Culture

Ile-Ife indigenes in Nigeria go spiritual, storm University with charms to force out new VC (Video)

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2022

African traditional beliefs and spiritualism played out when some indigenes of Ile-Ife in Osun State, Nigeria, stormed the campus of one of the oldest universities in the country, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), with assorted charms, amulets and other fetish objects, to force out the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution which is located in the town.

Their grouse?
The indigenes of the town were angry that the new VC was not one of them but someone from another town, despite the fact that there are eminently qualified natives who can take up the position.

The University’s Governing Council led by its Chairman, Chief Owelle Udoji, had on Thursday, March 17, announced Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, a Professor of Agricultural Economics as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.

But the decision of the Council angered the indigenes and to show their grievances, they decided to go spiritual and storm the main campus of the school with their charms and paraphernalia of their spirituality.

The indigenes who are adherents of the traditional Yoruba religion, invaded the institution with charms and other fetish objects, and closed the two major gates of the institution, and prevented staff, students, and other stakeholders from coming into or leaving the campus.

The University’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abiodun Olarewaju, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the people “became very violent as they beat up workers, particularly the staff of the Security Unit, and vandalised their office at the main gate.”

“The protests by the Ife indigenes started on Thursday, March 17, 2022, shortly after the University Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Owelle Oscar Udoji, announced a Professor of Agricultural Economics, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor.

“On Monday, March 21, 2022, things took more dangerous dimensions as the indigenes beat up some OAU students whom they met at the gate, blocked the two major gates as early as 6: 00 am, and came into the campus with charms, and other fetish items.

“They assembled at the motion ground of the University Secretariat, dressed in all-white spiritual traditional attire, chanting incantations while performing rituals.

Indigenes of Ile-Ife pride themselves as the true custodians of Yoruba culture and traditions and are known to settle their differences with the employment of their revered charms.

Watch Video here:

The Yorubas of Nigeria believe their civilization began in Ile-Ife where the gods descended to earth, thus the name, Ile-Ife, which literally means “place of dispersion.”

According to Yoruba tradition and mythology, Ife was founded by the deities Oduduwa and Obatala when they created the world. Obatala was said to have fashioned the first humans out of clay while Oduduwa became the first divine king of the Yoruba people.

The first traditional ruler, the Oòni of Ife, was said to be a direct descendant of Oduduwa, which was the 401st Orisha.

Ife is home to many traditional worshippers of deities and is where they are routinely celebrated through festivals.

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Culture

Zimbabwe to kill 200 elephants for drought-ravaged communities

Published

8 hours ago

September 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to wildlife officials on Tuesday, Zimbabwe intends to slaughter 200 elephants in order to feed populations who are very hungry following the worst drought in 40 years.

Over 68 million people in southern Africa have been affected by the drought brought on by El Nino, which also caused food shortages throughout the region.

“We can confirm that we are planning to cull about 200 elephants across the country. We are working on modalities on how we are going to do it,” Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, told journalists.

He declared that the drought-affected villages in Zimbabwe will receive the elephant meatballs. Hence, the districts of Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi will host the nation’s first cull since 1988.

Zimbabwe decision comes after bordering Namibia decided to slaughter 83 elephants last month and give meat to those affected by the drought.

One of the greatest elephant populations in the world is found in the southern African countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia, where over 200,000 elephants are thought to reside in a protection area.

According to Farawo, the culling is a component of the nation’s efforts to reduce the number of elephants in its parks, which can only hold 55,000 of them. There are more than 84,000 elephants in Zimbabwe.

“It’s an effort to decongest the parks in the face of drought. The numbers are just a drop in the ocean because we are talking of 200 (elephants) and we are sitting on plus 84,000, which is big,” he said.

Conflicts between people and wildlife can worsen during a drought this bad because supplies become more scarce. 50 people died in Zimbabwe from elephant attacks last year.

The nation has been urging the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to restore trade in ivory and live elephants. It is praised for its conservation efforts and increasing elephant population.

Zimbabwe, which has one of the biggest populations of elephants, possesses stqqqockpiles of ivory worth over $600,000 that it is unable to sell.

Culture

Please forgive me, I’m now a child of God,’— Nigerian singer Portable begs for slapping pastor (Video)

Published

1 day ago

September 16, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okiliola, popularly known as Portable, has pleaded for forgiveness following an incident where he allegedly slapped a pastor who went to preach at his bar.

The drama was ignited last week on Monday, September 9, when the street-wise singer was seen in a viral video slapping a man of God who had gone to preach at his bar in the Sango area of Ogun State.

The incident generated a lot of criticism from Nigerians including fellow pastors with some giving Portable an ultimatum to apologize or face their wrath.

In an apparent turn around, the street-pop Monday, tendered an apology and begged for forgiveness from the pastor and Nigerians in general.

Making the apology in a video the singer explained that he attacked the preacher because he thought he was there to cause him spiritual harm.

While begging God for forgiveness, Portable said:

“My fans, community issues are different from that of the street. May God forgive me. I didn’t know he was a genuine man of God. If I knew I wouldn’t have slapped him.

“I’m also a child of God. I’m human, I’m not perfect. I am an orphan. They have harmed my sister through this same strategy,” he said.

Watch the video below:
‘Please forgive me, I’m now a child of God,’ –Nigerian singer Portable begs for slapping pastor (Video)

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okiliola, popularly known as Portable, has pleaded for forgiveness following an incident where he allegedly slapped a pastor who went to preach at his bar.

The drama was ignited last week on Monday, September 9, when the street-wise singer was seen in a viral video slapping a man of God who had gone to preach at his bar in the Sango area of Ogun State.

The incident generated a lot of criticism from Nigerians including fellow pastors with some giving Portable an ultimatum to apologize or face their wrath.

In an apparent turn around, the street-pop Monday, tendered an apology and begged for forgiveness from the pastor and Nigerians in general.

Making the apology in a video the singer explained that he attacked the preacher because he thought he was there to cause him spiritual harm.

While begging God for forgiveness, Portable said:

“My fans, community issues are different from that of the street. May God forgive me. I didn’t know he was a genuine man of God. If I knew I wouldn’t have slapped him.

“I’m also a child of God. I’m human, I’m not perfect. I am an orphan. They have harmed my sister through this same strategy,” he said.

Watch the video below:

https://x.com/TeniolaYBNL/status/1835560801693823300