When you have the right people elected, correct policies and judicial systems established and enforced, then more can be done to mitigate corruption. There will always be cheaters but the social framework that we inhabit must be strengthened by everyone's civic engagement so that the corrupt are easily identified and punished.

These photographs were taken by the Malian photographer Malick Sidibe in the 1950s in Mali. Some of the photos you have posted are of his friends at the beach and at the dance parties they would go to. The other photos are portraits that he would capture of local Malians. He is still alive and actively takes photos, if you are curious, and has received international awards for his work. There was a documentary of him done within the last couple of years called Dolce Vita Africana which is how I recognized the photos you posted. Please give him credit. He is a cheerful, amusing, talented man. Thanks.

Benissues: These pics gets me tinkin n laffin!!...on hw life have evolved!!.......happy viewing!!

By Prince Charles Dickson
Sahara Reporters
April 29, 2013

Where there are two/three/four and more rich Nigerian politicians/leaders there is laughter in their midst, and often it is a tinted atmosphere. #amebo#

For purpose of this essay, let me quickly say irrespective of all that the traffic acts stipulates, what the police says and police did not say on the tinted glass matter, in summary, a layman's definition of a tint--a tint is a chemical or nylon put in or on a glass that makes it unable for you to see those inside, and in cases guarantees  the privacy of those inside, in other words, there's often a blurred picture of what one sees.

Over the week, a friend of mine brought to my knowledge again the farce called leadership in Africa's biggest nation. He said to me "Mallam, have you seen the federal executive council (FEC) meeting pictures, imagine the way they are laughing, and exchanging banters?"

I quickly looked it up on my NAN wednesday picture schedule. I saw it, I understood it, not that it was new, but it is the focus of my admonition this week. A collection of ministers and aides all laughing and exchanging banters. After all, contracts have been awarded...to friends and associates, you don't expect them to cry.

Beyond tinted and veiled condemnation on Baga, other killings and kidnap cases nationwide, our leaders simply live a tinted existence. They just laugh and make comedy of the serious issues bedeviling the nation.

I further looked up more pictures on the newspapers and watched events on television for the week, it only further confirmed that while Nigerians complain, suffer, groan under all forms of hardship. Our leaders are inside a tinted vehicle, inside tinted offices and get to homes with tint.

We cannot see them, and when they manage to see us, they really careless. When we see them, we really can do nothing. We are victims of the tint, a psychological state that make Nigerians behave normal in the light of crass abnormality. Between the led and leaders is a tragic case of blurred vision.

A nation of  politicians with tinted hearts, lacking in focus, consistent in inconsistency, versed in policy somersaults and a people in dire need of visionary leaders but too tinted we cannot differentiate.

With tints, a whole nation lives a rumor, just a matter regarding the future status of NECO/JAMB is left as a dark matter. A minister for education, a junior minister, two education committees at the National Assembly, scores of aides and assistants yet we are all rabble-rousing in a nation that spends less than 5% on education.

In Anambra 23 illegal refineries were discovered, 23 excluding those that have not been discovered. Excludes those in Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and other core oil areas. These are tints, with all these bunkering and stealing, we pay N97, and behind the tint they steal billions in subsidy.

While the South sympathizes with the North on Boko Haram, the Southwest is tinting itself with notoriety in kidnappings, fulani herdsmen at war with farmers in Delta, in Benue, in Kogi, and we can't see each other because we wear tinted shades.   

Tinted people that negotiate with ghosts, arrest ghosts, prosecute ghosts...one marvels, but really, it should not be surprising as they see things we can't see.

When a Minister is never owed, has water running from taps in his/her high brow home, barbed security wired high walls, domestic help and best of education for his/her ward--He/she simply suffers a wide disconnect, his/her reasoning is defect and in his/her tinted existence believes his/her doing well translates to everything being fine--Nigerians don't see well so we just nag and complain.   

On the other hand because we can't see the inside, we make tinted comments, he can steal as long as he's from my side of the wood. She can mismanage funds as long as its our money. Those muslims, the christians, its the ibos fault, crazy hausas, foolish yorubas and many more veiled comments that only expose our ignorance and tinted nature and victimology.  

The Federal Government within the week said it is looking beyond Nigerian banks to raise $3.4bn needed to fund power projects in the country "because of high interest rates being charged on loans by local banks." The effect of the tint, the rates are high, small scale business people are on their own while government goes abroad for funds yet the collective wealth of the poor services the interests both low and high.

On the little matter of tinted glasses on cars--does a goat eat bone, and in local parlance 'who dash monkey banana'. Of the several million plus cars plying our roads, how many 'poor people' that can manage a car, have cars with real tinted glasses?

Victims of the tint, N-Delta oil bunkerers tell FG they want amnesty, in Abia kidnappers say they deserve a feel of the tint, and in Edo new militants decry non-inclusion in the tint called amnesty. Rather than solve pressing security issues we are sharing monies.

