The Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831

Nathanial “Nat” Turner (1800-1831) was a black American slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion (August 1831) in U.S. history. Spreading terror throughout the white South, his action set off a new wave of oppressive legislation prohibiting the education, movement, and assembly of slaves and stiffened pro-slavery, anti-abolitionist convictions that persisted in that region until the American Civil War (1861–65).

Black History Month: Kathleen Cleaver- The Black Panther Warlord

At at time when racism was endemic and police brutality against black people in the United States was increasing rapidly in the 60s, there was a group of young individuals who sought to fight the injustice and malicious treatment of their own people. Young Kathleen Cleaver was among these gutsy radicals who fearlessly donned the cloak of activism and vehemently pumped their right fist in the air to evince the black power ideology at any given time.

She was an influential member of the Black Panther Party, a revolutionary black nationalist and socialist organization active in the United States in the late 60s. With a heart that mirrored that of a lion, she was a charismatic Black Panther warlord who inspired other female activists of her time to tread the path of black empowerment activism.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA: A REAL STORY OF NIGERIA (DOCUMENTARY)

Happy Independence day Nigeria!!!

Today, Nigerians all over the world are celebrating the 54th birthday of our beloved country and congratulations are in order (at least we survived imperialism). Sir Anthony Enahoro moved the motion for self-rule in 1956 and the independence campaign that ensued that historical event compelled the British to cede the control of the country's political wheel and economic resources to the rightful owners on the 1st of October 1960.

THE ARABIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ROLE OF ISLAM IN AFRICAN SLAVERY

The Arabic Slave Trade is something that is rarely spoken about and often goes unheard of.

When we speak of the enslavement of Africans, many of us like to connect it with Europeans, which is fine, but we should never forget they were not the only ones.

For over 900 years, Africans were enslaved by Arabic slave traders. They would take Africans from all over the continent including West, East, and North Africa forcing them to march thousands of miles to Slave Markets. The men, women, and children were bound together by the waist and neck so that if one died the rest could drag him or her along. These walks became known as the “Death Marches” and an estimated 20 million Africans died on these walks alone.

WHY THE WEST PORTRAY MUGABE AS A VILLAIN

Robert Mugabe has to be one of the West’s worst nightmares. He is certainly one amongst the handful remaining Africans that is open against white oppression. Africa needs African leaders rooted in Africa not African leaders that the West hero-worships because they are ready to continue white supremacy. This was the difference between Mugabe and Mandela. Robert Mugabe is fighting to reverse the legacy of colonialism, Mandela was prepared to continue Apartheid economy in exchange for black political power that really meant nothing for the blacks. 

VIDEO: THE WORLD CELEBRATES MANDELA DAY...A DOCUMENTARY ON MADIBA AND APARTHEID

Today is Nelson Mandela International Day, a day of service celebrated on July 18, Mandela's birthday.

Mandela, the former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Price recipient, died at the age of 95 on Dec. 5, 2013. This is the first time the day has been celebrated since his death.

The day was unanimously approved in 2009 by the U.N. General Assembly. It was created to honor Mandela and inspire others to carry on his efforts to "take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time," according to a statement from the Nelson Mandela Foundation Initiative. www.usatoday.com

 Happy Birthday Madiba, forever you will live in our minds....

Below is a two hour documentary about one of the greatest heroes of our time, enjoy!

VIDEO: ORIGIN OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

The Israel-Palestinian war has been dragging on for many years. The Zionist Jews who were forced to leave Europe after the Holocaust made their way back to the Middle East to establish a Jewish state. However, some Palestinians were already settled in some of these areas claimed by the Jews and refused to budge at the invasion of the Israelis. Till date, the two nations fail to recognize or respect each others national identity or the right to dwell in that region. Hence, their never-ending dispute.

NIGERIA: AFRICA'S WOBBLY GIANT

About five decades ago or more, long before I was conceived, Nigeria was a country on the upward trajectory of socioeconomic development. She was tipped to be the next best thing out of Africa. Her potentials were too vast to be ignored and countries like USA, Germany and Britain were keen to befriend this new kid on the block.

From her large geography to the copious natural resources, intelligent citizens and a group of progressive leaders who fought for her independence, she had everything that was required to put the world in her pouch and even the sky was not ballsy enough to limit her.

But shortly after the first republic, her story changed and the country that was once looked up to as a giant of Africa, became a weakling in the eyes of many. Corrupt politicians, despotic military rulers and a self-centered elite ensured the decline of this nation as hardship and privation were bestowed upon the people.

THE IMMINENT DEATH OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES

A Professor of Linguistics once described language as a reservoir of culture. As a matter of fact, the ability to create and use language is the most distinctive feature of humans. Culture is transmitted through language and one of the fastest ways to showcase the beauty of a culture to the world is through language. No matter where you go, your cultural identity stays with you and the language you speak is part of that identity. Language is like an ambassador of culture and its ability to be representative of that culture highly depends on its frequent use and how well it is spoken, especially by the native speakers.

However, most African languages are in danger and at the risk of falling out of use. According to UNESCO estimates, there are 231 extinct languages in the world. Of these, 37 are from sub-Saharan Africa. For example, the Zeem language in Nigeria, Berakou in Chad, Kwadi in Angola and Kw’adza in Tanzania are said to be among many that have become extinct in the last decade. Nigeria and Cameroon have the highest number of critically endangered languages. (source: Ethnologue, a comprehensive reference work cataloging all of the world’s known living languages)

R.I.P. MAYA, YOU WERE A LITERARY PHENOMENON: 11 INSPIRING MAYA ANGELOU QOUTES

American author and poet, Maya Angelou has passed away at the age of 86.

