Flashback Fridays: When Dbanj Bought His First Car [Photos + Video]

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Friday, April 04, 2014

Success or breakthrough is definitely something that can intoxicate one with extra surge of adrenaline induced joy. We all start from a certain place and rise if consistent to a better level. Hard work truly pays when we don't back down.

This is what we see replicated in this rare video of Naija artiste Dbanj in the earlier years of Mohits (8 years ago) when he bought his first car; dividends of his budding music career. The video was captured and blogged on by  Niyi Adekeye (Niyigiggles) of www.gigglesplus.com.

The weather is hot and Dbanj is sweating but that's not what matters at this moment.

Dbanj flexes his happiness with everybody

He crouches to clean off a scratch or dirty spot on the car.

At exactly 10:35pm on 16th November 2006, D'Banj brought home his first car, with lots of excitement and joy that knew no bounds as he could barely control himself.
Though he was driving a gulf while he was in LASU (Epe Campus) before he traveled abroad but this BMW car could be considered as what music brought.
Twelve days after the acquisition of the car, there was a press conference at planet around 2pm put together by NiyiGiggles and Peter Thomas, all in a bid to let the world share in the joy that came with the progress of Mohits and D'banj. - www.gigglesplus.com.

Watching the video, we get to see a leaner-looking Dbanj frolicking about excitedly over the new BMW he just acquired while friends, reporters, cameramen and Mohits crew (including Don Jazzy) look on. It was undoubtedly a big step in his life of ever owning a car like that; you could see how he was just flexing and showing off to his crew. A press conference was held two days later over the new car.

Well, how many artistes call a press conference today over a new car? It was a big deal back then.

Today, Dbanj has fleets of cars and is a far cry from himself in this video. The video is a treasurable archive especially as it marks the begining of things to come. 

Flashback Friday: Bright Chimezie's Evergreeness

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Friday, March 14, 2014

I remembered when I first accidentally came across Ziggima music icon Bright Chimezie on TV. I was in high school back then and was skipping through stations for what to watch. I eventually got tired and left it on one station and his music 'African Style' came on as a filler (you know those open spaces of transmission time on Naija local TV stations that are usually filled up with random music videos). I listened for a moment and I was sort of entranced by his music despite my youthful exuberance and western preferences.

Chimezie in his younger years

The part of the song that got me most hooked was the one where he told a tale of his trip to a western nation and decided to eat a Nigerian meal instead of theirs and the shocked white folk called for the police to report that he was 'committing suicide'. The most popular hook of that part of the track is where he says 'Police eh, police eh, police, he's committing suicide oh; the black man wey dey here is committing suicide oh' . That line stuck with me forever.

Chimezie's music was an urban upbeat kind of high-life with pulsating beats and bass-lines that would make anybody nod to it. He was very creative and stylish with his vocals which was punctuated in systematic rhythm. Many of his songs also carry humorous anecdotes, tales and thought provoking references. This are the elements that make his brand of music evergreen. On listening to 'African Style' again, I was overwhelmed with the quality - it sounded like music that was still very applicable for traditional dance halls today.

A recent photo of Chimezie 

Its equally apparent that breed of artistes that sing like Bright Chimezie seem to be fast going into extinction. Many of his songs are like medleys that stretch deliciously into about 11 minutes of play (also typical of other genres like Juju music, Fuji etc) I once got an insider info that Flavour N'abania used to do gigs that followed the nature of this music. No wonder he's grounded in a contemporary type of urban high-life music; also we can see that he started off with doing remixes of high-life greats. I'm looking forward to seeing who would come out first to do a remix of any of Chimezie's hits.

The last time I saw Chimezie was during the COSON dinner that held at the Muson Centre, V.I. He still looked as vibrant despite his older look. I even came across a more recent video of a 10 minute track he released some time back titled 'Because of English'. Apart from the fact that he has aged over time, he hasn't lost his spark as reflected in the video. He even did some of his trademark moves in the video. And in his usual way of dishing out informative anecdotes, he gives a tour of the Igbo alphabet as well as reminisces of the dangers of speaking vernacular in high school.

I could definitely relate to the later.

