#OneNGWeekly (episode 35): Life History of Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was born ‘Albert Chinualumogu’ on November 15, 1930, in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria. His family belonged to the Igbo tribe, and he was the fifth of six children. Representatives of the British government that controlled Nigeria convinced his parents, Isaiah Okafor Achebe and Janet Ileogbunam, to abandon their traditional religion and follow Christianity. Achebe was brought up as a Christian, but he remained curious about the more traditional Nigerian faiths. He was educated at a government college in Umuahia, Nigeria, and graduated from the University College at Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1954.

Childhood and Early Life

·    He was born as Albert Chinualumogu Achebe in Nigeria to Isaiah Okafo Achebe and Janet Ilogbunam. He had five surviving siblings.

·    His parents had stopped practicing their traditional religion and had converted to Christianity. Therefore as a young boy Achebe was exposed to a combination of traditionalism as well as Christian influence.

·    Storytelling was a part of their rich Nigerian tradition and he grew up listening to the stories told by his family members.

·    He joined St. Philip’s Central School in 1936. He was a very bright student and appreciated by his teachers.

·    He was accepted into the highly prestigious Government College in Umuahia in 1944. An exceptionally brilliant student, he completed his studies there in just four years instead of the standard five. He loved the library and spent hours reading books by different authors.

·    He got admitted as a Major Scholar in Nigeria’s first university, the University College in 1948 and was also given a scholarship to study medicine. However his interest was not in medicine and he shifted to study English, history and theology, and lost his scholarship in the process.

·    He started writing while at the university and made his debut as an author with his article ‘Polar Undergraduate’ in the ‘University Herald’ in 1950. He also wrote numerous other stories, essays and letters during this time. He graduated from the college in 1953.

Career

·    He worked as a teacher at a small school in a dilapidated building for four months. He encouraged his students to develop a reading habit.

·    In 1954, he got an opportunity to work for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Lagos. His job was to prepare scripts for oral delivery. His experience there helped him in writing realistic dialogues later on in his writing career.

·    During this time he also began working on a novel. As a student he had been critical of the manner in which European writers portrayed Africa and its culture, and was determined to depict his culture realistically himself.

·    He was inspired by the works of the Nigerian writer Cyprian Ekwensi who was primarily an exception in the literary world which had seen few other notable writers from Nigeria.

·    He was appointed at the Staff School run by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1956 and this gave him the chance to go to London and get feedback on the novel he was working on.

·    After editing and revising his novel, he sent it to a London company for publishing. His debut novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’ was released in 1958. The book was well received, and ‘The Observer’ called it ‘an excellent novel’.

·    His second novel, ‘No Longer at Ease’ (1960) dealt with a man who gets entangled in a world of corruption and is arrested for taking a bribe.

·    He became the Director of External Broadcasting at the NBS and helped to create the Voice of Nigeria network. The network’s first broadcast transmission was on New Year’s Day 1962.

·    He attended an executive conference of African writers in English in Uganda where he met other prominent writers from around the world including Kofi Awoonor, Wole Soyinka and Langston Hughes.

·    His novel ‘Arrow of God’ was out in 1964, followed by ‘A Man of the People’ in 1966.

·    In 1967, he along with a friend Christopher Okigbo started a publishing company called Citadel Press to promote better quality of African literature available to children.

·    He became a research fellow and later a professor of English at the University of Nigeria in 1976 and held this post till 1981.

·    He spent most of the 1980s traveling, attending conferences and delivering speeches.

·    His novel ‘Anthills of the Savannah’ published in 1987 was about a military coup in a fictional African land.

·    In 1990, he was involved in a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed from waist below; he would have to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

·    The disability, however, could not demoralize the courageous writer and he became the Charles P. Stevenson Professor of Languages and Literature at Bard College, New York.

·    In 2009 he became a member of the Brown University faculty as the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor of Africana Studies.

Achebe was unhappy with books about Africa written by British authors such as Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) and John Buchan (1875–1940), because he felt the descriptions of African people were inaccurate and insulting. While working for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation he composed his first novel, Things Fall Apart(1959), the story of a traditional warrior hero who is unable to adapt to changing conditions in the early days of British rule. The book won immediate international recognition and also became the basis for a play by Biyi Bandele. Years later, in 1997, the Performance Studio Workshop of Nigeria put on a production of the play, which was then presented in the United States as part of the Kennedy Center's African Odyssey series in 1999. Achebe's next two novels, No Longer At Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964), were set in the past as well.

