Picture from 1954 of an affluent, traditional wedding Miss Christie Bola, a stunning Nigerian bride, is pictured here with her husband, Mr. St. Matthew Daniel, at their London wedding ceremony. The bride is being symbolically wished a calm and happy marriage by the bridesmaid (right) who sprinkled the water, a crucial custom in traditional Yoruba marriages.
The Nwodo family’s patriarch was John Ugwuamakofia Nwodo.He was the father of Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the charming and amiable President-General of “Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo.” He was the wealthy individual who purchased the Mercedes bus. Premier Michael Okpara of the erstwhile Eastern Region appointed him Minister of Local Government following his appointment as Minister of Commerce. Later on, at Enugu, he would be crowned Igwe of Ukehe. Three sons of Igwe J.U. Nwodo entered the political sphere. – Attorney Joe Nwodo was a former candidate for governor of Ghana and the presidency who was disqualified by General Babangida’s military regime due to a bitter battle with his challenger for the position. But Joe was ousted, and his younger brother went on to win the contentious race. – Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who served as the Third Republic’s governor of Enugu State, went on to become the PDP’s first national secretary and then its national chairman. –Chief Nnia Nwodo, who served as President Abdusalami Abubakar’s minister of information and President Shehu Shagari’s minister of aviation. The ninth President-General of the social and cultural organization “Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo” is Chief Nnia at the moment.
https://youtu.be/YLLz0cGBDJU An uncommon film capturing the formative years of Bishop David Oyedepo, one of Nigeria’s most well-known pastors. In the 1987 video, a youthful Oyedepo is seen giving the benediction and announcements during a church session. This film provides evidence of the modest origins of the man who would start Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, and serve as its presiding bishop. David Oyedepo started the Living Faith Church in Kaduna, Nigeria, with a tiny congregation in 1981. The church grew gradually but steadily because of Oyedepo’s unshakable faith and dedication to sharing the gospel. The church started to gain traction by the middle of the 1980s, drawing more members with its message of faith, prosperity, and the power of spoken word.
A few months after their father’s murder, Nigeria’s first prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, left his sons Saddik and Mukhtar, who are pictured in this historical photo from the mid-1960s with their minister, Yusuf Maitama Sule. Before entering the realm of filmmaking and helping to expand the Nigerian film industry, Saddik Tafawa Balewa played a major role in Nigerian academics. He eventually became a drama faculty at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. Choosing a different route, his younger brother Mukhtar Tafawa Balewa entered politics and ran for governor of Bauchi State in 2019.
The legendary song “SENSIMILIA” was launched by the dynamic pair “Mad Melon” (Oghenemaro Emeofa) and “Mountain Black” (Jimoh Olotu) in 2003, precisely 21 years ago. But the song that launched them to fame, “I am a Danfo Driver, Suo,” is what made them most famous. Both Mad Melon and Mountain Black were greatly impacted by the local Galala music genre, which developed from the streets and expressed the difficulties and hopes of the community, while growing up in the colorful but difficult slums of Ajegunle, Lagos. They had to juggle driving danfos, or commercial buses, to make ends meet during their early years, but music was always their love. Their lives would not shift drastically until Cornerstone Music realized how talented they were. Their 2003 single “I Am a Danfo Driver, Suo” struck a chord with Nigerians all throughout the nation and quickly became a classic. The song became an anthem due to its distinctive sound, catchy beat, and streetwise lyrics—especially in Lagos, where danfo buses are an integral part of everyday life. Their popularity from the song helped promote the Ajegunle sound both domestically and abroad in addition to bringing them notoriety. Their selection of “I Am a Danfo Driver, Suo” and Tuface Idibia’s “African Queen” for the soundtrack of the Hollywood film *Phat Girlz* was one of their most noteworthy accomplishments. With this acknowledgment, Mad Melon and Mountain Black were the first Nigerian musicians to have their songs included in a Hollywood production, marking a significant turning point for Nigerian music internationally. Their rise from the streets of Ajegunle to global acclaim is proof of the strength of perseverance, originality, and sincerity in music. They left a lasting impression on Nigeria’s musical history by bringing the challenges and victories of the country’s streets to the world. Five years ago, Mad Melon went away.
