Saturday, November 8, 2014
01:02:04! Kenyan Wins 2014 Obudu Mountain Race
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Hillary Kipkorir Kemboi has won this year's edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race, OIMR.
The Kenyan national finished the race in a time of one hour, two minutes and three-four seconds to cart home the star prize
of fifty thousand U.S dollars.
Abebe Dinkesa from Ethiopia came second with a time of one hour, three minutes and zero-nine seconds while Philip Kiplimo of Uganda finished third.
In the women's category, Genet Yalew of Ethiopia successfully defended the title she won last year in one hour, one minute and twenty seconds with Stella Chessang, also an Ethiopian taking second while Yeeshaneh Ababel another Ethiopian finished third to complete a an Ethiopian triumvirate.
In the male's category of the Sixth Edition of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship, ANMRC team Uganda won the first position, team Eritrea came second while team Kenya finished third.
In the women's category, team Uganda came first, team Kenya came second with team Nigeria finishing third.
At the end of the race, prizes were presented to the various categories of winners by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham who represented Governor Liyel Imoke.
A total of fifty six athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Cameroun and Nigeria took part in this year's edition of the mountain race which marked the 10th anniversary of the event.
CrossRiver Watch
Hillary Kipkorir Kemboi has won this year's edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race, OIMR.
The Kenyan national finished the race in a time of one hour, two minutes and three-four seconds to cart home the star prize
of fifty thousand U.S dollars.
Abebe Dinkesa from Ethiopia came second with a time of one hour, three minutes and zero-nine seconds while Philip Kiplimo of Uganda finished third.
In the women's category, Genet Yalew of Ethiopia successfully defended the title she won last year in one hour, one minute and twenty seconds with Stella Chessang, also an Ethiopian taking second while Yeeshaneh Ababel another Ethiopian finished third to complete a an Ethiopian triumvirate.
In the male's category of the Sixth Edition of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship, ANMRC team Uganda won the first position, team Eritrea came second while team Kenya finished third.
In the women's category, team Uganda came first, team Kenya came second with team Nigeria finishing third.
At the end of the race, prizes were presented to the various categories of winners by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham who represented Governor Liyel Imoke.
A total of fifty six athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Cameroun and Nigeria took part in this year's edition of the mountain race which marked the 10th anniversary of the event.
CrossRiver Watch
Paul of Psquare Gushes Over Wife As She Celebrates Birthday..."My Ifunaya,My Beautiful Onyinye"
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Paul Okoye, one half of the PSquare music duo, is a singer and a songwriter so clearly he has no shortage of words and how to use them to bring a smile to the face of his wife, Anita Okoye.
He took to his Instagram page in the early hours of the morning to wish his wife a happy birthday and under a lovely picture of her that he posted he stated, "Happy birthday to my sweetheart,my lovely wife,no one like you, my ifunanya, beautiful onyinye and my ifeoma…. May God continue to guide and protect you…bless u my love"
He also shared another picture of her and captioned, "Happy birthday my mrs … Love you more".
It's quite incredible that his message is a reference to a few of PSquare's love songs.
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Paul Okoye, one half of the PSquare music duo, is a singer and a songwriter so clearly he has no shortage of words and how to use them to bring a smile to the face of his wife, Anita Okoye.
He took to his Instagram page in the early hours of the morning to wish his wife a happy birthday and under a lovely picture of her that he posted he stated, "Happy birthday to my sweetheart,my lovely wife,no one like you, my ifunanya, beautiful onyinye and my ifeoma…. May God continue to guide and protect you…bless u my love"
He also shared another picture of her and captioned, "Happy birthday my mrs … Love you more".
It's quite incredible that his message is a reference to a few of PSquare's love songs.
British Born Nigerian Actor; David Oyelowo Play Martin Luther King In New Movie Staring Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr
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These are good times for Hollywood actors of Nigerian descent following the huge successes recorded by the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor(2012,12Year A Slave, Half of A Yellow Sun) as another British born actor of Nigerian origin David Oyelowo is set to hit the big screen after depicting the great rights legend; Martin Luther King Jrn in a new biopic 'Selma' set for release on Christmas day.
David Oyelowo leads a pack of top stars including Academy Award-nominee Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Oprah Winfrey who takes on the role of Annie Lee Cooper. Others include Carmen Ejogo, Andre Holland, Omar J. Dorsey, Tessa Thompson, Tim Roth, Wendell Pierce, and Colman Domingo.
"SELMA" is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
These are good times for Hollywood actors of Nigerian descent following the huge successes recorded by the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor(2012,12Year A Slave, Half of A Yellow Sun) as another British born actor of Nigerian origin David Oyelowo is set to hit the big screen after depicting the great rights legend; Martin Luther King Jrn in a new biopic 'Selma' set for release on Christmas day.
David Oyelowo leads a pack of top stars including Academy Award-nominee Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Oprah Winfrey who takes on the role of Annie Lee Cooper. Others include Carmen Ejogo, Andre Holland, Omar J. Dorsey, Tessa Thompson, Tim Roth, Wendell Pierce, and Colman Domingo.
"SELMA" is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
BBN Lifestyle...Tips For 'owambe' Saturday
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The rice is cooking, the decorations are set in the hall or tents...everybody is busy preparing for the party......family and friends would be around, everyone including you has the aso-ebi.
...do you find it hard to look your best at any event?
I have a list of things you have to keep in mind when preparing for a party,every detail counts.
Do not wear loud makeup when attending a small party or a family event. Loud make up should be for high fashion parties. Your makeup complements your dress and your look in general.
One key thing to note is to avoid wearing clothes which do not fit...if its not your size, dash your younger sister or brother. Stay away from baggy clothes as well, it kills the beauty of the clothe.
Always smell nice,wear a deodorant but do not over do it. Dab a little bit on your temperature points like your neck ,wrist and behind your ears.
If you are wearing a long dress ,high heel sandals or slippers are perfect. Pumps look better with knee length dresses.
