ARTS & CULTURE

The world took notice of African art, music because of Fela, says Ambode

Published

7 years ago

October 16, 2017

FAB.NG

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, said Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, popularly known by his first name, Fela, deserved to be celebrated with many monuments because he made the world sit up and take notice of the energy of African art and music.

Speaking at the unveiling of an effigy to immortalise Fela on his birthday, Ambode maintained that fela was an enigmatic artiste, who used the platform of his art to agitate for social and human rights by challenging the government and people to explore development through social and economic activities that are rooted in African values.

The governor, while noting that Fela would have been 80 years next year, said for his contribution to music, art and entertainment in Lagos, Nigeria and Africa, the Lagos State government believed he should be immortalised.

According to Ambode, Fela deserves to be celebrated with many more monuments and different artistic expressions. “Today, he is still alive in his music and in the music of Femi, Seun and other artistes who have followed his style of music. Fela will forever be accorded his position in the Global ‘Hall of Fame’ of artistes.

“The phenomenon that the world knows as Fela was deeply rooted in the evolution of Lagos State. The story of music, art, entertainment and tourism in Lagos and Nigeria cannot be told without an eloquent mention of the ‘Abami eda’.

“On this day, October 15th, which would have been Fela’s 79th birthday, the government and people of Lagos State celebrate Fela with the unveiling of this Liberation Statue,” Ambode said.

For the governor, though it has been 20 years since he passed on, the memories Fela left remain evergreen. “Today we celebrate a man who voluntarily turned his back on a life of comfort and privilege, and took up his saxophone as a weapon to fight for the liberation of our people from neo-colonialism and bad governance.”

Ambode said the Liberation statue unveiled was not an image of Fela but a symbol of Fela’s philosophy. “This artwork was created as a form of respect and remembrance to this legend; what he stood for and fought for with his music; his mythology; struggle for freedom; fight for human dignity; social consciousness; courage and Pan-Africanism.”

Speaking on behalf of the Fela Kuti family, Yeni Kuti, thanked Ambode for putting up the effigy. She disclosed that Fela never liked statue, so Fela would be happy that a monument put up to celebrate him was an effigy of his costume.

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Arts and Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, revealed that in the last two years, Ambode has given artists room to express themselves like never before.

According to her, Fela is part of the Lagos success story because it was the space he used to express his thoughts about the dignity and value of Africa.

After unveiling the effigy, the governor went to the Kalakuta Museum where he was received by Fela family members, including Femi, Yemi and Seun. Dignitaries at the unveiling included Femi Falana, Pa Benson Idonije, Jahman Anikulapo, Olu and Joke Jacobs, among many others.

Meanwhile, few minutes after they left the annual Felabration at the New African Shrine in Alausa, Ikeja, the duo of Moshood Olowu and Olasunkanmi Ogundipe along with their accomplices, who are now at large, allegedly robbed commuters in different parts of Lagos.

While Olowu and Ogundipe carried out their operations in Ketu and Ojota areas of the state respectively, another suspect, 22-year-old Rasak Adebola, was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in a separate incident for bag snatching.

It was gathered that 24-year-old Olowu and 26-year-old Ogundipe and their two other accomplices, now at large, left New African Shrine and were heading to Ikorodu through Ojota when they committed the crime.

Olowu said: “We were at Ojota around 5:00a.m. after leaving Felabration venue to board a bus to Ikorodu. I dipped my hand into another passenger’s pocket when we were rushing the bus. I removed his phone and passed it to my colleagues, Ayobami and Jide.

The owner held my hand and prevented me from joining the bus. Ayobami and Jide, who I gave the phone to, went away while RRS policemen who were passing by arrested me.”

Olajide on his part said he was in company of nine other accomplices from New African Shrine when they accosted one Pastor Adetayo Samuel, who was waiting to board a bus to Ibadan at Old Toll Gate, Ketu and collected three mobile phones from him and N6,000.

He said: “We fled the scene immediately and we broke into three groups. We were trailed by RRS patrol team, who received complaint from our victim. They arrested me while I was trying to board a bus to Ibafo.”

Confirming the incidents, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the three suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation and prosecution.

– Channels

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ARTS & CULTURE

Scientists Possibly Locate The Biblical Sodom, Tell-el-Hammam

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Tell-el-Hammam: Scientists Possibly Locate Sodom’s Site | Fab.ng

Tell-el-Hammam, located in what is now Jordan, was a sprawling and influential city during the Bronze Age. Its sudden and dramatic demise has led some to speculate that it could be the biblical city of Sodom.

Tell-el-Hammam’s origins trace back to around 6600 BC, making it an ancient settlement. By its peak, the city covered over 60 hectares, a truly massive area for its time. This vastness earned it the title of the first megacity in the southern Levant. This solidifies its importance as a regional power.

Unfortunately, Tell-el-Hammam’s reign ended abruptly around 1650 BC, leaving behind a mystery that has sparked debate for centuries. This sudden destruction is the key reason some researchers believe it could be the same city described in the Bible.

