Issue 36 - Nigerian Watch

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aFriCa in The CiTy
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london african Music Festival,
unplugged, utopia, buff
Your next
NIGERIAN
WATCH
available from
Sept 19
NIGERIAN WATCH
The uk’s leading aFriCan neWsPaPer WiTh The largesT CirCulaTion
September 5th 2014 Issue No 035 fortNIghtly to Inspire, Inform and Entertain
nigerianwatch.com
baCk To The FuTure
original
obasanjo
nigeria we hail thee
our own dear native
land
Though tribe and tongue
may differ
in brotherhood we stand
nigerians all and proud
to serve
our sovereign
motherland
arise, o Compatriots, nigeria’s call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength
and faith
The labour of our heroes
past
shall never be in vain, obasanjo’s anthem should be
scrapped and original restored
naTional ConversaTion delivers a new vision
for a new nigeria – pages 2&3
INSIDE
one in a
Million
surprise delivery
for nigerian mum
Page 4
hisToriC
royal visiT
The oba of oyo at
the high Commission
Page 12
FREE BBC ACADEMY
TALENT DAYS
see page 18
2
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
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@NigerianWatch
NEWSWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
Publishers
tevin Jemide & Victor omosevwerha
Publisher/Managing Director
Maryanne Jemide
PR Director
Ilonka omosevwerha
Managing Editor
Jon hughes
Art Editor
Cathy Constable
Contributors obah Iyamu; harriet ogbeide; AJ James;
Ayo Akinfe; funmi odegbami; Samuel Kasumu;
Ngozi Mbana; Ekanem robertson, Jessica onah,
laura Adenuga
Chief Cartoonist
harold ogbeide
Office address
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Email
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Nigerian Watch is a monthly newspaper owned by
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Views expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the publisher.
A NEW VISION
NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE
(The original National
Anthem
1960-78)
Nigeria we hail thee
our own dear native land
though tribe and tongue
may differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all and proud to
serve
our sovereign motherland
our flag shall be a symbol
that truth and justice reign
In peace or battle honour
And this we count as gain
to pass unto our children
A banner without stain
o god of all creation
grant this our one request
help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed
And so with peace and
plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
TIME TO
RESTORE
THE FORMER
NATIONAL
ANTHEM?
the National Conference
called for the country to
revert to its original national anthem, scrapped
in 1978 under the military regime of President
obasanjo.
the original was
adopted at independence in 1960.
the conference delegates were unanimous
in their belief that the
original was the “better
symbol of unity, peace
and prosperity”.
let us know which you
prefer at [email protected]
ARISE, O COMPATRIOTS
(The new National Anthem
adopted under President
Obasanjo
1978- present)
Arise, o Compatriots,
Nigeria’s call obey
to serve our fatherland
With love and strength and
faith
the labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain, to serve with heart and might
one nation bound in freedom, Peace and unity.
oh god of all creation,
Direct our noble cause
guide our leaders right
help our youth the truth to
know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
great lofty heights attain
to build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.
NATIONAL
CONFLAB
DELIVERS
BLUEPRINT FOR
A NEW ERA OF
OPEN AND
ACCOUNTABLE
GOVERNMENT
Nigeria’s
National
Conference ended on August
21 with the ceremonial
handing over of its final
report
to
President
Goodluck Jonathan.
When a week earlier the
report had been formally and
unanimously adopted by the
conference, Nigeria’s media
reported that the delegates
“spontaneously” rose as one
and delivered a rousing
rendition of “Nigeria We Hail
Thee” (see box left).
Former Minister of Justice,
Chief
Richard
Akinjide,
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NEWSWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
3
FOR A NEW NIGERIA
believed to be the oldest
conference delegate, moved the
motion for the adoption of the
final report while the youngest
delegate to the conference, 24year-old
Miss
Yanomah
Mandara, seconded it, in a
symbolic act of passing on the
baton from the old to the new
as Nigeria passed from its first
century to the second.
That
the
conference
concluded in such a show of
unanimity was a triumph,
celebrated across the country
and even in its normally cynical
press. That’s not to say it will be
all plain sailing from here – any
changes to the constitution
must be endorsed by the
National Assembly and two
thirds of the States’ houses of
assembly.
Whether the consensus
achieved by the conference
proves to be an irresistible force
in these arenas remains to be
seen. And the timeframe is
tight, with the Presidential
Election looming. Nevertheless
President Jonathan pledged at
the closing ceremony that the
conference’s work would not be
in vain.
He told the delegates, “On
behalf of all Nigerians, let me
thank you most sincerely for
your hard work. Your tireless
efforts aimed at coming up with
recommendations to chart a
path of peaceful coexistence,
sustainable development, justice
and progress as we march into
our second centenary shall not
be in vain.”
Despite difficulties along the
way – and at the 11th-hour a
potential split over the naming
of Vol 3 of the report as a Draft
Constitution,
subsequently
amended to “Resolutions of the
conference as draft amendments to 1999 constitution” –
the conference has delivered .
The President said, “It is
now very clear that as Nigerians
we have devised a way of
addressing and resolving our
differences
amicably:
we
dialogue and dialogue until we
agree! You have built a new
architecture of negotiation
NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
AT A GLANCE
Started March 17
Ended August 21
492 delegates
2 delegates died during the
five months’ deliberations
20 standing committees
3 volumes – the final report
in Vols 1&2 and resolutions
of the Conference as Draft
Amendments to 1999
Constitution
the report runs to 10,335
pages and contains over 600
resolutions
Cost N7bn ($43m; £26m)
based on trustful give-and-take
that is going to be a permanent
reference point in our national
life. I’m greatly delighted that
you worked that out in practical
terms by your patriotic
demonstration of the truism
that ‘though tribe and tongue
may differ, in brotherhood we
stand’.
“The
result
of
the
conference has shown that we
Hon Justice Idris Kutigi,
Chairman, National Conference handing over the
official report of National
Conference to President
Goodluck Jonathan
are not enemies, neither are we
antagonists, no matter our
religion, region, state, and
tongue. This Conference has
reinforced what I have always
believed: that Nigeria is here for
our collective good.”
He assured the delegates that
“we shall do all we can to
ensure the implementation of
your recommendations which
have come out of consensus
and not by divisions”.
With proposals for the third
tier of government to be
scrapped and creation of 18
new states, to strengthen
federalism and make the states
independently
more
transparent and accountable to
their respective electorates he
called on all Nigerians to play
their part.
“I appeal to all arms of
government and the people of
Nigeria to be ready to play the
different roles that the volumes
of reports you have produced
would assign to you. It is my
hope that with what you have
done, our country is on the
right road to getting the job of
nation building done.
“The report of the National
Conference, coming 100 years
after the Amalgamation,
promises to be a landmark in
our history.
“All those who have
predicted the disintegration of
our country at the end of our
first centenary would wish they
chose another country when the
possibilities of the new vision
for Nigeria are actualised. In
place of disintegration we shall
have integration.
“In place of bitterness and
spilling of blood, we shall have
sweetness and healing in our
land. Henceforth, our country
shall become like a running
water that approaches a rock,
rather than stopping it takes a
curve and flows on.”
KEY FINDINGS OF NATIONAL CONVERSATION
States: recommends the creation of 18 new
states; Apa from Benue; Edu from Niger; Kainji
from Kebbi; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah
from Borno; Amana from Adamawa; gurara
from Kaduna; ghari from Kano; Etiti from South
East; Aba from Abia; Adada from Enugu; Njaba
from Anambra and Imo; oil river from rivers;
Anioma from Delta; ogoja from Cross river;
IJebu from ogun; ose from Edo; and New oyo
from oyo. It also recommends that states willing
to merge can do so based on certain conditions.
Derivation Principle/Fiscal Federalism: The Conference noted that assigning a percentage for an
increase in derivation principle, and setting up of
Special Intervention Funds to address issues of
reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflict, as well
as solid minerals development, require some
technical details and consideration. It therefore
recommends that Government should set up a
Technical Committee to determine the appropriate increase and advise government accordingly.
revenue Allocation: that the sharing of the
funds to the federal Account should be done in
the following manner: federal government (fg),
42.5%; State governments, 35%; and local governments 22.5%. that the percentage currently
given to population and equality of states be reduced while that assigned to Social Development be increased greatly, to ensure accelerated
development of all parts of the country.
Forms of Government: Recommends the Modified Presidential System, which combines the
presidential and parliamentary systems. The
president shall pick the Vice President from the
Legislature and select no more than 18 ministers
from the six geo-political zones and not more
than 30% of his ministers from outside the Legislature. Reduce costs of governance by pruning
the number of political appointees.
Power Sharing/rotation: recommended that the
presidential power should rotate between the
North and the South and among the six geo-political zones while the governorship will rotate
among the three senatorial districts in a state.
MAP OF
THE NEW
NIGERIA
Local Government: All 744 to be scrapped, leaving the FG and States as the only tiers of government. States can create as many local governments as they want, but assume responsibility
for funding. The Constitution should fix the
tenure for Local Government Councils at three
years. Conference recommends the scrapping of
State Independent Electoral Commission.
how Nigeria will look if
the proposal for 18 new
states gets the goahead. New states are
highlighted in yellow.
governance: the creation of the office of the Accountant general (Director-general) of the federation to oversee the accruals of revenue into
and disbursement from the federation Account
as and when due; and shall administer these
funds as required by the Constitution. the office
of the Accountant general of the fg shall remain to oversee the accounts of the fg.
