Echoes Of Revolution In Emema’s A Plague of Gadflies

                                 Emema

Drama

PERHARPS his name may not ring a bell now. But his works in the 80s may still stir the memory about his works, which may still linger on the minds of lovers of television drama.  Paul Emema worked behind the camera, as writer, producer and director of some Nigeria’s tele-dramas among them are Behind the Clouds and Supple Blues.

  In the mid 90s, his name was synonymous with educational offerings like Intended Outcomes, a tele-drama aimed at bringing about positive social re-engineering. It was sponsored by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). Emema doubled as director and producer of the trend-setting I Need to Know television series that ran for eight seasons.

  Against this background, the reading from his book A Plague of Gadflies published last year brings to mind again his contribution to the development of television dramas. It makes use of traditional folklore and oral performance, a satirical statement about a world Emema knows too well. The dramatic impact is structured around the best of African traditions, of a nation plagued by corruption, tottering and on the brink; it’s a nation succumbing to the plague of decadence gnaws at everything.

  Though written as far back as 1993, it captures the trend of events happening in today’s Nigeria, what with the menace of the Boko Haram sect. it also echoes the revolt in other parts of Africa - Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and others. Emema, while holding us individually responsible as active participants, carefully and clearly points out the path of redemption.

  A Plague of Gadflies is set in his native Niger Delta, of a simmering intensity that sends up the resource-rich but poverty-stricken realm of oily corruption.

  According to Emema, “The play is dedicated to the healing of Nigeria and all God’s wounded children in Africa; it satirizes the strange doings in the land of Ovrode in the heart of the Niger Delta. The traditional ruler of Ovrode, Ovie Gideon Ogbighe Okumagba, who bears the alias ‘The Night Fox’, holds court with a special breed of potentates known as the Royal Blood. The corruption of the cosmos by these controllers of economic and political power leads up to the choice of Isaiah Akpojaro as the next Odio-logbo, to wit, the noble Chief Adviser to His Majesty.”

   Emema pointed out that “Corruption is not from the government alone but it is all over the place - from the contractors to the private sector. We, as individuals, should check ourselves. I may have used the traditional setting to express my views but it boils down to looking at ourselves because we all makes up the government”.

 Producer and director of Visual Network, Iloyd Weaver, commended the drive in Emema’s pen that seeks to makes a mark.

   He said, “Emema’s courage should be saluted for giving us an epic-proportion play in this age of minimalist plays. As a big play, A Plague of Gadflies is reminiscent of the vast canvass of the late Ola Rotimi in The Gods Are Not To Blame and Kurunmi. His words are aptly deployed, and the proverbs are a joy to behold. The book deserves to travel far and wide.

  “In the book, Samson Akpojaro, the half-brother of Isaiah, aided by the fiery Ochonogo, leads a handful of freedom fighters who, alongside the entire populace, initiate an uprising that dislodges the regime of corruption. It all comes to a head at the time of the spiritual and ritual festival of peace called Egba. Houses are burnt and the revolting freedom fighters take the offspring of the oppressive gang hostage such that members of the Royal Blood are left with only the clothes they are wearing at the time of the mayhem. The revelation comes over the filthy lucre - the bags of cowries and the parcels of land they collected from Isaiah Akpojaro - members of the Royal Blood never bothered to offer the requisite traditional sacrifice to the ancestors.

  “The 23 years that His Majesty Okumagba had been on the throne of Ovrode comes to such a pass that he pronounces banishment for the Royal Blood thus: “I, Gideon Ogbighe Okumagba – The Night Fox – as I live, and because my noble ancestors watch over my throne night and day, I pronounce your exile to Bini Kingdom until your deaths.”

  Even so, The Night Fox cannot bask in innocence because Edokpe with whom he had sworn to an oath of secrecy reveals that His Majesty also wallowed in corruption because of all the villagers’ farmlands he gave to “our foreigner friends” in exchange for the selfsame bags of cowry.

  “Emema has penned a prophetic play that expands the Niger Delta canvass of oil, blood and gore to encompass such happenings as the stepping-aside episode after the June 12, 1993 annulled election, the recent uprisings in North Africa and the Arab world, etc”.

  For Emema, the moral of his play could be a challenge starring his native country in the face, “the story reveals itself; it is only a matter of time that the little things we do catch up with us”.