Scientists make a thrilling discovery

Archaeologists have been meticulously excavating Tell-el-Hammam since 2006, and in 2021, they finally revealed some groundbreaking discoveries. Their findings point to a catastrophic natural event as the likely cause of the city’s demise, mirroring the biblical story of Sodom’s destruction by fire and brimstone.

The Bible, in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of God raining down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah as punishment for the wickedness of their inhabitants.

Intriguingly, scientists now believe a similar fiery event befell Tell-el-Hammam roughly 3,600 years ago. Their theory suggests a meteorite exploded high above the city, generating unimaginable temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius. This incredible heat would have instantly vaporised any living thing and melted the city’s infrastructure, leaving it virtually unrecognisable.

The force of this explosion is estimated to have been even more powerful than the infamous 1908 meteorite blast over Tunguska, Russia. The Tunguska event, while powerful enough to flatten trees over hundreds of kilometres, is estimated to have been equivalent to over 1,000 Hiroshima bombs.

According to scientists, the Tell-el-Hammam explosion surpassed even that, leaving the area uninhabitable for a staggering 600 years.

Read more about culture and lifestyle here.

ARTS & CULTURE

The Hidden Origin Of The Name “Yoruba”

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

The Hidden Origin Of The Name "Yoruba" | Fab.ng

The Yoruba people didn’t always have one common name. Even though they spoke similar languages, each Yoruba community had its own way of speaking, like a dialect. Because of this, they identified themselves based on their town or area. For example, some Yoruba people in Benin and Togo still call themselves “Ife” instead of “Yoruba.”

Today, the Yoruba are a well-known ethnic group, living in Africa and even other countries across the Atlantic Ocean, like some Caribbean nations.

An article in a history journal tells us that before “Yoruba” became the common name, they were called different things in different places. For instance, in Brazil, they were called “Nago,” and in Cuba, they were called “Lucumi.” These names come from Spanish and French influences. In Sierra Leone, they were known as “Aku,” and the Portuguese used the term “Terranova” for Yoruba slaves brought from western Benin.

The Hidden Origin Of The Name "Yoruba" | Fab.ng

The name “Yoruba” wasn’t always used for all Yoruba people

Originally, it was a name given to the Oyo people by their neighbours, the Fulani or Hausa. This name, “Yoruba,” actually meant “cunning” in their language.

The plural form of “Yoruba” is “Yarabawa,” and the singular form is “Bayarabe.” Interestingly, some scholars used “Yoruba” only for the Oyo people, but there’s evidence of terms like “Yarabawa” or “Yariba” being used much earlier.

This term was used by Muslims and Arabic speakers even before the rise of the Oyo people. Unlike the Oyo-specific term, they used it to describe the entire Yoruba group, not just one kingdom. Historical writings and texts show that by the 1500s, the Yoruba were already known by this name.

Finally, the idea of all Yoruba people being one group, a single “Yoruba” identity, came about much later, in the 1800s. This concept emerged through interactions with Christian missionaries and educated Yoruba leaders.

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ARTS & CULTURE

5 Countries That Still Practice Female Genital Mutilation

Published

1 month ago

March 23, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

Female Genital Mutilation: Countries That Still Practice It | Fab.ng

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice carried out in over 30 African countries, as well as some countries in Asia and the Middle East. Sadly, it’s often seen as a necessary part of raising a girl and preparing her for adulthood and marriage. The misconception is that FGM prevents promiscuity and ensures “virginity.”

Let’s look at some of the countries where FGM is prevalent:

1. Indonesia

Here, over 90% of Muslim women have undergone FGM, impacting a staggering 70 million women and girls. This number represents a disturbing 35% of the global burden of FGM. Despite the practice’s prevalence, no laws explicitly ban it in Indonesia or other Asian countries.

2. Saudi Arabia

Although FGM is considered illegal worldwide, Saudi Arabia lacks clear legislation against it. FGM is still practised in some areas, like Jeddah and Hali. A concerning statistic reveals that 18.2% of women in Saudi Arabia—nearly one in five—have undergone FGM/C.

3. Yemen

A study in Yemeni coastal areas found an alarming prevalence of FGM—89% among women and nearly 80% among young girls in surveyed families. Shockingly, two-thirds of women and half of men in these areas have little understanding of the harmful effects of FGM.

4. Somalia

With the highest number of FGM cases globally, Somalia paints a grim picture. A staggering 98% of girls between 5 and 11 years old have undergone Type III infibulation. This is the most severe form of FGM. UNICEF estimates that at least 200 million girls across 31 countries have been subjected to FGM. It highlights the devastating global impact of this practice.

5. Egypt

Unfortunately, Egypt leads the world in the number of women and girls who have gone through female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). This practice, widely considered harmful, has impacted a staggering 87.2% of women in Egypt between the ages of 15 and 49.

This alarming statistic becomes even more impactful when considering Egypt’s large population of nearly 95 million people. The sheer number of women affected underscores the urgency of addressing this deeply concerning traditional practice.

Female genital mutilations in Africa

Even though FGM is outlawed in some of these countries, the practice continues. In many others, there are either no laws against it or the laws are weak and not enforced. Here’s a list of African countries where FGM is still practised: