₦airaland Forum

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua(16 Aug,1951- 5 May,2010) with his wife Turai and daughter in the late 70s when he was a University lecturer....it is about two years ago that he passed away.Source: The News archive.

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On February 18, 1977 numerous soldiers mainly from the Abalti Barracks including the Police stormed the residence of late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. They were on a mission to arrest Fela and members of his Young pioneers found at the residence for an earlier infraction of impeding an officer in his lawful exercise of traffic control.

It was reported that Fela refused to be arrested and barricaded himself behind the locked gate. The fence was also electrified to discourage entry. Having gotten NEPA to cut electricity supply to the house, the occupants re-electrified the fence through the generator. The soldiers as a result blew up the generator with explosives and laid seige to the building, its occupants and property.
Mrs Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, a doyen of women's rights and education was thrown from the one story building and later died from the injuries sustained as a result.
Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Fela and other occupants were subjected to physical trauma and later arrested. The building itself was set on fire resulting in loss of property including unfinished and unreleased works of Fela.

The resultant inquiries and lawsuits which followed spurned the popular culture and notoriety of soldier-civilian relationships in Nigeria from the Song "Coffin for a Head of State", the Supreme Courts assertion that the crime was done by an "Unknown Soldier". It also made the late Mrs Ransome Kuti one of the martyr of the struggle which is the nation of Nigeria.
Years later President Olusegun Obasanjo was compelled by recent circumstances to constitute the Oputa panel when he became civilian President and was summoned to appear to give evidence in a petition brought by Beko through his lawyer, Femi falana. The exchanges are intriguing and compelling for students of history.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qe44fwMdFE

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Madam Efunroye Tinubu(1805- 1887) Businesswoman and Nationalist. She was born in Iju Kado, Gbagura in Egbaland. She learn the art of trading from her mother and grandmother. She set up a highly successful business with her third husband Yusuf Bada selling Slaves, Palm produce, Salt and Tobacco. After renouncing Slave trade she became a land owner and munitions dealer. Tinubu helped in the War effort against the Dahomeans in 1864 and the Ikorodu War of 1865. A fierce defender of African interests and autonomy, she fell out with the Colonial authorities and was eventually driven by them from Lagos into exile in Abeokuta. She was the first to hold the reverred title of Iyalode of Abeokuta(Leader of Women).

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Bishop Crowther and his son Dandeson, 1870s.

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John F Kennedy and a young Shehu Shagari in Washington D.C -1961

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Christopher Okigbo (1932-1967), the most anthologized African poet ever

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade (Olubuse 11) reading his coronation acceptance speech at Enuwa square, Ile-Ife. This was after staff of office was presented to him by the then Governor of old Oyo State, Late (Chief) Bola Ige. (Circa, 1980).

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Picture of Late Sir Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola (around 1971). He was the Olori Oluwo of Reformed Ogboni Fraernity (ROF) from 1953 to 1993. He was lawyer, born in Abeokuta 1st February 1906. Became Chief Justice Western Region Nigeria 1955-58, Chief Justice of Nigeria 1958-72, PC 1963, Kt 1957, Honorary Bencher Middle Temple 1959-93, KBE 1963, Chancellor University of Nigeria 1975-93, Chairman Commonwealth Foundation 1978-93, married 1939 Kofoworola Moore (three sons, two daughters), died Lagos 29 January 1993. In addition: he was member of the United Nations committee of experts advising on labour conventions and regulations. He was also a member of the United Nations International Public Service Advisory Board, member of the International commission of Jurists, executive member of World peace through Law, vice president of the world Association Jurists, president of the Nigerian Red Cross Association, chairman of Nigeria Cheshire homes, member of the International Olympic committee, member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and president of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity.

Sources: Reformed Ogboni Fraternity website and The Independent Newspaper, Friday 12 February 1993

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Over 10,000 marriages may be cancelled.
There was a proposal to invalidate marriages which had taken place in the secessionist areas during the Civil war. There were no lawful authorities licensed to contract marriages in those areas.

