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ISSUE ONE A beautiful state of mind, resonates and becomes the aura you breathe But you’ve been raped of your pride, your flowers rot in a wreath Do you need to be told, what you once carried with grace? That’s been stripped of you, without a trace? Listen Carefully my Naija, You are who you want to be You are who you believe you could be You decide the heights you reach and see Why listen to the mouth, that knows not your heart Look inwards naija...there lies the success of your flight Don’t put yourself down, Don’t abandon your crown You earned it you know, so wear it with a glow
A collage of images linking our past to our present...and future.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR SOLA KUTI
EDITOR ZAHRA MOHAMMED
PHOTOGRAPHY QUART PHOTOGRAPHY LEKE ADENUGA TUNDE ADEYEMI DAVID NJOKU CHIKE NWACHUKWU SAM EFFIONG
LAYOUT / DESIGN SOLA KUTI
FEATURES ZAHRA MOHAMMED
RESEARCH INTERNS DAYO ADEYELURE TOUN ADEKOYE
CONTRIBUTORS
YOUTH RESEARCH I SWITCHED ON MAGAZINE I LIFESTYLE
www.switchedonnaija.com
A Naijatalk Limited Research Publication focused on the Nigerian Youth Market The views or opinions expressed in this publication or contents of advertisements are those of the contributors adn correspondents concerned and do not reflect the views or policies of Switched On, Naijatalk, the editor, publisher, printer or advertising agency, who do not accept responsibility for misinterpretation or fact in the subject matter or advertisement contained herein. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a system or transmitted in any form or by any other means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Naijatalk Limited. Copyright is vested. Articles, which are published verbatim, contain the appropraite acknowledgements.
CHIAKA G. NWANERI-MOHAMMED ISIOMA NDEP ADA UDE-AMANTA LEKE ADENUGA REV. OLUSEGUN KUTI YINKA AYANLOWO BAMISE OGUNBUNMI AYO AWE MOZEZ PRAIZ ARC. SESAN KUTI BOLAJI FINNIH BAYO ADENUGA
Impregnate this life with hope I sit here typing this mind-note Noted in this piece I look desperately for frustration’s antidote Though my country counts me in its census It looks too far to hear the routes of our curse. I choose to impregnate this life with hope I embrace with pride, the life of magaret ekpo I digest the lyrics of the soundsultan’s motherlan I move to the reverb from the strings of Asa My courage and inspiration i draw from Fela While learning from achebe and soyinka I’ll never forget the vision and passion of ken saro-wiwa. Listen Naija, what’s yours can’t be abandoned this time Life has made this your home; the past did place you on a throne. People definitely need the wake up call, the need to see the height they are about to fall. What does the poetic fusion of lyrics and content have to do with nation building? This is what some say when I spit the words my mind chooses to whisper to my ears. I feel I need to explain what our minds process before we give them up to be tested. An identity rooted in self and individual pride, becomes our strongest amour against the conventional mind-shackles who believe that their identity is a curse. Funny but true, Naija has never had it this easy before sola kuti
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maRgaret ekpo (1914 - 2006)
This true daughter of Naija was a politician and pioneer activist of women’s rights. Born in 1914 in Creek Town (Calabar, Cross River State) she served her country in several capacities; as a Member of the Eastern House of Chiefs, Member of Parliament and as a delegate and Nigerian Representative at various International conferences. This role model for many young girls definitely earned her stripes and was awarded the Order of the Niger (OON) as far back as 1962!
jara
Wanting to organize women into more politically aware groups, she put a tight plan into action in Aba in the mid 40’s: buying up all the available salt, she sold only to members of the Aba Market Women Association, whom she kept updated with political happenings through regular meetings. Any woman who was not registered could not get her hands on salt! Eventually husbands who got tired of eating tasteless chow had to let their wives register as members of the association.
Through this medium, she conveyed all the information she gathered from her political meetings to other women, keeping them informed.
PHOTOGRAPHY: QUART FOTOGRAPHY, MODEL: IK, CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SOLA KUTI
The British Overseas Airways Corporation which later became the British Airways we know today used to fly the Lagos - London route.
Into the 60s, the birth of an identity
Nearly 50 Years of GreenWhite-Green. This bold design has a fresh, modern feel but was designed way back in 1958 by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a student from Ibadan. The green bits represent agriculture (keep farming, guys) and the white bit in the middle signifies unity & peace. We heard someone say that every time they look at the flag they think: peaceful, united farmers. Chosen from nearly 3000 entries in a competition for a new National Flag, it was first officially hoisted on 1st October 1960* NEW IDENTITY, NEW ANTHEM
Our new identity became our pride. University students, early 60’s. These sharp suited brothers represented our potential to become the greatest country in Africa. As a newly independent nation with a new flag and new identity, we had promise and we had style. Check out those well shined shoes.
