sitting alone listening;
sitting in a natural setting,
listening, as nature converses,
listening, as the birds sing, rhythmic and melodious tunes,
listen!!, as the breeze brushes gently past,
watch!, as the sun sets majestically beyond the horizon,
listen!, to what nature is saying,
behold!, nature is speaking,
listen!, nature speaks to a person!,
a person in solitude.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande, a freelance writer, wrote this poem in the year 2007.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Letter from the west [on high rates of divorce].
Hello, I figure out that since we as Africans can’t seem to stop the blind emulation of the western despoiled civilization and that issues such as early marriages, women and career, divorce, feminism and its unforeseen consequence and a host of other social vices have been exhausted. And the fact that the westerners have reached the pinnacle of their civilization and have seen where all the social experiments and the ugly head of the feminist movement has landed them; and the fact that they are tense and remorse now and saying “what if”. I decided to create this format to help relate from their own words what they say about the issues we now consider burning or rather controversial. Thus, I will be bringing you admissions, views and confessions of our supposed models[ those who have awaken from their deep slumber though]; these will be cut from their blogs, sites, books etc for your deliberation, you may find it hard to accept that “facts are facts and will not disappear according to your likes”,
Mr. man, September 28 2009 at 03:48 am commented on Cathy Meyers divorce support blog on about.com from U.S.A and he says, and in quote:
“I am recently divorced, and know quite a few friends who are. Not one of them, including me, did this because of cheating.
I think the rising divorce rate is driven by 3 things. In order of importance (most important first):
1. Pressure, economics, the change in the American lifestyle.
Since the 1970s, we have become a nation where many couples have both spouses working full-time. We are also moving around a lot, so our extended families are no longer nearby. On top of that, the economy and standard of living have declined so much that even with two working spouses, it is very hard to maintain the standard of living that couples had in the 1950s and 60s. By “standard of living”, I don’t just mean wealth. I mean a standard in which people could work AND rest AND be together at home.
If you think that the lifestyle that couples are living now isn’t destroying marriages, think again. If you work all the time, and spend your only “off time” tending children, chores and the household, how can a marriage possibly survive?
2. Lack of accountability, punishment, respect for law – call it ” – call it “personal responsibility”.
Yup – we are a nation of lazy, excuse-making whiners. Marriages don’t survive well in that environment.
3. “Feminism” – Please read before you blow a gasket.
No, I don’t really mean the movement for women’s rights. That’s why I put it in quotes. What I mean is that before the surge in feminism in the 1970s, males and females had much more clearly defined roles. That left women holding the bag for a lot of housework and chores, and rotten pay, and it wasn’t fair. BUT, we have replaced it with a system where only SOME of those inequalities have been righted, and I think that’s worse for marriage than what we had before. Women now work as much as men, compete with men, and although not equal, they are approaching the pay and careers of men.
Well, whoop-de-doo, because now they also have the stress, the lack of home time, and the lack of domestic time or skills that men always had.
That means that NEITHER partner in the marriage is much of a domestic home-maker. Well, SOMEBODY bloody well has to be good at that. Making a home is NICE THING TO HAVE. It’s important to marriage.
What has happened is that in our zeal to equalize things for women, we have made domestic life, or “homemaking” a dirty word.
—–
If we don’t retrench to a way of life that prioritizes plain, uncluttered, domestic life, less money, and less career pressure, the state of marriage is only going to keep getting worse”.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, a neo pan African activist and the unauthorized compiler of remorse westerners thoughts, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
Mr. man, September 28 2009 at 03:48 am commented on Cathy Meyers divorce support blog on about.com from U.S.A and he says, and in quote:
“I am recently divorced, and know quite a few friends who are. Not one of them, including me, did this because of cheating.
I think the rising divorce rate is driven by 3 things. In order of importance (most important first):
1. Pressure, economics, the change in the American lifestyle.
Since the 1970s, we have become a nation where many couples have both spouses working full-time. We are also moving around a lot, so our extended families are no longer nearby. On top of that, the economy and standard of living have declined so much that even with two working spouses, it is very hard to maintain the standard of living that couples had in the 1950s and 60s. By “standard of living”, I don’t just mean wealth. I mean a standard in which people could work AND rest AND be together at home.
