The state, comprising of the Ifes, Ijeshas and Osun has some of the world’s most spectacular tourism sites, such as Olumirin water- falls at Erin- Ijesa, the Osun-Osogbo Shrine and groove, the Oranmiyan Staff, Ife Museum, the Igbi-Sango at Ede, Oduduwa at Ile-Ife, Ayikunugba Water-falls and more.

The event was attended by Osun State Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture & Tourism, Hon. Oladipo Soyede, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Hon.Sikiru Ayedun, Professor Wole
Soyinka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism,Mrs S.O. Bello and other Osun States men.

The people of Osun displayed several of their cultural endowments in form of the Agbon dance, Bata dance, Asa cultural ensemble, Omo Orangun Cultural troupe, the Olaifa, Elewe and Ayelabola masquerades.

While speaking in an interview, Hon Soyede said Nigerians need to embrace our culture by encouraging the younger generations to speak and understand the African culture; make the indegenous languages become active at early education, thereby saving mother tongues from going into extinction.

Culled from Daily Times

Billed to host visitors at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana, the event has received confirmation from the chief host of the event and Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Amb. Oluseyi Onafowokan among other personalities declaring their support for the premier tourism and culture event.

In addition, the Ghana Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Hon Dr Henry Seidu Daana and his other counterpart in Ghana, Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Hon Elizabeth Ofosu-Aggyare have given the assurance of their ministries and expressed the support of the government and people of Ghana for the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase 2013.

In its second edition, unarguably the tourism showcase, which has West African sub-region, but as the most prestigious, best attended and the biggest Private Public Partnership (PPP) collaboration for arts, tourism and culture in the sub-region is geared towards promoting Africa’s tourism potentials as well as the restoration and sustenance of the people’s cultural heritage.

Confirming his willingness to play host to the event on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Amb Onafowokan told a delegation of Tribe Media and Pan Africa Ghana who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Nigeria High Commission that the government was especially committed to the promotion of Nigeria’s diplomatic and cultural policy at such a crucial time the nation is marking her centenary.

Onafowokan assured the team led by Mr Bayero Agabi, and Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, President of TMC and PAG that the Nigerian House in Ghana will gladly host a cocktail in honour of the Nigerian contingent to the event, adding that the bilateral tourism and culture initiative was one that should be sustained to promote the common relationship between the duo.

In a related development, the Ghana Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Dr Henry Seidu Daana also expressed the support of the government and people of Ghana for the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase 2013.

The Minister stated this at his office while playing host to the event organisers recently in Accra. Dr Henry Daana who also played host to the organisers pointed out that the close socio-political and historical ties between both countries was a good basis to annex the cultural values of the two nations for socio-economic development and bilateral growth.

Responding, Bayero Agabi told the minister that the organising team was driven by the need to promote understanding, foster sub-regional integration and economic development using tourism, arts and culture as a tool.

Bayero, a seasoned media strategist added that with Africa fast becoming an emerging global market across different spectrum, it was pertinent that westernisation is not allowed to sweep away the people’s ethics, norms and ideas, which are often expressed via language, fashion, food, music and religious belief.

In another separate visit to the Ghana Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Mrs Ofosu-Aggyare commended the collaborative efforts of Tribe Media Company, Nigeria and Pan African Ghana towards the promotion and sustenance of African values through culture and tourism with such a laudable bilateral forum such as the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture showcase.

The Minister assured the organisers of her ministry’s full support during the event.

However, the president of Pan Africa Ghana, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi has said that the two-day event will feature a conference with stimulating intellectual discussions, presentation of papers, interaction and exhibition of arts, craft and fashion while the gala/award night will include a musical concert featuring top Ghanaian and Nigerian artistes with the Theme: One Band, One Stage, One Tribe.

The team had earlier on been received at the Ghana Tourism Authority by the management of the agency led by the Acting Executive Director, Mrs Abigail Tagoe who recalled that the 2011 edition was quite a memorable one. She promised that her organisation would accord the event all necessary logistic support.

The Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase 2013 will hold at the Accra Int’l Conference Centre between April 18 and 19 and is expected to be declared open by President, Republic of Ghana. His Excellency, John Drammani Mahama,

Some of the keynote speakers confirmed for the event include; His Excellency Amb. Seyi Onafowokan, Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, Ghana Minister for Culture and Traditional Affairs, Hon Henry Seidu Daana, Ghana Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Mrs Ofosu-Aggyare, Director-General, Nigeria Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Dr Munzali Dantata, a former university don at Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology, Prof. Ablade Glover among others.

Culled from tribune

That is if National Enquirer is to be believed. They claim that Tiger Woods is desperate to have his ex-wife Elin Nordegren back and has offered her $200 million to re-marry him and give their family another chance.

Elin is believed to have told him she will consider the proposal – but only if he includes a $350 million anti-cheating clause into the contract. Elin feels the money will keep him from straying.

A source told the Enquirer that Tiger didn’t even balk at the demand, he’s ready to sign the pre-nup and set a wedding date, after swearing he’d never cheat on her again.

