Going memory lane as Radio One 103.5FM celebrates first anniversary

By Anote Ajeluorou and Gbenga Salau

Radio One 103.5FM, one of the 40 Frequency Modulated stations under Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), based in Lagos last week celebrated its first anniversary of being an all-news, all talk and all-sports format station with a lecture that had the gathering of many veteran broadcasters who had worked with the station while it was called Radio Nigeria 2 (RN2).

  While many of the guests, especially the veterans took time to talk about the good old days, there were also kind words for the new station and its managers, as many commended the team leading the station for truly living up to its mandate of an all-news, all talk and all-sports radio station.

  Chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, who delivered the lecture, noted that professional journalists would continue to be relevant in the oldest means of mass communication, radio, in spite of the huge new challenges technology is bringing forth. He advised them to come to terms with technology to enhance content.

  According to him, new tools and practices are changing the ways that journalists are producing information which is also redefining the place of professional journalism in a new world information system. After listing a series of digital radio platforms, ChannelTV boss argued that digital and analog radio would continue to grow in harmony for certain reasons. 

  According to him, “While there may be some concern about the damaging consequences of these trends for the quality of journalism and the professional survival of journalist, I believe very strongly that the current developments may in fact be paving the way toward better journalism and more independent journalists”.

  He also stated that with technology which is changing the environment in which the professional journalists now operate, “new facts are being uncovered daily, more audience feedback is being integrated; more voices are being heard; more diverse perspectives on the same news subject are being presented”.

  “With digital environment more stories available, more archived materials are available and searchable for longer periods of time; more men and women of power are being watched more closely; and more people are engaged more actively with the changes around them-by taking photos or making podcasts of key moments, by commenting on blogs, or by sharing the stories that matter to them”.

  “Today, journalism seems to be more alive than ever and going through a multiplication of both forms and content at amazing speed”.

  Momoh observed that although radio had been threatened by new and emerging technologies, but it seems somewhat resilient to change even though things are changing.

  “From the dots-and-dashes of wireless telegraphy in the late 19th century and on to the algorithm-driven, personalised music stations we see, strewn across the web today, ‘radio’ as a concept has evolved for sure. But what does the future hold for the age-old medium? Put more succinctly, what is the relevance of radio, more so an ‘All News’ station in a digital age?

  “For sure, radio isn’t what it used to be. That old battery-powered work-of-art that sits on your bathroom window sill may be what immediately comes to mind in terms of ‘radio’, but it’s now so much more than that. The lines where radio and music-listening meet have blurred, making it difficult to distinguish what’s what.

  “In the analog days, it was easier to differentiate ‘radio’ from someone listening to music, say, on their record player. But now, with Spotify, Pandora, podcasting and all the rest, the waters have muddied”.

  A professor of Mass Communication, Ralph Akinfeleye, who applauded the speaker for his erudite discussion of the issue, called on the Federal Government to ensure continued training and retraining of FRCN staff, as it would be a misnomer to have digital equipment managed by analogue staff.

  Before the lecture by Momoh, there was a panel discussion of veteran and retired FRCN staff with root in Radio One. The panel members were Mr. Soni Irabor (MD, Inspiration FM), Mrs. Stella Awani and Mrs. Regina Anajemba. Each spoke on how they joined FRCN and their experiences while there. Awani was a major point of discussion as many who passed through her, including members of the panel and the guest lecturer of the day, highlighted the drilling they went through under her watch, as a speech lecturer at FRCN training school. And she lived up to her billing, when she took everyone back to the classroom with her brief phonetic lecture while giving the correct pronunciation of some troublesome words. 

  General Manager of Radio One 103.5FM, Mrs. Funke Treasure-Durodola, thanked everyone who had in one way helped to grow the station. According to her, the switch-over to an all-news, all talk and all-sports format in the last twelve months had been a successful attempt with the station at the forefront of the reportage of human angle stories. She, however, stated that as in any change project, the switch-over had its challenges, particularly for marketers, advertisers, independent producers and members of staff because changing the location and character of a general interest station with content that had 80 per cent religious propgrammes and appealed mainly to Yoruba extraction was a tough call.