If you think that the lifestyle that couples are living now isn’t destroying marriages, think again. If you work all the time, and spend your only “off time” tending children, chores and the household, how can a marriage possibly survive?
2. Lack of accountability, punishment, respect for law – call it ” – call it “personal responsibility”.
Yup – we are a nation of lazy, excuse-making whiners. Marriages don’t survive well in that environment.
3. “Feminism” – Please read before you blow a gasket.
No, I don’t really mean the movement for women’s rights. That’s why I put it in quotes. What I mean is that before the surge in feminism in the 1970s, males and females had much more clearly defined roles. That left women holding the bag for a lot of housework and chores, and rotten pay, and it wasn’t fair. BUT, we have replaced it with a system where only SOME of those inequalities have been righted, and I think that’s worse for marriage than what we had before. Women now work as much as men, compete with men, and although not equal, they are approaching the pay and careers of men.
Well, whoop-de-doo, because now they also have the stress, the lack of home time, and the lack of domestic time or skills that men always had.
That means that NEITHER partner in the marriage is much of a domestic home-maker. Well, SOMEBODY bloody well has to be good at that. Making a home is NICE THING TO HAVE. It’s important to marriage.
What has happened is that in our zeal to equalize things for women, we have made domestic life, or “homemaking” a dirty word.
—–
If we don’t retrench to a way of life that prioritizes plain, uncluttered, domestic life, less money, and less career pressure, the state of marriage is only going to keep getting worse”.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, a neo pan African activist and the unauthorized compiler of remorse westerners thoughts, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
Men are very stupid people.
Yeah!, some keen followers of my past writings will wonder why this statement about my gender huhn? Well, when reality beckons I cannot but yield so as to free my conscience. Facts are facts and will not disappear according to our likes.
The predominant obsession these days is about women dressing explicitly, nudity, gold digging, women and careers, moral bankruptcy etc.
Sometimes I stop to think of this gender based bias and my heart is baffled by the intriguing findings I come across,
It’s funny how almost all guys dream and keep on searching for a God fearing wife while we ourselves are not down to earth and God fearing,
It’s funny how we want a neat and tidy wife while we smell of sweat and dirt with unkempt hair all over,
It’s funny how we want to marry loving and caring wives while we are so much absorbed in our careers and we hardly find time to care or love properly [love is a two way thing you know!],
It’s funny how we want a wife that should wake up early, do the domestic chores, fix breakfast, prepare the kids for school etc, while we wake up late and grumble when asked to drop the kids at school,
It’s funny how an adulterous husband is passed away as an adventurous male that will stop some day, while an adulterous wife is labeled a disgrace to womanhood, marriage sanctity and a blasphemous creature,
It’s funny how men become older, richer, more educated and become more wanted by ladies, while the more education, wealth and age a girl accumulates the more despised she becomes by men,
It’s funny how we wear body hugging shirts and tight jeans to show off our biceps while the lady in the body hugging attire is whore,
It’s funny how a guy impregnates a girl and gets scolded for a day while she has to bear the scorn for nine enduring months,
It’s funny how women are still not equal and just alongside men,
It’s a man’s world!, yeah! right,
Are we being fair to the ladies?
Where is the justice?
Where is the equality?
Where is the love?,
It’s funny, how ironically ladies are systematically robbed of their God given rights,
Let us be just and exemplary to women not feministic, it’s funny how… huhn?
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
The predominant obsession these days is about women dressing explicitly, nudity, gold digging, women and careers, moral bankruptcy etc.
