Femi Lasode in Search of Africa's Stolen Treasures

By Yemi Olakitan

Former President of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and one of country’s foremost filmmakers, Obafemi Lasode, has said his latest movie, Africa’s Stolen Treasures, is ready to hit the cinemas.

Olasode said these artefacts do not mean any other thing than aesthetic and monetary value to the looters. However, to Africa, “these pieces carry our history, culture and identity.”

According to him, the movie is a wake up call to Africans at home and in the Diaspora to push harder for return of treasures stolen from the continent. These rare and precious artworks are in museums and galleries across Europe and America. Britain and France are the biggest culprits in this shameful plunder of Africa’s cultural heritage, with their museums holding thousands of stolen works of art

The filmmaker added, “these works are ‘timeless document’ and they contain the history of families, clans and villages that make up ancient African societies.” He said, “with most of that indigenous knowledge having been erased and stolen from us, we are left with little evidence of Africa’s pre-colonial history. This is why the white man took up the task of re-writing our own history for us during the colonial era.”

In 1897, Britain invaded Benin Empire, and plundered the land, wiping out in the process one of the most advanced cultural heritages on the continent. Thousands of bronze and ivory works that chronicled the history and customs of the people were looted from the palace.

According to reports, Dr. Mark Walker, who inherited two of the famous Benin bronzes from his grandfather, Captain Herbert Walker, however, returned them in 2014. The senior Walker was involved in the pillaging of Benin.

According to Lasode, “the movie should be seen as a part of an overall awareness campaign to assist in heightening the society’s knowledge on the need to protect and preserve Africa’s antiquities.” Africa’s Stolen Treasure is an adventure tale about three treasure hunters, who came to Africa to recover, hidden African artefacts. In their bid to escape the natives who were in hot pursuit, these looters had buried these works. The fleeing explorers were able to produce a map with the hope of returning someday to retrieve the hidden artefacts.

Lasode said, “this movie is my attempt to show the world that process of robbery. You can look at it as an adventure movie, kids, as well as adults, can watch and be entertained, but the film’s essence is the message being passed across. Institutions and governments must rise and demand for the return of Africa’s cultural heritage stolen by colonial masters. Our treasures are the totality of who we are as a people. They are the legacy of our forefathers left for us to pass on to coming generations. This is a re-education movie, especially for African families, decision and policy makers.

The map resurfaces in the 21st century at a European auction. Who will get there first? This is where the suspense is. Will the thieves be brought to justice? The answers are all in the movie Africa’s Stolen Treasures. The movie features Gbenga Richards and Belinda Effah (AMAA winner, 2010), and legends such as, Clarion Chukwurah, Lari Williams, Eddie Ugbomah, Prince Jide Kosoko. Also appearing are, Paul Obazele, Funmi Tijani, Femi Robinson, George Eyo, Tunde Alabi and Wale Adebayo (Sango).

King Sunny Ade (KSA), Nelson Brown and Harriet Ewemade produced the soundtrack. The project is shot on High Definition Video (HD) and is transferred to 35mm celluloid film for international screenings. It was shot at Abijo Film Village, Lekki, Lagos.

Through his radio show, Africa N’ Vogue, Lasode promoted Nigerian music in United States and was part of the team that brought KSA, Oliver De Coque and Sonny Okosuns to perform at the Apollo Theatre in the U.S.On coming back home, he founded Even Ezra studios, which became a refuge for artistes for many years, as he used the place to provide support to them.