  Treasure-Durodola said adjustment became necessary in order to shed some weights, “A major change was the adoption of English as language of broadcast.” She also said that with the changes, the unique selling point for the station is its all news slant which stands it out from other similar stations based in Lagos.

  “Radio One is arguably the oldest radio station in Nigeria, her historical antecedents speak for itself. However, my focus today is on the milestones the station has recorded since its switch-over to an all-news, all talk and all-sports format on August 4, 2014.

  “As we celebrate our first anniversary, we recognize the fact that we have only just begun. The best is yet to come. We are equally not oblivious of the fierce competition from other private radio stations in Lagos. What is worth celebrating is the fact that despite the limited resources and constant regulations by our mother organisation, Radio Nigeria, we have risen from obscurity to prominence within so short a time”.

  Director, Lagos Operation of FRCN, Mr. Ken Ike Okere, thanked Momoh for accepting to deliver the lecture, adding that the lecture is planned to be an annual event. According to him, many of the FM stations of FRCN are technology driven and are run with a business orientation mindset. Okeke said the mandate he was given when he was appointed was to transform the Lagos operation and when he gave Treasure-Durodola and her team the marching order to work in line with the new philosophy in three month and they delivered. He thanked them for helping him to transform the station, describing her and her team as fantastic. 

  Some Nigerians were given awards for helping to place the station in the heart of the people. Some of the awardees were John Momoh, Prof. Edamisan Temiye, Dr. Tunji Mabawondu, and Prelate of the Methodist Church, Dr. Samuel Uche.

  Apart from an array of professional broadcasters, there were mass communication students drawn from schools in Lagos. One of them, Adesola Olayinka, a student of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) commended the organisers of the lecture because it was an enlightening forum for her besides giving her the opportunity of meeting veterans in the broadcasting industry. She described her experience as an awesome privilege, saying that as an aspiring broadcaster, she has been challenged to work to be the best, especially seeing that the revered broadcasters have made a positive impact in the country.

  Some of the dignitaries present at the forum were the Speaker of the Lagos State House Assembly, represented by Hon. Tunde Buraimoh; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; Mr. Patrick Oke; former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu. 

Lagos City Chorale celebrates golden awards

By Anote Ajeluorou

When Lagos City Chorale (LCC) music group won three gold medals at the second European International Choir Olympics held in Magdeburg, Germany last month, not many knew about the feat. But performing before an enthusiastic home audience last night at Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, was enough to silence many a doubting Thomas.

  It was a celebratory concert that had Chief Emeka Anyaoku as special guest of honour. Chief Earnest Shonekan was among the dignitaries that graced the special celebratory concert.

  The performances showed how gifted the group, led by Sir. Emeka Nwokedi, was both in their performance of African chorale repertoire and European classical music.                 

  First, Tony Ajero began to tell the story with the song, ‘Oni dodo oni moi moi, accompanied with piano rendition, on how the group came into being since 1998, with the group triumphing in Germany with the three gold medals it recently won.

  The choir, in their resplendent outfit that stood them out, then filed in spotting Igbo traditional pieces. A multi-coloured tunic over black trousers and tapering red and white cap for the men, and white lace blouse over a sparkling wine-colonoured wrapper, brown head tie and traditional neck beads completed the costume for the women. Nwokedi introduced the first performance piece ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ by William Runyan and said it was in gratitude to God for what He’s done for the group over the years.

  ‘I was glad’ from Psalm 122 came after it and they both followed the traditional church choir pattern although great passion was invested in the rendition. Towards the end, ‘I was glad’ steadily rose to a rousing crescendo that filled the hall. But it was ‘Halleluyah Praise ye the Lord’ by Louis Lewandowski that explored the full range of the vocal power of Lagos City Chorale group. From its rising and falling modulation of their voices, it transported the audience to a point of pure musical enjoyment. The unique arrangement of the song allowed for multiple voices in different cadences flowing in and out of the dominant note in such harmonic blend.