The Yorubas say Bí ekòló bá kọ ebè, ara-a rẹ̀ ni yó gbìn sí i. Literally if a worm makes a heap, it is itself that it will plant in it. (The consequences of a person's actions will fall on the person's own head.) There's need for us as a people to eliminate bottlenecks like the traffic acts  tint rule and face the issues, the world is moving and would not wait for Nigeria.

It is when the snail wants to invite death that it lays eggs. (A person who knows an action will be disastrous but carries it our anyway deserves what he gets.) Government must and by encouraging private participation invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare and importantly remove tints that block participatory governance or else, Boko in the haram is just letter B after A, there will be coko, doko, eoko, and down to zoko haram.

If fish sleeps, fish will devour fish.(If one does not wish to be taken advantage of, one must be ever watchful.) Do we sleep and remain victims only to be eaten because of those that laugh at our woes--only time will tell.

--Prince Charles Dickson

The New York Times
Op-Ed Section

January 29, 2013
Treat Greed in Africa as a War Crime
By KAMARI MAXINE CLARKE

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

WHEN the International Criminal Court made public an arrest warrant in November for Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady of Ivory Coast, on charges of crimes against humanity, it set two precedents. For the first time, it had indicted a woman — and someone who had held no formal public office. The previous year, Mrs. Gbagbo’s husband, Laurent, became the first former head of state to face trial before the I.C.C. He is charged with thousands of murders and “other inhuman acts” after refusing to accept defeat in a presidential election that was held in November 2010.

The indictments of the Gbagbos are welcome, but they don’t bring the court any closer to confronting the fundamental causes of the violence that has plagued Ivory Coast — and most of sub-Saharan African — for centuries. Colonial rule, and the military takeovers and suppression of democratic movements that followed it, have contributed enormously to the misery. But even those legacies are not the root cause.

Violence in Africa begins with greed — the discovery and extraction of natural resources like oil, diamonds and gas — and continues to be fed by struggles for control of energy, minerals, food and other commodities. The court needs the power to punish those who profit from those struggles. So do other judicial forums. At a summit meeting here last week, leaders of the African Union proposed expanding the criminal jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to include corporate criminal liability for the illicit exploitation of natural resources, trafficking in hazardous wastes and other offenses.

Africa’s so-called “resource curse” is legendary. Take Nigeria. It experienced 10 successive military coups beginning in 1966, just a few years after independence from Britain and the subsequent discovery of large oil reserves. The struggle to control its government was in large part a struggle to control oil. The pattern repeated in many countries — including the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Somalia, Liberia, Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Republic of Congo — where rebels, political parties and international corporations have competed to control extraction industries.

Ivory Coast, which produces about 40 percent of the world’s cocoa beans, is a case in point. Cocoa accounts for a fifth of its economy. Nestlé, Hershey and Cadbury play central roles in buying and trading it, and they benefit from the exploitative labor practices in the agricultural sector. According to a 2008 government survey, 9 in 10 Ivorian children under age 10 are involved in growing cocoa.

Practices like child labor reproduce exploitation, but the I.C.C. holds neither the rural farmers nor the international corporations that depend on such practices responsible. Claimants have had to sue, instead, in the courts of sovereign nations. For example, Grant & Eisenhofer, a law firm representing a Louisiana public employees’ pension fund, asked the Delaware Chancery Court in November to order Hershey to open its books so that the fund could verify shareholders’ claims that the chocolate maker had worked with suppliers who used illegal child labor in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Another example: in August 2006, the commodities trader Trafigura hired a ship, the Probo Koala, to dump toxic waste in locations in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Ivory Coast. Fifteen people died and more than 100,000 were treated for disorders relating to exposure to the waste. After six years of prosecutions and appeals, a Dutch court found Trafigura guilty of illegally exporting waste, but in Ivory Coast the company was granted immunity from further prosecution in exchange for a financial settlement.

In Sudan, the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation has been assailed for supplying the military with resources and oil revenues that were used to support the mass displacement and killings of civilians, but it operates with impunity.

The I.C.C. should be empowered to prosecute corporate crimes — and not be restricted to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression, as it is now under the Rome Statute. That may be difficult. It would require agreement among the signatories to the statute, which do not include some of the world’s largest countries, like India, China and the United States. (The Obama administration, unlike its predecessor, has cooperated with the court, although it does not have the political support to rejoin the statute or obtain Senate ratification.)

For all its deficiencies, the I.C.C. — which in 10 years has achieved just a single conviction, that of a Congolese warlord last year — has a global reach and responsibility as the world’s first permanent war-crimes tribunal. Holding government officials and their inner circles accountable is a step toward justice, but the pursuit cannot end there. The Gbagbos, however heinous their alleged crimes, were ultimately figureheads in a vast and unregulated system of extractive capitalism.

If it is to be relevant to Africa, the I.C.C. must have the power to prosecute corporate involvement in illicit extraction of resources. Expanding the powers of the African court would also help. True international justice means not only investigating heads of state, but also the multinational companies that are part of the ecosystem of Africa’s violence.

Kamari Maxine Clarke, a professor of anthropology at Yale, is the author of “Fictions of Justice: The International Criminal Court and the Challenge of Legal Pluralism in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Have engineering codes been established so that constructed buildings (residential or commercial) meet design standards to withstand heavy rains and wind?

