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