published in the Guardian Newspapers,
Monday, January 11, 2010
Media 2009: Smiles and sighs
By Yemi Olakitan and Michael Orie
IN many ways, the year 2009 was eventful for the Nigerian media. It was both an interesting and sad year in some respects; a year of mixed happenings, both positive and negative. Many issues came up last year that made it so. The year would definitely remain memorable in the minds of all media stakeholders.
For a start, it was the year that Nigeria celebrated 50 years of television broadcasting. The advertising sector also had its 20th year anniversary celebration amidst funfair. It was also in that year that the media had a parcel bomb attack.
The 50th anniversary of television broadcasting coincided with the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA); hosted by Governor Sullivan Chime at the Nikki Lake Hotel, Enugu State.
Aside the NMMA, there were other awards ceremonies during that year. However, the NMMA was the most interesting because it almost mired as the seemingly lack of preparation by the Enugu State Government was the interesting part of the NMMA event.
Despite these problems, other aspects of the ceremony still went well. One can only hope that the organisers of the NMMA will do a better job in the year 2010 and give Nigerian journalists a befitting award ceremony. Winners of the 19th edition of the NMMA 2009 were The Guardian Newspapers, which bagged the Newspaper of the Year and its editor, Mr. Debo Adesina, who emerged Editor of the Year. There were 47 awards in all, 35 in print, six in radio and six in television media.
As one of the most organised national award schemes in Nigeria, the 2010 edition is billed to hold in Lagos while that of 2011 is scheduled for Borno State in line with an earlier commitment expressed by Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to the Trustees of NMMA.
Another media awards ceremony was the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) held at the Oceanview Restaurant in Lagos. Medals were presented for outstanding performance in print, electronic and online media in various categories. It was well attended by stakeholders from all sectors of the media. The DAME awards did not experience the problems encountered by the NMMA handlers.
Also, The Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting also had a successful outing in 2009. Its aim is to encourage the exposure of corruption and human rights abuses in the country through the mechanism of investigative journalism. It also added another feather to its cap by honoring the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. He received the Anti-Corruption Defender Award.
The bomb blast attempt at Superscreen, a Lagos-based television station was another headline event in 2009.
Another incident was the fire outbreak that gutted the multimillion-naira studio of the African Independent Television (AIT), Alagbado, Lagos. The cause of the fire outbreak at AIT is yet to be ascertained.
As usual, media debt remained one of the major challenges of the sector in the year under review. It has been identified as one of the banes of the media marketing sector. Huge debt in the media has come to remain a consistent issue every year without the possibility of resolution.
It seems to have become a culture among advertising practitioners to owe media houses huge debts running into billions. This practice has come to be accepted by the media organisations themselves, who are helpless about the problem. Their continued patronage means they must succumb to such debts and continue to render media services to the debtor companies despite unpaid debts with the hope that they will pay someday.
Piling up debts affect media houses. It is a way of killing the media sector since media houses cannot continue to run their operations without adequate funds. These debts might also kill negatively affect advertising agencies themselves as it shows lack of integrity and bad management. Advertising agencies must learn to operate within operational parameters of agency commissions and pay media houses as and when due for services rendered.
The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) was one of the major actors and headliners in 2009. The state government outlet is charged with the responsibility of ensuring sanity and orderliness on roads and streets in Lagos metropolis in addition to adding beauty to these public utilities. It also wants to generate income for infrastructural development.
However, the agency has continued to receive criticisms from the outdoor advertising companies who have not minced words in condemning the activities of LASAA since they were commissioned. LASAA had gone to the streets of Lagos to uproot billboards and signpost worth millions of naira. The act resulted in untold hardships for the outdoor advertising companies. While the objective of the state government seems a noble one, it should however ensure the survival and thriving of outdoor advertising business.
One thing to avoid is oligopoly and unemployment. If outdoor advertising companies fold up, many Lagosians in that sector will become jobless, which will further worsen the economic and poverty situation. This is already happening in the banking sector. LASAA must engage the companies in solidarity, roundtable dialogue and, work together to build a better outdoor advertising sector for all stakeholders in such a way that the companies also prosper.
One of the unresolved media issues in the out-gone year is the non-passage of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOIB), in spite of the agitation and aggressive campaign by the stakeholders. It was promise upon promise by the legislators that the bill would be passed. But the introduction of new Media/Nigerian Press Council Bill strained the perceived cordial relationship between the media and the lawmakers when the media stakeholders stood firmly against the new bill without minding the personality of its sponsor, Hon. Abike Dabiri. It is hoped that the issue will be resolved early this year, and the uncertainty that has continued to surround the FOIB will be cleared in 2010.
At present, Nigeria has no law, which guarantees citizens access to public records and information. A situation where many Nigerian laws have secrecy clauses prohibiting the disclosure of information such as the Official Secret Act, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code and many others cannot help democracy. Most public servants are made to swear to oaths of secrecy when employed and the general consequence of this is an entrenched culture of impunity.
However, and in the face of mounting criticism, the National Assembly Committee in charge of issues pertaining to the bill has refuted claims that the proposed law has gotten stuck in legislative limbo. They are said to be fine-tuning aspects that will affect national security.
Last year, there was a lot of advocacy on the benefits of community radio in the country. However, despite the announcement by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that it will soon launch community radio broadcasting, not much has been achieved in that regard. Nigeria, with its huge population, no doubt requires an effective media, not only for the advancement of its nascent democracy, but also for her economic prosperity.
Radio remains the only medium of mass communication that has the capacity to reach the widest possible communities, even in the remote areas. The expectation is high that the issue of community radio will be resolved promptly this year.
It was also in 2009 that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) celebrated its 20th year anniversary. The anniversary was held both at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja and the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a gathering of who is who in the advertising sector. The council also used the anniversary to honour former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who signed into law the decree establishing the council 20 years ago.
APCON was established by Act No 55 of 1988 and revised by Act No 93 of 1992 to regulate advertising practice in Nigeria. It also honoured Prince Tony Momoh and Prince Bola Ajibola, who were both ministers under General Babangida when the APCON law was signed.
Other Nigerians who were also honoured included Professor Charles Okigbo, who was the pioneer registrar of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe, who was honoured for being the third chairman and Chief Olu Falomo, for being the second. They were conferred with the APCON Special Recognition Awards. A number of distinguished practitioners also became fellows in 2009. Some of them were Mr. Yinka Adepoju, and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, who became the first female practitioner to rise to such a level in the industry, Mr. Rufai Ladipo and Feyijimi Awosika.
The saddest part in 2009, however, was the gruesome murder of the late Bayo Ohu of The Guardian newspaper. Bayo was murdered in cold blood in his apartment at Egbeda, a Lagos suburb, by unknown gunmen. Ohu was another in the long list of journalists murder in Nigeria since Dele Giwa in 1996, who was killed by a parcel bomb.
The gruesome murder of Ohu has yet again exposed the Nigerian Police for its ineptitude at bursting crime in the country, especially murder cases. In spite of their promise to unravel the mystery behind the murder nothing has happened ever since. The incidents of unsolved murders in Nigeria are worrisome to many, especially to the media that has been a victim on many occasions. Therefore, the Federal Government has been urged to take another look at security issues in the country with a view to safeguarding members of the public.
Another important issue in 2009 was the campaign to facilitate the actualization of the June 17, 2012 deadline for switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), the umbrella body for the electronic media organisations (public and private) in the country dedicated its 51st General Assembly held at the Radio Lagos/Eko FM to the issue.
With the theme Countdown to 2012: Mid-Term Peer Review on Digital Transition, the choice of Lagos as venue was understandable. It has the largest concentration of radio and television stations in the country. Since the bulk of the nation's broadcasting industry and its appendages are based in the state, the success or failure of the nation's quest to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting will begin with high level compliance of radio and television stations that are located the city.
At the Lagos gathering, huge investment in broadcast equipment and manpower training was also advocated as necessary step to enable the broadcast media operators make informed choices and correct judgments in selecting when to move and in what direction.
Saturday 16 January 2010
Sunday 10 January 2010
Bumper harvest from CBAAC in 2009
Bumper harvest from CBAAC in 2009
By Yemi Olakitan
published in the Guardian News Papers
on Friday,8th January,2010
WHEN in 1979 the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo established the center for Black and African Arts Civilization, CBAAC it charged it with the responsibility of promoting public interest in African arts, culture and civilization. Since that time, the center has grown from strength to strength in the fulfillment of its statutory duties to black Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Over the years, the center has continued to work on that mandate after the festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC 77 that took place in Lagos, Nigeria. CBAAC has continued to propagate its mission through workshops, symposium, lectures performances, and many other activities that stimulate public interest in arts and culture. It had also continued to preserve and acquire more materials in addition to the ones that were entrusted to it after FESTAC 77.
The year 2009 was a year of achievements and success for the center. It was a year of a series of activities and events that make everyone agree that the centre is making huge progress in its avowed goals and objectives. The month of February 2009 was the celebration of Black History Month, which was held at the Trenchard Hall of University of Ibadan. It featured a week long exhibition, cultural performances and a public lecture titled: 'Advancing and integrating African values, Ethics and Norms in the interest of Africans and Africans in diasporas,'' the lecture was delivered by Dr. Maltloeng Matlou, Executive Director, Africa institute of South Africa, AISA. The event was climaxed by the official Commissioning of the Center's outreach office at the institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Another interesting event was the Summit/ Colloquium of agencies and organization responsible for the management of African Arts and Culture in Africa and the diasporas, held at Hotel Mont Febe, Yaound�, Cameroon from 7th to 10th April 209. The colloquium tagged (SICADIA 2009) with the theme: African Culture in the Globalize World of the 21st century was a follow up to the first summit held at the instance of CBAAC in Lagos on the 21st and 23rd of August 2007 and a roundtable on African Cultural institutions that was organized in Algiers in October 2008. Attendance at the summit cut across the various regions in Africa with delegates from Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Congo, Niger, Central Africa Republic, among others. It also had institutional representation from from the African Union, Observatory for cultural Practices in Africa (OCPA) center for Bantu Civilization CICIBA, African union Center for Oral Tradition and Oral history, Pan African strategic and policy Reaserach Group, UNESCO, West African Museum Project, amongst others.
A Public Lecture on African indigenous languages, held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Plot 779, Cadastral Zone AO, Central Business District, Near Kumasi House, Abuja, Nigeria on the 7th of May was also a huge success, in 2009. The lecture was delivered by Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, Director for Advanced Studies of African Societies, Cape Town, South Africa, The topic of the lecture was: African Languages, African Development and African Unity. It was attended by Senator Bello Jibril Gada, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and Dr.Goke Adegoroye, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Tourim, Culure and National orientation amngst others.
CBAAC's annual international Children's Day, May 27 209, held in Collaboration with the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria SPAN, and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited featured performances by School Children, poetic renditions by participating children and competitive inter-schools debates. The programme enjoyed the support and patronage of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. De United Foods industries, Nestle PLC, Seven UP PLC, and SCOA, among others, The winning school went away with a trophy donated by his royal Highness, Oba Dokun Abolarin, Aroyekeye 1, The Orangun of Oke Ila, Oke Ila Ornagun, Osun state, It had in attendance pupils from forty one secondary schools in around Lagos state.
In the area of Visual Arts, the center featured an international Exhibition titled: Seen and Heard at the 2nd Pan African Cultural Festival held at Algiers, July 22nd 2009.Professor Funso Aiyejina of the University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago delivered CBAAC's annual public Lecture held on July 23, 2009.
The 2009 edition of the annual lecture titled: Esu Elegbara: A source of an Alter/Native Theory of African Literature and Criticms'' held at the Cinema Hall of the National Theater, Iganmu Lagos also had a successful outing. The event had in attendance Senator Bako Gasol, Chairman, senate Committee on culture and Tourism, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, permanent Secretary.
As part of efforts aim at sustaining African Literature, encourage intellectual activities, human potential development, particularly in the area of literature, CBAAC hosted the maiden edition of its African Writers series Programme at the Cultural Center in Abuja on the 17th of September, 2009. The event brought together authors and students in a close contact in appreciation of creativity works and with the purpose of impacting positive values in would be authors and writers through reading of literary works and inter group exchanges. Mr. George Ufot, Director of Culture represented senator Jibril Bello Gada, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. The center also had a Collaboration/Partnership with international organisations in order to foster cooperation and cross-border exchanges. It signed two different Memoranda of Understanding with the Africa institute of South Africa and the Regional Center for research and Documentation on Oral Tradition and Development of African Languages in Cameroon.
In November 9-13, 2009; the center hosted the 5th edition of its international Conference series in Brasilia, Brazil. The Colloquium was on the theme: Teaching and Propagating African Diasporas History, History of integration in West Africa. Prof of History at Cheikh Anta Diop University and fellow at CODESTRIA, Dakar Senegal, gave the keynote address titled: The History of Africa and the Africa Diasporas in the 21st Century.
The Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Bello Sheidu Ozigis represented the Nigerian Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Senator Jubril Bello Gada, Senator Yisa Burahimo, Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Hon KGB Oguakwa, Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Federal Republic of Nigeria Representative of Brazil's special Secretariat for the promotion of policies on Racial Equality, were all present.
The Presidency Brazil, Mrs. Magali Naves, Director of the Department of international cooperation's, Mr. George Ufot, Ag.Director of Culture, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Nigeria; Professor Molara Ogundipe, Profesor of English Africana and Gender studies, and a renown scholar of international repute; Prof. JM Mabeko Tali, Professor of History at Howard University and member of the UNESCO's scientific Committee for the Pedagogical Use of the General History of Africa, he also represented Mr. Ali Mousa Iye,Chief of History and Culture, UNESCO, Professor Dele Layiwola, Director Institute of African studies, University of Ibadan; Professor Ibrahim Maina Waziri, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, Prof. Kofi Kandiyohi, a poet and Professor of Literature at the University of Ghana; Professor N.Adre Siamundele, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Wells College Aurora, New York, USA were all present. The Colloquium had participants and delegates from twenty-two countries drawn from all continents of the world including Brazil, Nigeria, Canada, Denmark, Congo, USA, UK, Mexico, Senegal, and Colombia. Other countries included Argentina, Ghana, Paraguay, Mozambique, Cameroon, Cuba, South Africa, Cape Verde, Namibia, and France. They were in attendance at the Colloquium.It was an immensely successful event. The center had also increased its publications to 58 with 5 new books 2 monographs on the subjects of, arts, culture, heritage, peoples and history.