Independent Candidacy: It recommends that
every Nigerian who meets the specified condition in the Electoral Act should be free to contest
elections as an independent candidate. And for
the diaspora to be given the vote in time for
2015 Presidential election.
Anti-corruption: A Special Court to handle corruption cases should be established in the light
of undue prolongation in the trials and prosecution of corruption cases in the regular courts. A
non-conviction-based asset forfeiture law
should be enacted with broad provisions to deal
with all issues of proceeds of crimes by the antigraft agencies and the courts.
Religion: Government sponsorship of pilgrimages to the holy lands will cease. It also resolved
that churches and mosques should pay tax.
Numbered states
1
ANIOMA
2
ANAMBRA
3
ENUGU
4
ADADA
5
ADADA
6
OIL RIVER
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
RIVERS
ABA
AKWA IBOM
ABIA
ETITU
NJABA
IMO
4
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
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NEWSWATCH
Baby is one in a million
AFRICA ENTERPRISE
AWARDS LAUNCHED
“recessive gene” springs surprise on mixed race parents
NIGERIAN mother Catherine
Howarth and doctors and
nurses at Milton Keynes
Hospital were dumbfounded
recently when she gave birth to
a baby boy and he came out
wholly white. Financial analyst Catherine,
32, is married to white medical
recruitment consultant, Jonah,
34, and they were both
expecting their child to have a
conventional
mixed-race
appearance.
But when Catherine was
handed her child, she was
convinced she had been given
the wrong baby, as even doctors
said the chances of him being
wholly white were an incredible
one in a million. Catherine told local media, “The
midwife looked at me and looked back
down at Jonah and then at me again and
couldn’t believe it. The doctors confirmed
it was extremely rare.” Although the couple plan to have
more children, they have been told the
chances of them also being born white are
highly unlikely.
Mr Howarth too was equally
astonished as he had expected his son to
have darker skin. He said, “When I first
set eyes on my baby boy Jonah, it was a
feeling of pure delight and relief that he
was healthy and strong. His complexion
was very pale due to the umbilical cord
being wrapped around his neck when he
was being delivered. “After a few hours his colour came to
his cheeks and Catherine and I noticed his
complexion was very similar to mine and
were surprised it was as light. The
midwives and doctors told us he’ll most
likely remain this colour.” Mrs Howarth added,
“Some children get darker
after a few weeks when the
skin colour they will have for
life starts to become obvious
but you can see from the
colour at the tips of their
ears what that will be. We
saw straight away that Jonah
was fully white and doctors
have said he is not an
albino. “We have been told that I
must have been carrying a
recessive gene. My parents
were from Nigeria and for as
far back as anyone can
remember, my family have
all been black but at some
point there must have been a white gene
in my family that has remained dormant
for years and years until now." She added that doctors said they knew
of only two similar cases, both in the US.
In 2010 Nmachi Ihegboro, was born
wholly white despite having two black
parents, while nine years ago, mixed-race
couple Kylie Hodgson, 27 and Remi
Horder, 25, from Nottingham, became
parents to twin daughters, with one being
white and one black.
The Association for
African Owned Enterprise – which boasts a
membership of over
6,000 – has launched an
awards ceremony to
recognise the great
contribution of African
entrepreneurs to the
UK economy and inspire the next generation.
Founded in 2006,
AAOE launched the
schedule for the inaugural awards at London’s newest private
members club – the Library in St Martin’s
Lane – and the event itself will be staged at
the Grand Connaught
Rooms in Covent Garden on November 22.
“We are an affluent community and contribute £10bn
to the UK economy annually,”
explained AAOE Chairman
Washington Kapapiro. “Yet
there is very little narrative
about Africans’ success here
within the UK and we are
looking to showcase some of
these shining stars who have
excelled far and beyond in
their fields against all odds.
The AE Awards will showcase
the success and strength of the
UK African community.”
Awards will be given across
18 categories. For more information visit www.aaoe.org.uk
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6
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
NEWSWATCH
DIASPORA BOND GETS SOFT
LAUNCH AT LONDON’S SAVOY
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was in
London on Monday September
1 to introduce the diaspora
bond to an invitation only audience of 500 prominent UK
Nigerians.
The event at the Savoy Hotel
was part of a roadshow of interactive sessions organised by
Nigeria’s Debt Management
Office, that is taking in Europe
and America, to sell the disapora bond.
While the Savoy meeting was
held behind closed doors the
proposed issuing of the bond
has been heavily trailed.
Reuters Africa reported at
the end of June that Nigeria
was planning to issue a bond, to
raise between $100-300m by the
end of the year.
The report continues, “‘We
are still working on it, it will be
a minimum $100 million and up
to $300 million,’ Abraham
Nwankwo, director-general of
Nigeria’s debt management office, told Reuters on the sidelines of an Africa debt forum,
adding the bond would launch
before the year ends’.”
Nigeria chose Stanbic IBTC
and Goldman Sachs as lead
managers of the diaspora bond
in April. Mr Nwankwo said the
bond would be sold only to offshore diaspora investors, with
no on-shore portion.
thE UK’S lArgESt hIV AND SExUAl hEAlth ChArIty tErrENCE hIggINS trUSt has launched a
Faith and Community Project, which aims to provide faith leaders with the skills and knowledge to
support people living with HIV in their communities. The charity will also offer faith groups the opportunity to access rapid HIV testing services. Testing involves a finger prick blood test, providing
results within 20 minutes. African communities remain one of the groups most at risk of HIV in the
UK, with 1,522 new diagnoses last year. If you are a faith leader who is interested in developing
your knowledge to support people living with HIV or if you are interested in volunteering with the
Faith and Community project, contact [email protected].
Follow us on Twitter
@NigerianWatch
NIGERIA’S REVOLUTIONARY
‘PHIL COLLINS’
Legendary Fuji drummer Yomi Bashiru is in
town and rearing to go. He is affectionately
known back home as Nigeria’s Phil Collins –
a reference to the legendary British drummer
and multi-instrumentalist, who became the
lead singer in the supergroup Genesis and
went on to become one of the most successful solo artists of all time.
Likewise Yomi. He’s been all over the
stage. He started out as backing singer with
Fatai Ayinde before taking his place behind
the drums for Bashiru Adegun’s outfit. In
1989 he became the driving force behind
King Wasiu Ayinde’s band and revolutionised the Fuji sound by introducing amplified drums to the mix.
“I made them talk more,” he says modestly of the sound he created. It elevated the
music and saw the group break through and
cross over into Europe and America. The
next decade was spent undertaking world
tours.
Having recently graduated in Political Science and Education he’s now back doing the
thing he loves most, making music, with his
own band the Naija Grooves. This is bold innovative, funked-up Fuji.
He likes being at the front. “You get more
love,” he says. And he gets to give more. “You
have to entertain the audience,” he says with
New Immigration Act
awareness meeting
The Association of British Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers and Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation are to hold a joint
immigration awareness event at the Nigeria
High Commission Banking Hall, Northumberland Avenue, on Saturday September
20 between 11- 5 pm.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness among the diaspora of recent changes
to the immigration act and its potential impact. On the introduction of new rules
Home Secretary Theresa May made clear its
aim was “to ensure our immigration system
is fairer to British citizens and legitimate
migrants and tougher on those with no
right to be here.
See page 14
his customary wry smile. Is he, like all drummers, mad, bad and dangerous? “Only behind the kit,” he says with a chuckle.
Not solely, however. His lyrics fit the bill
too. “I write about Nigeria, Nigerians, the
politics. You have to entertain and engage the
audience and hope they understand there are
other ways,” he explains.
This is a rare opportunity to see Yomi
storm the stage. He is one of the greats of
Nigerian music, up there with his heroes –
Fela, King Sonny Ade, Tony Allen, Wasiu –
and it is an opportunity not to be missed.
He’s currently in London laying down
tracks for an album and preparing for a oneoff show at the London African Music Festival. Now in its 12th year this is WOMAD in
the city, one the great celebrations of African
music with over 40 gigs in 10 days.
Panic now and avoid the rush for tickets.
Yomi Bashiru and the Joyful Noise play
The Forge, Delancy Street, Camden on Sept
25. For tickets call 020 7383 7808 or visit
www.forgevenue.org
The Joyful Noise London African Music
Festival runs from September 15 – 28 at various venues across London. For full details
visit http://www.joyfulnoise.co.uk/londonafrican-music-festival/
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KASUMUWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
9
The SAMUEL KASUMU Column
Disappointed in diasporans that have returned home
I recently returned from my second
trip to Lagos in as many years, this
trip was for both business and
pleasure. I attended the traditional
wedding of a close friend which was
a lot of fun. Seeing over 1000 people
attend a wedding is something that
is usually only the preserve of
royalty in the UK, so this was an
experience that was very much new
to me.
One thing that stood out more than
anything else on this trip was the
entrepreneurial spirit of the Nigerian
people. Everyone that I met was doing
something enterprising, or at least had
the aspiration to do so.
