savagesage15:


I would gladly help you but very sensitive questions may not be answered.

PS: I am not a member again.

Great. Thanks for this. I've been busy and that's why I've not asked before now.

I'll ask just two questions please.


1. In your opinion, which is emphasised more in Maphites: the Italian mafia factor or the military structure? (this will help me properly classify the group)

2. I certainly know that Maphites are extremely secretive. Can we adduce this to your "orientation" or you are simply "forced" to be silent. What is the rationale for the high secrecy?

This is to acknowledge and appreciate all the support I've received concerning my posts. I hold no grudge for those who think my posts are out of place. We are all here for different reasons but no matter what, the central idea is that cults are bad and no one should join them. If you're already a member, you should change your ways and help solve the menace by telling us your experience. One way to remove the power and allure of cultism is to demystify the cults. Another way is to show or tell us the dangerous realities of the cults. As long as people no longer feel the need to join the cults, we would have achieved something. I am now tempted to even unveil other groups that haven't received ample attention here. I also appreciate those who added to what I wrote on the Maphites. Nothing is too small in the learning industry.


For those who think my ideas should be on a new thread, I really don't think it's a good idea. I'm very inconsistent in the frequency of my posts and creating a new thread would be counterproductive. Besides, I'm also here to learn even though I may have a few things to share. This thread may never go moribund because people are always coming to share their experiences and others are coming to learn from them too. I think this is the best place to share what I have. If anyone also thinks I'm making the cults appear interesting in any way, then you should really check yourself. You can't pin that on me at all, especially after all the #saynotocultism posts here. How I present the cults in my analysis is a reflection of my depth of understanding, not the intellectual nature of the cults (if they even have any serious intellectual background to reckon with).


@savageage15: Would you be willing to answer two or three questions about Maphites as a member/former member?

This will be my final analysis on this. It's quite unfortunate that some persons believe what I'm doing is derailing the thread. I hold strong to the idea that people are free to think whatever they want. However, I responded to someone's request and I won't apologise for that. Should another person request and I'm disposed, I will do same.



Every show guy wants to be become an ophicer
Every phlamer wants to cove with his wophite
Every authentic maphite wants to open the leaves of life
But sometimes, our phires can be quenched before our time
Great men have fallen both in battle and in coves
They now march with the Godfather and the souls of the Dons past
They were glorious men who blazed like a phoenix


An "ophicer" is a Maphite who has graduated. A "wophite" is the wife of a Maphite. "Leaves" refers to money or wealth. "Quench" refers to death.

A "phoenix" is a mythical bird which burns and rises from its ashes. I believe you can see the connection between the bird and maphites.


Like I said when I started, I have not closely studied Maphites as much as I studied the other cults but I'm in the process and I believe more will be unearthed moving forward.

If you fail to see the importance of my analysis to the aim of the thread, then that's certainly not my fault. If you think the tales of violence and gore are more effective means of passing the message of the thread, then you can ignore my posts completely. I firmly believe that demystifying the cults is as effective as personal stories. I'm entitled to my opinion as much as you are to yours.

Soloblincus:
can you shed more light about their initiation process?

I am not a member and I don't know how they initiate members. I do know that intiates are beaten and made to carry fire on their palms. Maybe those with personal experiences to share can help you with your question.

Remember Great man, when you pledged to the phire in your hands
When you promised never to burn what is not to be burned
When you joined Godfather in turning water into wine
When the green bible was given to you with solemnity
When your Omni brothers welcomed you with Mgbada
When KTFB became your sole watchword
When your CV was given to you by the General
OMNI GONGO sounded in your ears.


The first line of the above echoes the initiation and oath taking events which I have mentioned before. The second line establishes what is called "illegal burning" in Maphites. In NAS, members are said to "bark", in BAN and SVC, members are said to "cap", etc. In Maphite, members "burn". So by "burning what is not meant to be burned", you would have committed an office and you will undergo "bashing" or torture because you've become what they call a "suegbe".

The act of GF "turning water into wine" refers to the traditional drink of the Maphite. They call it "naco". It is a strong alcoholic drink whose exact composition depends on who is making it. Sometimes, hard drugs may even be added.

The "green bible" is the handbook of the cult. Members are supposed to be given one after initiation. The handbook documents their cult culture orientation, exco officers, rites, etc.

The "Mgbada" used in the fifth line above refers to their secret handshake which sometimes involves tilting the palm backward so that the bottom of the palm touches the palm of the other member (as if both palms are in a supplicatory state). This handshake makes it appear as it they are carry fire in their hands.

