driver.

The debate dominated Internet Chat-rooms, Radio & Television programmes, living rooms, Beer parlors and every other gathering of Intelligent and gossip-minded folks.

Collective angst at the callousness of such a high-ranking Government official was rife and no-one hesitated in expressing their disgust and disbelief at how such a blatant abuse of a Minor can be celebrated in broad daylight.

Through all this, I remained silent.

Silent because I’ve vowed within myself not to get caught up in all the hogwash we Nigerians love to engage in.

Silent because, correct me if I’m wrong, but what exactly is new about what Senator Yerima has done?

Child Marriages have been a part of most Northern cultures for generations!! We have ALL known about this…abi is it your first time hearing about thirteen year old virgins getting married to older males?

It’s one of those things that are condemnably wrong, but we have all accepted and actually embraced as a part of our collective consciousness. The only reason there was uproar about this particular incident, is because the person in question is a Senator, and an easy victim to make a scapegoat.

Marriage or sexual intercourse with a minor is a clear violation of the provisions of Section 21 of the Child Rights Act, which states:

“No person under the age of 18 years is capable of contracting a valid marriage, and, accordingly, a marriage so contracted is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.” Section 22(1) states: “No parent, guardian or any other person shall betroth a child to any person. (2) a betrothal in contravention of sub section (1) of this section is null and void.” Section 23 goes on to specify that “a person (a) who marries a child, or (b) to whom a child is betrothed, or (who) promotes the marriage of a child, or (d) who betroths a child, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000; or imprisonment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment’’.



Is someone going to try to convince me that between now and 2003 when the CRA was established, there have NOT been any Marriages to minors anywhere in Nigeria?!

Why has no-one been prosecuted? Why has there not been a National debate about it since? Why has no-one risen up in the Media to defend the rights of the tons of children whose rights are daily being infringed upon right here in Nigeria? Why do we only acknowledge wrong when it is being committed by someone who has a lot to lose if we judge him?

I first came into contact with the CRA early this year, while doing Research for Content of the ‘Heart of the Matter’, which is a talk-show I produce. We invited a Child Advocacy Group called the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse & Neglect (ANPPCAN), to the Show, and for the first time, my eyes were opened to the harsh brutalities children are made to suffer in this country.

For the first time, I realized that children actually had clearly laid-out Rights, and my heart ached at the fact that witnessing these Rights being taken away from them had become a normal part of my everyday experience.



Everyday, I watch children on the streets of Lagos, rush to clean my window shield at 11am; a time when they should be in school.

Everyday, I see little girls and boys being made to carry load on their head, earning a living for their families, while their little bodies are burdened by the back-breaking labor.

Everyday, I see children go to school during the day, and hit the streets at night to hustle to make ends meet for their families.

I see little girls transported from remote villages to urban cities to slave away their formative years as house helps to the Rich.

All these, and more of the things we have accepted to be normal, are clearly defined Violations of the Child Rights Act.

Yes, Senator Ahmed Yerima has abused a little girl by marrying her and possibly engaging in sexual intercourse with her.

But so have we.

By ignoring the cry for help from the little ones on our streets, have we not abused them?



By accepting as ‘Normal’ the suffering of innocent children within our environment, have we not teamed up with their Abusers?

By doing nothing, when we see a young child being mistreated, manhandled and forced to become adults in their childhood, have we not become a part of the violation of their Rights?

We certify ANYTHING to be Ok the moment we Accept it.

Please, let’s STOP accepting the brutal rape on the rights of our nation’s children.



Let the Children BE Children.

(All photographs courtesy Oladipo Oladapo...www.phunshots.com)

LIVE from My Birthday Bash at Kirikiri Women's Prison

No form of Camera Equipment is allowed into Kirikiri Women’s Prison, so I’m gonna have to rely completely on my Storytelling abilities, in bringing you all that went down at my Birthday Bash which held at the Prison.



We spent the first few minutes after arriving at the Prison, carrying all the food and drinks we had brought for the Party into the Security Reception of Kirikiri.

Then we were all given a thorough Body Search (no Club Bouncers I know have got anything on the FIERCE female guards at Club Kirikiri), and then handed green tallies which are our tickets in and out of the Prison.

We were warned by the Guards to hold on dearly to these tallies, as failure by any one of us to return any of them on our Exit, will result in being detained. A smart Prison Inmate can steal it and walk out in our place.



Lol..my friends and I didn’t waste any time tucking the tallies into our Bras and every other safe Body parts.