The driver that we had hired for the
day, my namesake, Mr Samuel, was
among them. We got talking and he
told me about how he was saving up
N1 million to buy old car parts from
England. He asked me where the best
places were to obtain such goods as
there were huge opportunities to sell
them on in markets for so-called
‘Tokunbo cars’.
For all of the entrepreneurialism
amongst the people I couldn’t help but
feel perplexed about the lack of regard
for ‘the other’ that so many people I
spoke to have. For the rich, many were
solely focused on obtaining more
wealth as opposed to helping to build
up the country.
I engaged with quite a few
Diasporans who had moved back to
Nigeria and must say I was very
disappointed to see just how selfish and
self-centred they were. These were not
young people that had come back to
make a difference, but mercenaries that
had returned to see how they could
“These were not young
people that had come
back to make a difference”
rape the country in the same way that
so many Europeans did in times past.
It was disappointing to see that
people had very little heart for the poor
and in fact were keen to exploit the
access to such cheap labour for their
Why it’s good to complain
The usual hustle and bustle of Lagos airport is
something that one must prepare for mentally
when travelling. I made sure that I had my serious
face on as I arrived from London and thankfully
was untroubled. A friend however wasn’t so lucky,
and was encouraged to pay an ‘unofficial’ fine for
the luggage he had brought with him.
own pleasures.
At first this made me decide that
perhaps Nigeria was not the country
for me to do business.
But upon my return to
the UK I have had the
opportunity to reflect
and my conclusion is
that I should engage with
the country on the basis
of humanitarianism as
opposed to economic
gain.
If the next time I go
back to Nigeria it is to open a school,
or sponsor a child’s education, as
opposed to exchanging contracts
perhaps then, and only then, will I be
able to say that I am different from
some of my fellow Diasporans.
The journey back was smoother but I felt the
need to complain to Virgin Atlantic for what can
only be classified as first world problems. Not having the food I wanted and failing to put a tag on
my luggage to represent the cabin I was in was
hardly something worth writing about,
but in the world today it is a right to get
what you pay for.
I made the complaint and received a reply
within 14 working days. Not only did I receive a
reply, but I was also given 8,000 air miles for my inconvenience. I have now forgiven the wrong by Virgin Atlantic and will of course duly complain if they
wrong me again.
“WHY ARE YOU CONSERVATIVE?”
On arrival at Lagos after an
evening flight and a long wait
for my luggage you can
imagine that the last thing that
I was interested in discussing
was politics.
To my surprise the first
statement of my friend’s
father when he came to pick
us up was something along
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the lines of “Why are you
Conservative? You need to not
be that.”
I was initially stunned and
didn’t really know how to
react so I simply smiled and
carried on to the car.
Once we reached our
destination the questioning of
my political persuasion began
again. “Why are you a
Conservative?” he yelled.
“Don’t you know they don’t
like black people?”
Maybe it was because I was
tired or because I have been
on a bit of a political
sabbatical, but a response
from me was nonexistent.
Perhaps I should have
notified him of the fact that
two of his dear daughters-in law
are
Conservative
sympathisers, and that on one
occasion I even took one of
them to a Tory Reform Group
meeting where she duly posed
for a picture with the
President... none other than
the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke.
I am not sure if their
conservative views have been
kept secret from him but he
did mention that he reads my
Nigerian
Watch
article
regularly. So if you were
unaware that your sons’
partners are conservative... I
guess you know now uncle!
Turning 27
August was the month when I
turned 27, on the 27th. Unfortunately, I’m not too superstitious so the dates didn’t have
much special significance but it
was of course another opportunity to reflect.
Having fallen into the trap
of becoming too busy with the
cares of this world I must say it
was very difficult this time
around to really look back at
the last year.
One must of course give
thanks for the privilege to have
another year as so many were
unable to. I always say that in
life it isn’t the length of days
that is significant but what you
have done with the days that
you’ve been given.
PS. If you are having any
Black History Month celebrations in October let me know.
As always we’re hosting the
largest debate tour in the UK
and are always looking at
other initiatives we can support. Get in touch at [email protected] .
11 – 14 September
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Saturday 13 September
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YOURWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
Letters to the Editor
NW CoMMENt
f
Let us know what you think. Put pen to paper and send your letters to: the Editor, Nigerian Watch, Chartwell
house, 292 hale lane, Edgware, Middlesex hA8 8NP, or email us at: [email protected]
Letters to be included in the next issue must be received by no later than Sept 14, 2014. Anonymous letters
will not be published. Please include your full name, postal address and contact telephone number. Names
and addresses can be withheld, if preferred.
Letters may be edited for publication.
Remembering Fela
Thanks to Nigerian Watch (issue 35) I am
aware of the imminent release of the new documentary film about Fela Kuti, Finding Fela.
There are some interesting parallels to be
made between Nigeria and the present Algeria
in respect of Saint Augustine of Hippo and
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430A.D.),
of the present day Algeria, has been described
as the greatest thinker to have come out of
Africa, whereas Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been
described as the greatest musician to have
come out of Africa.
One of the names given to Fela by his fans
is Augustine because of his protruding head.
In Yoruba language, a protruding head is
known as OGO, anglicised to AUGUR and so
the nickname AUGUSTINE.
Fela was born in 1938, the year the Augustinian monks came to settle in Nigeria in Jos,
where you have the Augustinian Seminary and
the Augustinian Monastery.
Saint Augustine and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
have both been described as womanisers and
philosophers. Saint Augustine was a Priest
and Fela a self-confessed Chief Priest.
Saint Augustine’s mother, Monica, has
been described as the Patron Saint of Mothers and Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome
Kuti has been described as an icon of the
struggle of Nigerian women and the Mother
of Africa.
Saint Augustine and Fela both died in the
month of August. Saint Augustine died on
August 28, 77 days before his birthday (November 13), while Fela died on August 2, 74
days before his birthday (October 15).
Augustine Bickerstith, via email
YAM time
The item in Women’s Watch about writing a
will was an interesting piece and informative
too. The next step is to act upon what was
said… in due course. I also found the piece
about Y.A.M (both Nigerian Watch, issue 34)
both comical and relevant too, and it happens
11
to be my favourite food! I’m not sure if you’re aware, but some remittance firms ask for a favourite item as a password, which has to be changed periodically. I
have been pondering this name as an option,
only to read about its converted meaning! All the best with the next issue. Wale Bakare , via email
or the past few years the sword of Damocles
has hung over Nigeria, ever since a US
intelligence report predicting the break-up of
Nigeria by 2015. Uncertainty breeds uncertainty.
Many feared the National Conversation that
has just concluded would be the straw that broke
our nation’s back. the nay-sayers had a field day
predicting that ethnic divisions and faction
fighting would see the Conversation end in chaos.
It didn’t. It ended in unanimity.
over 500 delegates, representing all interests,
patiently and at times passionately debated the
challenges facing the nation and worked out
ways to overcome them.
Under the blueprint delivered there will be a
stronger federalism with more power devolved to
the States, under plans to scrap the current
system of local government. this will serve to
make governors more answerable to the people
they serve and that can only be a good thing.
It will also raise competition between States to
develop – as the electorate will be able to see
who delivers and who doesn’t. this is a step in the
right direction toward greater transparency and
accountability and a brighter future.
the consensus that has been found must not
be allowed to be kicked into the long grass. If it is,
then predictions like the one that has dogged us
for years will return, to
the detriment of all
Nigerians and the
continent as a whole.
Maryanne Jemide, MD
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NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
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@NigerianWatch
EMBASSYWATCH
NEWS FROM THE NIGERIA
HIGH COMMISSION, LONDON
Historic Royal visit by Oba
History was made at the
High
Commission
on
Wednesday September 3
when the King of the
Yoruba nation, His Royal
Majesty
Oba
Lamidi
Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the
Alaafin of Oyo, was
welcomed to the Mission by
Nigeria’s Ambassador to
the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki
Tafida, OFR, CFR.
Never before has there been
such a royal visit by one of
Nigeria’s traditional rulers.
The air was full of
anticipation before the Oba
and his entourage arrived at
the mission.
His Royal Majesty first met
privately with Dr Tafida in the
Ambassador’s office where the
two men greeted each other
with the traditional clenched
fist salute.
After a brief conversation
they joined their respective
colleagues to officially mark
the grand occasion.
A scholar of history, the
Oba regaled his audience with
a learned overview of the
Yoruba
Empire,
and
emphasised that it was now
widely recognised to be the
place where, what are now
considered the fundamentals
of any democratic society,
were first practised.
The Yoruba Empire was
also the first to essentially
devolve power and establish a
social contract with its
peoples. He lamented the fact
that when the British
colonised they ignored the
Empire’s constitution as it was
At 600 years, the empire is
the
longest-surviving
in
modern times.
“What made the Empire
last so long was due process,”
he told to gathering. “We were
the first to practice due
process.”
not written down.
The principles, however,
remain true and ones to be
followed today “now we are
one”.
His majesty was glad to
note that Dr Tafida upholds
those principles. “We are
aware of what you are doing,”
he told His Excellency. “I
know because I have watched
you interviewed many times
on television.”
He praised the work of the
Mission under Dr Tafida for
promoting the positive face of
Nigeria and “redeeming the
image of Nigeria”.