Gelede… The Dance Call Of Motherhood

14/1/12

ONE popular festival, apart from Eyo, that holds in Lagos and Republic of Benin, similar to North American festivals of Mardi Gras, is Gelede.

The fesitival, which incorporates dance, arts and music from all parts of Yorubaland, pays tribute to the female creative and mystical power (Iyawa Osoronga).

The celebration has so much meaning to every individual within this sub-culture, allowing each to love and laugh and honour the feminine contribution to Nigeria's rich cultural heritage.

Gelede has a storybook origin that involves a transition from matriarchal into a patriarchal society and targeted to reach out and soothe the anger of mythical mothers and ancestral spirits.

It is believed that the Yoruba woman possesses the secret of life itself with an intimate connection to almost being godlike (Iyawa Osoronga). The celebration is specifically tied to rituals pertaining to the great mother earth, serving to protect and honour women within the community as treasured for their talents and healing powers.

The celebration holds during the rainy season to ensure the land fertility and bumper harvest.

The Yoruba also perform Gelede ritual if there’s epidemic or drought so as to bring succour to the community in time of need.

Speaking with The Guardian, the Baba Egbe, Chief Akinola Akintunde who is in his 40s, said, “the festival is one unique feature that we treasure most in all our daily dealings. It has been in existence before I was born, our parents introduced us into it and we will forever keep the landmark. Its existence in Lagos is over 90 years because our Baba Lashe is over that age.”

He lamented the situation where so many youths have lost touch with their culture because their parents failed to introduce them to the belief system that should guide their activities.

Some of us who were born into it have been encouraging others to come and experience it. What really shies away many, especially the youth is the impression that it is made for the elderly alone, but that is no longer the case. Now, if you enter the shrine, you will see youths, which goes to say that whatever you are doing, you should show your children so that the legacy will not die because if you don’t, when you die, that is the end of it.

“The shrine is open to all and more dominated by the youth now, that is the difference between Gelede and other cultural group. In the Gelede shrine, there is no basic rule. The major rule is that at the front of the shrine, you won’t wear your shoe. It is not restricted to members alone. Any time we are having our nine days prayers, everybody is allowed to come in, unlike other shrines, if you are not initiated you can’t come in, is like a mother that welcomes all children.

“Unlike Eyo festival that is mostly targeted at burial ceremonies, Gelede is a social performance that is open to all without restrictions and with a soft rule.

“You don’t pull your shoes while the masquerade is dancing and we are open to invitation for celebration of any kind that our presence is needed.”

On the response of people to the festival, he said, it is yielding fruits now, as people are becoming conscious of going back to their roots. “The response of people towards the festival has been very positive. Our last festival was with the theme of Let’s join hand to celebrate our culture and preparation is in top gears for next one, which holds in April.”

On why our culture is on the verge of extinction, Akintunde said, “is due to our commitment to other ventures for development. The solution is exposing our children to the beauty of our cultural heritage, which is not the responsibility of the government alone. The parents have a major role to play in all of this.”

Though the government has a role to play in the culture promotion and preservation, Akintunde insists, this seems not to be the case. “Our government, over time, played down on our culture to make money, which to a large extent, is having an adverse effect on us. Before the involvement of the government in Eyo, it had been practiced for a long time. What the government does is to use culture to make money. They are not interested in building anything,” he said.

According to him,“before Gelede festival holds, a particular date is set with male priests notifying the community regarding the festival location and time. Messengers are sent across the community to inform singers, drummers and maskers about the event. Masks are specifically made for the celebration while masks previously used are retouched and embellished with a variety of motifs.”

On the afternoon of Gelede, a priestess will prepare a meal with the hope that the offerings will bring good fortune to the community. The festival begins with a concert held in the market place, lasting all through the night called Efe night. The celebration consists of many masked actors who perform a call to the gods (Falola). The performance also includes an orchestra that keeps the beat for actors, including intricate dance steps and drumming that give rhythm to the dances all done in honour of ‘our mothers’, female ancestors and female orisha (goddesses).”

The Gelede dancers are men, yet represent both men and women in their performance; the dancers are hidden under a costume of brightly coloured fabric composed of borrowed women's head ties, skirts as symbols of the cultural theme, ‘Our Mothers’.

