₦airaland Forum

This is my first trial in creating African Folklore animation. The sound track is the popular Mike Ejegha folk song: Onye Isi Oche


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sri_ziYYwYk

Obiano Has Failed as a Governor. He is blaming invisible. He should also tell us if the opposition replaced Julius Berger with bricklayers. Anambra, today, uses masons to repair highways

More pix

The angry people of Anambra State took their grievance to the Social Media with the hashtags: #ObianoFailed and #ObianoHasFailed. The trend, which started yesterday's morning is still trending today.

Below are some of the tweets

Anambra State is yet to have a good representative on both the Senate and the House of Assembly. Our representatives are more interested in beefing their profile and re-strategizing for either re-election or a higher political position. Because the masses are ignorant, not even one of Anambra Representatives communicates with their constituency. Ironically, the electorates hail these fraudsters.

The last time I went to my town, Umunnachi – Dunukofia, I heard the youth talking about Honorable Val Ayika. They believed he was working. They cited some project he attracted as a House of Representative Member representing Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha. This same story is heard in Nnewi, where the poor electorate has renamed their Rep Hon Chris Azubuogu. They now call him Mr Project. They can show some constituency project he did, and for that reason, he is working so hard in Abuja. These are pure deception; half-truth. Anambra citizens should know that the Federal Government’s budget accommodates billions of Naira set aside for every constituency in Nigeria.

Constituency Projects
Constituency projects, which is also known as Zonal Intervention Projects, is the entitlement of every constituency in Nigeria. The reasons you see more of these projects these days are because of heavy criticism on the amount spent by the National Assembly on Constituency Projects and because ICPC, lately, investigates these projects.

The truth is that as a Representative in the National Assembly, you don’t need to be a vibrant member to be entitled to a constituency allocation. In fact, you don’t need to be alive for the projects to be carried out. The requirement is for you to submit several projects in your constituency which you believe that the amount could cover. That is why Senator Andy Uba kept mute in the Senate for donkey years, yet have his name attached to numerous projects in Anambra South. And when Hon Obinna Chidoka was asked to submit projects for Idemili North and South, he diverted billions of Naira into building of toilets. (You Can Watch The Video On Facebook). Even Dr Chris Ngige as a Senator was not ashamed to cite a toilet as his achievement. (Toilets are ok, but there are weightier things to tackle.)

This is not representation. It’s high time we requested from these politicians we voted in what they are doing for the people. It’s your right to know.

People that voted you in have every right to know what you are doing for them. We are no longer ignorant that Constituency Projects have absolutely nothing to do with good representation. And I challenge anybody that thinks otherwise.

I challenge every aide of the members of the National Assembly from Anambra to present, apart from the Constituency Projects, what their principal has done for the people.

https://discoveranambra.com/anambra-state-and-bad-national-assembly-representatives/

My focus was on Anambra State - my state of origin. We are mainly importers and predominantly of Igbo extraction. Our business nature birthed few bank jobs. Like every Nigerian, the policies of the last 4 years affected our life in different ways:

OUR ordeal started from the first interview granted by Mohammadu Buhari where he said that he will focus on the people that gave him more vote. He said the Igbos gave him 5% and the North gave him 97%. He was true to his words.

The fluctuations and instability of dollar affected the traders. Someone that had 2 million naira (which was $10,000 in 2015) found the cash crippled to $4,000 in 2017 when dollar skyrocketed to N500.

Banks downsized the labor force and we felt it. This and more pressure on our acceptance in Nigeria led to our cry for seccession. IPOB became popular in our commercial cities of Onitsha and Nnewi. They grew in strength and demanded freedom, but instead of calling for a roundtable, the government sent a Python to dance in the land of the rising Sun.

Mothers lost their sons and daughters, and brides became widows. We watched as able bodied men were forced to drink from the muddy water. It was disheartening.

In Anambra State, cows destroyed farmland and farmers fought for their crops. A few cows were killed, but for peace to reign, the governor of Anambra State paid the herdsmen. We are the victims and we apologized to the villains.

Apart from constituency projects, not even 1 kilometer of road was built in Anambra State in this 4 years. Living became boring and everyday, a gamble.

Our campaign was very simple, we just asked the people to tell us how their last 4 years was.

This will decide how Ndị Anambra will vote tomorrow.

Meanwhile, campaign has ended and I am not campaigning. I just want to remind us that we are still following that person wey sabi road....

Come, let's go and make a President

Don't Postpone Anambra Election; Anambra PPCO warns INEC

...says Nigerians should hold APC and their collaborators in Agu Awka responsible for Burning INEC Materials.

The Anambra State PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has warned INEC not to postpone the Presidential elections in Anambra State .