For the past two decades, Lasode has been in the vanguard of promoting Nigerian arts and culture through music and movies. He studied business administration in the U.S.. He also has a master’s degree in Radio, Television and Film Production from the Brooklyn College, City University, New York. Lasode was a promoter of African music in the United States and was a broadcaster with WNYE Radio, New York

Trouble in Lekki as bulldozers destroy homes, properties

By Yemi Olakitan 



While it can be said that Lagos state residents are sitting pretty, free from onslaught of insurgents and the latest nightmare – the Fulani cattle herdsmen, a different face of unprovoked aggression is terrorising the Okun Mopo Community along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos. A report reaching our features desk said only last week, large expanse of land and property designated as estates belonging to old families at Sangotedo Monastery in the community have been overrun by bulldozers, pulling down buildings, infrastructures and other facilities on the orders of some estate developers called ‘land grabbers’. Heads of the affected families are now crying to the Lagos State Government, the Federal Government and the entire people of Nigeria concerning their land being forcefully taken from them. A family source told our correspondent that the land in question belongs to the Isiaka, Oladehinde and Balogun families, all traditional rulers at the Okun-Mopo community and environs. 

“All the people were told was that the land is to be allocated by Lagos State Government to one Ajayi Apata Property Ltd, without neither consultation nor any form of compensation to the indigenous owners of the land,” the source said. The estate agents – CMB Estate and Diamond Estate – invaded the community with caterpillars and bulldozers, demolishing people’s homes and structures on the land. A resident who spoke to The Daily Times in confidence lamented that the demolition took them unawares. “I woke up that morning hesitating from where I would start off my day when noise of the invading machines filled our area. People were running out of their houses and shouting for help and I had to run too.

 We had no time to take anything and we watched as bulldozers and caterpillars destroyed our homes and properties.” Accounts from residents of Okun Mopo Community corroborated the story of pains and anguish over losses of homes and household utensils because of the illegal demolition. Residents say heavily armed thugs with arms and amulets were positioned on the land, with the aid of fully armed policemen and people can no longer move freely in what used to be their neighbourhood. A spokesman for the estate agent who refused to give his name claimed that the Okun-Mopo Community land has been sold to them and that the two estate administrators are now ready to take possession. He denied that the residents were not given any notice before the invasion. Meanwhile, a legal firm representing the aggrieved families and the community, Messrs Bolanle Olugbani & Co, Barristers and Solicitors of Igbosere Road, Lagos Island has written an SOS addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The letter dated 26th April, 2016 and titled ‘The forceful and illegal taking over, eviction and demolition of properties of over 500,000 Nigerians at Okun-Mopo and the complicity of the A.I.G Zone 2, Lagos’ read in part: “We are compelled to write your Excellency this open letter to bring to your attention the pain and suffering of the people and residents of Okun- Mopo as well as the activities of the men of the Nigeria Police force, zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos The Baale of Okun Mopo is the claimant in suit No. /LD 135/2013 pending before the high court of Lagos state. The Defendants in the said suit are the Attorney- General of Lagos state, the New Towns Development authority and Ajayi Apata Property and Investment Company. On the 12th of April 2016, the Baale of Okun Mopo, an 83-year-old man was invited to the Zone 2, Command, Onikan, Lagos based on a false petition of threat to life written by one CMB Estates who bought the land in dispute (subject matter of the above–mentioned suit) from Ajayi Apata Property and the Investment Company. 

The Baale of Okun Mopo had earlier obtained an order of Interlocutory Injunction against the three (3) defendants in the above mentioned suit. The injunction restrained the three defendants and their privies from interfering with the peaceful possession of our clients’ land. CMB Estates is a privy to Ajayi Apata and Investment Company and is also bound by the same order. To our greatest shock , the Zone 2 Police Command led by A.I.G Bala Hassan gave armed police protection to CMB  Estates who went on a demolition spree of our clients’ properties at Okun Mopo with 3 caterpillars. In order to prevent such occurrence in their community, the Okun-Mopo people are calling on the government to stop the activities of land grabbers in their community and in Lagos state. Efforts made by our correspondent to get the police side of the story at Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan was stoutly resisted as no officer was ready to entertain any inquiry on the matter. 

Meet Ihuoma, the Queen of Insurance

By Yemi Olakitan

THE recently celebrated 50th anniversary of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), which was held amidst pomp and pageantry, also witnessed the crowning of Miss Insurance 2009.

The beauty pageant, which was part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the institute, was a gathering of who is who in the Nigerian insurance sector.