1959 / 1960 Nigeria we hail thee, Our own dear native land, Though tribe and tongue may differ, In brotherhood we stand, Nigerians all, are proud to serve Our sovereign Motherland.
Before 1960 the British National Anthem was in use Our flag shall be a symbol in Nigeria. That truth and justice reign,
Shortly after independence, a new anthem – Nigeria We Hail Thee – was written by two British women and adopted as the new anthem. 8
In peace or battle honoured And this we count as gain, To pass on to our children A banner without stain. O God of all creation, Grant this our one request, Help us to build a nation Where no man is oppressed, And so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.
fine boy footballers With hairstyles like this our boys could’ve won the style awards. Imagine the agony of messing up your hairdo to head a ball. We wonder - did they comb their hair and straighten their partings during half time?
musicians that rocked in English by a West African.’
Published in 1954, People of the City was acclaimed as ‘the first major novel
These guys went on to start the ‘look good even when you have to sweat’ trend which most of our boys continued. Even in sportswear you’ve got to look like a million bucks. (Think Taribo’s memorable hairdos and Amokachi’s sharp cut)
tinubu square in the 60’s
Dan Maraya Jos, Haruna Ishola, IK Dairo, Tunde Nightingale, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Sefiu Ayan, Kasumu Adio, Ayinla Omowora, Stephen Osita Osadebe, Victor Uwaifo and Orlando Owoh
it’s a party y’all ! The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, July 1967 – January 1970, This was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra. The war became notorious for the alleged genocide and starvation in some beseiged areas.
PHOTOGRAPHY: QUART FOTOGRAPHY, MODEL: COLLINS , TUNDE , CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SOLA KUTI
slamming tunes
PRINCE NICO MBARGA & ROCAFIL JAZZ SIDE 1 1. SWEET MOTHER 2. WAYO IN-LAW SIDE 2 1. AKI SPECIAL 2. CHRISTIANA A FEW SWEET FACTS • Prince Nico and his band Rocafil Jazz are best known for their popular 1976 hit, ‘Sweet Mother’ • The single, released on the Onitsha label “Rogers All Stars”, was a pan- African hit that sold over 10 million copies • Sung in Pidgin English, the song became one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music. • The lively fusion of West African highlife and East African percussion was voted ‘Africa’s favourite song’ by readers and listeners on BBC’s Network Africa programme in 2005. • Unfortunately the talented Prince Nico Mbarga died in 1997 after a road accident.
the seventies
In 1974, crude oil production reached a peak of 1.4 million barrels per day, at the beginning of the oil boom. Unfortunately, this marked the gradual decline in agricultural contribution to Nigeria’s economy. We
forgot about the green bits on our flag!
the anthem
we memorized and spent our childhoods reciting was developed in 1978. When a competition was organized for a new National Anthem, various parts of the 5 best entries were merged to form the words we know today. The music was composed by Nigerian Police Band, headed by Ben Odiase. 12
Kegites Club (www.kegitesclub.co.uk) Established in the 60’s as the Palmwine Drunkards Club, the name was changed to the Kegites Confraternity in 1972. Some of the Club’s most interesting goals? To uphold the African cultural heritage, share palmwine, help members home when drunk (how helpful), relieve their minds from stress and help one another academically. Kegites are known for talking in slang and codes. Fela in words & numbers Born: 1938 Died: 1997 Created: Afrobeat Released: 77 albums Imprisoned: 3 times Over 300 court appearances Changed his band’s name 3 times, between the 60’s and the 80’s: from Koola Lobitos to Nigeria 70 to Afrika 70 to Egypt 80. By the mid seventies Fela was the African superstar...the best known African musician on the planet at that time...
Those bright orange boots are unmistakably the most recognizable thing about Youth Corpers today. But they haven’t always been around. The NYSC uniform has evolved over the years from the seventies look on the left to the T-shirts and orange boots we know today. Established thirty three years ago in May 1973 by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC has grown to such a level of National importance and acceptance that it is almost impossible to get a corporate job without first serving in the Youth Corps! “It creates opportunities for a country wide integration of youths, as diverse backgrounds meet, mesh and bond. This often leads to intertribal friendships and marriages.” the “cool dude” pose 101
Two young cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy strike a pose in the 70’s. The first of its kind in West Africa, the NDA was established in 1964 to train cadets to be commissioned into the 3 arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
In 1977 Nigeria hosted Festac 77, the 2nd Black and African festival of Arts and Culture, attracting Africans and people of African origin the world over. Thousands of visitors attended the event and an oil rich Nigeria built an entire town - Festac Town in Lagos - to accommodate the visitors.