The Presidential Campaign Organisation issued the warning in Awka yesterday while reacting to the deliberate arson carried out at INEC office in Awka which clearly targeted materials for the elections including card readers ,

PPCO Anambra State stated that APC and their collaborators in Agu Awka have been working to sabotage INEC from carrying her constitutional mandate in Anambra State .

PPCO says that the deliberate resort to burning of INEC materials in Anambra State in order to force the Commission to postpone Anambra election and have the election in isolation from other states will be resisted by informed Anambrarians and all lovers of democracy .

Do we still ask where to look to when the desperation of APC in cohorts with some elements in Agu Awka shows that they are clearly on a mission to sabotage INEC so as to stop the Atiku /Obi led PDP ticket from receiving the expected overwhelming votes from Anambra voters .

We wish to let them know that Ndi Anambra will resist such move to postpone the Presidential election in Anambra State .

It is obvious that over 90% of voters in Anambra State want to produce a new government at the centre that will offer solutions to the ongoing economic difficulties in the country with their PVCs .

For those APC elements mulling the shift of the election in Anambra State , We wish to state that INEC as electoral Institution/umpire should have contingency plans to take care of whatever effects of burning of INEC materials must have caused the Commission without postponing the election date in Anambra State .

PPCO therefore , call on Anambra voters to proceed to their various polling booths with their PVCs on 16th February and cast their votes for the PDP .

We wish to call on the Security agencies to stand up and protect our institutions of Democracy from these anti-democratic elements .

Signed :
Dr Harry Oranezi
Anambra State Campaign Director , PDP Presidential Campaign Organization ( PPCO)

February 13, 2019

Don't postpone Anambra Election ; Anambra PPCO warns INEC says Nigerians should hold APC and their collaborators responsible for Burning INEC Materials


The Anambra State PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has warned INEC not to postpone the Presidential elections in Anambra State .

The Presidential Campaign Organisation issued the warning in Awka yesterday while reacting to the deliberate arson carried out at INEC office in Awka which clearly targeted materials for the elections including card readers ,

PPCO Anambra State stated that APC has been working to sabotage INEC from carrying her constitutional mandate in Anambra State .


PPCO says that the deliberate resort to burning of INEC materials in Anambra State in order to force the Commission to postpone Anambra election and have the election in isolation from other states will be resisted by informed Anambrarians and all lovers of democracy .

Do we still ask where to look to when the desperation of APC in cohorts with some elements in Agu Awka shows that they are clearly on a mission to sabotage INEC so as to stop the Atiku /Obi led PDP ticket from receiving the expected overwhelming votes from Anambra voters .


We wish to let them know that Ndi Anambra will resist such move to postpone the Presidential election in Anambra State .


It is obvious that over 90% of voters in Anambra State want to produce a new government at the centre that will offer solutions to the ongoing economic difficulties in the country with their PVCs .

For those APC elements mulling the shift of the election in Anambra State , We wish to state that INEC as electoral Institution/umpire should have contingency plans to take care of whatever effects of burning of INEC materials must have caused the Commission without postponing the election date in Anambra State .

PPCO therefore , call on Anambra voters to proceed to their various polling booths with their PVCs on 16th February and cast their votes for the PDP .


We wish to call on the Security agencies to stand up and protect our institutions of Democracy from these anti-democratic elements .

Signed :
Dr Harry Oranezi
Anambra State Campaign Director , PDP Presidential Campaign Organization ( PPCO)

February 13, 2019

The Vice Presidential candidate of PDP, Mr Peter Obi, walked through AWKA today and the residents could not contain their excitement

Peter Obi is a movement

The drum of victory for PDP is now sounding very loud

Speaking at Onitsha after the rally at Holy Trinity field , Dr Harry Oranezi stated that the rousing welcome given to Atiku by Ndi Anambra is a pointer that Anambra people knows what they want and are enthusiastically keying into it .

The State Presidential Campaign Director, Dr Oranezi , thanked the people for the sacrifices and show of love they showered on the Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Vice Presidential Candidate Mr Peter Obi .

According the Medical Doctor , Dr Harry Oranezi,
" I can't thank our people enough for the rousing welcome they gave the incoming President of the Federal Republic by God's grace .
The show of love to Atiku/Obi joint ticket by voters especially from Anambra State is a clear testament that increases the upcoming sound of victory for the PDP in the coming Presidential election " he said .

Atiku who came to Onitsha from Asaba , went straight to visit the Obi of Onitsha , Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe for Royal blessing before proceeding to the Holy Trinity Field on Open Luxurious Bus road show that wowed Onitsha crowd .

At Holy Trinity Field , Onitsha , Atiku urged the crowd to use their PVC and change the present economic conundrum in the country .