Do not over accessorize. Blings should not be worn in excess. Avoid looking like 50cent at a wedding ceremony.
Every woman should have a party clutch to carry along....make sure you match your clutch or handbag with the color of your dress .
Your gele should be tied by a professional if you don't know how to tie it.
......and when the rice is served,eat with manners biko even if na your sister wedding. Be courteous, and POISE is very important.
LD is the CEO of Diyola's Clothing!
MTN Launches N10 Recharge Cards
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Subscribers to the telecommunications service provider, MTN Nigeria will henceforth have the opportunity to recharge their phones for as low as N10. The Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Bayo Adekanmbi, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to Adekambi, the initiative, to be launched in Kano, was to ensure that no Nigerian was shut out of the values that the network offers.
"Apart from making it possible for customers to purchase airtime at the lowest rates, it also offers opportunities for small scale entrepreneurs to sell low-unit portion packs of recharge cards as a new revenue stream. Again, everyday people such as Maishayi, neighbourhood stalls, housewives, students, etc would also benefit immensely from this proposition."
According to Adekambi, the initiative, to be launched in Kano, was to ensure that no Nigerian was shut out of the values that the network offers.
"Apart from making it possible for customers to purchase airtime at the lowest rates, it also offers opportunities for small scale entrepreneurs to sell low-unit portion packs of recharge cards as a new revenue stream. Again, everyday people such as Maishayi, neighbourhood stalls, housewives, students, etc would also benefit immensely from this proposition."
How Highlife Came To Nigeria-Dr. Victor Olaiya...Read What He Has To Say About Tuface
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Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya will be 84 years old on December 31,2014. He was born in Ijesha-Isu, Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti. His father was a church organist while the mother was a traditional cultural band leader. They did not oppose his interest in music, but rather tried to be source of inspiration to him. He learnt to play E-Flat French horn, the B-Flat trumpet after leaving Africa School, Onitsha and came to Africa College also in Onitsha.
Due to the sporadic movement of his father's job, the young Victor had to come to Lagos to complete his secondary education. In Lagos he played with a street Brass Band in 1947 on a salary of one Shilling and six Pence. Then he moved to Sam Akpabot's Sextet all Stars, and by 1949 he was invited to establish the Ritz Tempo Orchestra. He kept moving later from one band to another.
At Ritz, he was band leader, soloist first trumpeter and vocalist. From a band in Yaba at Rex Club owned by Mr. Alfred Rewane, he joined late Bobby Benson and led his second band with outings at Yaba Ambassador Hotel for a few years.
Victor Olaiya initially began his working life at the topographical and lithographical section of the Department of Lands and Survey, Lagos. After three years, he transferred his services to the Lagos Town Council Municipal Treasurer's Department and was in charge of Cost and Works Ledger. But all that time, he remained married to music as part-time.
As part of our Independence anniversary special cover that we started last week we approached Victor Olaiya to tell us about music of the past and now...
Is it true that you played during the 1960 Independence Ball?
Very very correct, I played at the state ball.
What was the event like and who were those present on that independence day ball?
I wish I can remember all those that were present but I know that Tafawa Balewa was present, then Nnamdi Azikwe was present, and the last Governor General representing the queen, Sir James Robertson was very much present . My band played at that state ball not only at the state ball but also three years after when Nigeria was attaining the republican status, my band also played .All the ministers available at that time were present
Like Late TOS Benson?
Yes, late TOS Benson was present. He was minister at that time .The state ball took place at the Federal palace hotel banquet hall
How was the event? What was the feelings like at that time?
As young as I was then, I felt it was a lifetime opportunity for me to grace such an occasion and it was graced by all other African heads of states.
What made the government pick you out of the bunch of other highlife stars at that time to perform at the state ball?
At that time, quite frankly, I was the talk of the town. I was unchallenged. I was supreme. I think the minister for information was J.M Johnson, he was there and he nominated my band .All functions including the beauty pageants, Miss Nigeria, it was Victor Olaiya that performed. I stood tall.
Can you recall some of the tunes you rendered that day?
I had a composition specially for that day. I composed a song for the independence ball for that occasion. The governor general then, Sir James Robertson and the representative of the Queen, Tafawa Balewa walked up to me while they were dancing and had an handshake with me and we also had a small talk with me while the music was going on .I considered it the height of my success.
How did highlife come to Nigeria because we learnt that you brought it from Ghana. Is that correct?
That is not correct . But I accept that Late E.T. Mensah, my professional colleague then had to come and popularize it more in Nigeria .But highlife had been in existence before I, Victor Olaiya, was born. .Nobody can take the monopoly of highlife music .In my own opinion, it is the Lingua Franca of west Africa .It depicts the culture of West African countries.
English speaking West African Countries?
It's not only English speaking because States like Guinea, Ivory coast, Cotonou and Togo, Congo play high life but in different dimensions
Why were you called the evil genius of highlife?
I think that was a name that was bestowed on me by late Alhaji Alade Odunewu of Daily Times because everywhere I played was always jam packed and he said something extra ordinary must be in that music that I dish out and he felt the best description he could give me as at that time is the evil genius of highlife music
The popular tune Bonsue, did it originate from Ghana or from Nigeria?
It originated from Ghana without prejudice but I have my own version of Bonsue which is peculiar to us in Nigeria.
What was your relationship with Rex Lawson and E.T Mensah?
Rex Lawson was a member of my band. We played in my band. He passed through me. Then after he played with me, he went to Ghana, came back, and then succeeded in creating a sound which was acceptable by the generality of highlife fans in Nigeria and west coast and then he gained his freedom as well as popularity. He was a very good professional colleague. Then King E.T Mensah, as I usually call him, and I were called the highlife giants of Africa .We styled it .He was a much elderly fellow. He came to Nigeria and 'scattered' the whole place with his style of Ghanaian highlife music. Everywhere went haywire. Thereafter, the idea of both of us coming together came up and arranging a highlife album which we named and styled Hi Life Giants of Africa. . He was a great man and he managed at that time to play the saxophone and the trumpet but I only played the trumpet.
