Our Black History!

As you may know the running theme for our February blogs is a celebration of our BLACK history. And if you live in the States (Yankee-town), then all around you, through various mediums, you will find yourself bombarded with facts, dates, VIPs, and other celebratory achievements of African Americans. You will hear widespread reports, receive invitations to historical re-tellings of a life and time when things were different for Blacks in America, and feel inclined to participate in the teeming number of cultural events held all around the country. Not to denigrate the expansive and well-deserved recognition of Black American history in the States, but as a Black person that is not necessarily American I feel impelled to ask, "Where is my Black History?" Where are the facts, dates, VIPs, and other celebratory acheivements of my fellow Nigerians? Where do I attend the cultural events depicting the re-tellings of my family's history? Where are my reports? Where are my invitations?

Maybe my rearing in the States has been a handicap to my development as a Nigerian women. I think I missed taking the course in Nigerian history in high school and college (not that it was offered in either place) and maybe I should have asked my parents more questions. But would they have known the history of their country as well as I can recapitulate the history of oppression and slavery in the States? I think that the answer here is a giant NO! I'm sure that my parents can help me with the culture aspect of the Nigerian lifestyle, but the historical precedence that nourishes that culture, I'm not too certain. Where would they have learned it? It could have been in their primary or secondary school; I know that Nigerian history is taught there. But for me, for my individual set of circumstances that render me removed from that kind of direct teaching and removed from the memories of my 40+ year old parents, where can I learn this information?

I don't think that anyone has thought that this information is important enough to put in print. I tried to go to Amazon and purchase the "Concise Introduction to Nigerian History" and "1960: The Annotated History of a Civilization" but I don't think they are out yet (probably because I just made them up). I assume that this information, in the thorough way I find in African American history, is not out there (and just to lay into the point a bit more and prove to you that I did my research: I spent all of 30min on Google trying to find this information and its not there. Experience has taught me that if it can't be googled then it doesn't exist!). So what do I do? I must celebrate BLACK history month. It's simple: I'll re-tell my history myself!

On a majority of African American owned radio and television stations I have noticed that their commercials provide you with information about what happened "on this day" in history. I love it! and feel that it would be appropriate to institute this same kind of "commercial break" as we celebrate the history of all Blacks this month. So for the month of February, this is what happened on a particular day in the history of Nigeria: (if you have anything to add, please feel free to leave it in the comment section)

February 9, 1979 - Nigeria amends Constitution.

February 11, 1971 - Whitney Young Jr, National Urban League director, drowns in Nigeria.

February 13, 1976 - General Murtala Mohammed, head of Nigeria, killed during a coup.

February 13, 1944 - Rebop Kwaku Baah,the Nigerian percussionist, was born.

February 27, 1999 - Olusegun Obansanjo becomes Nigeria's first elected president since mid-1983.

February 26, 1885 - Congress of Berlin, gives Congo to Belgium & Nigeria to England.

(all facts come from http://www.historyorb.com/countries/nigeria )


Happy BLACK history month!

Love,

Ronke A. Oke
Miss Nigeria in America, 2008

P.S. : I was just kidding about not finding it on Google. I just said it for dramatic effect. EVERYTHING can be googled! But the point I was trying to make is that we need to know the history of our county and our people, and celebrate the strides we have made especially this month. It doesn't matter if that country is Nigeria, Cameroon, Haiti, Jamaica, Madagascar, or Ghana. Next year I hope to hear about some events or exhibitions depicting our rich history. We can make it happen. We need to make it happen for our future generations. They need to know their story and we need to re-tell it as often as we can.

TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHERE YOU COME FROM!!!

Here are some websites that discuss the history of Nigeria

• http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad41
• http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/history.html
• http://www.iss.co.za/Af/profiles/Nigeria/Politics.html
  

Here is a book on the history of Nigeria:

• http://www.amazon.com/History-Nigeria-Toyin-Falola/dp/052168157X

Evolution of a Legacy

So it’s Black history month again, and traditionally, we celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of Africans and African Americans from our respective societies. The election of the first African American President of this country makes this year’s celebration a little more unique.

Amidst the excitement that I’m sure most of us feel this Black history month, we must take a moment and reflect on the shift that has occurred in our history with the election of President Obama and what stories we will produce for future generations to celebrate in their black history months. The change that we have all hoped for is finally upon us. Knowing that this moment is possible because of the sacrifices that individuals that have walked this earth before me continues to serve as an inspiration to me.

I cannot help but to think about Nigeria as the whole world celebrates with America. It saddens me that we find ourselves in this very dismal situation, the future seems bleak, and I shudder to think about how brave men and women who sacrificed and fought for our independence would react if they woke up today. We have become apathetic and it seems that we have lost our zeal to survive. However, it gives me pleasure when I talk to other young Nigerians who are hopeful about the inevitable change that will come to our home land. To those people who are holding on to this hope, thank you! For me, I am hopeful as well. Surely we know that change does not come by the waving of a magic wand.

What sacrifices are we willing to make today so that our children and grand children can one day stand in unison and declare that change has finally come? How will history remember our generation? We must all play a role if we want the vision of the new Nigeria to come to pass. It is not enough to sit and hope for things to happen. We must support each other, affect change even if only one person is touched, and we must preserver because that moment, our moment will be so much larger than any of us can imagine today.

I encourage us to stay in that hope, motivated by that dream and commit ourselves to the vision of effecting that change that we wish to see come to fruition and together make a difference that will inspire the future generation to also continue the spirit of hope that we instill in them.

Remain Inspired,

Queen Gideon

MNIA. Inc. Team

"Ask Me Anything" w/ Ronke A. Oke

I really don't know what I want to call it. Ask Me Anything gets right to the point, but its not catchy enough. Another suggestion is either I Tell Ya! or The Inquisitive Soul but neither one of these really captivates me. You're probably wondering what I'm talking about. I'm talking about my video blog, the program/show/videoepisode that I initiated that would allow me to respond to the questions that you all ask me. A lot of people ask me questions about myself and want to know where I stand on certain issues. Others, I am aware, are simply dying to ask me some questions (and this may be an overstatement but I hope its true). I want to share my responses to these questions with my audience and also give those who have inquired into the personal areas of my mind a medium to join the spotlight. I think this would be an innovative way to reach out and see who is listening and who is supportive. Here's how it works: If you have a question for me just send it to ronke@missnigeriainamerica.org. If you want me to personally mention who submitted the question, please leave your name. All submissions are due by Friday and you should see a posting by Monday or no later than Wednesday (unless there are extenuating circumstances, i.e. the first video response). I am also giving shout outs. So if you have an event, or just want your name stated for the world to hear or see, or even if you want to share anything, send it to me and I will make sure that you get your space. I would also include any poems, songs, spoken word or (this can be recorded or written) original peices, questions you have for those who are watching, an problem that you want advice on, or a picture that you want others to see. I will make sure that it makes it on and give you the credit you deserve.

Now I want to know what you all think about this. How does this idea work for you all? Do you all feel more involved with what I am doing? That is the goal for all of this to get you all involved. Please let me know and feel free to share your comments, thoughts, and suggestions for a name for this videoepisode.

Much love,

Ronke A. Oke
Miss Nigeria in America, 2008