According the Waziri Adamawa ,
" This is your election , I urge you to use your PVC and make our country great again " he said .

Meanwhile , Peter Obi while thanking the people urged them to lead the country to the path of greatness with the choice they make with their PVC by coming out enmasss to vote for their duo

ATIKU HAS WON MY HEART AND IF YOU READ THIS TILL THE END, HE WILL WIN YOURS ALSO. My respect for Waziri of Adamawa got a new dimension yesterday. I learnt that he was the 2nd highest job creator after the state government in Adamawa. That's what most of us also heard - but none took his time to examine this closely and critically.

I took my time to Google the poorest states in Nigeria, and from the rear are Sokoto and Kastina. It's clear that the singular reason Adamawa was not the poorest state in Nigeria is simply because apart from State Government, there are other job opportunities - no matter the quality.

What most of us did not put into consideration is the burden on Atiku's back. Don't we know that every kobo Atiku invested to create jobs in Adamawa would have fared better if invested in Lagos? Have we forgotten the golden rule of Economics: What are you producing and for whom?

On this rule, to suceed in Business, you should find a location where people have the purchasing power. If not, you will fail. Adamawa is not that location, yet, someone stick his neck.

Atiku is not a fool by siting his business among the poorest. He is bleeding for his people by applying the dumbest business model to sustain his state and his people. And it's paying off big time.

I was really touched when an Adamawa indigene, Maliki (twitter: @AAAhammanyero) twitted this:

**** Kadaria said Adamawa is one of the poorest state in Nigeria, we are ranked 26 for 20 years. But in the whole Northern Nigeria, we are the only state that I can beat my chest with pride that we don't send our kids to other states in the name of Almajiri. ****

Atiku, by providing additional jobs, is preserving the future of the kids in Adamawa. They are still poor today but are mentally more advanced than their entire neighbors that still practice the primitive Almajiri system. In the coming decades, we will find them in industries and government while other northern states will be learning how to break Almajiri system.

Why did Atiku build one of the biggest University in Africa inside Adamawa? Do you know what is called tourism? Do you know that Atiku's university, because of its level, brings only the children of billionaires all around the globe into Adamawa? And they will live inside the state for years studying... I am from Anambra, one of the states with richest individuals, nothing at all brings the children of the foreign billionaires into my state. Nothing keeps them for years in Agu Awka.... Nothing.

Northern Nigeria is one of the most dangerous according to UN. Most people will never permit their wards to live in that region. Atiku could have double his gain if his school was built in Lagos. But he wanted it in his state. He wants the world to know that Adamawa exists.

No one is thanking Atiku for playing the role of the life jacket for his state. No one is considering what will become of this state if there's no Atiku.

Whatever you think of Atiku, just know that he goes through hell to keep his people safe. I see a man that thinks more of the people than how big he can grow.

Ozii Baba Anieto
Ajambele

Who walked on our Forefathers’ graves
Shall be stricken with madness
They shall grow fangs of the lizard
They shall devour each other before our eyes
And by ancient command
It is forbidden to stop them

- Mazisi Kunene

Knowing Onitsha very well and the exact location of Zik’s Onisi Onira resident, I wonder the route that brought Buhari to the Mausoleum.

Maybe, Buhari’s helicopter descended on All Saints Cathedral’s Field: there is a connection from Awka Road to the royal tomb in Onisi Onira.
I wonder if Ngige informed him that Awka Road extended to New Market Road and terminated in Onitsha Main Market – the pillar of Anambra State. Maybe, Ngige did not tell Buhari that his decisions in Abuja have forced more people out of the market. Onitsha Main Market is a hub for importers and as the dollar fluctuates, our brothers get frustrated.

Businesses were killed in Onitsha and no one is there to show where it was buried. I think the President should know.

Perhaps, Buhari landed in Holy Trinity. He must have seen nearly a dozen schools clustered in the district. He was not here to witness what happened when he sent the pythons to dance in Onitsha. These schools could not restrict the children. They left their bags and ran as fast as their legs could carry them. They couldn’t trust their teachers for protection. They knew Abuja sent a python that sucked the blood of children.

'Trust' was murdered on that day and no one could point to the resting place of this intangible darling. I think Buhari should know.

Did he enter through the Niger Bridge? He must have seen the statue of Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Sculptures don’t talk, Ojukwu would have fearlessly told him what happened in 2017 at Ogbo Osisi when unarmed IPOB protesters were shot at. Ojukwu would have told him that Uwalaka – a mechanic, barely 23 – whose only weapon was a placard that read: ‘WE ARE SLAVES IN NIGERIA’ got hit by a bullet shot directly into the crowd.

