Lifestyle, Arts & Culture: Glory and History

In this month’s Lifestyle, Arts & Culture blog, we hold fast to the antidotes for triumph over the trials: to sing, dance, laugh, protest and pray. For the Hausa proverb admonishes us: “give thanks for a little and you will find a lot”.

The Prophecy

Make no mistake. Even in the midst of the turmoil that has engulfed Nigeria after more than a fortnight of intense protests in the #EndSARS campaign, the indignation of Africa’s most populous nation circles back to that familiar spirit of self-belief which we recognise and love. It is one which yearns for, and knows that it is deserving of, better, and is summed up in the book title, Naija No Dey Carry Last, a satirical collection of essays on Nigeria’s political economy, by the late Pius Adesanmi. The voice of the youth cannot be suppressed on the streets, social media nor in song. Multi-award-winning Afrobeats singer Davido felt compelled to do more than just watch from the wings and presented five demands to the Inspector General of Police for reform. His track Fem has become something of an anthem with the lyrics E be like you don dey talk too much, small talk you don dey talk who talk capturing the mood: people are demanding tangible solutions to police brutality, not lip service. Lawyer turned lyricist Falz, never one to shy away from the borders of political correctness, has held our attention with This is Nigeria, a parody of the frustrations of the system of governance, which is a spin-off of Childish Gambino’s This is America. 

Be Joyful Always & Give Thanks

Heeding the wisdom found in the Hausa proverb to “give thanks for a little and you will find a lot”, we’re inspired to dig deep even in the midst of the pain of our kith and kin. Award-winning gospel artist Joe Mettle will deliver a string of songs at a thanksgiving concert tonight at Trinity Christian Centre, Nungua, Accra, to celebrate the victory of his fellow Greater Accra “neighbour”, Naa Dedei Botchwey, winner of Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2020 pageant. 

The theme of thanksgiving ran deep at the funeral this weekend of Madam Victoria Agbotui, the mother of Ghana’s former president, His Excellency, Jerry John Rawlings, held at the forecourt of State House, Accra. Adorned in white, sympathisers commiserated and celebrated “a life well-lived” of the 101-year old matriarch, who one of her granddaughters Amina Agyeman-Rawlings described as the “golden thread” of the family. The Swahili adage, that “The laughter of a child lights up the house”, was emblematic of the tributes, with Madam Victoria’s son humourously recounting in his tribute how she was a “strict and uncompromising disciplinarian”, from whom he inherited a loud voice. “Of all the things to inherit!” 

Another woman we’ve been watching and celebrating is Anne Murielle Ravina, Mauritius' first semifinalist for Miss World 2018. Since then, she has been actively involved in shaping her community in Rodrigues island (outer island of Mauritius). She is the President of StarsAgency which focuses on empowering young women and men through arts and modelling. 

What’s the Story, Morning Glory?

Sifting through the annals has brought us to this great piece in 'Africa is a Country'. Ostensibly, it is about a lecture by the Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiongo, regarding his return from exile but is really a sweep of the political changes in the country from colonial times to the present moment. 

Still on history is 'Black Spartacus' by the UK-based Mauritian academic Sudhir Hazareesingh. It’s a biography of the Haitian revolutionary, Toussain L'Ouverture and is a powerful, inspiring and profoundly educational account of the most successful servile insurrections in human history. Meanwhile, we’ve been listening to Mauritian singer Murvin Clelie, who headlines the group The Prophecy, who reminds us about the importance of history and identity in his reggae track, Laglwar (meaning, “Glory”).

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