NEWS

“I Will Tear My Green Card If Donald Trump Wins” – Wole Soyinka

Published

8 years ago

November 3, 2016

The Nigerian Nobel-winning author, now living in the US, tells Oxford students that it is up to young people to stand against ‘ultranationalism’ – in a speech that also took aim at Brexit and Bob Dylan.

The Nobel literature laureate Wole Soyinka has told students that if Donald Trump is elected president of the United States next week, he will leave the country.

“If in the unlikely event he does win, the first thing he’ll do is to say [that] all green-card holders must reapply to come back into the US. Well, I’m not waiting for that,” said Soyinka, who is scholar-in-residence at New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs this autumn. “The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up.”

The Nigerian playwright and poet, who was imprisoned in Nigeria during its civil war, later fleeing the country and receiving a death sentence in absentia, urged young people to stand up against oppression.

Giving a seminar to students at Oxford University’s Ertegun House, he also laid into Brexit, saying it was a “ridiculous decision”, and part of an international rise in what he called “ultranationalism”.

“What is happening in Europe shouldn’t surprise any of us … It has happened before,” he said. “We were here when Enoch Powell was leading his thugs out to drive blacks from here … it’s a constant fight to try to get a nation to recognise its own noble persuasions, its own persuasions of the loftiness of human possibility. It’s for young people like you to say no to them whenever that happens.”

Soyinka was Africa’s first Nobel laureate in literature, winning in 1986 for writing that “in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence”.

He told the students that African literature today was “robust, without a question, especially with the younger generation… I think we of the older are getting a little bit tired, and I think our production gets thinner and thinner. But fortunately, it doesn’t worry any of us, as far as I know, because the body of literature that is coming out [is] varied and liberated,” he said.

“African literature suffered from some kind of ideological spasm in which the younger generation was bombarded by a sense of ideological duty, in other words it was bombarded with a very simplistic notion by leftist radical writers, very reformative revolutionary thinkers, that all literature is ideological and therefore writers must ensure that their writing illustrates progressive ideologies.”

This, he said, had “inhibited a number of very talented writers, crippled their sense of liberal creativity, forced them to try and narrow themselves into a very tight prism of viewing phenomena, humour, relationships, even politics.” But “fortunately this next generation has been freeing itself and the result is really marvellous, very varied – the women in particular”.

Asked about Bob Dylan’s unexpected crowning as winner of this year’s Nobel laureate, Soyinka was reluctant to be drawn, though he did say: “Since I’ve written quite a number of songs for my plays, I would like to be nominated for a Grammy”.

Source: The Guardian News

NEWS

Enugu State Governor Names Street After Viral Musician, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha

Published

1 day ago

September 6, 2024

Reporter

Enugu State governor names street after Mike Ejeagha | fab.ng

People often hailed Gentleman Mike Ejeagha as the grandfather of Igbo folk music. He has remained an iconic figure in Nigerian music for over six decades. His influence in the genre is unparalleled, and his timeless work continues to resonate with audiences today.

Recently, his 1983 classic, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche“, experienced a resurgence in popularity when comedian and skit maker Brain Jotter featured it in a viral video. This newfound fame has brought Ejeagha’s work to the attention of a younger generation. Recognizing his immense contributions to music and culture, the Enugu State government honoured the 90-year-old musician by naming a street after him.

On September 2, 2024, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State inaugurated several newly constructed roads. One of these roads was renamed Abakpa Road in honour of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

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A post shared by African Folder (@africanfolder)

Enugu State officials honoured the legendary musician, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

The legendary musician hails from Imezi Owa in the Eziagu Local Government Area, for his lasting impact on Igbo folk music and culture. The governor made a special visit to Ejeagha’s residence. Emma Ejeagha and Elizabeth Ugwu warmly welcomed the governor upon his arrival at their father’s residence. They are both the children of the renowned musician. They expressed their gratitude to the governor for fulfilling promises made by previous administrations to honour their father’s legacy.

At the street commissioning ceremony, Governor Mbah delighted residents by joining them in the viral “Gwo gwo gwo ngwo” dance steps.

