Reflect7's Posts
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FESTAC VILLAGE I remember FESTAC VILLAGE as it was when it was first built for the 20,000 black diaspora who stormed Nigeria for the event. From Ghana, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Jamaica, USA, Barbados, Cuba, Brazil, Antigua, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Grenada, Bahamas, etc etc. When you entered FESTAC then, it was like somewhere in Los Angeles! Clean roads with sidewalks, and folks strolling around, taking pictures etc. IN FACT, THE WHOLE OF LAGOS WAS BUBBLING. YANKEE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, IN THE CLUBS, BARS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, THE BEACH, THE STREETS, EVERYWHERE. Facilities ''A housing estate known as Festac Village was constructed as accommodation for about 17,000 participants. However, the long-term objective of the village under the Federal Housing Programme was to relieve some of the housing pressure in Lagos. The housing estate was proposed for construction within two years, with more than 40 contractors working on different sites of the project. In total 5,088 dwelling units were built prior to the festival and an additional 5,687 were to be completed by the end of 1977. During the festival, the housing estate was the venue for performance rehearsals and interaction by participants as various troupes rehearsed their routines in the day and at night. For hosting the performances and lectures, a state-of-the-art multipurpose national theatre was built, to serve also as a lasting centre of African art and culture. The theatre's design was based on the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria. The new complex had two exhibition halls, a 5,000-capacity performance and event hall, a conference hall with 1,600 seats and two cinema halls. The theatre hosted dance, music, art exhibitions, cinema, drama and the colloquium.'' - Wiki National Arts Theatre, Lagos https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/05/7a/1a/bc/national-arts-theatre.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&s=1 |
''In early 1977, more than 15,000 artists, intellectuals, and performers from 55 nations worldwide gathered in Lagos, Nigeria for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, also known as FESTAC ‘77. Taking place in the heyday of Nigeria’s oil wealth and known as one of the largest cultural and political events in the history of decolonisation, the event was the peak of Pan-Africanist expression.'' https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2022/sep/30/marilyn-nances-images-of-festac-77-in-lagos ...........https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5b/ff/bc/5bffbc66fa6b27d5f382dbdca3b2a105.jpg ''Festac '77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (the first was in Dakar, 1966), was a major international festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 15 January 1977 to 12 February 1977. The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion. About 16,000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora, performed at the event. Artists who performed at the festival included Stevie Wonder from the United States, Gilberto Gil from Brazil, Bembeya Jazz National from Guinea, Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad and Tobago, Les Ballets Africains, South African Miriam Makeba, and Franco Luambo Makiadi. At the time it was held, it was the largest Pan-African gathering to ever take place. The official emblem of the festival was a replica crafted by Erhabor Emokpae of the royal ivory mask of Benin. The hosting of the festival led to the establishment of the Nigerian National Council of Arts and Culture, Festac Village and the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Most of the events were held in four main venues: the National Theatre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos City Hall and Tafawa Balewa Square. - Wiki ........................ FESTAC '77 was a big deal when it happened. A very big deal nationally and internationally. In fact they were doubts internationally as to whether an African country could successfully host such a gigantic international event. This was right in the middle of the great Nigerian Oil Boom of the 1970s which saw the once agrarian nation rise to become one of the Africa's leading powers. At its helm, Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo, who had succeeded only a year earlier, the assassinated nationalist military leader, Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed. The US civil rights movement of the 1960s which culminated in the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X in the USA had a reverberating effect across the black world, with African history, Pan Africanism, and the call to identify with African consciousness, the predominant voice of black discourse leading through the 1970s. In fact at this time, the apartheid regime was in power in South Africa, with Nelson Mandela and other activists in jail in Robben Island, as the regime received tacit support from the United States and Britain. It was an era in which the black identity needed desperately to be reaffirmed on this Earth. In stepped the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigeria's oil wealth provided a practical means of expressing those world black ideals and objectives in FESTAC '77, and the country executed it to perfection, in a memorable celebration of blackness that lived in the minds of the world for many years afterwards, and continues to influence the Pan Africanist movement to this day. But FESTAC '77 was not all smooth sailing. Nigeria being Nigeria, there was disagreement as to the cost of the event, and the ways the funds were used etc etc. Afrobeat legend and social crusader, Fela Kuti drove around in this battered Volkswagen during that time, to highlight the plight of the masses, even as the Obasanjo regime soldiered on in its determination to host a credible, successful FESTAC, and place Nigeria at the height of international reckoning. https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/33/4e/af334e7b961d40420d41a143c6e9993c.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/564x/85/0f/70/850f703bda90faece87ed832a7de8350.jpg More to come.... |
I LAUGH WHEN I SEE YOU PEOPLE DESCRIBING THESE OYINBOS AS 'JEWS'. HERE ARE THE JEWS: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5d/5e/be/5d5ebefb66cf73626281580c94905bd7.jpg |
FSBoperator:Damn. You guys are cold sha.. Some deep shit right there. ![]() |
The thing about twitter is you see what you want to see. |
Na true sha. Those of of us that grew up in the days of rushing for Molue, and heaps of refuse on the streets interspersed by Jakande chicken-shed schools can attest to the fact that Lagos has changed for the better. But a lot more still needs to be done. ![]() |
Nosayer:But her people were mistreated more by the AMERICANS. Are you aware how many millions of Igbos were carted off as slaves and how many were thrown out into the open sea when the ships started to leak? Over a 400 year period? More recently, did the US allies, the British, not supply arms and fighter jets to the Nigerian govt to prosecute the Biafran war, which killed millions of ''her people''? So why is she collecting awards from all these countries which were instrumental to the suffering of her people? Or is she unaware of the nefarious roles these nations have played in the history of ''her people''? In fact those imperialist powers are the REAL threats to her people, as they prop up the local stooges who implement their imperialist agenda. Adichie frowns upon, and shuns the local stooges, while sucking up to the REAL Imperialist oppressors who pull the strings, and gleefully accepts their awards. Why? |
gidgiddy:This is your inferiority complex talking. Leave aside the fact that Nigeria is a developing country like 80% of countries on Earth, with an annual budget of 38 billion dollars compared to the USA's 7.6 trillion dollars (making comparisons between the two truly foolish), there are MANY indices you can judge Nigeria by, which are not negative. Africa's largest economy with a GDP of 1.2 trillion dollars calculated by Purchasing Power Parity, the largest and fastest growing middle class in Africa, largest film industry, largest music, fashion and entertainment industry, 4th most powerful military after Egypt, SA, and Morocco, startup and tech capital of Africa, major sporting power of Africa, the cultural capital of Africa, Africa's best educated population and a rising manufacturing power, with substantial manufacturing plants in the motor vehicle industry, ship building, chemicals, iron and steel, petrochemicals, fertilizer, urea, and other sectors. A country projected to become the 3rd most populous nation on Earth after China and India by 2050, meaning she is a veritable magnet for world class level investment in the decades ahead. There is a LOT to be positive about Nigeria and its prospects if you and Adichie cast aside your endless disgruntlement, bitterness, and holier-than-thou pretend piety predicated on nothing. |
naijapikin2:What figures are unproven? Whatever the number killed in Iraq, for instance ,it is far worse than anything Buhari did. Not to mention the numerous other countries, from Vietnam to Haiti to Guatemala. |
naijapikin2:Oh, so it's not a question of 'principle' then? If it's really a question of political convenience etc, that's different, but she predicates her shunning of Nigerian awards on PRINCIPLE and her 'VALUES'. So the question remains, are her values and principles limited to what goes on in that tiny space of the world called NIgeria? DO HER VALUES NOT APPLY OUTSIDE NIGERIA? |
Hoedogwu:While the countries they committed those atrocities against, and plundered (like yours) suffer the consequences and get shunned by you and Ngozi. Clap for your mumu self. What has Nigeria gained over the last few years? NOTHING. This is not a country, it's a cooperate arrangement. If you doubt me, wait until there's an extinction level threat, your so-called government will abandon you to your fate. They almost did it during COVID 19, let's hope something worse doesn't come again. That is when you will know that you don't have a Government. They're just in Abuja to share money. That's why your country doesn't have any survivial model. There's nothing to protect you from diseases or even alien invasions. Does Lai Mohammad know anything about alien invasions?? Bro, you don't have a Government. There's just an "arrangement" in place for looting money.So what are you doing on this NIGERIAN forum? You spend so much time on a forum that represents 'nothingness'. Are you jobless? |
Hoedogwu:YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR, HYPOCRITE SUPPORTER. HOW IS IT BETTER TO GO OUTSIDE AND SHOOT STRANGERS IN THE STREET THAN SHOOTING PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN COMPOUND? THEY ARE BOTH MORALLY REPUGNANT. NONE MORE THAN THE OTHER, UNLESS YOU ARE SAYING THAT ONE SET OF LIVES IS MORE VALUABLE THAN THE OTHER. |
Hoedogwu:From a humanist and moralist perspective, it is actually less morally outrageous to execute injustice upon your own kind than to go out to strangers' lands and do it. I doubt there would be a distinction at the gates of heaven and hell as to whether you inflicted hardship on your own people or on foreigners. |
Obidient4life3:No I won't, and don't. We're not all slaves to the USA like you. |
rickpat:If those things are bothering her, why is she not bothered by the 1 million innocent people slaughtered by the USA in Iraq? Or the fact the USA is the biggest arms exporter to the world? Or that the USA has sponsored rebels in the Congo just to be able to steal their natural resources there such as colbalt, leading to a conflict that has claimed millions of lives? Or due to serious issues of police brutality against blacks in the USA, and general institutionalised racism there, which sees blacks attendng the worst schools, and facing bigger unemployment problems than whites, etc? Why are all these JUST FINE to Ms Adichie? |
rickpat:Why do her 'principles' not apply to the USA , Britain, France and other imperialist countries she collects awards from without question? Or her 'principles' only apply to Nigeria? |
phorget:It is also my choice to expose her hypocrisy. Plus, It is a NATIONAL AWARD, not ''Buhari award''. |
AMERICA SLAUGHTERED ONE MILLION INNOCENT PEOPLE IN IRAQ BASED ON LIES ABOUT WMDs, JUST TO STEAL THEIR OIL. AMERICA IS ALSO DOCUMENTED TO HAVE INVADED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 197 OF THE 202 COUNTRIES ON EARTH. SO WHY IS SHE ACCEPTING AWARDS FROM THEM LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE, AND REJECTING AWARDS FROM NIGERIA? Her mentor, Achebe was the same. He rejected Nigerian awards but received awards from all these imperialist countries - Britain, USA, France, Australia, Canada etc. These are the same countries that enslaved Africans, colonised and looted African resources for over 500 years. Countries that today retain the looted funds by their stooges in power in Africa, and refuse to return them. Countries that allow their banks to serve as Accessories After Theft by receiving and storing looted African funds. Countries that hold and exhibit our looted ancient artefacts and treasures in their museums, from the Benin bronzes to the Ife bronzes, and refuse to return them despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government. So HOW is it that you can be receiving awards from these countries whose crimes against humanity are on a whole different scale entirely, while rejecting national awards from your own country? What did Nigeria do to you that those countries did not do 1000 times more of? TAKING AWARDS FROM THEM IS THE VERY HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY. |
Elbinawi:BUT AMERICA SLAUGHTERED ONE MILLION INNOCENT PEOPLE IN IRAQ BASED ON LIES ABOUT WMDS JUST TO STEAL THEIR OIL. AMERICA IS ALSO DOCUMENTED TO HAVE INVADED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 195 OF THE 201 COUNTRIES ON EARTH. SO WHY IS SHE ACCEPTING AWARDS FROM THEM? |
Soulsymbol99:GET RID OF YOUR INFERIORITY COMPLEX. DISGUSTING. |
Igbos could be forced to make a very hard choice between two charismatic figures, one who wants to fix the federation, and the other who wants to leave it. One thing we know about Kanu is that he won't stay quiet or sit on the fence. He will take a stand for or against the elections. |
GeneralPula:LOL |
bump |
Vibekiller:You sure? We could see running street battles between IPOBs and Obidients. ![]() |
Is NNAMDI KANU Coming With The Proverbial SWORD OF DAMOCLES To Decimate and Scatter The Igbo Vote? https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-20-at-9.01.59-AM.png Buhari is a very cunning and calculating person. Is Kanu's release based on an agreement that he SCATTER the southeast vote and pave the way for Tinubu? If Nnamdi Kanu, now that he is released, proceeds to RAISE HOLY HELL by denouncing the entire system and ordering a boycott of the elections, how many will switch over to him and abandon Obi? Could be MILLIONS. Interesting days ahead. https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/EBxLMihXsAAtgKx-01-1280x720.jpeg |
Mrbenny001:Apart from that, the US annual budget is 7.2 trillion dollars. Nigeria's is 38 billion dollars. |
Generalwoodz:NIGERIA ANNUAL BUDGET: 38 BILLION DOLLARS ITALY ANNUAL BUDGET: 1.2 TRILLION DOLLARS US ANNUAL BUDGET: 7.2 TRILLION DOLLARS TRANSLATION: Nigeria is not rich enough to do what you are demanding. |
Corridon:Shut up. Being a developing nation is not the same thing as ''rejecting civilization''. Did you and Japan start at the same time? You gained independence barely 60 years ago, and you're saying because you're not like Japan, it means you've rejected civilization. Do you think 'civilization' is something you click your finger and it appears? Do you know how many WARS Japan fought before you gained independence here in Nigeria? Do you know Japan fought a full scale war against the US 20 years before Nigeria gained independence? Please, know your mates in this world. Rubbish. |
EVEN THESE INDIANS, THEIR CULTURE IS STILL DERIVED FROM THIS SAME AFRICA. THE FIRST SETTLERS OF INDIA WERE BLACKS KNOWN AS 'DRAVIDIANS' WHO CAME FROM AFRICA THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. SO ALL THOSE THINGS THEY ARE DOING THERE ARE FAMILIAR TO OUR ELDERS. |
zhike:LYING DEVIL. |
imadiyi:Well spoken. Surely, Obi and his team must have known the outcry that would follow such a skewed list, so why go ahead and do it? Senseless indeed. |
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