  From church choir music, the group took on traditional tunes and ‘Ma Ndi na-ele anya Jehova’ composed by Sam Ojukwu was performed. It started in a steady note through to the middle but towards the end when it got to the point of ogejiye, dance was added, a bodily motion in response to the moving song, and it became really engaging. Also, the tonality of African languages deepened the song’s timbre and greatly lent weight to it. A lady singer who moves forward to enhance the rhythmic dance further accentuates this.

  Then came ‘Alleluia Chim lee’, another Igbo song, arranged by Chinedu Osinigwe and performed in easy pace. But “Messiah Baba Mi’, a Yoruba piece by Ayo Oluranti alternated in moods. First from the seemingly mournful, subdued tone, and it eventually rose to a melodious, harmonious crescendo that was extremely pleasing. A piece from Akwa Ibom ‘Ya Ikom Abasi’ on praising the Lord also came in church choir pace; so, too, ‘Agidigba ka Chineke di’, that spoke of the majesty of God.

  But the ‘Rendition by 2 Tenors’ rendered in Italian hit the audience like pleasurable musical thunder bolts. The dexterity and command of the Italian tones by the duo of Fred Asuquo and Benson Utomi were exceptional. In fact, their performance of ‘La donna e mobile’ by Giusseppe Verdi was strongly reminiscent of the great Italian composer, the late Luciano Pavarotti, singer of modern times in its depth of vocalisation, cadence of tone and the seductive joy of music.

 It signalled a crossover temper from traditional church choir music to classical, European music. The sheer theatrics of Utomi and Asuquo in giving life to the performance, the give and take reciprocity of the lyrics greatly endeared it to the audience. So much so that even when a majority of the audience didn’t understand a single Italian in the song, the song claimed the biggest applause from it, as a reward for the sheer performance skill of the duo. Indeed, the foreignness of the language made it the more endearing and enchanting, as it seemed to transport the audience to celestial places. The duo also showed talent in the second song ‘O sole mio – E di capua’, also by Verdi.

  Ajero introduced Special Guest of Honour for the evening Chief Anyaoku, as epitomising the excellence and quality Nigeria ought to be as a country and connected it to the excellence that Lagos City Chorale has brought in terms of laurels.

  Anyaoku commended the group for its quality and said: “I have been a fan of LCC. In this city, there are not too many cultural events like this one for people to enjoy. We are here to congratulate LCC for the tremendous achievements they have brought. Every news accentuates the negative things about Nigeria; stories told about Nigeria abroad are not always flattering. LCC’s story gratifies about Nigeria. They have won many accolades all over the world. What better story can there be about our country?

  “LCC gave us pride and honour. We congratulate them and Emeka for inspiring LCC since 1998. You have achieved a great deal. I don’t know why government has not accorded LCC the recognition it deserves. Those in authority should recognise how much glory LCC has won for Nigeria abroad. They have been to the U.S., China flying the colours of Nigeria with such pride. They have earned us admiration and pride from all over the world.”

  The former Commonwealth Secretary-General also praised the group for sticking to traditional Nigerian costume, saying: “Not just the music, but their attires are aspects I’m sure those at the festival admired.” He also commended the duo of Utomi and Asuquo for being more Italian than Italians in their rendition, describing them as “black versions of Italians.”

Soyinka: I Don’t Have Ambassadorial Temperament

* Glo Literary Prize for Undergraduate Students launched

By Anote Ajeluorou

For young writers, who feel a moral burden to write about injustice, oppression and burning social issues of the day, with the aim of attempting to effect a change in the Nigerian or African polity, a word of advice has come from the eminent writer himself and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka: “I don’t have ambassadorial temperament when I write. I accept my own responsibility; I carry my own burden myself. Often I question so-called global, sectional kind of writing that represents. I didn’t set out to represent Nigeria; no!”

  Soyinka was responding to a question from Caine Prize winner Mr. Tope Folarin on whether he ever felt a burden of representation as a writer and Osundu’s on if writing seems like a job cut out for one in terms of political activism and the need to tackle social and political malaise. It was during An Evening with Wole Soyinka event held in Lagos on Friday when Glo Literary Prize for Undergraduate Students was also launched. Winners in the three categories of fiction, drama and poetry will smile home with N1.5 million in each category. Undergraduate students are to submit original manuscript entries to quality for the prize designed to encourage the study of literature in Nigeria’s higher institutions.