The ground was opened and what was left of Uwalaka became like a portion of food to the hungry earth. Although Uwalaka’s grave was unmarked, I think the President should know.

It’s a political advantage to visit the tomb of Nnamdi Azikiwe. We love Zik and whoever says sweet things about Nnanyelugo will meet our hands wide open offering a warm hug. What strangers do not know is that Zik, who died at 92, was buried not only in style but with a special message of unspoken gratitude for a long life well spent.

The year Nnamdi Azikiwe joined his ancestors, our fathers did not cry like men in despair. Our grandfathers envied a man that climbed to the pinnacle of African politics and was not a victim of the 1966 coup. We, the children, wished they could get as old as Zik.

We thank Buhari for remembering the graveyard of our father, Zik, but we need him back to visit the graveyard of our Businesses, Trust and where hundreds of Uwalaka’s were buried.

Buhari should come back, he forgot some graveyards.

Flora Shaw
'Most Nigerians do not know about Flora Shaw,' Pa Achebe continued. 'To them, Miss Shaw was a mistress or kind of a concubine to Frederick Lugard. Truth be told, Flora's reputation preceded her romantic involvement with Frederick.'

From the smile on Pa Achebe's face, I could tell he admired or had deep respect for Flora Shaw.

'Flora,' he went on, 'was an amazing woman. I wrote her biography before the Nigerian war but could not publish it. When the War was over, I neither found the manuscript nor wished to reproduce it.' He shook his head in mild agony. 'Let me tell you about this feminist that named Nigeria.'

Flora Shaw: The Feminist That Named Nigeria
Flora was from a political family. Her father was Major General George Shaw and her paternal grandfather was Sir Frederick Shaw, third baronet (1799–1876), of Bushy Park, Dublin, and a member of parliament from 1830 to 1848, regarded as the leader of the Irish Conservatives. Her paternal grandmother, Thomasine Emily, was the sixth daughter of the Hon. George Jocelyn, and granddaughter of Robert, first Earl of Roden.

Flora started writing for children at an early age. Her first children's book, Castle Blair, was published in 1877. The book became so popular that it was translated into different languages. She wrote other books and also wrote....

To Cont'd Reading, click the link below:
https://ajambele.com/Africa/pa-achebe-nigerian-history/

WHO IS A STORYTELLER?

When Alice came into my room with tears in her eyes, I was battling with an assignment. To her, it did not matter how busy I was, the most important thing was her case - and unfortunately for me, she has elected me the judge.

'Come and tell me what's wrong,' I obliged her.

Dramatically, she plodded towards me and in mumbles, tabled her complaint.
She was playing with her toys in the bedroom. And because no one else was inside the room, she enjoyed the liberty of choosing her playground - and she chose the bed. Then, her elder sister intruded with an excuse that she wanted to sleep on her playground. This broke Alice's three-year-old heart and she approached me for intervention.

To Alice, she was complaining. However, the only way she could relay her heartbreaks was through words; therefore, she told me the Story of what happened inside the room. The 3-year-old Alice was a Storyteller

THE TERM 'STORYTELLERS'
Everyone can tell a story. In fact, humans are Storytelling Machines. Every man - through his word, actions or attitude - tells a story. Nevertheless, there are some men and women among us that manipulate words in an enticing manner. These men and women have the gift of making the words appealing to....
https://ajambele.com/Africa/the-art-of-storytelling/

#Ajambele

Of all the things a black African fears, 'Voodoo' is the chief. An African believes in the diabolism of occultism, and anything he could not explain is loosely linked to mysticism. For that reason, a typical African can falsely swear to any holy book in the world, but once a local deity is presented, his heart withers. This has led to multiple revolutions of African families against family members that indulge in this ancient mysticism. There are also records of communal mob actions against individuals that practice African Black Magic. Even with the advent of the new creed, there are still cases of victimization of children accused of witchcraft - which are also linked back to African Black Magic. This birthed the question: How Real Is African Black Magic?

In the course of my research, a Nigerian online forum (Nairaland) was resourceful. Some members shared their experiences....
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING:
https://ajambele.com/Africa/juju-how-real-is-african-black-magic/
#Ajambele

08035161115

Behind Odim Gate, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 26th February 2004

'Come in,' he said to me.

Clad in white trousers and an old but clean long-sleeve shirt, Pa Achebe smiled as I strolled into his compound. His house maintained the imperial architecture of the early 60's. Shaded by trees, the flowers in his garden were perfectly sheared. Although it was the first time of meeting him, he smiled as if we were friends. At 72 years, Pa Achebe looked 10 years younger.

'Close the gate,' he commanded in a husky voice. 'We have stray dogs here. They are lucky I do not feast on dogs.'