It's one thing to have a few homes destroyed and quite another to have 200. Completely haphazard planning and building.

New York Times - Op. Ed. Section
January 14, 2013
Mali’s Atrocities Began When It Lost Its Democracy
By LANDRY SIGNÉ
IN 2005, after the world failed to prevent mass atrocities in Rwanda, the Balkans and Darfur, the United Nations declared that nations had a responsibility to protect populations everywhere from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It is a fine idea, but not easy to implement, especially in Africa. There, frail democracies too often fall victim to corruption, social division, greed and dictatorship. So there, especially, the world needs to add another “responsibility to protect” — a duty of democratic nations to safeguard popular rule in neighboring lands. Too often, a failure of democracy is what starts a country down the road to atrocities.

 The failure this year to protect and restore democracy in Mali is a perfect case in point. Less than a year after a coup last March, Mali has slid into a devilish civil war and national breakup accompanied by reports of war crimes, atrocities and crimes against humanity. The coup did not cause the current rebellion in the north, but it allowed it to succeed, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to leave their homes. In addition, more than 4.6 million people are at risk of running out of food when the war and drought are both taken into account, the United Nations has said.

Last summer, Human Rights Watch was reporting “the use and recruitment of child soldiers, looting and the pillaging of hospitals, schools, aid agencies ... public floggings and amputation ... rape and abduction of girls and women.” Amnesty International was urging he International Criminal Court to investigate “killings, rapes and torture and other possible crimes.” But the world, and the region, kept dithering until the rebels who had seized the mostly Arab north seemed about to expand their reach into the sub-Saharan south.

That finally brought a direct response from France last week, and a sudden new interest by Western nations in implementing, at last, a regional West African military intervention against the rebels. In fact, the 15 countries in the Economic Community of West African States, along with the African Union, had been seeking permission to intervene since early last summer, but a major stumbling block was the coup leaders’ fear that the foreign military forces might undermine their own firm grip on the country; in the face of this, the decision-making process of the United Nations Security Council moved at a crawl. The picture might have been different had Mali’s neighbors intervened more decisively against the coup in the first place. At this time last winter, Mali was widely admired as a successful democracy. But then heavily armed fighters from North Africa’s nomadic Tuareg group, having failed to keep Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in power in Libya, crossed into the Arab northern half of Mali and joined forces with Islamist rebels, some of them from Algeria. It became clear within weeks that they were outperforming Mali’s army.

But rather than focus the army’s efforts more effectively against the rebels, and perhaps appeal for outside aid, Capt. Amadou Sanogo and other military officers turned their forces against Mali’s elected president, Amadou Toumani Touré, and seized power, blaming the civilian leaders for Mali’s weakness.

Mali’s neighbors condemned the coup and suspended aid. But after a month — which would have been a good moment to restore the constitutional order — they foolishly agreed to negotiate with Captain Sanogo, rather than insist that he quit power and leave the country until peace and democracy were restored. After that, the Security Council frittered away the summer, saying it needed more information before it would grant African nations a mandate to intervene militarily.

The hesitation only emboldened the rebels. While Captain Sanogo agreed under pressure to the appointment of an interim government and started a wave of repression against his political opponents, the rebels conquered the northern half of Mali and declared it independent. Reports of inhuman applications of Shariah law, like amputations as punishment for theft, followed, continuing into the fall and winter.

So now, from their failure to protect democracy in Mali, the West African nations, and with them the West, have reaped a heavier responsibility — the duty, laid out by the United Nations at a global summit meeting in 2005, to protect “populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.” The task is far more complicated than it would have been last spring. Under international pressure for change, Mali acquired new civilian leaders, but leaders of the coup were involved in the selection process, and the new government cannot be said to have been elected freely and democratically. And yet, the first task ahead of all of Mali now, and of those from outside who would help it, is not the restoration of democracy but primarily the restoration of Mali itself — its central state authority and territorial integrity. First the rebels must be driven from control in the north; only then can the country start a truly democratic process, in which all citizens of Mali can choose their next leaders in free, fair and internationally supervised elections.

In fact, Mali is not the first African country in which a failure to protect the constitutional order or quickly restore an overthrown democracy opened a path for grave atrocities. In Kenya, a disputed election in 2007 was followed by violence in which more than 1,000 people were reported to have died and 500,000 others were displaced. In Guinea, a coup in 2009 was followed by the killing of more than 150 opponents of the junta. In Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo refused to relinquish the presidency in 2010 after losing an election; mass atrocities followed. It took a civil war to dislodge him the following spring. Finally, late in 2011, he was turned over to the International Criminal Court to be tried for crimes against humanity.

So, how can the concept of responsibility to protect democracy be further developed?

Where institutions and traditions prove no match for a crisis of democracy, the region or the continent should step in. The African Union’s charter already empowers that organization to intervene to prevent war crimes and genocide, and it condemns “unconstitutional changes of government.” Such ideals need to be invoked boldly and quickly; that may be the strongest argument for a new doctrine of a responsibility to protect democracy, with a protocol for military or other forms of firm coercion when diplomacy fails.