A four or five year-old boy's performance first, older children go next, followed by teenagers and then adult men. The dance always ends when the sun sets, with a special celebrated mask, which closes the festival (Occasions 4). Though the festival ends, the warm spirit of the celebration remains with people throughout the year.

A literary contest of fame, fortune opens_

A new, innovative literary competition, Literary Star Search, has opened for Nigerian writers in the short story category. The star prize is ONE MILLION naira (N1m). The second and third placed writers win three and two hundred thousand naira (N300,000 & N200,000) respectively. The first 25 best stories will be published in a collection to be called Stories Nigeriana.

Also, as part of promoting and rewarding the talent of Nigerian writers, suitable stories from the collection will be entered into such famous international competitions as the Caine and Commonwealth literary prizes at the expense of organisers, Creative Alliance. Moreso, a nationwide reading tour will be packaged to promote writers in the collection, with a view to assisting to publish works they already have.

Organised by Creative Alliance, Literary Star Search is looking for the best short story writers with a view to nurturing, promoting and rewarding them handsomely in an explosive night of literary feast. The competition is also aimed at making real stars out of Nigerian writers that have long remained in the shadows of other stars in other less ennobling areas of the arts in spite of writers’ huge contributions to the nation and world culture.

To apply, writers are to submit a short story on any subject of their choice not more than 3,500 words, with entry fee of three thousand naira (N3,000). They are to enclose a N3,000-worth of bank draft obtainable from any branch of Zenith International Bank Plc nationwide with their entry, and addressed to Creative Alliance. Entries are to be submitted either by hand to 1 Oladosu Street, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos or mail (not e-mail) through courier service or any NIPOST office across the nation to c/o PO Box 2442 Ikeja, Lagos.

Deadline is March, 2012.

For further information or enquiries, writers are to visit: www.creativeallianceng.com; www.literarystarsearch.blogspot.com; www.creativealliance.blogspot.com.

The Literary Star Search project is powered by Vonds Verticals and Housing Circuit.

Arthouse

9/12/11

Wole Soyinka Award holds today

The sixth edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reeporting holds today at NECA Hall, opposite Afrika Shrine, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Time is 5pm.

Terra Kulture art and craft fair opens today

The third Terra Kulture Art and Craft Fair opens today at the multi-purpose hall of the cultural centre. Sculptural pieces, textile materials, jewelry, leather work, print and fashion accessory would be displayed at the fair.

Media Leaders Forum kick start 2011 NMMA

THE 2011 Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) ceremonies starts today with a Media Leaders Forum to discuss and proffer solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the industry. The forum is part of event lined-up for this year’s programme, which is holding on December 11 in Akure, Ondo State.

AMMA 2012: call for entries still open

The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has called for feature, short and documentary entries for its 2012 edition to be held in April in Nigeria. The deadline for submission is December 30.

TS3 presents black music

TS3, in conjunction with Locomotive events presents Black Music carnival media/stakeholders party today at Bogobiri, Maitama Sule, Ikoyi, Lagos by 6pm. Brands supporting the media party include Indomie Noodles, Climax Energy drink, Mode Men magazine. The members of the Board of advisors are Yeni Kuti, Dr. Chris Nwaokobia, Benson Idonije, Bikiya Graham Douglas, Mallam Okwechime Abdul, Jahman Anikulapo and Kole Payne.
Ayanbinrin, Adunni & Nefertiti, Goke Bajowa, Crown Troupe of Africa and lots of upcoming arts are billed to perform at the event.

PINA, award winning film in 3D, for screening tomorrow

Goethe-Institut Nigeria in conjuction with iRep Documentary Film Forum (iREP) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) holds its December edition of the Monthly Film Screening tomorrow at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos. Time is 3pm.

The choice flick is PINA, a feature-length dance film in 3D, based on the life and works of Pina Bausch, directed by German director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club). It features the unique and inspiring art of the great German choreographer who died in

summer of 2009.

Cassava Republic hosts Christmas Fair

The Abuja-based independent book publisher, Cassava Republic Press, will hold a Christmas Fair at its new bookshop/gallery in the Arts and Craft Village, opposite Abuja Sheraton Hotel, tomorrow from 4 to 7pm. Kids will be treated to an afternoon of storytelling and art tutorials at the event.

DAME Media Excellence award on Sunday

THE 20^th edition of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence will hold on Sunday at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja. 22 prizes will be awarded to deserving individuals and organisations in the fields of print journalism, broadcasting and advertising.