Sunday Times. 17 January 1971

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Nnamdi Azikiwe in the 1920's

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Source of Public potable Water in Lagos pre Independence

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Ojukwu being conferred a title at 2:00am circa 1969. With him are the Eshi of Nkwerre and Ven S.N. Okoli the Archdeacon at Nkwerre at the time.

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Mrs Adekunle Fajuyi Mourns her husband Lt-col Adekunle fajuyi The Governor of Western , who was killed in a coup , 1966. Source: baha

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Anike Agbaje-Williams (1936- ) Broadcaster: The first person, male or female to appear on Television in the whole of Africa. This was at WNTV-WNBS Ibadan on 31 October 1959.

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Ogbuefi Nzeduba Dibor, pictured in Awka 1950. a Merchant, blacksmith and community leader who was active in Warri, Agbor, Awka and Onitsha.
his statue which is one of the few relics that were not stolen during the civil war is located in the Dibor family compound in Umuogbu Awka.

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Date: December 14, 1943: US First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, sponsor and guest of honor at an African Dance Festival held at Carnegie Hall New York photographed during reception held for her before the performance in the art gallety of the hall. With her are Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (center) Head of the Academy of African Arts and Research which organized the festival and Mbonu Ojike (right) of the University of Chicago representing African students. Both men are described as wearing African robes.

K.O. Mbadiwe (1915-1990), many will recall later emerged as Nigerian nationalist, and federal minister - a very colorful politician who often introduced himself with superlatives during campaigns - " a man of timber and calibre!"

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"Oga is going ofa seas" Advert by Napak Ltd, popular clearing agents at the time, announcing a business tour by its MD. These sorts of adverts were common in the 60's and 70's and were an effective advertising tool and status symbol. From Daily Times- June 1975

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1958 LancasterHouse Conference on Nigerian Independence —(From Left) Alan Lennox-Boyd, British Colonial Secretary with the big four: Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the West Region; Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Federal Prime Minister; Alhajii Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Premier of the North Region; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of the East Region.

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HighLife Musician Roy Chicago (1931-1989) , And His Dancers In the 1970s .

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1964. Mrs T Ayo Manuwa "Aunty Ayo", founder of Aunty Ayo Prep, Aunty Ayo Comprehensive School for Girls, Aunty Ayo International School. Aunty Ayo's Youth, Seen here in Australia, on a Federal Government sponsored trip, to represent Nigeria at the Canberra meeting of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the Lagos branch of which she is founder. While in Perth, Mrs Manuwa was the guest of the Australia-Asia Association at a function to launch its Australia-Asia House project for a community meeting centre for all overseas students in Perth.

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The contemporary Yoruba Kings: Oba Adeniji Adele of Lagos with the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Asanike, Alake of Abeokuta, and Oba Ademola. Circa 1950

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The famous photo that heralded the armistice and official end of the Nigerian civil war in the newsmedia in January 1970: federal troops celebrating while running on the Uli air strip that had been the final foothold of the secessionists, and from where rebel leader Ojukwu fled into exile in Cote D'Ivoire.

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Wole Soyinka’s mother and father, Grace Eniola Soyinka and Samuel Ayodele Soyinka, called “Wild Christian” and “Essay” in many of his books. Photo:: 1930s

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The children of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Madam H.I.D Awolowo. Clockwise from left: Ayo, Segun, Tola, Oluwole and Tokunbo. Photo: Early 1950s

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Brigadier Murtala Muhammed Overthrows General Gowon: 1975:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw8iHwN-V0s via @youtube

AMSTERDAM 1968: Reverend father Iloju from Biafra discussed the situation in his country. The press conference was organized by the Action Committee Biafra.
Source: The Netherlands National News Agency (ANP)

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Maj. Gen. ID Bisala Being tied to the stake. At Page 37, of the Magazine 'Daily Times Historical Account of July 29 and After' detailing the official version of the circumstances surrounding the bloody coup of 1976.

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Baba 70 , Fela Kuti enjoying a game of table tennis , Lagos 1970s .

