Although I am not Nigerian, I spent almost a year and a half living in the Federal Capital Territory and still feel a strong tie to the country and its people. Today Nigeria inaugurated a new president, Umaru Yar'Adua leader of the People's Democratic Party. Yar'Adua was elected through unfair elections that involved an overwhelming amount of rigging. In response to Solomonsydelle's, a Nigerian blogger, call for a statement on today's inauguration and the elections that lead to Yar'Adua's presidency, I have decided to post Solomonsydelle's Nigerian Proclamation. If you feel at all moved by this statement, please post it on your journal or blog and/or email it to your friends. Solidarity is an essential aspect of making the world we live in a better place not only for ourselves, but for others.
Peace.
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.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Struggling for words -
Wind chimes and stillness
- if you listen closely, you can hear the night breathe -
a cool breeze, carrying the murmurs of barely distant traffic, meets hunched shoulders.
My mind rewinds to the bright daytime busyness of Abuja city streets:
a pulsating sea of danfos jostling for space, commuters spilling out and climbing in, street hawkers gliding around them, their wares balanced above the heads or else held and waved about.
Next the market place,
surrounded by the urgent sounds of developing country commerce,
the shouts and calls, the hiss ('sss') followed by
"hey, customer! come! see! see!"
I weave in and out, dodging barrow boys, buyers and sellers,
trying not to break stride and all the while replying "no, is ok".
Occasionally stopping, trying to find a balance between indifference and recognition
(it isn't always easy) - And finally, arriving at my destination, greeted with a smile,
a regular customer. Hausa pleasantries and crumpled Naira notes exchanged for goods:
Spring onions, green beans, peppers, beet root, fresh basil and sweet sweet mangos.
My taste buds hum with expectation as I fill my bags. Arms and shoulders strain,
legs stride with intent and purpose, the bright hot sun beats down.
And then, in a blink, the vision passes and I am left gazing into a screen filled with words -
Memories of a place, in which I am no longer physically present, stare back at me.
Yet still I linger, part grieving widow/part runaway bride -
At times, also and perhaps, an emotional exile existing between states of mind and being -
Here and there, I am and am not, and so I find myself - between places.
- if you listen closely, you can hear the night breathe -
a cool breeze, carrying the murmurs of barely distant traffic, meets hunched shoulders.
My mind rewinds to the bright daytime busyness of Abuja city streets:
a pulsating sea of danfos jostling for space, commuters spilling out and climbing in, street hawkers gliding around them, their wares balanced above the heads or else held and waved about.
Next the market place,
surrounded by the urgent sounds of developing country commerce,
the shouts and calls, the hiss ('sss') followed by
"hey, customer! come! see! see!"
I weave in and out, dodging barrow boys, buyers and sellers,
trying not to break stride and all the while replying "no, is ok".
Occasionally stopping, trying to find a balance between indifference and recognition
(it isn't always easy) - And finally, arriving at my destination, greeted with a smile,
a regular customer. Hausa pleasantries and crumpled Naira notes exchanged for goods:
Spring onions, green beans, peppers, beet root, fresh basil and sweet sweet mangos.
My taste buds hum with expectation as I fill my bags. Arms and shoulders strain,
legs stride with intent and purpose, the bright hot sun beats down.
And then, in a blink, the vision passes and I am left gazing into a screen filled with words -
Memories of a place, in which I am no longer physically present, stare back at me.
Yet still I linger, part grieving widow/part runaway bride -
At times, also and perhaps, an emotional exile existing between states of mind and being -
Here and there, I am and am not, and so I find myself - between places.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Film review - C.S.A.
Last night I watched a very surreal, amusing, and interesting film called C.S.A. - Confederate States of America.
About the film:
"The Confederate States of America, through the eyes of a faux documentary, takes a look at an America where the South won the Civil War. Supposedly produced by a British broadcasting company, the feature film is presented as a production being shown, controversially, for the first time on television in the States." [Source: See C.S.A. link above for more.]