"KTFB" means "keep the flame/fire/phlame/phire burning". It is a frequently used expression and it establishes a major crux of the cult.

"CV" is used in the poem to mean "cove name". This is the equivalent of deck name in BAN. The cove names are usually preceded with "Omni" and what follows can be from various sources. You have cove names like Omni Terror, Omni Alpha, Omni Wickedness, Omni Green Devil, Omni Sicilian Disciple, etc etc. The "Omni" is usually pronounced as "Omi" without the "n".

Omni Gongo or Omi Gongo seems to be a cult-culture chant like Aye Axemen, Alora Sealords, Arrow Mates (Aromate), Haba Krier Airlords, etc etc.

Where two or more are gathered, the Godfather is there
So it was said in Psalm 104:4
The Godfather never leaves us alone to fight our battles
His Don's phire is coated with red and blue phlames
His soldiers march with green on green, the colour of glory
Through him, the Godfather gives us justice and protection
When authentic Maphites march and chant "O Man",
The Civilians stare in envy, theirs is a wish that only the Godfather can grant.


The first line of the above echoes a guiding principle in Maphite cult. They believe in the Godfather or GF. This is one aspect that they took from the Italian mafia. To Maphites, there are two godfathers. The first is the supreme Godfather who represents "God" in the same way that BAN has Grandpa, NAS has Capn01, SVC has Odin, NBM has Korofo, etc. This is the context that the poem is referring to. Maphites definitely worship this GF and they model their activities around the figure. The GF protects them and fights for them. He gives them justice and protection against their enemies. In fact, the motto of Maphite is "Unto Godfather(GF), we seek for justice and protection (J&P)". The second way they use the word has to do with what NBM calls Link Man (LM). The gf can be the person who sponsors a Civilian (non-initiate) into the cult and even beyond that. Conversely, the godson is used to indicate one who has a gf. Every gf is a godson to another gf. The family tree can be traced like that. In fact, they refer to their branches as families. We have Iya Family, Phantom Family, Zenith Family, etc. The idea of establishing filial bonds in this way is derivative of the Italian mafia which they modeled their cult after.

Psalm 104:4 is used by Maphites to justify their cult. They also use the psalm verse as a subtle way of knowing themselves via social media. The psalm is used as a way of praising or deifying the GF. It reads "Who maketh His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire". The "Who" there, in Maphite worldview, is the GF.

The "Don" is the leader of a family. The colours that are ascribed to his "phlames" there are used to represent the colour code of his beret. "Soldiers" refer to the members. Maphites see themselves as soldiers. This is the second important aspect of their cult culture. They believe they are a paramilitary formation of sorts. Drawing from this, they use green as their preferred colour. They wear green berets, green socks, etc. Sometimes, they use military camouflage too.

A great man has fallen, a show guy lies here
He held the phlames with his hands, he was a great man
The axe is a farmer's tool and its wood do get burnt
The sailor's wooden boat cannot survive the wrath of erayo
Even the birds in the sky testify that our flames are bright.


The first line above uses the phrases "great man" and "show guy". Both phrases are used to refer to members of the cult group. Maphites believe that they are show guys and great men. I really don't know why they chose "show" as a word to describe themselves.

Notice how the word "flame" is spelt as "phlame". In Maphite lingo, words with "F" are usually replaced with "ph". This is not unconnected with the fact that the name of the cult is spelt as Maphite but pronounced as Mafite. Of course, despite the name of the cult supposedly being an acronym, it is also a direct allusion to the Italian and Chicago Mafia gangs.

The second lines says "he held the phlames with his hands". This directly refers to their initiation process where initiates are beaten or "bashed" and then made to hold a burning paper while reciting an oath.

The last three lines are used as subtle "shades" on NBM, NAS, BAN, and SEC. Don't forget that Maphite cult was relatively a latecomer and to justify the idea of "Supreme" in their initial name of "Supreme Maphite Confraternity", they had to provoke their "seniors" in the game. This is why Maphite is always at loggerheads with NBM in Benin and Ekpoma. It's a battle for supremacy.

"Erayo" is a word that seems to be either of Benin/Yoruba origin and it means "fire". They definitely borrowed this word as a way of establishing the ethos of their cult.

So the Green Circuit Association was formed in 1978 at the University of Benin. It appears to be a cult styled after the Italian mafia and military formations. The cult was formed in response to the oppression and brutality of other cults groups in UNIBEN, especially the NBM. When it was formed, it was simply known as MAPHITE and this word is an acronym (see Accountability's earlier post to know the full meaning).