Member states will not always agree on when to intervene, of course. But having a clear responsibility to do so in extreme cases would make prompt action more likely, by adding a sense of urgency. And it would help the United Nations Security Council play its own important role — by bringing the five permanent members into unison to avoid blocking or delaying a lifesaving intervention.

In addition, the International Criminal Court should announce that it will seek to punish all those responsible for any coup d’état that results in war crimes or crimes against humanity. In Mali and across Africa, the evidence shows that a failure of democracy is all too likely to lead quickly to such crimes.

Landry Signé is a fellow in the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University.

Mr. Mark, an influential Nigerian politician, said Nigeria has got to “prove to the rest of the world, who are advocates of this unnatural way that we Nigerians promote and respect sanity, morality and humanity.”

I am happy to see that a few people recognize the hypocrisy of his statement. Please note that compassion and empathy are both characteristics of humanity. I would like to know what the aforementioned qualities of sanity, morality and humanity really mean to him.

Are you looking at industrialized farming or individual farmers with increasingly mechanized capabilities? You stated "a fully operational business venture" in response to one poster then went on to list mechanical equipment so i'm guessing you are referring to industrial farming. In any case farming should not be viewed simply as a business venture nor is it correctly defined as having mechanized equipment. Farming is the cultivation of biotic organisms to provide sustenance. It begins at the subsistence level as a means to provide for one's immediate needs. Once those needs are met, then there can be an extension of one's abilities. So surplus from the harvest can be sold for extra income.

One concern farmers deal with is the lack of labour available. Flight to larger urban areas means there are fewer people to farm. Ironically living in large urban areas means there is less land to grow food.

With regards to mechanized equipment: it costs money; typically a lot more than what a humble farmer earns. So then there is the issue of whether loans can be used to purchase the equipment. Once the equipment is purchased the farmer must be taught how to use it and it needs to be maintained and stored away from the elements. If it breaks you need to find a skilled laborer to fix it. And what about payback of the loan? So the issue of improving farming in Nigeria (or anywhere for that matter) involves more than throwing mechanized equipment at the problem. Mechanical equipment does provide labour relief and greater productivity but there are fundamental steps that must be taken prior to achieving larger scale farming.

And to answer your Topic question: Yes, Nigeria does have farms.

While the government's words are looked upon by many as political platitudes until met with action, I sincerely hope that they maintain the vision and follow through on achieving their goal. This isn't just an issue of employment, it is also about self-sufficiency, preservation, and economic development. There is no plausible reason why Nigeria and many other sub-Saharan countries should have to import much of their food from other (typically non-African) countries. We have an optimal climate (longer growing seasons) and arable land (rich soil nutrients) to produce the best, naturally grown food.

High costs for imported foods (and other goods) which we are subjected to as hapless consumers are also due to the energy requirements to transport imported food and the associated import tariffs. This could easily be mitigated by growing locally and trading between other African countries as opposed to buying from Asian, European, or North American markets. There is no food that they can grow which we can't; but there are many foods that we can grow that they can't due to less suitable growing conditions. Remember that we were feeding ourselves before the world knew we existed. Today or tomorrow should be no different.

Thanks for clarifying. From your latest post your responses (in bold below) now inform us of the following:
1. Its not meant to promote positive cultural interest or to add any value for that matter
2. I put it their to showcase their mode of dressing, simple.
3. It simply shows my surprise cuz I never thought it still existed in Nigeria.
4. The purpose of the post was simply to bring their existence to your knowledge
5. I more interested in their attire which came as a surprise, you can investigate about their impact.

In summary, we can conclude nothing from the picture. The image offers proof of their existence but offers no information about their culture, social norms or beliefs because it was not your intention to enage the reader beyond looking at a picture and asking how the reader felt that in this day and age some women still walk around t.o.p.less (*gasp* and some walk around with nothing at all!). You didn't want to provide any information about this tribe except for the fact that they do not conform to modern living standards; hence your surprise at their existence. The only thing you were focused on was how they looked. Finally as per point 1. above the purpose of your post is: not meant to promote positive cultural interest or to add any value for that matter .

To NL readers: Should anyone be sincerely interested and want to know more about this village in Adamawa or others like it they will be best served by conducting their own research either through books and other media or by visiting the region. By maintaining a genuine interest in other cultures we can perhaps slow the erosion of cultural identity and African heritage in contemporary African society. Perhaps in time we can develop a fonder appreciation and constructive relationships amongst ourselves by learning from each other.

Q.E.D.

Caliente: Thank you for your honesty. I should then posit that the reason you ignored my question was because you too realize that your initial post wasn't meant to promote positive cultural interest or to add any value for that matter.
Its not meant to promote positive cultural interest or to add any value for that matter and you have desire to know more. for negative cultural interest?

