HRM Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II, Ataoja of Osogboland, 2012.
George Osodi
Up until the 1960s, kings and queens controlled hundreds of ethnic
groups in Nigeria. Today, the descendents of those rulers still play
important roles as intermediaries between politicians and the people in
their communities and as custodians of the cultural heritage.
An upcoming exhibit at the Newark Museum,
“Royals and Regalia: Inside the Palaces of Nigeria’s Monarchs,”
collects photos from George Osodi’s ongoing project, which has taken him
into the palaces of more than 20 kings and queens all over the country.
The project is intended to show off Nigeria’s history and cultural
complexity, and to promote harmony in a country often torn apart by
ethnic and religious conflict. Osodi is excited to show this work for
the first time in the United States because he thinks the project has
special relevance for Nigerians who’ve emigrated abroad and their
children, who have never been to their homeland.
“I feel that it’s high time we as a country see this diversity as a
point of unity in Nigeria rather than something that divides us,” he
said.
HRM Lucky Ochuko Ararile, The Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka Kingdom, 2012.
George Osodi
HRH Emir of Zauzau (Zaria) Alhaji, Dr. Shehu Idris, 2006.
George Osodi
The Emir of Kano's Rolls Royce, 2012.
George Osodi
In his photos, Osodi places special attention to the fashions of the
rulers—the red garments popular in the south, and the robes popular in
the north—as well as the various architectural styles of their palaces,
which have been influenced by Christianity and Islam, the country’s two
dominant religions.
“We are living in a much more modern society today, and a lot of
people have misplaced their cultural identity, especially because of
technology and globalization,” he said. “I think it’s good to remind
Nigerians who left the country and had the next generation born in
foreign lands that you have a home, a place where you come from, and
this is what it looks like.”
HRH Queen Hajiya Hadizatu Ahmedu, Magajiya of Kubwada, 2012.
George Osodi
HRM Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, Ooni of Ife, 2012.
George Osodi
In order to photograph the rulers, Osodi wrote official letters to
introduce himself and his project, but he didn’t always have the best
results. For those he was finally able to photograph—including his
mother’s king, His Royal Majesty Agbogidi Obi James Ikechukwu Anyasi II,
Obi of Idumuje Unor—his aim was to portray them in a stately and
dignified manner, the same way in which they were likely to see
themselves.
“These kings, some of them have had ancestors who were kings in the
early days of slavery. Some were kings in the early days of the
Europeans capturing various kingdoms. Some were heavily humiliated, and
they were photographed in ways that were dehumanizing by some of these
captors in the early days of colonialism,” Osodi said. “I wanted to now
show them in the modern day as true kings of the 21st century.”
The exhibition, “Royals and Regalia,” is on display at the Newark Museum from Feb. 25 through Aug. 9.
HRM Agbogidi Obi James Ikechukwu Anyasi II, Obi of Idumuje Unor, 2012.
George Osodi
HRM The Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero Reception, 2012.
George Osodi
Jordan G. Teicher writes about photography for Slate’s Behold blog. Follow him on Twitter.
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70 YEARS! EGBA ME O TO CELEBRATE IT WITH !1.SPONSORING :"BEST YORUBA
SPEAKER CONTEST" IN THE VILLAGE WHERE THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED!SINCE
YORUBA IS DYING THIS ONE EFFECTIVE MAY TO BRIBE YORUBAS TO SPEAK
UNDILUTED YORUBA!OR 2.GIVING ME CLAY BLOCKS FOR EBUN MI SO I CAN START
OUR FAMILY HOUSE IN THAT ADEYIPO VILLAGE SINCE THEY HAVE GIVEN ME LAND
TO DO SO! OR 3, A SUB FOR THE LIBRARY! (www.africanheritageresearch.net ) OR 4. SEND ME THE BLACKEST DOLL FOR MY PREMIER BLACKEST DOLL COLLECTION TO SHOW AFRICANS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BUY WHITE DOLLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY ARE DOING NOW AND CAUSING BLEACHING FEVER TO SPREAD OVER AFRICA! 5.A HAMPER WHICH I HAVE NEVER
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FROM FACEBOOK ATI NAIJA.COM
FROM FACEBOOK-JOSEPH FAGBOLA
SUNNY ADS ALAYA REKETE (REPETE).
I can't resist looking at the colorful pictures of King Sunny Ade and his many wives , not only because the pictures are fascinating and entertaining, but also because they remind me of my late father, Joseph Agbola Fagbola who had 6 wives and 10 concubines. That was the vogue up till the late 1950s and even early 1960s. It was a way of measuring success, and a life well-spent. Ijesa people will refer to a man with so many wives as 'ALAYA REKETE' (REPETE). This has only become inelegant in the face of improved healthcare with reduced infant mortality rate, as well as our stagnant economy with its attendant human misery of galloping inflation, skyrocketing unemployment, moral decadence and spiritual withering. But with people like Sunny Ade who is in the showmanship business, lewd and lascivious, as well as hedonistic living are all part of the trade mark of that type of occupation. An eloquent testimony to this could be found in the high velocity of divorce rate in Hollywood and Nollywood. The rate of divorce in those places is vivid in the thrilling and exciting novels of Jackie Collins, such as HOLLYWOOD DIVORCES, HOLLYWOOD WIVES-The New Generation Lethal Seduction, etc
I believe the pictures have not shown all ladies with whom Sunny Ads has relationship. Of course reference is made to all the ladies paraded here as official ones. It is like making reference to late Simbiat, late Kudirat, Bisi and Doyin as official wives of late business-mogul and ace politician, M K O Abiola. There are hundreds of other ones bearing his name today. I happen to know that the first wife of Sunny Ade, Abike (knee Akeredolu-Ale), is not shown in the pictures under reference. She and 3 of her brothers-Prof Ekundayo, Tunji, and Yomi-were my schoolmates at the Bishop Oluwole Memorial School (BOMS), Agege in the early 1950s.