Dr Tafida returned the
compliment, noting the Oba’s
sagacity and intellect. He told
the gathering, “He is stronger
than all of us here. He is over
80 and has been on the throne
for 45 years.”
He recalled vividly when in
1975 the head of state General
Murtala Ramat Mohammed
included Oba Adeyemi in his
entourage to the hajj. “He
there made one of the great
political speeches of all time.”
Dr Tafida concluded by
saying, “We are your servants,
here to serve the people.”
His majesty then signed the
visitors book before being
accompanied to his car by Dr
Tafida.
‘War CriMes’ allegaTions disTorT The TruTh
Allegations of “war crimes” levelled against
the Nigerian military in a documentary
broadcast on Channel 4 have been firmly
refuted by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to
the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR,
CFR.
Entitled Nigeria’s Hidden War and shown as
part of the Dispatches strand on August 18, the
documentary took the spotlight off Boko
Haram’s violent insurgency and turned it
instead on the Nigerian military’s response.
Written and produced by freelance
documentary film maker Evan Williams the
programme was also shown in Australia under
the title Nigeria’s Dirty War.
His Excellency Dr Tafida was alerted on
August 6 to the UK programme’s imminent
broadcast in a letter from Mr Williams, in which
he sought an official response to the allegations
about to be aired and described in his letter as
“[my] own findings”.
In his reply Dr Tafida wrote, “While I totally
agree with you that decent treatment of civilians
in a situation of armed conflict is not only in
line with natural justice and indeed has found
expressions in several international instruments
and anything that contravenes that could
constitute war crimes. However, nothing of the
sort is being perpetrated in Nigeria. “
What is happening in Nigeria Dr Tafida
wrote is a concerted effort on behalf of the
Federal Government, which has won
international support, to defend the populace
against indiscriminate attacks by the terrorist
group Boko Haram.
“Boko Haram insurgents have pitched
themselves against the country and its people,
wreaking havoc, killing and maiming people
and destroying property with reckless
Boko Haram
insurgents
have pitched
themselves
against the
country and
its people,
wreaking
havoc
abandon,” Dr Tafida says in the letter. “It is safe
to say that the group is now an enemy of the
people and territory of Nigeria.”
To parade them in any other light is an error,
especially as the insurgents have previously used
the tactic of dissembling as Nigerian forces to
launch deadly raids on towns and villages,
including the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping.
Therefore it should not be surprising that a
propaganda campaign could be unleashed on
the government “to dilute the collective resolve
to stamp out this puzzle called Boko Haram”.
While accepting that “in a campaign like this
one possible collateral damage could be
experienced” Dr Tafida continues “for the
avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Government
is committed to putting behind it this problem
in the shortest possible time and is doing
everything possible within the ambit of the law
in that direction.”
And that resolve does not just equate to
boots on the ground but manifests itself in the
form of many initiatives including development
agencies, safer schools initiative and victim
support fund “to mobilise resources and
administer appropriate support to victims of
insurgency and Boko Haram terror activities.”
He continues, “To read [in your letter] about
war crimes in the Nigerian situation of today is
to give in to disinformation and unfair
assessment of the current state of affairs in the
north-eastern part of Nigeria.”
Pondering the issue in a personal capacity Dr
Tafida cautions against “pointing accusing
fingers”. He writes, “I think we should be less
selective in pointing accusing fingers and be more
inclusive in crying foul. For instance, we are yet
to hear from your organisation as to your
findings about cases of war crimes and human
rights violations in the ongoing standoff between
Israel and the Palestinians, or between proRussia Ukrainians and Ukraine, in regard to the
secessionist bid of easter Ukraine.
“Once the question of human rights violation
accusation is seen to be targeted at country ‘A’
and not country ‘B’, or government ‘A’ and not
Government ‘B’ then it loses its utility and
fairness.”
As a member of the UN and several other
international organisations, contributing men and
materials towards peace-keeping in several parts
of the world, neither the “Federal Government
nor its agencies can be said to be targeting
unprotected civilians as a matter of policy”.
He asserts Nigeria’s commitment to human
rights as a signatory to the UN charter – the
international covenant on civil and political
rights – highlighting that Nigeria has
“domesticated human rights protection and
promotion in its constitution, with a very
independent Judiciary and Human Rights
Constitution to attend to cases of abuses, if any.
He concludes, “Consequently our take on
this as a Mission of Nigeria in this very
important country is to dismiss the purported
cases of human rights abuses and war crimes in
Nigeria but instead restate the commitment
and resolve of the FG in Nigeria to address this
insurgency and psychologically reintegrate the
people of north-eastern Nigeria to its fold.”
Dr Tafida’s 3-page letter was reduced to
three lines and presented at the end of the
programme when broadcast.
AFRICANS IN FAVOUR OF AN
INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND
In a little over two weeks the
United Kingdom might be
no more, if the people of
Scotland vote in the looming
referendum to become an
independent nation.
The polls (at the time of
going to press) are narrowing,
with six points separating those
voting against independence
and those voting for (48% and
42% respectively). A key factor
in determining the outcome will
be the black vote and there have
been active campaigns in favour
of independence from the diaspora there in the form of
Africans for an Independent
Scotland (AFIS) and Nigerians4YesScotland.
AFIS group secretary
Chimezie Umeh launched
AFIS in October last year, posting an article on the Scottish
Left Review website under the
Nigerian proverb, “The journey
to manhood begins only when
a man leaves his father’s house
to build his own homestead”.
It continues, “Within the
African and Caribbean com-
munities of Scotland, we are
aware of how independence for
our countries brought radical
social change and social development in the 20th century.”
Representing members from
25 countries on the continent
Afis’ mission statement says,
“The things we all have in common is that we believe: in freedom and Independence for
Africa and are happy to apply
that principle to Scotland’s selfdetermination.”
And, “That issues such as
race discrimination, gender
equality, borders and immigration, and asylum policies – all
that directly impact on African
& Caribbean communities – are
currently decided at Westminster level, much to our collective
disadvantage. These could be
radically changed if Scotland
was to become an independent
country.”
With the polls narrowing so
dramatically – the no vote
started with a 20 point lead –
Afis believes the black vote can
make a difference to the even-
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NEWSWATCH
tual outcome. The latest census
shows that there are around
36,000 Africans living in Scotland, mostly in Glasgow,
Dundee and Aberdeen.
Mr Umeh, formerly from
Nigeria, is passionate in his belief that an independent Scotland would go from strength to
strength.
He told the Daily Herald,
“The right to be self-sufficient
and self-reliant is a fundamental human right and I believe
that exercising these rights has
nothing to do with who your
neighbours are. Scotland is a
home to me now. I have lived
here for seven years and my
children were born here. I want
this to be the future for my
kids.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian
Community in Scotland has
also been active, under the banner Nigerians4YesScotland.
The group has held meetings
that have been attended by ministers. One of the key issues has
been how independence will effect migrants and their status.
FABULOUS FUN DAYS DRAW BIG CROWDS
Despite the clash of dates, the diaspora rallied in their hundreds to celebrations of Nigerian culture and
heritage staged by the Nigerian
Schools Sport and Family Fun Day
and Central Association of Nigerians
in the UK respectively on August 24.
Over 800 attended the NSSFF event,
and were still dancing at dusk.
Meanwhile, at the Canuk event,
Nigeria’s Ambassador Dr Dalhatu
Sarki Tafida, was guest of honour.
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NIGERIAN WATCH
11-24 Apr 2014
Gbenga Segun Photography
14
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NIGERIAN WATCH
11-24 Apr 2014
15
NOT FAR SHORT OF A “YELLOW STAR”
The Immigration Act 2014 is essentially an Anti-Immigration Act and attacks the core values of our legal system, writes
lawyer helena Sheizon. Here she considers the major new clauses of the act and the harsh implications for migrants
T
They will be required to pay in advance
for each year of stay to preserve access
to the NHS and the validity of their
visa.
The Department of Health will
make new regulations under the
National Health Service Act 2006 in
autumn this year introducing an
extended range of NHS charges
applying to migrants who are subject
to immigration control. Payment of
the levy will exempt those lawfully in
the UK from payment of charges.
In other words, the system of levies
will act as a government run obligatory
health insurance for non-EEA
nationals. What remains to be seen is
whether provisions for urgent and
necessary treatment will be in place
and whether these will be subject to
capacity to pay for those who are
outside the system of levies? Will
access to GPs and nurses be subject to
a lawful residence test? Will
communicable diseases be left
untreated where the payment cannot
be secured?
he Immigration Act
2014 is a sad story for
immigration lawyers.
Not only because it is
essentially an AntiImmigration Act, but
also because it attacks the core values
of our legal system, which most of us
in the UK would have thought to be
impregnable. Judicial control over
immigration decisions will be largely
lifted once the relevant provisions of
the Act are in force.
Reduced right to appeal
The current system allows appeals
against a number of immigration
decisions, such as refusal of entry
clearance, refusal of applications for
extension of leave to remain,
revocation of leave to enter, decision
to remove a migrant from the UK,
and so on. These rights will be
scrapped.
Instead, the new system will
provide for the right of appeal against
refusal of a human rights claim. This,
together with refusal of a claim for
asylum or humanitarian protection,
will be the only decisions bearing the
right of appeal.