Christmas Magic Concert at MUSON Centre

ArtColony International (ACI), a creative arts and entrepreneurial organisation, is giving hope and addressing basic needs of the society this season through it yearly end-of-year community-centred concert tagged Christmas Magic!

Billed to hold on December 16 at Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos, this edition will feature young and highly skilled musicians (instrumentalists and singers) performing for the purpose of winning a community development project in the various communities they represent.

Headlining this year’s concert is actress, Kate Henshaw; Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Choir, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc Choral group, added to the growing list of supporting organizations.

Souk Feast at Abule Café, as Zebra Living unveils Ngozi Dress

Zebra Living, an arm of The Life House, on Sinari Daranijo Street Victoria Island, Lagos, will host its second Food and Lifestyle Souk.

Other events lined up for the month at The Life House include, In Conversation with Prof. Niyi Osundare, December 14, 6pm to 8pm; book reading with Lola Shoneyin. Mayowa and the Masquerades and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, 5pm to 8pm, December 17 and Poetic License hosted by Wana Udobang, December 24, 6pm to 9pm

Stars for FAB Night out

The second edition of FAB night out holds on Sunday at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The yearly event brings together the best hand in the entertainment, fashion and musical industry across the country. The nominees list unveiled recently includes Kate Henshaw Nuttal, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Jim Iyke, Ramsey Nouah, Nse Ikpe Etim, Mike Ezuruonye and Majid Michael and others.

An afternoon with George Osodi

George Osodi in a well researched work has tried to address the derelict conditions of human existence in the Niger Delta in his book - Niger Delta – The Rape of Paradise. The book presentation comes up on Saturday, December 17 by 3pm, at the Folomo Shopping Centre, Ikoyi.

Momoh, PRCAN, others mourn Opubor

7/12/11

THE death of the great communications scholar, Prof. Alfred Opubor, continued yesterday to attract tributes .

Former Information Minister, Tony Momoh, said : “Opubor’s death is a tragic loss to the communications industry. He has left a good legacy that every communicator should follow. He has influenced communications students at all levels that I am aware of. In my days as minister of information, he helped in development and restructuring of mass communications departments. Because of the work he has done both in Nigeria and Africa we miss him.”

According to the Vice President and Secretary General of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Chido Nwakanma and John Ehiguese respectively, “Opubor was not only the first Nigerian professor of mass communications and first man in Africa to earn a doctorate degree in communications, but he brought panache and distinction to the communications profession. He taught many generations of mass communications professionals who proudly bear the imprint of his ministration as a teacher.

“PRCAN counts in its fold many public relations professionals who benefitted from the tutelage of Prof. Opubor. The pioneer Chairman of the News Agency of Nigeria not only taught but helped to develop platforms and paradigms of best practice across the mass communications fields of journalism, advertising, public relations and development communications. We pray God to console his family and the nation.”

A former colleague of Opubor at Radio Nigeria in the 60’s, Benson Idonije, said : “He was a good writer, articulate and brilliant in all his contributions to the mass communications genre.” humble and assuming, his death is a great lost to the to us as communicators.”

Professor of Communication, Lai Oso, said “is a big lost to all of us, he was a role model to a good number of us even as my lecturer. We have lost a giant to the Mass communication school not only in Nigeria alone but the entire Africa at large.

For Sobowale. “Is a great lost to me, three months back we talked but there was no sign that that was the last I would hear from him. At the moment we have concluded arrangement to host a conference in honour of him before the news of his death. Is a lost to Nigeria and to other parts of the world’s academia even as valuable contributor to the to the international community. We miss him and his impact to the mass communication.

Tunde Akanni. “It came at a time not expected, so shocking and devastating, is a man so loved in the academia. He is a mentor, teacher, opinion leader, he is not in the conservatives that would not want to be involved in the growth of the young once rather he gives every necessary advice to grow every upcoming broadcasters. He is one of the few you can relate with, always available to help one move on with life. His death is a great lost for all of us, I pray we see another like him.

Adesina wins Editor of the year’s award at CMA

5/12/11

file:///Users/michael.orie/Desktop/Adesina.jpgThe Editor and Deputy Editor in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina has won the Dele Giwa Prize for Best Editor of the Year at the Celebrity Media Awards (CMA), which is aimed at contributing to the development of journalism in Nigeria.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Media Ace, Olajide Ige, “the awards are to recognize and encourage excellence, professionalism, and deliberative journalism which has come to stay in Nigeria.