  In responding to Folarin and Osundu, Soyinka thinks otherwise and says writing directed at other things was just as good and compelling enough reason to write. What is important, according to him, is the ability to connect reality and imagination and so help enlarge the human horizon to its infinite capacities and possibilities. He also warned writers not to be trapped in slogans, as fascism did not necessarily equate good literature.

  “If you feel strong enough about issues of justice, social welfare, feminism, which embraces oppression, then you can go ahead. But the deplorable one is to force oneself to write about issues. What I’m concerned with is the transformation of the mind and imagination, to create a new form of reality; a writing that enlarges our horizon is literature and not necessarily fascism. People get trapped in slogans. I cannot tolerate fascism in writing. Follow the temper of your heart and not propaganda”.

  The man often called Kongi fleetingly recalled his days at Mbari with Chinua Achebe, J.P. Clark and Christopher Okigbo with some nostalgia and bemoaned what the country has become in the intervening years. “There was Mbari with Achebe, Clark, who is here with us and Okigbo. These days, a lot more energy goes into practical survival. There was more leisure back then; circumstances today are very different”.

  Award-winning female writer Atta also tasked him on feminism and wondered if he is a feminist himself. According to him, “Feminism is described in so many ways. There are those who believe men should be castrated, others say a sign of true feminism is not to wear bra while others think of it as intellectual mentoring. I’m just a generous man; if you’re a man who believes in helping to change diapers so be it.

  “But I deploy attempt by society to define what individuals should be. I dissent on legislation on what consenting adults can do in their privacy. Let’s not interfere on what adults are. I believe in humanity. I’m confused about machismo and feminism; you should be yourself!”

  An audience member wanted him to relate his ‘Telephone Conversation’ poem to current political realities in the country. “’Telephone Conversation’ is on the theme of the ‘negative otherness’, the outsider; racial discrimination is at its core. Now, we have elite, the chosen ones versus the rest of us. I’m talking about the mindless, extreme fundamentalists who think only they have the right to existence. The intolerance of the extreme group is appalling”.

  But on a lighter note, Soyinka wondered how teachers are able to explain the telephone metaphor of the poem to students since box telephones have gone out of vogue, and with it the little pranks, especially street telephones that could yield a small fortune for the young boy hunting for left over coins by a previous user”.

  Just like everybody else, Soyinka said he is also affected by mood swings in his writing and wondered who doesn’t in response to Mr. Dele Momodu’s question. “It will be very boring if we have linear stories. There is mood swing; I do have mood swings. Or don’t you?”

  Soyinka felt lifted by the presence of some Brazilians in the audience represented by a lady who spoke warmly about him and Africa generally and said she carried the message of millions of Brazilians of African descent, a country with the largest African peoples second only to Nigeria. “This is a most inspiring coincidence having just arrived from a conference Brazil recently,” he said. “It’s very symbolic this singular identity with the Diaspora and we hope it will grow economically and politically”.

  Also, the foremost academic lamented the state of education in the country and proposed that a state of emergency be declared in education to redress the ravaging rut.

  Osundu thanked Soyinka for having “written the roadmap for us” while Folarin said “he had a profound impact on me when I was growing up”. The three writers and Soyinka read from his books.

  In launching Glo Literary Prize for Undergraduate Students, an official of Globacom Mr. Ebenezer Kolawole restated the primacy of literature as a mirror of society and how it preserves traditions, culture and enriches humanity. Also, Chairman of Globacom Dr. Mike Adenuga praised Soyinka’s intrepid and artistic spirit, adding, “He is a sedulous writer and a raconteur par excellence whose works have for decades remained study materials the world over, and will be so for generations to come”.

  The event was generously spiced with performances. Young Footprints of David provided the opener. The Bolanle Austin-Peters Production performed the military drill part of Soyinka’s recent play Alapata Apata to stunning military precision and applause. Soyinka’s musical soul mate Tunji Oyelana brought back the mood swing and feel of yesteryears, but not without commending Kongi’s musical prowess, noting, “Wole Soyinka is not only a writer of words; all through the 50 years I’ve worked with him, he is a master of writing notes of music”. He performed ‘I caught you in my trap’ and Soyinka’s recorded music ‘I love my country I no go lie’.