The magazine claims that Tiger got down on one knee and proposed to Elin with a ring at Christmas. The Enquirer also alleges the couple are having sex again and a source claimed: ‘Tiget stopped by Elin’s rental house one afternoon when their kids were out with a nanny and they had sex for the first time since the split. ‘It took them both by surprise, but they’ve continued to find alone time when they’re both at their homes in Florida

Adeyemi was accompanied to the meeting by the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide; a member representing Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Kamil Akinlabi; one of his wives and some aides.

At the end of the meeting, the monarch declined comments on the purpose of his visit when approached by State House correspondents.

“This visit is a private meeting. I won’t want to talk to you on the purpose of the visit. Thank you,” he said.

But our correspondent learnt that the meeting focused on the rebuilding of a part of his palace gutted by fire last week.

The President was earlier reported to have promised to assist in the reconstruction of the burnt palace.

The Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, conveyed the President’s message when he visited the Alaafin on Saturday.

According to him, the President, who was saddened by the incident, asked him to deliver his (President) message to Alaafin, promising to send a delegate to him and assistance towards the reconstruction of the burnt part of the palace.

No fewer than 21 rooms were destroyed in the inferno.

A source said the main purpose of the meeting was to assess how the Federal Government would be involved in the reconstruction of the palace.

He said a committee might be set up to design the strategy to be adopted in the reconstruction as well as determine the cost implication of the project.

Culled from: punch

From Stockholm to Mexico City, hoards of commuters left their pride at the door & let their drawers do the walking.

In Mexico City, hundreds of people also took off all but their smalls to take part in the “No Pants Subway Ride” – just for laughs – around the world.

Young and old, men, women and children got in on the 12th annual round of the prank held once a year in 50 cities, the well-ventilated movement said on its website. It was the third time people in Mexico City lost their trousers and skirts to partake in the underground underwear fun…..More pictures when you continue

Culled from: Talkofnaija

Governor Rauf Aregbesola

The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesol, few days ago made an announcement that a comprehensive plan was on the way for the state’s secondary school students to study Ifa as one of their subjects, not many in and around the state were impressed with and disposed to such idea.

Rauf Aregbesola made this known during the special prayers session to usher in the New Year, organized with clerics from all religions. He disclosed that his government had returned religious studies to all public primary and secondary schools in the state, adding that the free computer tablet tagged ‘Opon Imon’, which the government would present to secondary school students had an application for Ifa studies.

Despite the Aregbesola administration not appealing to quite a few, it behooves one to say that this is one policy whose coming is timely and highly needed at a time when religious consciousness of others should be examined to better appreciate who we are as a people, especially when the issue of religious tolerance, unity, love and peaceful co-existence, which Ifa divinity enjoins, eludes us in this country.

For many who have started castigating the state government for such a laudable initiative, this writer makes bold to state that they are quite ignorant of the Ifa world view and therefore, should begin the process of finding out what Ifa worship or Ifa divinity has always been and what it is today before condemning outright what ordinarily needed to have been embraced before now.

For the single fact that many of the people who claim to be Africans today or coming back home now, Nigerians, were once followers of African Traditional Religion, which Ifa worship belongs, should not look in disgust or awe at a period in history when religion brought all together under one bloc.

While Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka had earlier in August this year been named the chairman of the board of the centre, the governor, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, released the list of other nine members to oversee the affairs of the centre.

As Soyinka remains the Chairman of the Board, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Mr.’Ladi Soyode and two representatives of the Academia, Professor Olabimpe Aboyade and Dr. Wunmi Raji have joined him.

Other members of the board are four representatives of Art and Culture Interest, Ambassador Olabiyi YAI, Chief Muraina Oyelami, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye and Dr. Wale Adeniran.

The board also has a representative of UNESCO and Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO as part of it.

It would be recalled that in the law that established the centre, the ousted governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had made himself the life chairman of the board of the centre.

Having discovered a foul play in the arrangement, the present administration processed and forwarded a bill to the state House of Assembly for the repeal of the law and the bill was passed by the Assembly.

Under the new law, the governor of the state is however empowered to appoint a credible person for the chairmanship and membership of board for the centre.

By Kazeem Mohammed

Kasumu, who honed her skills at Shola Coutureire, says, “after working in London for a while, I came back to Nigeria where I met my husband, Afeez, who is a politician. He was not a designer, but likes fashionable things and was doing the business with a female friend (Tolu). He involved me and I enrolled to Shola Coutureire, Surulere, where I was groomed in designing for a year.”

According to the lady, who has been in the thread and needle business for five years, clients are special people. “I treat my clients like my siblings and I ensure that I give them the best. Before I make any dress for clients, I consider their personality, shape, the clothe and their style.”

She continues, “I enjoy working with ankara because I’m an African. I also use other fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk, velvet, lace and chiffon.”

ON what motivated her into the business, the T Girl says, “I like creating my own style and stand out in the crowd.”

With clients that cut across different classes of people, T Girl reveals that her role models in the industry are Abba Folawiyo, for her sense of fashion, and Odeva for her creativity.

On what keeps her above others, she says, “we make chic and classy outfits for ladies who love good clothes.”