How this will pan out is a mystery
to most immigration experts,
particularly because no one knows in
what shape or form this human rights
claim has to be presented. I, for one,
am of the view that the right to a
private life of any migrant is affected
when his application is not treated in
accordance with the law.
In my seven years of practice I
have dealt with hundreds of
successful appeals where the decision
under challenge was simply not in
accordance with the immigration
rules. So how will I protect my client
against an incorrect, or unlawful,
decision? Sadly not an uncommon
affair with the Home Office.
Will I need to put a line in the
covering letter or enclose a postcard
saying “and by the by, dear decision
maker, please do not forget to act in
accordance with the law – it is my
client’s right under the Human Rights
Act (Article 8, in case you’re
wondering) – so please take this as a
human rights claim”? Just the way I
used to send parcels to good old
Russia with a note inside “Dear
postal worker, herein are vitamins for
the seriously ill, please kindly refrain
from stealing!” Being assertive, you
still have to be nice.
Apparently,
Parliament
has
thought along the same lines. And
there are provisions in the Act aimed
at preventing any such DIY
obstructions to freewheeling.
“Little weight should be given to a
private life established by a person at
a time when the person’s immigration
status is precarious,” says the new
Act. Precarious is defined in the
Oxford English Dictionary as
“dangerously lacking in security or
stability, subject to chance or
unknown conditions. From the Latin
precarious ‘obtained by entreaty’
(from prex, prec- ‘prayer’)+ -ous”.
It all adds up really nicely if you
apply logic: the lesser control over the
decision-making process, the more
precarious the applicant’s position
becomes, and hence less weight
should be given to the applicant’s
private life. It is a vicious circle.
“Access to the tools of everyday
life”
The Act brings to life the Home
Secretary’s pledge to “make it more
difficult for illegal migrants to live in
the United Kingdom by denying access
to the tools of everyday life” by
introducing new restrictions on access
to accommodation, health care, bank
accounts and driving licences.
Residential tenancies
When this part of the Act takes effect
landlords will bear responsibility for
the immigration status of their tenants,
similarly
as
employers
bear
responsibility for employing migrants
without right to work.
Migrants without leave to remain in
the UK will not be allowed to rent
accommodation. A civil penalty of up
to £3,000 may be imposed on the
landlord or estate agent for breach of
the prohibition.
The prohibition will extend to any
disqualified adult occupying the
premises whether or not the person is
named on the written agreement. The
landlords will be expected to make
“reasonable enquiries” about the
identity of the occupants. A term in the
rent agreement prohibiting disqualified
occupancy will not be sufficient to
prevent liability of the landlord.
This part of the Act requires a
Commencement Order, which has not
yet been made. And there are serious
practical obstacles to implementing
this
innovative
system
of
neighbourhood watch.
First of all, immigration status is
not always as transparent as one might
assume. There are thousands and
thousands of people awaiting decisions
of their applications by the Home
Office, who have the right to remain in
the UK and no proof that they might
produce if challenged.
Just last week after endless requests,
pleas, complaints, and angry letters I
finally received an acknowledgement
of an application for my client reading,
“Your application for further leave was
received on 26 August 2011 (sic!) and
it has been allocated to the appropriate
section for consideration… We
currently have a number of such
applications outstanding and because
of this, it is taking longer than we
would like for a final decision to be
reached. We are, however, currently
aiming to conclude your case within
the next 12 months”.
His right to live
and work in the UK
is not prejudiced by
the delay, but for the
three years between
August 2011 and
August 2014 we did
not have even a piece
of paper to confirm
this!
Secondly, there
may be a dispute as
to the immigration
status of the migrant:
the Home Office may
be of one view, the
migrant’s lawyers of
the other, and it may
be a matter for the
judiciary to make a
decision.
Thirdly, will residential landlords
and estate agents be trained to
determine someone’s immigration
status? Would all of them be familiar
with the full list of EU member states?
What about family members of EU
nationals who have an automatic right
to live and work in the UK provided
their EU national family member is
“exercising Treaty rights”?
These family members are not
required by law to have a document
confirming their status. And for some
of them it is next to impossible to get
this document even if they want to, say
if they are unable to surrender their
passport for six months or so that it
takes the Home Office to issue an EEA
residence card.
All in all, minor practicalities will
not impede the main thrust of the Act:
landlords will be unwilling to rent
property to foreigners unless they have
incentives to take the risk. Whether the
incentives will come from the natural
human striving for justice, equality and
humanity, or from greed, and
opportunities for taking advantage is
something we may all ponder about.
“No accommodation,
no driving licence, no
health service, no
banks, no work, no
food. Just mark them
out and see how their
numbers fade”
Healthcare
This provision of the Act also requires
a Commencement order, which has not
yet been put in place. It will introduce
a healthcare levy payable by migrants
who lawfully come to or stay in the UK
to work, study or be with their family.
Driving licence revocation
Those who are unlawfully in the UK
are not permitted to hold a UK driving
licence. Applicants for a licence have to
be lawfully resident in the UK. There
are new powers to revoke a driving
licence if the holder is not a lawful
resident.
Bank accounts
Banks are now prohibited from
opening current accounts to which
someone who is unlawfully in the UK
has access.
What’s missing?
Not much really. Maybe a conspicuous
mark on the sleeve of those who are
subject to immigration control – it will
be easier to carry out the necessary
checks, and the mark does not have to
be a yellow star, please do not take me
wrong!
Access to sustenance. We deny them
the right to rent accommodation, so
why sell them food? Drinks as well. We
control sale of alcohol for those under
21, why not for those who are not
allowed to be here? Why let them into
the pubs at all? And why do they use
the underground? A curfew may also
be imposed to weed out those who are
left in the streets.
And we are on the right track: no
accommodation, no driving licence, no
health service, no bank accounts, no
work, no food. Just mark them out,
and see how their numbers will fade.
Surely we are winners?
Helena Sheizon is an immigration
lawyer with Kadmos Consulting,
www.kadmosimmigration.com
Educated at UCL and called to the bar
in 2005, she has been practising
immigration
since
2007.
Her
professional interests are on the rights of
migrants in the UK in light of Human
Rights legislation and broader context of
EU free movement rights.
He
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NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
EDELWATCH
17
You need to blow your horn to get anywhere
As a proud British Nigerian Edel Meremikwu shares some of the infuriating little things one should know
about daily life in Lagos, which have made her learn to laugh out loud
A
pparently, it seems, every
person who relocates to
Nigeria will in their first
three to six months
undergo a crisis or worse
a series of crises that infringe on your
human rights.
Perhaps it’s pay day drama, that
glorious day that came and went
without one kobo being put in your
account. Or maybe someone in the
bank jumps the queue and the banker
says nothing. Or possibly it might even
be worse, perhaps you are prescribed
the wrong medicine, by MISTAKE. Or
your car is damaged whilst innocently
being parked at the kerb by a hoodlum
with no licence. Or someone who owes
you change runs off!
So who are you going to call?
Definitely not the Ghostbusters! The
police? Nope. Fire your mouth! The
police are not your friends! Forget it!
Nothing will happen. This is Nigeria. I
will say no more on this matter.
loW SECUrIty AND WhAt
ABoUt My hUMAN rIghtS
Recently I went through a crisis. The
incident in question involved
something being broken in a shop I
visited. I was told that I did not want
to buy but I spoiled something on
purpose, I was called a thief by one
uneducated shop girl and followed half
way down the road until I was escorted
back to the store by the security guard
where the girl forced me to buy the
beads that had accidentally broke.
(Do you know what it is to be called
a thief in Nigeria when they know you
are from abroad? Azzin the whole
street can do jungle justice to you…
Finish!!)
I was told to empty my bag and
accused of being a thief and security
did nothing to stop her pushing me, (so
obviously I pushed her back because
I’m not a pure Christian everyday!).
I ended up paying for the damage
so that I could end the matter, but it
taught me a big lesson about security
and human rights, there are none.
NIgErIANS PrIDE
thEMSElVES oN IMAgE
Projecting a positive self-image is very
important in Nigeria, this is said to be
the one thing you can have control
over. One of my earliest lessons on selfimage as a child was learnt when we
were expecting visitors at home.
where you begin to
regret your life. Yes,
you know the one.
Needless to say
everything had to be
on point for a reason,
your homelife was
and still is your selfimage. Now as an
adult I have come to
reflect on this image
of a thing in Nigeria.
Sometimes
we
TRAFFIC INCIDENTS
have
higher
standards
occur everyday in Lagos
or pay more attention
but arn’t usually as
to things that don’t
extraordinary as this one
matter as much in life
in Ikeja July 2012!
like our hair, phones,
cars and clothes, yet
I can remember my mother laying our dwelling places are not so much in
out the best crockery, china wares, order as they could be.
crystal glasses, stuff that we did not
know existed, for our visitor. It was as DrIVINg ChAoS!
if we preparing for the queen of Daily driving here is performed by
England to arrive!
short blasts of horns to signal right,
Wetin be this kind cleaning again? left, or to overtake. It’s hectic!
The house had to be immaculate and
As a general rule, assume every
that shake-and-vax freshener was used vehicle is driven by someone who has
all over the carpet. Falling short of this not passed their driving test. You can
would have resulted in mummy’s “if I buy licenses for a fee. Remember that
deal with you now look”, the one commercial bus (danfo) drivers and
okada drivers, will try and squeeze
through two parked cars. Yes its true.