Although the joke was funny, the cracker was the seriousness on his face. I conjured a mental picture of an old man chasing the dogs for a meal. I obeyed his commandment and joined him inside his sitting room.

I was not disappointed: the sitting room could pass for an old library. The odour of damp books revealed the nature of my host. He was never a professor - the story had it that he was too stubborn; he quarrelled with every Vice-Chancellor in University of Nigeria, Nsukka and in return, they made sure he only retained his 'Doctor' title.

As if he was telepathic, he swung in: 'I cannot dispose of all these books. Some of them are over 50 years old and no one wants to read history these days.' He smiled sadly and said to me, 'make yourself comfortable. I have cold minerals.'

He returned with a tray. Inside it was a bottle of coke and a tumbler. Opening the bottle, he took the stress....
TO CONTINUE READING, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
https://ajambele.com/Africa/pa-achebe-the-history-of-nigeria-no-one-cares-about-episode-1/

#Ajambele

No man is free who sees his neighbour as his enemy. For a man that is surrounded by his enemy will always keeping watch over his life.

In the Southern part of Nigeria live the Igbo and Yoruba Ethnic groups. Although they do not share a distinct boundary – and their cultures enjoy various discrepancies – one can hardly trace the end of Igbo ethnic group, and the beginning of Yoruba ethnic group from the map of Nigeria. Take the physical features of both ethnic group for example, Onitsha is a riverine city in Igbo land and on the west, across the River Niger, is Asaba, another Igbo community. As one moves westward Asaba to Agbor, the dialect and cultural practices vary. The culture varies also. The more west you travel, the more the culture becomes more Yoruba than Igbo. The variation continues from Benin City until one gets to the ancient city of Ile Ife: Yoruba land.

This simply means that from Onitsha to Ile Ife, the Igbo language becomes rarer and rarer, and the Yoruba language becomes more and more frequent until it replaces Igbo completely. The communities in-between – which I also believe are from the same ancestor – share a blend of the two.

Apart from this interlocking of culture, the geographic characteristics of the two tribes are similar. There are also cultural similarities and the use of similar dialect. Because of all these, I am inclined to believe that the Igbo and Yoruba Ethnic group are from a traceable common ancestor....
TO CONTINUE READING, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
https://ajambele.com/Africa/the-igbo-and-yoruba-ethnic-groups-share-the-same-ancestors/
#Ajambele

Okuata could go without shame to salute her husband’s parents because she had been ‘found at home’. Her husband was even now arranging to send the goat and other presents to her mother in Umuezeani for giving him an unspoilt bride.
(Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe – pg 122)

In the passage above, Chinua Achebe used the term ‘Found At Home’ in a metaphorical sense. He simply means Virginity.

Virginity in the precolonial African Tradition was seen as a woman’s gift to her husband. It signified that a woman was properly raised. In some African tribes, a husband was required to provide an evidence in the morning to show that his wife was a virgin. If the evidence proved positive, another celebration would salute such evidence.

In Camara Laye’s book: The African Child, the Malinke Tribes of Sierra Leone viewed woman’s virginity as a pride to the woman. In a Scene from the documented account of his childhood: African Child, he (Camara Laye) told a story where his mother bragged with these words:
‘If it be true that from the day of my birth I had knowledge of no man until the day of my marriage…’

In Nigeria, different tribes placed a lot of importance to ‘Found At Home.’

Virginity In Ancient Yoruba Culture

The celebration of the bride’s virginity in Yoruba culture is known as ‘Asa Ibale’. In ancient Yoruba tradition, intending couples were not permitted to share the same room before their wedding day.

The wedding night was always frightening for the bride and her parents. Those days, mothers constantly inquired from their daughters about their virginity. This was to prevent the shame of not being ‘Found At Home’ would bring to the bride’s family.

On the wedding night, a white cloth was usually given to the couple. The parents of the couple normally waited at the entrance door for the white cloth. That very night, after intimacy, the groom would throw the piece of cloth out for the families to see. It the cloth was blood-stained, the bride would be considered a virgin. If otherwise, it would be concluded that the bride had been involved in premarital...CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING
https://ajambele.com/Africa/virginity-and-chastity-in-ancient-african-tradition/

#Ajambele

According to World Poverty Clock Report (May 2018), Nigeria is the poorest country in the world. But like the saying goes, ‘In the midst of chaos, there is also an opportunity.’ If one is not observant, if one is too quick to judge a book by its cover, he would not notice that there is an easy enterprise in that country that has created billionaires and private jet owners. Such a person would not check the Forbes list to see that Sub Sahara has no Substandard Pastors.