The Children's Christmas Cultural Festival which was held in December 10, 2009 aim to re-establish traditional arts and culture and confidence of the Black and African Peoples in the youths and children. The center hosted a one-day cultural festival on the 10th of December 2009 at the National Arts Theater Iganmu, Lagos, on n the same subject, more than 30 schools participated in the celebration. Yisa Brahimo, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr. Seyi Womiloju, the Chairman, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, The General Manager National Arts Theater, Prof. Akachi A dimorah Ezeigbo, Head of English, University of Lagos, were all in attendance.
In the year 2009, the Center gave support to programme/projects directed towards extending the frontiers of African arts and culture. Some of these included support and sponsorship of: NANTAP Commemorative Lectures to celebrate NANTAP at the 20th international Theater Day on Wednesday 25th of March 2009. Another project supported by the center was the 2nd Ife Film Festival held at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, January 26th to 30th 2009. The center also had a Roundtable on Religion, Ethics and Corruption in Nigeria at the University of Ibadan. It Collaborated with the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos on a conference and arts exhibitions titled: Revisiting the Restitution of Cultural Artifacts, between September to November 2009. It also had Collaboration with the Institute of cultural studies, Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile ife on an international Conference based on the African Indigenous Judicial Systems in August 2009. In all, the center has succeeded tremendously in making the 2009 a year of grand achievements in the promotion African arts, culture and civilization.
By Yemi Olakitan
published in the Guardian News Papers
on Friday,8th January,2010
WHEN in 1979 the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo established the center for Black and African Arts Civilization, CBAAC it charged it with the responsibility of promoting public interest in African arts, culture and civilization. Since that time, the center has grown from strength to strength in the fulfillment of its statutory duties to black Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Over the years, the center has continued to work on that mandate after the festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC 77 that took place in Lagos, Nigeria. CBAAC has continued to propagate its mission through workshops, symposium, lectures performances, and many other activities that stimulate public interest in arts and culture. It had also continued to preserve and acquire more materials in addition to the ones that were entrusted to it after FESTAC 77.
The year 2009 was a year of achievements and success for the center. It was a year of a series of activities and events that make everyone agree that the centre is making huge progress in its avowed goals and objectives. The month of February 2009 was the celebration of Black History Month, which was held at the Trenchard Hall of University of Ibadan. It featured a week long exhibition, cultural performances and a public lecture titled: 'Advancing and integrating African values, Ethics and Norms in the interest of Africans and Africans in diasporas,'' the lecture was delivered by Dr. Maltloeng Matlou, Executive Director, Africa institute of South Africa, AISA. The event was climaxed by the official Commissioning of the Center's outreach office at the institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Another interesting event was the Summit/ Colloquium of agencies and organization responsible for the management of African Arts and Culture in Africa and the diasporas, held at Hotel Mont Febe, Yaound�, Cameroon from 7th to 10th April 209. The colloquium tagged (SICADIA 2009) with the theme: African Culture in the Globalize World of the 21st century was a follow up to the first summit held at the instance of CBAAC in Lagos on the 21st and 23rd of August 2007 and a roundtable on African Cultural institutions that was organized in Algiers in October 2008. Attendance at the summit cut across the various regions in Africa with delegates from Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Congo, Niger, Central Africa Republic, among others. It also had institutional representation from from the African Union, Observatory for cultural Practices in Africa (OCPA) center for Bantu Civilization CICIBA, African union Center for Oral Tradition and Oral history, Pan African strategic and policy Reaserach Group, UNESCO, West African Museum Project, amongst others.
A Public Lecture on African indigenous languages, held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Plot 779, Cadastral Zone AO, Central Business District, Near Kumasi House, Abuja, Nigeria on the 7th of May was also a huge success, in 2009. The lecture was delivered by Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, Director for Advanced Studies of African Societies, Cape Town, South Africa, The topic of the lecture was: African Languages, African Development and African Unity. It was attended by Senator Bello Jibril Gada, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and Dr.Goke Adegoroye, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Tourim, Culure and National orientation amngst others.
CBAAC's annual international Children's Day, May 27 209, held in Collaboration with the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria SPAN, and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited featured performances by School Children, poetic renditions by participating children and competitive inter-schools debates. The programme enjoyed the support and patronage of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. De United Foods industries, Nestle PLC, Seven UP PLC, and SCOA, among others, The winning school went away with a trophy donated by his royal Highness, Oba Dokun Abolarin, Aroyekeye 1, The Orangun of Oke Ila, Oke Ila Ornagun, Osun state, It had in attendance pupils from forty one secondary schools in around Lagos state.
In the area of Visual Arts, the center featured an international Exhibition titled: Seen and Heard at the 2nd Pan African Cultural Festival held at Algiers, July 22nd 2009.Professor Funso Aiyejina of the University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago delivered CBAAC's annual public Lecture held on July 23, 2009.
The 2009 edition of the annual lecture titled: Esu Elegbara: A source of an Alter/Native Theory of African Literature and Criticms'' held at the Cinema Hall of the National Theater, Iganmu Lagos also had a successful outing. The event had in attendance Senator Bako Gasol, Chairman, senate Committee on culture and Tourism, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, permanent Secretary.
As part of efforts aim at sustaining African Literature, encourage intellectual activities, human potential development, particularly in the area of literature, CBAAC hosted the maiden edition of its African Writers series Programme at the Cultural Center in Abuja on the 17th of September, 2009. The event brought together authors and students in a close contact in appreciation of creativity works and with the purpose of impacting positive values in would be authors and writers through reading of literary works and inter group exchanges. Mr. George Ufot, Director of Culture represented senator Jibril Bello Gada, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. The center also had a Collaboration/Partnership with international organisations in order to foster cooperation and cross-border exchanges. It signed two different Memoranda of Understanding with the Africa institute of South Africa and the Regional Center for research and Documentation on Oral Tradition and Development of African Languages in Cameroon.
In November 9-13, 2009; the center hosted the 5th edition of its international Conference series in Brasilia, Brazil. The Colloquium was on the theme: Teaching and Propagating African Diasporas History, History of integration in West Africa. Prof of History at Cheikh Anta Diop University and fellow at CODESTRIA, Dakar Senegal, gave the keynote address titled: The History of Africa and the Africa Diasporas in the 21st Century.
The Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Bello Sheidu Ozigis represented the Nigerian Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Senator Jubril Bello Gada, Senator Yisa Burahimo, Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Hon KGB Oguakwa, Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Federal Republic of Nigeria Representative of Brazil's special Secretariat for the promotion of policies on Racial Equality, were all present.
The Presidency Brazil, Mrs. Magali Naves, Director of the Department of international cooperation's, Mr. George Ufot, Ag.Director of Culture, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Nigeria; Professor Molara Ogundipe, Profesor of English Africana and Gender studies, and a renown scholar of international repute; Prof. JM Mabeko Tali, Professor of History at Howard University and member of the UNESCO's scientific Committee for the Pedagogical Use of the General History of Africa, he also represented Mr. Ali Mousa Iye,Chief of History and Culture, UNESCO, Professor Dele Layiwola, Director Institute of African studies, University of Ibadan; Professor Ibrahim Maina Waziri, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, Prof. Kofi Kandiyohi, a poet and Professor of Literature at the University of Ghana; Professor N.Adre Siamundele, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Wells College Aurora, New York, USA were all present. The Colloquium had participants and delegates from twenty-two countries drawn from all continents of the world including Brazil, Nigeria, Canada, Denmark, Congo, USA, UK, Mexico, Senegal, and Colombia. Other countries included Argentina, Ghana, Paraguay, Mozambique, Cameroon, Cuba, South Africa, Cape Verde, Namibia, and France. They were in attendance at the Colloquium.It was an immensely successful event. The center had also increased its publications to 58 with 5 new books 2 monographs on the subjects of, arts, culture, heritage, peoples and history.
The Children's Christmas Cultural Festival which was held in December 10, 2009 aim to re-establish traditional arts and culture and confidence of the Black and African Peoples in the youths and children. The center hosted a one-day cultural festival on the 10th of December 2009 at the National Arts Theater Iganmu, Lagos, on n the same subject, more than 30 schools participated in the celebration. Yisa Brahimo, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr. Seyi Womiloju, the Chairman, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, The General Manager National Arts Theater, Prof. Akachi A dimorah Ezeigbo, Head of English, University of Lagos, were all in attendance.
In the year 2009, the Center gave support to programme/projects directed towards extending the frontiers of African arts and culture. Some of these included support and sponsorship of: NANTAP Commemorative Lectures to celebrate NANTAP at the 20th international Theater Day on Wednesday 25th of March 2009. Another project supported by the center was the 2nd Ife Film Festival held at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, January 26th to 30th 2009. The center also had a Roundtable on Religion, Ethics and Corruption in Nigeria at the University of Ibadan. It Collaborated with the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos on a conference and arts exhibitions titled: Revisiting the Restitution of Cultural Artifacts, between September to November 2009. It also had Collaboration with the Institute of cultural studies, Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile ife on an international Conference based on the African Indigenous Judicial Systems in August 2009. In all, the center has succeeded tremendously in making the 2009 a year of grand achievements in the promotion African arts, culture and civilization.
Friday 1 January 2010
Nigerian Media 2009: An eventful year
unpublished versiion
By Yemi Olakitan
In many ways, the year 2009 was an eventful year for the Nigerian media. It was both an interesting and sad year for the media in some respects; a year of mixed occurences, both postive and negative. Numerous issues and events came up during this year to make it so. The year will definitely remain memorable in the minds of all media stakeholders. It was in that year that the Nigerian media lost one of its brilliant journalists, the late Bayo Ohu of the Guardian Newspapers, Bayo was murdered in cold blood in his apartment at Egbeda, a Lagos suburb by unknown gunmen.A visibly shaken editor of the Guardian,Debo Adesian who visited the hospital expressed the general exasperation at the loss. Ohu was yet another, in the list of journalists' murder in Nigeria. One was Dele Giwa, Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, who was killed by means of a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986.
Another journalist, Godwin Agbroko, the Editorial Board Chairman of ThisDay newspaper, was gunned down at Oshodi-Mile Two Expressway in 2006 on Christmas Eve. Yet, another puzzling death was that of Abayomi Ogundeji, also a member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspaper on August 17, 2008. He was shot in his vehicle on his way from work late in the evening. The gruesome murder of Bayo Ohu happened to fall on the list of major events in the media sector during the year 2009 and it was the sad one. The Nigerian Police, as always, promised to unravel the mystery behind the murder but nothing has been heard hitherto.
Media Awards
True, the death of Bayo Ohu was sad and tragic especially for the Guardian Newspapers. It was also during that year that the Guardian won the Newspaper of the year award twice. It was given by two separate entities. The Nigerian Media Merit Award,NMMA which gave the award to the Guardian first at Nikki Lake Resort, Enugu where the ceremony was held while the Diamond Media Merit Awards, DAME honoured the newspaper at Ocenview Restaurant in Lagos..
Another media award in that year was the Wole Soyinka Award for investigative Reporting.The Wole Soyinka Award for investigative Reporting aim to encourage the exposure of corruption and human rights abuses in the country through the mechanism of investigative journalism . The body gave prizes to various journalists from the print,radio, television and online category. It also added another feather to its cap by honouring the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The Wole Soyinka award for forinvestigative Reporting reamin one of the prestigious awrds in the Nigerian media sector.
However, the most interesting of the awards ceremonies was the NMMA in Enugu that almost turn into a Drama with the unexpected absence of the Governor and the cold reception given to journalist that vsisted the cold city. The prize given ceremony nearly flopped due to the unexpedted absence of the Governor who was to preside over the opening ceremony. According to earlier reports on the events the event did not finish untill about 2 a.m. and guests witnessed a rushed ceremony.
There were conflicting reports on the state of health of the Governor as many said he could not attend because of his health. There were also unconfirmed reports that he was poisoned at another event. The secanario made the 2009 event less memorable compared to other ones that were hosted in previous years. There were signs of lack of adequate preparation when journalists were taken round the state to have a first hand coverage of the State Government's various projects. This exercise was cut short when it was discovered that officials at some of the places visited were not aware that such visitors were coming. At one of the venues, journalists were barred from taken pictures. The angry journalists eventually demanded to be taken back to their hotel rooms, as it was apparent that the state government did not inform most of the officials at the designated projects sites about the tour. One can only hope that the organizers of the NMMA will do better in the year 2010 and give the Nigerian journalist a more befitting event.
Winners of the 19th edition of the NMMA 2009 were The Guardian Newspapers, which bagged the Newspaper of the Year and its editor, Debo Adesina, who won the Editor of the Year. There were 47 awards in all, 35 in print, six in radio and six in television media Initially slated for November 6 and 8, the shift in date was due to the FIFA’s U-17 soccer championship being hosted in eight cities across the country including Enugu state at the time. As one of the most organized national Award scheme in Nigeria, NMMA future hosting for 2010 have been confirmed, the event will be holding in Lagos while that of 2011 is scheduled for Borno State in line with an earlier commitment of hosting expressed by Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to the Trustees of NMMA.
One of the negative event was the recent bomb blast attempt at a Lagos televison station; Superscreeen . An Eyewitness to the incident was a media executive who spoke with the Guardian Newspaper in anonymity.He was on a business visit to the superscreen office during the explosion. He said he narrowly escaped death as he was on the 3rd floor of the building when the bomb exploded. The bomber himself was on the 4th floor. He revealed hat he was able to engage the bomber in some questioning before the police arrived. The bomber came up with a story that a certain man gave him the wrapped bomb, at gunpoint and asked him to deliver it to the television station. The bomber who failed in his mission had his hands and a limb cut off and was blinded by the explosion. When asked why he unwrapped the bomb, the bomber said he did so out of curiosity, since the bomb was wrapped like a chritsmass gift. He in police custody receiving medical attention. All these is part of the risks that journalists face in discharging their duties; the risks to life and property. It shows that socity as a responsibility to protect media men and their place of work. Many journalists risk their lives daily by reporting the truth and therr many men who do not want the truth reported and they will do anything to eliminate those who try to report the truth. Another incident was the fire outbreak that gutted the multimillion-naira African Independent Television studio, the Dome. The entire AIT studios were nearly razed by December. The cause of the fire outbreak at AIT is yet to be ascertained, although some have attributed it to saboteurs.