When we came together to release this album, he handled the musical harmony while he left the arrangement to Victor Olaiya because he was very much gifted in musical harmony .He ravaged the whole of west Africa with his highlife style-the Ghanaian style of highlife music. It was by God's grace that I managed to stop him from coming to Nigeria. He would have packed the whole money away from Nigeria.
Then I had to go to Ghana where my music became acceptable to the Ghanaians and it was at that instance he decided to approach me to release an album comprising of his own top highlife tunes and my own top highlife tunes .it was here we did the rehearsals. We managed to popularize it, went to the studio, arranged, composed and did everything. It was accepted by the general music populace
Coming down to the modern era now, we learnt that you did a collabo with Tuface?What informed that collaboration?
Well it was not my original idea. It was an idea suggested by Premiere recording company .We were trying to do something of that nature in the highlife all stars club wish we formed years ago .While we were contemplating, the premiere musical company came up with the idea, and we gave it a trial. Tuface is such a gifted young boy that I like. He respects people especially the elderly very highly. He is gifted musically. During the trial, I discovered a number of talents which this guy has including respectability for elder musicians. He is a wonderful boy .As providence will have it, we gave it a trial and it came out successful. The song has become the talk of the town since then.
What can you say about other greats in highlife music like Osita Osadebey, Roy Chicago, Eddy Okonta, Adeolu Akinsanya? What can you remember about them?
They were all good and great musicians. They were very good during their lifetime .They were equally as great as Victor Abimbola Olaiya , if not greater.
How come you sing in Igbo too?
If you have read through my early life and history you will have discovered that I grew up in Igbo land, born in Calabar. I went to Owerri RCM School. From there, I went to Onitsha for my education at the Anglican college. That was where I learnt to play the horn which later metamorphosed into B flat trumpet .I schooled in Igbo land , learnt to play the horns in Igbo land and thereafter I transferred my services to the Yoruba land in Lagos.This has made up for my early history and how I became what some people have called a 'Tribalist' because I speak plenty of languages. That was how I came about playing in Igbo, Itsekiri, Hausa , Yoruba and so many other languages.
I can remember the 1959 federal elections you sang Bakudaya...
That is true .I think it was a generally accepted tune at that time and gave me another extra boost during the Awolowo, Azikwe and Opara campaign for political parties before independence .Bakudaya was accepted at that time by all the three major regions at that time. I thank God for that.
Can you compare today's music with the past and what is the future of highlife?
I call all other musicians my professional colleagues because we are all doing the same job. I am not out to crucify or criticize .I don't think it is my right to criticize any musician, but I have this to say that what they play nowadays is music.
We are all in the profession.
Whether it is acceptable or not is a question of opinion but what I need to say is that in those days, during our time, we tried to play constructive and educative, highly philosophical and a palatable music .Music that conveys sense and again it has to be musical and the arrangement has to be fantastic. It has to be educative .What people say of the present days musicians quite frankly is a question of opinion. What they are doing is not what we tried to do during our own time.
Whether that is correct or incorrect , I leave it to the public. It's a question of opinion. They are also playing music.
Is highlife not threatened? Because most present day musicians are not playing highlife. What is the future of high life?
High life has a great future, because for it I live, for it I shall die. There is no gain saying everybody wants to talk about high life. High-life is the lingua franca of this nation .Fuji, Fuji reggae, afro beat, juju, all of them had to borrow a leaf or two from high-life to enable them to stand. So it still remains the lingua franca of this nation and no type of music can threaten the existence of high life music.
We learnt that you were there when Nigeria was fighting the civil war with Biafra. Is that correct that you played for the Federal troops at the war front?
That is very true and I was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant colonel at that time. I went to one division – Kaduna -Nsukka sector and I took highlife to Congo during the Congo civil war and our troops went there to assist them. I was seconded to Congo to take high-life with my band to the place. I think I did my best to make the troops happy, to be able to popularize highlife music of Nigeria.
If you were to advise musicians of this generation what will it be?My advice will be that anybody who wants to come into music shouldn't come into it because Victor Abimbola Olaiya has made a success of it. They must make sure they have callings in the field of music . Examine your conscience , pray to your God and you must be very hard working. I believe that to be a successful man you have to work very hard .
It's been said that ninety nine percent of the people in the world do not think , the remaining one percent, four over five of that one percent think they think, while one percent of it does the thinking for the whole of the world and I think that is where I stand.
The young should make sure that they have natural callings in the field of music , be prayerful, work hard and success will be yours.
Culled From Vanguard!
Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya will be 84 years old on December 31,2014. He was born in Ijesha-Isu, Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti. His father was a church organist while the mother was a traditional cultural band leader. They did not oppose his interest in music, but rather tried to be source of inspiration to him. He learnt to play E-Flat French horn, the B-Flat trumpet after leaving Africa School, Onitsha and came to Africa College also in Onitsha.
Due to the sporadic movement of his father's job, the young Victor had to come to Lagos to complete his secondary education. In Lagos he played with a street Brass Band in 1947 on a salary of one Shilling and six Pence. Then he moved to Sam Akpabot's Sextet all Stars, and by 1949 he was invited to establish the Ritz Tempo Orchestra. He kept moving later from one band to another.
At Ritz, he was band leader, soloist first trumpeter and vocalist. From a band in Yaba at Rex Club owned by Mr. Alfred Rewane, he joined late Bobby Benson and led his second band with outings at Yaba Ambassador Hotel for a few years.
Victor Olaiya initially began his working life at the topographical and lithographical section of the Department of Lands and Survey, Lagos. After three years, he transferred his services to the Lagos Town Council Municipal Treasurer's Department and was in charge of Cost and Works Ledger. But all that time, he remained married to music as part-time.