The poignant tale of President Muhammadu Buhari and Benue State Governor Aper Aku in 1984. Buhari imprisoned Governor Aper Aku, who was largely considered the greatest governor to have ever led Benue State, following his military takeover. Benue state governor Abdullahi Shelleng named Aper Aku as Chairman of the Kwande Local Government Council in 1977. Because the council members belonged to various factions—some were loyal to Paul Unongo, the head of a rival political movement, and some to Joseph Tarka, Akus’s mentor—he presided over a hostile council. On the other hand, his government was seen as sincere and efficient.In 1978, Aku submitted his resignation as the local council’s chairman and joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) primary for governor of Benue State. He defeated opponents including George Atedze and Isaac Shaahu to win the NPN primary. He went on to win the governorship of Benue State in 1979 and was again elected in 1983. As governor, Aku had to deal with a lot of issues in a state that had a long history of neglect, especially in the minority-populated south. Nonetheless, the state has excellent agricultural potential due to its rich soil and copious amounts of rainfall. During his administration, Aku promoted large-scale agricultural development, and the state had record yields of indigenous crops such yams, cassava, soy beans, cowpea, maize, guinea corn, millet, groundnut, banana, mangoes, and oranges. In the vicinity of the produce-growing regions, the government set up several companies to process agricultural products and make fertilizer.The Benue Brewery, Benro Packaging, Benue Bottling Company, Lobi Bank, Ber-Agbum Fish Farm, Ikogen Cattle Ranch, Taraku Vegetable Processing Industry, and Benue International Hotel in Makurdi are just a few of the businesses that Aku started. He intended to build a flour mill in Makurdi and started the Makurdi International Market. Aku also constructed a modern State Secretariat. Instead of continuing with the development of a huge medical center at Apir, he started building seven cottage hospitals in various areas. He founded the University of Technology in Makurdi, as well as two Teachers Colleges in Oju and Makurdi. He started a massive initiative to increase the number of secondary schools. He won the contract for the Art Council Complex, began construction on the Makurdi stadium, and constructed roads and street lights in the Makurdi township. In a coup on December 31, 1983, General Muhammadu Buhari took over and installed military officials in lieu of the civilian governors. Following Aku’s removal from government, the state’s finances were gravely indebted. The agricultural output fell as the subsequent military governors abandoned many of the projects he had started. The complex water supply plans that Aku had started were shelved, and the constructed infrastructure was not kept up with. The late Governor Aper Aku is still thought to be the greatest Benue State governor in history. He was previously described as a visionary leader who was ahead of his time…
The legendary song “Kain Dey,” which was published in 1999 by Baba Fryo, real name Friday Igweh, became a potent national anthem for Nigeria. The abrupt jump in petrol costs, which had risen to 20 Naira per liter, had left many Nigerians unhappy and frustrated, as the song eloquently depicted. The song emphasized the economic troubles and the alleged brutality of government policies that heavily burdened common citizens during a period when the nation was moving from military rule to a civilian government. Baba Fryo’s music functioned as a vehicle for social commentary, highlighting wider problems with accountability and governance in Nigeria by mirroring the hardships of the common people. “Kain Dey” is still regarded as an important part of cultural history because it serves as a reminder of the ability of music to subvert authority and spur social change.
Akintola received harsh criticism from a number of sources, chief among them Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who charged that Akintola was trying to steal his place as their party’s leader. When the Western House of Assembly attempted to remove Akintola in May 1962 after the party had earlier voted a vote of no confidence against him at a party meeting, emotions reached a breaking point. As a result, there was mayhem on the House floor. Eventually, the Action Group (AG) party broke up into two groups, which led to a number of conflicts within the House of Assembly forthe Western Region. A state of emergency was declared in the area by the federal government, led by Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, as a result of these occurrences. Chief (Dr.) M.A. Majekodunmi, the administrator is the Federal Minister of Health. Akintola was reappointed as premier in 1963 despite losing the legal dispute before Nigeria’s highest court at the time, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Later, he won his place in the 1965 general election as the leader of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), which allied with the federal government-controlling Northern People’s Congress (NPC) rather than as a member of the Action Group. But the election of 1965 was tainted by obvious manipulation, which contributed significantly to the coup that occurred in January 1966 and resulted in Akintola’s murder. Akintola was a respectful speaker, he was in charge of seeing the University of Ife through to completion in 1962. Obafemi Awolowo, his political rival, was the eventual name of the university. Contrary to common belief, there is no concrete proof that Awolowo was the driving force behind the University of Ife’s founding (even though it bears his name). In addition, he contributed to the construction of additional monuments including the Premier Hotel.
Igwe Silas Ezenwa, Obi of Awka-Etiti, is seen posing with his pricey car in this rare photograph.
Chief Hubert Ogunde and Adeyemi Afolayan, popularly known as Ade Love, both grinning and radiating the warmth and companionship that defined their relationship. This image is not just a snapshot in time; it is a powerful testament to the foundations of Nigerian theater and cinema, with these two legends serving as cornerstones in the industry’s development. Chief Hubert Ogunde is frequently referred to as the father of Nigerian theater. He pioneered the field by founding the Ogunde Theatre Party, Nigeria’s first professional theater company, in the 1940s. His work set the stage for modern Nigerian theater by fusing traditional African performance styles with modern themes to address social, political, and cultural issues. Ogunde’s productions were renowned for their potent storytelling, vibrant music, and dance. as well as their capacity to arouse curiosity and inspiration in viewers. In addition to being a musician and activist, he was also a playwright and director who used his craft to promote social change. Adeyemi Afolayan, better known as Ade Love, is a significant personality in Nigerian theater and film who stands next to him. Ade Love carried on Ogunde’s legacy, advancing the development of Nigerian theater and cinema. He was renowned for his mesmerizing performances and his ability to bring Nigerian stories to life on cinema. He was not only an actor and director but also a producer of motion pictures. The popularization of Yoruba-language films, which are still an essential component of Nollywood, can be attributed to Ade Love. His offspring, Kunle, Moji, Gabriel, and Aremu Afolayan, have all made noteworthy contributions to the Nigerian entertainment sector, mostly in the film and television industries, ensuring his legacy lives on. With their imagination and enthusiasm, these two trailblazers established the groundwork for a thriving business that still affects a great number of performers, directors, and writers today.In addition to molding Nigerian culture, their achievements were crucial in bringing African cinema to the attention of the world.