At the center of their beliefs is the idea of the divine fire which permeates their members.

privaldo:


Thank you for the response but I was asking for you to share with us some of information you have on them just as you did on BAN, as their members don't seem to be forthcoming to tell their stories.

As promised, below is a poem that was written by a member of the GCA (Maphites). I was able to lay hands on it and I'll analyse it afterwards in a bid to decode the language. I've not studied Maphites as long as I studied the other cults I used for my research so others can help me with whatever I missed or overlooked.


Suene for Our Fallen Show Guys
In Memory of Omni Omega

A great man has fallen, a show guy lies here
He held the phlames with his hands, he was a great man
The axe is a farmer's tool and its wood do get burnt
The sailor's wooden boat cannot survive the wrath of erayo
Even the birds in the sky testify that our flames are bright.

Where two or more are gathered, the Godfather is there
So it was said in Psalm 104:4
The Godfather never leaves us alone to fight our battles
His Don's phire is coated with red and blue phlames
His soldiers march with green on green, the colour of glory
Through him, the Godfather gives us justice and protection
When authentic Maphites march and chant "O Man",
The Civilians stare in envy, theirs is a wish that only the Godfather can grant.

Remember Great man, when you pledged to the phire in your hands
When you promised never to burn what is not to be burned
When you joined Godfather in turning water into wine
When the green bible was given to you with solemnity
When your Omni brothers welcomed you with Mgbada
When KTFB became your sole watchword
When your CV was given to you by the General
OMNI GONGO sounded in your ears.

Every show guy wants to be become an ophicer
Every phlamer wants to cove with his wophite
Every authentic maphite wants to open the leaves of life
But sometimes, our phires can be quenched before our time
Great men have fallen both in battle and in coves
They now march with the Godfather and the souls of the Dons past
They were glorious men who blazed like a phoenix
Despite the quenching of their phlames,
All great men must honour their names


Erayooooooo!

Pee2Jay9:
Pls are you currently with the University of Alberta?

Deltayankeeboi:



Thanks bro

You live in Canada?

I'm at McGill.

Deltayankeeboi:


Wow, I feel scared already.

Thanks
Truth is I wanted to use the basis of having a very good undergraduate result to apply for Masters scholarship.

From your experience and all you have said, It actually sounds tougher than I actually thought.

Thanks for the clarification.

Don't be scared bro. I felt scared too. The truth is that these things appear tougher than they are. Don't be discouraged. I advise you to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Regardless of how difficult or competitive they are, many Nigerians have won them. I know a Nigerian PhD student who won the Vanier scholarship of over C$50,000 per year. He's at the University of Alberta. He didn't even make a first class. He was lucky and had a good proposal. If he can do it, you can too. Just be positive and make sure you have all the minimum requirements.

May the odds be in your favour.

privaldo:


Thank you for the response but I was asking for you to share with us some of information you have on them just as you did on BAN, as their members don't seem to be forthcoming to tell their stories.

Alright. I'll share an old poem I have on GCA (Maphites) and analyse it just the way I did with BAN. I'll do that later. My analysis should be able to demystify the fraternity to an extent. Hopefully, I can do same with Mafia/Family confraternity too. I don't want to derail the thread but if my analysis contributes to its purpose, why not?

Deltayankeeboi:
Please can you talk more on external organization/government scholarships.

If the scholarship is not from within Canada, you shouldn't bother. They hardly recognise those scholarships except if its a scholarship program which was signed with a Canadian university or with the Canadian government. Nigerian Federal Government scholarships may also fly, depending on various factors. I know people who are studying in Canada with TetFund scholarship or other FG initiatives. However, to be on the safe side, you should look for scholarships from within Canada or multinational scholarships.

To get scholarship from within Canada is also not easy. You are expected to be admitted first in some cases before you apply. In other cases, your application for the admission goes together with your application for the scholarship. There are many Provincial scholarship/funding schemes like the OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarship) and FRQNT (Fonds de recherche du Québec). These scholarships are usually open to all applicants studying in the province but getting them is not easy. You need a superb proposal and you must demonstrate leadership and research potentials. Sometimes, applications go through a university based elimination process before they are forwarded to the main scholarship board. E.g. Lakehead University may screen all applications for the OGS before they are forwarded to the OGS board.

Apart from Provincial scholarships, you also have access to other public or private funded scholarships such as Vanier CGS and Trudeau Scholarship. Both scholarships are highly prized and competitive. You should be ready for the challenge. Best way to get them is to get in touch with previous winners for advice. Another notable private funded scholarship is the Mastercard African scholarship for Masters students from Africa. Many Nigerians have won this one and it's a lot easier to access it if you meet their requirements.