Soon we were allowed in after one more set of safety Instructions by the kind, motherly Guards. The Inmates were already gathered together in the only conducive Party Venue in Kirikiri, the Chapel.

The Prison band were belting out some lovely tunes that had us already moving our bodies as we walked in. They rushed to us as soon as we walked in, welcoming us with such excitement and screaming ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY ’ to me, with lots of hugs and kisses.

I joyfully received the hand-made birthday card that Bukky, a very pretty and articulate young Inmate, had made me.





Never in my life have any group of people welcomed me with such love and open arms.



The party proper soon began: we danced and sang together to the great songs being delivered by the talented Singers.

They had actually prepared a Comedy Sketch for me, which was so funny, we all laughed till we had tears in our eyes.

Then Lovette, an Inmate who had been incarcerated for 7years for taking someone who was almost bleeding to death after an Abortion gone badly, to the hospital, shared her story with us. In spite of the great Injustice which has been committed against her, Lovette was grateful to God for bringing her to Prison, because not only has she discovered the joy of being in an Intimate relationship with Him right here in Prison, she has also found a loving family amongst her fellow Inmates.

Mary, a ridiculously funny, dark-skinned beauty, came and shared a brain-cracking riddle with us. I gave up trying to figure out what the answer was even before she had finished saying the riddle. However, my friend Wonuola Odunsi figured the riddle out in barely a minute. She and Mary excitedly high-fived each other as everyone cheered.

Vivian, our Master of Ceremonies for the day, impressed everyone with the way she co-ordinated the Event with so much mastery and humor. I was so touched by the fact that these Inmates had gone through so much trouble to plan my Birthday Party.

Pastor Abraham, a great man who has dedicated his life to serving the interests of Inmates in Prisons all around the country, and the one who made it possible for me to hold my Party there, came out and briefly shared with us a message about loving ourselves and appreciating who God has made us to be.

He has such an amazing relationship with the Inmates; they adore him and have so much regard for him and his wife. My friends and I were inspired by how much HOPE his message and just his assuring presence, brought to the eyes of the Inmates.

Then EVERYONE sang the 'Happy Birthday' song to me!!

Soon, it was time for us to go…there is only a limited amount of time we are allowed to Party at Club Kirikiri!! We couldn’t FEAST together with the Inmates for Security reasons..Prison Policy demands that they be served food in their individual cells. *sad*

I don’t think I had the words in my Vocabulary, to communicate to the beautiful women at Kirikiri Women’s Prison, how they had blessed me with what I know is the greatest and most meaningful birthday I have EVER celebrated in my life.

As we all said our goodbye’s, we were besieged with so many hugs and kisses from the Inmates. They all came out into the huge courtyard and waved goodbye until we were fully ushered out into the Security Reception.

My friends and I fortunately had all our tallies on us, and so were allowed out by the Guards!! But not until after they had also hugged us and poured out kind blessings on us.

We were all so overwhelmed by the love and good-naturedness we had received from every single person in the Prison. They taught us so much about Gratitude, and the FREEDOM to be found in Rejoicing, regardless of whatever situation we find ourselves.


(L-R)Wonu Odunsi, Pst Abe's Assistant, Pastor Abe's wife, Ngozi Omambala, Pastor Abraham, Me, Nnena Okoye, Toni Tones, Toke Makinwa, Dami Olaiya, Aisha Ibrahim & (John my P.A. took the pic)

As with every other time I have been in Kirikiri Women’s Prison, I walked out of there, knowing I had just paid Jesus Christ a visit. A PEACE that can only come from being in God’s presence is the gift my friends and I were given as we left the Prison Grounds.

And as is always the case, I NEVER walk out the same person I was when I walked in.

The 10/10 Way To Express Yourself

Nigerians are known all over the world to be very EXPRESSIVE people..we take pride in saying just what we want, exactly how we want it said..not giving a hoot about who's sucking their breath in at our Audacity!!



A new Lifestyle Clothing Line called 10/10 (Ten over Ten), takes pride in giving young Nigerians a direct platform from which they can scream whatsoever they desire at the world around them - from their T-SHIRTS!!


Benjamin Oligbo - 10/10 Founder 10\10 Exclusive \Chief Consultant

Lagos has been completely taken over by this RADICAL form of Self-Expression, and young, hip people are falling over themselves to grasp their hands on one of these T-shirts, which allows them communicate their deepest thoughts and opinions to the world.

The Mo'Hits Crew, Shank, Richard Mofe-Damijo and some of the current Big Brother All Stars have also gotten a 10/10 mark!!! Also, certain very Prominent members of the Lagos State Government have ordered their very own customised 10/10 T-Shirts!!