the “cool dude” pose 102
The Peugeot 404 was a ride to be proud of in the 60’s and 70’s, which explains the serious posing going on here! Peugeots were extremely popular in Nigeria from the 50’s because they suited Nigerian road conditions. Remember the slogan ‘Built For Nigerian roads’? 13
King Sunny AdĂŠ was born Sunday Adeniyi on September 22 1946 in Oshogbo. Choosing music as his career in 1963, he played with Moses Olaiya and his Rhythm Dandies, a Lagos juju band, something his parents (from the royal family of Ondo town) frowned upon. For over 30 years, this music legend has thrilled fans worldwide with dynamic performances, creative videos and innovative recordings. With over 110 albums to his name, he continues to inspire both old and young musicians worldwide. He recently turned 60 and with his energy and passion, age remains nothing but a number for the King. 14
OPINION: What The 70’s & 80’s Mean to Me..
In truth, all most of us young folk really know about the 70’s (thanks to ‘That 70’s Show’ and John Travolta in ‘Saturday Night Fever) is the disco music and fashion. We had the latest European fashion from Paris to Milan; the home of fashion in Africa was Nigeria. Nigerian youths were respected in foreign shops and boutiques. We were the trend setters, the nouveau riche of the Dark Continent. Well the great misconception is that the 70’s were only for revelry; in reality young people also had to deal with serious issues. NYSC was conceived by the government with the aim of empowering the youths to impact on the interiors of country. The basis was to create an outreach consisting of fresh graduates who went to diverse locations in the country to share their knowledge through teaching and provision of basic medical and engineering service to remote locations in the country. There were more employment opportunities for youths on graduation; in fact they were headhunted even before school was out. The social amenities in that time were in perfect condition; the colonialists were just leaving after we had gained Independence
in the 60’s. This in turn meant that they enjoyed “Oyibo Magic” for a while. With an effective rail network and postal service, love was constantly in the air. You could believe in long distance relationships. (Kano to Lagos was possible - it was a simple train ride or love letter away.) Then there was the oil boom which was the single most important economic factor in that period. This lead to the Naira ranking equally with the British pound in terms of value. (Which meant, as hard as it is to believe, the Naira was more valuable than the dollar) The 70’s were a good time in general with our buoyant economic status, our amenities in first class order and our Gèngé fashions, although it wasn’t all rosy with the military interventions and all. The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not represent the views of this publication.
Was the Afro really the hippest thing, or was it the oversized glasses? Was it the crazy bell bottoms or maybe the 5 inch platforms or even the guys with shirts half undone sporting gold chains? (Yeah, the BLING BLING started WAY before now.)
Moving into the 80’s, we had good old WAI. If you think KAI (Kick Against Indiscipline) is a pain, its predecessor WAI (War against Indiscipline) was enforced with military like precision, with the slightest indiscretion punished with alacrity. (If you so much as zipped down to check yourself, not even pee...you’d soon be rubbing shoulders with the murderers in a nice comfy Black Maria.) Littering was not tolerated at all and if you were caught you would have gotten the ‘light sentence’ of one year in jail plus a tiny fine of 2000 Naira which was equivalent to 4000 Dollars - chicken change? I think not!! 15
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PHOTOGRAPHY: QUART FOTOGRAPHY, MODEL: YINKA, CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SOLA KUTI
big pimpin... Whether studying for an exam or reading memoirs of the Civil War, on those really hot days the 80’s student had to have a JVC boom box to supply the rocking disco, a bottle of Sport Cola to rehydrate and a KDK fan to provide the cool breeze.
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the eighties
Published in 1980, this book by a now - retired General in the Biafran War drew from the author’s war diary, detailing his eyewitness account of the three-year Nigerian civil war.
Remember taking an ‘instant’ Polaroid photo and waving it frantically while waiting for it to develop? Andre 3000 sang about it (“Shake it like a Polaroid picture”) in his 2003 hit ‘Hey Ya’. Though this model was introduced in 1972 it was considered “modern and cool” even in the 1980’s. 18
In 1980 the Super Eagles beat Algeria 3 – 0 in front of 80,000 football fans in Lagos, to win the 12th African Cup of Nations. The Team included Best Ogedengbe, David Adiele, Christian Chukwu, Babatunde Bamidele, Alloysius Atuegbu, Godwin Odiye (Ikhana Kadiri), Felix Owolabi, Okey Isima, Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Adokie Amiesmeka
1984 marked the formal introduction of Nigerians to a campaign of queues and frog jumps.