Take this from the experts, this Nigerian ‘Church Business’ flourishes better in the slums. It’s model has not changed over time. Ironically, of all the businesses in the world, none can compare with its return on investment. It is also NOT capital intensive; all that is needed is the possession of the gift of oratory and an access a warehouse. (A manipulative skill of a charlatan is a big plus) Congratulations! you are now in business.

You can start with 2 or 3 family member. However, a ...TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, CLICK: https://ajambele.com/Africa/how-to-start-a-church-in-nigeria/

#Ajambele

To console the family of Mungo Park, the British Government alleged that he discovered the Niger River. He was a Surgeon, an explorer, an adventurer but he was also a slave master. He wrote a book about his first voyages but was not alive to tell about the second. Heavily armed with guns and slaves, he met his doom in the hands of Bussa Warriors (in the present-day Niger State of Nigeria). They overpowered Mungo Park's army and he drowned in the River known today as Niger. Nevertheless, one of his slaves, named Amadi, told the story of Mungo Park.

MUNGO PARK AND AFRICAN SLAVES

It is a big shame that some Africans think that our ancestors were evil. It is a big shame. Mungo Park thought otherwise. Reading about Mungo Park filled me with emotions and inspiration. Although history condensed this truth, Mungo Park was a Slave Merchant but there is something different about him. While writing about his encounter with African slaves, Mungo Park wrote:

'Whatever difference there is between the negro and European, in the conformation of the nose, and the colour of the skin, there is none in the genuine sympathies and characteristic feelings of our common nature.'

Mungo Park saw our African ancestors not like savages but like humans. To break his words, he said:

'There is no difference in the genuine sympathies and characteristic feelings of our common nature.'
(The 'Our' in the sentense stands for African ancestors and European ancestors)
To Mungo, that met the Africans in 1779, he found no uncommon evil in them.

The truth is that our ancestors feared the white men. In fact, when Mungo Park encountered a group of slaves when travelling through Mandinka country Mali. He documented this about those slaves...
TO READ THE FULL ACCOUNT, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
https://ajambele.com/Africa/africa-the-untold-story-of-mungo-park/
#AJAMBELE

This happened a long time ago. In those days, the wilderness was peaceful and all the animals conducted themselves orderly. They had one rule: anyone that disturbed the peace in the wilderness would be pushed into a sewage. Then, the Lion was the most feared and the Eagle ruled the air. There also lived, in the wilderness, a He-Goat who feared neither the Lion nor the Eagle.

One day, the He-Goat saw a Sheep weeping softly by the roadside. With compassion, he moved closer to the sheep and asked: ‘Tell me, my good friend, why are you weeping?’

The Sheep said: ‘There is no remedy to my problem. Please, let me weep in peace.’

But the He-Goat did not stop asking until the Sheep narrated his ordeal.

The Sheep had seven children before the Lion came to visit her.

‘I need someone to serve me,’ the Lion told her.

But the Sheep disagreed and said: ‘They are still too young, Master Lion. Go into the wilderness, you will see stronger animals to serve you.’

But the Lion gently roared and whispered to her: ‘Is it not better you give me one of your children or do you want me to take all?
In fear, the Sheep sacrificed one of her children and wept like any mother that killed her own child. Nevertheless, she consoled herself with these words: ‘I gave the Lion just one to save the lives of others.’

But after a week, the Lion returned to the sheep and demanded another....CLICK THE LINK BELOW
https://ajambele.com/Africa/category/uncategorized/

#AJAMBELE

BORN ON THIS DAY, 13TH JULY 1934. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF AFRICAN SOCIAL ACTIVIST, POET AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER.

A great man, just like a prophet, is not without honour save in his household. Nevertheless, a clan that kills her warrior in an internal conflict, will regret their actions when the war comes. Is it not a shame that we demean our living legends but celebrate them in death?

Like our people say: a chick that will be a cock starts inside the eggshell. Wole Soyinka was 19 years old when he stood against elitism and tribalism. Then in the University of Ibadan, there were wealthy students associating with the colonial powers, and there were few poorer students striving for social relevance. With six other students from diverse tribes, Wole Soyinka formed Pyrate Confraternity. They fought against corruption, and sought justice for the student’s organization.

Wole Soyinka, Magnificent Seven

Wole Soyinka’s battle for humanity did not end within the walls of the University, he took it the walls of Nigerian politics. In 1965, at the age of 31, Wole Soyinka seized the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service studio and broadcast a demand for the cancellation of the Western Nigeria Regional Elections. He became a.... To continue, CLICK ==> https://ajambele.com/Africa/wole-soyinka-life-of-an-activist-and-his-many-battles/
#Ajambele

The trend is changing in Nigeria. There is a regional rivalry and every group claims supremacy. Each region presents itself to be more civilized, and more ‘woke’ than the other. To prove it, regions condense the true fact of their social challenges and amplify the vices in the rival’s region.