The Girls are loving these T-shirts as much as they're loving their men..









It also helps the Crackberrians...



Errr...and the Male Gigolos as well...LOL





..And I think I'm gonna grab these ones for myself...





To schedule your own 10/10 Consultation & Delivery, call 08136615995 and get a 10% Discount by mentioning TARIERE!!!

The Ball in Goodluck's Court

Yesterday I was reading an article titled ‘Has Jonathan Scored An Own Goal?’ by one of my heroes, Simon Kolawole of This Day newspapers.

Whenever I’m reading any of Simon’s opinions, I totally hand over my discretionary powers to him, and absorb everything he says; I admire him that much.

However, yesterday was quite different as I saw a shining glimmer of hope for Nigeria, where Simon saw possible disaster, in the suspension of the National Football Team from International Competitions for 2years, by Goodluck Jonathan, in response to their disappointing World Cup outing.

Goodluck has proven himself a true Teacher by his decision to suspend the Eagles from participation in International Competitions. The stakes are indeed extremely high and a lot of people’s dreams, hard work and investments are going to take a heavy blow if indeed FIFA takes strong sanctions against Nigeria.

FIFA is Anti-Government Interference in Football Issues.

If Goodluck maintains his position, it will affect much more than the game of Football itself. Soccer is a game that has broken the boundaries of separation in Nigeria; it has made people from different ethnicities, religions, political affiliations and even social class, laugh, cry and scream together.



Soccer is one of the few shared experiences in which Nigerians have found a sense of Collective Identity (interestingly enough, Super Story is another).

We are a Football Nation.

Apart from 419 and Corruption, the world also knows us for Football.

If Jonathan doesn’t back down to the threat of FIFA sanctions looming over us, we would suffer collective outrage and mourning, as the one thing that we take pride in TOGETHER, has been snatched away from us by our Principal.

However, there is ONE possible benefit in all of this:

For the first time, Nigeria will be known by the world for Strong, Decisive Leadership.

We will be talked about as that nation whose Leader maintained his position to withdraw his players, even amidst the threat of FIFA sanctions and national angst.

We would be gossiped about in coffee shops across the world as that nation with a Leader who has such high Disciplinary standards.

For the first time EVER, Nigeria would be secretly respected as a nation who has a Leader that would not be intimidated by the world Football governing body or even the emotional blackmailing of his own people.

Jonathan Goodluck may go down in our history books as the man who took our beloved game of Soccer away from us, but he would also be the Teacher who brought back discipline and respect to the world’s view of Nigerian Leadership.

If he maintains his position.

To be honest, I don’t want Jonathan to back down.

My heart goes out to all the people whose lives will be significantly altered if he doesn’t, but I see them as being Nigerian Heroes, upon whose dreams we can build a great future for our generations to come.

Maybe Soccer is the sacrifice that has got to be made on the Altar of Good Leadership, to produce the blessings of a great Economy, dependable Infrastructure, and most importantly, the shared pride of being Nigerian.

If Goodluck does not back down.

My dear Simon Kolawole, I don’t agree with you about Goodluck scoring an 'Own Goal', indeed, I think he has just broken all Football records, by making a Touchdown on a Soccer Pitch.

But wait oh, am I placing too much faith in the intentions of our government? I am writing this on the assumption that they have a genuine desire to raise this nation from the abyss of Mediocrity it has wallowed in all these years.

I am placing faith in the idea that Mr. President wants to use Football as an example of what he can and will go ahead to do in our Power, Health, Education and all other sectors.

What Simon, me and all 150million of us think right now is just Opinion; Mr. President, the ‘Ball’ is in your court.



As the saying goes; 'Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown'

The Darker Side Of Ageing

I was on an aircraft a while ago, and a female Politician came on board wearing this flowing spaghetti strapped dress.

Her shoulders were bare and her cleavage was kinda in everyone’s face. I remember thinking then “OMG!! How can she wear this…she’s almost naked!!”

Interestingly enough, she didn’t look awful or even over-the-top Indecent in the dress, but my reaction was borne more out of the fact that being an ‘Older Woman’, she shouldn’t dress like that.

She looked the same way someone younger than her would look in the dress, and I wouldn’t make such a big fuss about, so I wonder, why is it that I had such a problem with a woman in her late 50’s expressing herself through her choice of clothes?!

I’ve always believed that the older you get, the more liberties you have to do whatever it is you want to do, without necessarily needing the approval of anyone else. However, more and more, I’m beginning to believe that getting older, especially in Nigeria, takes you further and further into a Cell of Conformity, in which the idea of Bail is thought about only by the Bravehearts.