Media debt
Media debt remains one of the major challenges of the media sector in year 2009. It has been identified as one of the banes of the communication sector. Huge debt in the media has come to remain with us. It has become a culture among advertising practicitioners to owe media houses huge debts running into millions. This practice has come to be accepted by the media organizations themselves who felt that thee is nothing they can do to stop the problem if they want continued patronage they most continued to render media services to the debtor companies despite huge unpaid debts.
Speaking with Mr. Taiwo Ayodeji, CEO Tee-mark Limited, an integrated marketing communications and advertising agency. He said the idea of piling up debts affect media houses. It is a way of killing the media sector since they cannot continue to run their operations without adequate fund. According to him these debts would kill off such advertising agencies themselves eventually because it is a sign of lack of integrity and bad management and it will run into other sensitive areas in the company.
Ayodeji said advertising agencies must learn to operate within the confinement of their agency commission and pay the media houses as soon as they render the required services. ‘‘This is the only way there could be peace in the business environment and when there is peace, there would be progress,” he said.
While saying noting that the culture of media debts is must end for the sake of progress in the entire media sector, Ayodeji noted that agencies, which owe huge sums of money, are usually those that treat their staff badly. “Members of staff should be seen as key partners in the company, not merely employees,” he said. This, according to him, will help the advertising agencies to grow in leaps and bounds.
The Lagos Signage and Advertising Agencies was one of the major actors in 209. The Lagos State government said it wants to ensure that the streets are orderly and that billboards are not placed haphazardly. It also wants to generate income for infrastructural development. However they have continued to receive critisms for the outdoor advertising companies who have not mince words in condemning the activities of LASAA. As reported, LASAA had went out into the streets of Lagos uprooting billboards and signpost worth millions of naira.
While the objective of the state government is noble they should ensure that the industry do not die because of the activities of LASAA. One thing to avoid is oligopoly and a rise unemployment. If outdoor advertsising companies fold up, many Lagosians in that sector will become unemployed wich will further increase the poverty level. LASAA must engage the companies in solidarity roundtable dialogue and work together to build a better outdoor advertising sector for Lagos.
The Freedom of Information Bill
Chief of the issues in 2009 was the freedom of information bill sponsored by Journalist/senator, Hon. Abike Dabiri. The Freedom of information Bill had been with the Nigerian parliament since 1999. President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to sign it then for fear that it will give foregners access to official information. However, the Bill, if passed into law, will give every Nigerian a legal right of access to information, records, and documents held by government bodies and private bodies; carrying out public functions. Information has been described as the vehicles of democracy. It is near impossible to fight corruption without access to information that could expose corrupt public officials. The freedom of information Bill applies to all arms of government: the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary as well as to all tiers of government: Federal, State, and Local governments.
At present, Nigeria has no law, which guarantees citizens access to public records and information.
A situation where many Nigerian laws have secrecy clauses prohibiting the disclosure of information such as, the Official Secret Act, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code and many more cannot help our democracy. Most public servants are made to swear to oaths of secrecy when employed and the general consequence of these is an entrenched culture of secrecy This will not help public opinion, and professional journalism. It will also cover government inadequacies and corruption.
The freedom of information bill has continued to generate interest since inception. However it has continued to be delayed for reasons that are not clear.
However, The National Assembly Committee in charge of issues pertaining to the bill has refuted claims that the proposed law has gotten stuck in a legislative limbo. According to Deputy Chairman Francis Amadiegwu, "The the lawmakers are fine tuning aspects that will affect national security. He promised that the Freedom of information bill will be passed.
Community Radio
There have been a lot of hullabaloos on the benefits of the community radio in the country even in 2009. However, despite the announcement by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission that it will launch Community broadcasting in Nigeria soon, not much has been achieved in that regard. Nigeria, with its huge population, no doubt required an effective media, not only for the advancement of its nascent democracy, but also for her economic prosperity. Radio remains the only media that has the capacity to reach the widest possible communities in the country. It is the media that can cheaply access the remote areas of our nation. This is because of its portability and affordability. It is also a medium that can defy the epileptic power situation. In a nation where majority of the population remains largely uneducated and illiterate. Community radio stands the chance of being able to inform, enlighten, and mobilize for democratic and economic advancements in all part of the country. With a demographic index of about 150 million people; two of every five West African resides in Nigeria. As the most populous black African nation in the world with reports that Nigeria will hit the 200 million mark in population in the next 15years, Nigeria needs community radio scheme.
It is obvious that the media will play a significant role in shaping our democratic stability and the development of freedom of expressions, information accessibility that will lead to progress. As a result of its pluralist and grassroots-friendly nature, radio has come to be accepted as the pre-eminent medium for development all over the world.
At a forum organized recently for African media Laeders. Media Leaders attended the forum from all over the African Continent, Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria’s international radio network spoke on the relevance of Community radio in the development of Nigeria’s economic and democratic advancement.
According to Jijiwa radio has demonstrated its power in many parts of the world, radio is continuing to demonstrate the capacity to enhance economic development, contribute to technological growth, improve health and education, strengthen national security, combat crime and corruption, give expression to cultural pluralism and promote democratic process. It is not surprising that many countries in the developing world are putting radio at the center of their millennium development goals.
Nigeria has remained the only country in the ECOWAS sub region without a clear-cut policy framework for the emergence of community radio with all its attendant benefits. What we have in Nigeria his urbanized, private/commercial and public radio stations. Radio stations in Nigeria have concentrated in the city because of the drive for Profit. The government owned radio is clearly not enough to deliver the advantages and benefits of the community radio system in Nigeria.
The African Charter on broadcasting calls for the development of three tier radio environment in which the development of public/service. Private/commercial, and Community radio will work hand in hand to further the goals of democracy, individual freedom of expressions, information dissemination and economic advancement.
Community radio ensures easy governance as the government can measure easily, grassroots response to unpopular or popular government policies. Community radio will expose and monitor crime, ensure accurate information in health related issues and destroy the yoke of ignorance, religious fanaticism, eradicate violence while promoting the values of unity and peaceful co existence.
With the inexhaustible benefits of community radio, it is hoped that that Nigerian Broadcasting Commission will take the bull by the horn and step in quickly to ensure that the nation take its rightful place in community radio broadcasting, thereby reaping the benefits of this indispensable media.
APCON AT 20.
It was also in 2009 that the Advertsising Practictioners Council of Nigeria celebrated its 20th year anniversary. The anniversary was held both at the sheraton Hotesl, Ikeja and the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a gathering of who is who in the advertising sector. The council also used the anniversary to honour former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who signed into law, the decree establishing the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has cause to celebrate. it has succeeded in taken advertising to a greater height, making it one of the most advanced sectors of the Nigerian economy; yielding billions of naira in revenue every year, employing hundreds of professionals and training a handful every year. These were the reasons for the gathering of stakeholders in the marketing that sector, Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos on Thursday, November 12, to celebrate 20 years of robust growth and unprecedented achievements in the advertising sector and to honour those, who have been a part of the success story of APCON such as Badamasi Babangida, past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola and his counterpart then, Prince Tony Momoh (Information).
APCON was established by Act No 55 of 1988 and revised by Act No 93 of 1992 to regulate advertising practice in Nigeria.
The event, which started with a cocktail and the rendition of the National Anthem by an orchestra of violins, had Prof. Akunyili on the high table with the chairman of the occasion, Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jnr, Prince Ajibola, Alhaji Farouk Usman and Mr. Bayo Atoyade.
The Chairman of APCON, Mr. Christopher Awusa Doghudje, in his welcome address, congratulated the three eminent persons who were conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Awards of the council.
These people, he said were the ones who brought advertising to the forefront in Nigeria. The chairman said without them; APCON would not be celebrating its 20th anniversary. According to him, it was an honour well deserved.
The chairman said the former President, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Adamu Aliyu, ensured that the council had a legal footing by enacting a law that backed it up.
Doghudje, who at an earlier media briefing took stock of the progress recorded over the past 20 years, said APCON, has succeeded immensely in professionalising and regulating the practice of advertising in Nigeria.
Other Nigerians who were also honored included Professor Charles Okigbo, who was the first chairman of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe, who was honoured for being the third chairman and Chief Olu Falomo, for being the second. They were conferred with the APCON Special Recognition Awards.
Falomo, in his remarks, said through the 14 years that he served; he knew that the council would go places. He expressed gratitudes for the honour done him and his colleagues.
He said the awards was not for any individual but for all those who worked as a team to bring APCON to a fine peculiarity with international advertising organisations all over the developed world.
A number of distinguished practitioners also became fellows at the event. They were Mr. Yinka Adepoju, and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, who became the first female practitioner to rise to such a level in the industry. Mr. Rufai Ladipo of Angel Communications and Feyijimi Awosika of Insight Communications were also honoured as fellow.
Speaking at the event, Professor Akunyili enlightened advertising practitioners on relevance of the national re-branding effort of her ministry to national development.
According to her, advertising is a major stakeholder in re-branding Nigeria project. She said the project is about changing the negative image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the international circles.
"We have allowed others to tell our stories for us," she noted. "We are not treated well at airports around the world, once they see the Green Passport, you will be asked to stand aside. This is as a result of our battered image, many foreigners who come to Nigeria have discovered that what they see is far different from what they were told in their countries.ÕÕ
She continued, "when I came to the office as the image-maker of the nation, I felt strongly that the negative image of Nigeria should not be left alone. We studied the situation and came up with the re-branding project. We also came up with a slogan for re-orientation and attitudinal change with the aim of imbibing the spirit of patriotism: ÔNigeria, Good People, Great CountryÕ
"We have people that have excelled in their various fields of endeavour and achieved international acclaim. Nigerians are very hardworking people and honest. Our nation has spearheaded peacekeeping operations in many parts of Africa. We were at the forefront in the struggle against Apartheid. Many Nigerian civil servants donated their salaries to fight the Apartheid regime in South Africa. We have helped in bringing peace and stability to many countries but we have allowed other people to define who we are. We dont talk about our contributions to global peace, stability and progress. We have allowed a few criminals to define who we are as a country. We must make a statement and we must make strong impressions that our nation will not continue to be defined in negative information. Nollywood is the second most vibrant film industry in the world. We must say these things loud for all to hear."
She added, "we are working with over 17 millions Nigerians in the Diasporas. We are going to establish units in schools to encourage the spirit of patriotism in young people. Re-branding will complement infrastructure and economic development. It is important to national development it does not stop it."
The celebrations, which started on November 11, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, with an advertising career seminar for undergraduates and fresh graduates continued at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers on Friday, of November13.
The event attracted members of the governing council who are from the key stakeholders in the advertising industry and other interests.The stakeholders and interests such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Federal Ministry of Health and Tertiary institutions offering advertising related courses.
By Yemi Olakitan
In many ways, the year 2009 was an eventful year for the Nigerian media. It was both an interesting and sad year for the media in some respects; a year of mixed occurences, both postive and negative. Numerous issues and events came up during this year to make it so. The year will definitely remain memorable in the minds of all media stakeholders. It was in that year that the Nigerian media lost one of its brilliant journalists, the late Bayo Ohu of the Guardian Newspapers, Bayo was murdered in cold blood in his apartment at Egbeda, a Lagos suburb by unknown gunmen.A visibly shaken editor of the Guardian,Debo Adesian who visited the hospital expressed the general exasperation at the loss. Ohu was yet another, in the list of journalists' murder in Nigeria. One was Dele Giwa, Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, who was killed by means of a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986.
Another journalist, Godwin Agbroko, the Editorial Board Chairman of ThisDay newspaper, was gunned down at Oshodi-Mile Two Expressway in 2006 on Christmas Eve. Yet, another puzzling death was that of Abayomi Ogundeji, also a member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspaper on August 17, 2008. He was shot in his vehicle on his way from work late in the evening. The gruesome murder of Bayo Ohu happened to fall on the list of major events in the media sector during the year 2009 and it was the sad one. The Nigerian Police, as always, promised to unravel the mystery behind the murder but nothing has been heard hitherto.
Media Awards
True, the death of Bayo Ohu was sad and tragic especially for the Guardian Newspapers. It was also during that year that the Guardian won the Newspaper of the year award twice. It was given by two separate entities. The Nigerian Media Merit Award,NMMA which gave the award to the Guardian first at Nikki Lake Resort, Enugu where the ceremony was held while the Diamond Media Merit Awards, DAME honoured the newspaper at Ocenview Restaurant in Lagos..
Another media award in that year was the Wole Soyinka Award for investigative Reporting.The Wole Soyinka Award for investigative Reporting aim to encourage the exposure of corruption and human rights abuses in the country through the mechanism of investigative journalism . The body gave prizes to various journalists from the print,radio, television and online category. It also added another feather to its cap by honouring the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The Wole Soyinka award for forinvestigative Reporting reamin one of the prestigious awrds in the Nigerian media sector.
However, the most interesting of the awards ceremonies was the NMMA in Enugu that almost turn into a Drama with the unexpected absence of the Governor and the cold reception given to journalist that vsisted the cold city. The prize given ceremony nearly flopped due to the unexpedted absence of the Governor who was to preside over the opening ceremony. According to earlier reports on the events the event did not finish untill about 2 a.m. and guests witnessed a rushed ceremony.
There were conflicting reports on the state of health of the Governor as many said he could not attend because of his health. There were also unconfirmed reports that he was poisoned at another event. The secanario made the 2009 event less memorable compared to other ones that were hosted in previous years. There were signs of lack of adequate preparation when journalists were taken round the state to have a first hand coverage of the State Government's various projects. This exercise was cut short when it was discovered that officials at some of the places visited were not aware that such visitors were coming. At one of the venues, journalists were barred from taken pictures. The angry journalists eventually demanded to be taken back to their hotel rooms, as it was apparent that the state government did not inform most of the officials at the designated projects sites about the tour. One can only hope that the organizers of the NMMA will do better in the year 2010 and give the Nigerian journalist a more befitting event.
Winners of the 19th edition of the NMMA 2009 were The Guardian Newspapers, which bagged the Newspaper of the Year and its editor, Debo Adesina, who won the Editor of the Year. There were 47 awards in all, 35 in print, six in radio and six in television media Initially slated for November 6 and 8, the shift in date was due to the FIFA’s U-17 soccer championship being hosted in eight cities across the country including Enugu state at the time. As one of the most organized national Award scheme in Nigeria, NMMA future hosting for 2010 have been confirmed, the event will be holding in Lagos while that of 2011 is scheduled for Borno State in line with an earlier commitment of hosting expressed by Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to the Trustees of NMMA.