It was humorous, but in a shocking, unsettling sort of way. Perhaps the most shocking element was discovering how much of the content of the film was based on actualities. For example, the film presented the concept of 'drapetomania', "a psychiatric diagnosis proposed in 1851 by physician Samuel A. Cartwright, of the Louisiana Medical Association, to explain the tendency of black slaves to flee captivity." [Source: Wikipedia]
At first, I thought this was something the film makers had made up; it was just too bizarre to be true. It turns out, however, that this was an actual theory propounded by Cartwright. While it seemed funny in a bizarre sort of way within the context of the faux documentary, on discovering that this was a theory that was actually put forth by someone, in all seriousness, it takes on a sinister character. While in a modern day society, where laws designed to protect people from discrimination exist, such ideas and notions strike many of us as being ridiculous and preposterous, we ought not to dismiss the impact that slavery and the legacy of racism that it has left behind.
There was quite a bit of the film that was intended to be a comical 'what if' re-telling of history, such as Lincoln's escape (disguised in 'blackface') to a pro-abolitionist Canada and the construction of the 'Cotton Curtain' along America's border with Canada. But the realisation that certain segments, such as an advertisement for Darkie Toothpaste, were based on historical realities reminded me of our obligation not to forget the past. We have a responsibility to acknowledge the ways in which racism and oppression still have an impact on our societies and amend this.
In short, I highly recommend this film and hope that you, like me, get something more out of it than a few laughs. It is a fine example of how a film can be both entertaining and thought provokingly educational.
About the film:
"The Confederate States of America, through the eyes of a faux documentary, takes a look at an America where the South won the Civil War. Supposedly produced by a British broadcasting company, the feature film is presented as a production being shown, controversially, for the first time on television in the States." [Source: See C.S.A. link above for more.]
It was humorous, but in a shocking, unsettling sort of way. Perhaps the most shocking element was discovering how much of the content of the film was based on actualities. For example, the film presented the concept of 'drapetomania', "a psychiatric diagnosis proposed in 1851 by physician Samuel A. Cartwright, of the Louisiana Medical Association, to explain the tendency of black slaves to flee captivity." [Source: Wikipedia]
At first, I thought this was something the film makers had made up; it was just too bizarre to be true. It turns out, however, that this was an actual theory propounded by Cartwright. While it seemed funny in a bizarre sort of way within the context of the faux documentary, on discovering that this was a theory that was actually put forth by someone, in all seriousness, it takes on a sinister character. While in a modern day society, where laws designed to protect people from discrimination exist, such ideas and notions strike many of us as being ridiculous and preposterous, we ought not to dismiss the impact that slavery and the legacy of racism that it has left behind.
There was quite a bit of the film that was intended to be a comical 'what if' re-telling of history, such as Lincoln's escape (disguised in 'blackface') to a pro-abolitionist Canada and the construction of the 'Cotton Curtain' along America's border with Canada. But the realisation that certain segments, such as an advertisement for Darkie Toothpaste, were based on historical realities reminded me of our obligation not to forget the past. We have a responsibility to acknowledge the ways in which racism and oppression still have an impact on our societies and amend this.
In short, I highly recommend this film and hope that you, like me, get something more out of it than a few laughs. It is a fine example of how a film can be both entertaining and thought provokingly educational.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Displaced
Once again, I feel in between places. Neither here nor there, some days it seems. Think I've written this before, but I can't remember where or when. Going in circles, perhaps? [God,] I hope not. No, not quite. Because I have changed and I am a different person from the one who walked these streets. I look at the world around me with different eyes. My perspective hasn't quite shifted yet. The only word that comes to mind is 'displaced'.
At times I feel displaced, phased out, and ghost-like. I am seen and heard, yes, but still don't really feel like I am here. I feel as if I am shifting through different states, from a fairly pleasant dream-like state to moments of reality, and, at times, experiencing a sort of nightmarish existence. Well, perhaps not quite so bad as that, but it does bite us (and not in a fun, playful sort of way).
Earlier, I was writing to a friend that Nigeria is a land of contradictions, and that this has so much more meaning than 'Nigeria, the Heartbeat of a Continent' (the slogan from advertisements on CNN Intl.). Sure, it sounds 'nice', but what does it mean? Which is not to say that Canada doesn't have its contradictions. Comparing my country to other nations, the question comes to mind: how does a nation become so prosperous while others teeter on the brink? I think it is interesting and necessary to recognize how nations came to be the ways that they are. We ought to investigate and acknowledge how some have profited at the expense of others. We should learn more about how some colonies flourished post-independence and others floundered and the roles that racism, exploitation, and oppression have played in this process.