I was in the Club last night, and there was this ‘Older Lady’ yet again, who was on her feet the entire time dancing with a younger man. The way she carried on having a great time, not really caring about the fact that people all around her might have been thinking “Mama sit down and respect yourself”, was quite admirable.

‘Respect Yourself'; that’s one phrase you hear quite a bit in this country, right up there with ‘Act Your Age’.

What if a 57year old feels within himself like he is 26, and goes about expressing himself like your regular 25year old, does that make him irresponsible?

What if he fulfills ALL the obligations he has toward his family, Work and whatever else, and he wants only the Freedom to act out the HIM he sees in his heart, does that make him an ‘AGBAYA’?!

In Nigeria, does society get more and more Judgmental of you with each year you add to the number of years since you first showed up on earth?!

My 31year old friend was telling about how she introduced her new boyfriend to her Mum as ‘My Boyfriend’, and her Mum called her aside and scolded her saying she should be ashamed of herself, for saying ‘My Boyfriend’ at this age.

According to her Mum, she should introduce the guy to everyone as ‘Her Fiance’, in spite of the fact that they’ve not even started talking of anything even remotely near Marriage.

I also heard of a 75year old woman who lost her husband a couple of years ago, and decided to enjoy herself instead of spending the rest of her life in mourning. She got herself a much younger man who dotes on her, started exercising and travelling the world with her lover, and is celebrating her newfound youth at 75!!

In this country, a story like that would immediately convince the majority that she killed her husband!!

I mean as much as I love my Prof Mummy, its sooo difficult for me to even imagine her with another Man other than my Dad!!

If Age is indeed nothing but a Number, then why has one’s Age become the determining factor of what is okay and what is absurd for one to do?!

Why shouldn’t I be the judge of what’s right or wrong in my life, after all, am I not ‘Old’ enough?!

The Heart of the Matter

SSSsssshhhh.....there's been an Unofficial leak of the 'Heart of the Matter' Talk show, hosted by Wale Adefarasin!!

You might wanna take a sneak peek...



You can also check out the website right now.

It's a SCAAAMMMMMM!!!!

Confirmed!! I went to the house my friend lives when he’s in Lagos, and met his Mother. She says she’s been receiving calls and messages from other people who got the mail.

I even spoke to him!! He is in Los Angeles, where he lives and has not been to the UK for 10years!! They hacked into his mailbox and sent the message to everyone!!

Those people are MAAADDDD!!! So it’s my 1k they wanted to take abi??!!

Seriously guys, I need you to summon your inner Scammist so we can play them at their own game!! Right now, they believe I’m meat so we can play along and maybe get them caught or just make them reaaaaalllly suffer!!

So...ideas anyone??!!

The case is now in the hands of the London Police and Microsoft who are carrying out a thorough investigation.

Am I Being Scammed??!

This morning, I received an alarming mail from a Director friend I did some work for last year. The subject read ‘SAD NEWS…’ and here is the body:

Time: 00:44 am

Hey……(not addressed to anyone)

I am caught up in a real mess and i need your help. I'm sorry I didn't inform you about my trip ,I had a trip to the London,United Kingdom and a bizarre thing happened to me.I was mugged at gun point last night, the muggers carted away with all my belongings excluded my passport.Cell,c-card,cash and some important documents are all gone. I was able to make contact with the Uk Police and i was directed to the Embassy, but they seems to be taking things too slow.
I need your help so urgently.. My flight leaves pretty soon but i am having problems sorting out the hotel bills and also need getting my ticket straightened out. I need your help. I need a quick loan to get things fixed out here, I promise to refund as soon as i get back home.. please reply asap. so i can tell what to do and how to get the money to me..
Hope to read from you soon..

So I immediately responded saying:

Time: 10:42 am

Hi ……,

I'm soooo sorry about what happened!! Hope you're fine....I just saw ur mail right now.

Pls lemme know how I can help!!

Tari

Shortly after, I receive a response:

Time: 11:19am

Thanks for the mail.. i feel so glad to hear from you, you given me a lot of hope..the muggers stole eerything from
me and i dont have any access to a phone so amin a local library where i have acess to a computer, i need a quick
loan to get
things fixed out here.. i need $1500 to get things fixed out here promise to refund when i am back home... do you
know how to get the money to me? you can have the Money wired to me via Western Union is safe and convenient.. here is the details you need to get the money wired to me.. you should have the money wired on my name and present
location..
here is the details...
Name : …….
Address.:……………………..
City: Buckinghamshire.
Postal Code: HP11 2JZ
Country: United Kingdom
once you are done mail me with the westernunion details and the confirmation numbers.

