₦airaland Forum

The capital cities of three countries in the West Coast , Ghana (Accra ) Cote d ‘Ivoire ( Abidjan ) and Togo ( Lome) within the last two weeks experienced unprecedented presence of dignitaries and showcasing of Yoruba cultural- tourism display when Otunba Gani Adams , the National Coordinator , Oodua People’s Congress ( OPC ) formerly inaugurated , Oodua Progressive Union ,( OPU ) in each of the countries and the cities .

Otunba Adams led a 32 strong delegates which include four traditional rulers from the Yoruba land viz , Oba Joseph Adeoye Adewole , the Owa Ajero of Ijero kingdom , Oba Yisa Olanipekun , the Zaki of Arigidi , Ondo State , Oba Walidu Sanni Onigedegede of Igededgede , Ondo State and Oba Lasisi Olawuyi .,.Asagangan of Igangan , Oyo state , Captain Adetokunbo Adesina Yomi Fash Lanso , a foremost Yoruba actor , MC kirikiri , notable members of Oodua Peoples ‘Congress , OPC in Abuja ,Lagos , Ilorin, bloggers , journalists and others for a 12 day Yoruba Cultural tourism revival in these three countries

In each of these cities, the Yoruba joyfully received Otunba Adams and his entourage with wonderful display and exhibition of cultural dance, drumming , chants and fascinating display which enchanted and attracted the citizens of the countries to the venues.

The cultural evangelization kicked off in the city of Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire , a country where Yoruba is reputed to constitute 2.5 million of the population, Otunba Adams led the delegate to the warm embrace of the Nigerian Ambassador , Ifeoma Jacinite Akabogu Chinwuba who, together with members of the Embassy rolled a red carpet reception for the visiting Yoruba cultural revivalists. Otunba Adams clinically explained the mission of his delegate to the Ambassador.

“We are not here for political reason . Far from it . We are neither here for self – determination tendencies but we are here to stoke and re- kindle the dying embers of the pristine Yoruba cultural values and heritage which is alarmingly trekking towards extinction particularly among the Yoruba in Diaspora “ He disclosed that “We realise that Cote D ‘Ivoire harbours a substantial percentage of Yoruba , some of who cannot speak their mother’s language or exhibit their cultural values . Some here have lost contact with history , culture and norms of their progenitor .

This is why we have to be here in accordance with the mission bestowed on us by Oduduwa and the necessity of saving members of the Yoruba race from cultural extinction “ Otunba Adams revealed the difference between Oodua Peoples ‘Congress , OPC and Oodua Progressive Union , OPU , “ OPC is a self determination group solely to protect the territorial integrity of Yoruba within the political geography of Nigeria and within Nigeria while Oodua Progressive Union , OPU , is a socio cultural organisation saddled with the responsibility of re- awakening and resuscitating the dying embers of pristine Yoruba culture among the Yoruba in the Diaspora ‘.

It is non- political and non –militant “ The Ajero of Ijero , Oba Adewole also gave an insight into the cultural revival mission of OPU “ This association is to save our race from cultural doom . It is an association which has received the backing and blessing of the traditional Oba and Chiefs in Yoruba land.

Thus we are here with Otunba Adams in support and in alliance with his stride to revive and sustain the cultural heritage and value of our race .” Ambassador Akabogu – Chinwuba in her response commended Otunba Adams for “ Coming out at this time to wake up his people from cultural slumber . I have read the Mission Statement of the association and I believe Otunba Adams is on the right path of history “

The Ambassador gave her blessing to the inauguration of the Union “I am sure and confident that OPU as an association will not only help in cultural revival of the Yoruba value but also serve as a coordinating platform for members of the race and an institution of behavioural adherence.“ Otunba Adams while inaugurating OPU Cote D ‘Ivoire pointed out that “This is the 59th OPU Chapter being launched here today .

It is a clarion call upon all of you all to remember, embrace, perpetuate and display your cultural antecedent and value and ensured it passage to the next generations so that generations unborn will not lose their identity to foreigners”.

Gani Adams Pleads For Yoruba Unity And Tourism Institutionalization-Oduduwa Progressive Union (OPU) convener, Otunba Gani Adams has spoken about the need for the Yorubas to embark on the tourism development In Yoruba land and draw more attention of the World so that the economic interest of the region would be boosted.
He charged Yoruba governors of the South-West states of Nigeria, comprising Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, calling upon them to conceive a common cultural-tourism agenda which would be capable of luring tourists and visitors to the region from around the World.
His clarion call was given a rousing ovation and applause by members of the Union who converged recently during a one-day interactive session held in South-Central London.

