The human heart and not the brain led the biggest assault against the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The WHO (World Health Organization) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020, barely two months after it was announced as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This resulted in a global panic and subsequent economic meltdown, strategies were drawn up and measures were taken to curb the effect and spread of the disease, but the infection and death rate kept soaring. This triggered the struggle to maintain a balance between fighting back and keeping the safe … safe. Humanity came to the forefront of that struggle even before science or politics could wade in. Human nature united people —albeit from a good distance— across color, race, ethnicity, gender, and class to reach out and support others however they could. Such support and care inspired fighting spirits amongst patients long before scientists started having breakthroughs in general treatment and vaccine production.

A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) stated, "Today [28 May] the number of people in the United States who have died from COVID-19 surpassed 100,000". By the end of May, fear and anxiety were rapidly growing and the US was not even the worst hit! Soon, it became clear that even more than the fight against a pandemic the mind itself was involved in several other fights, including but not limited to struggles that were financial, academic, mental, and social. However, as the threat of the pandemic grew so did the courage of the people to resist its conquest, medical workers started volunteering to attend to COVID-19 patients thereby sacrificing their comfort and safety. Also, other people of different skills and occupations offered assistance to the fight, from successful businesses donating financial and technical support, to religious leaders inspiring hope, to the scientists —tasked with finding the cure— who did excellently in encouraging optimism, there was a deliberate collective investment of efforts to comfort the troubled minds.

However, the reality of COVID-19 effects and the economic hardship it caused varies according to locality. For example, in Nigeria where I stay, the isolation and restriction orders issued by the federal government to curb the spread of the disease were first felt by the petty traders and daily wage earners. Even with the promise of severe punishments, hunger still drove many people out of the safety of their homes. Humanity saved the day, as some Nigerians started the mass production of face masks and hand sanitizers to offer their hustling neighbors some sort of protection. Some others started donating funds and food items to families in their locality that were the worst hit by the sit-at-home order; it was obvious that in this war of hope, humanity was taking no prisoners!

Please click the link below to finish and like this article, while at it please follow my account to read more interesting articles from me:
https://medium.com/@davidnnajiemere/humanity-the-first-immunity-against-covid-19-3cbadea634f9

The world is burning with a heated argument at the moment. This has absolutely nothing to do with the titanic recession countries are facing now, even with economists projecting that it’s until 2023 before we experience any major hit. Also, it’s not even about the war in Ukraine which by now seems to have bitten more than the interest of the world can chew. Fingers are now sore from writing, voices cracked, opinions vented, threats issued, measures taken, theories conspired and in the midst of all these, lives and the whole point of the war (if armed conflicts ever had one) have been lost. The world has moved on and it is no surprise; if people could be thinking of how to invade and take over other people’s homes just a couple of months after a pandemic threatened to wipe out the human race. Then, it shouldn’t shock anyone that thousands of lives have been directly or indirectly traumatized forever and people have already moved on.

As a Nigerian, I would naturally wish that the argument was about our 2023 presidential election, which looks every day like the last stand of the masses, where the metaphoric “go big or go home” may turn into the reality of the Nigerian state. The Giant of Africa, as we are vainly called, is like a ship without a captain and is now on the verge of sinking. However, its high-ranked officers are plotting how to seize control and maintain the status quo instead of employing the best hands to fix the damage causing the ship to sink. Recently, in a rather sad turn of events, the two biggest parties in the country publicly disgraced democracy in the name of party primaries and produced candidates that according to Bloomberg, have a history of graft allegations, with one of them challenged by the US government to have laundered the proceeds of heroin trafficking. As sensitive as this topic is to the existence of the most populous black nation on earth, it is still not what the world argument is about.

The world right now is locked in an argument between pro-life and pro-choice. This is a significant and sensitive topic if you do not have a lot of institutionalized killings, corruption, dysfunctional democracy, state-sponsored terrorism, hunger, and war to talk about.
Still, this piece does not downplay the importance of this ongoing argument. If anything, it highlights how an argument in the year 2022 should be —people making their points publicly and disagreeing civilly without fear of physical reprisal attacks or institutionalized bullying and intimidation by loosely veiled government proxies— but sadly, this is not the reality for most of us. The debate as to whether the unborn fetus should be regarded as a child, or whether or not it should be accorded constitutional rights of the mother is an argument as important as why foreign governments still allow unrepentant political thieves to hideaway in their countries with another country’s stolen public funds.

Visit the link below to finish the article and please click the like button if you enjoyed the read:
https://medium.com/@davidnnajiemere/pro-better-life-better-choice-13845f6cdd4d

I’m from Anam. Our ancestors are Igala and we’re located as far away from Igboland as you can imagine. So far removed we’re not even physically connected (the present bridge over the Anambra River was only built in the 80s).

Take a look at the map below. We’re not in physically in Anambra. We’re physically in Kogi. A mighty River separates us. Do you see the mighty River Niger and Ilushi in Edo State at the other bank? They’re our blood brothers. Nzam too. (And Okpanam on the other bank in Delta)

Below is a bit of our history recorded by Prof Adiele Afigbo. And also other bits about our culture (the yam barn is mine).

Even now we refer to other Igbos as “Igbos.”
They are too intelligent, too cunning and live a hardscrabble existence in contrast to our laid back culture- ofe nsala with fresh fish, ogogoro (supplied from the Ijaws down the River Niger).