At this point, I got quite suspicious. The mail was a little too impersonal. This guy and I, even though ours is a working relationship, play and joke a lot. He’s a very playful and funny person. He also calls me ‘Madam’.

So then I try calling his phone here in Lagos, and it’s turned off. I’m thinking of going to his house to check also.

But I want to get your opinion….AM I BEING SCAMMED??!!

Da Grin...still talking to me!!

There’s been heaviness in my heart from the moment I heard about Da Grin’s death; it’s still there even as I write this.

I didn’t know him personally; I’m just another random lover of his music. I prayed for him when I heard about the accident and even watched a TV recording of him performing at the recent Kennis Music Easter thing, earlier this week. I remember laughing hysterically at his screaming/laughter(not sure which it is) during his performance.

I guess the major reason I feel so sad is because I feel as though it could’ve been anyone in the accident that led to his death. I have been in car crashes before, nothing fatal, but life threatening all the same.

It is unfortunate that in this country of ours, it is a nightmare to be left in the hands of our Emergency Services, as they might as well just be called waiting hearses. I don’t even want to depress myself more by thinking that it’s very possible his life could’ve easily been saved.


Da Grin

I know in our collective loss, we all want to hold someone..anyone responsible for his untimely death; our security operatives, Road Safety, LUTH, or even Da Grin himself for not being more responsible.

But at the end of the day, none of that is going to bring him back. None of that is going to change the fact that the extremely talented rapper who was undoubtedly set to be Nigeria’s next greatest export, has been cut off right at the onset to his prime.

Finally I can’t help but be grateful to God for my life. I don’t know for a fact if Da Grin was intoxicated in any way, but I do know how many times I and people close to me have been in the same situation that led to his accident and eventual death, and by nothing else but God’s grace, we are still here.

His death has also opened my eyes to appreciate the things that are truly important in life here on earth. I know for a fact that those things that take priority in my life that give no benefit to any other thing but my own ego and sense of accomplishment are nothing but a waste of time.

Da Grin’s voice has not left my head since last night. I don’t understand Yoruba, yet I connect with him. I’m bonded with him forever. His story is carved in my heart and has a place in my consciousness whether I like it or not.

When a life is lived beyond oneself, Death has lost its sting. Oladapo Olaitan Olanipekun aka Da Grin, keep talking...I hear you.

The Born-again Jihadist

As someone who has lived in Nigeria all my life, I thought I had reached a point where almost nothing could shock me.

I was proven wrong this morning when I opened the newspapers and read the report of the man who tried to blow up a passenger-filled airplane with his taxi. (click on title link for full story)




That is something you honestly don’t see anywhere but in the movies. The last time anything like that happened was in the movie ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ of the Die Hard series, when Bruce Willis’ character "killed an airplane with a car"!!


Bruce Willis

But everyone knows that life in Nigeria is one incredible Nollywood story so why am I surprised?

Different news media have given different accounts of the unknown man’s intentions. 234 Next says he claimed he was Jesus Christ and was trying to save the aircraft from an impending crash.

This Day on the other hand says that he screamed “REPENT!!” and then crashed his taxi under the plane. The paper reports that his message for the 200 people he could have killed was “Jesus is the Redeemer. Everyone should repent and follow him because I will come back and complete the attack”. According to him, Nigerians are unrepentant sinners.




This is some freaky, freaky happening!! So does that mean every bad thing I do from now makes me a potential target for terrorist attack?!

The idea of Jihad has now gone beyond religious boundaries and so anyone who feels that a person or group of people who are not living in conformity to their own idea of what is right, can now take up their own weapon of Mass Destruction to rid the earth of all perceived evil?!!

But wait o….what if according to the Next report he was telling the truth and was indeed trying to save the plane from a crash?! I’m just not convinced about the him being Jesus part though. It’s quite hard for me to reconcile Jesus being a fanatical taxi-driver by day and airplane destroying terrorist by night Efik man.

Then again, is it possible that we all engage in this form of Terrorism every time we judge people for their weaknesses and failures as human beings?? Every time we look down on other people’s beliefs just because they are even slightly different from ours?!




Am I not operating by the same principle of the Jihad when I alienate someone or condemn them in my heart just because their lifestyle is not in conformity to my personal standard of morality?

“Nigerians are unrepentant sinners”....can someone please remind Mr Unknown Assailant of where he’s from.