You will need to educate me: what/which African attire is an export commodity and provides economic empowerment to the people as you stated? To whom do we export our textiles to and how large is our manufacturing sector for African produced goods which reflect our cultural identity? Or is your statement referring to a general, global viewpoint?
It was in global context. Im sure what you wear to work is other culture's export commodity and not your native attire

Would it be wrong to say that their thoughts and actions forged with culture is manifesting via their mode of dressing?
It is not wrong to say that their society influences their thoughts and inherently their actions; as do all societies to a measured extent (there is after all free-will).. But from the picture you cannot judge their character based on their appearance, half-clad or not. You would have to interact with them to have a better understanding of their value system and behavior. Which is why I said thoughts and actions take precedence (i.e. trump) appearance.
I dint put the picture for you to judge their character, are you psychic? So it will be very unwise for you to do so. I put it their to showcase their mode of dressing, simple. If you cant appreciate or see any value in the culture/post, at least appreciate or value the photographer and his work.

I don't know whether your original post was intended to evoke a visceral reaction from other commenters. Your first four statements were: Funny? Weird? Unbelievable? In this 21st century people still flaunt this kinda fashion.
It simply shows my surprise cuz I never thought it still existed in Nigeria. If a couple things or events dont shock or surprise you, well we are different.

The intrinsic value of the post was missing: What does cultural identity mean to individuals? How important is the preservation of our identity or others? Are there cultural norms we are willing to let go of? Why or why not? How does who we are or who we were affect where we are heading (as a nation, as a continent, as a world)?
Who told you the intrinsic value of the post was missing? Just because you expect a chickenpie and you saw regular meatpie doesnt meant the meatpie is incomplete.

Do you see how the questions I asked differ from the question you opened the post with? That is what social and cultural discourse (or any discourse for that matter) is about. Asking purposeful, evocative questions to prompt people to think deeply.
That your questions are different from mine dont mean mine are useless. Different strokes for different folks. It is purposeful in its comic relief approach.

Another thing that troubled me was when you said this: You failed to see any purpose in the knowledge of their existence, what purpose will knowing more about them be to you that is asking me the purpose of this post? . I never stated nor think that there is no purpose to their existence. I questioned the relevancy of your post.
The purpose of the post was simply to bring their existence to your knowledge which obviously never crossed your mind or you refused to see.

You asked me in your previous post whether my way of living has a beneficial impact on Nigerian society. I responded with what I do as my day job which I think made you more upset. Did i misunderstand your question?
Yes you completely misunderstood the question. By ways of living, I mean culture. The focus here is the culture as manifested via their mode of dressing not there means of livelihood, not values, traits, not mental prowess, impact, etc. You think they dont have people who have your values or even better value than yours? You think they dont have any impact?

Does how I dress say anything about my impact on society? No. Does looking at a picture of two indigenous women reveal anything about their societal impact? No. How about that girl in the cargo pants and t-shirt? Hmmm...still No. Had you provided more information on this tribe and explained their customs/traditions, behavior, belief systems, etc would we have a better understanding of their impact? Yes. Did your original post do that? No.
I more interested in their attire which came as a surprise, you can investigate about their impact. Im sure you dint acquire chemical engineering degree from one lecture, lecturer nor one textbook.

You will always be entitled to your opinion. But freedom of speech means you must also be open to the freedom of others to criticize your opinions/ideas
If Im not open to your criticism of my idea (oh well their fashion is not my idea lol), you think I will burning my bandwith replying you? Its an educative exercise, you may not like my style of reply. But thats my style.

I hope you are not upset by this post. I am not trying to shame you. I just want to see constructive topics and discussions. Upset or shame me? LMAO!!! Please perish that thought, it has no place in reality. One can only succeed in disgusting me by ACTING ALL SAINTLY.

Ahh, I see. Then good luck with your studies! I did my degree in chemical engineering and bioengineering when I was in school. One of the areas I studied as part of my bioengineering degree was food science and technology. All of the scientific techniques employed in FST are derived from chemistry, biology and engineering principles. So if you have a strong interest in these fields then you will enjoy what you are doing. There are a lot of ways you can apply your knowledge in this field so don't limit yourself. Are you interested in doing academic research or do you want to work in the industry? It might be too soon for you to know what path you want to take but you should know that there are a host of opportunities globally. Food production and distribution is one of the greatest issues in the 21st century. Who knows, maybe you will win a Nobel Prize for helping alleviate world hunger....

Richbee: Aiit. Tnx. I an a student member of the IFST. I tink I know things about my field of study. All I wanted was to get pple rub minds together. To discuss bout challenges so far, prospects, findings and the rest. U in the field too?

Thank you for your honesty. I should then posit that the reason you ignored my question was because you too realize that your initial post wasn't meant to promote positive cultural interest or to add any value for that matter.

You will need to educate me: what/which African attire is an export commodity and provides economic empowerment to the people as you stated? To whom do we export our textiles to and how large is our manufacturing sector for African produced goods which reflect our cultural identity? Or is your statement referring to a general, global viewpoint? In Kano, the traditional centuries-old hand dye process used for clothing is becoming obsolete due to modern, competitive techniques. If tourists are the only ones largely interested in purchasing it, what does it say about our interest in our own culture. This is one example of how we as Africans are at risk of losing a grip on our heritage.