In all thism Chimezie has not lost sight of his trademark look (talk about personal branding) of sleevesless or short sleeved ankara tops with traditional beads and cap.

Bright Chimezie has definitely made his own mark in the sands of time of Naija music genre. I hope out contemporary artistes of today can learn a thing or two from him.

Flashback Fridays: Awesome Fathers of Renown Sons

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Friday, February 07, 2014

Today's Friday flashback takes brief look at 3 awesome and famous fathers whose offspring have gone on to keep the family name very relevant on the entertainment scene. This wasn't meant to be a list but as I rummaged my mind on how to go about it, it ended up being a list...of just 3. Don't call me lazy over creating a detailed list...it was never meant to be a list...it was meant to be just a flashback peep at historicals...

1. Art Alade

Art Alade with friend. Inset: Darey 

I'm not sure many young Nigerians of today may have heard of the Darey Art Alade's Late father. Darey actually leveraged on his Dad's first name 'Art' in his early days in showbiz. His Dad, Art Alade was a legendary Nigerian Jazz pioneer. As a child, Dare used to rummage his father's rich jazz collection and tag along with him to concerts; these early experiences exposed him and helped him cut his teeth in the ways of showbiz.

Unfortunately, its hard to come across any archive on Art Alade online. The above photo was a rare find. At least he left behind a son that has now become famous.

2. Arinze Ejiofor

Arinze pictured on his highlife album. Inset: Chiwetel

Arinze Ejiofor was a doctor as well as a highlife singer/atilogwu dancer. The father of famous Nigerian Hollywood actor Chiwetel Ejiofor had a promising career but it was cut short when he perished in an car accident in 1988. 

Chiwetel was just 11 at the time of the accident. It happened during a family trip to Nigeria for a wedding; he and his father were driving to Lagos after the celebrations when their car was involved in a head-on crash with a lorry. His father was killed, but Chiwetel survived. He was badly injured, and received scars that are still visible today on his forehead.

I was able to come across this footage of the 20th anniversary memorial celebration of Dr. Arinze Ejiofor in 2009. The footage below shows Chiwetel grooving to traditional Igbo praise music. BY this time he had featured in almost 20 movies.

3. IK Dairo

I.K Dairo Inset: Paul

One of Nigeria's early front runners of the Juju music genre, I.K Dairo stood out for his style of music and his creative fuse of traditional musical instruments with western musical instruments. He was to Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, what The Remedies were to today's artistes.

His son, Paul (also known as Paul Play), also carved a niche for himself in Naija's music industry some time back with hit tracks that became the toasts of parties but he has been away from the scene for a long while now. In the begining (just like Darey), Paul also leveraged on his father's name (He was known as Paul I.K Dairo) and it got him the needed attention. Later he would graduate to just 'Paul Play'.

Below is a rarely seen video documentary on his legendary father, I.K Dairo; it wasn't easy finding it but I eventually did after some serious digging. 

Like I said, I'm only focusing on just these three...maybe I'll do another set some other time but the focus is on the flashback videos and photos.

Have a lovely weekend!

Flashback Fridays: Wande Coal the Back-Up Dancer

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Friday, December 06, 2013

Wow....this life is something. One of the most important lessons we should always take to heart concerning life is that we should never take any human being for granted because life can play a funny game that will end up where you least expect it to end.

Wande Coal...third from left.

Years back who would have thought Wamde Coal would end up the big star he is today? I came across this old music video of OGD All Stars, directed by Tade Ogidan. Here we get to see the likes of Teju Babyface in his hey days, Ramsey Noah looking a tad bit younger, rapper Abounce who just faded away from the music scene and appeared occasionally in TV production and one dreadlocked dude who I can't place. Wande Cola unlike all those mentioned was not involved in singing. Rather he was a back-up dancer!

Teju Babyface forming artiste

Abounce...looking like the future of his career

The dreadlocked guy with Abounce...who is he?

While watching the video, I noticed that there was more focus on two of the four-man back-up dancers. These two guys were apparently the finest of the crew and had good body physique. In comparison, Wande Coal was flabby while the other fourth guy (the fairest in complexion) was on the skinny side . We see the 'fine boys' appearing more frequently than Wande and his skinny counterpart.