The War Against Indiscipline, a campaign of enforced discipline, was launched during the military rule of Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon. Who knew Wole Soyinka had it in him Nigerians were expected to to produce an album? This 80’s LP titled queue patiently, not litter and Unlimited Liability Company featured generally behave lyrics by Soyinka and was made up of songs in a disciplined developed from political sketches directed at manner, with offenders the civilian regime of Shehu Shagari. forced to The record’s censored status predictably frog jump increased its demand and it became a by soldiers. collector’s item. We got a copy.
During the Civil War in 1967, Soyinka was arrested, accused of conspiring with Biafran rebels and held as a political prisoner. He was released 22 months later and his 1972 book The Man Died: Prison Notes is his account of his experiences in prison. While in prison he also wrote poetry which was published in a collection titled Poems from Prison.
Professor Wole Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. As the first African writer to win the Prize, this was a win for the entire continent. Soyinka writes in English but draws from the philosophy, language and traditions of the Yoruba culture.
John Odafe Asiemo a.k.a. Daddy Showkey a.k.a. Ghetto Soldier is from Delta state and has earned fame, fortune and a huge fan base during his 16 years in the music industry. His story began in 1990 when Showkey and a group of boys in the ghetto of Ajegunle (AJ City) formed a band called ‘Sexy Pretty Boys’ and released their debut album ‘Biggy Belle’. Two other hit albums followed in 1991 and 1999 and through his music, he raised the profile of his place of birth, Ajegunle, paving the way for the young talented acts that have recently emerged from AJ City. An activist and man of the people, Daddy Showkey once led a peaceful protest march to draw attention to the neglect of Ajegunle by the Power Authority, the area having being denied electricity supply for a number of months. He also established a scholarship programme for Ajegunle children with the money he earned from his music.
PHOTOGRAPHY: QUART FOTOGRAPHY, MODEL: SOLA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SOLA KUTI
CULTISM , ARMED ROBBERY, POLITICAL UNREST, ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE, MOTOR ACCIDENTS, MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE, NATURAL CAUSES, VIOLENCE, IGNORANCE, RIOTS, AIDS, ACTIVISM,
THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIES OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS WHO PASSED ON
gone, but not forgotten,
A Nigerian author, television producer, and environmental activist, Saro-Wiwa was a member of the Ogoni people, an ethnic minority whose homelands in the Niger Delta have been targeted for oil extraction since the 1950’s. As President, of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental damage associated with the operations of multinational oil companies. In May 1994, he was arrested and accused of incitement to murder following the deaths of four Ogoni elders, Saro-Wiwa denied the charges, but was imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and sentenced to death by a tribunal. Ken’s death provoked international outrage and the immediate suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations in November251995. NIgeria was accepted back into the Commonwealth in May 1998.
the nineties
chief moshood kashimawo olawale abiola
(1937 - 1998)
The charismatic MKO was a businessman and political figure who many believed won the country’s fairest presidential elections in 1993. However, when the election results were annulled he was denied the opportunity to become President. Abiola died in captivity of a heart attack on July 7, 1998.
jand or yankee Are you in Jand or Yankee? In the 90’s many young people left our shores to either continue their education or find greener pastures overseas. The slang term “Jand”, refers to the United Kingdom while “Yankee” is used when referring the United States of America.
Born in 1964, Rashidi Yekini is a former football striker whose name was on every body’s lips in the Nineties. Scoring a total of 37 goals for Nigeria, Rashidi holds the record of being the national top goal scorer. He was a key member of the team that participated in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments. Rashidi – the man who hugged the net – was also on the team that won the 1994 African Nations Cup. 26
D Rovans Hotel, Club Towers, Double Four, Mr Biggs, Pintos, JKIC (Total Garden), Cotton Club, RoniesLyrics, Trans Amusement Park, City Tarvens, Daniels, Pachinos, Terris, Panchos, Museum Kitchen
The 90’s were ‘the lumberjack years’,with everyone wanting to dress like Snoop or Aliyaah, in oversized lumberjack shirts and Timberland boots.
“A person living in fear, not wanting to stand up for what he believed in or thinks, repressed by authority, fear and power” This state of mind was typical of the average Nigerian youth in the 90s, born out of 3 major events:
our hope to return to democratic rule from the bondage of military dictatorship was placed in the hands of M.K.O Abiola, the favorite candidate amongst the youths. He was referred to as the father of the youths, participating in sports and youth development. So when the election was annulled, the democratic dream and hopes of the youth went down the drain. Hope 93 which was
Also, the execution of Ken Saro- Wiwa (the leader of a group of militant minority youths who demanded resource control, respect for minority rights and compensation for oil pollution) dented the confidence of the youths in the Government and entrusted leaders. Thus there was an escalation of tension in the country; youths became more violent and more involved in politics and matters of the country, living in constant fear; a situation Fela called “suffering and smiling”..... For me the 3rd and most impressive incident on the youths was the death of the Abami Eda in 1997, the man that stood against any Government, father of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo- Kuti, who died of AIDS though he refused to acknowledge the cause of his illness.
The consequence is that the Nigerian youth who idolized him and his promiscuous lifestyle refused to believe that someone like Fela could have AIDS and thus continued to emulate his lifestyle leading to disbelief and the violent spread / lack of knowledge of the disease amongst the youths. Fela’s death also changed our music, bringing a whole new genre of music with every new young musician singing afrohip hop, afro- rap, afro- gospel; all having Fela’s rhythm and all being Fela wannabes............ Ok! Away from deaths and diving into entertainment, the M- Net Face of Africa competition which transformed our Oluchi Onweagba into a global modeling superstar continued to take ordinary young girls to be transformed into international models in the 90s... Also, the ‘96 Olympic gold medals won in football and long jump pumped the athletic / sporting blood into us youngsters. Everyone including our parents nursed a dream of their children becoming footballers and earning that much popularity plus of course, THE MONEY $$$ (yeah!!)
Our colleges
in the 90s were characterized by group memberships; foremost of them were the Cults and the Clubs. Cults were the most popular amongst the youths at that time because they were really powerful and received backing and sponsorship. They were radical, adventurous, daring and bloody, carried and flaunted firearms freely and were commonly used as thugs during riots or strikes or to stir up political unrest.
yinka ayanlowo
Cults were as powerful as members calmly strolling into an exam hall and gunning down 15 people or storming a room of sleeping students and killing 5 of them in cold blood (OAU 1999). Other students were maimed, disfigured, sexually assaulted by these cultists and lived in constant fear. Schools were constantly closed because of cult clashes; due to this and the declining standards of education as a whole, migrating abroad was the order of the day and became a ritual amongst the youths.
Our fashion sense was late and
incoherent. In a desperate move to “feel among”, we did things without thinking imagine wearing a head warmer in Naija, HOW NOW?! We didn’t have easy access to information and were late on fashion and entertainment news. For cable TV it was ABG then, which was unpopular and expensive. The Internet was uncommon and expensive, the communication system was slow and the only mobile telecom was the ‘090’ cellular number common amongst only the rich... looking back, life was BORING! Hang out spots were limited; night clubs could be counted on one hand – in Lagos it was Club Towers, Coliseum, etc. Mr. Biggs was the eatery of that time (also Double Four) and ‘boogle’ and ‘butterfly’ were the favored dance steps...Poor us, we were repressed, backward but not dead!
Generally, the 90s Nigerian youth was, though funky, a bit backward compared to the rest of the world. 27
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not represent the views of this publication.
OPINION: Our Lives in the 90’s
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PHOTOGRAPHY: QUART FOTOGRAPHY, MODEL: KAY CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SOLA KUTI
Some have described Nollywood as an idea that evolved into a amazing phenomenon. In just 13 years, this industry has grown into a $250 million dollar-a-year empire employing thousands of Nigerians and a few foreigners who get bit parts every now and then (think Abi in Big Brother Africa) Outselling Hollywood films in Nigeria and many other African countries, research and online website databases such as www.wikipedia.com suggest that some 300 producers churn out movies at an astonishing rate somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 a year. New titles are delivered to Nigerian shops and market stalls every week, where an average film sells 50,000 copies. Discs go for between N250 and N300, making them affordable for most Nigerians and providing astounding returns for the producers. By offering audiences characters they can identify with, in stories that relate to their everyday lives, Nollywood directors know they struck a goldmine.
naijatalk...101 The use of pidgin english, slangs, local languages and expressions have helped fuel the Naija Identity Movement (Naija-Luv) evident in our youth today. Our music has even made it to the must play list at the clubs. This was a “dont even try” move a few years back.
From ‘090’ tony tetuila
The rise and rise of Nollywood Stars... The Americans have Hollywood, the Indians have Bollywood and we have Nollywood, a moviemaking phenomenon where as one comedian put it “a movie and its sequel can be written, acted and released in a week.”
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Although filmmaking in Nigeria began as far back as the 60’s, Nollywood as we know it refers to home videos (not cinematic films) and began in the 80’s when local language videos began to appear. Many agree that a key point in the history of Nollywood is the 1992 release of ‘Living in Bondage’, the first blockbuster in English. Now the trend in Nollywood is to shoot in foreign countries, with the lead actors traveling to Europe and America to film key scenes. Nollywood productions are marketed all over the world; wherever on the globe you can find Nigerians, you will most likely find a Nollywood movie. A few famous faces: Pete Edochie, Liz Benson, RMD, Sola Sobowale, Hilda Dokubo, Zack Orji, Jide Kosoko, Regina Askia, Bimbo Akintola, Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh (Osofia), Desmond Elliot, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Oge Okoye, Oby Kechere, Dakore Egbuson, Ernest Obi, Saint Obi, Stella Damasus-Aboderin, Caroline Ekanem...
to ‘080’ Evry1 hs a fone ths days; its almst unhrd of 4 a yng prson nt 2 hav a fone :-) In the nineties the only mobile phones around were big, bulky and belonged to MDs, CEOs and other bigshots. However, with the arrival of GSM technology in 2001, now everyone carries a phone. Today phones are no longer just functional devices, they have become an extension of your personality and an expression of who you (and your pocket) are. Amongst young people it is an unspoken rule that one’s phone should have a camera, a v-cam, polyphonic ring tones, games, outrageous screensavers and a voice recorder...
entertain me please! Nigerian music and videos have come a looong way from those boring ones in the 80’s which seemed to be shot on the same beach or in the same studio, with the same microphones and backup dancers. Now in recent years we have professional filmmakers shooting videos in interesting locations with tight dance routines and powerful post production. And our music? Slammin’. It’s now possible to play only Nigerian hits and not have the crowd leave the dance floor. PARTY RECIPE : Styl Plus, DBanj, P-Square, Tu Face, Ruff Rugged & Raw, Jazzman Olofin, Paul Play Dairo, African China, Tony Tetuila, Weird MC, Marvelous Benjy, Street Monks, Dare, Asa, OJB, 2 Shot, Sasha, Sound Sultan...
P -square
customize my clothing (the me-brand series) The Naija Identity is evolving, slowly infiltrating virtually all aspects ot our daily life. The Youth are transforming themselves into their own unique brands.The ‘Me Brand’ has become a trend amongst students who are transforming themselves into their own unique brands, applying their nicknames, slangs and personal slogans onto clothing, screensavers and their very own blogs.
Birth name: hukwu A.k.a Michael Ugoc Stephens as Also known rsial Mr. Controve er The Diss Mast
ber Born:20 Septem Nigeria ia, Ab : in ig Or Genre(s): p African hip ho
Occupation: Rapper
Label:
s Rugged Record
Website:
www. rugged
m manonline.co
IKEJA BOMB BLAST
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MAJOR PLANE CRASHES
We had our dark days, losing precious lives in plane crashes and disasters across the country. Our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues. May their souls rest in perfect peace. 31
Who needs Charlie’s Angels when we have our very own trio of wonder women. What do these super females have in common? Th
Dora Akunyili Prior to her present appointment, she was a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Pharmacologist in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka (U.N.N), Enugu Campus. Prof. Dora Akunyili (OFR) has been described as ‘a role model for Nigeria’, due to her unwavering crusade to root out fake medicines and substandard products. She is also an internationally renowned scholar, seasoned administrator and visionary leader who has won over 260 awards and recognitions locally and internationally.
Obiageli Ezekwesili
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
In January 2004 Obiageli Ezekwesili was named a recipient of Tuft University’s Dr Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award. The best graduating student of her class of 2000 from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the chartered accountant and management consultant has previously worked in the financial sector as the MD of a finance and investment company as well as with esteemed firm Akintola Williams & Co (Deloitte & Touche) in audit and consulting positions.
She has a place in our history as the first female to hold the positions of Finance Minister and Foreign Minister. Prior to her ministerial career in Nigeria, Dr. OkonjoIweala was a Vice-President of the World Bank, where she developed a reputation for hard work on democratization and debt management issues. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1981, she has a Ph.D in regional economics and development from MIT. She was awarded the Euromarket Forum Award for Vision and Courage in 2003.
if we had to list all the qualifications and awards these angels have earned, we’d have to build an entire website dedicated to them.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the ‘face’ of the EFCC. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has become a part of Nigerian everyday life since it was set up in 2002 to (amongst other things) identify, confiscate and discourage illegally acquired wealth. Headed by Ribadu, a 46 year old lawyer who was hand picked by President Olusegun Obasanjo in April 2003, the EFCC is particularly significant to the youth today because of its tough stance on cyber crime, which is mostly perpetrated by young people.