Would it be wrong to say that their thoughts and actions forged with culture is manifesting via their mode of dressing?
It is not wrong to say that their society influences their thoughts and inherently their actions; as do all societies to a measured extent (there is after all free-will).. But from the picture you cannot judge their character based on their appearance, half-clad or not. You would have to interact with them to have a better understanding of their value system and behavior. Which is why I said thoughts and actions take precedence (i.e. trump) appearance.

I don't know whether your original post was intended to evoke a visceral reaction from other commenters. Your first four statements were: Funny? Weird? Unbelievable? In this 21st century people still flaunt this kinda fashion. The intrinsic value of the post was missing: What does cultural identity mean to individuals? How important is the preservation of our identity or others? Are there cultural norms we are willing to let go of? Why or why not? How does who we are or who we were affect where we are heading (as a nation, as a continent, as a world)?

Do you see how the questions I asked differ from the question you opened the post with? That is what social and cultural discourse (or any discourse for that matter) is about. Asking purposeful, evocative questions to prompt people to think deeply.

Another thing that troubled me was when you said this: You failed to see any purpose in the knowledge of their existence, what purpose will knowing more about them be to you that is asking me the purpose of this post? . I never stated nor think that there is no purpose to their existence. I questioned the relevancy of your post which was voyeuristically saying: Come Nairalanders, look at these half-naked people who still exist in the 21st cent. Prepare to be amazed!! . As I said in the previous paragraph, many valuable questions should/could be asked. You had an amazing opportunity to have a great discussion.

You asked me in your previous post whether my way of living has a beneficial impact on Nigerian society. I responded with what I do as my day job which I think made you more upset. Did i misunderstand your question? As a chemical engineer I work on design projects which provide value to people's everyday living. To be an engineer means to to serve the needs of others and not just yourself. It is about identifying, diagnosing and resolving issues to make our existence and impact less detrimental to others and the environment. I'd like to think that in some ways I am helping but I also think I can do more. As a human being I strive to treat people with the utmost respect regardless of appearance and give them the benefit of the doubt as I hope they do with me. Ultimately their thoughts and actions will reveal their true nature. Education is also important to me as i believe education builds character and wisdom and provides adventure and stimulation. I like teaching because I think knowledge should be shared to improve oneself and others. I do these things because I want to; not because my employer tells me to. Does how I dress say anything about my impact on society? No. Does looking at a picture of two indigenous women reveal anything about their societal impact? No. How about that girl in the cargo pants and t-shirt? Hmmm...still No. Had you provided more information on this tribe and explained their customs/traditions, behavior, belief systems, etc would we have a better understanding of their impact? Yes. Did your original post do that? No.

You will always be entitled to your opinion. But freedom of speech means you must also be open to the freedom of others to criticize your opinions/ideas.

I hope you are not upset by this post. I am not trying to shame you. I just want to see constructive topics and discussions.

Caliente: I am also flattered that you directly requoted my own question to me without providing a response to the same question.
I purposely IGNORED your question cuz it was an unnecessary rhetoric which you already know the answer to.

My attire does not affect the direction of Nigeria or Africa's future.
Between, some attires are export commodities, economic empowerment.

It is my thoughts and actions which trump how I look; as should be the case for you or anyone else.
Would it be wrong to say that their thoughts and actions forged with culture is manifesting via their mode of dressing?

A thief can come to you in a suit or rags and he is still a thief irrespective of what he/she wears. Likewise if we were to speak of saints. Would they be less saintly if they were half-clad?
Im not talking a behavioural trait in a few individuals, this is the life, the culture of the entire community. They do have thieves dont you think?

I work as a chemical engineering. How I look at my job was never a primary concern of my employers; what I do at work and how I do it is important to them.
Im talking about people's way of life and you are giving me employer-employer relationship lecture. You comparing a portion of your life to this people's entire life? Its a culture they are born into and may likely die in, you will resign, get fired or retire from your job. You get paid to do what you do for your employer. This people are not paid to live their life. What you do and how you do it is important to your employer because he pays you and wants to get the value or more out of you. Of course you know the fiery consequence if you dont perform. If you are a freebie to them, they wont give a damn.

Personally I believe NL should be used for more civil and social discourse related to the future of the continent. This is why I asked you how your post contributes to serious discussions.
If you dont know where you are coming from, you wont know where you are going. So culture, history, photography, etc are not serious discussions? Is a chemical engineer telling me that archeologists are not serious people?

P.S. When you say you are "just reporting on a culture," make sure that you dont inject your own obsevational bias: In this 21st century people still flaunt this kinda fashion. I feel like Im watching a still shot from "The Gods Must Be Crazy" Bad market for louis vuitton and co lol.
Is it a crime to air my view? Im entitled to my opinion like you, you know.

What is wrong then if Louis Vuitton is irrelevant to them?
Then louis vuitton will look for market elsewhere, like your chemical engineering company. Im sure you dont dress like that when the chemicals and engineers collide.

