ASA, SOULFUL WISDOM

I have been digging this soulful sister for a long time and I thought it'd be far out to share it with blog folks.Asa is a throwback from an era when music was truthful,sincere and heartfelt.She is a talented singer,song writer,guitarist and poet.

Asa is one of the few Nigerian musicians I listen to and I wish other Naija artiste will take after her.One gets tired of all the senseless 'Yahoozees','Gongo asos','Timayas' etc (I wonder where the musicianship is or what the the hell they talking about).

My favorite cuts on the album are-No one knows,Fire on the mountain,and the other beautiful Yoruba folksy songs.

Asa reminds me of Billie holiday,Nina Simone,Rita Marley,Fela and other Nigerian Afro Rock groups of the 70s.More power to her soul!

LONG TIME NO BLOG!

This is a belated apology to all bloggers and friends for a long break from blogsville.I've been so overwhelmed with my post graduate thesis,the problems of the Hausa film industry,making ends meet and all the usual angst,plus I've not really been interested in anything recently.I dont want to believe am having writers block but methinks my muse has taken a long vacation or something.
Meanwhile inbetween waiting for my muse('yar fulani) and other problems,I will try to chip in a quip or two now and then.Cheers!

WASTED LAND:SAUDI ROCKERS

Wasted land is a heavy metal band from Saudi Arabia who are blazing a trail in the new Saudi music scene that has seen an upsurge of artistic expression in modern forms of music such as rock,reggae and rap.

The members of Wasted Land, who are mostly in their early 20s, include Imad Mujallad, vocals, Ayman Al-Ghamdi, guitar, Ahmad Khoja, guitar, Sultan Al-Ghamdi, bass guitar and Tameem Hilmi on drums.It is surprising that such artistic freedom can be found in Saudi,but it gose to show how the youth all over the world are literally taking their destiny firmly in their hands regardless of suppression,oppression and censorship.

Wasted land and Saudi pop/rock has come to stay and we look forward to more artistic freedom in all parts of the world.

http://www.wastedland.net/index2.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdzPdGjllc

TEHRAN POLICE CHIEF CAUGHT WITH SIX PROSTITUTES

This is a very funny one.Tehrani police chief,Reza Zarei,was recently caught in a brothel,nude with six naked prostitutes.This is the man who has been in charge of enforcing islamic dress code for women with the aim of safeguarding morality,and has arrested hundreds of young people.

This reminds me of the enforcers of sharia law in Northern Nigeria who themselves are homosexuals and whoremongers.

It is a farce how people cannot remove the log in their eyes,yet are overzealous to remove the speck in others eyes.hrumph!

NADIA AL-DOSSARY:A SAUDI BUSINESS HEAVYWEIGHT

In a country where women are not allowed to vote,drive or go out unaccompanied by male relatives or guardians,Nadia Al-Dossary has carved a niche for herself as a model for triumph in the face of suppression.

Nadia is the CEO of Al-Sale trading and contracting company,a 500 million dollar scrap metal company in Saudi.Not yet 40,Nadia leads a group of women who are challenging stereotype and making giant strides in their careers and the business in a conservative country.

Nadia is a stark contradiction to women in other developing and/or Islamic societies like Northern Nigeria who are complacent and unachieving while blaming it on socio-cultural norms.Nadia,even though a target of ridicule from bearded males,has shown that indeed change is happening in Saudi,Kudos to an achiever!

A CASE OF `THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK´

Here is Hillary Clinton wearing a moslem attire,the same crime she accused Obama Barack of doing.Also guilty are Bill Clinton and George `Dubya´Bush.DUH!

HILLARY CLINTON´S SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST OBAMA

In another desperate attempt to catch up with Obama and gain some states,Clinton´s campaign team came up with another hoax that Obama is a moslem(when everybody knows he is a practising christian).They used a picture he took wearing somali clothes,on his 2006 visit to his home country of north eastern Kenya.

This `FEAR MONGERING´ tactic is unhealthy for democracy and useless;POWER or LEADERSHIP is not gotten on the basis of race or religion.Who says an African immigrant or a moslem cannot rule America?After all British immigrants,crooks,European carpetbaggers etc stole America from the Indians.Moreover, freemasons,satanists,atheists,nominal evangelicals and every shade inbetween,have ruled America.

Obama `HUSSEIN´ Barack is the people´s choice!

THE MAGNIFICENT NOK CIVILIZATION

The magnificent civilization of Nok held sway at about 500 BC and was located in North central Nigeria.This civilization was the first in Subsaharan Africa to possess the knowledge,science and artistic ability to work with metal and produce high art.Infact,it is linked to the kingdoms of Axum and Meroe of Sudan,and by extension,Egypt.