By the mid-1960s the newness of independence had died out in Nigeria, as the country faced the political problems common to many of the other states in modern Africa. The Igbo, who had played a leading role in Nigerian politics, now began to feel that the Muslim Hausa people of Northern Nigeria considered the Igbos second-class citizens. Achebe wrote A Man of the People (1966), a story about a crooked Nigerian politician. The book was published at the very moment a military takeover removed the old political leadership. This made some Northern military officers suspect that Achebe had played a role in the takeover, but there was never any evidence supporting the theory.

Political crusader

During the years when Biafra attempted to break itself off as a separate state from Nigeria (1967–70), however, Achebe served as an ambassador (representative) to Biafra. He traveled to different countries discussing the problems of his people, especially the starving and slaughtering of Igbo children. He wrote articles for newspapers and magazines about the Biafran struggle and founded the Citadel Press with Nigerian poet Christopher Okigbo. Writing a novel at this time was out of the question, he said during a 1969 interview: "I can't write a novel now; I wouldn't want to. And even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I can write poetry—something short, intense, more in keeping with my mood." Three volumes of poetry emerged during this time, as well as a collection of short stories and children's stories.

After the fall of the Republic of Biafra, Achebe continued to work at the University of Nigeria at Nsukka, and devoted time to the Heinemann Educational Books' Writers Series (which was designed to promote the careers of young African writers). In 1972 Achebe came to the United States to become an English professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (he taught there again in 1987). In 1975 he joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut. He returned to the University of Nigeria in 1976. His novel Anthills of the Savanna (1987) tells the story of three boyhood friends in a West African nation and the deadly effects of the desire for power and wanting to be elected "president for life." After its release Achebe returned to the United States and teaching positions at Stanford University, Dartmouth College, and other universities.

His Books:

No Longer at Ease (1960)

Arrow of God (1964)

Anthills of the Savannah (1987)

A Man of the People (1966)

There was a Country (2012)

The Trouble with Nigeria (1983)

An Image of Africa (1977)

Girls at War (1972)

Home and Exile (2000)

Hopes and Impediments (1988)

Beware Soul Brother (1971)

Chike and the River (1966)

The Education of a British-protected child (2009)

The Leopard got his claws (1972)

Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975)

Collected Poems (1973)

The Voters (1994)

Conversation with Chinua Achebe (1997)

Another Africa (1998)

Le monde s’effondre (1972)

The African Trilogy (1988)

The flute (1977)

The university and the leadership factor in Nigerian politics (1988)

Heimkehr in fremdes Land.

Termitenhügel in der Savanne. Roman.

Winds of Change: Modern Short Stories from Black Africa (Longman Structural Readers) (1977)

The drum (1979)

Things Fall Apart (2000)

Quotes:

One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.

When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

People create stories create people; or rather stories create people create stories.

A man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself.

When old people speak it is not because of the sweetness of words in our mouths; it is because we see something which you do not see.

Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him.

The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.

Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

Award and Achievements

·    He was presented the Man Booker International Prize in 2007 for his literary career. Judge Nadine Gordimer called him the ‘father of modern African literature’ at the Award ceremony.

·    He won The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2010. The annual prize is given to “a man or woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life.”

 His Death:

He died on 21^st of March 2013 at Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinua_Achebe

http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/chinua-achebe-1044.php

http://www.notablebiographies.com/A-An/Achebe-Chinua.html

http://www.nigerianbiography.com/2015/09/chinua-achebe-biography.html

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/things-fall-apart/chinua-achebe-biography

www.famousauthors.org/chinua-achebe

https://www.google.com.ng/search?q=chinua+achebe+books&oq=chinua+achebe+books&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

OneNGWeekly (episode 34): Life History Of Samuel Okwaraji

Samuel Okwaraji

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji was born on 19^th of May, 1964 in Orlu, city of Imo state. He was a professional footballer who played internationally for his Loved country, Nigeria

Samuel Okwaraji attended WTC Practicing School, Enugu for his primary education and Ezeachi Secondary School, Orlu, Imo State. Sam Okwaraji also attended Federal Government College in Orlu and finally completed his studies in law in the University of Rome, Italy, but did not take up the profession after schooling. While bagging his masters in international law in the University of Rome, Samuel Okwaraji played for NK Dinamo Zagreb, VfB Stuttgart and SSV Ulm 1846 where he performed exceptionally.

