Inspiring Nigerians

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Inspiring Nigerians

Wole Soyinka Wole Soyinka was born on 13 July 1934 at Abeokuta, in western Nigeria. After preparatory university studies in 1954 at Government College in Ibadan, he continued at the University of Leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate. During the six years spent in England, he was a dramaturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London 1958-1959. In 1960, he was awarded a Rockefeller bursary and returned to Nigeria to study African drama. At the same time, he taught drama and literature at various universities in Ibadan, Lagos, and Ife, where, since 1975, he has been professor of comparative literature. In 1960, he founded the theatre group, "The 1960 Masks" and in 1964, the "Orisun Theatre Company", in which he has produced his own plays and taken part as actor. He has periodically been visiting professor at the universities of Cambridge, Sheffield, and Yale. First African writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Also known for being in exile from the Nigerian government under Abacha. When Abacha was gone, and Abubakar took over, Wole Soyinka finally came home for a visit towards the latter part of October 1998, and many are hoping he will return permanently to help build the nation.

Chief M.K.O Abiola Winner of the Nigerian Presidential Election, June 12, 1993 He was a businessman/politician who ran for the elections held in 1993 (believed to be the first fair elections held in the country). This election was canceled by the military government at the time (Babangida). A year later, when he claimed himself president, he was jailed by the president at the time (Abacha), and one of his wives (Kudirat) was killed during her fight for democracy. After Abacha died, Nigerians were hopeful for his release, and many were hopeful for his rule, but he died of a "heart attack" on July 7,1998. He was the Are Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba.
Olusegun Obasanjo President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Former Head of State 1976 - 1979 Olusegun Obasanjo was born March 6, 1935 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Educated at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958, trained at Mons Officer's Cadet School, Aldershot, England; Royal College of Military Engineering, Chatham, England; School of Surey, Newbury, England; Indian Defence Studies, London, 1974. Served in the 5th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Kaduna and the Cameroons, 1958-59; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Nigerian Army, 1959; Promoted lieutenant, 1960; Served in the Nigerian contingent of the United Nations Force in the Congo (now Zaire), 1960; joined the only Engineering Unit of the Nigerian Army then and later became its Commander in 1963; Promoted Captain, Nigerian Army, 1963 was attached to Indian Army Engineering school, Kirekee, 1965; promoted Major, Nigerian Army, 1965; Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, Nigerian Army, 1967; Commander, 2nd Area Command, Nigerian army, 1967; Commander, 2nd Division (Rear), Nigerian Army, Ibadan, 1967; Commander, Garrison, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, 1967-69; Promoted colonel, Nigerian Army, 1969; General Officer Commanding 3rd Infantry Division, Nigerian Army, South-Eastern State during the Nigerian Civil war, Led the Division to end the war and accepted surrender of Biafran forces in January 1970; Commander, Engineering Corps, Nigerian Army, 1970-75; promoted Brigadier, Nigerian Army 1972; appointed Federal Commissioner (now Minister) for Works and Housing, January- July, 1975; appointed Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, Nigerian Army, 1975; member and later Chairman defunct Supreme Military Council (SMC), 1975-79; promoted Lieutenant General, Nigerian Army, 1976; appointed Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, February 1976 - September 1979; promoted General, Nigerian Army, 1979; Presided over the transition to democratic rule, 1979; retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Army, October 1979; member, Advisory Council of State, since 1979.
Fela Anikulapo-kuti Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938, was a singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Kuti was one of Africa's most controversial musicians and throughout his life he continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria. Born to Yoruban parents, Kuti was strongly influenced by both parents, his mother being Funmilayo, a leading figure in the nationalist struggle. Practically all of his records are dominated by political events and discussions from the approach of Pan-Africanism. In 1954, Kuti joined the Cool Cats as a singer in that highlife band (highlife being the rage of the Lagos music scene at the time). During this period Kuti developed his own unusual sound which he described as highlife-jazz. In 1968 Kuti announced the arrival of Afro-beat, within the year was promoting his sound all over the USA on a 10-month tour where he became influenced by American jazz. When he returned to his homeland he opened a nightclub, the Shrine, and changed the name of his band to Africa 70 (and later to Egypt 80). His bands traditionally included the typical huge line-up consisting of many singers and dancers, numerous saxophonists, trumpeteers, drummers, percussionists, and of course, many guitarists blending African rhythms and jazz horn lines with politicized song lyrics. His music was intricate, rather than calling it Afro-beat you might more arguably consider it Afro-jazz. Entire recordings often consisted of just a few songs and this propensity for jamming set up a roadblock for Fela to attain commercial acceptance in the United States. He also abhored performing a song after recording it, and this led to audience disinterest in the U.S. where the people wanted their music to be recognizable hits. Kuti continued his outspoken attacks on the Nigerian government. When the people returned to power in 1979, Kuti began his own political party - MOP (Movement of the People). The military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years in prison on a spurious currency smuggling charge. He was released in 1986 after yet another change of government. Fela Anikulapo Kuti died on Saturday, August 2, 1997, at 4pm (local time) in Lagos, Nigeria. It had been rumoured for some time that Fela had a serious illness he was refusing treatment for, many said he was suffering from prostate cancer. But as it turns out, Fela died from complications due to AIDS.
Agbani Darego
Bola Ige
Obafemi Awolowo