History ● Conjectures ● Insights
What about Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson have fascinated you so? You mean what about them have made me commend them to everyone affected by the scourge of violence and banditry on many of Nigeria’s highways? That’s what I mean It’s the brotherhood of The Highwaymen What’s the brotherhood of The Highwaymen? That connection with the road; the smell of burning clutch plates mixed with…
His politics was drenched in conviction, his speeches were rich in appeal, his style hooked on engagement, yet he had a secret. One day, late Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa asked former minister and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Maitama Sule what was the secret to his good working relationship with Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Nigeria’s Parliament in the early 60s. The late…
Why are you so angry? Why should I not be angry? What right did they have to release the news? Didn’t they know such news spread so quickly? And many more eyes than necessary will now be looking in his direction. We didn’t need some of the attention the news has generated worldwide. The last time I checked you’re still a Nigerian. And the guy…
The Russo Brothers and their collaborators in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, MCU must accept the blame for inadvertently creating in my neighbour an obsession to build the biggest snake farm and the biggest scorpion ranch. He says it is a massive business opportunity. Thrown up by some of our peculiar challenges. He insists it is not the MCU but serendipity that brought the idea to…
You guessed it, my neighbour came again yesterday. He wanted me to explain to him how some people now enjoy killing mosquitoes with hand-held fans, which some banks distributed to their customers not long ago as promotional tools. He wanted to know how the transition was made. How did his neighbour begin to enjoy killing a creature that once irritated and distressed him? My neighbour…
I did not know that my post on Robert Mugabe and Nigeria deeply fascinated my neighbour. He called me after to discuss portions from the piece, especially the portion about unpleasant consequences that follow moments of madness. Those consequences that undo hard-earned reputation. He admitted it was extremely sobering to see former heroes turn villains. Those who have fallen from grace to grass, dressed in…
How many remember that song that offended the sensibilities of many some years ago because of how it tacitly endorsed the despicable act of obtaining by false pretence? You will not believe what my neighbour said a friend of his told him about the song. My neighbour’s friend said he heard of a guy who has made a remix of the song. The guy has…
Can one moment of madness undo a lifetime of hard-earned reputation? This question is at the heart of Nigeria’s relationship with former Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, who passed away last week at the age of 95 in Singapore. Why Singapore, by the way, and not nearby South Africa or Europe? The old man didn’t trust many in those places. Not many people know that Robert…
My neighbour said he knew he had to be saved from Serena Williams when she was the last thing on his mind when he went to bed and the first thing on his mind when he woke up on Sunday morning. He insists he’s not the only one bitten by the 24th Grand Slam ‘bug.’ How many are you altogether? I asked. “You know she’s…
The unthinkable in the above title was not going to Fela’s shrine, even though many people would consider it so, seeing how frequently he went there and the fact that he actually enjoyed the music of the creative genius! By the way, going to the shrine for him, was not for show or any such thing. What was the top cop doing at the Fela’s…