Yoruba Blog

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, OYINBO'S LEAKED POSTCARD SPARKED NATION-WIDE OUTRAGE

In 1961 Margery Michelmore landed in Nigeria from the United States as a United Nations Peace Corps volunteer, they arrived for a week-long training at the University of Ibadan, Margery who was 22 at the time was a native of Foxboro, she graduated from Smith College, and later earned her master of arts degree from Columbia University.

During her stay she wrote a postcard to a friend back home that noted the country's "squalor and absolutely primitive living conditions." Before the postcard was mailed it was found by a leftist Nigerian student who, offended by its contents, proceeded to distribute copies of it all over campus. Crowds gathered; riots ensued. Peace Corps staff, fearing for Michelmore's safety, whisked her out of the country. But the Associated Press had already picked up the story, and it became front-page news around the world. In twenty-first-century parlance, the postcard had gone viral.

Below is the transcript of the postcard
Dear Bobbo: Don’t be furious at getting a postcard. I promise a letter next time. I wanted you to see the incredible and fascinating city we were in. With all the training we had, we really were not prepared for the squalor and absolutely primitive living conditions rampant both in the city and in the bush. We had no idea what “underdeveloped” meant. It really is a revelation and after we got over the initial horrified shock, a very rewarding experience. Everyone except us lives in the streets, cooks in the streets, sells in the streets, and even goes to the bathroom in the streets. Please write. Marge. P.S. We are excessively cut off from the rest of the world."

Mrs Margery M. Heffron at 73, died of cancer on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at her home.

PELLER ONÍDÁN ÀRÀ

Born Moshood Folorunsho Abiola in Iseyin, Professor Pellar as he was widely known was one of Africa's most renowned magician. For many years he held the world spellbound with millions gasping at the whisk of his wand. He has performed on big stages for many African leaders including our very own Chief Obafemi Awolowo, President Gnassingbe Eyadéma of Togo, President Samuel Doe of Liberia, and President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin Republic.

His most famous magical exploit was putting his beautiful wife and co-magician, Alhaja Silifat Adeboyin Peller in a magical coffin and slicing her into two equal halves without drawing blood, sometimes he would lock her up in cupboard, chained and yet she would disappear and reappear on the stage. Thereafter, he would flicked his white handkerchief and a white dove would flew out of it. Such are the enthralling and endearing performance of Professor Peller.

Sadly, Professor Peller was assassinated on August 2, 1997, the same day musical icon Fela Kuti died. Peller's death remains unsolved and no one knew the motive behind his murder.

His children includes Yoruba movie star and Yèyé Agbàṣàga of Erin Osun, Chief Nike Peller, Politician and Entrepreneur, Hon. Shina Peller, Musical Artist, Que Peller amongst others.

Ní ójó tí n bá rántí ikú àyà mí a sì jà

Ní ójó tí n ba rántí a tí sùn ọkàn mí a là gììrìgii

Olóògbé Mulikat Adegbola aya arankangudu tí dì eni ànó. A ṣe ìrántí Ashabi Iya Adinni lóni kí elédùmarè tún bọ má tè wọn sì aféfé réré.

The ever smiling actress and costumier was married to fellow actor, late Sikiru Adeshina also known as “Arakangudu". She was born in 1958 in Ayetoro, Yewa North, Ogun state and began her acting career under the tutelage of Veteran actor, Monsuru Obadina (popularly known as Fala).

She was popular for her roles in movies like “Ìlù gángan” (2009), “Ogbologbo” 1 and 2 (2003), she often play the role of Yeye Òshun (an Òshun priestess).

Mulikat died on December 3, 2016 after a brief illness, she was 58.

Ashabi Sha Dollar sun ré óò

Pacifico Licutan was a Yoruba Muslim slave and a leader of the Islamic community in Bahia. His followers refer to him as 'Bilal' a connection to the Islamic figure (one of the most trusted companions of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W).

When his owner, Antonio Pinto de Varalle died, Pacifico was imprisoned by his master's creditors, he was to be sold away to service the debts of his master. His followers attempt to free him led to the Malê revolt, because the majority of the rebels were ìmàle (in yoruba the Islamic religion is referred to èsìn ìmàle).