Do you want to understand how very twisted it is to be granted privileges primarily because of the colour of your skin? I never really understood what this meant and involved until I went to Nigeria. It is definitely a very disturbing, bizarre, and perplexing experience, but so invaluable. In so many cultures, and I've heard of (and seen, to an extent) people trying to lighten their skin or keep it lighter, darker skin is generally associated with people engaged in agricultural and other outdoor activities that are viewed by some (many?) as 'lower-class' (i.e. labourers struggling to make ends' meet). A friend of mine, who spent 2 years in Nepal, was telling me about 'skin lightening' creams and such. And then there are the 'whites', pouring on the bronze and laying in the sun to toast and darken their skin. A Nigerian friend of mine made a comment about that recently, how bizarre it was to come here and see people sunning themselves in the Summer. Whereas I appreciate the natural glow of sun kissed skin, I flinch inwardly when I observe bronzed creatures, the product of tanning technology, roaming the city streets.
So, being here is strange and awkward, but also beautiful. It is good to see old friends and know that while some things change, others remain. I've been fortunate enough to be welcomed back into people's lives with [surprised] smiles and open arms. It's good to know that we can still pick up at the same intimate level that we parted at. And there's so much to say! Although I some times find myself at a loss for words, being asked 'what was it like'? actually makes me reflect back, helping me to frame and come to terms with my experiences. Other times, however, I feel as if I am talking about another person, because it all seems so far away now. The distance is principally physical, but I also sense it mentally and emotionally. The cold cuts right through me, making me feel as thin as a sheet of paper. This in turn makes me yearn for the warmth of the sun on my skin, the intense heat of a place I'd come to consider home.
I don't think anything could have prepared me for the shock of going away and returning to Canada. I'd had friends go abroad and talked to them about how it feels to come back, but I never would have imagined I'd become so attached to and immersed in another landscape. I can't say culture (singular), because Nigeria is so diverse; however, there is, to a certain extent, a shared sense of existence. As different as Nigerians are from one another, both individually and collectively (i.e. differences between groups), they still share experiences, opinions, thoughts and feelings. Hausas may criticize Igbos, who may in turn make claims about their neighbours to the North and East; Christians may make comments about Muslims and vice versa; but they can all agree that their leaders are cheating them and that things are not right in their country.
For instance, most Nigerians experience problems with 2 fairly basic things (that North Americans take for granted): inconsistent and unreliable power (electricity) and lack of running water. Whereas it is possible to survive without power and running water, the lack of these things is often connected with poverty, to varying degrees. I had friends who were doing fairly well for themselves, but their place was small and, if the power went out, that was it until 'light' was restored by the Power Holding Company (PHC, formerly NEPA - National Electric Power Authority). The lights would go out and we'd exclaim and/or lament 'NEPA!', accompanied by sounds and mutters of discontent and disgust. I remember learning, at one point near the beginning of my time there, that NEPA also stood for 'Never Expect Power Always'. Rechargeable lights would be turned on, candles lit, and cooking would have to be done on a kerosene stove. Additionally, water, when available, was conserved in large buckets in the washroom and kitchen because there was no guarantee that it would be rushing tomorrow. Daily shared struggles to get by in this mixed up place. And the amazing part of it is how people cope, even when they have almost nothing. I marvelled at how people managed to make due, in spite of their circumstances. Not that this made it somehow acceptable, but that so many people go on with their lives, despite all the obstacles and hardships that they have to face, made me shake my head in wonder. 'Suffering and smiling', so the saying goes. I don't know how they do it.
So much more to say, as usual, but I feel myself fading. It's been becoming more and more difficult to type. I'm so tired ... I miss my beloved Nigeria. So it goes.
Goodnight, sweet prince.
At times I feel displaced, phased out, and ghost-like. I am seen and heard, yes, but still don't really feel like I am here. I feel as if I am shifting through different states, from a fairly pleasant dream-like state to moments of reality, and, at times, experiencing a sort of nightmarish existence. Well, perhaps not quite so bad as that, but it does bite us (and not in a fun, playful sort of way).