I even suspect that driving is a survival
test; that is, if you make it to your
destination and back home alive you
have passed!
Everybody is in a hurry and doesn’t
consider his fellow sister or brother on
the road so driving here is a case of
me-first behaviour, which means that
if you do not drive-by-force-and-beep
you will NOT get anywhere for the rest
of the day.
Laugh out Loud
Even though we live in a constant
predicament of lack and plenty, doom
and gloom, hope and glory, growth
and stagnation, Nigeria is Africa’s
own big apple and Africa’s best kept
secret.
Being here I have learnt to laugh
out loud or else I will cry. This is the
most crucial factor to life in Nigeria.
In the midst of every challenging
situation you cannot help but laugh at
yourself, someone or something.
You can follow Edel Meremikwu
@NigerianWatch @editorsoffice online
using the tags #NigeriaRising
#ThisIsNaija
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18
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
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@NigerianWatch
EDUCATIONWATCH
BBC BAME Talent days
The BBC Academy is holding
a series of free introductions
to the world of broadcasting
to help BAME (black and minority ethnic) men and women
feel comfortable appearing on
television, radio and online as
expert contributors or presenters. These Expert Voices
events aim to help boost the diversity of experts in the media
and follow the acclaimed Expert Women campaign of 2013.
There are five days taking
place across the country offering a range of practical media
experiences, including sessions
on camera and in a radio studio as well as masterclasses and
networking with experienced
programme makers and industry leaders.
The day is all about coach-
BBC
Are you an
expert in subjects
like food,
science, medicine
or finance?
The Fortnight
FASHIONWATCH by Obah Iyamu
Next season’s trends seem so distant at the
moment but you can start test-driving these
updates with summer wear. I call it mixed
season fashion.
Extreme print
clashing The
ing people from BAME communities who have expertise in
various subject areas to become
regular contributors/presenters
on radio, television and online
and to meet key producers, editors and commissioners.
SPECIAlISt SUBJECt ArEAS
The application process is open
to men and women from the
BAME communities who can
demonstrate expertise in their
chosen area, which matches an
editorial need identified by
BBC programme and content
areas. Applicants will need to
submit a short self-shot film,
story idea and their CV, and
each event will train between
20-30 people. Danny Cohen, Director,
BBC Television, said, “We
want to take big steps to increase the diversity of the experts our viewers see on BBC
Television.”
Mary Hockaday, Head of
BBC Newsroom said, “Expert
Voices will undoubtedly help to
enrich our news content for audiences in the UK and around
the world, and it will also help
to demystify the process of ap-
Study at Reading
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institutions, enjoying a world-class
reputation for teaching, research
and enterprise.
For more information, or to arrange
a visit to campus visit
www.reading.ac.uk/international
www.facebook.com/AfricaAtReading
or email [email protected]
Study in the UK with a scholarship of
up to £2500 (Glasgow and London)
GCU offers scholarships of up to £2500
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High-quality programmes and award-winning
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pearing on radio and TV for
the successful applicants.”
Experts are being sought in
a wide range of fields, including; antiques and fine art; business and economics; cultural
commentary; history; science;
health and medicine; finance
and statistics; food and nutrition.
The specialist subject areas
vary according to the location
of the Expert Voices session.
loCAtIoNS
Sessions take place this year in
London on October 9th and
Birmingham on November
27th. With further sessions
in the new year in Bristol
(January 29), Salford (February 26) and Glasgow (March
12).
APPlICAtIoNS
Applications for the London
sessions close on September
7. Applications for the rest
of the country open from
September 1, 2014. Check
the website for specific deadlines (see below).
You can email Expert
Voices prior to the application procedure opening and
you will then be reminded
when to apply.
PrEVIoUS BBC ACADEMy SUCCESS
Angela Roberts, Managing
Editor, College of Production, BBC Academy, said
“Many of the women who
took part in the Expert
Women training days have
gone on to considerable success as broadcast presenters
and contributors.
To date, the 71 of the 164
women who undertook
training (16.5% BAME)
have between them clocked
up 273 media appearances,
including news bulletins for
the BBC (radio and TV),
CNN, Channel 4 and other
outlets. In addition a number
of the women have secured
agents and are in active discussion with programme
makers. Apply by typing into your
browser: bit.ly/BAMEExpertVoices
art of clashing prints to perfection is a serious talent. Mastering this art is a testing process,
requiring fashion expert credentials. We all love
great style but fashion MUST be
beautiful and
that’s why we
need to follow
the rules when
clashing prints.
These rules
work and they
are: pick a rich
fabric, pick
complimentary colours
and prints, and run a mile from anything
neon. These key points are the crown
rules of wearing
prints. This season I will be wearing printed shoes
to update the mismatch trend.
Platform sandals When you hear the words ‘platforms’
and ‘shoes’ in 2014 the first thing that comes to mind is
shoe scrapheap. But wait until you see the revival of the
70s stacked sandal, they are indeed the best thing that
happened to feet. Now.... the trick is to stay well clear of
burlesque-type platforms
and closed toe shoes; think
block heels, insane platforms
and ankle straps, all in one,
and your shoe update is the
perfect hit. As the days get
cooler, wear with tights (yes
sandals and tights are fine)
and enjoy the comfort of
platforms once again.
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LEISUREWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
19
NOW BOOKING: RUDY'S RARE RECORDS by Danny Robins at Hackney Empire, starring Lenny Henry
Rudy's Rare Records is a tiny down-at-heel old reggae record shop in Birmingham. Father and son must put their differences aside as
they face a battle to keep the music alive. Rudy’s Rare Records shows how desperate times draw families together, even when you can’t
stand the sight of each other.
from Sept 24 –Oct 5) www.hackneyempire.co.uk
What to see and do over the next 14 days...
fIlM
British Urban Film Festival
2014
For full listings and venues see
www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk
BUFF runs from Spetember 5.
thEAtrE
Eye of a Needle
BUFF has been showcasing
urban independent cinema
since 2005 and this year’s festival will not disappoint, with
more than 25 feature-length
and short films being shown
in theatre, online and by The
Africa Channel UK.
Highlights include Anthony Abuah’s latest feature
Woodfalls, about persecuted
gypsies; Montana about gang
life in east London; Magpie
about the desire for celebrity
status, pitting two sisters
against each other; and Perceptions, the tale of two
teenagers regenerating a north
London estate through the
power of spoken word poetry.
Provocative, topical and savagely funny, Eye of a Needle
gets under the skin of a system branded by both Left
and Right as ‘not fit for purpose’. It tells the story of
Laurence, a UK Immigration
Control officer, and Natale
Bamadi, a Ugandan gay
rights activist. While Laurence loves to go out and get
wrecked in his spare time, Natale finally makes it to the
coveted shores of the UK.
Neither are prepared for what
happens when her high profile
case is dropped onto his desk.
Southwark Playhouse, London SE1
6BD, Until 20 Sep, 8pm, From £16
In Bed
Written and directed by Adebayo Bolaji In Bed tells the
tale of two actors – Nina and
Sean – who spend a night together to rehearse a play...
BEyoND
NollyWooD
What you think happens, (or
might happen), is maybe part
of the ‘problem’. A testing,
funny and sexy piece of contemporary theatre looking at
sexual objectifications and assumptions.
London Theatre Workshop,
15-20 Sept, londontheatreworkshop.co.uk
The BFI Southbank will
launch the ‘Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success:
Beyond Nollywood’, a reference manual of Africa’s most
dynamic film industry written by Nadia Denton. It will
be available from 20 Sep.
To mark the release the
BFI will host the Beyond Nollywood weekend, screening
a selection of compelling
Nigerian films and hosting a
discussion with Nadia Denton and guests from Nigeria
to discuss her latest work.
Films being shown include;
B for Boy Amaka Okoli is a
Sept 15-20
BOLD Festival
This festival has older people
at its heart, celebrating their
creativity and rich variety of
experiences. It will challenge
visitors to think about ageing
differently, from unpicking
the politics of the care system
to presenting the seemingly
devoted wife and mother.
At nearly 40 she’s expecting
her second child, and resorts
to extreme measures to
guarantee a male successor
and the security of her place
in the family. B for Boy powerfully captures the ongoing
struggle between progress
and tradition. Sat 20 Sep,
2pm
Mother of George This
film takes an enlightened
look at immigrant life, capturing the vibrant culture of
the Yoruba community in
New York – with great use
frail in unlikely settings.
Expect pop-up performances, photography, discussions, workshops and poetry
in and around the Albany
and Deptford, as well as
Bradford and Stockton.
The Albany, 15-27 Sep, various
times
www.thealbany.org.uk
of music – where a young
Nigerian wife is driven to
despair as she tries for a
baby. Sun 21 Sep, 6.20pm.
Nigeria Through a Lens A
selection of engaging documentaries, which include
George Osoki: Kings of
Nigeria; Emeka Okereke: Invisible Borders; and JD
‘Okhai Ojeikere: Master Photographer. Sun 21 Sep,
3.10pm.
