A Nation’s Identity Crisis: INTELLECTUAL PROSTITUTION, SOCIAL IGNORANCE AND WISDOM POMPOSITY IN RUEBEN ABATIS’

INTELLECTUAL PROSTITUTION, SOCIAL IGNORANCE AND WISDOM POMPOSITY IN RUEBEN ABATIS’ A Nation’s Identity Crisis

THE FIRST TIME, when I came across Abati’s article and Banky W’s response on Bella naija’s web page ,I had just little time to spend on the internet. But the combo (I could not fathom what issue could join these men who belong to different generation, social stratum and intellectual linage); never the less pricked my curiosity that I quickly had to copy the piece on my flash drive. The gig-saw began to fall into place when I paid a weekend visit my bosom friend and course-mate Joseph Ogundare, a staff of telecomm giant Globacom.

I immediately opened my flash drive to read the ‘now’ very controversial article, which to me have exposed the level of hypocrisy a venerated and cerebral genius ‘conservative’ Abati and his likes engage in ,especially when they try to rubbish our generation, in their ‘holier than thou’ attitude’.(Agba wa bur ate we o ba se o rii?) More amusing is the fact that Abati has some very valid point in the article, for example issues like ‘sagging’ of pant is not part of our culture, lyrics with little or no sense is not good, we should be mindful of the computer age kids that abound in our country. It gives me grave concern when I see kids dance recklessly and sing and along to some of this lewd songs that have invaded the air waves. In addition it smirks of lack of creativity and artistic intelligence when 98% of these artistes in question would rather mime to a CD rather than perform with a live band. We want artistes that will endure the time, musician who will be ever green like;Micheal Jackson, Bob Marley Sade, and our own King Sunny Ade, Dan Maraya Jos, Abami Eda Fela, Ebenezer Obey, and current hit makers like Lagbaja and Asa whose visionary music is ‘beyond now’. This observation sure hit the bull eye, but the angle through which Dr Abati chose to express his opinion smirks of total ignorance and intellectual prostitution and arrogance.

In all honesty the Nigerian youths have been short changed in all ramification, this is a nation where nothing seem to work; yet the youths have used their talent and proficiency to berth the globally acclaimed ‘Nollywood’ and the world have today come to appreciate Naija brand of Afro Hip-Hop music. Yet, Nigeria appear to be the only country with the most corrupt leaders, who rubs their selfishness and opulent life style in the face of abject poverty and lack in a land where power is epileptic, where social welfare is a state of comatose, security is zero, Nigeria is the only nation where parents pay through their nose to school their wards at both government and private institutions, yet the huge fund invested does not commiserate with the level of knowledge the students get. When I try to remember the myriad of problems that ‘Abati’s’ generation have vested on the country it brakes my heart. To now add insult upon injury in my opinion is not the corrective means of encouraging my generation. You cannot get the best out of a child by deriding him/her constantly. Every child have positive potentials, it is the place of parents to bring out the best in every child. According to the internet guru and computer genius our own very Emeritus Professor Phillip Emeagwali, he once said "When I was 5 years old, my father recognized that I was slow in Math, he worked with me, pushing me until eventually I could do 100 questions in an hour. His efforts pushed me beyond my comfort zone.” Parents must set higher standards for their children and push them beyond their comfort zone. We must remember that every genius is an ordinary person who did
extraordinary things.

Me think, Dr Abati and his ilk, ought to use their position to compel government on the need to protect the intellectual properties of Nigerian army of artistes rather than deriding their person or talents, and help to bring out the best in the Nigerian child.Goverment should build libraries, recreational centers, and invest hugely into the educational sector. The greatest challenge that my generation faces is that the youths have plenty of energies, and our parents, schools, and the government should please help this generation to exercise these energies and passions positively.

The name in contention ‘Naija’ (I don’t care where or how it emanated!) is not a derogative term, rather it’s a way the youths have used to appreciate a country that has little or nothing to offer them yet, they hold this nation in high esteem and literally, artistically, technologically and in sports my generation have continued to hoist the Nigerian flag proudly by excelling in different field at home and abroad. Dorah Akunyuli need not expend too much fund and resources; I advise her and the government to look towards the youth for answers to the so many nagging problems facing Nigeria. Americans coined the term Yankee, some call America ‘God Own country’, others call America ‘Uncle Sam’ yet no one has ever said that they have insulted their nation’s identity! Why should ours be different?

About the stage names, I believe that it is a general philosophy that a child is a product of his era. There’s nothing bad in having a name as a brand for ease of identification and uniqueness. For example: every one can easily pronounce 9-ice, but a non Yoruba cannot easily pronounce Abolore Akande, it’s nice that Banky W has pointed out the many contrasts in Dr Abati’s commentary. As a further reference Majek Fasheks’ real name I think is Majekodunmi Fashakin, Ras Kimono cannot be the original name on the reggae artiste international pass-sport. I think Abati should tell us his native name so that we shall hence forth address him by his native name and not ‘Rueben’ ‘Identification Crisis’ indeed!

On a more serious note, I’m in agreement with the strong points Dr Abati’s article raised; it’s just that the sore points out weights the valid ones; Nigerian artiste ought to emulate good things that can improve their crafts. It’s a not a must that every artiste must know how to play a musical instrument, but it will be more instructive and constructive that our artiste must learn how to perform with a live band , rather than miming to their songs at shows and concerts. By so doing foreign counterparts who share stage with them will appreciate them more, and they can then demand for better pay package to perform at shows and concerts. In addition, music should not be just a medium through which we want to dance away our sorrow, the artistes, should infuse sensible words into their lyrics. They should not continue to edify lewdness (wind your waist), internet scam (Ala Yahooo) drunkenness (Shayo) and way-wardness that some of their songs and life style portray. Enough said!!!

Omotoye Solomon. O.C (OBA-9JA 1)
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
PIVOTGEEST magazine.
pivotmag@yahoo.com