  Panel of judges for the newly inaugurated prize include Profs. Femi Osofisan, Mohammed Umar-Buratai, Akachi Ezeigbo and Olu Obafemi, with Dr. Promise Ogochukwu, as Secretary. It was also a gathering of artistic and cultural personalities, including Profs. Duro Oni, Tunde Kelani, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Odia Ofeimun, Chief Emanuel Francesca, Mr. Kolade Mosuro and many others.

  D’Banj and Bez also performed to bring the evening to a glorious close.

Quarter Eight… A wayward girl and a father’s wasted investment

By Anote Ajeluorou

Children are an investment, so reads the gospel according to some commerce-minded parents, particularly those from a certain ethnic group. What happens to the parent when the ‘product’ fails to measure up to the value placed on it? This forms the core of Quarter Eight, a play that was recently performed on three consecutive Sundays at Ethnic Heritage Centre at Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. It is a production of Kininso Koncepts, written and directed by Joshua Alabi, who used to feature prominently in Segun Adefila-led Crown Troupe of Africa. He is cutting his teeth in solo production, apparently having come of age.

  Quarter Eight explores the psychology of a father whose world falls apart because the daughter he has invested his resources to educate so as to shore up his floundering business by marrying her of to some rich man deviates from the narrow path and gets pregnant. What is worse, she is unable to point out the man responsible for the pregnancy. She is today’s typical Nigerian undergraduate who feels the world is at her feet and the only way to claim it is go on promiscuous rampage.

  We see Chief (Opeyemi Dada), an Igbo businessman, going after his debtor (who, sadly, we don’t get to see, a stream the writer or director fails to pursue to the end), at a seedy residence at Quarter Eight, where a policeman and a Corper (Oye Aribilola) and Mama Aduke also reside. Chief’s pretty daughter Amara (Bodurin Afolabi), an undergraduate, accompanies him and later delivers his meal and drinks to aid his long wait for his debtor who doesn’t appear. But the action shifts quickly and Chief is negotiating with a certain Alhaji for Amara’s hand in marriage and inventing all manner of lies to fleece him of money.

  Amara is angry with her father for the arrangement because she is in love with the Corper, a love that is yet to be consummated because the Corper is careful to make it platonic even, as Amara appears eager to push it full hilt. Chief’s accusation, directed at the Corper of having, “Erection without direction” sounds hollow; he should have reserved it for his amorous lawyer (Aniefiok Inyang) friend.

  But Amara’s case is somewhat different and pathetic; unknowingly, she is a victim of men’s rapacious libido. She falls a victim, first to his father’s lawyer who rapes her and then the Policeman (Jubril Gbadamosi) to whom Amara turns to for possible redress, but who ends up also forcibly having his way with her. This happens at the police station to complete Amara’s terrible encounter with men.

  She is attracted to the Corper, a young man her age, who shows uncommon understanding of her plight and for whom she is ready to defy her father who is bent on marrying her off to a rich man for financial gain. When it eventually comes to light that Amara is pregnant, Chief’s world falls apart, but it is the Corper who resolves the mystery. But this doesn’t happen until the lawyer and the policeman have pushed Amara and the Corper to the wall. It is common knowledge that Amara is the Corper’s girlfriend and so Amara’s pregnancy is easily attributed to him. But when he spills the beans, the lawyer, the policeman and Chief are stunned. So, too, Mama Aduke, a Quarter Eight residence, who comes to learn also that her own daughter Aduke has also fallen to the sexual wiles and schemes of the lawyer and the policeman.

  Quarter Eight is conceived as a hilarious comedy portraying the foibles of a seedy residence with wolves for men. It is a tremendous effort from young Alabi, who is obviously chatting a direction for his outfit, but there is restrained energy in the performance struggling to be let itself loose. The scene changes appear too frequently even if they were spiced with peppery music to keep the audience’s attention. Although, of course, understandably, the stage, situated in the open lawn courtyard, isn’t the best performance setting to perform a play. But the actors made the most of it nonetheless.