In 1988, Samuel Okwaraji made his way into the Green Eagles squad; at the African Nations Cup played that same year in Morocco, he did the unexpected by netting one of the fastest goals (60s) in the annals of the competition against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Sam Okwaraji also played at the ‘1988 Summer Olympics‘ that was held in Seoul, South Korea. He played alongside other professionals like Samson Siasia, Rashidi Yekeni, Bright Omokaro, Wole Odegbami, Christain Obi, Jude Agada, Henry Nwosu and so on.

 

Samuel Okwaraji and his football team

Things you need to know about him

Multi-talented footballer and midfield maestro

On the field of play, Okwaraji went for the tackles, aerial balls and in fact did more than his fair share of safe guarding the perimeter of the 18-yard box. This earned him a place in Nigeria’s first Olympic team in 1988. Debuting on January 30, 1988 in a match against Algeria, at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu, Okwaraji with amazing skills ‎played himself into the consciousness of Nigerians.

He played for top European clubs

Okwaraji’s football career in Europe started in 1984-1985, in AS Roma. After which he had a career playing for NK Dinamo Zagreb (1985-1986)‎,‎ Austria Klagenfurt (1986-1987), VfB Stuttgart‎ (1987-1989), SSV Ulm (loan) (1987-1988).

Scored one of the fastest goal in African football history

‎Okwaraji, who made the Green Eagles squad in 1988 at the African Nations Cup in Morocco, scored one of the fastest goals in the history of African football against Nigeria’s perennial rivals, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Shining like a million stars in that tournament, Okwaraji was named man of the match twice.

A Patriot par excellence

Okwaraji’s was indeed seen as a patriot. At one occasion, when he had the chance to play for his fatherland but his club would not agree. His club manager was said to have asked the Nigerian Football Authorities to pay an estimated cost of $45, 000 for their star player’s match bonus and an

expected loss in the club’s gate taking for the period in which he would be on national duty.

Hearing about this agreement, this patriot hit back at his club saying: “I signed to play football for you on certain conditions, but I don’t think it includes reselling my services to my country. You cannot stop me playing for my country and let me tell you, I am going to represent my country in the World Cup in Italy whether you like it or not and I would very much like for you to be there.”

No doubt, Okwaraji paid his way to play for Nigeria without asking for a dime. He would come to camp uninvited and beg the coach to throw the

jerseys on the floor for players to fight for. It was this move that heralded the era of throwing the camp open. He was not afraid to put his career on the line for his country. He put his life on the line too.‎

His Death

On the 12th of August, 1989, at the unripe age of 25, Samuel Okwaraji unfortunately met his untimely death right on the football pitch before the eyes of 20,000 spectators. He slumped and died of heart failure in the 77th minute of a 2nd round World Cup qualifier match against Angola at the Surulere Stadium now Lagos National Stadium, Lagos State. This was a big and irreplaceable loss for Nigeria. He was given a befitting and heroic burial in his hometown, Umudioka Community in Imo State. On August 12, 2009, as a way of immortalizing this icon, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State erected a concrete burst of Samuel Okwaraji in front of Lagos National Stadium, the same stadium where he died.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Okwaraji

https://oldnaija.com/2017/02/01/samuel-okwaraji-life-career-and-death/#more-2183

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/5-things-to-remember-about-sam-okwaraji/

#OneNGWeekly (episode 33): Life History Of Mrs Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti

Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti

Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, born on October 25,1900 in Abeokuta, Ogun state. She attended Abeokuta Grammar school in 1914. She left Nigeria and traveled to England to further more in her educational students, she attended Wicham Hall Schools of Girls in England in the year 1919, as seen she return to Nigeria, she became a teacher. She was a Nigerian teacher, political campaigner, traditional aristocrat and women’s right activist. On 20 January 1925, she married the Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti. Reverend Israel also defended the commoners of his country, and was one of the founders of both the Nigerian Union of Teachers and of the Nigerian Union of Students.

Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti’s political activism led to her being described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria, as well as her being called “The Mother of Africa”. Early on, she was a very powerful force advocating for the Nigerian women’s right to participate in election, particularly to vote. She was described in 1947, by the West African Pilot as the “Lioness of Lisabi” for her leadership of the women of the Egba clan she belonged to on a campaign against their arbitrary taxation. That struggle led to the abdication of the then Egba high King, Oba Ademola II in 1949.