The one-day interactive session was tagged ‘An Evening with Otunba Gani Adams’ and all recommendation which also included a call for Yoruba unity were applauded while sons and daughter of Yoruba were urged to look more into the future and learn from Yoruba’s past political history.

‘An Evening with Otunba Gani Adams was held at Novotel Hotel, North Greenwich, London recently, organised by members of Oodua Progressive Union, (OPU), United Kingdom chapter .

The event which ensured the convergence of over 250 Nigerians mostly of Yoruba stock was held under strict intellectual ambience devoid of funfair except for networking and brainstorming on issues of revitalisation and rejuvenation of Yoruba unity and formulation of a major cultural blueprint on Yoruba heritage and enhancement of better network on love by the Yoruba race, one of the most spread tribe around the World.
Mr Adewale Harrisson, OPU coordinator in United Kingdom earlier in his welcome address had pointed out that the interactive session was not for the purpose of enjoyment or discussion on trivialities, but rather an invitation urging all Yorubas to be part of history and better plan for the future.

” We are not here for the purpose of merry making or dance, celebrate and flaunt with funfair our cultural heritage, values, norms, as we used to do or supposed to do, far from it. We invited you here to be part of history, reasoning together on Yoruba unity and one love and finding sustainable ways of ensuring the institutionalisation of the Yrouba economy through cultural-tourism, Yoruba assets evaluation and tapping potentialities of our region’s economic assets so it can alignt with the global market. This is the time and all hands must be on deck for Yorubas better tomorrow”Gani Adams Pleads For Yoruba Unity And Tourism Institutionalization OXJiF4Vg

He added: “We are actuated and incised by the vision and efforts of Otunba Gani Adams, who has been able to single handedly plant OPU in 58 countries with the sole aim of promoting, projecting, and sustaining the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race, which is being threatened by extinction.
“We consider this session as imperative and necessary as it will, through various contributions from the eminent personalities present here today, find ways to accelerate the appreciation of our culture for socio- economic development.

“We deliberately tagged this event as an evening with Otunba Gani Adams because he is the symbol of the new Pan Yoruba cultural-tourism renaissance which we believe all altruistic Oodua sons and daughters should not only listen to, but understand the purpose and mission of OPU.”
He pointed out, “I am confidently sure that we shall all leave this hotel not only better informed about OPU, but culturally stronger and proud of our tradition.

Illuminating the discourse, Otunba Adams, who commended the members of OPU, UK for being proactive, said he was inspired to inaugurate OPU by providential necessity which border on the pull and push factor pillaging the pristine cultural heritage and tradition of the Oodua race.
According to him; “I had the dream where I saw the obliteration of Yoruba cultural heritage from the Earth. I had a dream whereby our culture and tradition could not be found among the comity of venerated cultures of the world.

“I had this dream where generations yet unborn of Yoruba descent lost their identity and started raining curses on generations before them. And I heard a voice which commanded me to arise before dawn and commence a cultural troubadour, firstly at home and then among the Yoruba in Diaspora,” Adams added.
Otunba Adams revealed that in harkening to the command, Olokun Festival Foundation was initiated and registered with the mission of reviving major cultural festivals all over Yoruba land and branding them with touristic concepts.
“We thank God that we have over 16 cultural festivals which Olokun Festival Foundation sponsors every year.”

He revealed that “ our effort at home is not only lauded, applauded and commended but widely embraced and accepted by the people who are able to see the economic benefits in all these festivals which Olokun Festival foundation has so far revived, rejuvenated and reinvigorated.
“We have been able to inject innovation into all these festivals by first, letting the people see them as assets of immeasurable economic value rather than fetish, diabolical, primitive and uncultured culture.

“We have also been able to ensure the involvement of the youth by introducing beauty pageant and dances It is in line with this vision that the OPU, a non-political but purely cultural-tourism melting pot for all Yoruba in Diaspora.
He pointed out, “by the grace of almighty God, this association is planted in 58 countries and we are still counting.
“Recently in Austria, the OPU chapter organised a gala night where a German who is versatile in bata and gangan drums entertained them to their satisfaction. But because the London summit is a forum for intellectual discourse, hence we decided to extricate the funfair and embrace sobriety necessitated by the goal of this meet.