Perhaps you can post more facts about them in the future. I am interested to hear more about them.
You are interested to know more about them? Seriously? Are you kidding me? You failed to see any purpose in the knowledge of their existence, what purpose will knowing more about them be to you that is asking me the purpose of this post?

Thanks for the response. I am also flattered that you directly requoted my own question to me without providing a response to the same question. So I will give you my answer in gleeful anticipation that you will reciprocate.

My attire does not affect the direction of Nigeria or Africa's future. It is my thoughts and actions which trump how I look; as should be the case for you or anyone else. A thief can come to you in a suit or rags and he is still a thief irrespective of what he/she wears. Likewise if we were to speak of saints. Would they be less saintly if they were half-clad? I work as a chemical engineering. How I look at my job was never a primary concern of my employers; what I do at work and how I do it is important to them..

Personally I believe NL should be used for more civil and social discourse related to the future of the continent. This is why I asked you how your post contributes to serious discussions.

P.S. When you say you are "just reporting on a culture," make sure that you dont inject your own obsevational bias: In this 21st century people still flaunt this kinda fashion. I feel like Im watching a still shot from "The Gods Must Be Crazy" Bad market for louis vuitton and co lol. . I didn't know they were flaunting this fashion. From the picture it looks like they are embracing their culture. What is wrong then if Louis Vuitton is irrelevant to them? Perhaps you can post more facts about them in the future. I am interested to hear more about them.

Best regards.

Caliente: @iwe oru
i dint misunderstand your question. I just reported a culture and you are asking me how it affects nigeria's gdp. i ask you again how does your own attire or lack there-of draw attention to issues such as sanitation, security, education, healthcare, economic development, trade, electricity, population growth, civil wars, etc? What is the purpose of your reply? Is your way of living having a beneficial impact on Nigerian society as a whole?

It seems you misunderstand my question. How does their attire or lack there-of draw attention to issues such as sanitation, security, education, healthcare, economic development, trade, electricity, population growth, civil wars, etc? What is the purpose of the post? Is their way of living having a detrimental impact on Nigerian society as a whole?

Caliente: @iwe oru do you come from a community with a culture? does it impact on the course of nigeria?

FST is a very good program of study. Food production is a major concern in the 21st century due to growing populations, a reduction in arable land, and global warming. Here are some starting points if you want more information:
ift.org
ifst.org

I do find it odd that you selected a program of study without doing research first. You have yet to say what you hope to do with your knowledge in food science technology.

So what? How does this impact the course of Nigeria? Wearing clothes doesn't make you more ethical or moral than someone who doesn't.

My choice of vocation was influenced by how much I could contribute back to society. I studied chemical engineering. I am still working (and hoping) to provide for others at my greatest capacity.

Food science is a very large field of study. What specific area are you looking at? What would you like to do with the knowledge you gain?

Speak with CBN to see what type of internships they offer and to whom these types of internships are available to. Companies typically look for applicants within specific academic faculties for consideration. When speaking with them, ask about the application process. Letters of reference or your school transcripts may be required.

Have you also considered interning for other businesses? Try to cast your net wide as you don't want to invest your resources in one location and then be rejected by the company.

I hope you eventually find a job related to your career path. Engineering is a very emotionally and mentally rewarding career path. It can be stressful at times when dealing with some customers. But when you see the impact of your work, you will really appreciate your abilities. Don't give up on your dream; money isn't everything.

deolub: I studied civil engineering....graduated with a good result and I am so much passionate about the profession....started with construction then consulting then some energy company experience...hmmmm *sighs* presently am in the banking sector (don't ask me why) probably cos of the very attractive pay...but gradually I am finding my way back to structural engineering...cos I am still very passionate about it...

A bit of advice from my experience as a person studying to be an engineer who finally got an engineering related job:

1. Stay positive. This can be difficult especially when you constantly receive rejection. if you can maintain a positive attitude you will keep trying.
2. Look anywhere and everywhere. That means if you have to look overseas then do so. Leave no stone unturned and if necessary take your talents elsewhere.
3. Keep abreast of the industry you want to apply to. This will help the relevant knowledge of your profession stay fresh in your mind.
4. While you are looking for your dream job, take whatever temporary job you can find to help finance your future. It may not use the knowledge you learned in school but it will give you work experience and some money to build on.

To ayox2003: the most important part of your post were the last two sentences. The type of society we live in is a manifestation of the type of people who dominate. So it is not a matter of directly changing the system but indirectly changing the system by directly changing the people. Good governance contributes to attaining and maintaining a better society but the attitudes of people are the heart of the matter. Why? Because to have good governance you must have competent people in these positions and in order to get the right people in these positions, the individual voters must exercise reason unbound by tribal or ethnic lines or some other allegiance. As the author succinctly states: The (wo)man to criticize and change is the one looking back at you in the mirror.

ayox2003:

Funny.

Cap28, put on your thinking cap and analyse these issues. Quit making these glib statements and soundbites. All what I said are the root cause, except for education which could be termed a "symptom", in your words. Meanwhile all what the OP said are nothing but "symptoms" of the rot in our society.