As part of our Independence anniversary special cover that we started last week we approached Victor Olaiya to tell us about music of the past and now...
Is it true that you played during the 1960 Independence Ball?
Very very correct, I played at the state ball.
What was the event like and who were those present on that independence day ball?
I wish I can remember all those that were present but I know that Tafawa Balewa was present, then Nnamdi Azikwe was present, and the last Governor General representing the queen, Sir James Robertson was very much present . My band played at that state ball not only at the state ball but also three years after when Nigeria was attaining the republican status, my band also played .All the ministers available at that time were present
Like Late TOS Benson?
Yes, late TOS Benson was present. He was minister at that time .The state ball took place at the Federal palace hotel banquet hall
How was the event? What was the feelings like at that time?
As young as I was then, I felt it was a lifetime opportunity for me to grace such an occasion and it was graced by all other African heads of states.
What made the government pick you out of the bunch of other highlife stars at that time to perform at the state ball?
At that time, quite frankly, I was the talk of the town. I was unchallenged. I was supreme. I think the minister for information was J.M Johnson, he was there and he nominated my band .All functions including the beauty pageants, Miss Nigeria, it was Victor Olaiya that performed. I stood tall.
Can you recall some of the tunes you rendered that day?
I had a composition specially for that day. I composed a song for the independence ball for that occasion. The governor general then, Sir James Robertson and the representative of the Queen, Tafawa Balewa walked up to me while they were dancing and had an handshake with me and we also had a small talk with me while the music was going on .I considered it the height of my success.
How did highlife come to Nigeria because we learnt that you brought it from Ghana. Is that correct?
That is not correct . But I accept that Late E.T. Mensah, my professional colleague then had to come and popularize it more in Nigeria .But highlife had been in existence before I, Victor Olaiya, was born. .Nobody can take the monopoly of highlife music .In my own opinion, it is the Lingua Franca of west Africa .It depicts the culture of West African countries.
English speaking West African Countries?
It's not only English speaking because States like Guinea, Ivory coast, Cotonou and Togo, Congo play high life but in different dimensions
Why were you called the evil genius of highlife?
I think that was a name that was bestowed on me by late Alhaji Alade Odunewu of Daily Times because everywhere I played was always jam packed and he said something extra ordinary must be in that music that I dish out and he felt the best description he could give me as at that time is the evil genius of highlife music
The popular tune Bonsue, did it originate from Ghana or from Nigeria?
It originated from Ghana without prejudice but I have my own version of Bonsue which is peculiar to us in Nigeria.
What was your relationship with Rex Lawson and E.T Mensah?
Rex Lawson was a member of my band. We played in my band. He passed through me. Then after he played with me, he went to Ghana, came back, and then succeeded in creating a sound which was acceptable by the generality of highlife fans in Nigeria and west coast and then he gained his freedom as well as popularity. He was a very good professional colleague. Then King E.T Mensah, as I usually call him, and I were called the highlife giants of Africa .We styled it .He was a much elderly fellow. He came to Nigeria and 'scattered' the whole place with his style of Ghanaian highlife music. Everywhere went haywire. Thereafter, the idea of both of us coming together came up and arranging a highlife album which we named and styled Hi Life Giants of Africa. . He was a great man and he managed at that time to play the saxophone and the trumpet but I only played the trumpet.
When we came together to release this album, he handled the musical harmony while he left the arrangement to Victor Olaiya because he was very much gifted in musical harmony .He ravaged the whole of west Africa with his highlife style-the Ghanaian style of highlife music. It was by God's grace that I managed to stop him from coming to Nigeria. He would have packed the whole money away from Nigeria.
Then I had to go to Ghana where my music became acceptable to the Ghanaians and it was at that instance he decided to approach me to release an album comprising of his own top highlife tunes and my own top highlife tunes .it was here we did the rehearsals. We managed to popularize it, went to the studio, arranged, composed and did everything. It was accepted by the general music populace
Coming down to the modern era now, we learnt that you did a collabo with Tuface?What informed that collaboration?
Well it was not my original idea. It was an idea suggested by Premiere recording company .We were trying to do something of that nature in the highlife all stars club wish we formed years ago .While we were contemplating, the premiere musical company came up with the idea, and we gave it a trial. Tuface is such a gifted young boy that I like. He respects people especially the elderly very highly. He is gifted musically. During the trial, I discovered a number of talents which this guy has including respectability for elder musicians. He is a wonderful boy .As providence will have it, we gave it a trial and it came out successful. The song has become the talk of the town since then.
What can you say about other greats in highlife music like Osita Osadebey, Roy Chicago, Eddy Okonta, Adeolu Akinsanya? What can you remember about them?
They were all good and great musicians. They were very good during their lifetime .They were equally as great as Victor Abimbola Olaiya , if not greater.
How come you sing in Igbo too?
If you have read through my early life and history you will have discovered that I grew up in Igbo land, born in Calabar. I went to Owerri RCM School. From there, I went to Onitsha for my education at the Anglican college. That was where I learnt to play the horn which later metamorphosed into B flat trumpet .I schooled in Igbo land , learnt to play the horns in Igbo land and thereafter I transferred my services to the Yoruba land in Lagos.This has made up for my early history and how I became what some people have called a 'Tribalist' because I speak plenty of languages. That was how I came about playing in Igbo, Itsekiri, Hausa , Yoruba and so many other languages.
I can remember the 1959 federal elections you sang Bakudaya...
That is true .I think it was a generally accepted tune at that time and gave me another extra boost during the Awolowo, Azikwe and Opara campaign for political parties before independence .Bakudaya was accepted at that time by all the three major regions at that time. I thank God for that.
Can you compare today's music with the past and what is the future of highlife?
I call all other musicians my professional colleagues because we are all doing the same job. I am not out to crucify or criticize .I don't think it is my right to criticize any musician, but I have this to say that what they play nowadays is music.
We are all in the profession.