There are others too that you can access but you should search for them online, on the various websites of the universities (the universities usually have a page for scholarships and bursaries on the graduate studies page), and get updates from other students. For instance, the University of Alberta has the QEII fellowship for graduate students. You can only know about this from their website. Some companies or research labs/institutes may be willing to give you scholarships too but you have to mail them and sell your research to them, especially if it aligns with their general aims. Individual Professors can also give you scholarships if you make a case for that.

Do not limit yourself. Try everything you can and you may be very lucky.


Note that my suggestions above are under the assumption that you're going for an academic Masters degree or a PhD. If you're going for other programs, they may not apply to you.

privaldo:


Hello, ndoeyopbennet I would like to ask aside the regular and popular frats like SVC,BAN, NBM, e.t.c, does your research also cover frats that are very secretive like The Family Mafia (La Cosa Nostra), Maphite (Green Circuit Association), Apache (Black Beret), Azriel (Warlord Confraternity), e.t.c.

If yes, how did you gather data on these particular organizations?, since information about them are hard to come by. Could you also share some to further demystify them?

PS: I know you've made a promise not to further comment on the thread but please do it for the sake of demystifying these groups and helping younger ones stay clear of cultism.

To be honest, I didn't research into the language of other groups. I had to limit the scope of my research so that I can have greater focus. I also knew that it may be difficult to research those more secretive groups without becoming a member or having to sustain friendships with their current or former members. Apart from GCA, others do not have significant internet presence too.

For GCA, I have collected some data in order to build up to further research into the Italian Mafia styled cults (Maphites and Mafia) as well as the Jurists Confraternity. So I can only say that I have concrete data for Maphites, Family and Jurists confraternities, for now. I also had a passing interest in Apache because of their ciphered language but due to lack of ample data, I didn't include them in my research. For Warlords, I am aware that they are based on seafaring too and they have roots in Ekpoma.

I am open to learning from anyone with information on the groups I have mentioned whether as members, former members or just one with privileged information (preferably here or via pm). Should anyone also want to learn what I have gathered about them, you can ask specific questions and if I have the answer, I'll tell you.

Shuggaa:


I can help u with the 13:13 language for your research..

Thank you for the offer. I've already decrypted the language. Although, should you be interested in helping me still, you can answer my only unanswered question as to why BAN uses a peculiar syllabic pattern (consisting of five vowels) in the decknames as opposed to other cults that do not have this system.

Gracias.

Vanzcharles:

Bro I guess you've been to uniuyo right and did your Post graduate course something like that sha.. In an arts dept am I right?

Yes.

Pee2Jay9:
I'm thrilled by this write up so kindly enlighten me on what made your application stand out.. It seems getting this scholarship and supervisors is more difficult than getting a job in a Nigeria.. Many just read and ignore ur numerous emails.. What made yours exceptional apart from favour?

It wasn't easy for me too. I got in after a year of initial attempt and I was very lucky. I applied for PhD at some universities in Canada in 2018 but was rejected in ALL of them. I had to use the rest of the year to rethink what went wrong and I believe what I did can be useful to prospective PhD and Masters by research applicants. I finally got 3 fully funded PhD offers in my second attempt. I had to select the one with the best offer.

1. Do not write like a Nigerian. This is kind of hard but you should know that the language of Nigerian research is not the typical language of research in the Western world. This is very important when you write your proposal/statement of program. You should try to read as many successful proposals as you can and then model yours after them. The implication of this point is that you should be mindful of your expressions, research interests, how your present your work/structure, etc. Locate the page that lists current graduate students on the department's website and mail current students. Ask them questions about the programme, the admission process, the Professors you can contact and most importantly, ask them to send you their proposals. You can also read the chapter one of recent theses from the department via their online theses repository.

2. If you're applying to thesis-based programmes, you should focus on a concrete research plan rather than personal stories of how you grew up in poverty or how you've always dreamt of studying in Canada and so on. Those personal tales are not necessary for research based programmes. You may probably start with a personal anecdote or motivation for your work but leave it there and concretize your research plan by detailing research questions, gaps in scholarship, purpose of proposed work, methodology, theories to be used, anticipated findings, and if possible, a short working bibliography.

