A video on Africa

An interesting video on the Africa you never see on tv. I particularly find the comments interesting if not illuminating!! I do agree that the first few minutes of big cities and fancy buildings missed the point, but judge for yourself!

attn: Jeremy of Naijablog

shey jeremy has been feeling like a naija guy, he should come and see his oga here...lol, lol, lol!!! The girl really tried o!

ade in the summer

My brother helped out backstage at the Ade Bakare summer show in Lagos but didn't bring me any backstage pictures. I was glad to see the press around the show, positive and well deserved. Ade is a talented designer and he has a blog called haute. This was one of the pieces i saw on the net which i thought was brilliant!!

God is an African!

I am so grateful to God. Whilst the British (oyinbo people) have a government to turn to when things turn dodgy, we (Africans) only have God when things go pear shaped. I did that and it worked for me. The previous week before this was one of my hardest when everything appeared to go wrong, but i was compensated this week. From the angel (you're probably reading this and you know yourself) that decided to shine some light of hope to the other instruments of help, i say thanks!!!!

racism revisited!

Issues of race still fascinate me. This post comes in the wake of a previous post (two faced BB, see below) and the replies it elicited. Of course, there are the other issues around my life and in the larger society as well. The other day Sean (once again i refer to him. This is primarily because he feeds my curiosity on these matters) and discussed the issues of identity and difference within the ethnic UK population (whatever that is)! He had been accused of being racist as he commented on the Scottish and his incredulity was at the concept of being racist even within one's race. My school of thought is where does one begin and end in the quest of determining race? Surely, if race was based on difference, and difference informed identity; then the Scottish can by all means assume their own identity...and subsequently race. Is it easy enough to describe racial difference solely on genetics? As we take into consideration peculiarities like the Jews and the Sikhs, the matter becomes even more complicated. I remember recently reading half of a yellow sun by Orange prize winner Chimamanda Adichie, and the subtle references to the Igbo people as a racial identity cannot be ignored. How far are we willing to go in determining identity and difference?
British Comedian Bernard Manning died recently to much debate. In my opinion, an entirely inconsequential event. However, it does re-awaken the earlier question on my blog. Which is better, subtle/hidden racism or blatant racism? Manning was racist/homophobic/sexist without apologies. That was his reality and i assume the vast majority of the straight white males of this society, regardless of age. The fact that a group of people alive today laughed at his jokes informs this. Gavin Esler's pussyfooting interview with one of Manning's on newsnight was also suspect, so why pretend?
A friend of mine (a brash Nigerian girl, know to voice opinions rather loudly) was told me that the fault of society was the incorrect assumption that racism was/is a one way street. The white man being racist to everyone else. Does this not put unfair power in his hands? Is this not misleading to other ethnicity's who share the same animosity? Other ethnicity's who are therefore perceived powerless under their assumed roles as the conquered? Your thoughts please!

The end of an era!!

It is the end of an era for me. In years to come, i'll tell people of the summer of 07. University has been over for a couple of weeks and i have partied silly (perhaps too much). Now it is time to reflect and knuckle down on moving forward. I did have a nice time though. Most of all, i'd probably miss Jean Francois who's moved back to Paris. All the partying, the pulling, dancing to Femi Kuti, the Feng Shuiing, the OCD and have i mentioned the pulling (it works magic cos girl's luv a french accent). I remember when we'd gone out once and this girl asked if i was french as well and i replied i could be (corny i know but worked magic believe me!!!!!)....see what i did there? hehee
Anyways, i remember this really funny episode when we ran to catch a train as JF left for christmas last year and we kissed goodbye. Of course, the whole train station gawked in astonishment. I shouted out to the train conducter "we're not gay, he's french" and the conductor replied "same thing mate"!.....
Ah well, its moving on now. Summer, not going anywhere for a holiday (cept probably the isle of white but that doesn't count); means work and getting a new flat. As i start to sort things into boxes and labels, i remember what i had and remain optimistic for the future!!!

two faced BB

Turned out i was watching British Big Brother last night as it came on after the Diana documentary on channel 4. I saw the contestant Emily and i liked her immediately. Clever (at the time anyway), pretty and even snotty in that somerset way. Turns out today, she used the dreaded N word and got kicked off the show. Hypocrisy!!!!! This is what Britain is about. It reminds me of how Sean told me that he sees more racism than i do, Sean is white. Does it
1. Show how naive the suburban white kid is to racial issues in today's world?
2. Does it show the precarious balance of civil society injected by political correctness
3. Does it show how the big organisation is willing to sacrifice the little man to cover its backside
4. Which is right or wrong, hidden racism or blatant racism
This is from a country where everyone in charge is still white. The bloody organisation (channel 4) is so hideously white.
Did no one notice how Charley deliberately hammed up the whole thing by feigning shock? Sigh, when will Britain learn!!!

saluting chimamanda!

Chimamanda won the orange prize in the end. At least my harassing everyone i know to vote didn't go to hell!!! Congratulations to her and salud to the African Renaissance! You can see the webcast here. She is no doubt an inspiration to her generation and should serve as a classic couldaWOULDAshoulda for the idiot generations gone past already!!!