Meanwhile, the active Nigerian media reveals that evil has no region. As the North battles outrages, the South contends with criminality. Every region in Nigeria has its personal challenges. Cultural practices and creeds play their own role as an indicator that Nigeria still have a long way to go. Be it as it may, the most vulnerable group in the society, at every level and age, is the Woman.

As the Nigerian girl child battles everyday with different forms of sexual and child abuses, the grown woman is not left out. The system appears as if it is designed for males alone. Nigerian labor market allegedly favors the male gender. for whatever reason, the society winks at this imbalance.

The emotional tweets of Juliet ‘Kego on the women’s right in Nigeria is provoking. The piece reveals many vices in the society but also opened up a soft dimension of the vulnerability of the Nigerian women.

READ MORE, CLICK ==>https://ajambele.com/Africa/juliet-kego-on-womens-right-in-nigeria/
#Ajambele

There are many myths about the origin of the Igbo people of Nigeria. The most popular is the Story of Eri: which is analogous to the biblical account of Adam. The second is the popular belief that the Igbos originated from the tribe of Gad (the son of Jacob). Most Igbo strongly believe the latter version, but the question is, ‘Are Igbo People of Nigeria Really From Israel?’

Igbo people of Nigeria
In the favour of Igbos being the jews, most propagators of the idea compare the similarities in both cultures. Some of them unearthed similar words and customs shared by both tribes but it did not end there. Of recent, as reported by CNN, the Shabbat Service is becoming popular among the Igbo People of Nigeria. This obsession led to the collection of Saliva Sample from Igboland by a Jewish community. A DNA test was conducted and Rabbi Bernis who read the report from a laboratory based in Houston, Texas, the United States of America (USA) said that:

“the result of the samples taken from Nigeria randomly on some people in Igboland bear no semblance with the ones in the database of the laboratory.”
Yet, most Igbos still stick to their belief that they originated from Israel.

TO READ MORE, CLICK ==> https://ajambele.com/Africa/are-igbo-people-of-nigeria-really-from-israel/

Ozii Baba, Ajambele
https://ajambele.com

THE QUESTION
A child belongs to his fatherland and not his motherland; and yet, we say 'NNEKA' - 'Mother is Supreme.' Why is that?'
(Things Fall Apart - pg 106)

I was born in the eastern part of Nigeria, Igbo Tribe. It does not in any way represent the whole Africa, but allow me to tell you about my forefathers' custom and the place of a woman in the ancient Igbo tradition and custom. One of the biggest lies in the world's history is the record that claimed that women were objectized in Igbo Land. There is no truth in it.
In as much as Igbos - like every patriarchal society of the old - prefered male children, their daughters were their pride. A woman was valued and even if she married, she perpetually belonged to her father's house. It is called till this day 'Okputolokpu' - everlasting, that is why every Igbo community calls grown daughters born in a family - 'Umu okpu'.
This explains why a man can never finish the marital rites of a woman in Igbo land. For during bride price, no Igbo community till this day would accept every amount requested as dowry - some of the money would be given back to the husband to show that he has not paid in full. The reason is that the woman is priceless.
That is why, in Igbo tradition and custom, when a man beats his wife, the wife can return to his father's house. It is not seen as a taboo. And if a wife returns to her father's house, the husband cannot take the woman back without fulfilling some traditional rites. He MUST -according to the tradition - go to his in-laws with a pot/bottle of wine.

NO ONE IN HISTORY HAS EVER PAID THE DOWRY OF AN IGBO WOMAN IN FULL FOR SHE IS PRICELESS

To tell how important a daughter is in Igbo land: One of my oldest relative had only sons and no daughters; he normally said to his sons, 'You do not have a sibling yet. For a family without a daughter is not balanced.'
In the Igbo ethnic group, a child belongs to the fatherland but is referred to as the child of the mother. The term 'Siblings' is generally known as 'Nwanne' (translation: the child of my mother because men were polygamous, the children of your mother are your siblings).
A male sibling is 'Nwanne m Nwoke' (The male child of my mother)
A female sibling is 'Nwanne m Nwanyi' (The female child of my mother).
That is why the people of Igbo Ethnic group practise what is known till this day as 'Nwadiana' (meaning The Child of the Soil)