Whether it is acceptable or not is a question of opinion but what I need to say is that in those days, during our time, we tried to play constructive and educative, highly philosophical and a palatable music .Music that conveys sense and again it has to be musical and the arrangement has to be fantastic. It has to be educative .What people say of the present days musicians quite frankly is a question of opinion. What they are doing is not what we tried to do during our own time.
Whether that is correct or incorrect , I leave it to the public. It's a question of opinion. They are also playing music.
Is highlife not threatened? Because most present day musicians are not playing highlife. What is the future of high life?
High life has a great future, because for it I live, for it I shall die. There is no gain saying everybody wants to talk about high life. High-life is the lingua franca of this nation .Fuji, Fuji reggae, afro beat, juju, all of them had to borrow a leaf or two from high-life to enable them to stand. So it still remains the lingua franca of this nation and no type of music can threaten the existence of high life music.
We learnt that you were there when Nigeria was fighting the civil war with Biafra. Is that correct that you played for the Federal troops at the war front?
That is very true and I was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant colonel at that time. I went to one division – Kaduna -Nsukka sector and I took highlife to Congo during the Congo civil war and our troops went there to assist them. I was seconded to Congo to take high-life with my band to the place. I think I did my best to make the troops happy, to be able to popularize highlife music of Nigeria.
If you were to advise musicians of this generation what will it be?My advice will be that anybody who wants to come into music shouldn't come into it because Victor Abimbola Olaiya has made a success of it. They must make sure they have callings in the field of music . Examine your conscience , pray to your God and you must be very hard working. I believe that to be a successful man you have to work very hard .
It's been said that ninety nine percent of the people in the world do not think , the remaining one percent, four over five of that one percent think they think, while one percent of it does the thinking for the whole of the world and I think that is where I stand.
The young should make sure that they have natural callings in the field of music , be prayerful, work hard and success will be yours.
Culled From Vanguard!
Many Feared Dead As Fire Guts NNPC Pipeline In Lagos
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Scores of suspected pipeline vandals were on Thursday feared killed in a massive inferno that gutted a petroleum pipeline belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, at Ijedodo area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that some suspected pipeline vandals, had besieged the pipeline around 6pm and were said to be scooping petroleum product into jerry cans.
It was learnt that an argument ensued among the vandals as they were scooping the PMS, while one of them ignited the fire that caused a massive explosion that set the entire area on fire.
Residents of Ijedodo and Abulado areas who witnessed the massive inferno called on the authorities to expedite actions and put out the fire.
Meanwhile, the number of casualties could not be confirmed but South West spokesman for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a text massage confirmed the explosion.
Farinloye, who did not disclose the number of casualties said: "There was pipeline explosion at Ijeododo on thursday evening. Vandals were suspected to have broken the pipeline, scooping the product and in the process the pipeline exploded."
Scores of suspected pipeline vandals were on Thursday feared killed in a massive inferno that gutted a petroleum pipeline belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, at Ijedodo area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that some suspected pipeline vandals, had besieged the pipeline around 6pm and were said to be scooping petroleum product into jerry cans.
It was learnt that an argument ensued among the vandals as they were scooping the PMS, while one of them ignited the fire that caused a massive explosion that set the entire area on fire.
Residents of Ijedodo and Abulado areas who witnessed the massive inferno called on the authorities to expedite actions and put out the fire.
Meanwhile, the number of casualties could not be confirmed but South West spokesman for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a text massage confirmed the explosion.
Farinloye, who did not disclose the number of casualties said: "There was pipeline explosion at Ijeododo on thursday evening. Vandals were suspected to have broken the pipeline, scooping the product and in the process the pipeline exploded."
Vanguard
Serena Williams Is Desperately Searching! Complains About A*s Being Too Big
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One of America's most eligible spinster and superb
athlete who has left millions of men drooling across the globe has revealed that she is in dire need of a man in her life.
athlete who has left millions of men drooling across the globe has revealed that she is in dire need of a man in her life.
In a question and answer question on social media, Serena was asked if she was single to which she answered in the affirmative saying it was due to no fault of hers.
She also revealed that she wouldn't be joining next year's New York marathon because her buttocks were rather too big.
See tweets...
ALL WHITE EVERYTHING! See Mavins Records Exclusive Pictures In Akwa-Ibom
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| Mavin crew |
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| It's Mavins |
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| All white everything! Korede Bello, Tiwa Savage, Dija, IDJA and Reekado Banks |
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| D'Prince,Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy |
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| First lady |
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| Dr.Sid,Korede Bello. See Tiwa and Banks famzing behind |
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| Don Dorobucci, Tiwa,Dr.sidi et al ganging up for their perfomance |
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| It's a dorobucci affair |
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| Mavin crew performing to the delight of thousands |
Media Must Be A Platform To Inform And Educate Nigerians
The Dean,
School of Communications, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Lai Oso,
who once chaired the panel of Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative
Reporting, explains the roles of the media as regards the coming 2015 general
elections,in this interview with SULAIMON MOJEED-SANNI of BlackBox Nigeria excerpts;
What is your take on the argument of whether the standard of education
as improved or dropped in Nigeria?
I would say that one cannot give
an absolute answer, in some instances; there have been a lot of improvement.