The BFI Soutbank, London SE1
8XT, 20-21 Sep, £6.50
www.bfi.org.uk
ChIlDrEN
Colourscape Music Festival
As the festival celebrates its
25th birthday, there has never
been a better time to take the
kids to explore the colourful
tunnels. There will be music
performances during the
weekends including ‘Pied
Piper’ a children’s opera
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Friday 26 September
London Indigo 2
Sunday 28 september
Manchester Ritz
gigsandtours.com | 0844 811 0051
24hr Hotline: 0794 980 6892
An SJM Concerts and Smade Presentation
by arrangement with Echo Location Talent Agency
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20
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
Follow us on Twitter
@NigerianWatch
LEISUREWATCH
which will take the public on
a journey through the
labyrinth of Colourscape led
by the Pied Piper and a chil-
Supported by AFROBEATS IN DA CITY – DLA – FACTORY78 –
STRICTLY ENTERTAINMENT – WE PLUG GOOD MUSIC – WYLD PYTCH
AfrICA UNPlUggED
dren’s choir. Join in for maximum fun! Weekdays are
centred around workshops
(12 noon-1pm access only)
Clapham Common, London, 1-6pm
(weekends only), £25 (Family)
Sept 13-21. www.eyemusic.org.uk
This year’s festival will be hosted by the legendary DJ Abass
and will headline the hottest African artists of 2014, MTV and
BET award winning artists Davido, Tiwa Savage, Diamond
Platnumz with support acts from all over Africa and the
United Kingdom, including Britain’s Got Talent’s CEO dancers,
and dance groups AFRIKA, D3 and PROJECT G.
O2 Academy Brixton, Stockwell SW9 9SL, Sun 14 Sep, 7pm,
From £35
ExhIBItIoNS
MUSIC / gIgS
The Black Chronicles II
Afrospot
This new exhibition explores
black presences (African and
Asian) in 19th and early 20th
century Britain, through the
prism of studio photography.
This evening will take you
straight to roots music, art
and African culture. To kick
off, DJs will splice and dice
global styles, followed by two
live sets: the first one draped
in the rich music of West
Africa, the second will deviate
Autograph-abp, London EC2A
3BA, 12 Sep – 29 Nov, FREE
http://autograph-abp.co.uk
like a globetrotter. Featuring
the ten-piece Afrospot Orchestra with guest musicians
including Ossibisa, Nana Tsiboe, Abdul Teejay, Juldeh Camara, Modu Toure, Highlife
International, and Soothsayers.
The Forge, Camden NW1 7NL, Fri
12 Sep, 7.30pm, From £5
AfrICA UtoPIA
Beyond being a family festival, Africa Utopia
has a vast range of events, which focus on how
Africa can lead the way in thinking about
dance, politics, culture, art, technology and
fashion among other things.
Those who are interested in break-dancing
culture will delight in attending Say it through
Breakdance. Taking the breakdancing art-form
beyond the battle spirit, the project is artistically driven by Hakeem Onibudo of Impact
Dance, who has been working with 10 B-Boys
from North Africa, namely Morocco, Tunisia
and Libya, who will be performing in London
for the first time. There will also be workshops
with the dancers where anyone can learn to
breakdance. Other join-in and free moments
include gigs on the Clore Ballroom from homage to Magool and Simply Soweto, plus Afrikan
yoga, and a Big Sing.
Combining spoken word, theatre and dance, Alesandra Seutin stages an incredible performance of her play this Is Not Black (Ceci C’est Pas Noire). A powerful mix of dramatic art, the piece
explores the journey of a mixed-race woman walking down memory lane, a winding road between Europe and Africa. As perceptions of her change from place to place, she plays with masks,
roles and attitudes, highlighting the idea that what you see is not always what you get.
There will also be the premiere of the dance solo work by Qudus Onikeku, with spoken word
by Zena Edwards - My Exile is in My head.
There are a host of talks from leading commentators on the continent and celebration of the
burgeoning fashion industry through a number of high profile catwalk shows.
Africa Utopia For full listings, prices and venue details visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk
LIBERTY AFRICAN SHOP
The Feel of Africa, Finally in Borehamwood!
Have you been looking for an African Food shop in Borehamwood? Well, look no further!
Welcome to your very own African food shop
Only Local
SILVASTONE - BUS MA HEAD
Delivery aer 7.30pm. Order now!
Minimum order £20.00+£ 2 delivery charge. Free delivery on orders over £50.
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South African lines in store now!
l Biltong, Drywors, Boerewors etc....
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l Box of Plantain, Box of yam, Stockfish etc....
Visit Us at:
142 Aycliffe Road, off Leeming road, Borehamwood, Herts. WD6 4DY .
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On Local Buses Routes: 306 & 292
We try and stock food items om all over Aica. Why not buy in bulk to save on delivery cost. If there is any item you
require that is not listed here, please let us know and we shall see what we can do to get such were possible.
Production chops, check. Catchy vocals, check. Bassline,
check. hot video, check. Welcome to the world of Silvastone, the UK’s quietly emerging producer/singer who has
been calmly collecting props from good old Blighty all the
way to the Motherland. Cutting edge UK based artist/producer Silvastone dropped the new video to the smash hit
of a track that is Bus Ma Head. With quality visuals to
match the panoramic sound of the audio, Silvastone has
made a landmark move for UK Afrobeats.
HOT
SHOTS
Doliziana
Debordo Transform
this just ro
eur: the be
cks! googl
at on
e it an
or two, go
on you know d learn a dance mov
e
you want to
.
HOT SHOTS
AfroBrEAKErS ChArt
1. P-Square - Ejeajo ft t.I.
2. Michelle Williams - Say yes
ft Beyonce, Kelly rowland
3. Mavins - Dorobucci ft Don
Jazzy, tiwa Savage, Dr Sid,
DPrince, reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Dija
4. Sarkodie - Adonai ft Castro
5. Wizkid - Show you the
Money
6. Mani Bella : face À face
7. yemi Alade - tangerine ft
Selebobo
8. Aka ft K.o - run Jozi
(godly)
9. Banky W - Jaiye ori Mi
10. Wizkid - Bombay ft
Phyno
11. Wande Coal - Baby hello
12. Jaguar - one Centimeter
13. Seyi Shay - Murda ft Patoranking, Shaydee
14. Shaydee - Won gbo Mi ft
Wizkid
15. faze - your Daughter
16. Deplick - Cri De Bilengi
17. timaya - Bow Down
18. Skales - Shake Body
19. Joey B - Wave ft Pappy
Kojo
20. Simi - tiff
t to make you
African music se
ce: francophone
Fa
a
t.
ce
ou
it
Fa
k
ec
lla
ch
Mani Be
moves so go
ling and dance
move, crazy sty
ooh this girl’s voice is like
honey, smooth, sweet but not
sickly and it just courses over
you. And the cinematic style
and storyline of the video is
just so slick, especially for this
avid fan of celluloid. A welcome mid-tempo love ballad, a
rarity in African music today,
this track deserves to be picked
up and raised to the sky by
African music fans. But the disappointing thing is that odds
are they won’t, as they’re too
blooming jaded if the beat isn’t going at a frenetic pace. Anyways, whinge over and this is
saying hats off to Simi and her team for putting together a brilliant track and video.
SIMI - TIFF
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LEISUREWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
21
BEAUTYWATCH by Funmi Odegbami
THE SCIENCE OF BLACK HAIR
After years of private study my hair care regime can now rival the Queen’s. I
can’t tell you everything I’ve learnt in one short article – although the old wives’
tale about black hair not liking water is wrong –but here are my four top tips.
our hair loves water
Black hair needs moisture to thrive.
The proteins that make up our hair
are attracted to water, and water is incorporated extensively into our hair’s
natural bonding structure. Hair proteins even seek out water in the air
around us.
Daily wear and tear causes our hair
to lose much of its natural moisture to
the air and treatments
like blow-drying and flat
ironing. Sometimes
water never makes it
into our hair fibres because oils and silicone
coatings block it. We
need properly lubricated
fibres to help us reduce
frictional forces between
our hair fibres.
Regular misting, shampooing and
conditioning allow us to meet this
need for moisture because water is
encouraged to bind with the hair
shaft each time. Regular hydrating
and conditioning will help restore
the hair’s moisture balance quickly. It
will also keep the hair’s elasticity
within normal ranges and reduce
breakage when the hair is manipu-
lated.
If you are experiencing dryness
after a shampoo and conditioner then
you may be using the wrong products.
Choose the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair
Squeaky-clean hair is not a goal in
black hair care and neither is oily
weighed-down hair.
‘Stripping’ shampoo products produce bare unprotected
hair fibres that become
prone to dryness, cracking, splitting and breakage over time.
Moisturisers, pomades
and conditioners that
load the cuticles down
with silicones and oils
rather than infuse true
moisture into the hair
can leave the hair feeling dry. These
products make the hair look nice immediately after use, but don’t support
the true, longer term needs of the
hair.
Because black hair encompasses
such a vast category of textures and
types there is no one shampoo formula that is ”perfect” for black hair.
However, since our hair already natu-
rally falls on the dry end of the moisture spectrum, we can’t go wrong by
adding a moisturising shampoo, especially those that are sulfate-free. This
type of shampoo will gently cleanse
the hair without stripping it of natural
oils and works best for weekly light
duty cleaning.