Earlier, I was writing to a friend that Nigeria is a land of contradictions, and that this has so much more meaning than 'Nigeria, the Heartbeat of a Continent' (the slogan from advertisements on CNN Intl.). Sure, it sounds 'nice', but what does it mean? Which is not to say that Canada doesn't have its contradictions. Comparing my country to other nations, the question comes to mind: how does a nation become so prosperous while others teeter on the brink? I think it is interesting and necessary to recognize how nations came to be the ways that they are. We ought to investigate and acknowledge how some have profited at the expense of others. We should learn more about how some colonies flourished post-independence and others floundered and the roles that racism, exploitation, and oppression have played in this process.
Do you want to understand how very twisted it is to be granted privileges primarily because of the colour of your skin? I never really understood what this meant and involved until I went to Nigeria. It is definitely a very disturbing, bizarre, and perplexing experience, but so invaluable. In so many cultures, and I've heard of (and seen, to an extent) people trying to lighten their skin or keep it lighter, darker skin is generally associated with people engaged in agricultural and other outdoor activities that are viewed by some (many?) as 'lower-class' (i.e. labourers struggling to make ends' meet). A friend of mine, who spent 2 years in Nepal, was telling me about 'skin lightening' creams and such. And then there are the 'whites', pouring on the bronze and laying in the sun to toast and darken their skin. A Nigerian friend of mine made a comment about that recently, how bizarre it was to come here and see people sunning themselves in the Summer. Whereas I appreciate the natural glow of sun kissed skin, I flinch inwardly when I observe bronzed creatures, the product of tanning technology, roaming the city streets.
So, being here is strange and awkward, but also beautiful. It is good to see old friends and know that while some things change, others remain. I've been fortunate enough to be welcomed back into people's lives with [surprised] smiles and open arms. It's good to know that we can still pick up at the same intimate level that we parted at. And there's so much to say! Although I some times find myself at a loss for words, being asked 'what was it like'? actually makes me reflect back, helping me to frame and come to terms with my experiences. Other times, however, I feel as if I am talking about another person, because it all seems so far away now. The distance is principally physical, but I also sense it mentally and emotionally. The cold cuts right through me, making me feel as thin as a sheet of paper. This in turn makes me yearn for the warmth of the sun on my skin, the intense heat of a place I'd come to consider home.
I don't think anything could have prepared me for the shock of going away and returning to Canada. I'd had friends go abroad and talked to them about how it feels to come back, but I never would have imagined I'd become so attached to and immersed in another landscape. I can't say culture (singular), because Nigeria is so diverse; however, there is, to a certain extent, a shared sense of existence. As different as Nigerians are from one another, both individually and collectively (i.e. differences between groups), they still share experiences, opinions, thoughts and feelings. Hausas may criticize Igbos, who may in turn make claims about their neighbours to the North and East; Christians may make comments about Muslims and vice versa; but they can all agree that their leaders are cheating them and that things are not right in their country.
For instance, most Nigerians experience problems with 2 fairly basic things (that North Americans take for granted): inconsistent and unreliable power (electricity) and lack of running water. Whereas it is possible to survive without power and running water, the lack of these things is often connected with poverty, to varying degrees. I had friends who were doing fairly well for themselves, but their place was small and, if the power went out, that was it until 'light' was restored by the Power Holding Company (PHC, formerly NEPA - National Electric Power Authority). The lights would go out and we'd exclaim and/or lament 'NEPA!', accompanied by sounds and mutters of discontent and disgust. I remember learning, at one point near the beginning of my time there, that NEPA also stood for 'Never Expect Power Always'. Rechargeable lights would be turned on, candles lit, and cooking would have to be done on a kerosene stove. Additionally, water, when available, was conserved in large buckets in the washroom and kitchen because there was no guarantee that it would be rushing tomorrow. Daily shared struggles to get by in this mixed up place. And the amazing part of it is how people cope, even when they have almost nothing. I marvelled at how people managed to make due, in spite of their circumstances. Not that this made it somehow acceptable, but that so many people go on with their lives, despite all the obstacles and hardships that they have to face, made me shake my head in wonder. 'Suffering and smiling', so the saying goes. I don't know how they do it.
So much more to say, as usual, but I feel myself fading. It's been becoming more and more difficult to type. I'm so tired ... I miss my beloved Nigeria. So it goes.
Goodnight, sweet prince.
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