People Wey Kill Lucky Dube Think Say E Be Nigerian

Original content from http://allafrica.com/stories/200902060008.html

Newspaper reports from South Africa said yesterday that legendary reggae music icon, Lucky Dube, was killed because he was mistaken for a Nigerian.

But the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), who spoke to the Southern Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday reacted with shock to reports that Dube was shot because his killers thought he was a Nigerian.

He said it was unacceptable that South Africans would perceive Nigerians with such hatred.

According to him, this perception was in spite of Nigeria's contribution to the liberation of South Africans from the oppressive Apart-heid regime.

"This kind of situation is unacceptable to us as a people and government," Marwa said.

He said what the perception meant was that once "one is a Nigerian, you are not safe here in South Africa" .

The matter, according to him, would be tabled at the Review Meeting of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission later this month in Abuja.

"This matter has to be tabled and concluded with before the situation escalates out of hand. What if Nigerians at home also decide to set up South Africans?", he asked rhetorically, saying "we must stop it now and get the relationship back to where it should be, friendly and acceptability of brotherliness."

He emphasised that "we are the same people who have toiled together in the past and are still toiling now."

"We have thousands of Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs who engage in hard, decent and legitimate businesses and contribute to the economy of South Africa.

"If they have laboured hard to legitimately earn their pay, they reserve the right to afford whatever luxury cars of their taste and live out the best life-styles of their desire. It is their entitlement and definitely not a crime for you to live well if you work hard for it.

"Nigerians should not be seen as criminal elements. Are they saying that because as a Nigerian who rides a flashy car he should be killed? We will not accept that. We will resist it," he said.

Marwa assured Nigerians who called the high commission on the matter that "we are on top of the matter" and urged them to remain law abiding citizens.

Wetin Naijarians go do for the world self, at Airports we are given special treatment and for foreign countries we are targeted....but sometimes u go blame other people cos na we de do ourselves, de tarnish the image of our country.
Make we all try rep Naija in a better way..help change people perception of Nigerians. Maka na ndi igbo na asi otu aka ruta nmanu, ozuo oha, so umunne m make we try in any small we can to clean up naija image.
Naija for life.

Happy Birthday! Nigeria and I

Just wishing Nigeria and Nigerians around in the world a Happy Independence Day celebration.
And to myself, A special happy belated birthday.....Yesterday was my birthday (i gave Nigeria a day) though nothing special but i thank God for everything.

I pray that God continue to guide our leaders so that they will lead our beloved country Nigeria to greater heights....Happy Birthday!!!!!

Gongo Aso - 9ice's Stepping Stone

Speakers on the streets seem to burst from the sound of the ‘signature beats’ and the husky voice with so much appeal…

Some wonder if the beat and the voice are Siamese Twins… So inseparable it seems no other voice could go with such beats and no other beats would’ve been good for such a voice…

From every perspective, ‘Gongo Aso’ is a product of simple but complicated blend of rhythm and lyrical expertise with a mind infested with cultural identification that it appears to harbour the fear of one day being robbed of it. Much as its popularity goes, the uniqueness of the song lies in its ability to mask the simple lyrics with a measured amalgam of Yoruba Language which vested on it the buoyancy from the attributes of a ‘national anthem’, as its contemporaries turned out to be.

The cultural identity portrayed by 9ice in ‘Gongo Aso’ is not unexpected of a typical Yoruba man whose tenacious hold on culture is unrivalled amongst other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. To say that ‘Gongo Aso’ is the only song whose unique nature is rooted in this aspect is to be the least exaggerating. Hit songs who, in one way or the other, exude even an iota of the Nigerian cultures abound in music stores. Same goes for artistes who are grounded in this ideology. However, what singles out this Ibadan-born crooner is nothing more than the masterful rendition accorded every line and rhyme his voice honours.

Two years ago, he was just another Naija guy on the streets. But now, 9ice has become a household name made popular by the unprecedented success with the hit song, ‘Gongo Aso’. One would want to ascribe 9ice’s spectacular entrance in the Naija music scene to his appearance in ‘Ruggedy Baba’ – by Ruggedman, a Naija rap sensation famous for his hardcore critique of fellow rapstas. With his second album "Gongo Aso", 9ice has carved a niche for himself in the Nigerian music industry whose nascent nature makes it a bee-hive of competition.

As the song enjoys maximum airplay and profound listening, criticisms and admirations continuously flow. Though the latter far more outweigh the former, it would make sense to evaluate the remarks of the critics. It has been argued that the theme of the song could not be easily fathomed by even prolonged listening. Could it be 9ice wanted conveniently to ‘show’ himself in the song, or more or less market his lyrical prowess as shown in the opening line of verse one: “Gongo Aso!, (you know), am on fire, no be beans talk…”?. The argument follows that, as a consequence, no moral lesson can be deduced from a song whose message is elusive other than a portrayal of personal skills. One is then tempted to classify it amongst songs like ‘Yahoozee’- by Olu Maintain and ‘2 Much Money’ by Kelly Hansome. These classes of songs have been criticized for being devoid of tangible messages other than advertising/showcasing Nigeria’s expertise in precisely cyber-related fraud. But, come to think of it, wouldn’t it be kind of cynical judging a song only based on ethics and morality when doing so would amount to condemning the whole by sampling just the part? Nonetheless, these aforementioned hit songs have enjoyed #1 spots for weeks in national music charts and some global countdowns. More so, they have and are still being considered classic party jamz by the average club-minded Naija citizen.