One of the negative event was the recent bomb blast attempt at a Lagos televison station; Superscreeen . An Eyewitness to the incident was a media executive who spoke with the Guardian Newspaper in anonymity.He was on a business visit to the superscreen office during the explosion. He said he narrowly escaped death as he was on the 3rd floor of the building when the bomb exploded. The bomber himself was on the 4th floor. He revealed hat he was able to engage the bomber in some questioning before the police arrived. The bomber came up with a story that a certain man gave him the wrapped bomb, at gunpoint and asked him to deliver it to the television station. The bomber who failed in his mission had his hands and a limb cut off and was blinded by the explosion. When asked why he unwrapped the bomb, the bomber said he did so out of curiosity, since the bomb was wrapped like a chritsmass gift. He in police custody receiving medical attention. All these is part of the risks that journalists face in discharging their duties; the risks to life and property. It shows that socity as a responsibility to protect media men and their place of work. Many journalists risk their lives daily by reporting the truth and therr many men who do not want the truth reported and they will do anything to eliminate those who try to report the truth. Another incident was the fire outbreak that gutted the multimillion-naira African Independent Television studio, the Dome. The entire AIT studios were nearly razed by December. The cause of the fire outbreak at AIT is yet to be ascertained, although some have attributed it to saboteurs.
Media debt
Media debt remains one of the major challenges of the media sector in year 2009. It has been identified as one of the banes of the communication sector. Huge debt in the media has come to remain with us. It has become a culture among advertising practicitioners to owe media houses huge debts running into millions. This practice has come to be accepted by the media organizations themselves who felt that thee is nothing they can do to stop the problem if they want continued patronage they most continued to render media services to the debtor companies despite huge unpaid debts.
Speaking with Mr. Taiwo Ayodeji, CEO Tee-mark Limited, an integrated marketing communications and advertising agency. He said the idea of piling up debts affect media houses. It is a way of killing the media sector since they cannot continue to run their operations without adequate fund. According to him these debts would kill off such advertising agencies themselves eventually because it is a sign of lack of integrity and bad management and it will run into other sensitive areas in the company.
Ayodeji said advertising agencies must learn to operate within the confinement of their agency commission and pay the media houses as soon as they render the required services. ‘‘This is the only way there could be peace in the business environment and when there is peace, there would be progress,” he said.
While saying noting that the culture of media debts is must end for the sake of progress in the entire media sector, Ayodeji noted that agencies, which owe huge sums of money, are usually those that treat their staff badly. “Members of staff should be seen as key partners in the company, not merely employees,” he said. This, according to him, will help the advertising agencies to grow in leaps and bounds.
The Lagos Signage and Advertising Agencies was one of the major actors in 209. The Lagos State government said it wants to ensure that the streets are orderly and that billboards are not placed haphazardly. It also wants to generate income for infrastructural development. However they have continued to receive critisms for the outdoor advertising companies who have not mince words in condemning the activities of LASAA. As reported, LASAA had went out into the streets of Lagos uprooting billboards and signpost worth millions of naira.
While the objective of the state government is noble they should ensure that the industry do not die because of the activities of LASAA. One thing to avoid is oligopoly and a rise unemployment. If outdoor advertsising companies fold up, many Lagosians in that sector will become unemployed wich will further increase the poverty level. LASAA must engage the companies in solidarity roundtable dialogue and work together to build a better outdoor advertising sector for Lagos.
The Freedom of Information Bill
Chief of the issues in 2009 was the freedom of information bill sponsored by Journalist/senator, Hon. Abike Dabiri. The Freedom of information Bill had been with the Nigerian parliament since 1999. President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to sign it then for fear that it will give foregners access to official information. However, the Bill, if passed into law, will give every Nigerian a legal right of access to information, records, and documents held by government bodies and private bodies; carrying out public functions. Information has been described as the vehicles of democracy. It is near impossible to fight corruption without access to information that could expose corrupt public officials. The freedom of information Bill applies to all arms of government: the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary as well as to all tiers of government: Federal, State, and Local governments.
At present, Nigeria has no law, which guarantees citizens access to public records and information.
A situation where many Nigerian laws have secrecy clauses prohibiting the disclosure of information such as, the Official Secret Act, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code and many more cannot help our democracy. Most public servants are made to swear to oaths of secrecy when employed and the general consequence of these is an entrenched culture of secrecy This will not help public opinion, and professional journalism. It will also cover government inadequacies and corruption.
The freedom of information bill has continued to generate interest since inception. However it has continued to be delayed for reasons that are not clear.
However, The National Assembly Committee in charge of issues pertaining to the bill has refuted claims that the proposed law has gotten stuck in a legislative limbo. According to Deputy Chairman Francis Amadiegwu, "The the lawmakers are fine tuning aspects that will affect national security. He promised that the Freedom of information bill will be passed.
Community Radio
There have been a lot of hullabaloos on the benefits of the community radio in the country even in 2009. However, despite the announcement by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission that it will launch Community broadcasting in Nigeria soon, not much has been achieved in that regard. Nigeria, with its huge population, no doubt required an effective media, not only for the advancement of its nascent democracy, but also for her economic prosperity. Radio remains the only media that has the capacity to reach the widest possible communities in the country. It is the media that can cheaply access the remote areas of our nation. This is because of its portability and affordability. It is also a medium that can defy the epileptic power situation. In a nation where majority of the population remains largely uneducated and illiterate. Community radio stands the chance of being able to inform, enlighten, and mobilize for democratic and economic advancements in all part of the country. With a demographic index of about 150 million people; two of every five West African resides in Nigeria. As the most populous black African nation in the world with reports that Nigeria will hit the 200 million mark in population in the next 15years, Nigeria needs community radio scheme.
It is obvious that the media will play a significant role in shaping our democratic stability and the development of freedom of expressions, information accessibility that will lead to progress. As a result of its pluralist and grassroots-friendly nature, radio has come to be accepted as the pre-eminent medium for development all over the world.
At a forum organized recently for African media Laeders. Media Leaders attended the forum from all over the African Continent, Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria’s international radio network spoke on the relevance of Community radio in the development of Nigeria’s economic and democratic advancement.
According to Jijiwa radio has demonstrated its power in many parts of the world, radio is continuing to demonstrate the capacity to enhance economic development, contribute to technological growth, improve health and education, strengthen national security, combat crime and corruption, give expression to cultural pluralism and promote democratic process. It is not surprising that many countries in the developing world are putting radio at the center of their millennium development goals.
Nigeria has remained the only country in the ECOWAS sub region without a clear-cut policy framework for the emergence of community radio with all its attendant benefits. What we have in Nigeria his urbanized, private/commercial and public radio stations. Radio stations in Nigeria have concentrated in the city because of the drive for Profit. The government owned radio is clearly not enough to deliver the advantages and benefits of the community radio system in Nigeria.
The African Charter on broadcasting calls for the development of three tier radio environment in which the development of public/service. Private/commercial, and Community radio will work hand in hand to further the goals of democracy, individual freedom of expressions, information dissemination and economic advancement.
Community radio ensures easy governance as the government can measure easily, grassroots response to unpopular or popular government policies. Community radio will expose and monitor crime, ensure accurate information in health related issues and destroy the yoke of ignorance, religious fanaticism, eradicate violence while promoting the values of unity and peaceful co existence.
With the inexhaustible benefits of community radio, it is hoped that that Nigerian Broadcasting Commission will take the bull by the horn and step in quickly to ensure that the nation take its rightful place in community radio broadcasting, thereby reaping the benefits of this indispensable media.
APCON AT 20.
It was also in 2009 that the Advertsising Practictioners Council of Nigeria celebrated its 20th year anniversary. The anniversary was held both at the sheraton Hotesl, Ikeja and the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a gathering of who is who in the advertising sector. The council also used the anniversary to honour former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who signed into law, the decree establishing the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has cause to celebrate. it has succeeded in taken advertising to a greater height, making it one of the most advanced sectors of the Nigerian economy; yielding billions of naira in revenue every year, employing hundreds of professionals and training a handful every year. These were the reasons for the gathering of stakeholders in the marketing that sector, Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos on Thursday, November 12, to celebrate 20 years of robust growth and unprecedented achievements in the advertising sector and to honour those, who have been a part of the success story of APCON such as Badamasi Babangida, past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola and his counterpart then, Prince Tony Momoh (Information).
APCON was established by Act No 55 of 1988 and revised by Act No 93 of 1992 to regulate advertising practice in Nigeria.
The event, which started with a cocktail and the rendition of the National Anthem by an orchestra of violins, had Prof. Akunyili on the high table with the chairman of the occasion, Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jnr, Prince Ajibola, Alhaji Farouk Usman and Mr. Bayo Atoyade.
The Chairman of APCON, Mr. Christopher Awusa Doghudje, in his welcome address, congratulated the three eminent persons who were conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Awards of the council.
These people, he said were the ones who brought advertising to the forefront in Nigeria. The chairman said without them; APCON would not be celebrating its 20th anniversary. According to him, it was an honour well deserved.
The chairman said the former President, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Adamu Aliyu, ensured that the council had a legal footing by enacting a law that backed it up.
Doghudje, who at an earlier media briefing took stock of the progress recorded over the past 20 years, said APCON, has succeeded immensely in professionalising and regulating the practice of advertising in Nigeria.
Other Nigerians who were also honored included Professor Charles Okigbo, who was the first chairman of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe, who was honoured for being the third chairman and Chief Olu Falomo, for being the second. They were conferred with the APCON Special Recognition Awards.
Falomo, in his remarks, said through the 14 years that he served; he knew that the council would go places. He expressed gratitudes for the honour done him and his colleagues.
He said the awards was not for any individual but for all those who worked as a team to bring APCON to a fine peculiarity with international advertising organisations all over the developed world.
A number of distinguished practitioners also became fellows at the event. They were Mr. Yinka Adepoju, and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, who became the first female practitioner to rise to such a level in the industry. Mr. Rufai Ladipo of Angel Communications and Feyijimi Awosika of Insight Communications were also honoured as fellow.
Speaking at the event, Professor Akunyili enlightened advertising practitioners on relevance of the national re-branding effort of her ministry to national development.
According to her, advertising is a major stakeholder in re-branding Nigeria project. She said the project is about changing the negative image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the international circles.
"We have allowed others to tell our stories for us," she noted. "We are not treated well at airports around the world, once they see the Green Passport, you will be asked to stand aside. This is as a result of our battered image, many foreigners who come to Nigeria have discovered that what they see is far different from what they were told in their countries.ÕÕ
She continued, "when I came to the office as the image-maker of the nation, I felt strongly that the negative image of Nigeria should not be left alone. We studied the situation and came up with the re-branding project. We also came up with a slogan for re-orientation and attitudinal change with the aim of imbibing the spirit of patriotism: ÔNigeria, Good People, Great CountryÕ
"We have people that have excelled in their various fields of endeavour and achieved international acclaim. Nigerians are very hardworking people and honest. Our nation has spearheaded peacekeeping operations in many parts of Africa. We were at the forefront in the struggle against Apartheid. Many Nigerian civil servants donated their salaries to fight the Apartheid regime in South Africa. We have helped in bringing peace and stability to many countries but we have allowed other people to define who we are. We dont talk about our contributions to global peace, stability and progress. We have allowed a few criminals to define who we are as a country. We must make a statement and we must make strong impressions that our nation will not continue to be defined in negative information. Nollywood is the second most vibrant film industry in the world. We must say these things loud for all to hear."
She added, "we are working with over 17 millions Nigerians in the Diasporas. We are going to establish units in schools to encourage the spirit of patriotism in young people. Re-branding will complement infrastructure and economic development. It is important to national development it does not stop it."
The celebrations, which started on November 11, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, with an advertising career seminar for undergraduates and fresh graduates continued at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers on Friday, of November13.
The event attracted members of the governing council who are from the key stakeholders in the advertising industry and other interests.The stakeholders and interests such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Federal Ministry of Health and Tertiary institutions offering advertising related courses.
Thursday 31 December 2009
LASAA; still in the eye of the storm
published in the Guardian Newspapers
By; Yemi Olakitan
IT is no longer news that the advent of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) has raised issues among practitioners: knocks keep coming the way of the agency.
Perhaps it is important to take another look at the development, with the aim of delivering better dividends to the outdoor advertising practitioners, clients, citizens and visitors to the state alike in 2010 and in the future.
A visit to some of the big outdoor advertising agencies in Nigeria showed that they are truly a shadow of their past glory. Some of these advertising companies who have enjoyed robust profits and long list of clientele in the past are now faced with low patronage, downsizing and indebtedness. Some have even closed down their operations, an indication that the practitioners' complaints were genuine.
The gloomy business situation of some of the agency should concern any serious government, particularly, a popular government under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
It was recently reported that UAC, a multinational company took LASAA to court. All these squabbles are avoidable if all parties will embrace constructive dialogue. It will seem that LASAA was set to hunt the operators of the outdoor agencies. However, this is not in line with the aim of the agency, announced when it kicked off in 2006. It stated, among other policies to bring sanity and decency to our environment and ensure that the streets of Lagos are not clustered with all manner of billboards and signboards in a way that does not project orderliness and decorum. Governor Fashola had among other things, embarked on a beautification exercise. All over the state one can see beautiful flowers, lawns and tree that adorn our highways. Outdoor advertising is perhaps an offshoot of the beautification drive of the Lagos state. In fact, one of its avowed objectives is civic beautification.
The Agency, headed by Mr. Makanjuola Alabi went about uprooting numerous signboards and signposts all over the state; religious organizations were not spared. According to the agency the state has become a city of riotous outdoor advertising, which must be cleansed thoroughly and totally.
These activities however have not gone well with many of the practitioners who have not mince words in expressing their grievances: practitioners have found it hard to adjust to the new system, as it seems that their means of livelihood was been taken away.
One of the major advertising agency that did not want its name mentioned, complained that business has not been going on as it should since LASAA stepped in. They have to pay heavy fee to the LASAA. According to a senior officer of the agency who pleaded anonymity, "LASAA has made it hard for them to operate, as salaries are not been paid, staffs are been asked to leave. ''If this can happen to us, as big as our company is in the industry, you can imagine what has happened or will happen to the smaller companies. As it is now, everything is grounded to a halt,'' he said
LASAA has brought out guidelines for the operators: "to provide a system for controlling signage and advertisement displays which is fair, consistent, efficient and responsive to change, with a view to enhancing environmental aesthetics and thereby benefiting the citizenry and visitors alike." Perhaps, the only thing that is permanent in life is change and change can only be brought about through pain. However, pain is not the only route that change can be achieved. If a painless change is possible should we take pleasure in unleashing pain on ourselves? This is the basic question practitioners want LASAAA to answer.
It was reported that LASAA's Director Alabi paid a business visit to the office of the OAAN, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, after embarking on what was described by one of the practitioners as 'thunder and volcanic eruption' in the sector. According to reports, the billboards and signposts that the agency uprooted were estimated to worth millions of naira. True, The agency had acted with a vision to turn Lagos state into a mega city, majority of the agencies have not recovered from the loss and many are groaning in pains. The visit of Alabi was described as 'medicine after death.' This mean that what the director should have done first was what it is now doing. LASAA should have worked together with the association before it started uprooting the billboards, thereby killing many businesses, as reported.
Makanjuola was reported as saying that there are about 104 registered outdoor practitioners in the state but only about 60 are active members. This should be a course for concern.
Taiwo Ayodeji, CEO of Tee-mark Limited, an integrated marketing company with a focus in general marketing communication services, particularly outdoor advertising stated that the state government should ensure that its rules on outdoor advertising did not make it impossible for agencies to operate in the state, as this would push them to other states. A situation whereby only 60 registered outdoor advertising agencies are operational is not good for Lagos state, he argued and asked: "who will advertise under so much charge imposed when Lagos is not the only market in the federation?" According to Ayodeji, outdoor advertisers will be forced to go to other states. He said the highly proactive agencies would create innovative means of advertising outdoor.
According to him, advertising agencies can make use of channel marketing and this kind of marketing ensures that you create the desired noise for product visibility and popularity. Another area, which could be explored, is events management. He explained: "AGMs can be used to expand one's customers base by creating a continuum of communication to your target customers. You must beat network problems, create ideas and reach your target audiences. These ways, government regulations would not kill one's business. Creativity would take one to the next level and out of the comfort zone. ''About five years ago, we started Tee-mark Advertising. I have about 20 years experience in advertising but as a result of innovative ideas, we have remained in the business."
He however argued in favour of LASAA, noting that the Lagos State government wants to ensure that the streets are orderly and that billboards are not placed haphazardly.
Publisher of Billboard Magazine and Managing Director of Executive Options, an outdoor advertising company Mrs. Maureen Umanah, urged LASAA to go back to its drawing board and create a level playing ground for the falling agencies. According to her, the regulatory body has made it difficult for people to thrive in business. She also reiterated the fact that many companies are no longer doing well.
However, a Managing Director, who prefered anonymity noted that LASAA is accessible and he would rather engage the agency in serious dialogue than allow his business to suffer. According to him, ''no matter our complaints, they are the regulatory body and they are in charge,'' he warned.
In order to create a mega city, LASAA should ensure that it does not create mega problems: it must work in partnership with the practitioners; not to create an oligopoly system where few operators reign in the state. It should ensure that its fee is not too high for the agency to afford. It is only through dialogue that progress can be achieved.
By; Yemi Olakitan
IT is no longer news that the advent of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) has raised issues among practitioners: knocks keep coming the way of the agency.
Perhaps it is important to take another look at the development, with the aim of delivering better dividends to the outdoor advertising practitioners, clients, citizens and visitors to the state alike in 2010 and in the future.
A visit to some of the big outdoor advertising agencies in Nigeria showed that they are truly a shadow of their past glory. Some of these advertising companies who have enjoyed robust profits and long list of clientele in the past are now faced with low patronage, downsizing and indebtedness. Some have even closed down their operations, an indication that the practitioners' complaints were genuine.
The gloomy business situation of some of the agency should concern any serious government, particularly, a popular government under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
It was recently reported that UAC, a multinational company took LASAA to court. All these squabbles are avoidable if all parties will embrace constructive dialogue. It will seem that LASAA was set to hunt the operators of the outdoor agencies. However, this is not in line with the aim of the agency, announced when it kicked off in 2006. It stated, among other policies to bring sanity and decency to our environment and ensure that the streets of Lagos are not clustered with all manner of billboards and signboards in a way that does not project orderliness and decorum. Governor Fashola had among other things, embarked on a beautification exercise. All over the state one can see beautiful flowers, lawns and tree that adorn our highways. Outdoor advertising is perhaps an offshoot of the beautification drive of the Lagos state. In fact, one of its avowed objectives is civic beautification.
The Agency, headed by Mr. Makanjuola Alabi went about uprooting numerous signboards and signposts all over the state; religious organizations were not spared. According to the agency the state has become a city of riotous outdoor advertising, which must be cleansed thoroughly and totally.
These activities however have not gone well with many of the practitioners who have not mince words in expressing their grievances: practitioners have found it hard to adjust to the new system, as it seems that their means of livelihood was been taken away.
One of the major advertising agency that did not want its name mentioned, complained that business has not been going on as it should since LASAA stepped in. They have to pay heavy fee to the LASAA. According to a senior officer of the agency who pleaded anonymity, "LASAA has made it hard for them to operate, as salaries are not been paid, staffs are been asked to leave. ''If this can happen to us, as big as our company is in the industry, you can imagine what has happened or will happen to the smaller companies. As it is now, everything is grounded to a halt,'' he said
LASAA has brought out guidelines for the operators: "to provide a system for controlling signage and advertisement displays which is fair, consistent, efficient and responsive to change, with a view to enhancing environmental aesthetics and thereby benefiting the citizenry and visitors alike." Perhaps, the only thing that is permanent in life is change and change can only be brought about through pain. However, pain is not the only route that change can be achieved. If a painless change is possible should we take pleasure in unleashing pain on ourselves? This is the basic question practitioners want LASAAA to answer.
It was reported that LASAA's Director Alabi paid a business visit to the office of the OAAN, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, after embarking on what was described by one of the practitioners as 'thunder and volcanic eruption' in the sector. According to reports, the billboards and signposts that the agency uprooted were estimated to worth millions of naira. True, The agency had acted with a vision to turn Lagos state into a mega city, majority of the agencies have not recovered from the loss and many are groaning in pains. The visit of Alabi was described as 'medicine after death.' This mean that what the director should have done first was what it is now doing. LASAA should have worked together with the association before it started uprooting the billboards, thereby killing many businesses, as reported.
Makanjuola was reported as saying that there are about 104 registered outdoor practitioners in the state but only about 60 are active members. This should be a course for concern.
Taiwo Ayodeji, CEO of Tee-mark Limited, an integrated marketing company with a focus in general marketing communication services, particularly outdoor advertising stated that the state government should ensure that its rules on outdoor advertising did not make it impossible for agencies to operate in the state, as this would push them to other states. A situation whereby only 60 registered outdoor advertising agencies are operational is not good for Lagos state, he argued and asked: "who will advertise under so much charge imposed when Lagos is not the only market in the federation?" According to Ayodeji, outdoor advertisers will be forced to go to other states. He said the highly proactive agencies would create innovative means of advertising outdoor.
According to him, advertising agencies can make use of channel marketing and this kind of marketing ensures that you create the desired noise for product visibility and popularity. Another area, which could be explored, is events management. He explained: "AGMs can be used to expand one's customers base by creating a continuum of communication to your target customers. You must beat network problems, create ideas and reach your target audiences. These ways, government regulations would not kill one's business. Creativity would take one to the next level and out of the comfort zone. ''About five years ago, we started Tee-mark Advertising. I have about 20 years experience in advertising but as a result of innovative ideas, we have remained in the business."
He however argued in favour of LASAA, noting that the Lagos State government wants to ensure that the streets are orderly and that billboards are not placed haphazardly.
Publisher of Billboard Magazine and Managing Director of Executive Options, an outdoor advertising company Mrs. Maureen Umanah, urged LASAA to go back to its drawing board and create a level playing ground for the falling agencies. According to her, the regulatory body has made it difficult for people to thrive in business. She also reiterated the fact that many companies are no longer doing well.
However, a Managing Director, who prefered anonymity noted that LASAA is accessible and he would rather engage the agency in serious dialogue than allow his business to suffer. According to him, ''no matter our complaints, they are the regulatory body and they are in charge,'' he warned.
In order to create a mega city, LASAA should ensure that it does not create mega problems: it must work in partnership with the practitioners; not to create an oligopoly system where few operators reign in the state. It should ensure that its fee is not too high for the agency to afford. It is only through dialogue that progress can be achieved.
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Yoruba Music and Film Awards Comes on Sream
Yoruba Music/Film Awards comes on stream
By Yemi Olakitan
All is now set for the first edition of the Yoruba Music/Film Awards scheduled for December 30, at the Blue Roof Events, Lagos State Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Initiated by Leo-gold Entertainment, an outfit that specializes in packaging entertainment, the award was instituted as a platform to reward excellence in the two industries.
Unveiling plans for the event, the CEO of the outfit, Gbenga Leo Taiwo, informed that the aim of the event is to promote Yoruba arts and culture, as well as to honour practitioners, who have made the Yoruba tribe prominent in the entertainment sector. "It was necessary to create such an event because there are over 150million Yoruba people scattered all over the world. The huge population of the Yoruba people and their spread in different parts of the world has made the impacts of their creativity more pronounced all over the world."
Taiwo observed that the contributions of Yoruba artistes in the entertainment should not be overlooked.
"The list of high achieving Yoruba artistes is too long to be ignored. The achievements of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Sade Adu of England, Asa in France, Ara in Nigeria, Prince In Cote Divoire, Ceel Olumide in the US and many others ought to be celebrated'' he said.
He hinted that the award would celebrate Yoruba artistes at home and abroad, adding that the event is being planned as an international ceremony that will promote unity. .
"An event such as this was long overdue. We must not forget that Yoruba people started Drama and Cinema in Africa; the tribe pioneered the advent of home video drama, when Alade Aromire produced the first home video drama. Hubert Ogunde, Victor Olaiya and Ade Love also played vital roles in the development of the industry. This kind of achievements by a people should be celebrated and acknowledged by all."
According to the organizers, some of the categories of wards to be presented at the event include Best Actor of the Year, Best Actress of the Year, Best Supporting Actress of the Year, Best cinematography, Best Costume, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste and others.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Babatope Bamidele, is being expected as the Chief Host, while the Director General of Lagos State Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo is the host. Chief Dr Taye Afolabi is Father of the day, while Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole is also expected to attend as the mother of the day.
Gbenga Leo Taiwo, a musicologist and entertainment entrepreneur, had in the past produced artistes such as Pasuma, Daddy Showkey, Saidi Osupa, Atorise, Malaika, Idris Abdul Kareem, Atawewe, Alapanla and others. He is also packaging other entertainments projects such as the Most Beautiful Yoruba Girl n the World and the Yoruba Music Show, in partnership with Ben TV, UK.
Tools
By Yemi Olakitan
All is now set for the first edition of the Yoruba Music/Film Awards scheduled for December 30, at the Blue Roof Events, Lagos State Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Initiated by Leo-gold Entertainment, an outfit that specializes in packaging entertainment, the award was instituted as a platform to reward excellence in the two industries.
Unveiling plans for the event, the CEO of the outfit, Gbenga Leo Taiwo, informed that the aim of the event is to promote Yoruba arts and culture, as well as to honour practitioners, who have made the Yoruba tribe prominent in the entertainment sector. "It was necessary to create such an event because there are over 150million Yoruba people scattered all over the world. The huge population of the Yoruba people and their spread in different parts of the world has made the impacts of their creativity more pronounced all over the world."
Taiwo observed that the contributions of Yoruba artistes in the entertainment should not be overlooked.
"The list of high achieving Yoruba artistes is too long to be ignored. The achievements of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Sade Adu of England, Asa in France, Ara in Nigeria, Prince In Cote Divoire, Ceel Olumide in the US and many others ought to be celebrated'' he said.
He hinted that the award would celebrate Yoruba artistes at home and abroad, adding that the event is being planned as an international ceremony that will promote unity. .
"An event such as this was long overdue. We must not forget that Yoruba people started Drama and Cinema in Africa; the tribe pioneered the advent of home video drama, when Alade Aromire produced the first home video drama. Hubert Ogunde, Victor Olaiya and Ade Love also played vital roles in the development of the industry. This kind of achievements by a people should be celebrated and acknowledged by all."
According to the organizers, some of the categories of wards to be presented at the event include Best Actor of the Year, Best Actress of the Year, Best Supporting Actress of the Year, Best cinematography, Best Costume, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste and others.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Babatope Bamidele, is being expected as the Chief Host, while the Director General of Lagos State Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo is the host. Chief Dr Taye Afolabi is Father of the day, while Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole is also expected to attend as the mother of the day.
Gbenga Leo Taiwo, a musicologist and entertainment entrepreneur, had in the past produced artistes such as Pasuma, Daddy Showkey, Saidi Osupa, Atorise, Malaika, Idris Abdul Kareem, Atawewe, Alapanla and others. He is also packaging other entertainments projects such as the Most Beautiful Yoruba Girl n the World and the Yoruba Music Show, in partnership with Ben TV, UK.
Tools
Wednesday 23 December 2009
INTERVIEW WITH YENI ANIKULAPO KUTI.
INTERVIEW WITH YENI ANIKULAPO KUTI.
By Yemi Olakitan
published in Dog's World Magazine
Dog’s world Magazine’s publisher, Bomi Rosiji and its Managing Editor, Yemi Olakitan were on a visit to Yeni Anikulapo Kuti's house.Yeni is the beautiful daughter of Nigerian, legendary, afro-beat musician and political activist, late Fela Anikulapo Kuiti.
Yeni is a passionate Dog Lover, who has 11 dogs! A passion she mentioned she inherited from her father who had 8 dogs.
This makes her a perfect guest of Dog’s world Magazine.Yeni is pretty, lovely, funny, interesting and radical like her late father. She spoke about her love for dogs, the state of the nation, and how far she and her brother, Femi Kuti with the support of others have been able to keep Fela’s legacy alive.
Below are the excerpts of the exclusive interview. Enjoy!
Who is Yeni Anikulapo Kuti?
Aah! I don’t know who I am oh. (Laughter) I’m just Yeni Anikulapo Kuti.
I used to dance, I don’t dance so much anymore, I have now left that to the younger ones. I now manage the shrine; I try to manage my brother’s band. Try.
The key word there is trying, but, am not a manager.