Gani Adams Pleads For Yoruba Unity And Tourism Institutionalization 11742893 10153436131480782 7667943074289619240 n“This kind of forum is necessary for critical assessment, agenda setting and evaluation, review of activities for optimum performance and proactive reflection, which will guide us from losing the goal of the mission of OPU.”
He declared that OPU is different from OPC. One is a self determination group which is Oodua People’s Congress, (OPC), a Nigerian affair while OPU is cultural and meant for Yoruba in Diaspora.”
A London-based Nigerian Immigration lawyer, Mr Adeyemi Bello who is one of the resource fellows at the event lauded the vision of OPU.

According to Bello, “it came at the nick of time when some of us in Diaspora are been suffocated by foreign culture and various indoctrination just because we are far away from home and most importantly because there is no platform like this poised and shapened to stoke our cultural and traditional sensibility.
“Going by the vision and mission of OPU as espoused by Otunba Adams, a messianic drive has been set in motion to salvage the dwindling fortunes of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race particularly on the global scene as it affects those of us in Diaspora. It now behoves us all to key into OPU for us to retain our identity.”
President, Nigerian Union of Journalists Europe chapter, Mr Lashley Ladigbolu noted that the inauguration of OPU is a new vista at re-establishing the cultural identity of Yoruba in the UK.

“This is necessary because some of us are raring children who have not only been to Nigeria talk less of acquiring or be in tune with the cultural values and norms of their native land.
“We appreciate the effort of Otunba Adams and we assure him of spreading this gospel to other Yoruba in the UK.
Reinforcing this stand, a seasoned broadcaster based in London, Chief Akin Omo Akin commended Otunba Adams for his visionary and strident effort at stoking the dying embers of Yoruba cultural-tourism heritage on the global level.

Following all deliberations, the union tasked the six governors in the South West to as a matter of urgency, take a cultural audit of the states and come out with a cultural calendar capable of drawing tourists and visitors to the region
The union agreed to be cultural ambassadors of Yoruba race in all areas and to always ready to promote and project the cultural-tourism potentialities of Yoruba at any given opportunity and forum.
TOURISM.

The recent inauguration of a Yoruba cultural group, Oodua Progressive Union in Ireland is a compliment to those 52 countries where the group is already promoting her culture. TUNDE BUSARI reports.

Even non-Yoruba Nigerian residents in the Republic of Ireland could not resist the euphoria of the spread of Yoruba culture in the country. They are indeed proud of their association with their Yoruba compatriots for impressing it on other nationals that Nigeria is a culturally rich nation.

Courtesy of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), a brainchild of Otunba Gani Adams, Yoruba culture has emerged as a fashion standard bearer, especially in Dublin, where the inauguration of the OPU held amid fanfare on June 19, 2015.

The management of Lucan Span Hotel, venue of the event, could not have wished for better patronage with the number of guests that stormed the leisure haven.

The all-white attire complimented with blue caps and head gears gorgeously adorned by members of OPU, drew attention to the gathering which had Adams also adorning his usual flowing white agbada matched with his abetiaja cap.

Invited guests from far and near also added colour to the gathering with their equally glamorous dresses, which unmistakably, showed off the beauty of Nigerians as sticklers to good taste.

Adams was filled with a sense of fulfilment with the sizeable gathering and the excitement with which OPU members went about the event.

Beaming with intermittent smiles in the company of two Yoruba monarchs- the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole and Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Adams patted the OPU Coordinator in Ireland, Alhaji Ibrahim Saheed on the back for what he dubbed his tireless effort at successfully assembling the members and put up such a big event.

The Otunba also expressed his delight at the presence of Nigerian delegates and gave credit to Saheed. From the misgivings concocted in some quarters about the OPU, Adams used the occasion to set the records straight.

He stressed the difference between OPU and Oodua People’s Congress, describing the former as assemblage of Yorubas in the Diaspora with a view to spreading Yoruba culture and the latter as advocate of the sanctity of territorial integrity of Yoruba nation in the federated Nigeria.

“Oodua People’s Congress is a Nigeria based ready to fight and agitate for the protection of the territorial integrity and political respect of Yoruba race while Oodua Progressive Union is out to promote, enhance and sell the pristine Yoruba culture and tradition particularly among the Diaspora.