3. You should establish contact with prospective supervisors as early as possible. Many of them select their students months before applications commence. This means that some supervisors already have candidates 3-4 months before application portals are opened. This is why they ignore other mails. If you want to apply to a thesis programme by September, start mailing prospective supervisors by January or February. Introduce yourself politely and attach your CV, transcript, and a short proposal. Make sure the email is customised and, if possible, draw connections between the supervisor's research and what you want to do. Try and leave a very strong impression.

4. Do not limit yourself to one school. Apply to as many as 5 or 6 schools. Initiate contacts with supervisors from a wide range of schools and then apply to the ones where you have supervisory confirmation. Note that some departments do not require you to get a supervisor before application. You should always confirm this on the department's website or with the Graduate Programme Coordinator. In any case, apply to many schools. Sometimes, the gamble can pay off and you'll get into more than one school.


5. Always emphasise what the department can offer you. Since resources are small and the applicant pool is large, you have to establish how your research "fits" into the department. Many departments have peculiar interests or focus. For instance, Carleton University's Department of Linguistics may focus on generative linguistics whereas University of Alberta's Department of Linguistics may focus on historical linguistics. You should always confirm this through the staff profiles and strengths. You can also ask the Graduate Programme Coordinator for confirmation.


The 5 points above will only be useful if you have good university grades (strong 2:1 or first class). Your last two years in school are very important.

Feel free to ask further questions.

swankyshank:



Your moniker already confirms you to be a BAN member. Full meaning of BAN is Buccaneer Association of Nigeria (A.K.A alora sealords).

Guys look through his moniker and google “NYBEN” (NdoeYopBENet)

NB: Not smart enough!

I didn't want to derail the thread any further with responses to my research or what I've posted here but this is the funniest thing I've read all day. Thank you for making me laugh.

As for others, I live in a world where people can think for themselves. We should freely exercise that power. We are 100% free to think whatever we want.

Deltayankeeboi:


Thanks.

In terms of technicality, Thesis based masters and normal course based masters, which is harder and more demanding? (permit me to use harder to qualify what I'm trying to say)

And also, can one get a fullyfunded scholarship on a normal course based masters(no thesis)

They are the same in terms of course work and technicality but in the thesis option, you are expected to write an original research which will be examined by a supervisory committee.

Course based Masters are not usually funded via fellowships. Although you can get funded through TAships or RAships. However, the amount may not totally cover your tuition and/or living expenses.

Nyenyenwq:
Considering submitting extra documents as proof of funding for students already got full funding either from his or her supervisor's grant of scholarships, I don't think you need to submit a fat bank account. Someone I know didn't even bother submitting any bank statement, she only submitted the funding letters she got and she got approved. People are actually saying that you must submit your personal bank account to show you have no ey for flight and itinerary, mind you there are some that even the flight ticket, airport pickup and accommodation is already taken care of by your supervisor from the grant. Just do your best, pray and keep believing for the best outcome!... People from very poor background and who has nobody to even beg for money to supplement the little they have can't kill themselves over showing proof of funds when they already have full funding

Thank you. This was the point I was making. If you have the money to fatten you account, please, by all means, do so. If you don't, you shouldn't worry. You'll be fine. As long as the funding is genuine and from within Canada, you'll get approved. Just focus on other things that can cause rejection such as home ties or prospects. You are always expected to convince the VO that you are a genuine student, with or without funding.

Deltayankeeboi:


Hello, good to know that someone brought this issue of fully funded scholarship up.

In regards to what you said, do you mean a fresh graduate with very good undergraduate result(first class) that got a fully funded scholarship will be denied visa because he has no prior work or professional experience or home tie.

Like immediately after Nysc, then apply directly for masters in Canada on fully funded scholarship. No work experience whatsoever.

Also bro, fully funded scholarship are they professional courses specific?
Can someone who with first class in zoology(research area in environmental management, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, toxicology and climate change) likely get a fullyfunded scholarship due to the fact that such courses are not well appreciated in Nigeria.

You don't need work experience to get a study permit. You only need to explain your prospects in terms of job opportunities and leadership or academic potentials.

Fully funded scholarships apply mainly to thesis based research. Masters by thesis and PhD. Not all Masters by thesis gets full funding though. You have to research and know if the department gives full funding. Full funding here means complete tuition and living expenses. Some departments offer partial funding for Masters. If you get such, you must show proof of funds for the extra costs.

PhD applicants usually get full funding (there are still notable exceptions too). PhD funding comes via fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, etc. In my case, I got a fellowship for four years. Fellowships are the best and they are guaranteed too. If you get a TA or RA, you work for the money and things can change at any time so you must have a backup plan too.