I can’t manage his kind of voice. I just tried to help him out, but I can’t. He has agents and all sorts of people that work with him
What’s your relationship with your dogs like?
My daughter is the real dog lover in the house, so I’m the inheritor of my daughter’s dogs,
These are my daughter’s children, I’m their grandmother really.
We got Leo, he is about Seven or eight, and he was taken from the other house which was a rented apartment and she was very vicious and use to bite people especially women. He used to really attack people. This one, he has mellowed with age now and had a cancer, we have to remove his bowels since then he has soften up, he is still a wild dog, he disciplines all the dogs in the house, he is the Alfa maid and he thinks he is my husband. This is what my daughter doesn’t like.
She doesn’t like him at all. He was very attached to me. I like him, I remember when he was sick I thought he was going to die, we were all so sad even my daughter who doesn’t like him was so sad.
She’s got him into the house, but he is still my own dog because he is really fond of me.No body likes him in the house except me
Why?
Because he was wild. He used to bite and we pay so many hospital bills because of this dog oh. He has bitten so many people. So many (Laughter)
Does he still bites
He hasn’t bitten anybody for over a year, may be two years, because of his health, but he is still the one that barks, he is the real man, the man of the house.
Tell us about the other dogs?
Let me see if I can get them in the house for you .This is snowy, this one has almost lost his life several times. We got this from a friend. We used to have this dog Zanda that was from the same parents, and he was so beautiful. He was so nice, he was very active. He used to bark, he backs at people, he was tiny o, but very vicious and then there was this commotion at the shrine, and he ran outside and he was hit by a car and he died. It was so sad, so sad so, when the parents were pregnant again I said I need another dog from them and this is how we got this wretched fellow here. This one (Laughter) and he is a wretched fellow.
He is supposed to be in an exile o, but he as refused to remain there, his children are in exile, but Leo has a daughter there that is in exile. Most of them are family now. These are Leo’s children. They won’t come in, they might come in but they are very afraid of people and Susie, she bites, she is not very friendly. She doesn’t even let you stroke her. She is so slim, but I can’t stroke her. Not that she would bite me o, but she just won’t stay.
My grandmother used to have dogs in her room, and when she stopped them coming to her room, they used to attack my grandmother.
I hope you feed them with JO-JO
We don’t know Jo-JO dog food. They eat meat and fish; we used to buy one dog food. (Not Jo-JO) It is expensive, quite expensive.
Why don’t you buy the dry one, it’s cheaper than the can food.
I don’t know oh, I don’t know
Dr.Tunji recommends this noodles dust to us. You can buy the noodles dust for N2000 and it seems they like the noodles more than the rice. You can see the rice is all about, I left some yesterday. We use Titus fish; you know Titus fish is soft, when you mash it to the rice, they like that.
Tell us about Mimmy,
Mimmy died about 13, he just died naturally. He just past out here, he was, Leo has bitten the nonsense out of his body, by that time. When he first came to the house he used to attack Leo. This was what happened, when Leo was small, mimmy used to attack Leo, by the time Leo became a man, Leo disciplined him. This was what happened with Terror and Lambo.Lambo became a man and killed Terro, in the end, so they killed each other. His head was always shining, very lovely, he was a lovely dog. When he died it was so so sad. Very lovely dog.
How does it feel, having to take care of so many dogs?
It’s stressful, when you get their vet bills well, since I found Dr.Tunji oh, it’s been a bit cheaper because he does house calls. He will come and deworm them here, take care of them. You know weigh them and everything, but before then we have to transport all of them to the vet, you will take taxi, you will take money aah. It’s a bit easier now. It’s a lot of food. You buy a bag of rice for every two weeks.Susie, for instance eats a lot. She’s coming, (Susie comes around while she strokes her) She will only, let me stroke her for a few seconds. She’s so boisterous.
Where did you get your love for Dogs, is it in the family?
I don’t know, I think it’s hereditary my mum and Dad love dogs, before they burnt my father’s house, he had about 8 or 9 dogs. We love dogs, we have them. When I was much younger, I used to see many ugly, skinny, hungry dogs all over the place so I promised myself that when I grow up, am going to have a big house, I will lock up all the dogs in the neighborhood in one place and feed them very well. When you love dogs, you just love them. You share their pains, you share their happiness. Its God’s gift.
So, how many dogs do you have in all?
Eleven! We don’t have canoes in this house. We don’t chain any of the dogs, so they don’t develop anti-social habits. They have to learn how to be friendly with people.
Who assist you in caring for the dogs?
I have People here who assist me, Esther feeds them, and we have some birds too. Once it is five ‘o clock, they will come for food. What’s happening was, They used to come around at first to eat the crumbs when the dogs are been fed, but they used to get killed by the dogs, because sometimes they will forget themselves and start eating from the dog’s plate, so we built a cage for them to eat their rice and fish up there, and that short one, like a sausage, Strappy, he’s the one that used to attacked the birds, It’s really a lovely sight really to watch the birds up there now. If you look around the house, they have their nests around everywhere.
Unless I have appointment outside my house I‘ll stay in the house and read my books and buy the new drinks we used to buy for the shrine.
I do some exercises too, I used to skip and walk round the pool. For now I’m a bit lazy so I’m just into swimming.
Do you have a swimming pool here?
Yea we have a pool here.
What’s a typical day like for Yeni Kuti?
If it like today. We had a show yesterday, it’s a rehearsal but a lot of people come. We don’t charge for gate fees, but a lot of people come around and I have to buy the drinks we need to buy
I account for the shrine. We have a restaurant at the shrine, as well, because we employed about 70 people at the shrine. We have to pay salaries and we have monthly and weekly salaries. I have to do that.
I still save, in as much as I’m paying because we have to pay the musicians , the dancers , about 70 people that we employed and the maintenance of the shrine because if you come to the shrine its a very big place .
You keep on paying, paying, paying. You are paying for electricity, you are paying for lights, and you are paying for the plumbing. It’s too much.
My daughter is always calling you know, to ask me how the dogs are doing. I said you got eleven dogs in the house and your are not even here to take care of them. I bought a ticket in April for her to come home, she didn’t come. She is in the UK pursuing a degree course. She said she’s not coming till June.
Don’t you think you really should be dancing? Its seems that’s where your passion lies.
I do. I wish I could go into dance and choreographing. I do, because that’s where my love lies, but don’t forget that I am 46 am not getting younger.
So, what do you do full time?
I do the books and I do it because if I give it to other people, they will cheat us. They won’t do it as much or as well as I’m doing it because it’s our business, That’s one of the things that stops businesses in Nigeria, because people are not dedicated. They are not; they won’t do your business like they do their own.
If you are not involved in your business what happens is your business will die. For instance, there, is this bar in Victoria Island, some people who are customers of the bar, were coming and saying they arranged beer at the nightclub they drank beer of thirty thousand naira but the waiters only let them pay eleven thousand. Can you imagine, that means that those waiters are making money off that bar? I give that bar about two years, they will fold up. I don’t know where the owner is, that’s what happens, because the owner is not there, she is not there on full time like me. I know everything that is coming in and going out of my business.
Because I have the numbers of all the suppliers, I know what they supply, I check some people, how much did he drink, how much did he buy this drink. Like somebody reported to me on Sunday that he bought a drink that was supposed to be N350 for N400, aah! So I did my investigations, it was a problem for them, because they know I’m on the job and I’m not going to take it.
Now, we have a price list, everyone knows how much.
It’s not so easy but it’s the only way because when I was going on tour, there was nobody to run the shrine and everything, its was a big problem, we were not making money, I remember, there was a boy, a very, very nice looking boy, very handsome, a young boy that you just wanted to help. I say ah, he is the future of Nigeria; he was an undergraduate in the university, He was in Unilag, which was really like either mid- year or just graduation, I can’t remember sha. So I gave him a job as the Bar- manager.
One day I got up and say let me go and check the drinks, the prices of a crate of star have increased. Then a crate of star was between N300 or N400, suddenly the price was N700. Then I said ah ah star is becoming so expensive. so I check the price out with the supplier. Star was N300 that guy has been collecting N700 from me. Can you imagine? The orientation is so bad with some Nigerian youths.
The boy is even a thief because one day I caught him in my brother’s room, He didn’t know I was there (Femi Kuti’s room) he didn’t know I was there and I saw him stealing my brother’s money.
This is the future of Nigeria; so sad, he was just a young boy, nice looking boy that we wanted to help. Our situation is so bad, so wrong here in Nigeria that when you want to help people, they will end up stabbing you in the back. So terrible!
This same boy we introduce him to the guy doing a documentary on Femi, the shrine and my father and the guy likes him because he’s an educated boy, so he takes him around.
The boy doesn’t come around us again since I caught him stealing, he is too embarrassed to come around us because we got him arrested and was taken away by the police and that is why he is so ashamed that he stole. Everyone at the shrine knows that he stole, and this is not stealing through the books; this is stealing by picking up the money; caught re-handed.
So that one now, send him 4,000 Dollars to go and clear the rights to use the tape he got from AIT.That guy send him 4,000 Dollars, I saw the boy about three weeks ago, in a car; I said Okay, no wonder he has the money to buy car and He was looking at me so proudly that even though I am no longer with you I am getting on.Aah!! He was getting on through someone he met through us, whom he has duped of 4,000Dollars. I just told the guy abroad that he is not going to pay any rights to AIT.He has bought car with your money. it so difficult to work with some Nigerian youths.
Tell us about your experience on tour.
I met Dbanj on tour last year, I joined Femi in Italy and in England, and I did a workshop there before the show, a dance workshop and this year, I Intend to go to America, not with them, but I intend to take Femi’s son to go and join his father after school. I want to do a couple of shows with them. I might not perform but I will definitely be there, and when am there, the girls, they have to smile on stage. If am not there they will not smile as much as I like. Its like am very stern.
What kind of Dance workshop did you do while you were there?
Afro beat dance, an hour. An hour workshop, They really enjoyed it .In the evening when I was going for the show, so many people were saying, beautiful workshop, and lovely workshop and say ah you know, and I was so happy with that!
Was it part of something else?
It was part of a festival, womant Festival, Redden, so they said they wanted to do the workshop, so when the agent finally found out that I was going to be there. He said I should do the workshop, so I said I would do it.
Somebody, you know, there was this Lady, she works with Genevieve now, she was at the workshop and when I met her she said oh I saw your workshop. She comes to shrine regularly and so gentle, dance and you know…..she was even here last week.
Which days do you perform at the shrine?
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I like going on stage because I just want the members if they don’t know it or are missing it I will, you know, show them.
Sometimes may be one or two persons will want some dance lessons, they have to have come earlier and I will show them how to move their waists.
Do you dance with the girls?
Me personally I don’t. You have to remember that I’m 46. The girls that dance now are in their 20s. 25, 26. There is no way my energy level will match theirs. So you now look like an ‘’Agbaya,’’come down now, and all my hair is white. You outgrow certain things. I still love to dance I still dance. I danced yesterday. I will not put on my costumes with all my folds. I will be ashamed to show my fat stomach anyway, in a sexy costumes, if I say I don’t like dance, I must be lying. I still love to dance. I still love to perform that’s why I perform at rehearsals; I can do 1 or 2 numbers and then move out of the stage. But if you are doing a new show, you have to stay on stage like 2 or 3 hours. Do I still have that energy level? For a dancer is a lot of energy.
Am sure you still want to do something on Dance in the future.
I keep on saying I am going to open a dance School. It’s still very much on my mind, am going to open a dance School What I need is money but am paying for my daughters university education right now right now.
We should expect a dance School.
Yea hopefully. When I finish with my daughter’s education. I’ll open a dance school hopefully, I only have one daughter. I want the best education for her.
A dance school In Nigeria?
Of course in Nigeria. We live here. I don’t even want to be part of the category of people that takes their money abroad. Femi when he goes abroad, he takes his money back home. He has no account anywhere in Europe or America.
What happens is that we make our money and take them abroad and they use our money to make their country great. Why don’t we take our own money back to us and make own country great.
Nigerians are not investing in Nigeria, they are investing abroad. Why will I go and buy a house in England and be maintaining it with precious pounds. You know how much a pound is to a naira? It’s N250.
What’s your opinion about PMAN problems, Bolaji Rosiji, Charlie Boy and all that?
Me, I’ve been very vocal, to be sincere, I’ve never heard of Bolaji until he became the PMAN President and I was very impressed with the little I saw about him. Let me give you an example. When we were organizing Felabration, He came to the shrine and asked what PMAN can do to support Felabration Festival. I noticed, instead of running away from the shine, he was embracing the shrine. No other PMAN President as done that, except Bolaji Rosiji, and he wasn’t doing it to make himself popular, because he did not come with any journalist. He was coming with a lot of foreigners.
We missed a lot of foreigners through other people, because when foreign artistes come here and ask to see the shrine, Nigerians discourage them, they don’t bring them there, saying it’s a dangerous place, there is no security. You are taking people away from this place. Instead of bringing them here, it’s your cluture, and they will enjoy it. Most of them that come enjoy it. I’ve met so many, a lot of these American artists when they come many of them don’t come to the shrine.
They don’t bring them. They said to me, I’m not very conversant with these Americans. What’s his name o? I ve forgotten his name. He called me saying he would come to the shrine, he didn’t come then I asked why he didn’t come he said; they told him that the security is not tight.
Even this one that just came, is it Akon? Akon came with some other guys. I ve forgotten, one other American guy. The musician spoke to me they will always come to the shrine, they didn’t come. They didn’t let them come, they said it’s dangerous. Snoop doggy dog said he was looking for another venue, when he saw the shrine he said ah ah why didn’t they let Snoop use this kind of venue? They said its dangerous .He must be telling them that they came all the way here and they did not visit the shrine.
The percentage of Nigerians that actually saw Fela performed was very minute.
Nigerians Love Fela more now that he is dead, than when he was alive, because when he was alive they did not go to shrine. I ve met so many of them especially the silver spoon so- called silver spoon children. They used to say I wish I saw Fela performed, when he was alive. Fela when he was alive o .This man was on your doorstep why didn’t you go and see his show; he was very of important to you. There was no reason for you not going. Now that he is dead, the world is celebrating his death; they are all saying ah we love Fela. You are saying you love Fela, how many times did you see him perform? Many of them can’t say they see him perform, many of them cannot say so because they have signed on the bad news, they smoke Igbo there. Where don’t they smoke Igbo in this world No-body forces you to smoke Igbo when you come to the shrine. It’s a peaceful place. You listen to the music. It’s your culture. If Michael Jackson plays anywhere in America, it will be a sell out.