“You cannot be members of both. If you want to be OPC, you cannot be OPU. OPU is culturally inclined with every sense of responsibility while OPC is for agitation via responsible militancy and strident advocacy for our race right,” he said.

Continuing, Adams further clarified that, “OPU is not political, but purely for the propagation of our cultural values, assets and promotion of our pristine tourism assets for profitability and acceptance. That is why we lay emphasis on celebration and showcasing of our culture whenever OPU is inaugurated. This is because we must show the part of what they should come to Yoruba land to see.”

Alhaji Saheed’s feeling at the occasion could best be likened to that of a man just awarded a mouth-watering contract after a long, almost hopeless wait. This was evident while delivering his welcome address in which he extolled the virtue of Adams in repositioning Yoruba culture among others in world map.

“I must specially thank and commend Otunba Gani Adam who has risen stoutly beyond politics and personal consideration this time around and embarked on the voyage of Yoruba cultural evangelisation and revivalism all over the world. This has become imperative because of the dangerous trend of extinction which our cultural values, language and identity has been trekking lately.

“The fact is that this kind of association was long overdue mainly because some of us here have not only been displaced psychologically, but we have allowed the material and social circumstances of our new environment to rob off our culture identity, value and sense of perception.

“This is why some of us are here to identify with the mission of Otunba Adams on OPU and ready to stoke the fire of the vision with all our energy, strength and material resources, “he said.

He assured Adams of his members’ readiness to complement his (Adams) effort and continue to be culture ambassadors in their respective places of work.

“We will not engage in acts that will tarnish the image of Nigeria, nether shall we involve in any act that will stain the integrity of the Yoruba race. We shall rather do everything humanly possible to promote, enhance and spread the traditional values and culture of Yoruba race,” he also said.

The royal fathers also added their voice to that of Alhaji Saheed with exhortation of the entire members of OPU, urging them to insist in teaching their children Yoruba culture and value. The Ajero particularly warned that should they fail in that responsibility, future generations would not speak well of them.

“Any attempt by you in not doing this may warrant generational curse by the time our great grand children live without identity,” the Ajero said, charging them to always be proud of their Yoruba race.

Coordinators from other parts of Europe and America were led by Akogun Banji Ojo to the occasion.OPU now has chapters in about 52 countries. Adams and his delegates have since returned home with a credit mark to the OPU Ireland chapter members.


https://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Traditional-rulers-Adams-and-OPU-members-pose-for-photograph.jpg

The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has promised to join forces and synergise with the Osun Osogbo Festival Advisory Council at ensuring that this year’s edition of the festival is a success.
The NTDC boss said this during the courtesy visit of the delegation of the Ataoja of Osogbo to the Director General for the success of the 2014 Osun Osogbo festival, adding that the corporation will explore the festival to further propagate the gospel of domestic tourism promotion in the country.

2“God brought me to the helms of affairs of NTDC for a purpose, to make a positive change, to reposition the Nigerian tourism industry, to make Nigeria proud in the global tourism world, to enable Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from the inestimable goodies of the money-spinning industry through creation of wealth and employment at the grassroots level. And these, by the grace of God, I will achieve.
“It is of note that there are so much tourism potentials in the South West, but many of these potentials are suffering from neglect in terms of development and patronage. A case is Moremi in Ile-Ife, Osun State. There is nothing to show the inestimable work and influence of Moremi in Yorubaland. All one could see is a statue of the virtuous woman.

“But by the grace of God, NTDC shall make a statement in this year edition of Osun Osogbo festival, exploring the opportunity of the festival to further preach the gospel of domestic tourism, which remains a viable weapon to promote tourism in Nigeria and create wealth and employment at the grassroots, to reduce urban migration, promote unity and encourage integration of culture within Nigeria,” Mbanefo said
She described Yoruba cultures and heritage as most rich in the world, noting that Sango festival is being celebrated in 43 countries of the world.
She charged the organisers of Osun Osogbo festival to ensure that it is as well taken to other parts of the world.
Mbanefo reiterated the commitment of the corporation to develop one tourist site in each of the six geo-political zones in the country, noting that Moremi tourist centre will be developed to an international standard.
She gave the assurance of full participation of the corporation, saying, “We are not just coming to distribute fliers and souvenirs, but we will be fully involved.”