queens of africa / www. qu e e nsofa frica . ne t “Our children are exposed to a lot of Western vibes, negative and positive. This broadens their scope but what about moral and cultural values? A lot is lost under the guide of being cool and fashionable.” This forms part of the inspiration for the creators of the Queens of Africa dolls, a girl-child empowerment programme in Nigeria. Their dream is to present Nigerian girls with a Nigerian doll they can identify with, teaching them more about our culture, heritage and values as a society. Also available are the Queen of Africa comic books. www.queensofafrica.net
A Real Life African Queen Agbani Asenite Darego was only 18 years old when she won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant and the Miss World pageant in 2001. Winning the Miss World Pagent made Agbani the first-ever black African winner of the title, and seemed to make some young Nigerian men develop an appreciation for the slender look! THISDAY MUSIC CONCERT
Some of the biggest names in international music made their way to Nigeria for a 2 day concert in October 2006. Jay Z, Beyonce, Missy Elliot, Ciara and Snoop are just some of the big acts who stepped out of their MTV music videos and onto a Nigerian stage. 34
In October 2006, a group of young Nigerians partied their way into the Guinness Book of World Records. The Silverbird Danceathon, in collaboration with Nokia, became the world’s longest dance party lasting of 53 hours & 50minutes. Kafaya Shafau, won the star prize of N1.5 million and helped motivate her team, making them the party rockers of the year.
They’re on stages, on TV, on the radio and in an auditorium near you. They’re even on video cds and albums. Stand up comedians – they’re everywhere! Eight years ago stand up comedy as a profession in Nigeria was unheard of. Yes we’ve had the Baba Suwes entertaining us in TV shows for decades. But earning a living standing in front of people, faced with the challenge of making them laugh? Unthinkable. However, since the year 2000 stand up comedy has become the latest addition to the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
Roll call of a few funny ones : Ali Baba, Julius Agwu, Gbenga Adeyinka, Basorge Tariah, Basket mouth, I Go Die, Tee-A, Okey Bakassi, Teju Babyface, Holy Mallam, Klint D Drunk, Princess, Mandy...
You know you’ve made it when you’re known by your first name. (Think Oprah) Oluchi’s rise to fame began when the 17 year old with striking features won the 1998 MNet Face of Africa competition. The star prize was a 3 year modeling contract with Elite models and since then Oluchi’s increible resume has grown to include featuring in and on the covers of major international magazines, being the face of campaigns for GAP and Victoria’s Secret as well as extensive runway work.
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Nigeria a.k.a. Naija, Africa’s most populous nation. Granted independence from the British in 1960, this giant of Africa is blessed with natural resources that supply a whopping 3% of the world’s energy as well as human resources of over 120 million individuals, a significant percentage of which are individuals between the ages of 13 - 24 i.e. the youth.
Our young people range from big to small, corpulent to lanky, industrious to lethargic, educated to ignorant, brainy to downright brawny and, lest I forget, “cool” to “uncool”. You name it, we’ve got it. But let’s not get carried away by these stereotypical labels, they can often be misleading after all “variety is the spice of life”. I propose we advance to the crux of the matter...Nigerian at home or Nigerian in the diaspora, in spite of our moral, social, ethnic and religious differences we belong (consciously or otherwise) to one entity - the mother ship: ‘Naija!’
Nigeria is a diverse nation of over 250 tribes. These tribes or ethnic groups have cultural differences in their norms, values, folklore, food, clothing, even building practices and hair-dressing. 36
It is therefore the upshot that youth culture in Naija is anything but similar from one ethnicity to the other, rendering it virtually impossible to generalise youth culture in Naija without misrepresenting one set of people. The only fair generalisation that we can make of youth culture in Naija is to acknowledge the widespread influence of the West on it. This influence, existing in varying degrees from one town to the other, has infiltrated many facets of our social consciousness recruiting the youth as its closest affiliates. The greatest impetus for this impact has been the exposure of the youth to the media; especially television and radio mainly because they are so affordable and accessible. Other media like magazines and the internet can also be factored in although they do not have as much clout as the television.
MTV, VH1, Channel O and the movies have become the yardstick of the youth for what’s hot and what’s not. As a result we get our fashion sense, music preference and even points of view from them. I live in Lagos, a metropolitan where Western influences are most evident. The youth in Lagos like to dress the western way, eat the western way, listen to western music and, all in all, lead lives commensurate with western cultures. Often, these ways are adopted from the media and are not exactly accurate. A young lady or young man, like his counterparts everywhere else in the world who often have difficulty differentiating what’s fashionable and what’s reproachful, may dress a certain way or do certain things simply because he thinks it’s the western way of doing things,
ignorant of the fact that what you see on television is usually exaggerated.
We love western music especially the American styles of music; Hip-Hop, R&B, Rap, Neo Soul and so on. There is also a love for British styles of music like Garage music and Pop. We were part of the 50cent craze, we were also part of the Dancehall phase and Rock music is slowly making its way into the mainstream of youth culture in Naija.