Sunny Ade has not disclosed the number of his kids. This is either because the number is explosive and mind-boggling or because in Yoruba tradition 'a ki i is omo f'olomo' meaning we are forbidden from counting the number of children
Not many know that Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and pioneer of modern world music, King Sunny Ade has about seven ‘official’ wives.
The 68-year-old Osogbo born musician who can be classed as one of the most influential musicians of all time recently made it known that he doesn’t even know how many children he has but has decided to stop having them. This is evident, because all these ‘official’ wives have children for the Ondo-state royal blood.
With insinuations that he has other wives who can be referred to as ‘unofficial’, the internationally relevant musician whose real names are Sunday Adeniyi can be said to still be in the age-long culture of polygamy.
King Sunny Ade’s musical sound has evolved from the early days. His career began with Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band. He left to form a new band, The Green Spots, in 1967. Over the years, for various reasons ranging from changes in his music to business concerns, Sunny Adé’s band changed its name several times, first to African Beats and then to Golden Mercury.
He has worked with foreign music stars and has gained an unquestionable ground internationally. Here are photos of the ace musician’s seven ‘official’ wives:
Meanwhile, at the beginning of another round of tour of the United States and Canada, Sunny Adé was appointed a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. In July the same year King Sunny Adé was inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame, at the Brooklyn African Festival in the United States. He dedicated the award to the recently deceased Michael Jackson.
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OOOOO! E KU JO META O! E JOOOO AM HAVING OJO IBI MI OCT. 31ST! WILL BE
70 YEARS! EGBA ME O TO CELEBRATE IT WITH !1.SPONSORING :"BEST YORUBA
SPEAKER CONTEST" IN THE VILLAGE WHERE THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED!SINCE
YORUBA IS DYING THIS ONE EFFECTIVE MAY TO BRIBE YORUBAS TO SPEAK
UNDILUTED YORUBA!OR 2.GIVING ME CLAY BLOCKS FOR EBUN MI SO I CAN START
OUR FAMILY HOUSE IN THAT ADEYIPO VILLAGE SINCE THEY HAVE GIVEN ME LAND
TO DO SO! OR 3, A SUB FOR THE LIBRARY! (www.africanheritageresearch.net ) OR 4.A HAMPER WHICH I HAVE NEVER
GOTTEN SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN NIGERIA O! E SE O OMO YORUBA ATATA O! OMO
DUDU AMERIKKKA! OMO DUDU EVERYWHERE!(BLACK PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!)
March 25, 2014 — Widow
of the late Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel has waived inheritance of half
of Mandela's estate - as would be within her rights
Source: CNN
“I
confirm that Mrs Machel has formally and in writing accepted the
benefits bequeathed to her in the last will and testament of former
president Mr NR Mandela,” Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke said on behalf
of the executors of the struggle icon’s estate.
The decision came during a 90-day period from the public release of the will, for her to decide.
Mandela married Graca, his third wife on his 80th birthday. They were married in community of property.
Chief Justice Moseneke explained that when a couple was married in
community of property they were entitled to 50 percent of the estate if
one of the partner’s died. This would mean that she would be entitled to
half of Madiba’s estimated R46 million estate ($4.6 million).
He waiver means that she now takes ownership of four properties they
jointly owned in Moçambique, all their vehicles, jewellery she received
during the marriage and all the money in their accounts which are
registered in her name.
Source: Independent Online
The (Mis)Use of Kiswahili in Western popular culture
October 10, 2014 — That
Kiswahili words and phrases sometimes crop up in western pop culture is
not surprising; it is, after all, the most widely spoken African
language on the continent. But every so often its use leaves native
speakers a little puzzled.
Michael Jackson
was made a prince of the Anyi people 1992 in Krinjabo, Cote d’Ivoire,
in 1992, but his relationship with the continent began long before that.
His use of Kiswahili in a song called “Liberian Girl” was a little odd
though.
Kiswahili
is a language spoken by more than 100 million people, predominantly in
several states of East Africa. The language also has a significant
presence in major cities of Europe, the United States of America and the
Gulf states where African Diaspora communities are found. As a result
of its global reach and millions of speakers the language pervades the
lives of many across the globe and is never far away, even if not
realised. For example it is taught in several universities around the
world, and many media stations such as the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Deutsche Welle, Radio Moscow International and Radio Japan International all have programmes in Kiswahili.
In the United States the African American holiday Kwanzaa takes it names from the Kiswahili phrase ‘matunda ya kwanza’ meaning ‘the first fruits of the harvest’;
‘kwanza’ is the Kiswahili word for first. If you’re English, American
or Canadian you may have also found yourself shouting out a Kiswahili
word when playing the popular wooden block game Jenga; Jenga being the
Kiswahili root word for build. In western popular culture Kiswahili has
found itself in film, television and music. Sometimes its been used in
short snippets, while other times complete monologues of characters have
been in Kiswahili. However while its use is apparent the correct use of
the language has not always been so. Hakuna Matata
Disney’s 1994 animated feature The Lion King is perhaps the
most popular western film featuring Kiswahili. The film tells the story
of a lion cub and future king named Simba. The film is full of Kiswahili
words and phrases. The main character ‘Simba’ means lion (in Shona it
means strength or power) and the friendly Baboon called Rafiki means
friend. There are also many songs in kiswahiki in the film. One of which
is when Rafiki sings to Simba ‘Asante sana squash banana, Wewe nugu mimi hapana’, which is Kiswahili for ‘Thank you very much, squash banana, you’re a baboon and I’m not.’
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