For instance, when I was growing up, even in the university, there was nothing
like this internet facilities, we don’t
really know anything about computer, we all depend on the books that are
available in the library or the once we can buy. Now students of nowadays have
better access, at least, 95 per cent even in Secondary school have an idea of
the internet and social media. And there are some good ones amongst them that
if you are going to your class to teach and you are not well prepared, you
would be in trouble because they have access, to so many materials. At that
end, we have some very good students, who are well prepared, self-motivated,
and good. At the other extreme end, are the very lazy, very poor, not ready to read
students, and that is the ones that people see to say the standard of education
is falling. Nobody is seeing the high flyers that are doing well, and that I
think is in human nature, we always say oh, our students are not prepared and
are unemployable. When I finished as a graduate, I started my journalism career
with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, immediately we were employed, we proceeded
for three weeks orientation, they brought all of us employed at that time
together and take us through some of the things we have learnt in class and
some we were never taught for us to fit into the work environment. But you
can’t expect taking a graduate that just finished today, and put him in the
office and tell him to start work. There must be some orientation; there must
be socialization and acclimatization. So I am not really too comfortable when
people just say the standard of education has fallen, yes, we find a good
number students who should not be in the university. They should have at Junior
Secondary School, gone into something else given basic literacy, numeracy that
can make them to function and probably learn a trade. Then of course we must
not forget the Nigerian environment, some of these children we are not good, but
when they go abroad, they do very well. The environment must be factored in, we
can’t just be condemning, without looking at the contest within which children
read these days, within which lecturers teach and all of us we studied, we have
a system where we do not have electricity, no latest books or journals, if not
for internet, many of us might not have the opportunity to publish in any
journal outside this country because we would not be aware of latest
development, but thanks to the internet and e-libraries, that we have access to
some current ideas. So, we must look at that contest, the Nigeria environment
does not motivate the students to work, many of them would as me, after all the
troubles, you get out there and there is no job. Why are you bothering
yourself? Those are the things one should factor in before talking about the
state of our education.
Can one say the government has failed in its responsibility to
adequately cater for the education sector?
I think it has been established
that there is poor funding of education. If you look at the environment, it is
not conducive. If we need to compare ourselves with foreign universities,
foreign students, then we must also provide the facilities; the environment
must be comparable to those other foreign institutions that we are comparing
with.
Having come from a Polytechnic background in your academic ascension,
what is your take on the dichotomy/disparity between University B.sc and Polytechnic
HND graduate?
It is a Nigeria factor; it was
not like that when I joined the polytechnic. When I joined the polytechnic,
Moshood Abiola Polytechnic then Ogun State Polytechnic, we had lecturers who
came from the universities to join the polytechnics; everything was more or
less at par. There was no discrimination; this dichotomy was not there, the
thing gradually started when in the civil service if you are HND you cannot go
beyond certain scale, if you are Bsc. You can become permanent secretary. As a
lecturer your salary is this, it was not like that from the beginning. So, it
is something that developed and it is not helping the country at all.
What do you think is the solution to this dichotomy?
Well, I think the main problem is
in the civil service, I think the solution is that they should try to
restructure the career progression in the civil service. Look at what people
can do, you find out that in the private sector, for instance, they have put in
some measures, if you have an HND in Accountancy and somebody has a BSc in
Accountancy, the ultimate decider for the two of them would be their
professional qualification. In Journalism, the ultimate decider is your
productivity. If you have HND and you are very productive, you are bringing in
good stories, doing good features and investigation, nobody looks at your
degree again, you can become the editor. It is in the civil service that we
have this problem and I think in the professions, they are trying to bridge the
gap with professional qualification.
Would you say the advent of technology as had positive or negative
impact on students’ performance?
It has had both negative and
positive. Positive in the sense that the adventurous students, who are eager to
learn now, have opportunity to expose themselves through access to materials on
the internet. The negative side is the students who now go to the internet to
plagiarize. You give them assignment, they just download an article put their
names to it and submit. That is a very negative thing.
How has the LASU radio impacted on the hand-on experience of marrying
town and gown in the communication world?
We have not really started real
broadcasting, the equipment have just been installed. The radio station is yet
to be commissioned, but the thing is that when it starts, the students would
have a real life opportunity to have their hands on radio broadcasting because
they can now go on air. What they do now is that they produce these programmes
and play it in their practical studios while the lecturers listen. But now they
can do programmes that would go on air and see the effect. And of course, the
radio n can become an instructional material. For instance, when LASU begins a
distant learning programme, the radio station can be used, even by the Lagos
State government can use it as a tool for public enlightenment and awareness of
social issues, social problems, so in that wise, it is a good thing for us to
have the radio. It would be driven more by social service orientation.
OOU recently engaged Juju music maestro, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey to teach and impact practical
knowledge of music to students in the University, why hasn’t LASU lash-on her
comparative advantage to have professionals in the communication industry on
her list of lecturers?
I would not say we are not taking
advantage of the opportunity we have, if you look at the Ebenezer Obey thing,
it is likely the first in this country that we having such appoint and I would
not be surprised if it will come. It is a development I am particularly happy
about. We can bring in people who have achieved something in their profession,
they are not academics, but they are on board to just share their experience
with students and faculty members. I think it is a positive development and
would not be surprised if other universities follow suit.
To what extent do you think the practice of corporate governance can
enhance the growth of Nigeria?
It is an established fact now
that corporate governance must be entrenched in our system of doing things.
Already I know that in the private sector, banks for instance, Central Bank is
insisting on corporate governance, it is part of ethics, accountability and
transparency. So, it would permeate the entire system as we go along. Thing
must be done according to certain laydown rules, people must know where they
belong and all of us must be able to behave according to rules. You see, the
era of one man dictating everything is gradually fading off, I think that is part
of the overall democratization of our politics and society. As we imbibe
democratic culture, it would definitely permeate all aspects of our lives. So
it is something that should be welcome.
In recent years, journalists are becoming reluctant to verify facts or
get engaged in investigative journalism, what do you see as a reason for this?
It is not that it is difficult to
confirm facts; I think the main problem is one, are the resources available,
that is, the media organizations, are they making the resources available to
their journalists to do investigative journalism. Two, the journalists
themselves, do they have the capacity, the skills to do investigative
journalism, because investigative journalism is the top end of journalism
practice. It is not just for everybody, you must have the skills to do it, to
look through documents, do the leg work of interviewing so many people, and that
is where resources must also come in. how many of Nigeria media organization
can let a journalist loose for three months, doing an investigation on just one
issue. It is something that is demanding and challenging, but based on my
experience chairing the Wole Soyinka Award ceremony, you can see that there are
some very good works going on among Nigerian journalist. You would be amazed at
the kind of things they are bringing up in their reports. I think we are
getting somewhere along that line.
