Myafrik Blog

Myafrik Blog Africa's Hope, Africa's Present, and Africa's Future.
(3)

Northern Nigerian Delegates at Lancaster House – 1948On September 28, 1948, Northern Nigerian delegates arrived at Lanca...
25/07/2025

Northern Nigerian Delegates at Lancaster House – 1948

On September 28, 1948, Northern Nigerian delegates arrived at Lancaster House in London for the African Conference, held from September 29 to October 9. The meeting brought together African leaders and British officials to discuss reforms in British West Africa.

From left to right in the photo:

- Yahaya Mallam Ilorin, Northern delegate
- Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, future Nigerian Prime Minister
- Sulemanu Barau, Emir of Abuja and one of the first educated traditional rulers
- Usman Nagogo, Emir of Katsina and senior traditional leader

The Lancaster House meetings played a key role in shaping Africa’s path to self-rule.

📸 Reg Burkett / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Wole Soyinka Toasts with Princess Christina of SwedenOn December 10, 1986, Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka became the first...
25/07/2025

Wole Soyinka Toasts with Princess Christina of Sweden

On December 10, 1986, Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. At the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, he shared a toast with Princess Christina, sister of Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Born on July 13, 1934, Soyinka turned 90 in 2024. Known as “Kongi” and “Eni Ogun” (Child of Ogun), he is a celebrated playwright, poet, and activist—respected as one of Africa’s greatest literary voices.

His Nobel win marked a proud moment for Africa, celebrating both artistic excellence and the power of resistance.

📸 Photo: IMS Vintage Photos

This iconic house at 89-43 Bokun–Osogbo Road, Osogbo, was home to Susanne Wenger (Adunni Olorisha) from 1958 until her d...
24/07/2025

This iconic house at 89-43 Bokun–Osogbo Road, Osogbo, was home to Susanne Wenger (Adunni Olorisha) from 1958 until her death in 2009.

Built in Brazilian style, it holds over 400 artworks created by the New Sacred Art Movement, blending Yoruba spirituality with modern art.

The entrance, sculpted by Adebisi Akanji, features figures from Yoruba festivals and masquerades. Today, the house remains active, with Chief Priestess Adedoyin Talabi Faniyi — Wenger’s adopted daughter — still living there.

Visitors can explore public areas, see Wenger’s preserved studio, and buy handmade art and books from the on-site shop.

📸 Credit: Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation

Iroko! "UlokoMeet His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, CON, CFR — the Esama of Benin Kingdom and th...
24/07/2025

Iroko! "Uloko

Meet His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, CON, CFR — the Esama of Benin Kingdom and the Honourable Chancellor and Founder of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.

A Brief History of the First Buildings on Aggrey RoadAggrey Road, located in the Old Township area of Port Harcourt, was...
24/07/2025

A Brief History of the First Buildings on Aggrey Road

Aggrey Road, located in the Old Township area of Port Harcourt, was one of the earliest parts of the city developed during British colonial rule in the early 1900s.

The first buildings here were built for European officials and traders working with British companies.

These buildings were made with materials like timber, iron sheets, and concrete to handle the hot and humid climate.

They followed colonial-style designs with features like wide verandas, tall ceilings, and large windows for better airflow.

The first building on Aggrey Road was likely used as either a home for European workers or as an office for companies involved in trade, shipping, and coal exports since Port Harcourt was a growing port city at the time.

As the city expanded, Aggrey Road became more diverse and filled with local culture. Today, some of the old colonial buildings still stand as reminders of Port Harcourt’s early history. They show how the city has grown from a colonial trading post to a major urban center in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.

Meet Ola Rotimi — The Master of Nigerian Stage DramaOlawale Gladstone Emmanuel Rotimi, better known as Ola Rotimi, was b...
24/07/2025

Meet Ola Rotimi — The Master of Nigerian Stage Drama

Olawale Gladstone Emmanuel Rotimi, better known as Ola Rotimi, was born on April 13, 1938, in Sapele, Delta State. He became one of Nigeria’s greatest playwrights and theatre directors, using drama to tell powerful stories about identity, leadership, justice, and the Nigerian experience.

With a Yoruba father and an Ijaw mother, Rotimi’s mixed background inspired many of his plays, which often explored Nigeria’s cultural diversity and struggles. After studying drama in the U.S. at Boston University and later Yale he returned to Nigeria around the time of independence, ready to help shape a new cultural voice for the nation.

Rotimi’s most famous plays include The Gods Are Not to Blame (a Yoruba version of the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex), Kurunmi, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, and If: A Tragedy of the Ruled.