The acclaimed writer was born Marguerite Annie Johnson April 4, 1928, in St. Louis. Angelou had a number of achievements during her lifetime, including reciting her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at former President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. She was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie,” a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play "Look Away," and three Grammy awards for her spoken-word albums. 

In 2011, she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Angelou has been honored by universities and organizations around the world, and has more than 30 honorary degrees due to her exceptional legacy.

Here are some of Maya Angelou’s most memorable quotes:

A PANORAMIC LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT CONSPIRACY THEORIES OF THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

Nigeria is at a climacteric stage in her fifty-four years of tumultuous post-colonial existence and the whole world has tuned in to watch how she will survive the scourge that is currently plaguing her. The menacing presence of Boko Haram in the country, especially in the North Eastern part, has planted the seeds of fear and paranoia in the minds of Nigerians. More worrisome is the unfelt presence of a clueless government, whose impotence only compounds the country’s woes.

It’s almost a month since these Islamic terrorists abducted 276 teenage girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State, and the hope of rescuing them from their abductors keeps fading with time. To the chagrin of many Nigerians at home and in diaspora, the Nigerian government failed to act and react swiftly to the incident and its ineptitude made it a worthy recipient of the barrage of criticisms the public meted out.

STILL ON BOKO HARAM AND THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS: THE EMERGING FACTS

The girls are still missing and Boko Haram is still at large. Several protests have been staged, both on social media and on the streets of Lagos, London and New York, to call the Nigerian government and the international community into action so as to rescue these girls from their abductors. However, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, recently wrote an article about the issue and he revealed some emerging facts...

MAN VS SOCIETY (PART 1)

We were born free into the world but the society shackled us with culture and religion. 

We are now constantly scared of what others think and remain burdened by how we are perceived by the society. 

So we put a mask on our personality and keep aloof from our inner self. 

We have become slaves in our own minds and we ignore the fact that life should be a subjective interpretation of reality that is directed by our choices and governed by a plethora of self-defined ideals: 

How you view it, how you live it, what you do with it and what you believe in should be entirely up to you...not the society!

Adedapo Adebajo

MY MUSINGS ABOUT THE BOKO HARAM DEBACLE AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

Before I left Nigeria in August 2013, I went to Kano to complete an official assignment and I remember being accompanied by trepidation all through my flight from Lagos to the largest city in the North. My heart was in my mouth as I journeyed through and owing to my state of nerves, I firmly held on to a small bible that was in my pocket. Family and friends kept calling every minute just to check on my safety. Even though Boko Haram strikes had been subdued at that time, the previous attacks left an indelible scar on the city's bod.

BRANDING: REAL BRANDS DON'T BRAG...THEY TELL STORIES

At this age and time, story telling has become the quintessence of brand marketing. It is no longer just about devising communication campaigns that only brag about aesthetic packaging of a product or the excellent services a brand offers. As a matter of fact, rhapsodizing about product attributes or usage benefits no longer guarantees patronage. It’s not just about putting Lady Gaga in an advert to adulate the brand for two minutes or that elaborate print campaign with the faces of Photoshopped-models. Yes! that TV advert might be intriguing, that radio jingle might be the sing-along type, that magazine advert might be pleasing to the eye, but if these campaigns are only inundated with boring messages rather than enthralling stories behind the brand, you are giving your customers a reason not to care, thereby making it easier for them to look elsewhere...and they will gladly do so! There are myriad options in the market for customers and the span of their attention is getting shorter by the minute. So unless that brand says something worth listening to and that message is imbued with enthrallment, such a brand is likely to be overlooked. Even though attentiveness does not necessarily induce purchase or instantly translate to loyalty, it is a starting point to get the customer to notice your brand. Once the attention is gained, the next step is to court the buyer with the experience the brand delivers.

BOKO HALAL STRIKES NIGERIANS, TASKS THEM ON THE RIGHT OF THE NIGERIAN CHILD TO EDUCATION

 
Boko Halal, the young book worms, made its maiden attack into the consciousness of Nigerians on Thursday February 27, with a full page advert on page 18 of Thisday newspaper with a call to all citizens to stand up for the Nigerian child's right to education, especially in Northern Nigeria.     

In a statement issued in Lagos by the book loving sect, Boko Halal metaphorically described Nigeria as an indivisible book adding that the world is waiting to read our success stories hence every citizen should play its part.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF NIGERIAN POLITICIANS (PART 1)

One of the many idiosyncrasies of Nigerian politicians is defecting from one political party to the other especially when elections are around the corner. A typical Nigerian politician is a power-hungry hoaxer who has been a member of all the political parties in the country. He is a corruption-enthusiast with a flawed mindset and an ungodly ambition to line his pockets with the nation's treasury. Therefore, he will do anything and everything he can, to become your Local Government Chairman, Senator, Governor or President. He doesn't give a hoot about the surge in the rate of youth unemployment, the epileptic power supply, the lack of good housing facilities or bad educational sector. All he cares about is- how to accede to power and pillage public coffers. Unfortunately, this is the prevailing mentality within the country's political terrain.

TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST AFRICAN LEADER THAT EVER LIVED: PATRICE EMERY LUMUMBA

                                     Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961)

Today, the 17^th of January 2014, marks the 53rd year Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), was assassinated by his enemies. He was killed on the 17^th of January 1961, just seven months after his country gained independence from Belgium. Lumumba was instrumental to the attainment of freedom by Congo in 1960 and this piece is a eulogy to this great Congolese, whose charisma, intelligence, visionary leadership, values, passion for freedom, heroics and love for a prosperous Africa have inspired people like me to be a better African who is proud of his roots.