Ransome-Kuti received the national honor of membership in the Order of Nigeria in 1965. The University of Ibadan bestowed upon her the honorary doctorate of laws in 1968. She also held a seat in the Western House of Chiefs of Nigeria as an oloye of the Yoruba people. Aside the fact that she is the first woman to ride a bicycle and then the first woman to drive a car in West Africa, throughout her career, she was known as an educator and activist. She and Elizabeth Adekogbe provided dynamic leadership for women’s rights in the ’50s. She founded an organization for women in Abeokuta, with a membership tally of over 20 000 individuals spanning both literate and illiterate women

Ransome-Kuti launched the organization into public consciousness when she rallied women against price controls that were hurting the market women. Trading was one of the major occupations of women in the Western Nigeria at the time. In 1949, she led a protest against Native Authorities, especially against the Alake of Egbaland. She presented documents alleging abuse of authority by the Alake, who had been granted the right to collect the taxes by his colonial suzerain, the Government of the United Kingdom. He subsequently relinquished his crown for a time due to the affair. She also oversaw the successful abolishing of separate tax rates for women. In 1953, she founded the Federation of Nigerian Women Societies, which subsequently formed an alliance with the Women's International Democratic Federation.

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti campaigned for women's votes. She was for many years a member of the ruling National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons party, but was later expelled when she was not elected to a federal parliamentary seat. She was the treasurer and subsequent president of the Western NCNC women's Association. After her suspension, her political voice was diminished due to the direction of national politics, as both of the more powerful members of the opposition, Awolowo and Adegbenro, had support close by. However, she continued her activism. In the 1950s, she was one of the few women elected to the house of chiefs. At the time, this was one of her homeland's most influential bodies.

She founded the Egba or Abeokuta Women's Union along with Eniola Soyinka (her sister-in-law and the mother of the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka). This organisation is said to have once had a membership of 20,000 women. Among other things, Funmilayo Ransom Kuti organised workshops for illiterate market women. She continued to campaign against taxes and price controls.

Olufunmilayo ransome kuti is the mother of the powerful activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a popular musician, Beko Ransome- Kuti, a doctor, and professor Olikoye Ransome- Kuti, a doctor and a former health minister of Nigeria. She was also the grandmother to Seun kuti and Femi kuti, both musicians.

Her Achievements

*** One of the women elected to the native House of Chiefs, serving as an Oloye of the Yoruba people

*** Ranking member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons

*** Treasurer and President Western Women Association of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons

*** Leader of Abeokuta Women's Union

*** Leader of Commoners Peoples Party

*** Leader of Nigeria Women's Union

*** First woman to drive a car in Nigeria

*** Winner of the Lenin Peace Prize

Death
In old age her activism was overshadowed by that of her three sons, who provided effective opposition to various Nigerian military juntas. In 1978 Funmilayo was thrown from a third-floor window of her son Fela's compound, a commune known as the Kalakuta Republic, when it was stormed by one thousand armed military personnel. She lapsed into a coma in February of that year, and died on 13 April 1978, as a result of her injuries.

Reference:
http://dailymail.com.ng/history-the-first-woman-to-drive…/2/
http://en.unesco.org/women…/funmilayo-ransome-kuti/biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funmilayo_Ransome-Kuti
https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/…/mrs-olufunmilayo-ransome-…/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Funmilayo-Ransome-Kuti

#OneNGWeeky (episode 32): Life History Of Professor Peller

Professor Peller

Birth, Education And Early Days

Moshood Folorunsho Abiola. (Popularly known as Professor Peller) was born in late 1941 at Iseyin, Oyo State. He attended Moslem School, Iseyin and Native Authority Primary School, Iseyin. When he was growing up, he got a nickname “Moshood Olori Pupa” (which means Moshood the Red-Headed Boy). He started performing illusion tricks in 1954, traveling to Ibadan, Lagos and Oyo for performance. In 1964, he attended a school of magical arts in India; he spent 18 months at the school and after completion, settled in Liberia. In 1966, he had his first post-training show at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. He later pick on the stage name of ‘Professor Peller’, an appellation that has stuck to him like a second skin.

professor peller

Love and Romance

Professor Peller was described as a very romantic man, his prominent wife, Alhaja Silifat fell so much in Love with him while she was still in secondary school. She confessed that she had always admired him and his performances and each time she watched him perform, her heart fluttered with affection for the fine magician with tribal marks.