This is where we see who has 'chest' and who doesn't.

The fine boys

What an irony. The same Wande Coal who was insignificant is now a star that belts out tunes that shakes audiences. They felt he needn't appear too much in the video...if only they knew the guy had a voice. 

Here's the video:

I think the music was a soundtrack for a movie titled 'Madam Dearest' which was an expensively shot movie and a hit back then. I can't say if it made much money but it was popular.

Naija On Scotland's Currency [Photos]

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Wednesday, October 02, 2013

The footprints of Nigeria's history will forever remain in textbooks, documentaries and stories passed down by our fathers. And then while some may appear in museums in the western world (as a result of stolen artifacts when the British invaded wealthy empires like the Benin Kingdom), others have remained as a pleasant memory on the faces of currency notes.

At this point I'm not referring to Nigerian currency but Scotland currency. A friend on facebook posted this heartwarming revelation he found on Scotland's £10 note. Many of us may not be aware of this. Here's what he wrote:

Last Year, I was in Scotland and whilst alighting from a Cab, the driver asked, are you from Nigeria to which I responded with a BOLD YES, he then GAVE ME A £10 Scotland Pound and said your towns are in there. In Scotland, currency denominations have different designs and one of the design they dedicated a Town In Nigeria called Calabar where Mary Slessor stopped the Killing of Twins.

Not only did this £10 note feature a picture of Mary Slessor with Nigerian children she helped rescue but also names of Calabar towns probably at that period.

How many of you ever actually noticed this on the £10 note?

Its nice to see that we are part of another nation's history.

The Things I Love About Being Nigerian (By Dike Chukwumerije)

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Thursday, June 20, 2013

I came across this funny and nostalgic piece online which takes every Nigerian back in the days and reflects on the funny things and crazy day to day events that have helped to groom and form almost every Nigerian. This of course would exclude those who never grew up in Naija; the experience could never be the same...except if you lived here for a while before travelling abroad with your family and your parents and freinds carried the 'traditions' over to the other side of the world.

Read on...

By Dike Chukwumerije

Sekibo, Adeyemi and Nwaogu

When Nkechi Nwaogu stands up to speak on the floor of the Senate, she always starts by saying, “My name is Nkechi Nwaogu, representing the good people of Abia Central Senatorial District…” Then she pauses and waits for the unfailing reply from her colleagues, “Haba! What about the bad people?” And Smart Adeyemi (nicknamed ‘Radical Solution’ by the Senate President) likes to pre-face his own comments with, “I rise on behalf of the people of Kogi West Senatorial District and, indeed, on behalf of the masses whom I personify in these chambers”. You will hear those sitting around him laugh out loud – Masses ke? With this your stomach? And Senator George Thompson Sekibo likes to add “J.P” (Justice of the Peace) to the end of his name; and when he does someone always shouts, “Juju Priest”, right after that acronym. Ah! It is true that I’m praying the Nigerian government grows more competent with time, but – please – may we keep this our humorous ways of going about the business.

And the way we handle our children too. “If I catch you…!” “Before I count ten…!” “If you allow me to get up from this place…!” We are not afraid to threaten them with the most imaginative acts of violence, even in public. “You? I will soon break that your coconut head!” “Eh? You this boy, if I slap you, your face will face back!” And if they do not feel sufficiently threatened, we reach for ‘Pepperoni’, ‘Thunder Balogun’, ‘One-Blow-Seven-Akpus’ – a.k.a the family KOBOKO, by whatever name called. Once, my dad leaped down a flight of stairs in hot pursuit of my sister. It was the funniest thing I ever saw. She ran, shrieking, out of the house and down the road till she got to the petrol station at the Junction. Honestly, I’m really happy I have that memory. 

So, I was walking down the road the other day and bumped into an old school mate. She shouted (literally), “My God! You’re so fat now!” I laughed, of course, and told her, “You too! In fact, you’re like double your size!” Now, I know things are beginning to change because her face fell slightly; those imported images of beauty are beginning to register. But, for what it’s worth, I love our old-fashioned political ‘incorrectness’.