Think critically and answer these questions: What makes up the society? Aint it the family?
What's the mindset of an african man? What are his core values? What is our belief system? Does an african man believe that character is destiny?

Let's delve into politics, Nigeria is just a 13-year old baby in the world of democracy. Yes a baby because no country ever got it right 13 years into democracy. Although this does not give any excuse to glory in our filthy system because there's a lot that needs to be done.
We need to fix the system and create values, look into the faulty laws of the society, encourage honesty and integrity, so that there will be a good reward for anyone who's willing to put-in his/her effort. These are the basic tenets on which democracy is built.

Take a look at all these parties and their candidates: what's their character ethic vis-a-vis their personality ethic. Zilch! Why do the electorates vote for them? Tribal reasons.

Then something must be fundamentally wrong with both the electorate and the elected. Values!

The value system must change.
Fix the system and things would change.


Frawzey

It is Item 16. in the article; the author refers to indolence. While he points out the (pseudo?) intellectuals of our society guilty of this behavior, the common (wo)man is equally responsible.

shagarri: Majority on here won't read this thread.

There is no D'banj, Tonto, "PIC" or "VIDEO" attached attached to the topic.

Mental laziness should be up there as one of the reasons.

Chemical engineer with minor in bioengineering is offering:

Free homework help for primary and secondary level students.
English, Math, and Science (Chemistry & Biology).
Private msg/email for details and questions. Please ensure that questions are asked well in advance so that assistance can be provided. Last minute questions might not be answered due to volume or time constraint.

Chemical engineer with minor in bioengineering is offering:

Free homework help for primary and secondary level students.
English, Math, and Science (Chemistry & Biology).
Private msg/email for details and questions. Please ensure that questions are asked well in advance so that assistance can be provided. Last minute questions might not be answered due to volume or time constraint.

I would like to redirect the attention of all people on NL who are practicing engineers, aspiring engineers, creative individuals, progressive thinkers, activists, and dreamers who are interested in redefining and reshaping Africa. Borders may divide us but our challenges are the same. To improve our lives and of those around us we must look at the primary issues affecting our communities.

Have you noticed something in your community (or in general) which you think could be improved? Share it then suggest a way or ways that the issue could be improved. Your suggestions can be related to any industry: agriculture, building, electricity, water, manufacturing, trade, communications, healthcare, education, etc.

Please provide clear, honest dialogue. Posters can suggest their own solutions or ask a question towards another poster.

Here is one to get the ball rolling: Land locked countries do not possess the same ease of access to trade or transport routes compared to coastal cities. This means that trade and thus profit is stunted between regions/states. One solution is to develop more access routes to poorly serviced areas by building roads and walking routes to handle vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Depending on environmental impact, relatively smaller airports could be built in-land to handle air traffic. New construction would provide jobs and strengthen trading among existing partners as well as create new partners.

I would like to redirect the attention of all people on NL who are practicing engineers, aspiring engineers, creative individuals, progressive thinkers, activists, and dreamers who are interested in redefining and reshaping Africa. Borders may divide us but our challenges are the same. To improve our lives and of those around us we must look at the primary issues affecting our communities.

Have you noticed something in your community (or in general) which you think could be improved? Share it then suggest a way or ways that the issue could be improved. Your suggestions can be related to any industry: agriculture, building, electricity, water, manufacturing, trade, communications, healthcare, education, etc.

Please provide clear, honest dialogue. Posters can suggest their own solutions or ask a question towards another poster.

Here is one to get the ball rolling: Land locked countries do not possess the same ease of access to trade or transport routes compared to coastal cities. This means that trade and thus profit is stunted between regions/states. One solution is to develop more access routes to poorly serviced areas by building roads and walking routes to handle vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Depending on environmental impact, relatively smaller airports could be built in-land to handle air traffic. New construction would provide jobs and strengthen trading among existing partners as well as create new partners.

Religion should be divorced from politics. Morality and ethics however are the keystones to a properly functioning government and democratic society.

We need to have more serious dialogue regarding how cultural identity is impacting progression of development within and between various African states. I notice a lot of negative or prejudiced comments on NL regarding various ethnic/tribal groups. But such poisonous attitudes are destructive to future cooperation. Tribal divisions are not helpful because we need to work with each other to become globally competitive. The rest of the world will continue to strip us of our resources while we are busy fighting over petty, inconsequential matters. Ask yourselves, what is the purpose of education? It is a tool to help us rise above our visceral nature and cast aside the veil of ignorance in order to embrace wisdom and beauty.

Let us acknowledge and accept the uniqueness and differences between our cultural groups. But let us not use these characteristics to hold each other back. Remember that wherever we live we all share the same concerns: access to good education, sound healthcare, economic development, corruption, and security. These issues should be of enough concern for all of us to transcend our petty differences, to come together as educated and civil humans in order to devise practical soluions to the matter at hand.

austin4real: I also have some, frm the likes of ebenezer obey, sunny ade, jims reeves. Etc.. Just wanna know how much u wanna offer

Good condition? How many? I am willing to negotiate on price. Tell me what you think is fair.

I have sent you a private email through NL.