In 1967, Iseyin Grammar School in Oyo State became the place where Peller planted the seed of love even if he was there to perform but was carried away by the ravishing young beauty in the crowd called Silifat. Hear her: “I am sure he must have been attracted to me because of my beauty. So, he just whispered to me: ‘Baby, you are beautiful.’ And I said, ‘Thank you.’ He didn’t ask me out that day. For quite a long time, we were friends.” For a couple of years more, they continued dating and Lady Peller said after two years, she said yes to his advances. They got married in 1971 and give birth. 

His Magical Performance

During his lifetime, he was the most magnificent magician in the whole continent. Even after his death, Peller still remains the greatest of all. Professor performed not only in front of royal family and also joint kings to his magic shows. In 1972 Femi Oyebode, who is a Professor of Psychiatry at the famous University of Birmingham, described Professor Peller and one of his performances in Lagos:
‘I came to the stadium in order to see Professor Peller, a real magician. People said he was a member of the Magic Circle. Professor Peller wore black tails and a top hat, he had a special wand in his hand, black shoes and a very cute well-cut hair. He had a perfect look of smart gentleman. Peller was assisted by a beautiful young lady.
He waved his white handkerchief and beautiful white dove appeared and flew out. Peller pulled his cufflinks and different flowers bloomed under professor’s command. He was very confident, graceful and made a real magic. He managed to levitate his beautiful assistant. Peller cut a lady into two parts any drawing blood. He also locked a woman in the closet, chained several times until she was gone! It was a virtuoso performance. The audience clapped, stretched. We desperately wanted that traditional magician Professor Peller would enthrall and also inspire us to his magic, the mystery of African magic.
People were very disappointed or should I better say that I was very disappointed. When he went out on stage wearing a loincloth of indeterminate color, so you could hear the people gasp aloud. Was this real African magic? This weird, crude, small, thin man who looked like he had recently woken from the dead?

He swallowed the stone and turned his back to us, sliding his loincloth on one side and excreted stone. Awful and shame. He claimed that his stomach to a sharp sword to be cut. But now, the lack of bustle and sophistication turned people against him. The audience poured through the stadium gates. We were disgusted for real. I can say that at the stadium George the V, at the beginning of adult life, I lost two of my childhood dreams.
A master at his performances showing the most powerful spells made some African leaders join, right in their royal palaces.
The most prolific magician shows were: the Escaping Box, Invisible General, the Zigzag and Changing Dresses. One thing with Professor’s performances was that they were executed with maximum excellence and finesse. He was clever, thorough and professional. Maybe, if he had not died, he may have even eclipsed legendary David Copperfield from the USA in fame.
One of Peller’s favorite performances included putting his beloved wife in a ‘magical coffin’ and severing it into two halves. But now it’s obvious, that there is no magic, you can see how the trick is done on this picture:
When Peller was showing his tricks, there was no Internet, which we have today, so it was very easy to fool people. Millions of people! And they always loved to be fooled – to believe in magic, in miracle.

professor peller performing his  magical

The Most Popular Trick he Performed Was When he cut her Wife Into Two:
Did he actual cut his wife into two? No. We can not call his magic a lie but we can describe it as a pack of grandiose dramatization, clever performed visual illusion. There is nothing deep spiritual about his magic and also it is nothing but a smart agglomeration of well-skilled tricks. Nonetheless, if they were done well, an excellent, skilled magician can always ‘create something just out of nothing’ or make something weird possible (it is always an illusion, even I it looks like he breaks all the physical or biological laws) in a very confident and convincing manner.
It was in Lagos, at the National Theatre in Iganmu, and Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande was present in the event with the chief Obafemi Awolowo. The event began as planned, but then Peller magic team decided to throw in suspense-filled events like their normal practice, when they have shows following each other every night. The idea was to create so much uncertainty, so that they could draw even more audience the next day. So for the first day, the goal was to create the illusion that it ran into trouble while sawing his wife in half. But then, the next step was the magic ‘revival’ of her. After this ‘cutting’, which was obviously done with a lot of dramatic effects, the audience went into a real rage and began crying: ‘Give us Lady Peller’, ‘We want a lady Peller’. Later, in 2012, when she was 66 year old, Lady Peller gave interview, where she told about the incident, and she insisted that in fact the magician cut her into two parts, and it had even been sustained with some minor injuries.