  No doubt, Ethnic Heritage Centre though small, has come on stream, as a culture centre. It’s left to be seen what content it has to pull Lagos’ art aficionado to itself. Quarter Eight is obviously a small step in that direction.

Jonathan’s State of Emergency in North East only hurt innocent citizens, says Sen. Tinubu

By Anote Ajeluorou

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, has called to question the usefulness of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s State of Emergency in three states of the North East and declared that it only served to hurt innocent population who could not reach out for help while the Boko Haram sect rampaged in the region killing and maiming civilians and destroying property.

  She made this declaration at an interactive session with The Lagos Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Family, an arm of Women for Peace and Justice in Nigeria, which paid her a courtesy call in her Senatorial office in Yaba, Lagos. The group was led by Yemisi Ransom-Kuti, Niyi Onabanjo, Olalekan Babasola and Yemi Adamulekun among others, including Alhaji Mohammed Zana of Mairamri town, just a few kilometres from Chibok, who lent his voice to the plight of the embattled region. Zana now lives in Takwa Bay Island, Lagos.

  According to Tinubu, “The State of Emergency only helped to expose innocent civilians who couldn’t ask for help. Telephone in the areas was shut down and those being attacked could not reach out for help. It was so bad. I can tell you that nothing happened all through the State of Emergency period to alleviate the plight of the people”.

  She stressed that as a mother, who had lost a child, she knew what the families were going through and regretted that the set was bent on denying girls education. As she put it, “As a mother, I can tell you it’s a hard place for a mother. The problems plaguing Nigeria are numerous. I lost a child once. It’s a hard and difficult place to be. But as a Christian we believe all is well. As diverse people, this issue will keep us close. It will bring Nigerians close the way we have not known before.

  “I always say that let our girls be educated otherwise our nation is doomed. Women have stamina and education only makes them stronger. We pray that in three months promised the girls will be brought back. In a situation where you are helpless, you keep praying”.

  She also said as lawmakers, they were constrained how much they could do to help, and placed the responsibility squarely at the doorsteps of the executive arm of government, saying, “As lawmakers we are a bit restricted”.

  She however, said President Mohammadu Buhari would do what was necessary to bring the insurgency to an end.

  “Nigeria voted for change with All Progressives party leading the way; it came together from various parties, the shortfall is what we have seen. At the inauguration of the Senate, some of us were not there and some very shady characters hijacked the process. We pray that Buhari’s efforts yield results. It’s the executive that you have to hold accountable for the enforcement of programmes and policies”.

  Tunubu also stated that she was doing all she could to help alleviate the plights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Lagos, but that she was also limited to Lagos Central Senatorial District, as she was no longer the First Lady of Lagos State.

  Earlier, Adamulekun had outlined some of their demands from the Senator Tinubu just as they had done to Mr. Buhari a month ago. Women for Peace and Justice in Nigeria demanded that the National Assembly should convene a public hearing on the state of insecurity in the country, convene a public hearing on the security budget and spending and provide monthly reports on the National Assembly website on efforts to by the frontline agencies – National Security Adviser, National Emergency Management Agency, Safe School Initiatives among others.

  The body further charged Tinubu to use her good offices to speed up action in these directions, saying, “As concerned citizens of this country, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group has highlighted the plight of these innocent girls even at a global level and engaged the government and other agencies in a constructive manner to secure the rescue of the girls. Recently, we made our case to Mr. President”.

  Zana, who fled his Mairamri town in Konduga Local Government Area and now lives in Takwa Bay, was also on hand to lend impetus to the campaign. He relived some of his experiences in a tear-laden voice, saying, “It’s our hope that the girls will be brought back safe. Our prayer is that one day all our people who have been running helter-skelter will return home to rebuild their homes. We want to hear results that the girls are brought home. Tinubu is our hope through her work”.

  Zana also recounted the losses that has befallen his family and said his uncle lost 16 members of his family, with four girls and three boys being kidnapped when Bama fell and that they were still not back. Also, his sister’s husband, an Islamic cleric, was murdered because he refused to join the dreaded sect. His sister, he said, is one of the IDP camps in Maidugiri and lamented the horrendous suffering of his people under the insurgency.