Sometimes I stop to think of this gender based bias and my heart is baffled by the intriguing findings I come across,
It’s funny how almost all guys dream and keep on searching for a God fearing wife while we ourselves are not down to earth and God fearing,
It’s funny how we want a neat and tidy wife while we smell of sweat and dirt with unkempt hair all over,
It’s funny how we want to marry loving and caring wives while we are so much absorbed in our careers and we hardly find time to care or love properly [love is a two way thing you know!],
It’s funny how we want a wife that should wake up early, do the domestic chores, fix breakfast, prepare the kids for school etc, while we wake up late and grumble when asked to drop the kids at school,
It’s funny how an adulterous husband is passed away as an adventurous male that will stop some day, while an adulterous wife is labeled a disgrace to womanhood, marriage sanctity and a blasphemous creature,
It’s funny how men become older, richer, more educated and become more wanted by ladies, while the more education, wealth and age a girl accumulates the more despised she becomes by men,
It’s funny how we wear body hugging shirts and tight jeans to show off our biceps while the lady in the body hugging attire is whore,
It’s funny how a guy impregnates a girl and gets scolded for a day while she has to bear the scorn for nine enduring months,
It’s funny how women are still not equal and just alongside men,
It’s a man’s world!, yeah! right,
Are we being fair to the ladies?
Where is the justice?
Where is the equality?
Where is the love?,
It’s funny, how ironically ladies are systematically robbed of their God given rights,
Let us be just and exemplary to women not feministic, it’s funny how… huhn?
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My philosophy
“I am not perfect and neither are you, I would rather change plans while still at port; than to set sail and sink at sea”.
I am an ordinary guy with an average I.Q, I have made a lot of mistakes during the course of my life and God being so kind to me ; I have been able to cash in the experience. At a very early age in my life, I developed a keen desire for understanding the principles of “social engineering”[ a type of engineering in which you and I become the designated product, via print and electronic media CNN, BBC], and the social principles of life through social scientific means of research and interpretation.
It is very funny how the things with the most consequence receives the least attention., I grew up by the TV set, watched countless cartoons and children movies while growing up, I watched an enviable dosage of CNN, BBC ,Good Morning America, CBS news, late Night show by David letterman, Sally[then], oprah winfrey etc. I am not a guy with a clean slate, at least not as clean as many of you are, I am fully westernized.
Subsequently, I look at where we are all headed and I pause to ask myself, isn’t there some one who has been to where I intend to go now?, and fortunately enough for me, I met an armada of people whom have gone to where I intend to go and have cashed in the experience already[ Europe and America]; so I stop to ask them the following set of questions which I believe any wise traveler to a supposed disrupted nation will do; it’s like travelling to Jos [ capital of plateau state in Nigeria], which was war stricken then, and when you set out, you encountered a person just coming back from Jos, ideally you are supposed to ask that man as thus;
When did you go to Jos ?
How was the journey en route Jos?
How was your stay there?
Was all good when you left there?
How was your homecoming journey?
Where there any obstacles en route Jos?
How would you assess Jos ?
I am an eager bewildered traveler to the Jos now,, what advice would you give to me if it becomes absolutely necessary that I must go Jos ?
The above passage is a purported metaphor. Ideally, what it stands for is, since our own civilization has been cut half way through [ colonization of Africa]; and now we have embraced Sir Mango parks [British] civilization and decided to swallow its contents hook, line and sinker, the impression imbued in us about their own civilization [Euro-American] is that; it is more refined, and people treading its part are happier and more free. And in turn we are being conditioned to believe that our own civilization is rudimentary, crude, barbaric and unrefined, that we are less happy and poverty stricken, that we cannot even govern ourselves without U.N intervention.
Over the past forty years or so. Women have been liberated, they left the home for the job market which is a God given right [although terms and conditions apply], women today head universities, transcontinental business corporations, women head countries as presidents, they make up the best surgeons, economists etc. Their home and children? [that is if they have any], they live it to the supper nannies, the idle step parent, and to a wide variety of satellite TV programmers etc. the consequence? The highest number of rape, drug, suicide, pedophilias, incest’s, divorce phonographic, homosexuality, lesbianism, Gangsters, lack of remorse for the old etc and yet still I asked them the question that you and I need to answer, did women in America become happier? Is weight and ideal beauty the western woman’s obsession? [ unrealistic standards of beauty ironically set by men, where is the equality?] How many of them western women did manage to juggle a career and family successfully? I think you cannot eat your cake and still have it. Its either you focus on building a beautiful traditional family and do career later or do career fully and do Emily later. These are all subject to academic discourse now as we are meant to believe.