Just like our brothers in Anioma in Delta State who availed themselves of the whiteman’s education first and preferred the civil service and learned to “wear the top hat and drink tea.”


In the days gone by you could hardly marry Igbos (for fear their women would dominate us, tbh). In our local myths, Igbo women have a reputation for being hard and domineering, especially Owerri women. Ngw? Mbaise? Might well be Hausa (anyone beyond Nsukka (lol).




You see, Igbos are viciously competitive amongst themselves indeed so competitive they would make fun of towns considered to be lagging behind. I remember a popular song about Okigwe in the 70s: “Obodo nine emepesigo ofodu so Okigwe. Eze Okigwe amaro akwukwo...” (everywhere has developed except Okigwe. The King of Okigwe is uneducated..).


They disparaged Anam as too simple and backward (we probably were according to their very high standards- don’t worry, we’ve since caught up). In the 50s, 60s and 70s towns competed fiercely and contributed funds to send their children to England -Oxbridge, LSE, America, etc.


Anam, Anioma, Onitsha, Ogbaru, etc, are cut from a different cloth. The truth is that we are not as hardworking and are very fearful of being dominated by the Igbotics- Abia, Imo, Mbaise, etc. Fear them! (Lol). (Luckily for us in Anambra, we had the Nnewis etc to guide us).
And for this lack of ability to compete we sought refuge in the “Igbos are crass and domineering” narrative. This is the crux.....

https://www.ojamedia.com/2021/02/identity-for-non-igbo-igbos.html

In a recent Interview with Paul Okoye A.K.A Rudeboy published by Punch Newspaper, the singer has thrown some more light on the controversy surrounding the demise of the music group PSquare which brought him to limelight.

He recounted the experience of working in the family set up as “I actually started my career as a solo artiste and I had recorded quite a number of songs. My twin brother (Peter) also had a dance group which I was part of before but left after some time. He (Peter) was brought in (to form P-Square) to create a unique group that would be different from other groups in existence. I was singing while he would dance, and it was the idea of our elder brother, Jude. We only had a stage collaboration, not a music collaboration. What made P-Square was the division of labour we practised. I was in charge of singing, Peter handled the dancing aspect and stagecraft, while Jude was our manager and he directed our videos. However, it got to a point when one person started making demands and called for the sack of some members of the team. Because we wanted peace to reign, we would let the affected employees go. That went on for some time but it got to a time that things could no longer continue that way.



“Our case is like that of a husband and wife whose marriage is not working but post lovely pictures on social media. People who don’t know the details would see the rosy pictures and plead for the union not to break up. But, they don’t know what is happening behind closed doors. The best thing is actually for them to go their separate ways".





He (Paul Okoye) also claimed that his staying in the group beyond 2007 was as a result of external intervention and not his choice. “Some people think that all these started recently but it has been going on for a long time. I can confidently tell you that my first solo album was supposed to be ‘Game Over’ (released in 2007). That title, ‘Game Over’, meant I was done with the group. I recorded the album as a solo artiste and sent it to some people but they were surprised that I was the only one on the album. People said different things and I later shelved my plan.”

https://www.ojamedia.com/2021/01/peter-and-i-never-did-musical.html

A tense situation that has lasted for over a week between Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and Nigerian Government authorities in Orlu, Imo state has degenerated to open gunfire today, leaving death and property destruction at its wake.


Palpable fear has gripped the residents of this town as these two armed bodies clash openly on the streets. A roadside food vendor known as Nwanyi Nteje (video below) has suffered untimely death as she got hit by stray bullets at about 1pm today several miles away from where the shooting is taking place.

click link to watch the videos!

https://www.ojamedia.com/2021/01/scores-feared-dead-as-ipob-and-nigerian.html



As of the time of this report, several videos of dead bodies are already circulating online, which are now being identified as victims of this clash.

Videos below were taken at the scenes

There are behaviors you find very common with an Igbo person in their day to day activity, they are so common that you wouldn't notice it or feel its significance except you're non-Igbo.

Here are the top six:

Salutations to address the public
Wherever Ndigbo are gathered, you most likely will hear periodically "Kwenuo! Kwenuo!! Kwezuonu o!!!”
This is very common with meetings of the same age group or same societal class. The call is usually from an intending speaker and it is followed with a response from the audience. It is standard to call out at least three times, but one can make the call more than thrice depending on the mood of the audience or the level of attention the speaker wants from them.

Individual Salutation
This is perhaps the best way Igbos distinguish age, class, title and gender.
It is very common to see young men in deep discussions and meetings with the older ones in Igbo land without any adherence to formalities inspired by age difference; this is because a typical Igbo community believes in the Igbo proverb when translated says "when a child has washed his hand, he can eat with elders". They also believe that "nwoke tochaa, ọ chere ịbe ya" which figuratively means " a man cannot lord over others that are still growing just because he is older".
However, it is in this personal greeting that one will be able to differentiate the hierarchy of men present in a gathering or a meeting. Usually among mates, it is a triple tap with the back of the hands (i.e the two men gently strike the back of their right palm/hand three times) then hands are shook properly on the fourth contact. For men in varying age groups or class, one is only allowed two back hand taps before the proper handshake. The man of a lower class, age or title is always the receiver in the handshake, in a case where they are both titled men or of same standing, one of the men (usually the younger in age or title) would be the one making word salutations and title praise simultaneously with the hand shake.