The advent of social media and citizen journalism seems to be a threat
to conventional journalism, do you for see an eventual overrun?
No, what I foresee are a kind of
complimentary situation, social media and citizen journalism complimenting the
conventional media, you don’t forget that that some of these traditional media
organizations are now running their own e-copies of their editions that people
can now access. Whenever any new medium comes up, there is always this fear it
would kill the older ones, but that has never happened. When radio came people
thought that it would kill the newspapers, but newspaper is till on and radio
and television running, it would not necessarily kill it but compliment, no
doubt, it would have some impact, some may migrate to the social media
platform, but from studies, you found out that the older generation are more
comfortable with their copies. They are more comfortable sitting down in front
of their televisions to watch the news. And that is likely to be the trend.
The mortality rate in the print media has continued to be on the
increase with mist papers not living to see their tenth year. As a scholar in
this field what do you see as solution to this?
It is a Nigeria problem, you find
out in some parts of the world like India, circulation is rising. In the Scandinavian
countries, circulation is rising. But in Nigeria, we have a problem and it has
been on for long even before the social media came, the Nigeria newspaper
companies have been facing a lot of challenges mostly economic. Nigeria
presents the world with an economic paradox, “a very rich country in terms of
resources, but a very poor country in terms of the wellbeing of its citizens.” People,
who don’t have money to feed themselves and do the essentials, can hardly have money
to buy newspapers.
Protecting public interest and ownership interest is one of the
challenges editors are often faced with. How do you think editors can make a
distinction without losing their jobs?
That is a very difficult question;
editors are walking a tight rope to quote the title of Dr. Babatunde Ajose’s
memoir. They are walking a tight rope between so many forces not just
proprietors and national interest. They are also walking a tight rope between
advertisers and national interest. It is a very difficult situation, they face
a dilemma every day in terms decisions they take, but the main problem as I
always say is because we don’t have agreement on what is our national interest.
If we have an agreement on what is our national interest, if there is kind of
elite consensus on what is our national interest, editors would not have
problem, owners would not have problem because by and larger, the owners
interest would also go in line with the national interest and that in a way
reduces the problem of the Editor. But in a situation where we have so many
divergent interest, ethnic, religious, there is no way Editors would not have
problems in negotiating between all this conflicting interests. At the end of
the day, we must always have in mind, that if we don’t have a country, we
cannot practice journalism, you need a country to practice journalism that
means; at every time, Editors should be guided by that imperative that Nigeria
must exist. People must live in peace, if there is crisis, the journalist, the
citizen, the owner, and everybody would share in the crisis. That is a
fundamental fact that should always guide us and of course, we must also think
of the larger interest of the profession itself. If you put journalism as a
profession in jeopardy by some unethical actions, then every one of us would
also bear the brunt. Again, most
newspaper proprietors are capitalist, they want to sell their newspapers, so if
any newspaper becomes unduly partisan, unduly unethical eventually, it would
die off and the proprietor would have nothing to lay claim to.
Despite the passage of the FOI Bill, the access to information remains
a herculean task, thus hampering the practice of journalism. How do you think
we can wriggle out of this quagmire?
The problem is that journalist
and Nigerians in general are not exploiting the opportunities provided in the
act. We still fall shy of using the act as a weapon to open the secret
cupboards and drawers of our government and so on. We are not challenging
enough, we are not fighting enough and that is the problem. The act is just
like any instrument, you have it, if you don’t use it, you won’t know how
effective it is.
As we approach the 2015 elections, what role do you think the Fourth
Estate of the Realm would play in ensuring Nigeria delivers free and fair
elections?
The first one from a liberal
democratic perspective is that the mass media should provide a platform for all
competing voices to get to the electorates, that is, there must be plurality of
views in the media. No group should be shut out of the media. Two, the media
must be a platform for informing and educating Nigerians on the key issues that
confront the nation today not just the in-fighting between the parties. Not
just accusations and counter accusations, let us know what the keys issues are,
this in a way would inform the electorate in forming their choices. Those are
the key fundamentals I see as the role of the media.
What is your view of the country’s leadership so far?
Well, a country gets the kind of
leadership it deserves, but I think the leadership we have don’t really know
where we are going. There is a lot of confusion and that goes back to what I
have said, without forging basic consensus on fundamental issues, we would
continue to live in this confusion. People would continue to exploit the fault
lines in Nigeria; Religious, ethnic and so on for personal and group
advantages.
 |
| L-R: Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja, Mr. Alli Hakeem; Mr. Tola Adeniyi and Dean, Lagos State University Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, Prof. Lai Oso. |
What is the way out of terrorism in the country particularly the issue
of the Chibok school girls?
We are seeing different signals
from the federal government, but let us face it, the key to the issue of the
Chibok girls or Boko Haram insurgency is with the federal government. The
government must make up its mind on what it wants to do. Telling us today, we
are ready to negotiate, and then tomorrow somebody comes to say, we are not
negotiating but we are on top of the situation, is making Nigerians confused.
The government must make its position clear and pursue it with all the
resources at its disposal but we are not getting that, which is the tragedy of
the current situation we are in now.
There are speculations that the country might break up come 2015, what
is your take on this?
Well, I don’t pray that Nigeria
breaks up, from my experience, if you go outside this country, what gives you
that respect apart from your own personal achievement or papers delivered, is
the fact that you are a Nigerian. Many people from Africa, from Asia, when they
hear Nigeria, there is a kind of envy. The look at you with some kind of mixed
feelings, some respect then with mixed feelings like with all what this people
have they cannot get themselves together, that is a disappointment, but that
respect comes because of our size, our population, and our resources. Once we
break up and we have tinny countries, in how many pieces would we break the
country? When you hear about the southwest for instance, it is when we face a
common enemy that we come together but when it is broken up, the Ibadan man
would say he is not going with the Ijebu man, Ekiti would say it won’t go with
Ijesha, and you would find that all over the places. In the South-south, will
the Ijaws go with the Ibibio or Benin; would the middle belt be part of the
north or want their own country? There are people who have come from one
geo-political zone and are settled in another for ages, their children do not
know anywhere, where do they go to? There have been a lot of interactions, connections
that it would be a disaster for Nigeria to break up. Therefore, we must do
everything to live peacefully as one country, united towards a common destiny.