It was the mining activities of the British colonialists that unearthed the rare artifacts that came to be known as the `Nok Terracota´.In 1928,during a mining expedition in Naraguta village of Jos Plateau State,the first discovery of Nok terracota was made.This was followed by another discovery in 1932 at Sokoto,and yet another in Katsina.The most famous discovery was yet again near Jos,in the village of NOK.During mining,an artifact was found by a farmer who took it home to use as a scarecrow,a purpose it served well for a year until it was reported to the administrator,Bernard Fagg.Together with his wife,Angela Fagg,they were able to recover about 150 pieces in perfect condition and present to the world.

Terracota simply means `fired clay´.The Nok terracota figurines were modelled after male and female,kings and dignitaries,animals and household appliances such as hair combs etc.The figurines were also famous for their elaborate hairstyles and plaiting,detailed and precise lines and forms.

It is dizzying to realise that 2500 years ago,the greatest civilisation held sway in Jos;and it is a shame that the Nigerian government and scholars have not done something to study and unravel the mystery and riches of the Nok.The international community on the other hand,is only interested in secretly stealing our artifacts to use abroad.

The day will come when we will have to look inward to find inspiration and help for our problems and needs as Africans;and on that day,we will rediscover our lost greatness:for as is said,NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF CREATION!

THE PEULH;ENIGMA OF AFRICA

JAM BANDU!

The peulh or Fulani,Fulfulde,Pullo or any of the other names their subtribes are called, are truly the biggest mystery and beauty of west Africa or Africa for that matter.They have captured the imagination and admiration of people worldwide for their beauty,nobility and mystery surrounding them.

The peulh are the biggest nomadic tribe in the world and cover a vast stretch of land from Senegal,Guinea Conakry,Mali,Burkina faso,Benin,Niger,Cameroun and Nigeria.History points their ancestry to be from somewhere among the Berber tribes of north Africa,with Senegal being the point where they first made their entry.Curiously,their language instead of being of the Afro-Asiatic family,is of the Afro-Congo family.To prove this point,I would make example of a peulh sentence for ´come and eat´ and translate it into two north central Nigerian languages,which are both Afro-Congo languages.The first is the Tiv language of Benue state and my father´s language of Taroh of Plateau state.

PEULH-Ware nyame

TIV-Va nyame

TAROH-Ba Nyamri

You can see that the three languages are so similar.

Having made that point,I would like to point out that the peulh are made up of the original family who are mostly ´white people´(could they have been the original twelve white founders of the medieval Ghana empire?) and numerous other tribes that got submerged into the peulh family as a result of conquest,intermarriage etc.Some major groupings include the Torodbe,wodaabe(bororo) etc.The difference being that the other tribes practice Islam and are settled while the Wodaabe(Bororo)resisted Islamic influence and and kept to their nomadic pastoral lifestyle and still maintain some form of animism.

The turning point in the history of the fulani is the Jihad of Usman Dan Fodio who fought against the lukewarm and injust Islam of the King of Gobir and united all the tribes of Fulani in a holy war.He won and soon inspired every peulh all over west Africa to join him.They soon formed a theocratic state under Islamic law and had fulani kings ruling in every emirate of the Hausa kingdom(which covered most of west Africa).This persists up to date.

I would like to point out sadly that as a result,most fulanis became´ hausanised´ and these days ´westernised´.It is only the peulh of Niger,Cameroun,Burkina,Mali,Senegal etc who still maintain their original beautiful culture,language,attires,way of life etc.

Three things make up a true peulh:-

1.Islam/language

2.Cattle

3.The concept of pulaako

I would like to explain ´ pulaako´ as the main concept behind fulani being and culture.Pulaako signifies restraint,dignity,reserve etc.It is the hallmark of fulani life and etiquette and also serves as a true form of African conflict prevention.A peulh is supposed to behave his/herslf with modesty and restraint and refrain from showing or giving in to emotions;be it hunger,humiliation,anger etc.A true peulh thinks of others before himself and does not tolerate dishonour.

Some fulani cultural festivals/practices include `GEREWOL´ as practiced by the `Wodaabe´ of Niger.This is a festival where the male youths take turns in painting and beautifying themselves to the admiration of the females who then come and choose the ones they like,as husbands.Another one is `SHARO´ practiced by the `Bororo´ of my part of Nigeria,which is also a coming of age ceremony wher male youths take turns in flogging themselves.The idea behind this is also steeped in the concept of `PULAAKO´where you are not supposed to give in to pain or emotions.The brave ones then get the beautiful maidens.