There is no clear procedure for a female to female greet. In a case where one of them is titled, the other lowers her back to get a gentle tap on the back. This is the same procedure when a female meets with a male of the same class or higher.


Breaking of kola(ịwa ọji)
This is a very complicated exercise for the younger generation hence, you see it being skipped more often than not with the rather sad mask of general prayers on the food.
The kola is a token of goodwill between a guest and his host, it is never rejected except in grave matters and it is also believed that where a kola is not offered, the visitor is not welcomed. In a case where kola cannot be offered for some reason that is very considerate to the visitor, the host must then say "biko, akokwana'm ọnụ Ọji" means "Please, do not mock me because of the absence of a kola".
Kola is principally kolanut, but snacks and drinks are in recent times a good substitute for it. However, it is imperative to state that women culturally at not given kolanut or allowed to eat them when mistakenly offered.


Usage of proverbs ( ịtụ ịlu)

Chinua Achebe wrote "proverb is the oil with which you eat words", 'words' there; represent yam.

The usage of proverbs is a very unique behavior of onye Igbo, one will usually hear them say "our people say ..." Or "it is said that...".
Perhaps the most ironic thing about proverbs is that there is a proverb that says "one who a proverb is explained to, because he was told and did not understand; that the bride price of his mother is a waste". This particular proverb has caused a lot of information to be lost in transmission; the listener will always grunt or nod in agreement whenever a proverb is used even though he or she might not have understood what was said. Verily, no one will want you to think that the bride price of their mother is a waste.


Flipping fingers or snapping fingers (ịgba aka)
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.
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https://www.ojamedia.com/2021/01/top-six-significant-behaviors-of-igbos_18.html

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK) is under fire for exposing students to the danger of contracting corona virus after it released a timetable involving online classes and examinations to conclude the 2019/2020 academic session and commence 2020/2021 session, the process requires students converging in the management block of the university. From reports we received, it is safe to say that social distancing, wearing of face masks and so many other Covid-19 safety protocols are clearly absent in this exercise.

Insensitivity is increasing rapidly in institutions across Nigeria whether it is politics, religion or academics, and no other person but the common man is at the receiving end of the emotional and mental brutality.

The public university system in Nigeria has been under lock and keys for almost a year now with all academic activities shut down. For the time it took the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shut down schools and demand redress to some of their grievances, one would have thought that the affected universities would have designed a system that will enable students return to learning and completion of their programs without setbacks once the strike was called off. Unfortunately, it was not to be so.

Instead we are now seeing administrations of the citadel of learning in the country apply trial and error methods to kick start academic programs again.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) had earlier released a timetable in December which set dates for official conclusion of 2019/2020 academic session and commencement of 2020/2021 academic session online.

Naturally, opting to handle classes and examinations online in order to check and curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus is a good thing. However, there are a lot of foreseeable obstacles that these typical ‘Nigerian’ service renderers had overlooked. For example, nothing...

https://www.ojamedia.com/2021/01/is-nnamdi-azikiwe-university-awka.html

Sweetas2:
Ok

ok? move along then... thank you

The purpose of this write up is to help the reader understand why price hikes about this time in Igboland is normal and in keeping with the free market enterprise business philosophy of the Igbo fore Fathers and to show how our fore fathers balanced this philosophy with a social philosophy that enables both the investor and the poor to survive price hikes. A wise reader will be inspired to develop ministry ideas that would promote the wellbeing of the people on such occasions as Christmas season and new yam festivals.



The Igbo market philosophy is "Ore ere bu Eze, Ozu azu bu Eze" meaning that "the seller is king, the buyer is King". This is called Free Market enterprise or republican capitalism. In order words, the market forces of demand and supply in which the buyer and seller are chief actors determine the prevailing prices. For example, yam is always more expensive during the planting season than during the harvest season because while the demand increases during the planting season, the supply does not. In the same manner, the supply of yams during the harvest season increases while the demand falls and this brings the prices of yam down.





The same analyses can be made of transport or any other business in which the Igbo is involved. With millions of Igbo going to Igboland to celebrate Christmas and New year, it is not unexpected that transport prices will increase significantly. There are practical reasons for this which include the unidirectional movement towards Igboland depriving the transporters the normal income from a multi-directional movement.

This has nothing to do with people loving themselves or not loving themselves; it is the way God and our forefathers had negotiated business life to be. Remember Jacob wrestling with God for blessing? When the Igbo speaks about his business philosophy, he concludes with "Chineke bu Eze" meaning God is King. In other words, he invites himself to remember that God is also watching whether the transaction is fair and will ultimately judge the greedy and extortionist.





How then does the Igbo show love on such occasions when price hikes are inevitable? The Igbo forefathers established a social philosophy known as "Onye aghala Nwanne ya" meaning "No one should leave his brother behind". I can assure you that half of those travelling to Igboland for Christmas and New year are doing so because an Igbo acted in love towards another Igbo.

The same applies to all the food that will be eaten during this occasion and all the community projects that will be initiated or executed.
Igbo love themselves. Igbo also love others! These are the commands of God to our fore fathers. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.



For those who are concerned about the price hikes, rather than expend your energy lamenting every year, apply that mental energy to...

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/12/price-hikes-how-igbo-business-philoshy.html

Fahdiga1:
What a great read. what is it called in Yoruba?

I am not very acquainted with the tradition or cultures of the Yoruba, so I wont be able to answer that sorry, but I hope someone who knows will come along to solve that riddle for us.

There are few societies in Igboland that have not been lost or mutilated by foreign cultures overtime, these few classes due to their distinct characteristics did not encourage adulteration and has pierced through the fog of time unhazed.
The Nze na Ozo social class is one of these groups, this religious and social group makes up the ruling council of every Igbo community. There are variations as to what this group is called across Igboland, as some parts refer to this same class as ndi Ichie and some others ( southern parts) who believe in masquerade societies call them Okonko and Ekpe.

Ndi Nze na Ozo play a number of roles in harmonizing Igbo communities, ranging from serving as spiritual heads as their name Nze (a living spirit or an ancestor) implies, to being the culture custodians and traditional leaders in their clans, to significantly playing the role of adjudicators in communal disputes, and also being the main constituents of the Eze’s (who is regarded as the highest Ozo in an Igbo community) cabinet, the Eze is also called an Igwe or Obi.

As far as communities are concerned, Ndi Nze hold the right to the ultimate judgment to any dispute involving individuals or groups in any given community. Their sitting is very similar to what is obtainable in a court of law, in a typical setting, you have the accuser (plaintiff), the defender (defendant), ndi Nze or Eze ikpe (the Jury), Eze (the overseer and moderator), ndi Aka ebe(witnesses) and ndi Amala (the general public). The witnesses brought to testify, must be present when kola is broken because the wine provided is used to swear an oath urging everybody who is going to contribute to the case to be honest and give only the true accounts of things as they witnessed it or face spiritual crises as consequences of lying.

After every testimony by a witness, he is cross examined by the other party he is testifying against ( i.e. a witness called up by the plaintiff gets cross examined by the defendant first, and vice versa), then followed by ndi Nze (Eze inclusive in a situation where he seeks clarification from the witness,) and lastly followed by ndi amala. To have the floor, it is tradition that a speaker first hails the king (words used for this exercise varies across Igbo land), salutes ndi Nze and ndi Amala before continuing with questions or contributions.
Just like Supreme Courts, Nze na Ozo sittings is the last resort when kinsmen, Umunna (clansmen), Age grade groups and sometimes even the Eze has failed to put a case to rest, and it is also the most expensive to convene.

In Okwudor, a village in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, it costs as much as twenty-five thousand Naira (N25,000) from each of the contenders in a dispute to arrange for one hearing by ndi Nze on a case, this is aside the money submitted as ego ndebe (pledge) by the two parties, at the end of the case, the winner is refunded his while the loser forfeits theirs. Ndi Nze sits all year round as long their calendar is free and can take up to at least eight ( sittings before a month runs out, and a particular case can be adjourned multiple times to ensure fair hearing and conclusive judgment. It becomes clearer now what the eyes of the coiner of the Igbo proverb “Obodo adiro mma bu uru ndi nze” was seeing when he made the proverb. The proverb translated in English means “it is the gain of ndi nze when there is a continual dispute in the land.”
However, to be conferred an Nze na Ozo title is not child’s play and is a ....

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/12/ndi-nze-timeless-supreme-court-of-igbos.html

As far as music is concerned, 2020 is a very successful year in Nigeria, you can’t tell any music enthusiast otherwise. Ironically, we witnessed back to back release of international and local records-breaking albums and EPs in a year where most music stars were on the streets instead of in the studios protesting for better leadership in the country. Most music genres were well represented in a largely revealing year in the music industry, we got to know some artistes for the first time, while building on our musical relationship with others.
Igbo highlife music lovers were not left out in the groove with quite a number of tracks released which falls under the contemporary highlife genre.
We should have been able to catch on early what was in store for us this end of the year when Play Network released Rattle Snake: The Ahanna story’s theme song Doubting Thomas featuring reigning Kings of Contemporary Igbo highlife, Umu Obiligbo, international act Davido, and veteran producer Larry Gaga, that should have been our clue that this year’s Christmas wasn’t going to be boring!

Shortly after that single, Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth announced he was going to release a star studded album titled Yabasi which is also the soundtrack album for his upcoming movie Papa Benji. Think of every Nigerian artiste collabo you have ever imagined before and it is very possible it happened in that album, the Igbo authenticity of that album that is now in circulation is more than seventy percent (70%), it was an excellent job from Bright considering this is his debut album.

Umu Obiligbo were not going to be left out in this year’s Kinging, not at all, they are also ending the year on a high note with an album of their own. The interesting thing about this duo is their consistency and dynamism with Igbo oriented sounds. Few years ago, when they emerged on the music scene, they were largely doing songs for the older generation and devout highlife lovers with a touch of modern sound.

However, it didn’t take long before they smoothly and phenomenally transited to the music demands of this age, their fuse of Highlife music with afro hip hop, afro dance hall, afro pop and afro beats played a big influence in this transition which has now got them witnessing an exponential growth in fan base.

The two brothers Ogbuozor and Akunnwafor Obiligbo released their fourth successive album as a group this past month titled Signature: Ife Chukwu kwulu, to further accentuate their progressive and dynamic nature, this album was released on global music platforms like spotify, audiomack, etc. The songs are of high music standards and you immediately realize while listening to some of them that these are for the Hall of Evergreen songs, tracks you will still be playing with friends several years from now seated with open beer bottles and plates of goat meat pepper soup.