The conditioner you select plays
the most critical role in maintaining
the hair’s protein/moisture balance.
Conditioners are formulated to help
us achieve strength and softness and it
is important that we invest in quality
conditioners.
Choose both a moisturising and a
protein based conditioner for your
hair. You will recognise a proteinbased conditioner because they often
use words like “repair, strengthen,
deep condition” in the product’s description. Moisturising conditioners
should be used weekly and protein
based conditioners should be used on
a monthly basis.
ingredients set the tone for the nature
and quality of the hair product. Good
moisturisers will always contain water
as a first ingredient and should contain very few occlusive ingredients
such as petroleum, waxes, silicones,
mineral oil or lanolin oil.
You should moisturise your hair
several times a week or whenever
your hair feels dried out. Daily moisturising is essential for some people
with natural hair. The best times to
moisturise are just before bed, prior to
combing or styling the hair, before
outdoor activities and after you’ve
rinsed out conditioner or leave-in conditioner. Focus all moisturising efforts
on the ends of your hair, where the
hair is oldest and trauma and damage
are most concentrated.
After moisturising apply a light
coating of oil to help seal the moisture inside and prevent outside humidity from frizzing the hair. This
technique is called product layering.
gently massage your
scalp with the pads of
your fingers
Step 4 Rinse out
shampoo thoroughly
Step 5 Apply a protein-rich conditioning product (once a month or as required). Cover the hair with a plastic
cap and leave for 15 mins. Apply heat
if you can for maximum penetration.
Step 6 Rinse out conditioning treatment with cool water.
Step 7 Apply creamy moisturising conditioner and leave on for 10 – 15 minutes. Additional heat is optional
Step 8 Rinse the conditioner with cool
water
Step 9 Blot dry with a microfibre
towel
Step 10 Detangle the hair
Step 11 Apply a protein-rich and/or
moisturising leave in conditioner (as
required)
Step 12 Apply a moisturiser
Step 13 Finish with an oil to seal
oils and greases are Not moisturisers
Oils and greases can soften, nourish,
add shine and increase the hair’s pliability. However, they are not moisturisers. If you use oils without a
moisturiser, or before one, the oil will
stop moisture from entering the hair
strand and lead to eventual dryness.
Selecting a moisturiser is perhaps
the most challenging part of building
a healthy hair care regimen. In most
product formulations the first 3 to 4
Adopt a healthy hair care regimen
Black hair grows in a manner that requires unique care. Our hair care must
be concentrated, dedicated and diligent.
Below is a simple corrective hair
care regime, adapt the approach to
suit your particular hair needs:
Step 1 Detangle your hair.
Step 2 Saturate hair with warm running water to remove debris
Step 3 Use a sulphate-free shampoo,
Ideally use products that are as natural as possible, because most commercially available products contain
chemical compounds with possible
links to increased incidence of cancer
and other health problems in the
black community. And of course don’t
forget to cover your hair at night.
To help determine the best hair regimen for you, then a great starting
point is a book called The Science of
Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.
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SPORTWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
oDEMWINgIE to
MISS SEASoN
TransFers
MAN CITY 0 STOKE 1 Odemwingie celebrates with
Diouf’s goal with new clubmate Victor Moses.
SUPER Eagles winger Osaze Odemwingie
may miss the whole of the season after having been ruled out of action for eight
months amid fears he has seriously damaged his cruciate knee ligament. On Saturday, Osaze limped off injured in
the match between his club Stoke City and
defending champions Manchester City. In
what was a big blow for Stoke, Osaze collapsed on the pitch with no one around him
and it had been thought he just took a
knock which would heal after a few days. However, subsequent medical examinations have shown that Osaze has ruptured
his knee ligaments and is likely to be out of
action for the entire season. Stoke City has now acquired Moroccan
winger Oussama Assaidi on loan from Liverpool as his replacement.
23
here we go again
the forthcoming double header against Congo and
South Africa, on September 6 and 10 respectively.
They will play the Congo in Calabar and then fly out
to Cape Town to engage Bafana Bafana as the 2015
African Nations Cup qualifiers begin.
However the Super Eagles will be without their
new skipper Vincent Enyeama – following the
retirement from international football of Joseph
Yobo – who has asked to be exempted from camp for
family reasons.
Another likely ROUTE TO THE AFCON FINALS
absentee
is
Lazio
group A
midfielder,
NIGERIA
Ogenyi Onazi, South Africa
who has not Sudan
featured in any Congo
of his club’s There are seven groups, teams
pre-season
play both home and away fixfriendlies and tures. Group winners, runners-up,
was not named and the best third-placed team
in the 23-man qualify for the finals in Morocco
squad to face Jan 17th – Feb 8th 2015.
AC Milan. The
last time he Nigeria fixtures;
kicked a ball 6 Sept Nigeria v Congo
was on June 30 10 Sept South Africa v Nigeria
during
the 10 Oct Sudan v Nigeria
World
Cup 15 Oct Nigeria v Sudan
second round 14 Nov Congo v Nigeria
loss to France. 19 Nov Nigeria v South Africa
During
that
game, Onazi got injured and despite claiming he has
recovered after surgery, he was omitted from Lazio’s
pre-season training activities.
)UHHDGYLFHVHVVLRQLI\RXEULQJWKLVDGYHUWLVHPHQW
SUPER Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has finally
been offered a new agreement by the Nigerian
Football Federation (NFF) that will keep him in
charge of the team until 2018. It could not have come
sooner with Nigeria preparing to embark on the
defence of the African Cup of Nations on Saturday
(Sept 6).
Sports minister Tammy Danagogo personally
intervened and negotiated the deal. Since the end of
the World Cup, Keshi and the NFF have been
involved in constant stop-start negotiations that saw
the coach say he was walking away at one point.
But now he is in place to lead the Super Eagles for
Continued from page 24 rave reviews and
ratings.
A player like France’s Raphael Varane,
however, who made fewer tackles, blocks
and interceptions despite playing a game
more, was nominated for the FIFA Young
Player of the Year award. Such a nomination would surely have made Ômeruo a
major transfer target.
Meanwhile, Everton, after being linked
with Onazi, went on to sign Bosnia midfielder Muhamed Besic. No doubt about it,
Besic is not a better option than Onazi,
who had a better tackle-completion rate,
made a higher frequency of key passes and
even managed a better shot accuracy.
Eighty per cent of Besic’s passes at the
World Cup were sideways and backwards.
Onazi also offers an appreciable
amount of experience, having played for
Lazio in Serie A for two seasons. Besic,
however, only joined Everton from the relative backwater of the Hungarian league.
This beggars the question, are African
players being acknowledged as they should
be? It’s a well-known fact that before most
of the clubs competing in Europe’s top five
leagues bid for a player, his club records,
and not only his performance in tournaments like the World Cup, are considered.
This is where many of Nigeria’s World
Cup stars fall short. For instance, a player
like Emmanuel Emenike, who scored 12
times and provided nine assists last season
for Fenerbahce in a less-reputable league,
cannot be considered a prolific striker.
It may well represent a major gamble to
recruit someone who is not “tried and
tested” despite his seemingly abundant
qualities. He might have also provided two
assists at the World Cup, but he also failed
to find the back of the net and this does
not augur well for his EPL transfer ambitions.
The transient and sometimes unstable
conditions that African players need to
work in to make the leap from the continent’s domestic leagues to one of Europe’s
“Big Five” are not favourable, and too
often, would-be successes fall by the wayside.
One can only hope that the Super Eagles players will have an impressive season
with their various clubs. This, coupled with
a fantastic outing at the 2015 Afcon,
should help make a good case for moves to
bigger clubs.
With thanks to Ude Ikenna Ezekiel for
goal.com
NIGERIAN WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
SPORT WATCH
5-18 Sept 2014
nigerianwatch.com
inside
osaze
ouT For
season
TransFer MysTery
Why The big Five euroPean leagues shun aFriCa’s sTars
Premier League clubs have splashed a
record amount of cash during the recent
transfer window but little has gone towards securing the services of Super Eagles, despite many anticipating a Naija
influx after the team’s admirable showing
in the World Cup.
golden girl
id
e
aF
20 C
15
in o
s n
Ideye Brown’s move to West Bromwich
was one of the few to have materialised.
More notable perhaps are the ones that didn’t. Many expected Kenneth Omeruo to become a regular Premier player, if not for
Chelsea then with another Prem club.
He was one of Nigeria’s best outfield players at the World Cup, but has returned to
Middlesbrough on loan, where he spent the
second half of last season. This has baffled
many football commentators; why would
Chelsea decide to send one of their highlyrated youngsters to a Championship side ?
At the World Cup, after the Round of 16,
Omeruo was statistically above many more
experienced and established centre-backs in
Europe, but he rarely got Turn to page 23
After 32 games the fIfA U-20 Women’s
World Cup in Canada 2014 has come to an
end, with germany overcoming Nigeria to
win the trophy.
the adidas golden Ball, presented to the
tournament’s most outstanding player went
to Asisat oshoala, as featured in the last edition of Nigerian Watch. Nicknamed Superzee
by her appreciative team-mates, the freescoring forward set several records during
the competition and ended it as the leading
markswoman to also pocket the adidas
golden Boot.