The award is open to all Nigerian journalists in print and broadcast media, whose works and reports are focused on people, events and life style with the winners selected through an SMS-based collation.

Celebrating with the winners, former Commissioner for Information Lagos State, Dele Alake, said the award is not to over stretch anybody’s ego or to rub any body’s back but a clarion call to rededication to those lofty principles, ethics and norms.

“ The award is a challenge to perform better, it is not to say I have arrived, because there is an intrinsic value attached to it and the world is expecting a higher standard from you. We need to rededicate ourselves to whatever we need to do to carry everybody along. Let us keep the flag flying as we continue to make our nation proud”

Other winners and categories are: The Best Investigative Award to Ishola Balogun of Vanguard with the story: Woman Deliver seven babies in 11 months .

Best Celebrity Award went to Musikilu Mojeed of Next Newspaper with:Oil minister, her jeweler and their sweetheart .

Best Fashion and Style Magazine Award was won by City People Magazine; Best Showbiz Writer was clinched by Azu Amatus, Entertainment Express; Best Political Reporter (Print) was Oladosu Emmanuel of The Nation; Television, was Austin Okira of AIT; Best Editor (Female) Funke Egbemode, The Sun; The Best Movie Reporter of the year, Juliana Orji, High Society Magazine; The MKO Abiola Prize for Celebrity Magazine was won by City People; Weekend Newspaper Award, Saturday Punch; The Best Online Fashion and Style, Bola Akinboade blog; the Most popular Serial on TV, Super story by Wale Adenuga Production; The Most Popular Television Station, African Independent Television; the Best News Station, Channels Television; the Most Popular on Air Personality, Gbenga Aruleba, AIT; The Best Audience participation programme on TV, Kakaki the African voice, AIT, among others.

God’s Time For Man in print

2/12/11

The five –chapter glossy book, God’s Time For Man, with the image of a man who is reflecting events in his – both good and bad times, no doubts, is a good read.

Published by Dynamic ERA Global Service, Lagos and authored by Pastor Henry Adeyemo, the book views time as the most essential commodity on earth. Everything responds to or is changed by it. The book looks at the race of life, and how human beings, are governed by time.

In all the pages, the author takes both philosophical and biblical journey. And in the book’s philosophical excursus, it concludes that each man has equal amount of hours freely given by providence. A few end up glad to have achieved something worthwhile within the time frame while others regrettably look on for wasting their portion of time.

The author, as a pastor, recalls the story of God and Abraham, and how, Abraham waited for 24 years for him to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. Though nothing around Abraham suggested that the promise was still valid considering the passage of time, soon, the Patriarch was to know that time cannot render God’s promises invalid.

In the third chapter, while dealing with the How To Provoke The Time Of Visitation, the author gives brief details of achievers who critically took advantage of time and made a remarkable change in this world, dating back from 1863 to 1947. Mary Bellis and Henry Ford were among the subjects of discourse.

While looking back into the past, the author did not fail to proffer solution to the problem of time and how well human beings are able to utilise it to meet their needs.

The author, also using Sarah’s barrenness, explains that natural laws are reversed or totally suspended when God comes visiting. “That is why we should not worry about anything at all. In human language, we say certain things are getting out of hands when we lose control of them but nothing really gets out of the hands of God. Whatever is getting out of your hands should be allowed to get unto the hand of God.”

“That God temporarily leaves a problem does not mean He is not going to solve it. He had been visiting Abraham yet Sarah’s barrenness remained. This was because there is time appointed for God to return and specifically address the problem.”

The author advised that crying over lost opportunities that won’t be brought back is not the solution, rather people should seek God’s face for a fresh visit from above. God chooses when to visit you with a miracle according to the time of life; you can, however, accelerate it by the culture of praising Him.

According to the author, “Faith will keep your eyes on the invisible; patience will keep your feet at the right pace and praise will keep your spirit in the right state for the time of His visitation. I pray you wont miss your time of visitation, in the might name of Jesus”.

Though there are some grammatical errors in the book arising from little attention to details, it is a good read for those that feel their present situation need a change, those who no longer have hope and also for those that want to think how to better their future on the platform of time.