The event, which was held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, was designed to identify the insurance sector with fashion, beauty and entertainment. Organisers of the event hoped that the pageant would make positive statements and remove much of the mystery behind insurance. It was also a way of celebrating the achievements of the insurance sector in Nigeria.

Contestants who participated in this year’s pageant were from different insurance companies in the country, with Miss Brenda Ihuoma Nwakama of Scib Nigeria Limited emerging the winner.

A native of Abia State, Ihuoma is a graduate of Public Administration from the Enugu State University of Technology. She is an Account Executive with Scib Nigeria Limited in Lagos.

Ihuoma, who joined Scib as a member of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja, was later posted to Lagos as a staff of the company.

Speaking in an interview, Miss Nwakama said she was elated to have won the competition. She said she had always known that she would become a beauty queen one day, but did not suspect that it would be within the insurance industry. She expressed her deep appreciation to the staff and management of Scib for their moral and financial support, which enabled her win the competition.

Speaking further on her celebrated victory, Ihuoma said she will use her tenure as the new Miss Insurance for the year 2009 to pursue her pet projects, which include; creating awareness concerning the numerous insurance policies within the Nigerian insurance sector by partnering with members of the print and electronic media. She also wished to use her reign to promote corporate governance, also known as due process within the insurance sector.

She said she would endeavour to sensitise the insurance community on their social responsibility to the less privileged, the motherless and the poor in the society. Ihuoma plans to work together with all stakeholders within the sector. She hoped to work with the Insurers Association of Nigeria, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria with support from her company Scib Nigeria & Company.

This queen is not new to the beauty pageant sector, having participated in various competitions in the past. She participated in the Prettiest Girl in Nigeria pageant organised by Phemy Concepts, an entertainment company in Lagos. She was also the winner of Miss Rotaract Nigeria 2005/2006, organised by the Rotary Club of Nigeria. Ihuoma was also Miss Rotaract, Enugu State University of Technology. She was also the district winner of the pageant before she went ahead to win it at the national level. Ihuoma was also, Miss Scib; a competition she won at her company’s new year party held in Lagos last December.

Ihuoma went home with the grand prize of a Kia Picanto car as the winner of the Miss Insurance beauty pageant. The car was donated by Goldlink Insurance Plc.

Speaking on the relevance of the pageant to the insurance sector and Scib Nigeria & Company Limited, Head, Human Resources Department, Miss Adeyemi Aderemi, said the pageant is a vehicle for youth development, growth and opportunity. She said it was important for the insurance sector to identify with other areas of human endeavour such as fashion, beauty, and entertainment because insurance is related to all aspects of human life.

She said Scib was proud to be the winner of this year’s competition, having emerged second runner up in last year’s competition.

Scib Nigeria & Company is an insurance broking and risk management firm based in Lagos. The company, which has been operating in the insurance sector for about 30 years, is a partner of Willis, an insurance firm based in the United Kingdom.

Men Talk, Women Talk

By Omiko Awa and Yemi Olakitan 

 THE society will be at its best when men and women play their natural roles, compliment one another, and swallow personal and gender prejudices. Man talk, Woman talk, one of the unpublishedworks of the late playwright, Ola Rotimi, humorously tells the chaos the society faces, when the sexes accuse each other instead of finding how they could harmoniously solve their problems.

   Set in a courtroom, though devoid of the usual court technicalities and legal jargon, the play uses humour, arguments and counter arguments to present the views of two idealistic youthful contenders, Mike Osaga, and a sassy lady, Soye Ogunye, who accused each sex as being the main cause of the ills of the society. While Mike accused Soye of using her succulent female body to entice male folk to do her biddings, Soye countered it with the arguments that man’s sensibility lies upside down between his legs and that he uses his machismo to make ladies conform to his desires. And the urge to satisfy the male folks have made ladies to go the extreme to outdo one another, bleach their skin, dress cute, paint their faces and attached foreign hairs to their heads.