Most people can remember the fulani by the shepherd boy who herds cattle while blowing sonorous tunes and the beautiful milk maidens who sell the sweet and sour `fura da nono`.I invoke these sweet images with the hope of awaking nostalgia of childhood memories of those sweet days gone by and hope we thank God for our blessings and heritage as Africans.

JIPPU JAM!

ps.

Some peulh websites include:

www.pulaagu.com

www.aminata.com

www.voiceinthedesert.org.uk/keith/archives/photos/index.html

www.haal-pulaar.com

CENSORSHIP BOARD STOPS SINGING AND DANCING IN HAUSA FILMS

At a meeting held on the 11th monday,february 2008 to announce the expiration of the six months ban on Hausa films,the director general of Kano state censorship board,Mallam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem has ordered that henceforth there shall be no more singing and dancing in hausa films.
This comes at a time when the practitioners and fans of this popular phenomenon were eagerly waiting for the return of filming activities after the ban was placed on Hausa film as a result of the Hiyana sex tape scandal.Now the baby is being thrown out with the dirty bath water,as innocent artistes and fans are being punished.
I am not against much needed changes and laws for the sick Kannywood,infact laws promoting education for the practitioners of Kannywood,standardization and professionalization of the art etc are welcome.
What I have a problem with is the fact that these draconian laws are being promulgated by illiterates,religious zealots and people who have no artistic blood.I think they will do well to separate religion from art.No artist is going to like a situation where he has to take his script for these people to censor and change before he goes on location.
Moreover,singing and dancing is what attracts most people to these films.Cruel censorship is only going to kill the film industry and not strenghten it.I am not supporting singing and dancing but I am of the opinion that it is left for the artist or film maker to decide.Realistically,some films should have singing and dancing and some shouldnt.What is more important is that good films should be made that show the beauty of our culture and do not bother on the obscene or indecency.
All those religious zealots are even some of the people who corrupt and have sexual liasons with these film starlets.We are tired of hypocrisy and double standards and as a film maker and practioner of Hausa film,I prophesy that that hausa film will commit artistic suicide,just as the poets and artistes of Russia committed suicide as a result of the draconian leadership and censorship of their leaders.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS

In a twist of irony,the son of the (in)famous Osama Bin Laden, has surfaced and is making the headlines.Who would have thought that the son of the man claimed by the U.S to be the main sponsor behind world terrorism,turn out to be someone who is campaigning for peace and understanding.

Although he was for sometime in the trenches with his father until they fell out just before the 9/11 attack,it is his recent marriage to a 51 years old British woman,Jane Felix Browne,that gave him media coverage.

Together with his wife,Zeina(aka Jane),they hope to embark on a horse race tournament across north Africa with the aim of raising money for peace and war orphans.

I think George Bush and his old friend,Osama Bin Laden,could learn a lesson or two from this dreadlocked peace maker,and may Allah bless the peace makers,Ameen.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE IN SUDAN,

GREENDAY DOING A COVER OF JOHN LENNON`S `WORKING CLASS HERO`

This song done by the great pünk rock band,Greenday,is an excellent cover of the Beatles´ frontman,John Lennon´s song ´working class hero´.It is from an amnesty international compilation album released to gather support for peace in Darfur,Sudan.

I join all citizens of the world to pray for peace in this beautiful country.Ya sallam.

AN UNHOLY PEACE

Here is another of American president George Bush`s farce.On arrival in Israel at his visit recently for peace mediation in the middle east,he announces on his welcome speech that he recognizes Israel as a Jewish state(much to the chagrin of the international community and the annoyance of the Palestinians)and he terms Iran as a threat.
George Bush is here at his best as a a poor diplomat,peace worker and world leader.He announces yet again a call for a third world war and and puts the whole world in a theatre of mayhem, in his call for armageddon,made necessary by his American greed as pursued by the Industrial Military Complex(I.M.C).
We pray God´s will be done to save us from the great evil.

AN ODE TO A TRUE ROMANTIC

This is a belated post on the passing away of a great Nigerian writer and patriot.I am aware a lot of people have posted on his death,but I would like to mention my love for his romanticism of the Nigerian landscape and folklore,as captured in his books such as `The passport of Mallam Ilia`,`The burning grass`,`An African Night`s entertainment`,`Jagua Nana` etc.This writer holds a unique place for weaving tales and capturing the emotions of simple characters that make the ordinary seem sensenational.

I am particularly interested in the fact that he has great interest and knowledge in Northern Nigerian folklore and cukture as evidenced by his works.This coming from his background as an Ibo national,having grown from the north and appreciating the culture of the savanna and desert,he epitomises an example for intercultural understanding and love.

I celebrate his life and craft as a great romantic,and I look forward to more of his spirit.