As 9ice continues to blaze the trail in the Naija music scene, calls for him to honour most of the elite ‘shows’ in the country and beyond have become unceasing of recent. It is worthy to note here that Naija can no longer wait to explode into the international music scene. It’s nice (Abi ‘9ice’?) to learn that most of these artistes making waves are proud to repp Naija to the fullest, wherever and whenever! A lesson to our artistes who think that to sound western in their lyrics would guarantee them a place in Naija musician’s hall of fame. Far from it! Nowadays, ‘We Doin’ it in Our Own Stylee’ as 2 Baba (TuFace Idibia) and friends would rightly point out. Peace, Folks! Naija is hottin’, O nwelu ife na-eme! (Nothin’ dey happen!).

9ice » Gongo Aso

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Greed as an African Mentality

Africa is one of the continents God’s blessings have been showered on more.

The continent is blessed with a lot, notably: rich farmlands and natural reserves, expensive stones such as: Gold, Diamond, Manganese etc. In spite of all these, it seems as though, the continent has been the last on the block, though the other four are not competing with us. We are last because there is lack of schools, hospitals, food, good drinking water and a whole lot more. The problems have become very serious that even 5 year olds know what is going on talk less of me, a 25 year old.

What then are the causes of all these. A taunting question a lot of people ask but dare not to provide answers to. Greed is one disease that has eaten deep into the flesh of Africans. The African mentality is, all for me and none for them. Have you ever thought about why that great grand father of yours sacked everybody off those family lands of, in the name of some custom? That is the African mentality we're talking about

Presidents hoard billions of dollars in foreign accounts in Switzerland and other parts of Europe and America at the peril of the masses The mentality is GREED, the excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves.

Our cultural and moral values have been thrown to the dogs in the name of greed and selfishness. Young people no longer give way to the elderly on public transport, but rather compete shamelessly with them. Old men and women are left to solve their own problems at banks and other public places. If I don't get mine done nobody else does, negative greed attitude persists everywhere on the continent.

It is only on the African continent that a CEO or manager must sleep with a lady looking for job, before that job can be given out. Greed is part of mankind; a lot will argue no that shouldn’t at all be the case because it’s what is making us go down the drain as a continent.

Unless these attitudes change, the numerous problems on the continent such as disease, hunger, poverty, mass illiteracy, etc will continue. Unless the presidents stop sending the tax payers' monies to Switzerland, the people will continue to die out of hunger. The manager must give out the jobs on merit, if not, the ladies will be prostitute on the street tomorrow. Young people learn to assist the elderly when their in need, because we'll one day be in that position and need the assistance of others.

Let us know very well that the five of us were born but four have already gone far, let us change our attitudes for the best. I believe in Africa and know there is a lot install here for us.

Do Not Isolate Nigeria, State’s Frazer Tells Congress - US Department of State (press release)

THE NIGERIAN PROCLAMATION

IN RECENT HISTORY, NIGERIANS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY BETRAYED BY THOSE CHARGED WITH ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS. INSTEAD OF SERVING THE PEOPLE, PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE SERVED THEMSELVES TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE MASSES. THE RESULT IS A NATION LACKING ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND SECURITY.

THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIAN LEADERS INDICATES A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE CONSTITUENTS. NIGERIANS ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT TO THE LEADERS, THUS, LEADERS DO NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO THEM.

THE RECENT FAILURE TO CONDUCT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTORAL PROCESS WAS YET ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION THAT THE NEEDS OF THE MANY ARE SECONDARY TO THE WANTS OF THE IMPORTANT FEW.

FROM THIS DAY, ALL NIGERIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT & POWERFUL COUNTRY. CONSEQUENTLY, ALL NIGERIANS MUST COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. WE MUST DEMAND THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND IN-ACTIONS.
2. WE MUST EXPECT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES TO BE HONORED, RESPECTED AND MAINTAINED.
3. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT ALL NIGERIANS ARE EQUAL UNDER THE LAW AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.
4. WE MUST APPLY OURSELVES TO IMPROVING THE LOT OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL NIGERIAN REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RELIGION, TRIBE OR SOCIAL STATUS.
5. WE MUST STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A UNITED REPUBLIC DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES.

ONLY UPON ACHIEVING THESE PRINCIPLES CAN WE AS A PEOPLE FULLY LIVE UP TO OUR POTENTIAL AS A LAND OF GREATNESS. FOR OURS IS A COUNTRY RENOWNED FOR ITS ILLUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, AMPLE RESOURCES AND SHEER PHYSICAL BEAUTY.