The viral success of “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” was sparked by Brain Jotter‘s Instagram video on July 5, 2024. This has rekindled widespread interest in Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s life and career. The song features a clever folklore tale about the cunning tortoise (Mbe) and the mighty elephant (Enyi). This is one of the highlife legend’s most notable works.

Listeners cherish Ejeagha’s music for its incorporation of moral teachings, a wealth of proverbs, and insightful social commentary. Yet, they remain an integral part of Nigerian musical heritage, speaking to generations past and present.

NEWS

Ayra Starr Expresses Sentiments Over Murder Of Christiana Idowu

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Reporter

Ayra Starr expresses anger over murder of student | fab.ng

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has expressed her outrage over the abduction and murder of Christiana Idowu by Adeleye Ayomide. Christiana is a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

On September 5, 2024, Ayra Starr took to X, passionately calling for better treatment of women in society and demanding justice for the slain student. Her message emphasized the need for immediate action to address violence against women and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.

She wrote, “Stop killing us! Stop raping us! Women deserve better #JusticeForChristianah.”

Stop killing us ! Stop raping us ! Women deserve better #JusticeForChristianah

— Celestial being (@ayrastarr) September 5, 2024

The 300-level student from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Christiana Idowu, was abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba Road in August 2024.

Christiana Idowu

The kidnappers contacted her parents using her WhatsApp account. This prompted her parents to report her missing on August 19, 2024. They sent pictures of Christiana in captivity through WhatsApp’s “view once” feature, demanding ₦1.5 million in ransom. Her parents managed to raise ₦350,000, which they transferred to a betting account as instructed by the kidnappers.

After receiving the money, the kidnappers asked for a copy of the sender’s bank statement. On August 23, Christiana’s family complied, but the kidnappers cut off all contact shortly after. Investigators traced some of the ransom money to Christiana’s GTB account. Then, someone transferred this money to a Wema Bank account. The account belonged to Adeleye Ayomide, a 200-level student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). Investigators identified Ayomide as the primary suspect.

Adeleye Ayomide, the primary suspect.

On September 3, 2024, police arrested Ayomide, who confessed to killing Christiana and burying her body at his family home.

Get more news updates here.

MUSIC

Fireboy’s “Peru” Gets Diamond Certification In France

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Reporter

'Peru' diamond certification in France | fab.ng

Fireboy‘s “Peru,” released in 2021, quickly became a global sensation, securing a diamond certification in France. The song charted in several countries, including the US, UK, and France. The Afrobeats rhythmic song resonated with audiences worldwide, earning it a commercial success across multiple regions.

Significantly, the song secured the highest certification for a song in France. The remix features British superstar Ed Sheeran, who played a crucial role in propelling the track to international stardom. This version of “Peru” not only charted in over 20 countries but also made a showing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 53. In the UK, it soared to No. 2 on the Official Singles Chart. Again in France, it reached No. 28, solidifying its status as a global hit.

The success of “Peru” extends beyond just chart performance.

Across both the original and remix versions, the track has amassed over 450 million streams on Spotify alone. It has been awarded a gold plaque in Denmark and achieved double platinum status in the UK. Notably, “Peru” is one of the select Afrobeats songs to earn a platinum certification from the RIAA, further cementing its place in the genre’s history.

Fireboy DML’s “Peru” featuring Ed Sheeran is now certified Diamond in France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/o3Wm75zJS6

— Unorthodox Reviews (@OfficialBlog_UR) September 2, 2024

Featured on Fireboy’s third album, “Playboy”, “Peru” catapulted him to international fame. This success earned him a BET nomination and a coveted performance slot at the 2022 edition of the awards. Fireboy’s ability to fuse Afrobeats with global appeal has established him as one of Nigeria’s leading musical exports.

With its recent diamond certification in France, “Peru” joins the ranks of other Nigerian hits.

This includes Oxlade’s “Kulosa,” Ayra Starr’s “Rush,” Burna Boy’s “Last Last,” and Rema’s “Calm Down,” all of which have received SNEP diamond certification.

Building on this momentum, Fireboy continues his global ascent with the release of his fourth album, “Adedamola”. The project features collaborations with prominent artists such as Lagbaja, Grammy nominee Seun Kuti, Lojay, and Grammy Album of the Year winner Jon Batiste, showcasing his ever-expanding influence in the music industry.