  As this arguments and counter-arguments continue, the two-man jury, made up of a counselor, Professor Omola and a judge, becomes divided; the judge, a man, supports the male folk while the counselor, a woman takes side with the female gender. This created a wry humour that puts each character against the other. But in a twist of imagination the arguments change with the judge being carried away by the beauty and logical presentations of the lady contender, Soye Ogunye, especially when his son (a friend of the court) was invited to give evidence.

    Flooring her opponent with her logical arguments, even when it was obvious, the judge reverses the result on the grounds that women are the cause of the troubles in our society; showing that women’s vote don’t count and things must be the way men want them.

  Not meant to prove which gender is superior, but to uncover the complementary roles men and women play in the society, the play shows that if we must make the right impact in the society both sexes must forgo their egos, listen to one another and act the talk.

  Speaking about the play, Dr. Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, said, “the play came at the right time. It’s high time we rejuvenate the theatre and provide platforms for the top government and corporate executives to unwind.

 “Before coming here I spoke with the Director General of National Theatre to see if the days of traveling theatre could be brought back. We need to reactivate the scene, keep it active as a way to enliven the intellectual aspect of the Nigerian tourism, create platform for the academia to participate and as well provide platform for high executive officers both in public and private to unwind.”

   Accompanying the minister was his predecessor,  Chief Alabo Graham-Douglas, Bikiya’s  father, who exuding satisfaction said, he had wanted her daughter to pursue other career, but with what he has seen, he is satisfied with the production and the calibre of people that have come to watch the play.

    He called on corporate bodies and the necessary government agencies to partner with theatre practitioners to rejuvenate the theatre.

Dr. Edem Duke, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation

 “I am impressed with the production and hope that organisations would support BUAF to make the theatre lively again.”

  Israel Eboh, the director of the play stated that the late playwright captured the Nigerian society of yesterday and today. The question Man Talk, Woman Talk, raises is that weather the Nigerian nation will still be talking rather than acting, using the age long debate between the sex as a subject matter.

  “While all the issues raised are what every Nigerian is aware of and will continue to debate on the streets, homes, offices and our many assemblies, yet the issues have not only refused to go away, but have taken more daring form. For man to talk and woman to talk to bring about a society built on mutual respect, we must acknowledge the fact that to talk, we must learn to listen and understand one another and be ready to sacrifice our egos on the alter of collective good,” he added.

   Bikiya Graham Douglas, chief operating officer of Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), saidMan Talk, Woman Talk is one of the rich Nigerian theatre heritage that need to be sustained for the enjoyment of this generation.  “The play is in line with my organisation’s culture to rejuvenate the theatre in the country, educate and entertain the people.”

  On whether the play would be shown in other parts of the country Bikiya said, “I would have loved to take it round the country, but I am constrained by funds. The greatest challenge facing theatre in the country is fund and the only way to overcome this, is when corporate organisations and private individuals partner with various theatre groups for stage production.”

Returning to Aku (aka Ọmọ Oduduwa) Traditional Religion

Below is a an interview with an Aku (aka Omo Oduduwa) woman who returned to the Way, having been drawn to home to Ifa by Olodumare – a sample of the mass return to the Truth to happen in these times as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30; notice her apparel which is probably similar to Osara’s, Deborah’s, Moremi’s (Miriam/Mary), etc. The interview was first published in page 48 of The Guardian of May 5, 2012 but is no longer available on The Guardian website.

‘We Are All Traditionalists’

Saturday, 05 May 2012 00:00 By Yemi Olakitan Saturday Magazine – Saturday Magazine

Ebun Osunnike a.k.a Iya Adunbuyinbo, is the President of International Congress of Orisa Congress, Lagos State Chapter, an umbrella organization for all the Orisa Worshippers in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. She had once been a Christian named Ruth, She had once been a Muslim, named  Falilat, but today Osunike is dedicated to the propagation of traditional religious worship. She fervently believes that a return to tradional religion will bring about a better society.  In this interview with Yemi Olakitan, she bares her mind on various issues affecting tradional religion in Nigeria and why she believes that traditional religion  is the best .  Excerpts.