Thereafter, Mbanefo constituted a committee to ensure proper and fruitful engagement of the corporation in the festival.
Chairman, Osun Osogbo Festival Advisory Council, Chief Jimoh Buraimo, lauded the efforts of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism in the country, saying that is what Osun Osogbo stands for.
“We are not celebrating Osun Osogbo cultural festival for the fun of it, but to promote the Yoruba culture and heritage, and promote tourism in the country,” Buraimo said.

The chairman of Osun Osogbo Festival Advisory Council expressed the council’s expectation of a better collaboration, saying, “We wanted NTDC as a twin in promoting Osun Osogbo festival. And we shall continue to improve on the planning and celebration of the festival.”
The Chief Executive Officer of INFOGEM and Chief Consultant of Osun Osogbo Festival, Mr. Ayo Olumoko, earlier in his speech described the NTDC boss as a stunt advocate of domestic tourism.
Olumoko noted that Osun Osogbo festival is the festival that has entered into the corporate world, unlike when it used to solely rely on the government for sponsorship.
“We want to use the opportunity the Osun Osogbo festival provides to support the domestic tourism promotion initiative of the Mbanefo led-administration,” Olumoko said.

IyaIode:
Mayor how true is it that fulani cattles have been grazing on these route for over a 100 year. I have never read this in any yoruba literature

Shymm3x:
Loool. I don't mess with junk food like that lol.

Can't be walking around looking flabby and sick like saggy ti.ts and s7hyte looool.

Cosbyrich:
CAN YOU PROVE TO US THAT LAGOS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT BOASTS OF THAT KIND OF BACKGROUND IN YORUBALAND? happy proving.But first...DID YOU DO MATHEMATICS IN THE UNI?

MayorofLagos:
Well, there have always been trading all across the West African Kingdoms. Fulani did not have a kingdom, they were nomads and so they were guests wherever they grazed their animals into and as such they were taxed for right of way to markets. There was nothing known as Fulani Empire in the Soudan prior to White man arrival.

Any prople in West Africa not referenced in Yoruba oral or written tradition were inconsequential and insignificant to the politics of our Empire and Kingdoms. The collapse of traditional powers gave rise to new contenders like Fulani. In Nigeria, concentration of political power in North furthered along their entrenchment in military, executive and political power.

When enquired about the people to the North, Kabiyesi (referring.to Alaafin) told.Livingstone and.Lander about Borgu as next of kin and then mentioned Nupe and Hausa Kingdoms.

On the other hand, when enquired about the people to the South, Muhammadu Bello shared the ancestry and history of the Yorubas and then went on to ask for Livingstone's help in appeasing the King of Oyo to stop selling his people and the muslims to white man on the coast.

IyaIode:
Wow, thanks very much for this brief history. I had a discussion offline with an educated fulani who was sighting example of the yearly round trip migration of African buffalos through kenya and Tanzania.
In a nutshell he was trying to claim the grazing route as theirs and they have been using this route before they became farmlands. If this is the mindset of these people, i think they should be banned from the entire SW

IlekeHD:
Did you study history/political science?

MayorofLagos:
Women like guys who are compassionate....big heart! They find them cuddly and sexxy, like these savages.

MayorofLagos:
First and foremost, there is not a good fulani, educated or not, they all should be drowned in the swamp. Im serious! You dont want Mayor to talk here about Fulani....I will blow this forum up. I will just try and be civil and not say bad things that will really poison minds about these motherfvkrs. I must vent though and say may Allah bring a heavy calamity on Fulani, Ase!


We must think critically about Africa's past and the lives in it. I need you to lock this keyword in mind - PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND TAXATION.

All societies of significance and might in Africa existed under a suzerain authority. Rivalries between Empires existed for the purpose of expanding Proprietary Rights, first by installing frontiers, then commanding rights of access in and out of the domain and lastly making provisions under which interactions and exchanges that take place within the proprietary domain is taxed for the maintenance of the suzerain power and dominion.

Is Fulani the only nomadic tribe in Africa? No. You cannot be a nomadic society and claim at the same time proprietary rights and right of way in territories under which the throne of dominion power has continued in its chain of succession without any break since the consecration of the dynastic Crown. Ask this backward educated Fulani how and when did they acquire Proprietary Rights over these grazing corridors in Yorubaland and which Ooni or Alaafin, Oba or Baale in Yorubaland told Fulani the grazing land belongs to him.

Let me not drag this too long because I will pour venom on Fulani and might slip and say things that ought to be kept hushed.

totit:
If you are a Yoruba and you believed Yoruba Nation can not survive without the oil.