The year twenchy -twenchy was not all that bad after all, at least not in the music industry and there are lot of songs available across genre, age grade and class to create memories this festive period all thanks to the army of great talents we have now in the music scene.

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/12/umu-obiligbo-high-life-and-basketmouth.html

The annual NBA draft was held yesterday 18th November, 2020. The ceremony which was originally planned to be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York was now conducted at ESPN’s facilities in Bristol, Connecticut and attended via videoconferencing.
Not less than eight ( young men of Nigeria descent made the draft, in fact, two of them were amongst the top ten. This has never happened before and Oja is happy to inform you that men of direct Igbo ancestry made up most of the super eight.

Meet the Super eight according to positions on the draft pick:


ISAAC OKORO
Isaac Okoro (born January 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player now playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers.
Okoro was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Nigerian parents Godwin and Gloria who migrated from Nigeria to the United States in the 1980s. Okoro started playing basketball in his local church league.

He is the 5th overall pick.

ONYEKA OKONGWU
Onyeka Okongwu (born December 11, 2000) is an American basketball player who now plays for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans.
Okongwu is the son of Nigerian parents, Kate and Mike Okongwu. His mother, who is a registered nurse, moved to the United States from Nigeria with her family in 1999.
Okongwu plays with the number 21 jersey in honor of his brother, who had worn the same number while playing basketball. Okongwu's older brother, Nnamdi, had also played basketball for Chino Hills High School. In 2014, Nnamdi suffered a brain injury in a skateboarding accident and died after spending three days on life support.
He also has a younger brother, Chukwuemeka, and a younger sister, Chinemya.

He is the 6th overall pick



PRECIOUS ACHIUWA
Precious Achiuwa (born September 19, 1999) is a Nigerian professional basketball player who now plays for the Miami Heat of the NBA.
His parents Donatus and Eunice are both Pentecostal ministers in Port Harcourt Nigeria.
Achiuwa's older brother, God'sgift Achiuwa, played college basketball for St. John's from 2011 to 2014, and his migration to United States on scholarship paved way for Precious to follow. Precious has three other brothers aside God’sgift, they are God'swill, God’slove and Promise, including two sisters, Grace and Peace.

Precious played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.
Achiuwa was selected with the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Miami Heat.


ZEKE NNAJI
Ezekiel Tobechukwu "Zeke" Nnaji (born January 9, 2001)
Nnaji a music lover, played baseball and soccer before he started playing basketball due to his height. He is also very good with the piano.
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https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/2020-nba-draft-picks-naija-boys-atugo.html

dawnomike:
People started pouring it away amd even sometimes d bride presents an empty cup due to incidences of the groom being poisoned through such palmwines by some evil village pple.

And about the "Nobody is forcing you to do traditional wedding..." the culture mandates youbdo traditional wedding else your marriage to the bride is not cemented by the bride's kinsmen amd to them the marriage is null and void.



#Better to be safe than sorry

As the full article portrays, it is just mere superstition to think that the palm wine is the only way the groom can be poisoned! the writer argued that it was just a mere projection by nollywood that stuck

If my little understanding of Igbo culture serves me right, then, it amounts to grave self injury for a young Igbo man to pour away the palm wine given to him by his bride, during their traditional wedding.


Apart from the fact that such act stems from a place of ignorance and self degradation, pouring away the palm wine when it's presented to you by your wife signals rejection. It means that you have rejected the woman who gave you the drink. It means that you have rejected the marriage.

Let me not sound overly superstitious by delving into the implications of this act on the marriage. Let me just keep it at the fore, where everyone can understand the issue on the peripheral level.

Nobody is forcing you to do a traditional wedding. Nobody at all. You can do a Court wedding. You can do the white mans traditional wedding where you wear white wedding gown and suit in the church. You can do all these without doing your own traditional wedding. Nobody will talk or say anything. But the moment you opt to do the Igbo traditional wedding, it is expected of you to do it right by following the basic traditional laid down rules.

Don't use your hand to bring curse to your marriage out of ignorance.

If somebody wants to poison you on your wedding day, they can do so via many means. Through the garden eggs you'll eat. Through the bottled water you'll drink. Through the food. Through other means too.

The idea that a groom can be poisoned only through the palm wine his wife gives to him, is not steeped in reality or fact, but..

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/how-igbo-couples-curse-their-marriage.html

The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr Chiji Collins, has been impeached over financial impropriety, high handedness, and gross misconduct.

Reports got to us earlier in the afternoon that some members of the state assembly where not allowed into the premises by security operatives but they somehow maneuvered to hold the sitting that ousted the speaker.

The 19 out of 27 signings on the motion was enough to do the job.

It is now confirmed that Mr. Collins has been sacked!

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/imo-state-house-of-assembly-speaker.html

ESUT STUDENTS EXPRESSES TOTAL DISPLEASURE OVER PLANNED ANTI-STUDENT EXAM, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE STOP OF THE PROCESS, READY TO EMBARK ON PEACEFUL MASS PROTEST ON MONDAY

12/11/2020

It is with total umbrage, discontentment, and displeasure that we the students of Enugu State University Of Science and Technology met the recent inconsiderate, anti-student, anti-education, and unbearable policy of the school management of our dear school, Enugu State University Of Science and Technology under the new leadership of Prof. Charles Ezeh, Acting Vice-Chancellor which seeks to:

1. Embark on a hasty and unexpected examination for only students WHO HAVE PAID THEIR SCHOOL FEES including the new introduced compulsory 50,000 developmental fees.

2. Prohibit students who haven't paid these fees from writing their exams despite the terrible economic hardship of the country caused by the National shutdown orchestrated by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Force an additional year with two years compulsory tuition fee to the current final year students who may not be able to pay their fees within the next 2 WORKING DAYS.

4. Power massive examination failure to teeming students as they are to write exams on courses that have not been introduced or barely taught through an unfamiliar process.

5. Force massive failure on 80% of students who are yet to return due to the sudden timing of the exam. Etc

It is at this point that the whole students of Enugu State University of Science and Technology directly led by the association of all ESUT class reps, who are the closest student leaders that understand directly the plight of our students and that our the parents, in synergy with the departmental and faculty presidents hereby:

1. Pass OUR TOTAL VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on the current SUG President and his entire cabinet, selfishly led by one Emmanuel Chidera Franklin as they are only interested In the SUG levy and brown envelopes against the general interest of the students.

2. That Enugu State Government under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi should immediately stop the already invited military personnel from 103 battalion Enugu and unprofessional police men from coming to kill students on Monday as peaceful protest is our fundamental human right.

3. Demand an immediate halt to the plan of the school management to compel students to sudden examination with zero revision after 8 months of out of school amidst few previous lectures.

4. Demand immediate termination to the plan by the school to stop students who haven't paid their fees from writing exams.

5. Reinstate the normal exam procedure of pen and paper and CBT exams for only year 1 student on GST courses as have been.

6. Allow final year school students to write the exams so that many of those who couldn't pay now will be able to make the payment before the release of the results.

7. That Enugu State Government to grant school fees waiver to students of ESUT as was done by many other governors including our neighboring Ebonyi state as a palliative.

8.That NANS under the leadership of Comr. Chidi Ilogebe Intervenes immediately but should never part with the current heinous SUG executives.

.....

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/esut-students-blast-school-management.html

A copy of the letter allegedly written by the acting registrar of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology has seen the management pleading for a crack team from the 103 battalion of the Nigerian Army to assist the school in conducting an incident free semester exam process.

This action in itself is a bold renouncement by the school of its membership with ASUU.

Recall that the body has been on strike to force the Government to meet the needs of the education sector in the country.

click link for full gist

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/esut-boycotts-ASUU-invites-army-to-help.html

Trouble lurks in the corner for former governor of Imo state, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim over a lawsuit on a three-count charge bordering on criminal defamation filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police.
Mr. Ohakim was said to have lied against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that she threatened him with gun, that he (Ohakim) had a land to sell in Lagos knowing it was false and also using the name of Babatunde Fashola (minister of works and housing) as the owner of the said land for sell.
The charges read:
"In May 2019, Ohakim gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa that she threatened you with gun knowing it to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of the Northern Nigeria.
“That you Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 23rd day of May 2019, at Asokoro, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that you have a plot of land for sale at Lagos state, knowing it to be false…"

The third count charge against Ohakim was him allegedly using the name of Babatunde Fashola unlawfully as the owner of the purported land situated at Ikeja, Lagos state.

Ohakim pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.
His counsel, Mr. Ken Njemanze, moved an application for bail, in the affidavit attached, the defendant promised to make himself available for trial at all times.
The police counsel, Mr. Stanley Nwodo, urged the court not to grant bail.
Justice Samira Bature who ruled on the case granted him a N10 million bail and one surety in like sum.

The Judge said the surety must be a reputable member of the society and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction (Abuja). She warned the defendant against inference with the prosecution of the case. She named revocation of the bail as penalty if he fails to heed to her warning.

The case has been adjourned to January 25, 2021, for the commencement of trial.

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/fraud-igp-adamu-drags-ikedi-ohakim-to.html

Despite public outcry, the government of Enugu State through the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA) has commenced the building of bus stops around the city metropolis, a project many residents regard as a white elephant project.


Recall that the agency announced this project to replace the old bus stops that were destroyed by hoodlums during the malicious unrest that followed the #Endsars peaceful protests.


The post on twitter by the agency's official handle attracted a lot of condemnation from Enugu residents who complained about pot holes littering the city that require immediate intervention but are being ignored to build very unnecessary structures as bus stops.


They argued that even the old bus stops were not habitable for commuters due to its complete repossession by beggars and mentally unstable people in the city. They didn't see the sense in building these 'mansions' that won't be maintained or used for it's purpose.


Most of the contributors supported the repair or replacement of the old bus stops as it is more sensible, easy to maintain, and economical.

Visit link for twitter users reactions.

https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/enugu-commences-mansion-bus-stop.html

Due to the sudden illness and deaths reported in communities in Enugu and Delta state. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has now confirmed cases of the viral hemorrhagic fever following investigations on ground.



The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said the Enugu and Delta state ministries of health had notified the agency of cases presenting with symptoms indicative of yellow fever.

Full story? https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/yellow-fever-outbreak-ncdc-points-enugu.html

One of the heroes of the Lekki toll gate massacre, Obianuju Catherine Udeh popularly known as 'Dj Switch' has been given refuge by the Canadian government.


In her presentation to the Canadian parliament, she recounted that the soldiers that shot at them in the Lekki tollgate massacre threatened to shoot her and told them with pride that the shooting was an express order from above.

In her words " “On October 20, 2020, we had spirited Nigerians there united with one goal against police brutality against bad governance.


“What started out as a protest against police brutality with the unit called SARS unfortunately degenerated into something I still find hard to reconcile within my heart.

“We got information that the government wants to see me and six other people and I remember saying to them that we have no leader and if the government wanted to speak with us, he should kindly come to the toll gate and address Nigerians because we have been out for eleven days.”

She added that the first gunshot was heard from behind, adding that it was chaotic as people...

Full story? https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/dj-switch-granted-asylum-in-canada.html

During an internship I did in a research institute in Lagos, a colleague asked me what my nickname was, “Mazi Spartan” I replied, she thought it was too Igbotic. “Why don’t you just answer Spartan or Mr. Spartan, since Mazi from your explanation more or less means Mr,” she inquired.



At another time, looking for a writing job, a friend introduced me to her sister who I think is one of the best wordsmith I’ve ever met. I needed her help for both tutorship and to secure writing gigs.



After our conversation over the phone, my friend (her younger sister) calls me to share the good news, “XXXX thinks you are okay for small gigs for now and she has agreed to help you fine tune your writing too, but she pointed out that you have an Igbo tongue problem.”



Why do we call ours an Igbo, Yoruba or Calabar tongue but refer to the white race tongue as accents.Why do we identify and appreciate some who go out of their way to learn to speak like the whites and scorn others who speak in their local phonetic dialect.



Is this a racial disorder or is it just some sort of pseudo-elite practice that is endangering our identity and our language?

click here to read full article https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/cultural-cringe.html

No fewer than four people have reportedly lost their lives in a new spate of cult killings in Awka, Anambra state.
A yet to be identified young man was gunned down by suspected rival cult group this morning, 6th November, 2020.


Eye witness accounts suggest that the young man was trailed and then ambushed before he was riddled with bullets from several assailants.
These acts of violence taking lives of young men in Awka, are said to be done in the open and at day time in the capital city of Anambra State.


https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/cult-clash-in-awka.html

One of the peaceful protesters who did not survive the shooting in what many refer to as Lekki massacre on 20th of October, 2020 was laid to rest yesterday.

Chizoba Francisca Agu who was hit at the protest ground at Lekki toll gate was laid to rest in Nkpologwu, Ibenda Obollo Eke, Udenu Local Government Area Enugu State.

Check below for link to full story https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/lekki-shooting-aftermath-chizoba.html

It is not often you hear “from grass to grace” success stories like that of Dr. Poly Emenike, CEO of NEROS Pharmaceuticals. It is one of those stories you hear and you can’t hold it to yourself, in fact you jump to share it at every given opportunity. It is a tale of rising from nothing to owning one of the most enterprising indigenous pharmaceuticals in Nigeria, a man that defied intimidating odds with just a clear vision, strong character and a lot of belief.



Born to peasant parents in Nanka, Anambra State in 1955. Dr. Emenike struggled to complete his primary education in 1971, due to obvious reasons of finances. Excelling in his Common Entrance Examinations did not help the uphill task of funding a secondary school education. On last resort, he was sent to live with his maternal uncle, Philip Umeadi, a lawyer in Onitsha. That didn’t help much either and after just three years, he left Onitsha and was taken to Benin city, Edo state. He attributed his leaving Onitsha after a short time to his strong desire to further his education, it didn’t help matters that sometimes his former classmates who were now in Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, visited him.



He left Benin City in 1974 and returned to Onitsha merely months after he went there, determined not to allow servitude or other humans need for house servant determine his future. As fate will have it, he had to abandon his academic pursuits to venture into small businesses.



In 1987, defying logic or the norm, Dr. Poly Emenike now with a wife and kids decided to enroll into Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School in Surulere, Lagos, and to the amusement of many he decided to wear uniforms like his much younger classmates, a move that would have attracted a lot of mockery but did not daunt his resolve to experience what he missed 13 years prior.


full story at https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/how-mockery-and-scorn-did-not-stop-dr.html

SoBright101:
What's your point?

Beware Nigerians. This is the time to know and understand the true identity of those who cause tribalism on here, they are paid agents, they are neither from east or west. They have more than twenty accounts, they would create tribal related topics and make tribal comments with another accounts to cause chaos between southerners. Though, they have no conscience but you can try to educate them or better ignore them. They are easy to identify, use your head brothers.

They dominates this platform, they are agents of destruction. They operates mostly in the midnight. They have no resting time until they are able to convince their oppressors.

What about this post portrays ethnic bigotry? This post was in fact made to highlight the deep resentment for injustice in the south, the igbo traders in the story stood together to serve justice even though the victim was not from their ethnic group. so whats your point?

In a rapid modernizing society which aims to share responsibilities and roles between genders equally, this piece is for non-Igbo wives or wives-to-be hoping to learn a few habits to make a modern Igbo man adore her and if need be, give his life for hers without hesitation (yes! Igbo men are that loving). It is also important to mention at this point that this piece is not solely from a patriarchy point of view but a general attempt at exposing the ‘Achilles heel’ of the modern Igbo man’s heart.



