OWOLOWO

Once Upon A Protest  A protest by its very nature is about challenging an existing order, status quo or constituted authority. In most cases, protests are aimed at addressing the abuse of power by those in authority, and tend to manifest as riots, a revolt or in extreme cases anarchy. Following the protests that rocked Nigeria in October, 2020, it is critical to analyse issues dispassionately, and possibly derive lessons for the future.   Historical Prism From an historical prism, the geographical location that was to be named Nigeria had its fair share of protests since the precolonial era. Taxation was one of the sources of revenue for the British colonial administration, and the diktat often created discordance with the mulcted residents. For example, the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929, was organised by women against what they perceived as the administrative excesses of Warrant Chiefs representing the British colonial administration. The movement was initiated by Nwanyeruwa Oleka-

The Problem Is Systemic Not Acronymic I read with incredulity the change of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). Whilst the former name of the police unit was not lacking in originality, the latter is simply an imitation of SWAT in the US. Though the scientific analysis of Nigeria’s obsession with imitating things from foreign lands is a worthy discourse, it is not the crux of this piece. Rather than a name change, how about set up a panel of inquiry into the activities of SARS personnel and punish erring officers, and prevent their readmission. Essentially, changing the acronym of an organization does not solve the underlying systemic challenges that manifested the problem ab initio. This action is akin to utilizing a placebo to deal with the symptoms rather than the disease. Furthermore, the SARS issue is a microcosm of wider systemic issues that need to be addressed urgently. Following initial protests, undoubtedly, the response by the Preside

Black Panther and The Power of Visual Representation I actually wasn't going to write anything about Black Panther after Chadwick Boseman's passing, because I assumed everyone, at least the reasonable ones, got the memo!  However, I read an update today which wasn't only distasteful in its timing, but myopic in its submission. If all that was derived from watching Black Panther is the CGI effects, then may be some people are just lacking in depth.  Beyond the hype, because I am not easily swayed by the media or public opinion, the impact Black Panther had is immeasurable. Black Panther wasn't just about CGI effects, but the nuances of the portrayal. Analysing the movie, there are many lessons that could be derived, but I will highlight just a few.  Pacesetting In an industry where the archetypal cinematic portrayal of the 'White saviour' has been the norm, Black Panther challenged pre-existing stereotypes. There were genuine pre-production concerns about the co

On Obasanjo's Mordacious Eulogy    Regarding Obasanjo's latest faux pas, it is of no surprise to some of us who are aware of his capabilities. This piece is primarily for the sake of posterity and to enlighten a generation that may not be aware of Obasanjo's antecedents.    Though I am not much of a traditionalist, I do respect some Yoruba traditions, particularly respecting elders. However, one aspect I have always found problematic is the conferring of respect to elders who do not seem to deserve respect.    Olusegun Obasanjo may mean different things to different people, but to me he is a megalomaniac who suffers from a grave messiah complex.    Prior to Nigeria's misadventure with our semblance of democracy in 1999, Obasanjo was in the mix of the political machinations.    It must be emphatically acknowledged that the events of 1993 birthed 1999. Following the free and fair election of June 12, 1993 and the subsequent illegal annulment by Ibrahim Babangida, a protra