What more can you say about Fela.
I remember when Fela went to America once, he abused Nigerian government, talked politics, the way Fela talked politics, Fela was not going to be saying there is change, Nigeria is changed, in Nigeria papers they abused a whole lot out of Fela .Why was he washing our dirty linen in public. I read about it. I was very angry. Is not right, but now that he is dead they are all over the place.Oh he was a prophet.oh he was great.
It is the real people of Nigeria that really love Fela, that are passionate. Nigeria is not only V/I and Ikoyi .I remember when Femi sang sorry, I picked up a Nigerian newspaper, and they abused him. Why should he sing sorry for Nigerians, is he not sorry for Nigerians? He is watching our dirty linen in public. We are concerned about image without providing basic amenities that makes life good for the common man. It’s the same thing about this Tinapa project. In my opinion it’s a white elephant project.
You don’t have light; you don’t have water you are opening a resort. Does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense to even an idiot. Are they all right? No light and water in your community, in your country, your state, everybody is planning to open a multi billion naira, trillion dollar resort, and they are all hailing Donald Duke as the big one. Put light and water. Where are the roads to even get there?
He could have presented us with solar Energy for electricity power supply. Repair the refineries. They can’t do that for eight years. Look at your presidential elect. He went abroad for medical treatment .That means the hospitals are not good and we are here, we sit down and hail such a person that went abroad for medical care and he is a president elect. The vice president was sick and went abroad. It is disgraceful with the presidential jet. If you can not patronize our hospitals here in Nigeria that means our hospitals are not good. The only one that didn’t go abroad for treatment was Abacha that was because he was rejected. He was facing international sanctions.
What is it about Felabration Festival?
We are celebrating his love and it’s something that we hope will continue because, we really, we don’t have a festival culture in Nigeria.
A lot of my brothers’ income is from various festivals abroad. And when you go to these festivals, they are so lovely. It’s a place for people to make money, a place for people to enjoy and appreciate life. A place to share and to give. If you go to a festival ground, there are shops everywhere, where people are selling different things, it’s a whole, may be four or five days. So many festivals that I can’t mention right now. And we don’t have anything of such in Nigeria. If you come to the shrine, you‘ll see a lot of influence outside there. And that is what I call learning and sharing knowledge. Come and fix whatever you learn from anywhere you go and bring it to your people and share that knowledge and tell them to tell you their observations. I have a situation where there are things that Nigerians are looking for. I have seen some people so worried that get uplifted at the events to the extent that so many people have been coming from abroad. Someone call me from France and said she is coming for Felabration this year.
When is the Festival coming up?
October, 15th because 15th is the day we traditionally kill the cows and sell food to Fela’s fans. Because that is Fela’s birthday ‘gangan’. We are celebrating his life, a life of a great man and then it’s like trying to bring this festival awareness into Nigeria.
The carnival we had last year was not as good as I would have hoped, Like the Northing hill carnival, The masses were thrilled with beautiful dancers from all over Nigeria. Nigeria is showing its culture and people. We have the Ijaw people, Ishekiri people, Calabar people, each one had its own thriller performance and the day was joyous. They went around the streets of Lagos and they all ended at the shrine and we had the major festival.
What would you say are the benefits to Nigeria?
I think celebrating the life of such a great man and bringing business to the state, to the country during that festival which am sure my father will be very proud of. The people that made money during the festival period, after the festival, they are coming to pray for us and say you children God will bless you.
They all made their money, their things got sold because we had a show outside, we had a big screen outside .We had three stages, we have even written to the governor to put more gates and they agreed.
How about the sponsorship from corporate Nigeria?
How can I beg you for what I know it’s good?
We believe that corporate organizations should use this medium to actually come and support the project. We are going to pay all the artistes that are coming to play. Most of the artistes that play at the festival Last year did it for little or no money. I mean we can’t continue to ask them to do it for free. We need people to support us. We don’t make any money from it. The issue is not the money but the service to the people.Guiness did a lot for us last year. We are hoping they will still come on board this year and support us. I brought this promoter Laface, who helped us out with the marketing. I personally do not know much about the marketing, so I’ let the other people that are good at it do it.
We are expecting a lot of artistes from America and other people.
By Yemi Olakitan
published in Dog's World Magazine
Dog’s world Magazine’s publisher, Bomi Rosiji and its Managing Editor, Yemi Olakitan were on a visit to Yeni Anikulapo Kuti's house.Yeni is the beautiful daughter of Nigerian, legendary, afro-beat musician and political activist, late Fela Anikulapo Kuiti.
Yeni is a passionate Dog Lover, who has 11 dogs! A passion she mentioned she inherited from her father who had 8 dogs.
This makes her a perfect guest of Dog’s world Magazine.Yeni is pretty, lovely, funny, interesting and radical like her late father. She spoke about her love for dogs, the state of the nation, and how far she and her brother, Femi Kuti with the support of others have been able to keep Fela’s legacy alive.
Below are the excerpts of the exclusive interview. Enjoy!
Who is Yeni Anikulapo Kuti?
Aah! I don’t know who I am oh. (Laughter) I’m just Yeni Anikulapo Kuti.
I used to dance, I don’t dance so much anymore, I have now left that to the younger ones. I now manage the shrine; I try to manage my brother’s band. Try.
The key word there is trying, but, am not a manager.
I can’t manage his kind of voice. I just tried to help him out, but I can’t. He has agents and all sorts of people that work with him
What’s your relationship with your dogs like?
My daughter is the real dog lover in the house, so I’m the inheritor of my daughter’s dogs,
These are my daughter’s children, I’m their grandmother really.
We got Leo, he is about Seven or eight, and he was taken from the other house which was a rented apartment and she was very vicious and use to bite people especially women. He used to really attack people. This one, he has mellowed with age now and had a cancer, we have to remove his bowels since then he has soften up, he is still a wild dog, he disciplines all the dogs in the house, he is the Alfa maid and he thinks he is my husband. This is what my daughter doesn’t like.
She doesn’t like him at all. He was very attached to me. I like him, I remember when he was sick I thought he was going to die, we were all so sad even my daughter who doesn’t like him was so sad.
She’s got him into the house, but he is still my own dog because he is really fond of me.No body likes him in the house except me
Why?
Because he was wild. He used to bite and we pay so many hospital bills because of this dog oh. He has bitten so many people. So many (Laughter)
Does he still bites
He hasn’t bitten anybody for over a year, may be two years, because of his health, but he is still the one that barks, he is the real man, the man of the house.
Tell us about the other dogs?
Let me see if I can get them in the house for you .This is snowy, this one has almost lost his life several times. We got this from a friend. We used to have this dog Zanda that was from the same parents, and he was so beautiful. He was so nice, he was very active. He used to bark, he backs at people, he was tiny o, but very vicious and then there was this commotion at the shrine, and he ran outside and he was hit by a car and he died. It was so sad, so sad so, when the parents were pregnant again I said I need another dog from them and this is how we got this wretched fellow here. This one (Laughter) and he is a wretched fellow.
He is supposed to be in an exile o, but he as refused to remain there, his children are in exile, but Leo has a daughter there that is in exile. Most of them are family now. These are Leo’s children. They won’t come in, they might come in but they are very afraid of people and Susie, she bites, she is not very friendly. She doesn’t even let you stroke her. She is so slim, but I can’t stroke her. Not that she would bite me o, but she just won’t stay.
My grandmother used to have dogs in her room, and when she stopped them coming to her room, they used to attack my grandmother.
I hope you feed them with JO-JO
We don’t know Jo-JO dog food. They eat meat and fish; we used to buy one dog food. (Not Jo-JO) It is expensive, quite expensive.
Why don’t you buy the dry one, it’s cheaper than the can food.
I don’t know oh, I don’t know
Dr.Tunji recommends this noodles dust to us. You can buy the noodles dust for N2000 and it seems they like the noodles more than the rice. You can see the rice is all about, I left some yesterday. We use Titus fish; you know Titus fish is soft, when you mash it to the rice, they like that.
Tell us about Mimmy,
Mimmy died about 13, he just died naturally. He just past out here, he was, Leo has bitten the nonsense out of his body, by that time. When he first came to the house he used to attack Leo. This was what happened, when Leo was small, mimmy used to attack Leo, by the time Leo became a man, Leo disciplined him. This was what happened with Terror and Lambo.Lambo became a man and killed Terro, in the end, so they killed each other. His head was always shining, very lovely, he was a lovely dog. When he died it was so so sad. Very lovely dog.
How does it feel, having to take care of so many dogs?
It’s stressful, when you get their vet bills well, since I found Dr.Tunji oh, it’s been a bit cheaper because he does house calls. He will come and deworm them here, take care of them. You know weigh them and everything, but before then we have to transport all of them to the vet, you will take taxi, you will take money aah. It’s a bit easier now. It’s a lot of food. You buy a bag of rice for every two weeks.Susie, for instance eats a lot. She’s coming, (Susie comes around while she strokes her) She will only, let me stroke her for a few seconds. She’s so boisterous.
Where did you get your love for Dogs, is it in the family?
I don’t know, I think it’s hereditary my mum and Dad love dogs, before they burnt my father’s house, he had about 8 or 9 dogs. We love dogs, we have them. When I was much younger, I used to see many ugly, skinny, hungry dogs all over the place so I promised myself that when I grow up, am going to have a big house, I will lock up all the dogs in the neighborhood in one place and feed them very well. When you love dogs, you just love them. You share their pains, you share their happiness. Its God’s gift.
So, how many dogs do you have in all?
Eleven! We don’t have canoes in this house. We don’t chain any of the dogs, so they don’t develop anti-social habits. They have to learn how to be friendly with people.
Who assist you in caring for the dogs?
I have People here who assist me, Esther feeds them, and we have some birds too. Once it is five ‘o clock, they will come for food. What’s happening was, They used to come around at first to eat the crumbs when the dogs are been fed, but they used to get killed by the dogs, because sometimes they will forget themselves and start eating from the dog’s plate, so we built a cage for them to eat their rice and fish up there, and that short one, like a sausage, Strappy, he’s the one that used to attacked the birds, It’s really a lovely sight really to watch the birds up there now. If you look around the house, they have their nests around everywhere.
Unless I have appointment outside my house I‘ll stay in the house and read my books and buy the new drinks we used to buy for the shrine.
I do some exercises too, I used to skip and walk round the pool. For now I’m a bit lazy so I’m just into swimming.
Do you have a swimming pool here?
Yea we have a pool here.
What’s a typical day like for Yeni Kuti?
If it like today. We had a show yesterday, it’s a rehearsal but a lot of people come. We don’t charge for gate fees, but a lot of people come around and I have to buy the drinks we need to buy
I account for the shrine. We have a restaurant at the shrine, as well, because we employed about 70 people at the shrine. We have to pay salaries and we have monthly and weekly salaries. I have to do that.
I still save, in as much as I’m paying because we have to pay the musicians , the dancers , about 70 people that we employed and the maintenance of the shrine because if you come to the shrine its a very big place .
You keep on paying, paying, paying. You are paying for electricity, you are paying for lights, and you are paying for the plumbing. It’s too much.
My daughter is always calling you know, to ask me how the dogs are doing. I said you got eleven dogs in the house and your are not even here to take care of them. I bought a ticket in April for her to come home, she didn’t come. She is in the UK pursuing a degree course. She said she’s not coming till June.
Don’t you think you really should be dancing? Its seems that’s where your passion lies.
I do. I wish I could go into dance and choreographing. I do, because that’s where my love lies, but don’t forget that I am 46 am not getting younger.
So, what do you do full time?
I do the books and I do it because if I give it to other people, they will cheat us. They won’t do it as much or as well as I’m doing it because it’s our business, That’s one of the things that stops businesses in Nigeria, because people are not dedicated. They are not; they won’t do your business like they do their own.
If you are not involved in your business what happens is your business will die. For instance, there, is this bar in Victoria Island, some people who are customers of the bar, were coming and saying they arranged beer at the nightclub they drank beer of thirty thousand naira but the waiters only let them pay eleven thousand. Can you imagine, that means that those waiters are making money off that bar? I give that bar about two years, they will fold up. I don’t know where the owner is, that’s what happens, because the owner is not there, she is not there on full time like me. I know everything that is coming in and going out of my business.
Because I have the numbers of all the suppliers, I know what they supply, I check some people, how much did he drink, how much did he buy this drink. Like somebody reported to me on Sunday that he bought a drink that was supposed to be N350 for N400, aah! So I did my investigations, it was a problem for them, because they know I’m on the job and I’m not going to take it.
Now, we have a price list, everyone knows how much.
It’s not so easy but it’s the only way because when I was going on tour, there was nobody to run the shrine and everything, its was a big problem, we were not making money, I remember, there was a boy, a very, very nice looking boy, very handsome, a young boy that you just wanted to help. I say ah, he is the future of Nigeria; he was an undergraduate in the university, He was in Unilag, which was really like either mid- year or just graduation, I can’t remember sha. So I gave him a job as the Bar- manager.
One day I got up and say let me go and check the drinks, the prices of a crate of star have increased. Then a crate of star was between N300 or N400, suddenly the price was N700. Then I said ah ah star is becoming so expensive. so I check the price out with the supplier. Star was N300 that guy has been collecting N700 from me. Can you imagine? The orientation is so bad with some Nigerian youths.
The boy is even a thief because one day I caught him in my brother’s room, He didn’t know I was there (Femi Kuti’s room) he didn’t know I was there and I saw him stealing my brother’s money.
This is the future of Nigeria; so sad, he was just a young boy, nice looking boy that we wanted to help. Our situation is so bad, so wrong here in Nigeria that when you want to help people, they will end up stabbing you in the back. So terrible!
This same boy we introduce him to the guy doing a documentary on Femi, the shrine and my father and the guy likes him because he’s an educated boy, so he takes him around.
The boy doesn’t come around us again since I caught him stealing, he is too embarrassed to come around us because we got him arrested and was taken away by the police and that is why he is so ashamed that he stole. Everyone at the shrine knows that he stole, and this is not stealing through the books; this is stealing by picking up the money; caught re-handed.