MOST people have abandoned traditional religion for Christianity and Islam, Why have you remained in it?

The Christians and Muslims have not abandoned our traditional religion. They deceive themselves when they say that they have abandoned our traditional practices and I will tell you why. There are ways in which they still observe our traditional religion.  The Muslims still use what they call ‘‘Tira’’ which is a kind of charm if you look at it well. During the Salah celebrations, a good Muslim must slaughter his own ram and share such with the neighbors.

In the Christian Bible, Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the world. The death of Christ was a sacrificial offering. In the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, God told them to make sacrificial offerings of bulls and rams. Therefore, it is all interwoven and related. Tradition is supreme and we are all involved in these practices in one form or the other. Each religion has its own rites and rituals. So, don’t tell me that they have abandon tradition. In actual fact, traditional religion is the first-born. Look at our Muslim and Christian brothers, particularly in Yorubaland, there are few names that do not have a connection with a Yoruba deity. Our names are either attached to Ogun the god of iron, Ifa the god of Divination, or Osun, the River goddess. These are deities that are attached to traditional religion, although these people may claim to be Christians or Muslims. The fact is that  traditional religion is the religion of our ancestors.  Look at Governor Fashola. He may claim to be a Muslim; his name is derived from Ifa. Traditional religion is the first. Islam and Christianity are foreign religions. Islam was imported from Saudi Arabia, while Christianity was imported from Europe. They are not our culture originally. We accepted these religions because we do not know the value of what we have. The white man knows what he has and he packages it well and he gave it to us and we accepted his own religion to the detriment of ours.  I had been a Christian before, my baptismal name was Ruth and I had been a Muslim as well, my Muslim name was Falilat. I have examined the two and I prefer Orisa Worship.

Don’t You feel odd Atimes, being a traditionalist among a sea of Muslims and Christians?

I grew up with traditional religion. My father was a staunch traditionalist and so was my mother.  I know the value of what we have. We have inherited a strong religion full of deep spirituality and strong philosophy of life. Honestly, there is nothing in Christianity or Islam that is not in Orisa Worship. My father’s name was Ogundeyi, my son’s name is Ogunshina and my other son’s name is Ifashola.

You see, traditional religion works if you practice it with truthfulness and right living. I believe in the Orisas. People have different problems. Christians, Muslims and even atheists all come to us for help including those who condemn us in public. I want to appeal to Christians to stop castigating us. They say, all we do is evil.  That is a lie!

People come to us with problems and we are able to help them. Some come with unemployment problems, some barrenness, some business problems. We consult the Orisas for the solution and the solutions are always there.

What is the position of traditional religion on life after death?

In Yoruba traditional religion, there is a strong belief in life after death.  Life does not end here on earth. If you do good, you will have your reward and if you do bad, you will also be rewarded. Everyone has spiritual groups in heaven (egbe orun). These groups depend on your character and the kind of life you live on earth while you were here. You see, birds of the same feather flock together. If you are a robber when you are alive, you will have spiritual affiliations with robbers in heaven and you will suffer with them. Let me give you a very classic example. A woman came to me in search of a child. She had been married for many years. I told her what she must do to cure her barrenness. She must offer sacrificial offerings to her spiritual group but she screamed “Jesus!”  She went away because she found it difficult to accept because of her religious background. She came back to me after two years ready to offer the offerings. Today, she is blessed with a bouncing baby girl because of her obedience. You see, there is no one without groups in heaven. However, you need to live right in order to enjoy their blessings.

Tell us about your work and your association

Well, I am the president of the Orisa Congress in the whole of Lagos State. I went to Abuja to establish it. I have established it in Minna, Sokoto, Benin Republic and every state of the Western Region. We are present in the United States of America. We are in Europe as well.  Professor Wande Abimbola in Ile Ife established Orisa Congress, when he was a Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University. He is the President of the Association, worldwide. Araba Awo of Oshogbo, Chief Yemi Elebun Ibon is the National President of the Congress of Orisa Worshipers. Traditional religion is the first-born and it is supreme.