Facts about Professor Peller

*** He had the same names (Moshood Abiola) with another very popular Nigerian person, who was the winner of the 1993 Nigerian presidential elections, it was Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

*** Since his childhood, Peller and well-known Baba Sala, who is a popular Nigerian comedian, became the best friends. Making his movies, Baba Sala often included some of Peller’s magical shows.

*** Peller was a member of the ‘Magic circle’ (indeed it was International Brotherhood of Magicians), which is a special association for the best magicians in the world. Here is their Magician’s Oath: ‘As a real magician I promise never to reveal any secrets of any illusion to a person, who is non-magician, unless that one swears honestly to uphold our Magician’s Oath in turn. I also promise never to show any illusion for any non-magician without my first practicing the effect until I have an opportunity to perform it well enough to show the illusion of magic’.

*** Although he is a real magic legend in Nigeria, Professor Peller was a devout Muslim, who could not miss his Islamic obligations. He never missed his five daily prayers. His widow proved all the facts connected with the Peller’s Muslim style of life. She also added that Peller made a huge mistake when he told in one interview with some journalists: ‘the only time I am without any magic is when I am praying’. His widow believes that his enemies decided to exploit this. So they murdered him while he was praying.

*** Now professor’s Peller house belongs to a parish of the RCCG (Redeemed Christian Church of God). When the house was on sale, a lot of the prospective buyers escaped hearing that it had belonged to the late famous magician. Nigerians are very funny! Because when Peller was alive, his residence was very attractive for fans and simple travelers. It was a well-known destination for schoolchildren and simple people. A lot of them regularly came to see the massive picture that Peller put in front of his residence. Peller was in all the glory of the attribute of his magic.

*** Peller was a member of the ‘Magic circle’ (indeed it was International Brotherhood of Magicians), which is a special association for the best magicians in the world. Here is their Magician’s Oath: ‘As a real magician I promise never to reveal any secrets of any illusion to a person, who is non-magician, unless that one swears honestly to uphold our Magician’s Oath in turn. I also promise never to show any illusion for any non-magician without my first practicing the effect until I have an opportunity to perform it well enough to show the illusion of magic’.

His Death
Peller was assassinated. It was on that fateful day on the 2nd of August 1997. He was killed the same day that Fela Anikulapo-Ransome Kuti also died. Peller was attacked at his residence while observing his evening prayers at Onipanu, Lagos State and he was fatally shot by unknown gunmen. Nigeria and all kinds of unsolved murders, brutal killings and blood-curdling assassinations.

Reference
http://aauxclusive.com/professor-peller-the-enchanting-sto…/
https://ask.naij.com/…/who-is-the-most-well-known-nigerian-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_Peller\
http://www.informationng.com/…/the-enchanting-story-of-nige…
http://www.jagabanmp3.com/…/history-story-of-nigeria-most-p…
https://oldnaija.wordpress.com/…/professor-peller-magical-…/
http://www.tori.ng/…/professor-peller-the-enchanting-story-

#OneNGWeekly (episode 31): Life History Of Safinatu (The First Wife Of President Muhammed Buhari)

Hajia Safinatu

Introduction, Background and Education

Hajiya Safinatu was born on 11^th of December, 1952 in Jos, Plateau state into the family of Late Alhaji Yusuf Mani. She’s a Fulani woman, an indigene of Mani Local government in Katsina state. Late Safinatu started her primary school in Tudan Wada Kaduna (1959-1960) but was later transferred to Nasarawa Primary School now Dikko Memorial Primary School in Katsina when her father Late Alh. Yusuf Mani was transferred to Lagos to work as Private Secretary to Late Alh Musa Yar’adua who was Commissioner for Lagos Affairs in the Federal Cabinet of the First Republic. After her Primary School, Late Hajiya Safinatu proceed to Women Teachers College Katsina where she obtained her Grade II Teachers Certificate in 1971. She was well-educated and was so literate that she could read and write in Arabic, being well-grounded in Islamic education.

Safinatu and Buhari

Her Marriage

Late Hajiya Safinatu got married to her husband Gen. Muhammadu Buhari two days after her graduation from Women Teachers College Katsina at the age of 18.