Kasumu adds, “fashion industry in Nigeria has greatly improved over the years with our designers making gorgeous outfits. Despite this, challenges such as customers coming late to pick their clothes, power outage and getting good tailors to work with remain the utmost.”

Culled from Guardian

The perennial rivalry between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade resurfaced weekend as the former described Oba Sijuade as someone who is not knowledgeable about his ancestral origin.

The two foremost Yoruba monarchs have been embroiled in crisis over the control of Yorubaland.

The disagreement which had abated after the creation of Osun State, reared its head again recently when Ooni said the Alaafin did not have the rights to celebrate Oranyan, one of the sons of Oduduwa because the deity was not known in Oyo town as claimed by the Alaafin.

Despite many attempts made to make Oba Adeyemi respond to the accusation he kept sealed lips.

Ooni had alleged that Alaafin was reigning over a dead empire.

But, while responding in his palace at a special birthday lecture organized in his honour by the ‘City People Magazine’, entitled: ‘Reviving Old Oyo Customs and Tradition’, he hinted that he did not respond because of the intervention of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at a meeting where Oba Sijuade, the Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Oyebade Lipede were in attendance.

Alaafin recalled that Oba Sijuade had said, “he(Alaafin) is not Oranyan”, but he turned deaf ears because he wanted absolute concentration during the celebration of Oranyan.

Explaining why he broke the silence, he said Ooni did not refrain from condemning him and his traditional activities. Alaafin claimed Oyo is superior to Ife in many ramifications.

“Where did this Yoruba Language that we are speaking evolve from? Which language was used in writing the Bible? It is Oyo language. Why not Ife language? Where else are they speaking Ife language apart from Lagere Quarters? Why are the Modakeke people, who are living behind Ife not speaking Ife language?”, Alaafin asked.

Alaafin further clarified that he had posed so many questions to Ooni which, he alleged, “instead, he came with books that could fill three baskets”.

“In 2009, Ooni had rubbished the institution of Alaafin, but a year after when he was celebrating his birthday, he said Oranyan was his father’s ancestor. How could you have denigrated your ancestors and later claimed that you are a son of the Alaafin. Anybody who does not know his ancestral roots, who did not strive to learn about it, and does not learn from those who know, will continue to make mistakes and flounder in ignorance. That is part of Ooni’s inadequacies”, he said.

“When we wanted to celebrate Sango, they said Sango is not Yoruba. Sango studied Quoran. He was the one that was first conferred with the title of ‘Akeugberu’. He was the first in the art of adjudicating justly. When he was born, the umbilical chord that joined him with his mother could not be severed. Because they pulled it and it would not cut, it became the name ‘Afonja’. The glory, success and tradition of Yoruba started from Oyo”, he stated.

Alaafin alluded to a period during the tenure of late Chief Bola Ige (SAN) when a “stamped paper recognising Oranyan as the Head of the Princes and Princesses in Yorubaland, and that Oyo dominated all other nations, namely: Ife, Ijebu, Egba, Ijesa, Sabe, Owu and so on”.

He reminded people of some historical facts when Messrs. Richard Lander and McPherson visited Oyo Ile in 1827, saying the white men saw some historical structures in Oyo Ile. He warned that Ooni should not distort historical facts further.

The Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Albert, commended Alaafin for epitomizing the rich African cultural heritage.

Culled from VANGUARD

General Carter Ham, head of US Africa Command, met President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, where Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has been carrying out a deadly insurgency in the country’s north and centre.

Ham recently spoke of concerns over indications of collaboration between Boko Haram and an Al-Qaeda affiliate in northern Africa, which he warned has found a safehaven in northern Mali, where Islamists have taken control.

A statement from Nigeria’s presidency said Jonathan discussed issues including Boko Haram and asked for US support in resolving such problems.

“President Jonathan also briefed General Ham on his visit to Mali and the efforts by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict in that country, adding that the situation could still be contained if the right steps are taken quickly,” it said.

Jonathan attended an October summit in Bamako to discuss winning back northern Mali from the Islamists.

ECOWAS, a 15-nation regional bloc, says it wants to deploy 3,300 troops to reclaim northern Mali and is waiting for approval from the UN.

Meanwhile, Malian Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra quit Tuesday under pressure from influential former putschists who are opposed to a military intervention.

Ham recently told an audience in Washington that he was concerned about indications of growing links between African extremist groups that could pose a threat across the continent as well as to Europe and the United States.

“We have seen clear indications of collaboration amongst the organisations,” he said.

“In one instance … we believe and have seen reports that Boko Haram is receiving financial support, probably training, probably some explosives, from Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, and in a relationship that goes both ways.”

There has long been intense scrutiny over whether Boko Haram is forming operational ties with other extremist groups.

Diplomats have said previously that there has been evidence of Boko Haram members seeking training in northern Mali, but not of operational links.

The US has declared three Nigerian extremists “global terrorists,” but has declined to label Boko Haram as a whole a terrorist group due to its nebulous nature and domestic focus, among other factors.

It is believed to include various factions with differing aims, in addition to imitators and criminal gangs that carry out violence under the guise of the group.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer. Its 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south

culled from Vanguard