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Cyprian Odiatu Duaka (COD) Ekwensi (September 26 1921 to November 4 2007)

Between stints as a teacher, forester, pharmacist, broadcaster and film-maker, the west African novelist Cyprian Ekwensi published more than 40 books as well as radio and television scripts. His first novel, "People of the City" (1954), appearing four years before Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart", was the second Nigerian novel to be published in Britain to international acclaim following Amos Tutuola's "Pamwine Drinkard". "Jagua Nana" (1961) won Ekwensi the 1968 Dag Hammarskjöld prize in literature.

"People of the City" tells the story of a young crime reporter who doubles as a bandleader in a large west African city. As one British critic wrote, the novel said more about west Africa than 50 government reports. However, Ireland banned the novel on the grounds of indecency. Controversy was to dog Ekwensi's literary career.

Of Igbo extraction, Ekwensi was born in Minna, in Northern Nigeria. His father, David Anadumaka, a famed storyteller and elephant hunter, inspired him towards creative writing. Ekwensi was a brilliant, gregarious pupil at boarding school - Government college, Ibadan (1936-41) - and became engrossed in Yoruba culture. His school life and multi-ethnic upbringing were to be reflected in his work. After stints at various Nigerian and Ghanaian colleges, he worked as a forestry officer (1945-47).

In that wild and lonely environment, he began writing short adventure stories, some of which were published in 1947 as "Ikolo the Wrestler and Other Ibo Tales". The same year, five of his works were published in England by Lutterworth Press as part of its African new writing series. Another collection of light romance stories came out in 1948 from an Onitsha publisher in Nigeria. In 1949, Ekwensi began to read his stories on the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation while also writing for several Lagos newspapers.

Two years later, he won a scholarship to study pharmacy at London University. He said that it was while he was on the ship to England that he began to assemble "People of the City". Working as a pharmacy assistant at Oldchurch hospital, Romford, Essex, he wrote plays that were broadcast by the BBC. He also recorded a voiceover for "Man of Africa" (1953), which featured at the 1954 Venice film festival. Ekwensi's film scripts included "Nigeria Greets the Queen", marking her first visit to Nigeria in 1956.

On his return to Nigeria that year, he worked for the broadcasting corporation, becoming director of information in 1961. Two children's novellas, "The Drummer Boy" and "The Passport of Mallam Illia", were published in 1960 and the novel "Jagua Nana" and the equally successful collection of vignettes, "Burning Grass", in 1961. From 1961 to 1966, Ekwensi published at least one major work each year. "Jagua Nana", the story of a high-class Lagos prostitute, was vehemently attacked by the Catholic and Anglican churches for its sexually explicit language and was banned in several schools. An application to film the book was rejected by the Nigerian parliament - but then came the Dag Hammarskjöld prize.

When the Nigerian civil war broke out in 1966, Ekwensi became an adviser to secessionist leader Odumegwu Ojukwu, chairing Biafra's external publicity bureau. After the war, he resumed his literary and pharmaceutical career. He helped form the Association of Nigerian Authors in 1981, and in 2001, was made a member of the Order of the Federal Republic. Four years later, he was inducted into the Nigerian Academy of Arts.

"Five decades or more of writing have brought me world fame but not fortune," he said. "If I were an American living in America or Europe, I would be floating in a foam bath in my own private yacht off the coast of Florida." He was working on his (still unpublished) biography in 2007 when he passed at the age of 86. He is survived by Chinwe, his wife, and their nine children.

(Adapted from the Guardian (UK) Tuesday February 5 2008)

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'The day I K Dairo saw 'Satan' in London.
I K Dairo started his music career at the age of 8. He was at some time a hairdresser and a petty trader.

On a musical tour to London, he fled from a theatre after a 10 minute stay. He had seen 'satan'- scantily dressed people!!! His words' this kind of life will never be practised here in Nigeria'. He believed this would never be acceptable in Nigeria.

He returned from the trip with a new message for Nigerian women- ' the Gods are in the warpath against womanhood for its shameful drift to diminutive and immoral dressing'.

Sunday Times 1971

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Biafra surrenders~ Philip Effiong meets Yakubu Gowon~

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Fela and Queens 1979

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