An interesting thing about Buhari’s relationship with Safinatu was that shortly after the two met, the Nigerian Civil War started in 1967 and Buhari was deployed to the battlefields. This was one of the most tense periods in the life of Safinatu and she would later reveal that she was always worried during the war about the welfare of her lover and would ceaselessly pray for him. In 1971, with the war over, the two lovebirds decided to seal it and they got married. Thus, all through the war, while Buhari was on the battlefield combating Biafran rebels, his heart was not only burning with the love of Nigeria, it was also burning for a young beautiful Fulani girl named Safinatu. She was 18 when they got married.

Buhari and Safinatu

She became the first Lady when Buhari became the Head of State

Late Hajiya Safinatu Buhari became First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 19th of January, 1984, after her husband Major General Muhammadu Buhari assumed the mantle of leadership as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As first lady, her daily routine starts with prayers, reading newspapers and doing domestic works at home. At official level, she was involved with hosting official guest particularly when visiting heads of states come with their wives.

One memorable moment for Late Hajiya Safinatu was hosting the Gambian First Lady in the ancient city of Kano where they visited the city wall and one of the markets in company of wife of the then military administrator of Kano State, Mrs Halima Hamza

At her leisure in the State House, Late Hajiya Safinatu spent time collecting and compiling traditional Hausa and Fulani recipes which she later published after leaving state house for future generation. The title of her book is (“Our Delicious Menus” Recipes, Seasonings, and Culinary Ethics) published in 1999 by Nigerian Defence Academy Press, Kaduna.

She was heavily influenced by social, religious and cultural factors and this was seen in her conduct and behaviour as the First Lady. She was always quietly by her husband’s side but she concentrated almost all her energy on her children and making the home very comfortable and peaceful for the general. She started her daily routine by reading the newspapers. Thereafter, if she had no engagements for the day, she would receive guests.

The head of state usually received visitors till about midnight after which he would then retire to his study to work till the early hours of the morning. A dutiful wife, Safinatu never left her husband to study alone; she would stay with him, keeping his company until he was ready to sleep. Safinatu never interfered with her husband’s official work and did not discuss national matters with him. She seemed to have devoted all her energies into ensuring that the home was as peaceful and as comfortable for the Head of State as possible. She avoided publicity unless it was absolutely necessary. For this reason, many Nigerians did not know much about her. I hope this piece will shed more light on her person. She’s good to everyone
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Safinatu, Buhari and Children in the 90s

Family and Children

As at the time her husband was overthrown, she had given birth to four children: Zulaihatu (now late), Magajiya-Fatima, Hadizatu-Nana and Safinatu Lami, Musa (now late). Following the overthrow of her husband, she left for Kaduna with her children

The Divorce:

The couple went separate ways in the mid of 1980s. She was reportedly accused of receiving financial assistance from Babangida while her husband (Buhari) was in detention following the overthrow of his government. After all, Buhari got married to Aisha in February 1989.

Safinatu’s Death

Safinatu became ill and was diagnosed to be suffering from diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia. She battled the disease for eight year and gave up in ghost on the 14^th of January, 2006. She died at the age of 53

Reference

http://abiyamo.com/safinatu-the-story-of-president-buharis-first-wife/

http://www.nairaland.com/3411760/safinatu-story-buharis-first-wife

https://www.movirr.com

https://www.thenews.ng/2016/06/meet-safinatu-president-buharis-first-wife/

http://thesheet.ng/safinatu-buhari-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-president-buharis-first-wife/

12 Mysterious Things You Need To Know About Opa Oranmiyan

1.    THE ORANMIYAN CONNECTION: The oral traditions of the Yorubas state that Oranmiyan Staff was constructed by the family of Oranmiyan Omoluabi Odede the Great Prince of Ife and King of the Yorubas as a commemorative monument at the place where he died. This was to be around the year 1300.

2.     DESCRIPTION: The Opa Oranmiyan (Staff of Oranmiyan) as it is called, is a slim carved granite column that is almost six metres tall (more precisely, 5.5 metres). So that makes it quite tall in comparison with the average human height. Shaped like the tusk of an elephant, this standing stone work has its body ornamented with 123 nails (iron pegs) that are arranged in the shape of an elongated trident leading one to question such a symbolic representation with Neptune the god of the seas whose symbol is a trident. No one really knows how the nails were driven into it and on the same side with the nails are some faded carvings and inscriptions. For now, the meanings of these inscriptions are unknown but are said to be similar to the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians.