These works are known for blending African stories with classic dramatic techniques.

Beyond writing, Rotimi helped grow theatre education in Nigeria, especially at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he trained many future actors and directors.

He passed away on August 18, 2000 but his legacy lives on. His plays remain some of the most celebrated in Nigerian theatre, telling bold, timeless stories that still speak to the heart of the nation.

Meet the Yoruba Chief Who Took Hi**er to Court And WornChief Ladapo Samuel Ademola II, the Alake of Egbaland, made histo...
24/07/2025

Meet the Yoruba Chief Who Took Hi**er to Court And Worn

Chief Ladapo Samuel Ademola II, the Alake of Egbaland, made history in 1934 when he challenged N**i Germany and won.

While on a visit to Europe, he saw a racist film aired by the German state broadcaster. The documentary insulted African people, calling them backward and mocking their culture and kings. Deeply offended, Chief Ademola decided to act.

He hired lawyers and took the case to a court in Berlin, accusing the German broadcaster of defamation. Many didn’t expect him to win but he did. The court ruled in his favor, the film was pulled down, and Germany was made to apologize.

This powerful moment showed the world that Africans could stand up for their dignity and win, even in the heart of N**i Germany.

Though not widely remembered today, Chief Ademola’s bold action remains a proud example of African courage, leadership, and diplomacy.

Let’s remember him.

The Arochukwu Oracle: Justice, Power, and Slavery in Igbo HistoryThe Arochukwu Long Juju, also known as the Ibini Ukpabi...
24/07/2025

The Arochukwu Oracle: Justice, Power, and Slavery in Igbo History

The Arochukwu Long Juju, also known as the Ibini Ukpabi oracle, was one of the most feared and respected spiritual courts in precolonial Igboland. Located in Arochukwu, Abia State, it served as a center for justice, spiritual guidance, and social control.

More than just a shrine, it was believed to be the earthly home of Chukwu Abiama the supreme god in Igbo belief. People came from far and wide to seek divine judgment on serious matters like murder, land disputes, theft, and sworn oaths. The oracle’s decision was final.

Those judged guilty faced different punishments. While some were killed through rituals, many especially the accused or unwanted were secretly sold into slavery. This turned the shrine into a key player in the transatlantic slave trade.

The Aro priests who controlled the oracle had strong political and trade networks across West Africa. Sadly, some used the oracle to falsely accuse people for profit.

One of the shrine’s most haunting features was a stream called the “River of Blood,” said to turn red from ritual killings.

Today, the shrine’s tunnels, chambers, and sacred groves still exist and are preserved as a historic site. It remains a powerful symbol of how religion, justice, politics, and trade were deeply connected in precolonial Igbo society and how this sacred institution was later misused during the slave trade era.

Good Morning From Africa 🖤❤️Represent your country in the comment section 👇
24/07/2025

Good Morning From Africa 🖤❤️

Represent your country in the comment section 👇

This is what’s left of the car in which Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu — one of Nigeria’s smartest and most loved politicians in...
18/07/2025

This is what’s left of the car in which Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu — one of Nigeria’s smartest and most loved politicians in the 1950s — died in a terrible road accident.

The crash happened around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 1958, at Mile 51 along the Lagos–Ibadan Road, near Shagamu.

The car belonged to a Syrian man who also drove it. Adelabu was in the front passenger seat, traveling from Lagos back to Ibadan with two of his relatives sitting in the back. Sadly, all three Nigerians died on the spot. It was described as one of the worst accidents ever seen in Nigeria. The Syrian driver survived.

Adegoke Adelabu, who was well known for his popular style of politics called "Penkelemesi," was a strong voice for Nigeria’s independence and a top leader in the Western Region. He died young, at just 43 years old.

Source: Spear Magazine, February 1970 / Bayo Akinsete / Nigeria Nostalgia Project.

In 1994, General Sani Abacha bought three new luxury boats for about $45 million and gave two of them as gifts.
17/07/2025

In 1994, General Sani Abacha bought three new luxury boats for about $45 million and gave two of them as gifts.

Meet Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. He became king on April 2, 1960, and was born on May 10, 1934. He ruled for more than 65...
17/07/2025

Meet Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. He became king on April 2, 1960, and was born on May 10, 1934. He ruled for more than 65 years, making him one of the longest-serving kings in Nigeria. He came from the Anikinaiya royal family. He passed away on July 13, 2025.

"Ogbagba agbatewole. Erin wo. Omo Anikinaiya saagbu."

(A mighty king has entered the great beyond. The elephant has fallen. A son of Anikinaiya is gone.)

Address

Pretoria

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Myafrik Blog posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category