DANCING WITH THE WOLVES

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is learning a new and melancholic tune after being sent on solutary confinememt to the cold and picturesque Jos for a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies,kuru.This comes at a deciding moment for Nigeria`s new government under Musa Yar Adua and the leviathan PDP party,whether to turn a new leave and let true democracy and rule of law reign or continue with the banana republic cloaked in the American midwived democrazy.Methinks this young man is paying with his blood for having good motives but hanging with the wrong crowd,the likes of his former goodfather,Baba Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo.Now he has to pay the piper because Baba and his crony James Ibori`s shady pasts needs to be investigated and and smell coming from their festid rump need to be covered by the power that be.

Nuhu Ribadu might just get used to his new role as the `phantom of the opera` in the Nigerian corruption soap opera and perform sad tunes to the delight of the undulating and cold landscapes of the desolate Jos Plateau.

HAUSA FILM IS DEAD

The above title is not an epitaph aptly inscribed on the tombstone of our beloved Kannywood,but rather a wake up call for true artiste,film makers and ardent lovers of northern Nigerian culture.It is a clarion call for us to wake up from our lethargy and apply some penicillin to kill the ills that have been allowed to come into the hausa film industry.I make a case against illiteracy,lesbianism,homosexuality,prostitution,child abuse,early child& forced marriage,greed,drug abuse,shirk,hypocrisy,double standards,lack of role models, etc etc.Yes this are some of the culprits in the whole theatre of shame involving the northern film industry and society as a whole.

What Maryam Hiyana did is not a strange thing in Husa land,infact it happens everyday.By denying these girls a chance to be educated and having a lifelihood/career, marrying them off prematurely to avaricious older men who are vampires feeding on young blood;a vicious cycle is let loose.This girls are soon divorced by their husbands and end up running to Kano to fall prey to charlatans who parade as so-called film directors and who soon introduce them to the first lesson in prostitution(using what you have to get what you need)on the casting couch.

Soon enough,a former divorcee,runaway bride or groundnut hawker who cant even spell her name,is soon turned into a star.Big government officials,business men and even religious leaders now invite this naive starlets into their guest house for orgies in exchange for monetary favours.Even the wives of such big men are not left out as they lure this girls to engage in lesbian acts with them.

In northern Nigeria acts of this kind are committed but a facade of religious piety is maintained and religion is used to make people conform to the ruling order.It is only when such acts become exposed that everybody cries wolf and pretends to be not involved;BUT I DARESAY WHO HAS NOT SINNED SHOULD CAST THE FIRST STONE.

I make a case for education of northern youths(especially the girl child),provision of employment opportunities,recreational facilities,human/gender rights,as a cure for juvenile delinquency and support strict laws being promulgated to make sure that only educated professionals are allowed to engage in the film industry.Moreover Kannywood practitioners have to step up their game by learning and using modern techniques and equipment,and working with other counterparts from other parts of the country and beyond.

A situation where the first Nigerian porn tape is shot by Hausa fulani(moslems for that matter)is a matter of shame,and all steps should be taken to never allow this to happen.Banning the industry on the other hand is also not advisable because Hausa film plays a vital role in the society.What we need is a creative solution and rebirth,where the old are done away with and a new generation is brought.It is a curious fact that alot of Northern youth from priviledge backgrounds go into universities to read mass communication,english,literature,theatre arts etc,but never come into the hausa film industry.WHAT A WASTE!

A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE!

In ka ki sharan massalaci,za ka yi sharan kasuwa

FULANI PRINCESS

Hauwa Musa Katanga is a true nubian princess and was one of the best actresses in the hausa film industry.I was one of the film directors who worked with her just before she got married(on the film`DANDANO´)and find her to be very elegant,talented and nice.Also she has broken the myth that hausa film actresses do not stay married by sticking to her marital vows.Allah´s blessings on her,Ameen.

Joyful music

I thank God I came across Ayo´s music and I am enthusiastic to share it with everyone.She comes across as a hopeful romantic and is a breathe of fresh air,different from the usual bling and bleak offered by mainstream black artiste.I love her bohemian gypsy lifestyle and her testimony of a desert rose,a true phoenix rising from her sad family background as the child of Nigerian immigrant/student and a Romanian gypsy mother who was a drug addict.Enjoy

welcome to my world

Hello fellow bloggers.Am delighted to welcome you to my space and I hope we will find common areas to share.I am a nubian brotha,a romantic and an artsy bohemian who is a culture jammer in every sense of the word.I have great love in all cultures nubian,especially hausa,fulani,shuwa arab,etc etc.I am also involved in film,music,art and developmental issues.Most times I find a space to communicate my views in this complex and americanised society,but end up being a lone voice,so here it is,my heartfelt musings.enjoy