So that one now, send him 4,000 Dollars to go and clear the rights to use the tape he got from AIT.That guy send him 4,000 Dollars, I saw the boy about three weeks ago, in a car; I said Okay, no wonder he has the money to buy car and He was looking at me so proudly that even though I am no longer with you I am getting on.Aah!! He was getting on through someone he met through us, whom he has duped of 4,000Dollars. I just told the guy abroad that he is not going to pay any rights to AIT.He has bought car with your money. it so difficult to work with some Nigerian youths.
Tell us about your experience on tour.
I met Dbanj on tour last year, I joined Femi in Italy and in England, and I did a workshop there before the show, a dance workshop and this year, I Intend to go to America, not with them, but I intend to take Femi’s son to go and join his father after school. I want to do a couple of shows with them. I might not perform but I will definitely be there, and when am there, the girls, they have to smile on stage. If am not there they will not smile as much as I like. Its like am very stern.
What kind of Dance workshop did you do while you were there?
Afro beat dance, an hour. An hour workshop, They really enjoyed it .In the evening when I was going for the show, so many people were saying, beautiful workshop, and lovely workshop and say ah you know, and I was so happy with that!
Was it part of something else?
It was part of a festival, womant Festival, Redden, so they said they wanted to do the workshop, so when the agent finally found out that I was going to be there. He said I should do the workshop, so I said I would do it.
Somebody, you know, there was this Lady, she works with Genevieve now, she was at the workshop and when I met her she said oh I saw your workshop. She comes to shrine regularly and so gentle, dance and you know…..she was even here last week.
Which days do you perform at the shrine?
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I like going on stage because I just want the members if they don’t know it or are missing it I will, you know, show them.
Sometimes may be one or two persons will want some dance lessons, they have to have come earlier and I will show them how to move their waists.
Do you dance with the girls?
Me personally I don’t. You have to remember that I’m 46. The girls that dance now are in their 20s. 25, 26. There is no way my energy level will match theirs. So you now look like an ‘’Agbaya,’’come down now, and all my hair is white. You outgrow certain things. I still love to dance I still dance. I danced yesterday. I will not put on my costumes with all my folds. I will be ashamed to show my fat stomach anyway, in a sexy costumes, if I say I don’t like dance, I must be lying. I still love to dance. I still love to perform that’s why I perform at rehearsals; I can do 1 or 2 numbers and then move out of the stage. But if you are doing a new show, you have to stay on stage like 2 or 3 hours. Do I still have that energy level? For a dancer is a lot of energy.
Am sure you still want to do something on Dance in the future.
I keep on saying I am going to open a dance School. It’s still very much on my mind, am going to open a dance School What I need is money but am paying for my daughters university education right now right now.
We should expect a dance School.
Yea hopefully. When I finish with my daughter’s education. I’ll open a dance school hopefully, I only have one daughter. I want the best education for her.
A dance school In Nigeria?
Of course in Nigeria. We live here. I don’t even want to be part of the category of people that takes their money abroad. Femi when he goes abroad, he takes his money back home. He has no account anywhere in Europe or America.
What happens is that we make our money and take them abroad and they use our money to make their country great. Why don’t we take our own money back to us and make own country great.
Nigerians are not investing in Nigeria, they are investing abroad. Why will I go and buy a house in England and be maintaining it with precious pounds. You know how much a pound is to a naira? It’s N250.
What’s your opinion about PMAN problems, Bolaji Rosiji, Charlie Boy and all that?
Me, I’ve been very vocal, to be sincere, I’ve never heard of Bolaji until he became the PMAN President and I was very impressed with the little I saw about him. Let me give you an example. When we were organizing Felabration, He came to the shrine and asked what PMAN can do to support Felabration Festival. I noticed, instead of running away from the shine, he was embracing the shrine. No other PMAN President as done that, except Bolaji Rosiji, and he wasn’t doing it to make himself popular, because he did not come with any journalist. He was coming with a lot of foreigners.
We missed a lot of foreigners through other people, because when foreign artistes come here and ask to see the shrine, Nigerians discourage them, they don’t bring them there, saying it’s a dangerous place, there is no security. You are taking people away from this place. Instead of bringing them here, it’s your cluture, and they will enjoy it. Most of them that come enjoy it. I’ve met so many, a lot of these American artists when they come many of them don’t come to the shrine.
They don’t bring them. They said to me, I’m not very conversant with these Americans. What’s his name o? I ve forgotten his name. He called me saying he would come to the shrine, he didn’t come then I asked why he didn’t come he said; they told him that the security is not tight.
Even this one that just came, is it Akon? Akon came with some other guys. I ve forgotten, one other American guy. The musician spoke to me they will always come to the shrine, they didn’t come. They didn’t let them come, they said it’s dangerous. Snoop doggy dog said he was looking for another venue, when he saw the shrine he said ah ah why didn’t they let Snoop use this kind of venue? They said its dangerous .He must be telling them that they came all the way here and they did not visit the shrine.
The percentage of Nigerians that actually saw Fela performed was very minute.
Nigerians Love Fela more now that he is dead, than when he was alive, because when he was alive they did not go to shrine. I ve met so many of them especially the silver spoon so- called silver spoon children. They used to say I wish I saw Fela performed, when he was alive. Fela when he was alive o .This man was on your doorstep why didn’t you go and see his show; he was very of important to you. There was no reason for you not going. Now that he is dead, the world is celebrating his death; they are all saying ah we love Fela. You are saying you love Fela, how many times did you see him perform? Many of them can’t say they see him perform, many of them cannot say so because they have signed on the bad news, they smoke Igbo there. Where don’t they smoke Igbo in this world No-body forces you to smoke Igbo when you come to the shrine. It’s a peaceful place. You listen to the music. It’s your culture. If Michael Jackson plays anywhere in America, it will be a sell out.
What more can you say about Fela.
I remember when Fela went to America once, he abused Nigerian government, talked politics, the way Fela talked politics, Fela was not going to be saying there is change, Nigeria is changed, in Nigeria papers they abused a whole lot out of Fela .Why was he washing our dirty linen in public. I read about it. I was very angry. Is not right, but now that he is dead they are all over the place.Oh he was a prophet.oh he was great.
It is the real people of Nigeria that really love Fela, that are passionate. Nigeria is not only V/I and Ikoyi .I remember when Femi sang sorry, I picked up a Nigerian newspaper, and they abused him. Why should he sing sorry for Nigerians, is he not sorry for Nigerians? He is watching our dirty linen in public. We are concerned about image without providing basic amenities that makes life good for the common man. It’s the same thing about this Tinapa project. In my opinion it’s a white elephant project.
You don’t have light; you don’t have water you are opening a resort. Does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense to even an idiot. Are they all right? No light and water in your community, in your country, your state, everybody is planning to open a multi billion naira, trillion dollar resort, and they are all hailing Donald Duke as the big one. Put light and water. Where are the roads to even get there?
He could have presented us with solar Energy for electricity power supply. Repair the refineries. They can’t do that for eight years. Look at your presidential elect. He went abroad for medical treatment .That means the hospitals are not good and we are here, we sit down and hail such a person that went abroad for medical care and he is a president elect. The vice president was sick and went abroad. It is disgraceful with the presidential jet. If you can not patronize our hospitals here in Nigeria that means our hospitals are not good. The only one that didn’t go abroad for treatment was Abacha that was because he was rejected. He was facing international sanctions.
What is it about Felabration Festival?
We are celebrating his love and it’s something that we hope will continue because, we really, we don’t have a festival culture in Nigeria.
A lot of my brothers’ income is from various festivals abroad. And when you go to these festivals, they are so lovely. It’s a place for people to make money, a place for people to enjoy and appreciate life. A place to share and to give. If you go to a festival ground, there are shops everywhere, where people are selling different things, it’s a whole, may be four or five days. So many festivals that I can’t mention right now. And we don’t have anything of such in Nigeria. If you come to the shrine, you‘ll see a lot of influence outside there. And that is what I call learning and sharing knowledge. Come and fix whatever you learn from anywhere you go and bring it to your people and share that knowledge and tell them to tell you their observations. I have a situation where there are things that Nigerians are looking for. I have seen some people so worried that get uplifted at the events to the extent that so many people have been coming from abroad. Someone call me from France and said she is coming for Felabration this year.
When is the Festival coming up?
October, 15th because 15th is the day we traditionally kill the cows and sell food to Fela’s fans. Because that is Fela’s birthday ‘gangan’. We are celebrating his life, a life of a great man and then it’s like trying to bring this festival awareness into Nigeria.
The carnival we had last year was not as good as I would have hoped, Like the Northing hill carnival, The masses were thrilled with beautiful dancers from all over Nigeria. Nigeria is showing its culture and people. We have the Ijaw people, Ishekiri people, Calabar people, each one had its own thriller performance and the day was joyous. They went around the streets of Lagos and they all ended at the shrine and we had the major festival.
What would you say are the benefits to Nigeria?
I think celebrating the life of such a great man and bringing business to the state, to the country during that festival which am sure my father will be very proud of. The people that made money during the festival period, after the festival, they are coming to pray for us and say you children God will bless you.
They all made their money, their things got sold because we had a show outside, we had a big screen outside .We had three stages, we have even written to the governor to put more gates and they agreed.
How about the sponsorship from corporate Nigeria?
How can I beg you for what I know it’s good?
We believe that corporate organizations should use this medium to actually come and support the project. We are going to pay all the artistes that are coming to play. Most of the artistes that play at the festival Last year did it for little or no money. I mean we can’t continue to ask them to do it for free. We need people to support us. We don’t make any money from it. The issue is not the money but the service to the people.Guiness did a lot for us last year. We are hoping they will still come on board this year and support us. I brought this promoter Laface, who helped us out with the marketing. I personally do not know much about the marketing, so I’ let the other people that are good at it do it.
We are expecting a lot of artistes from America and other people.
Miss Insurance promotes insurance at Covenant University
By Yemi Olakitan
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
LAST year, Miss Brenda Nwakama became a beauty queen from the insurance sector, when she was crowned Miss Insurance 2009. This shows that beauty queens are not the exclusive preserve of the entertainment companies or campuses alone, but various sectors and industries in our national life can showcase their beauty queens as well. These beauty queens are also not mere figureheads; they pursue meaningful objectives that add value to the economic and national development of the country as a whole.
This was the case when, as part of her pet project for the remaining part of her tenure, the reigning beauty queen of the insurance sector gave an insurance awareness lecture, titled "Insurance: Mechanism of risk control," at the Covenant University Otta, Ogun State, recently.
Miss Brenda was crowned as the Miss Insurance 2009 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, last year.
In a statement released by Scib Nigeria Limited, her employers, the company said the lecture was aimed at creating awareness among the students on insurance and encouraging them to take up careers in the industry after their degree programme. Brenda said that as future managers and leaders of tomorrow, it was critical to educate them early enough to the importance of insurance at micro and macro levels and also through this deepen market penetration for future potential buyers.
Activities of the day also included a talk by Asthma Relief Campaign Project, an NGO collaborating with Miss Insurance on educating the populace concerning asthma, a silent killer that is not yet considered a serious public health issue. Mr. Ugochukwu Nwangoro who led the NGO team to Covenant University presented the talk on asthma.
Present at the event were the CIIN team led by the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Joseph Obah, Scib Nigeria & Co. Limited led by Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu, head, Business Development and others.
The programme also featured young insurance professionals with various academic backgrounds testifying to the fact of the changing face of the industry from what it used to be.
At the awareness lecture Brenda explained that insurance is a strong tool for the assessment and evaluation of risks and the exposures and formulation of a cost effective cost mechanism to control the risk. She also went on to explain the process of Insurance-Risk Transfer Mechanism whereby insurance institutions accept risk in consideration for receipt of premiums. She explained that the broker on behalf of the insured advises and decides on how best to handle the risk exposures. He is thus an authority on risk exposure and an expert in the insurance market.
The seminar explained the role of insurance in strategic business continuity and economic development, locally and globally.
Brenda said that insurance empowers individuals and institutions to handle risk contingency exposures, which are beyond budget provision due to the unpredictability. This is because risk can be complex and sometimes of catastrophic nature. She gave the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombing, Ikeja Cantonment bombing and Hurricane Katrina as part of her illustrations.
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
LAST year, Miss Brenda Nwakama became a beauty queen from the insurance sector, when she was crowned Miss Insurance 2009. This shows that beauty queens are not the exclusive preserve of the entertainment companies or campuses alone, but various sectors and industries in our national life can showcase their beauty queens as well. These beauty queens are also not mere figureheads; they pursue meaningful objectives that add value to the economic and national development of the country as a whole.
This was the case when, as part of her pet project for the remaining part of her tenure, the reigning beauty queen of the insurance sector gave an insurance awareness lecture, titled "Insurance: Mechanism of risk control," at the Covenant University Otta, Ogun State, recently.
Miss Brenda was crowned as the Miss Insurance 2009 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, last year.
In a statement released by Scib Nigeria Limited, her employers, the company said the lecture was aimed at creating awareness among the students on insurance and encouraging them to take up careers in the industry after their degree programme. Brenda said that as future managers and leaders of tomorrow, it was critical to educate them early enough to the importance of insurance at micro and macro levels and also through this deepen market penetration for future potential buyers.
Activities of the day also included a talk by Asthma Relief Campaign Project, an NGO collaborating with Miss Insurance on educating the populace concerning asthma, a silent killer that is not yet considered a serious public health issue. Mr. Ugochukwu Nwangoro who led the NGO team to Covenant University presented the talk on asthma.
Present at the event were the CIIN team led by the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Joseph Obah, Scib Nigeria & Co. Limited led by Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu, head, Business Development and others.
The programme also featured young insurance professionals with various academic backgrounds testifying to the fact of the changing face of the industry from what it used to be.
At the awareness lecture Brenda explained that insurance is a strong tool for the assessment and evaluation of risks and the exposures and formulation of a cost effective cost mechanism to control the risk. She also went on to explain the process of Insurance-Risk Transfer Mechanism whereby insurance institutions accept risk in consideration for receipt of premiums. She explained that the broker on behalf of the insured advises and decides on how best to handle the risk exposures. He is thus an authority on risk exposure and an expert in the insurance market.
The seminar explained the role of insurance in strategic business continuity and economic development, locally and globally.
Brenda said that insurance empowers individuals and institutions to handle risk contingency exposures, which are beyond budget provision due to the unpredictability. This is because risk can be complex and sometimes of catastrophic nature. She gave the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombing, Ikeja Cantonment bombing and Hurricane Katrina as part of her illustrations.
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