1. You must ask yourself what you're benefiting from a Jagajaga Country- of da ewure po mo agutan- with oil when some countries without oil are better than Nigeria.

2. Yoruba Nation of old western region was better off without oil - when Lagos was like London and Ibadan was like NewYork.

3. Without Oil Money; Yoruba Nation had the first Television Station in the whole of Africa. We had Television Station before Spain in Europe. We had the first Olympic Standard Stadium before many Countries in the World. The first Skyscraper in Africa - Coco House Ibadan was not built with oil money. Yoruba Nation financed free Education and free Health Care without Oil Money. If we have had a Yoruba Nation, we wouldn't have had an Accidental President. And if we have had Yoruba Nation, won o bi iya enikan re ko ko owo ijoba je (corruption) and go scot free, his family house would be burnt down. So corruption will be reduced.

4. So let us go for it for the future of our children...Nigeria is not working.


just saw this and thought I should share

Nothing but the truth, absolutely.

Aareonakakanfo:
Which one be this one wey kingsango carry come oo.eyin ara ile ee ba mi da si

@ilekehd all of you who speak Yorugeesi, we will have to perform DNA tests on you

I was present in all the Yoruba hours we did.Na lie you dey lie,during the Yoruba hours,you were viewing as a guest

KingSango:
I have a blueprint on how to raise Oyo Empire and you do not. Sango speaks through me and that is my confirmation. The Elders have verified my affiliation to Baba Sango. My undying loyal to Oyo is just that undying.

Love,

Sango.

Eeehen! so where is that Oyo empire?

Shymm3x:
Naij women defo love men with protruding bellies they can massage.

Shymm3x:
Darn Son! You don't rate me! Nah, I studied computer science.

I'm like this with every field I've got an interest in. I'm same way with sports, military, fashion, history, music, entertainment etc.. I just happen to have a pops who's a Professor of Politics, though he has never been a politician and was never involved in politics even when he left naij in the 80s. And a grandad who was a politician in Lagos in the 50s, 60s, and 70s - and he'd march with Awolowo. Let me stop there.

Anyway, before I got to this forum, I did know bits of naij politics from my pops and I had vast knowledge of UK and US politics. Then I picked up a lot of stuffs from Prof. Katsumoto, Chief negrontns the Mayor of Lagos, Pukkah et al...did further research on their posts, build from there, expanded my knowledge, make comparative analysis from time to time with climes I'm knowledgeable about, and follow the dynamics of events. That's why I don't chat to the illiterate sycophantic pseuds and political jobbers who populate this forum these days cos they're all toxic. Still learning from the MayorofLagos and his poetic posts though.

IlekeHD:
Ewww says who?

Why do you think I told Aareonakankafo to hit the gym?

Aareonakakanfo:
Iya agba e tu ti de.ehn! ise ki legba

Anyways before i get into business.Let me put on my crown

https://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-30-2015/TdEBCF.gif

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Oh yeeeah! Thank you! that's crucial

Emi loba sugbon won fe teriba

Won ti gbagbe pe clipper o le joba lori barber

FreeGlobe:
ilekeh you are crazy. So Shymm3x you will sit around a allow a woman control you in this day and age?

Aareonakakanfo:
There's nt much going on in the south-west for now but i saw this

[size=13pt]Free surgeries for tumour patients in Ekiti[/size]

Iya agba this is some positive news coming from your state.Ki le ro

The work of Nigerian-American activist and visual artist Adejoke Tugbiyele spans several media, including film, sculpture and works on paper. Known primarily for the handcrafted figures she assembles from repurposed materials, Tugbiyele’s art evokes themes of sexual identity and spirituality with respect to performative aspects of traditional Yoruba culture.

A Queer African Spirit is her newest work, inspired by the 2014 public flogging of Mubarak Ibrahim. Ibrahim, a 28-year old Muslim man from Northern Nigeria, was put on trial and convicted of sodomy just days after former president Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law. In addition to imposing prison sentences of up to 14 years for Nigerians who attempt to enter into a civil union, the measure criminalizes public displays of affection between same-sex couples and restricts the assembly of individuals in support of LGBT rights.