The courses you mentioned would have funding for thesis based programmes. The universities that typically offer the most funding at the Masters degree level in Canada are: University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, McMaster University, Wilfred Laurier University, University of Western Ontario and University of Saskatchewan. At the PhD level, the list is even longer.

Note that thesis based programmes are extremely competitive. Even with a first class, you may not get in. You need a strong proposal/statement of program and sometimes the approval of a prospective supervisor. In my program, they admitted only 4 PhD students out of over 100 applicants. They took only 8 Masters by thesis applicants out of over 250 applicants. Get ready for that level of competition except your discipline generally has fewer applicants.

Frankrobbn1 should be able to say more on this too.

Tonyodg:
my brother not to hear stories that touch. It’s better he has more .. you think with this covid-19 flight won’t cost more
So it’s better he has just way more

I agree that he should have as much money as possible but he doesn't need to go out of his way to borrow or get a sponsor. He will be fine as long as other things are in place.

I'm saying this as a Nigerian funded PhD student who has met more than 10 fully funded PhD or Masters students so far. They all got their permits without the need to borrow money or to look for sponsors.

I concede that you should have more money in your account if you can but we shouldn't allow those without money to panic. They'll be fine. Some funded applicants got approved with less than 100k in their personal accounts. I kid you not.

oma22:


Will the school feed him, pay his accommodation cost and his flight fare too Because 500,000naira can barely buy you a flight ticket to Canada. Frank is right, atleast have like 1.5m in your account. A lot of reasons for denial this days is due to lack a funds, I will not advice u to submit 500,000k bank statement to to embassy.

I guess you don't know what full funding means. You should google that.

Basically, he won't need to spend a dime of his money for as long as the funding is on.

N500,000 is enough to cover for flight expenses. If he has more than that, its all good. If not, he shouldn't seek any sponsor or borrow money. That's the point here.

Frankrobbn1:


I beg to disagree with you in view of the bolded words. Please can you refer me to any sub-sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada where it was clearly stated that using a sponsor for fully funded applicants is an indication of desperation?

How do you explain desperation in the context of the Canadian immigration?

I can provide you verifiable evidence and various successful fully funded applicants on this thread that have used sponsors in their application and got approved.


The rest of your suggestions are valid.


It will end in praise

I understand you very well and I know that it wouldn't hurt to have a sponsor. However, the point I'm making is that the applicant has a strong advantage which many do not have. He shouldn't complicate his application by adding too many unnecessary documents. He should, instead, focus on where refusals can came from now: home ties, prospects, documentation.

Limitededition10:
hello, if one gets a fully funded scholarship to study in Canada, will proof of funds still be required and if yes, is it the same as those without fully funded scholarship?

Contrary to what Frankrobbn has said, I'll tell you to only make sure you have some money in your account. Even N500,000 will be enough. Don't go and borrow money or look for sponsors when you already have funding. Getting a sponsor will complicate your application and indicate desperation. Borrowing money will attract question marks as to the source of lump deposits and your rationale.

If you already have up to or more than N500,000 in your account then you're good to go. If not, get a family member, friend or close associate to gift you the money and then explain that in your SOP. The VOs already know that applicants with funding will definitely find a means of leaving Nigeria. They are more concerned with what happens when you reach Canada and your funding answers that concern.

I've seen people who applied for fully funded thesis Masters and PhDs with only N100,000 in their accounts and they were approved. Don't complicate your rather straightforward study permit application. Focus more on home ties and prospects.

Ignore what I've written if what you have is PARTIAL FUNDING.

Casan0va:

So if i may respectfully ask, how did you get those data?
Did you have to remunerate the active or ex members for information?
Were you harassed afterwards? or turned to "office"?

Thank you for asking. I don't want to derail the thread but I think I owe everyone a response to this question.

I got them officially and unofficially. I contacted the official representatives of the groups (from their websites), introduced myself as a researcher and requested for handbooks and other general documents. I got all the handbooks I have through this means. I read all of them too. I also registered as a member on NAS Cyber Anchor Point and on BAN Cyber Deck. I was allowed to join many Facebook groups too. I retrieved some documents from the online groups and forums they have. I was able to only observe NAS public events (because they are not associated with violence). I didn't want to be muddled up in issues so I decided against participation in other groups' events. However, I got some of the papers presented at their national conferences and lectures here and there. For NBM, I got their book of rituals and other sensitive materials and they helped me in terms of their language.