It was in the month of Ramadan and they had chosen the night of Lai latul Qadir to stage the attack. The rebels had read about the Haitian revolution (1791-1804) and were motivated by it. They wore necklaces bearing the image of President Dessalines, who had declared Haitian Independence and on it were Quranic inscription. The attack began at about 1:00 am on Sunday, January 25, 1835. Their primary objective was to free Pacifico, the rebel leaders, among which were freedmen split themselves and moved to attack the prison.

Unfortunately, they were repelled by the prison guards and local authority who had laid siege at the Prison gate. Information about the rebellion had leaked a day before through Sabina da Cruz, an ex-slave, who had a fight with her husband, Vitório Sule the day before and went looking for him. She found him in a house with many of the other revolt organizers and after they told her tomorrow they would-be masters of the land. After leaving this house, she went to her friend Guilhermina, a freedwoman, who Sabina knew had access to whites. Guilhermina then proceeded to tell her white neighbour, André Pinto da Silveira. Several of Pinto de Silveira’s friends were present, including Antônio de Souza Guimarães and Francisco Antônio Malheiros, who took it upon themselves to relay the information to the local authorities. All of these events occurred between the hours of 9:30 and 10:30 pm on Saturday.

Victôrio Sule and several other slaves were killed in the attack, four of the rebels were executed and sixteen of them sent to prison, over two hundred of the surviving rebels were deported ( they are present-day Tabom people in Ghana). In other to get more information on the revolt, Pacifico was severely tortured, but he wouldn't say anything other than; 'la ilaha illallah Muhammad Rasulullah' -, “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” he died several days later.

Note: The photo is for illustration purposes only.

Elementary schoolboys at Ilorin enjoying a game between class periods. The lads form a circle and each in turn does a quick somersault.

Source: Nigeria Magazine, 1938.

Brigadier Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun was an officer in the Nigerian army. He was Commander of the No 1 brigade in 1966, and attained the military rank of brigadier-general.

Born in Ondo town in 1925, he was commissioned in 1949, and was one of the Senior Officer Corps of the army along with Aguiyi Ironsi, Zakariya Maimalari and Babafemi Ogundipe.

He was among the officers vying for the top army post of GOC upon the retirement of the expatriate GOC, Sir Christopher Earle Welby-Everard in 1965.

He was considered friendly with Sir Ahmadu Bello which brought distaste to some junior officers who frowned at their commander fraternizing with politicians.

He and his wife were killed in the January 15, 1966 coup when coupists led by Timothy Onwuatuegwu, an instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna, barged into his room and shot him on his bed. He was 41.

Photo source: JOLIBA

Chief Obafemi Awolowo with his daughter, Mrs Ayodele Soyede (nee Awolowo) arriving in court during the legal battle that followed the 1979 presidential election.

Otunba Ayodele Soyode (1944-2011) was a legal practitioner who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974. She began as a pupillage at Obafemi Awolowo and Co., a legal firm which she later became a principal partner in 1987.

She held many chieftaincy titles; including First Otunba Obinrin of the Liyangu Ruling House in Sagamu, Ogun State.

She died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, in 2011 at the age of 66 after a brief illness. She was survived by her husband, Chief Tayo Soyode and 3 children, namely, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (wife of the former vice-president), Mr. Ladipo Soyode and Dr. Femi Soyode.

Sources: Awolowo & Co.

IBEJI ORAN:THE MYSTERIOUS MOVIE STARS

Taiwo & Kehinde Osuolale are the popular Yoruba movie twins who shot into limelight several years back when they featured in an epic movie entitled, Ìdè (bo***ge), produced by late Yekini Ajileye in 1993, thereafter they became instant celebrities. Taiye & Kehinde Osuolale are identical twins known as Ibeji Oran in the Yoruba movie genre.

The popular twins were victims of PROGERIA ( a rare genetic condition that results in a child's body aging rapidly), these deficiency in appearance made the twins look fearful with their head disproportionately too large for their thin neck and aged face, veins were visible all over their head and hands, their face was narrow with small lower jaws and beaked nose despite the look the twins were a delight on the screen of yoruba movie lovers in the 90's.

In fact Yoruba Blog can categorically tell you that the twins got married to the love of their lives, they own houses and businesses and were both blessed with children, they went on to live for 40 years before taiwo passed on just few months after the death of his other half.