According to Tugbiyele, a heightened state of fear gripped Nigeria’s queer community in the wake of the anti-gay law’s enactment and Ibrahim’s trial. These events took such a toll on the artist herself that her mental and physical health began to deteriorate. “I was in Nigeria at the time, and there was one tormenting story after the next showing up in various news publications,” she told us over e-mail. “Not only did I become emotionally depressed, I started getting ill from high-anxiety, lack of sleep and loss of appetite for food. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was how life was in Europe’s Middle Ages when a religious fervor that demonized innocent people dominated intellectual thought among the masses.”

Ibrahim’s punishment, meted out with a leather whip dipped in oil, served as a reminder to queer Nigerians that their freedom meant nothing before the law. “It was clear that the political climate had changed practically overnight, based on news articles that emerged within days of the anti-gay law’s passing,” Tugbiyele says. “All of a sudden, homosexuality emerged as a primary conversation topic. It didn’t matter if you were standing at a local bus stop or drinking palm wine at Freedom Park, Bogobiri or the Ikoyi Club. It was the new hot topic and tensions were high. My response was to make art, or rather quickly finish what I had already started.”

a-queer-african-spirit-adejoke-tugbiyele-african-art
“A Queer African Spirit” by Adejoke Tugbiyele

With state-sanctioned homophobia and media sensationalism leading to “witch hunts” and indiscriminate raids on gay enclaves, Tugbiyele’s work in Nigeria began to take on even more significance. Working on A Queer African Spirit soon turned into a meditative and intellectual process for the artist. She wove found objects in a way that projected the same traumatic feelings she had when she first heard Mubarak Ibrahim’s story. These objects included a leather whip, a skull and horse hair, which is a common sight in Northern Nigeria.

“A Queer African Spirit evokes the death of one’s soul – death by the whip,” Tugbiyele says. “The judge who ordered the flogging after Nigeria’s anti-gay bill became effective, said he was being ‘lenient.’ Although Mubarak is still alive, I can only imagine how broken his spirit had become by that punishment. By extension, all our spirits are negatively affected because when one man is oppressed, we are all oppressed.”

The piece was included in ReSignifications, a group exhibit held as part of the recent Black Portraitures conference in Florence, Italy. Tugbiyele’s sculpture was featured alongside work from black artists from Africa and the diaspora, including Senegalese fine art photographer Omar Victor Diop, Ethiopian-American visual artist Awol Erizku, and Jamaican mixed-media artist Ebony G. Patterson.

a-queer-african-spirit-adejoke-tugbiyele-african-art-01
“A Queer African Spirit” by Adejoke Tugbiyele

“Indeed we live in the twenty-first century, and so reading the news and others like it underscored just how much work still needs to be done in Nigeria and much of Africa with regards to human rights,” she says.

In order to do some of this work Tugbiyele has maintained strong ties with Nigeria’s LGBTQI community since her return to the U.S. She is currently affiliated with The Initiative for Equal Rights, a Nigerian NGO which “takes a very hands-on approach to providing immediate emergency assistance for LGBT people, ranging from counseling to housing or bailing out innocent people who have been wrongly jailed.”

She was also recently invited to contribute images of her sculpture “Past/Future” to the Guidebook to Gender and Sexuality in Nigeria. The publication is to be used as a resource for educating the Nigerian public and press on the roots of homosexuality in Africa, and serve as a guide on how best to report on LGBT issues. Previously, Tugbiyele served as the U.S. representative for Solidarity Alliance for Human Rights, a coalition of Nigerian LGBT-focused, human rights and HIV/AIDS organizations.

As an artist and and activist Tugbiyele uses her work to reflects the struggles of her times. She cites artists who feel a strong sense of responsibility to their communities as her biggest influences, listing renowned Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui as an African artist who has reached great heights. Tugbiyele also says she finds inspiration in the work of artists like Fela Kuti, Ai Weiwei and Kara Walker, who have “made it their duty to hold a mirror up to society through their work, especially when the reflection is quite ugly and traumatic.”

As a queer artist, Tugbiyele is also especially influenced by the work of openly gay African artists like Zanele Muholi and the late Rotimi Fani-Kayode, who she says “have broken down barriers by speaking their truth.”

Moving forward, Tugbiyele hopes to continue creating work that addresses complexities around the African body and how it navigates institutional structures like family, religion and the state. “I am inspired to make work that improves the human condition at large, that addresses my cultural heritage and builds on the work of my ancestors and finally to imagine a future of equality for all regardless of race, gender, class or sexuality,” she says.