Unofficially, I had to pay some members to send me songs, videos, cult-culture materials, secret signals, messages, posts, etc etc. I was defrauded on many occasions. Sometimes I would pay a seemingly honest person and I won't get the promised material. I had this experience with SEC members a lot. Some NBM members made me pay up to twice or thrice before they finally sent me what I wanted or they would send just a part and ask me to pay even higher for the remaining part(s). I was threatened by quite a number of persons. I can remember that someone in SVC told me: "Na Odin go kill you and your research and na your skull I go take drink your blood". He was an ignorant fellow and I forgave him in my mind. I met others who were nicer and helped. I also had issues with BAN members who would promise to help and end up telling me nothing. Many thought I was not smart enough or didn't have the proper background to know when I'm told rubbish or irrelevant things. I couldn't accuse them of withholding stuffs because they were only helping. NAS or PC was more disposed to opening up (I really don't know why). Someone in PC even advised me to limit my research to PC alone and he wanted me to dissociate them from the other groups entirely. I politely told him that nobody can research into the "effects" without beginning with the "cause".

So, my friend, I've gone through so much too. It is true that I didn't put my life in danger and I won't apologise for that but I've invested time, energy, emotions, and money in taking my research to this point. I'm almost done though and I must appreciate those who helped me, including those who shared their experiences here.

GreenArrow1:


I just tire o. Trying to make it look mysterious and appealing to the un-suspecting. You haven't seen what to research that would help society, it's a Nigerian cult language you want to do PH.D. on top. No problem. Take it away from this thread.
Something you can learn by simply getting initiated (initiation after tertiary level isn't brutal in any cult group except you are broke and hopeless) and then denouncing right after learning first-hand the information you seek. That's what great researchers and journalists do - they immerse themselves in the situations they seek to unravel so that when they decide to publish their findings, it would be first-hand information. Authenticity.

If the BAN language was such a mystic, cryptic, marvel of a code, I think the topmost secret service organizations in the world would have been using it as code to send and receive messages.

There's almost no cult group which doesn't have something intriguing about them. That's not what this thread is for.

We know first-hand that cultism is not just evil, it is pointless. #SayNoToCultism

It would be easier to truly get initiated but then I would have to also be initiated to SVC, NAS, NBM, SEC too. I'm working with those ones as well. If you've been following my posts, you would know that as well. I only foregrounded BAN here because someone mentioned the "13:13" encrypted language. I've also made a very significant comment on the type of cipher they use. Any smart person would understand why I did that and its relevance to the discourse on this thread.

There's nothing special about BAN. I only needed to fill a small hole in my work and I've done that to an extent. Like you said, many researchers have done extreme things to get their data. I did mention that I've gotten ample data. You should have asked me how I did and I would be more than happy to tell you my travails. Things may seem easy on the surface but you don't know the efforts keeping them so from within.

In any case, we are free to think what we want. I completely agree with your final statements.

inspirator1:
Lets just be careful with all these BAN sphinx brouhaha. When acclaimed intellectuals wants to sell an ideology to you or star ruby a fellow, they take you on subtle route via discussion cum research. Those research chats up there is subtly promoting BAN and derailing this thread. If they acclaimed XY Lords, still holds back some information to demystify this group; of what importance of the above discourse, if not an astute avenue to promote BAN?

I guess people can easily misinterpret things. This is not surprising. From my very first post on this thread, I had a singular purpose and I didn't hide it. Fortunately for me, I've achieved that purpose and even had a chance to interview some BAN members. If you think that I am subtly promoting the cult, then that's just an error of perception. My goal here is my research and it just appears that my research can be furthered on this thread. Beyond this, we've been able to unmask BAN, far beyond what anyone has said about it so far. Even the responses we've gotten have definite warnings to intending cultists and impersonators. Macro231101 emphasised the pains he went through in order to learn Bucanneer compulsory cult jargons. Both Macro231101 and Saltzman00 established the idiocy of impersonation (I believe some persons may wittingly or unwittingly try to impersonate cult groups based on the data here). This should do some good to intending cultists and potential impersonators. However, you are quite free to think contrary.

I won't really bother this thread again.