NWADIANA/ NNA OCHIE
Nwadiana is any child whose mother was married from your family.
Example: My sister's children are my Nwadianas. In Igbo custom, I am their Nna Ochie - ancient fathers.
I represent their most reliable protector. No matter what they do - I repeat, no matter what they do - once they come to me, I must protect them. They have rights in my family. If they were ostracized in their fatherland, they can come to me and I must share with them our inheritance. This is a tradition that lives in Igbo Land till today.
Like the most tradition of the old, women were not entitled to the possessions of their fathers, but in Igbo land, once a woman is married to a house, she inherits her hut (Mkpuke Nne - the hut of the mother) which she has the power over. It is customary for her to give 'Mkpuke Nne' to her last son, and neither the man of the house nor any of the brothers can influence that.
Moreover, when an Igbo man took a wife and did not reproduce before his death, his widow would inherit all his possession as long as she stayed back in his dead husband's house and gave birth to children. Those children would bear the dead man name; and if a man died without an heir but had daughters, one of the daughters would become his heir, and reproduce in his house. The daughter's children would carry the family's name.
Obiechina or Amaechina of Afamefuna are the terms that means 'A Lineage would not Terminate'. It is the duty of the male child and the female child also.
(Ref: The Joy of Motherhood: Buchi Emecheta)
Though this practice is dying, the corpse of every Igbo daughter was always buried in her fatherland, not in her husband's house. There was a popular saying in the days of our youth - 'Ozu Nwada adighi ato na mba' (the corpse of the daughter cannot be trapped in a strange land).
Igbos till today practice extended system of communalism, and the strongest unit in every family is the Umuada - the daughters. They participate in dispute resolutions, they were/are a part of the customary judicial system, and they are the owners of the dead. Till today, if you bury anyone in a family and Umuada - the daughters were not satisfied, you must repeat the burial or appease them.

THE FEMALE POPES
Of all things observed by men of old, Religion is the greatest, and Igbo tribe had no Kings. Igbos were completely loyal to the gods. In the Igbo theology, spirituality has only five aspects (wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukwu):
Chukwu - the supreme.
Anyanwu - the revealer of everything. Symbol of omniscience.
Agbala - the fertility of the Earth, the fertility of the people, and the spirituality.
Chi - a sub-deity
Okike - the creator of laws that governs the visible and invisible.
Because AGBALA represents Harvest, the fertility of the womb, and high spirituality, it served as the Supreme aspect of God on the earth.
Men till today totally depended on Harvest and fertility, so Agbala was the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH of the ancient Igbos, and women were the POPES.
(In Chinua Achebe's book,'Things Fall Apart', two Popes were mentioned -
Pope Chika: the Priestess that reigned in the time of Uloka, Okonkwo's father; and
Pope Chielo: the Priestess that warned Okonkwo not to speak while she spoke.)
Just to make this post short as possible, I would have touched how judgements were passed, the position of a woman that got pregnant in her father's house (Ime Mkpuke), the case of the unmarried woman, and what happens when a woman did not like her marriage. All these are indicators on how women were treated in the Igbo land - old and present.
Women may not be the head of the house, but the family depended on them - the term 'Nwa Nne' means that the children belongs to the mother; and the Almighty aspect of God, Agbala, chose women over men.
Every clan revered Agbala, and her priestess were feared. Therefore, I can say that we did not have a system that banned women from heading the clan. The only reason we do not allow Igbo women as Bishops and Cardinals today is because the new creed forbids it.

THE QUESTION:
A child belongs to his fatherland and not his motherland; and yet, we say Nneka - 'Mother is Supreme.' Why is that?

THE ANSWER:
'It is true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A child belongs to his father when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is bitterness, he finds refuge in his motherland. That is why we say 'NNEKA' - mother is supreme.'
(Things Fall Apart - pg 106 - 107)

Ozii Baba Anieto

To learn more about the ancient culture, visit: https://ajambele.com

Gossiplover:
She is pretty...I saw her jumping up when Croatia scored the second goal. Her trousers were see-through from the upper thigh downward.

Pervert

Maybe, the world is a party in this conspiracy. Why are we dying in numbers, yet Facebook could not create a flag for people in Plateau and Lagos to 'Mark' themselves safe?

('Safe' Nigeria)

Does it mean our voice is not loud enough or are they just silent as we die?

Please, let us politely go to Mark Zuckerberg's wall and inform him - in case he does not know what happened in Plateau and Lagos.
(His page is Mark Zuckerberg (verified page))

We are part of Facebook community, and we need to know how many of us are out of harm's reach in troubled areas.

(Post a comment on his latest Facebook post, screen shot it and share on your timeline)

LET US BE CIVIL ON HIS WALL. DO NOT INSULT HIM.

Please tag me when you share your screen grabbed comment

End your comments with #SafeNigeria

Some wars do not claim the lives of a hundred people. We thought the war ended in 1970, please, check the pic below and submit the best answer

BabaRamota1980:
Tell Oduah to focus on growth and development for her homeland.

This shows that you are not from Anambra State. Use the internet and ask questions.