Speaking of the darkest Part of Nigeria History, every student of history should always remember to document the civil war that broke out in 1967. The country Nigeria we all celebrate today had once been a country on the edge of total collapse, sucked of buoyant of tribulations of killing, gruesome murder and suffering. Just like other civil wars we’ve seen or witnessed in other parts of the world, the bedrock of these wars are always inspired as a result of tribal or Ethnic jingoism. Truth be told, I was never born nor my parents were born when the war…
Author: Bankole Taiwo James
By Bankole Taiwo “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground”. The declining progress in our education system today is finally calling for alarm and remember, a country that lost its education has lost its pillar and is already a dead country. Over the last seven months things have not really been in good shape, the country’s education system which is meant to be progressing forward, instead is going backwards due to unpleasant situations that surround the system. Let me start from the angle of Junior College with the recently ridiculous, barbaric and uncivilized incident that happened…
A lot of mundane claims over the centuries have been issued to justify the 1985 coup that ousted the former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari. According to some analysts, they lay claims that some of the issues that triggered the removal of the then former Head of State from office by Rtd. General Ibrahim Babangida can still be seen happening even during his current administration as the Executive President of Nigeria under democratic rule. When he (Buhari) was the military head of state, he initiated some laws which ironically did not sit well with the masses. Also, the sacking of…
In this article, we shall revisit how African heroines contributed to the survival and prosperity of their tribes. Previously, we’ve looked into the history and stories of great African Nigerian Heroines cutting across the three main tribes – “ Aba women (Igbo) and Queen Amina of Zaria (Hausa) and for the third and final episode on African Heroines, we shall dive into the story of one of Yoruba great heroine’s “QUEEN MOREMI AJASORO”. In this article, we will learn of the remarkable story of Queen Moremi Ajasoro—Africa’s lady liberty—from the medieval Kingdom of Ile‐Ife (also called Ife) in modern‐day Nigeria.…
By Bankole Taiwo Historically, Journalism in Nigeria has gone a long way. In terms of its historical origin, journalism in Africa begins in countries like Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia, and was started by Anglican missionaries. However, Journalism in Nigeria emerged when Reverend Henry Townsend, the founder of journalism in Nigeria, introduced the profession by publishing the first tabloid ‘Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba’ on November 23, 1859, who wouldn’t have imagined how far his innovation would enlarge through the decades. It’s been over a century and decades now, and journalism in Nigeria has transformed tremendously from a local-based…
BY BANKOLE TAIWO JAMES Back in 1940s in Chicago, precisely 1941 two Farm Security Administration photographer named Russell Lee and Edwin Rosskam traveled around Windy City of Chicago on a assignment during spring of 1941. The assignment was an epic documentary photography project that centered on America’s cities, the day-to-day living for residents on the south side of Chicago. Rosskam and Lee with Richard Wright as a guide, spent three weeks ranging throughout the city, from Maxwell Street through the impoverished “kitchenette” neighborhoods to wealthier areas near 47th street, capturing the city’s narrow, densely populated Black Belt during the greatest…
Prof. Bolanle Awe. Circa: 1992, posited that “The task of piecing together women’s history has been difficult. So acute is the dearth of information, particularly documentary evidence, that some of the outstanding women in history have been mistaken for men and their achievements, attributed to male rulers!” Objectively, history has not been fair in recording the contributions of women to nation-building. History overlook their achievements and the role they played in history, the high value that women bring to the table has almost been reduced. But for the record, the circle of life is not complete without women in its…
The Oyo Empire was founded around 1300CE by Oranmiyan of the Yoruba people of West Africa. An empire ruled by Alaafin “igba-keji orisa”, who descended from the historical figure, Oduduwa or Olofin. In the early sixteenth century, Oyo was still a minor state with little power against its northern neighbors. The state was led by Oranmiyan, the first Alaafin of Oyo, who gained the position based on his prowess and strong reputation as a military leader. By the second half of the century, the power of Oyo began to grow when the Alaafin Orompoto began using the wealth derived from…
In terms of cultural output, Nigeria is unrivalled in Africa. One of the ways in which it exhibits its culture and heritage is through the art of “Music”. Nigerian music projects its style, message, and structure in a unique way which represents a historic relationship with the past and gives opportunity of learning in order for the present to be understood better. Our style of traditional music is that type of music that is created entirely from traditional elements such as Apala, Sakara, Waka, Fuji, and Afrobeat music. However, the major focus here is the “Apala music”. Apala is a…
The incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities are a response to the Nigerian Government’s refusal to honour several agreements signed by both parties. It is a strategic move by the union to compel the government into a response. However, this has yielded no result and on the contrary, continues to frustrate the ambitions and aspirations of Nigerian students. Undoubtedly, in Nigeria, today, ASUU and its current strike lead other major discussions – of course aside from the 2023 electioneering preparation. What is this association about? How was it created? Why was it created? In 1965, the Union…
Women’s engagement is crucial and it is important to recognize that women are not a homogeneous group depending on whether women are young or older, educated or uneducated, live in rural or urban areas, they have very different life experiences that lead to different priorities and needs, but unfortunately, women roles and contribution have not been properly documented and recorded like that of men history. The meaningful participation of women in national, local, and community leadership roles has become an important focus of global development policy. Still, some may ask why it matters if women become political leaders, elected policymakers,…
By Bankole Taiwo James Music has become an integral part of people’s lives – in Nigeria and Africa at large. It follows us through our entire day from early in the morning till late at night and through all the changes of our life, from the very moment we came into this world until after we have left. African Traditional music, in many ways, represents a historic relationship and continuity with the past and gives the opportunity of learning in order that the present may be better understood, exactly what history teaches us. Our style of traditional music is that…
By Bankole Taiwo James Around 1300s, the history of Oyo begins when the kingdom was founded by Oranmiyan, the ancestral father and the first Alaafin of the kingdom. As of the early 16th century, Oyo was still a minor state with little power ruled by Oranmiyan, the fourth Ooni of Ife and the youngest of Oduduwa’s sons, the father of Yoruba nation, who grew up to become a popular man endowed with great physical powers and prowess. By the second half of the century, the power of Oyo began to grow when Alaafin Orompoto use the wealth derived from trade…