Saltzman00:
okay..I’ll start by saying this ,firstly I never belonged to a cult but a fraternity and yes true buccaneers are known for their ability to catch people’s attention just with their capping (speech)he’ll never shy away from a quiz or open speech contest cos that’s one of the major things you’re taught as soon as u become a buccaneer....”let your capping deliver you”...FYI it’s used to be a thing of pride when u hear ur fellow buccaneer capping even in the midst of pyrates you would differentiate them quickly in an much as the terms are almost the same there’s just that uniqueness attached to it which makes it different...I wish i could spill it out here for u to read and understand why i said bolaji Carew wasn’t just a man with a normal above the belt iq...but painfully that would be me crossing the line...and about impersonations I’ve experienced a couple ...well this one hasn’t left my head cos it was so funny 2009 my younger cousin was getting married immediately after the engagement in the morning I stepped out to receive a phone call and then I over heard this guy capping on the phone with someone else who also happened to be a non member ...according the the first guy after he knew he’s been caught ..(my younger cousins husband was a sea lurd too back then ,the funny thing is he saw me and noticed the way I stared at him only for him to walk up to me and the next thing he uttered was “are u a nyben” I quickly played along and said yes he then went ahead and tried identifying himself which he did well even claimed to have been salted(left the higher institutions) a year back...buh because as a Nigerian you can’t speak queens English more than a guy from London I knew he wasn’t a sea lurd and then i asked the overall question which a true sea lurd should know and he just kept staring at me ...my brother even as much as I made sure nothing happened that day cos of my cousins weeding and with my office as a buccaneer then I can still tell you what that guy passed through that day wasn’t anywhere near nice... there were so about 5 or 6 other buccaneers present on that day ..so you see what I’m trying to point out here is that truly in Ban there can never be too much of everything...ur deck name matters so as ur capping abilities but all of that isn’t something a non member can EVER learn ...that’s just the simple truth...

Thank you for your detailed response. This has really helped me. I can understand how your group uses language to represent "belonging" and to remove "outsiders". Recall that this is one of the major aims of my work.

I don't want to bother you with many questions again and I also don't want to overstay my welcome on this thread but I have just one outstanding question which I directed to Macro231101 earlier. The question is: why do you think BAN created a syllabic formula for decknames? There is clearly no reason for this and if the only reason was to differentiate BAN from PC, then it seems like a long stretch to me.

Once again, many thanks for your time.

Macro231101:
there is a clear reason though..... But I cant help u again sorry...

I completely understand. You've been more than helpful. I hope that Saltzman00 can answer the question. It will be my final question.

I must appreciate your reponses. No information is useless in a research such as mine. Even if the performers step aside, the show must go on.

Thank you.

Macro231101:
Ban Lang is not that difficult, 231 has a lot to do with d Lang Though.... If u understand that of Ahoy (pyrate) U will fully grasp Dat of sealord, they kind of d same OT, Just small differences and means of identity and deck names and pieces. Like if u are a lord and u Want to id your self there are some certain things u must say b4 introducing yourself...

In Pyrates, they use 3-4-7 as their guiding principles. 3 watchwords, 4 compass points, 7 rudderblades. I believe the equivalent of this is the 231 of BAN. I also know the code runs through BAN language but I thought the numbers may mean something more personal to the BAN member.

In any case, I'm also aware that, like PC, BAN decks are named after Islands (especially those in the Caribbean archipelagos).

One major difference in the naming pattern of PC and BAN is in the syllabic structure (where five vowel sounds are used in BAN). Do you guys have any clear reasons for that or it just happened like that from the onset?

Macro231101:
About non - Initiates knowing it, yeah, we have encountered such, like 3 times, 1 came and was capping when we approached him he said he was a lord, but I didnt blive him, we took him to our kman from there we did ISl, and started check balancing him, if I remember Dat scenario it was very funny though, d guy regretted d day he was Born, na 1 simple but hard OT I throw give am Dat every real nybens must know d guy was just stuttering and failed woefully... And what we place more values on, As a lord u must know your deck names, but the capping is d highest.... We always cap that na your OT go deliver you.. So if u get enough capping nobody fit ride u but at a time OT na water e nor dae full basket

One of the persons I interviewed before now told me that he became a BAN member after a failed attempt at impersonation. He told me that he learnt some of the words and the means of identification from the internet and then he started talking with a member on 2go (years ago). Eventually, he met with the member and he was asked to identify himself. He said that he was very eager to do so (since he knew how to). Unfortunately for him, there seems to be a process that governs identification and he didn't follow the process. He was quickly ousted but the BAN dude was merciful.

One thing led to another and he was ini-ed eventually. He told me that BAN language is deeper than it is. He also said that not all members even understand the complexity of their language.

Personally, I think the unique BAN language has a way of creating a stronger bond for the members. However, I also want to know the place of those typical BAN numbers in this language. I understand that the codes 231 and even 101 have some correlations with the tenets and guiding principles of the group but other than these, do they have any other symbolism or deeper meanings?