This is not to say that the penchant of the youth for western music has totally phased out that for Nigerian music, but there is definitely a preference for these types of music over home-grown entertainment, The world is becoming a global village , it’s true. 37
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not represent the views of this publication.
Often times these excesses are so appalling that there is tension between the youth and our more conservative, more Nigerian-oriented parents and grandparents although other times they are laudable.
This applies to business transactions, affairs of state and it is only natural that it would apply to entertainment.
I won’t go on about westernisation as if we have absolutely no love for our own. It would be a fallacy on my part to suggest that there is no “Naija-luv” from the youth because it exists and it is evident. It is my personal opinion that it is PanAfricanism in the arts that has over time brought about a recent trend of enthusiasm for African, or more precisely Nigerian entertainment. Nigerian artists, sportsmen, former and present beauty queens and models have helped to bring back a longlost zeal for being Nigerian. People like Miss Agbani Darego; former Miss World, Kanu Nwankwo; former African footballer of the year, Chioma Ajunwa, Olympic gold-medalist; Tuface Idibia; actor and artist and a long line of others have helped to bring role-models closer to home.
Through the various works, achievements and most especially music, Nigerian artists have slowly but surely reminded us of our true identity. 38
There is now an unprecedented zeal for being Nigerian amongst the youth, you can now see the youth dressed up in their traditional Nigerian attire more commonly on a Sunday or at a traditional event. Parties and leisure events are not complete until Nigerian music is played. We attend and look forward to concerts and watch movies acted or presented by our own. We have also adopted more pro-Nigerian lifestyles.
Lifestyles led by the youth vary from home to home. Sometimes they are confined to a controlled environment guarded by their parents and other times they are given freedom, privileges as well as the right to make their own decisions. Normally, with age comes freedom and individuality. This is the time that the youth are free to revel in the party culture of Naija. From beaches to indoor and outdoor bars, night clubs to resorts and nice hotels to cinemas, shops, cafes and eateries. Let’s not forget concerts, comedy shows and jazz clubs.
The typical Nigerian youth is a politically conscious individual, due to one simple factor - our government’s competence or lack thereof. We deal with a constant stream of political and social issues on levels that most of our foreign counterparts will never have to fathom. From lack of basic social amenities and infrastructure to rising unemployment rates and corruption. All this in a country with enough natural resources to literally ensure the safety and comfort of every last human being within its territory and his/her preferred pet with leftovers to feed Polynesia. Ok, I may have exaggerated a bit, but let’s just say we have a lot. However, because of flagrant abuse of power, whoever has the money to buy whatever he/she wants more often than not gets their way. The person in question does no charity work or philanthropy and eventually gives nothing back to society, not even the services due to the office he or she represents.
The person obtains immediate gratification with money obtained by unscrupulous means and is later idolized by the commercial media simply for having money and doing The variety of places to go and things absolutely no good deeds to do are the “cherry on top of the sun- with it. We’ve seen this dae” that we as the youth of Naija pos- repeat itself over and over sess and we exploit it to the fullest. again in our society.
The consequence of this is the predisposition of many citizens of Naija, especially the youth, to believe that possessing money and material wealth is akin to deity; forgetful of the fact that material wealth is, in the end, evanescent.
Some of us, through the arts and small progressive societies, minister to one another, telling ourselves that as long as we work hard and stay hopeful there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.
This love for material wealth is so palpable that once during a broadcast on the BBC’s Focus on Africa, the radio presenter read out a theory which stated that Nigerians are the happiest people in the world but that their love for material wealth was the factor that mitigates this happiness.
It is
common knowledge
that whatever doesn’t kill you will only
Despite the reality of our situation we’re not sitting back waiting for manna to fall from heaven but are actually doing something about it in our own little way.
make you strong,
The youth of Naija are taking matters into their own hands. We are not waiting for jobs to be made available to us, but are creating jobs for ourselves.
which is why we’re still here! 39
University students, 2006. Our diversity is our pride. We’ve been through coups, riots, military rule and a Civil War. But we’re still one nation. These young people represent our potential to become the greatest country in Africa.
Forty six
years later we still have promise and we still have style.
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REFERENCES www. foreigndispatches.com,“Flags Through the Ages and Across the World” by Whitney Smith, 1975 (www.flagspot.net) AWS, www. bbc.co.uk, www. wrasserecords.com, www.wikipedia.com, www.onlinenigeria.com, www.kegites.co.uk, www.queensofafrica.net, www.iupress.indiana.edu, www.afrikanvogue.com, www.nafdacnigeria.org, www.cbaac.com, www.theconvention.org