Marriages between Igbo men and women from other tribes around the world are becoming an every weekend occurrence. This could easily be attributed to urbanization and economic migration which the Igbo people of South-East Nigeria are known well for. So, in our quota of contribution to world peace, we’ve decided to help our sisters from other tribes with 6 important keys to an Igbo man’s heart.





Here are the big 6:

Fraternize with his friends There is no loss in this habit for you, fraternizing with his friends makes it easy for him to have them over or visit them with you, such visits strengthens your place as his best friend amongst his friends.


Fraternizing with his friends also endears you to them, Men advise themselves a lot especially when they like or admire their friend’s partner.



Finally, fraternizing with his friends puts you in a vantage point to sieve his friends. If he is already comfortable with his friends around you; you can easily discourage him from continuing a friendship that your intuition is telling you will be detrimental to your relationship with him (your hubby).







Love his Mom We know you didn’t sign up for all that, but if you want him to respect you and adore you, you will have to mirror those affections on his mother. Do not worry if she is not responding due to any strange reasons. Just try your best, you picked the man for some reason and in due time he will show you why it wasn’t a mistake.






Be Loyal This is not same as fidelity neither is it love, this is just plain loyalty. Be dependable, be predictable (yes! men are different from women).


The average Igbo man is hustler by nature, he is always thinking of opportunities to explore, he can’t multi task, he can’t be sharing his time between trying to provide or build his family and investigating what his wife is doing or why she is not being straight forward with him.

He is likely to forego the business or whatever engagement he was in to first figure your actions out, and God help the both of you if it’s just tantrums or something ‘unedifying’.

We do not support or encourage any form of infidelity in marriages but if you ever get caught up in any ‘situationship’, do the best you can to be always steadfast.



PS- Surprises are allowed to spice up relationships, even pranks are encouraged to create good memories, but do not make it a habit.





Learn to cook his favorite soup At this stage in life, you should have realized men (in general) are big babies, things like preparing his favorite food, playing his favorite music, or supporting his favorite team can earn you a good treat and a special date in the bedroom. You learning how to cook his favorite soup or meal is a huge bragging rights for them.




Show him off There is really no need to elucidate this; this is your second nature as a woman so just mirror it on him. Yes! Igbo men love that stuff too!




Always voice your opinion Actively engage him in conversations, not arguments o!

Argue at your own discretion. What we are advising is active engagements in conversation especially when you have an opposing view to his; this makes him aware of your thought process. It will also contribute largely to his peace of mind because when you are relatively mute over an issue, he doesn’t have to worry about what you are thinking.


https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/11/marrying-igbo-man-six-6-things-you-must.html

The death of High life music Maestro Chief Emeka Morocco Maduka, the king of Ekpili music is no longer news. The successful musician passed away on the 29th of October 2020, this was confirmed by Mr. Chukwudi Avoaja, a member of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria( PMAN), Anambra branch.

According to writer Tochi Onwubiko, the life and musical career of Chief Emeka Morocco is poorly documented and is not easily accessible even by surfing the internet, so we took it upon ourselves to dig for 8 things most people didn’t know about Chief Morocco.

Here they are:

According to an interview with the National Light Newspaper, amongst the many hit tracks released by Chief Emeka Morocco Maduka during his successful career, the song that brought him into limelight was ‘Mgboye and Dominic’.


This is the ‘second death’ of the music maestro, during a music tour in Northern Nigeria in 1998, there was a widespread rumor of his death from a motor accident, he learnt of the rumour while performing in Maiduguri and went ahead to finish the tour unperturbed. This rumor prompted his release of an album titled ‘Asili 98’ (Gossip) which was one of his bestselling albums.


Although regarded as the King of Ekpili music, Chief Morocco did not invent Ekpili Music but is said to have had the biggest influence on the modern day Ekpili music. He is recorded to be the first to introduce guitar, keyboard and usage of microphone in the genre, he was also the first export of Ekpili music as he disclosed in an interview with the Anambra State owned newspaper, National Light.


Chief Emeka Morocco Maduka got the name Morocco while in secondary school at Eastern Commercial Secondary School Aba, Abia State. While playing football, he often boasted of having the ability to dribble his playmates from Nigeria to Morocco and students stuck to calling him Morocco boy, he however, admitted that after he went into music he considered changing the name so he looked it up in the dictionary and found out that the meaning was similar to his story of success in music and decided to keep the name.




Chief Morocco’s father saw the music career his son embarked on as an irresponsible distraction and never fully supported it until his death.


Chief Morocco started music at the age of 12, released his first album Aya Nigeria (Nigerian War) in 1971 and has up to 120 albums to his name, wow! Before his death, he was the oldest living high life musician in the south east.


Before his death, Chief Morocco had at least one album in the making. According to an interview with Sun news online earlier this year, he stated that he will retire from music after his 80th birthday celebration.


A historic music concert to celebrate and mark ’60 Years of Chief Morocco Maduka on stage’ was scheduled to hold on 7th of March this year in Onitsha Anambra State, but had to be postponed due to the Corona virus outbreak and was then rescheduled to 24th of October and did not hold unfortunately before his demise.


https://www.ojamedia.com/2020/10/chief-emeka-morocco-maduka-8-things-you.html