3.    NOT THE ONLY OPA: Although the Opa Oranmiyan has achieved global fame, it is really not the only Opa (or standing stone work) in Ile Ife. There is also the Opa Ogun (Staff of Ogun, the Yoruba god of war and iron) which is located in the main marketplace. It is however, not as tall and imposing as the Opa Oranmiyan as it stands at 1.8 metres. Opa Ogun is shaped to look like a cylindrical bulb. All over Ile Ife are various stone works (made from local granite or gneiss).

4.    4. WHY IS IT CALLED A STAFF? According to oral traditions, the engraved monolith was used as a walking stick or staff (which means ‘opa’ in Yoruba language) by the giant Oranmiyan. Well, there is no evidence for that and it is obviously too much of an exaggeration for a man to use such an obelisk as a walking stick. But for the sake of tradition, here is a bit of the fable: Oranmiyan was a giant warrior son of Oduduwa (some others say Ogun) and he was the first powerful King (Alaafin) of Oyo.

The warrior Oranmiyan had left Ile Ife and marched south, conquering everything on his path but he had promised the people of Ile Ife that if they ever needed him, he would return from his march of conquests. He said if Ife was threatened, all the people had to do was to congregate and scream his name.

So when the hour of need arrived, the people of Ife did what he had told them and Oranmiyan came storming towards Ife, destroying everything on his way. When he arrived Ife to rescue his people, he unleashed so much power that one of the warriors he killed was his friend. Oranmiyan was so depressed that he had killed one of his own from Ife that out of fury, he plunged his staff (another fable says it was his sword) into the ground where it immediately turned to stone and became a monolith. Oranmiyan then went off into the forest, on horseback, never to be seen again. That is another variation of the fable.

5.     IT HAS ITS OWN SHRINE: The Opa Oranmiyan is located inside the Oranmiyan Shrine in Moopa in the Aribidi end of the Ile Ife city. It is one of the major tourist sites and monuments in Ile Ife with the others being the Lafogido Grove, Olokun Grove, Olu Orogbo, Ooni Ilare, Saint David Potsherd (SDP) Pavement and the Yemoo Grove. The staff is still being worshipped till date with the families of the Eredumi and Akogun being some of its most devout adherents

6. IFE UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY: The construction of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU, but initially called the University of Ife) had significant input of the Israeli architects Arieh and Eldar Sharon. In October 1962, they submitted their plans for the building of the new campus celebrated by many as the ‘largest campus in Africa and the most beautiful campus South of the Sahara and north of the River Limpopo’. Work did not start until early 1965. The Ife campus was the first Nigerian university to be established based on the recommendations of an all-Nigerian committee.

Trouble started when the architects swung into action. They wanted to incorporate some features that would reflect the local culture and tradition, and this included a concrete replica of the famed Opa Oranmiyan. The shocked Israeli architects were blasted and the idea was rejected as some felt it was nothing but a way to smuggle a phallic representation of the decadent ‘West’.

7. THE STAFF AND POLITICS: In 2005, a sociopolitical group called Oranmiyan was established and this was to be the platform that launched the governorship bid for Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State. This is an example of politicians taking advantage of the legendary status of the obelisk in Yoruba history to advance their own causes.

8. PROTECTION: The person in charge of the monument in Ile Ife today is called the Akogun of Ife, Akogun meaning the ‘Brave Warrior’.

9. RECORD BREAKER: Standing at 18 feet, the Opa Oranmiyan is believed to be the tallest obelisk of its type in all of sub-Saharan Africa.

10. RITUALS: Following the death of Oranmiyan, it was the tradition of the warriors of Yorubaland to go to the Oranmiyan Staff before going to battle to offer sacrifices so they could be victorious in wars and their countless conflicts with neighbouring kingdoms.

11. THE STONE BOXES: In the past, stone boxes with lids were placed at the foot of the Opa Oranmiyan. These stone boxes were used as containers for kolanuts and other traditional offering items.

12. MORE MYSTERIES: The Opa Oranmiyan could have been standing in that position for thousands of years but there is still a lot not known about it. Some archaeologists believe that the Opa Oranmiyan and other granite monoliths must have been constructed in a quarry by the percussion and pecking method with iron tools (iron is also believed to have been used to drill holes for the insertion of the iron nails) but no one really knows precisely. Standing erect and confidently pointing to the stars, only time will tell when the Opa Oranmiyan will reveal all its secrets to a curious world.

As culled by Abiyamo's Blog