The way people still cross themselves and gasp out, “Blood of Jesus!” if they hear that you’re gay. We are not very good at hiding our ‘mouth’. So, someone could just walk up to you and ask, “Excuse me o, sorry o, but where are you from?” How old are you? Which church do you go to? What is your tribe? But (voice dripping with concern) why are you not married? Very little grasp of the concept of personal space. And it used to be that we had few qualms about sharing that space as well. But, like I said, these things are beginning to change.

And I love some of the people I’ve been blessed to share this nationality with. I still think Jay-Jay is the most entertaining footballer ever; and that it’s very rare to find an artist with the talent of Fela anywhere in the world. But, forget celebrity, I grew up in Lagos and the energy on the streets was, and still is, infectious. (It’s really sad that it’s so dangerous as well, because if there wasn’t, we could really enjoy this carnival of creativity.) People don’t sit down waiting for fate; they hunt it down in the most ingenious ways. This is a country where a woman who’s never gone to school, sends all her children to university, selling pepper. It’s just the way we hustle. I was at Uni with a Fulani – he went to classes during the day and drove his cattle in the evening. What about the countless who start and re-start businesses every day, refusing to give up? My brother, Chaka, selling sand to augment his ‘allowee’ as a Corper? Or Chika, who followed his dream all the way to the Olympics? Every time I walk through a mechanic village, or a street market, look out my window at another ‘shanty town’, homes knocked together by raw determination, I marvel at this our roiling, restless spirit.

View from the top of Olumo Rock, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

And the land…Ah! It’s a real pity that it’s gotten so treacherous to travel through it. But I’ve done some epic journeys in my time - had camel meat for the first (and only) time in Maiduguri, and danced ‘Awilo’ (like an amateur) in Gwagwalada; travelled to Jos to ask a ‘babe’ out, she said no, so I travelled back home; spent Christmas in Gboko and a week in Kaduna; and went to Abeokuta just to climb to the top of Olumo Rock; on a boat in Abraka; in a fight in Bauchi; and fell in love (again) with a ‘babe’ in Kano; passed though Ilorin; a wedding in Ado-Ekiti; and, once, because it had gotten too dark, we parked at Ninth Mile and slept in the back of a truck. 

But there are still things I would love to see. Zik took the boat from Onitsha to Lagos in 1915. It took him two days in open seas. And some of Ahmadu Bello’s classmates at Katsina College did the journey from Yola on foot. And when Martin S. Kirsch, a young British colonial administrator, first landed in Nigeria in 1908, he berthed at Forcados, caught a river-boat at Burutu to Lokoja, then he got on a steamer and then a train to Zungeru; and from Zungeru he walked to Sokoto. True, if I could, I would walk in all those steps; see it all - from the deep blue sea to the silent desert, the broken hills overlooking verdant valleys. To me, our most precious resource is not beneath the ground; it is all around us, in the sunrise and sunset, and the cocky seasons swaggering between thunderstorms and harmattan haze. Nobody told me; I’ve seen it for myself - this is a beautiful country.

So, whenever I am away, I am haunted by images of her; and it makes my heart bleed. IF only we could get our act together; show real promise of turning the corner; produce a class of leaders committed, not to self-enrichment, or to the empowerment of the ethno-regional/religious groups they belong to, but to helping this country realize her full potential; IF only we could put down and maintain basic infrastructure and public services; then, I tell you, honestly, no London or New York, no Dubai or Hong Kong could ever compare to standing here, on this black earth, in my Ankara shorts and faded singlet, looking up at our crystal clear stars. For THIS, indeed, is a beautiful place.

Dike Chukwumerije is a writer and poet. He also run a blog. Click here to visit.

Dark Revelations of MKO Abiola's Final Days

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Wednesday, June 12, 2013

As we mark the memory of June 12, I remember way back then in 1993, I was a freshman at the Obafemi Awolowo University when Nigeria was on edge of achieving greater things; it was the period when many were hopeful that Nigeria would begin to change for sure and that was because renown philanthropist and man of the people, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) was on the verge of winning the presidential elections which would usher Nigeria back into civilian regime and put an end to dictatorship.

Sadly, this was not to be as the election which was eventually won by MKO Abiola was annulled on the 12th of June by General Ibrahim Babangida, then head of state on so-called grounds of corruption.