Our Association is fully registered with the government. We are registered just like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). However, the government does not recognize us. They give attention to the Muslims and the Christians but not to us. We want to move close to the government, but our government is like a woman who gives birth to three children but abandons one. They have thrown traditional religion away.

But we are the true identity of the country. The others are foreign importations. In traditional religion, you cannot lie. If you do evil, evil will overtake you. Many people today cannot practice traditional religion because their works are evil; and the Orisa don’t condone evil. That that is why they hide under Christianity and Islam and yet many still come to us for deliverance. As an Osun Priestess for example, I cannot lie or cheat. It is what Osun asks for that I must ask for from the client. If Osun does not ask for money, I cannot ask for money. Yet, you will never lack. All the Orisas do not encourage wickedness. Therefore, it is wrong to associate traditional religion with evil. I also want to appeal to the Nollywood people who are making films to portray us in good light. They are castigating our collective cultural heritage. The images of Christianity and Islam are just products of good branding.  Let us portray our culture and tradition in positive light to the outside world.

True, there are some people that go about parading themselves as Orisa Worshipers. They are dressed in white and they sit in public places begging for money. These people are not part of us. It is not Yoruba Culture to beg for money. It is not even in the tenets of Orisa worship. It is completely unacceptable.  You don’t beg for money. You work with you hands. This is what the Orisas instruct us to do, although there is a certain deity that instructs his followers to go and ask for money and pray for those who give. However, this comes up at a particular season and when that season is past, you cannot continue to do it as if you are a beggar. It is totally against the religious inclination of Orisa Worship to turn oneself into a beggar and be begging in the name of religion. I have trained several priestesses. You cannot find them begging for money. Those who are doing that have deviated from tradition.

What other advice do you have for the Government?

The government should recognize us more. A father who has three children but throws away one is not a good father.  If the Christians can help in nation building, we can also help. The Boko Haram issue, for example. They are not spirits, they are human beings. The government should involve all of us in finding solutions to the problem of the nation.

Fayose blasts Obasanjo over letter to Buhari

Nigerians have already made up their minds to show Buhari the exit next year with or without Obasanjo’s self-serving letter

“So Obasanjo should not take the credit. He should not reap where he has not sown.

“Nevertheless, President Buhari should heed ex-President Obasanjo’s advice and go home and rest. President Buhari has overstayed his welcome,” he added

Fayose added that “Obasanjo himself should heed his own advice to Buhari by also going home to rest. Both Obasanjo and Buhari are analogue in this digital age and have expired.

“We have been hearing of Obasanjo since we were in the primary school.

“It is time for him to vacate the public political space. When Nigerians hear him speak nowadays, they hiss.”

A wonderful reunion

He made the disclosure during an appearance as a guest on an ongoing reality TV show, ‘Celebrity Housemate’, in Lagos on Thursday, January 25.

According to him, Davido’s popularity made the rift “bigger than fighting Abacha”.

He told his audience, “The Davido issue was my biggest battle ever. It was bigger than fighting Abacha because of the blistering popularity of David; he is an extremely popular guy and it was very unfortunate because a baby was involved; very beautiful girl, Imade. When it happened, I tried to avoid a collision with the family because I am very close to the family especially because of Ademola who is now a senator.

“So when the baby issue came, I didn’t know about it, if Sophie (Davido’s first Babymama) didn’t tell me she was pregnant, I wouldn’t have known, she was able to hide it perfectly from everyone.”

“We used to sleep in the same house when I was in exile in London. Whenever Ademola was around, he would call me and then pick me up to his house and I’ll sleep there and when I need to go back to my own house he would drop me

Momodu also mentioned that Davido’s father, Tunji Adeleke, was the one who facilitated the “true reconciliation”.