Do you have any regrets?
I think something you would want
to think things would be better for the country. When I was an under graduate
the kind of opportunities we have and when I look at some of my students now, I
see that they do not have same. I enjoyed a federal scholarship for my Ph. D,
many of them may not have that same opportunity yet they are brilliant, those
kinds of things give me a lot of concern. Thank God the LASU school fees has
been reduced, you would see brilliant students who cannot cope. When I was an
undergraduate, how much are we paying? If I was to pay the kind of fees they
are asking students to pay now, maybe somebody like me would not have seen the
four walls of a university. Those are the kind of things you think of and would
want to say God need to help us. But overall, we must till thank God that we
are alive.
Philosopher's Corner:- Reparation: who pay who?
 |
| Amodu Murisiku Ayoku |
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Reparations for slavery are the idea that some form of compensatory payment should be made to the descendants of those who had been enslaved by the Atlantic Slave Trade.
In 1999, the African World Reparations and Repatriation Truth Commission called on "the West" to pay $777 trillion to Africa within five years.
In 2004, Lloyds of London was sued by the descendants of African slaves. The case was not successful. In Jamaica in 2004, a coalition of Rastafari movement groups argued that European countries formerly involved in the slave trade, especially Britain, should pay 72.5 billion pounds sterling to resettle 500,000 Jamaican Rastafarians in Africa. The claim was rejected by the British government, which said it could not be held accountable for wrongs in the past centuries.
In 2007, Guyana called for European nations to pay reparations for the slave trade.
In 2011, Antigua & Barbuda called for reparations at the United Nations, saying "that segregation and violence against people of African descent had impaired their capacity for advancement as nations, communities and individuals".
In 2012, Jamaica revived its reparations commission, to consider the question of whether the country should seek an apology or reparations from Britain for its role in the slave trade. The opposition cited Britain’s role in the end of the slave trade as a reason that Britain should issue no reparations
Also in 2012, the Barbados government established a 12-member Reparations Task Force, to be responsible for sustaining the local, regional and international momentum for reparations. Barbados is reportedly currently leading the way in calling for reparations from former colonial powers for the injustices suffered by slaves and their families.
While Barbados is leading the crusade yet again for
compensation and reparation for slave trade, the problem of underdevelopment in
Africa cannot be over emphasized. The so call underdeveloped Africa,
historically, was the brain behind the development of Europe. Over five
hundred(500) years of slavery is not an issue to take with kid’s glove. Taking
able-bodied Africans for over 500 years in a Trans Atlantic slave trade to
Europe, demands world attention. Nationalist in Africa before now had risen to
ask for reparation from Europe. Reparation struggle was once led by late MKO
Abiola where African sued Europeans to world court to ask for reparation.
Africans demanded that Europeans should pay Africans whatever should be able to develop Africa (800 million dollars, they guessed) or come back to Africa to develop Africa to the present standard of Europe. The sustained argument is making Europe considering paying but some skeptical Europeans are asking rational or irrational questions standing as bulwark to possible compensations.
Europe needs answers to these questions;
If (we) Europeans are to develop Africa, where do we start from? Which country? Which state? Which town?
Those (Europeans) who committed the crime then are all dead, why should we pay for the crime we never committed?
It was trade by barter then, we gave mirrors, combs, gun powders, cigarettes etc in exchange for slaves, we had paid. Why asking for reparation?
We met slavery in Africa. You thought us slave trade, we emulated you. Your rulers had slaves before our coming, why ask us to pay?
Your rulers (kings) captured you by themselves. We never did. Why must we pay?
If Europe is to make payment, how much?
Who is to receive it? Which country? Which state?
Can any African country say specifically how many people were taken away from their country?
How many from which state?
How many from which family?
Then, we need to remember that present African leaders are greedy and selfish. If payments are made to Africa, won’t African leaders embezzle it?
If they want to embezzle it, they will not be keeping
it in African banks. It will indirectly return to European banks, in foreign accounts,
in that case, why should Europe pay?
Can anyone answer these questions?
Amodu Murisiku Ayoku
ayomurisiku@yahoo.com
08057356316
Wizkid Thinks Big; Invests In Gold, Reveals "I Am Going To Work With Skales Again"
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Wizkid while speaking to a Pm News reporter has explained how he is trying to secure his future. According to him, he invests in Gold and properties even though people think investing in Gold is vanity, it is a very good business he said.
Where are you investing all the millions you are making now?
I invest heavily in properties and jewellery. I spend more on gold. I have heard some people say they are vanities but I tell you, they are very good investments.
About being arrogant and acting like a terrible person, he said;
Wizkid while speaking to a Pm News reporter has explained how he is trying to secure his future. According to him, he invests in Gold and properties even though people think investing in Gold is vanity, it is a very good business he said.
Where are you investing all the millions you are making now?
I invest heavily in properties and jewellery. I spend more on gold. I have heard some people say they are vanities but I tell you, they are very good investments.
About being arrogant and acting like a terrible person, he said;
"Well, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. And you should also check those who claim I am a terrible person. I am not and my people know that. Whatever any one feels, he should not blame me for it. Everyone cannot like you; same as everyone cannot hate you. I am just being me and also being a good person. Fame has not changed me; it only added some accessories to my collections. People say I am arrogant and it does not bother me because I still show my fans love and they do same in return."
On his relationship with former label mate- Skales, Wizzy reveals "Of course, I will work with Skales. He was in my house some weeks ago and he brought a track. Definitely, I am going to work with him."
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