There was anger and rage among Nigerians. Everybody smelled a rat and there were insinuations that the North wanted to keep holding onto power or that the military was bent on still ruling. The suspicions were endless. What many never knew as days passed and Abiola got arrested and detained for 'treason' (after he declared himself the lawful president of the nation) was that there was international involvement in the circumstances that led to his death.

MKO Abiola & His Doctor Ore Falomo

MKO's personal Physician, Dr. Ore Falomo spilled the beans in an interview. He recalled his last meeting with MKO Abiola and the harrowing events that followed.

It was about two weeks before he died. But the visit before the last was more remarkable. It was arranged by the military government to dispel the rumour that Abiola had died in detention. They quickly arranged a meeting for me to go and see him.

They sent one captain from Aso Rock to me to tell me that I was needed urgently in Aso Rock. This was the penultimate meeting to the last meeting with him. I found the message strange because my previous meetings were arranged by the commissioner of police in Abuja, under whom Abiola was supposed to be. Whenever I visited him, I usually returned to Lagos by 6pm, but that day, it was not possible because immediately I got into the car, they started driving round Abuja to waste time so that it would be dark and I won’t recognise where they were taking me to.

When we got to the place, Abiola was there. It was a new place; I had not seen him there before. It was a bungalow. As soon as they opened the door and Abiola saw me, he came towards me and we hugged. We sat and unlike before, none of the guards waited to listen to our discussion. We spoke Yoruba all the time. They objected to it at first, later on they agreed. That day he was behaving like he was in the spirit. I told him there was a rumour that he had been killed. He said, ‘I know that I’m dead. They have dug the grave. They have put me in the grave except that they have not close me up.’ I asked, ‘What happened? Have they injured you or injected you?’ He said no, but that he just knew.

As he was talking, his mood changed. He told me he had forgiven those who caused his incarceration; that it was left for them to ask for forgiveness from God. He said he forgave them because he wants God to forgive him his sins. All these were strange, because in my previous visits, he was always asking about the things that were happening in the country. Then he started singing, ‘Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee.’ He used to sing Christian songs. After signing the song in English, he started singing it in Yoruba. Then he got up; hugged me and we began to cry. It was very emotional. I tried to calm him down, because I didn’t know what he had seen. All through this period, the guards did not come to say time was up. I told him I will tell the story to the people, which was normal after every visit.

About two weeks to Abiola’s death, Abdulsalami Abubakar had started to send out word that Abiola might be released. So, the whole town started to rejoice. I don’t know how that one was done. They even got to me and said my trips to Abuja would soon end. I knew the government was not going to try him. Chief Rotimi Williams had already told us that they did not have any evidence against him. There was no point going to court. As far as I knew, Abiola knew that they would not allow him to come out just like that since they would not take him to court. Every time, they were asking him to denounce his mandate and prepare himself for another election, but he refused. During my last visit, I told him I had the rumour that Abubakar will release him but I did not want him to believe the rumour until there was concrete evidence.

Some said Abiola was beaten to death, others said he was poisoned. Abiola was not beaten. He died shortly after the American delegation got to Aguda House by 3pm. According to the written press conference given by Ambassador Thomas Pickering, who led the American delegation, Abiola died between 3:20 and 3:40pm that day. Nobody told Abiola that he was going to have visitors that day. So, they woke him up and he just brushed his teeth and came out to meet with them. He had not had his lunch. These were facts borne out of the autopsy. His intestine was clear. They exchanged banters, he told Susan Rice, who was part of the delegation, what she wore the first day he met her. Pickering said Abiola’s brain must be sharp to remember all that. 

Babangida, Abacha & Abubakar - pawns in the plot

According to them, their mission was to convince Abiola to denounce his mandate and go for another election. By then Abacha had gone, one of their problems had been solved. Abiola was left.

They had brought that suggestion before and Abiola rejected it. So, their mission was unnecessary because they were not going to get him to say yes. It must have been for another purpose. When they came in, the chief guard that usually stayed with Abiola was not there because they didn’t tell him some people would be visiting. Abiola came unaccompanied to that meeting. Of course, they had been told he was a tea drinker. They brought a special flask, which Hamza Al-Mustapha described as multi-dimensional. They poured themselves tea and poured tea for Abiola. There was no precedence of a visitor bringing tea for the host. It is unconventional. It is not done anywhere in the world. Not only did they bring it, they offered someone in detention tea, with no guard around. 

And Ambassador Pickering said in his press conference that shortly after he had taken the tea, he complained of pain in the chest and grabbed his chest. And later, he felt uncomfortable and then, he went to the convenience to ease himself, but he did not come back as expected. They called on him and he told them he was coming. By then, he had started feeling weak. They asked him if they should call the doctor but he said they should ask the guard to get his pain tablet. But he died before the pain tablet arrived. By the time the doctor came, Abiola had already died. They took him to Aso Rock clinic, where they tried to jerk his heart back to life, but he was gone. That was how he died.

Thomas Pickering - delegate of death?

It is necessary to note that death followed Pickering’s missions. A notable personality usually dies after his mission to any country. You can go and read about him. The question was: Why did he come? We know him as Central Intelligence Agency man and he was not the serving ambassador in the country then. 

Abubakar was the one who gave them the appointment. During a cocktail to celebrate the US National Day, I asked the US Ambassador why they brought Pickering and others. I told him that Abacha, who was occupying Abiola’s position had died and why did they bring another military? We should also note that after Abiola died, Abubakar went to White House to visit the sitting American President and he went in military uniform. Can you recollect anybody who entered White House in military uniform? It is not done. He was given that exception. Up till now, nobody has repeated the precedence. What did he do? How long had he been on the throne here that he was received by the American President? Abacha was gone, Abiola was gone and they thought Nigeria’s problem was solved. But here we are. 

Another question to ask was where did Pickering type his press statement? Abiola died around 3:40pm and by 4pm, Pickering read his typed-written press statement and said he must have died of heart attack. The doctor that took Abiola’s body to Aso Rock clinic had not come when Pickering addressed the press. Could something have triggered the heart attack? The answer is yes. We also know that there are drugs that can affect the rhythm of the heart. Such drugs can disturb the rhythm of the heart to an extent that the heart can stop pumping blood. If you give it to anyone to drink in tablet or liquid form, it can make the heart to stop within minutes. 

This revelation by Dr. Falomo is quite unnerving. Was MKO going to initiate programs and campaigns that would turn Nigeria around for the best? Was he a threat to some sinister plan by the international community which seemed to be benefiting covertly from Nigeria's problems? Abiola had a huge foillowing and the heart of Nigerians were with him. There's nothing as threatening as a wealthy man that had the backing of the masses.

I have never believed that the international community cared for any African nation; they'd love Africa to remain a hub of crisis, unrests and chaos. Afterall it suits the agenda of the dark elite of the western world...order out of chaos - create a problem then offer a solution so the world would see you as a saviour.

You can read the full interview with Dr. Falomo here.

A Year Since The Dana Air Crash...

Chronicled by Afronuts @ Monday, June 03, 2013

Today marks a year after the tragedy of the Dana Air crash in the suburbs of Iju-Agege, Lagos on the fateful Sunday morning of June 3rd 2012.

That tragedy led me to do a post entry in the memory of all those that were on board. When I started this post, I didn't know it was going to turn into something big. I went about the internet, checking on the manifest of the passengers and searching out their photos. I uploaded so many of them such that it triggered a followership and before I knew it, family members of the victims began sending me never before seen photos of their loved ones to upload on the memorial post. The post had the highest number views in the history of this blog.

Also I partook in an anthology collection that was put together by Naija Stories in memory of the crash victims. Its a beautiful collection of stories, poetry and articles that tug at our hearts and remind us of the importance of valuing life and loved ones.Even the cover of the anthology came from the photo collage (as seen above) which I did for my own entry in the anthology.

The anthology is available and free for download in PDF format.

Click here to download it

And so we remember the souls of the dearly departed and for their loved ones, the strength to live through the memory of this tragedy. They have left voids that can never be filled but by God's love and comfort.

May their souls continue to rest in peace.

Click here to view the memorial of the departed.