It is very funny how the things with the most consequence receive the least attention. It pains me when I visit websites and blogs and I hear American and Europeans regretting and complaining about how feminism has despoiled western civilization, has destroyed and will destroy more innocent lives, about how they turn off the TV set for a week annually just to control their lives awhile, how some fight against daycare centers and nannies and how they demoralize little kids[ because they are products of these social experiments themselves, how they feel full time breastfeeding should be done because with it the body secrets a natural contraceptive, that polio vaccine and all vaccines are a detrimental to our health[ your health], in essence those euro Americans that have woken up from a deep slumber now realize that they have been deceived by the global social engineers of feminism and the new world order. Herewith I placed a direct quote from an American woman in the hub post blog under the topic what is happening to women’s happiness?, she writes, and I quote “I feel like my mother's generation took away the ability for me to be a stay-at-home mom. For most of my peers, it is financially impossible to do this, when 30 years ago it was the norm. I know I have been taught that this kind of thinking should be wrong, but I don't. There had been a balance going on for generations, and it was only tipped recently. I would love to have lived my life 30+ years ago, instead of now”. These nations have been to the pinnacle of their own civilization, and yet they are the most morally bankrupt nations in the world.
Thus, the delicate balance that has been going on for generations dear comrades has been tipped by the social engineers. How does the African copy cat plan to recreate a balance?
I am no saint comrades. I am just a fellow with a thirst for moral redefinition and afro-cultural reclaimation. How and when will we, Africans, set our stakes based on African standards? When will we stop hero worshipping Europe and America? It is said that “it is by copying what everybody does that the monkey ended up slitting its own throat”. Let us pause to ponder over our roots as Africans and as Muslims, how unique a civilization we had. I do not intend to wait until I become a saint before I help pass down information with such grave consequences to my fellow Africans. Every one of us is like a moon having a dark side which they never reveal. All I preach is but moral philosophy.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, a neo pan-African, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
I am an ordinary guy with an average I.Q, I have made a lot of mistakes during the course of my life and God being so kind to me ; I have been able to cash in the experience. At a very early age in my life, I developed a keen desire for understanding the principles of “social engineering”[ a type of engineering in which you and I become the designated product, via print and electronic media CNN, BBC], and the social principles of life through social scientific means of research and interpretation.
It is very funny how the things with the most consequence receives the least attention., I grew up by the TV set, watched countless cartoons and children movies while growing up, I watched an enviable dosage of CNN, BBC ,Good Morning America, CBS news, late Night show by David letterman, Sally[then], oprah winfrey etc. I am not a guy with a clean slate, at least not as clean as many of you are, I am fully westernized.
Subsequently, I look at where we are all headed and I pause to ask myself, isn’t there some one who has been to where I intend to go now?, and fortunately enough for me, I met an armada of people whom have gone to where I intend to go and have cashed in the experience already[ Europe and America]; so I stop to ask them the following set of questions which I believe any wise traveler to a supposed disrupted nation will do; it’s like travelling to Jos [ capital of plateau state in Nigeria], which was war stricken then, and when you set out, you encountered a person just coming back from Jos, ideally you are supposed to ask that man as thus;
When did you go to Jos ?
How was the journey en route Jos?
How was your stay there?
Was all good when you left there?
How was your homecoming journey?
Where there any obstacles en route Jos?
How would you assess Jos ?
I am an eager bewildered traveler to the Jos now,, what advice would you give to me if it becomes absolutely necessary that I must go Jos ?
The above passage is a purported metaphor. Ideally, what it stands for is, since our own civilization has been cut half way through [ colonization of Africa]; and now we have embraced Sir Mango parks [British] civilization and decided to swallow its contents hook, line and sinker, the impression imbued in us about their own civilization [Euro-American] is that; it is more refined, and people treading its part are happier and more free. And in turn we are being conditioned to believe that our own civilization is rudimentary, crude, barbaric and unrefined, that we are less happy and poverty stricken, that we cannot even govern ourselves without U.N intervention.
Over the past forty years or so. Women have been liberated, they left the home for the job market which is a God given right [although terms and conditions apply], women today head universities, transcontinental business corporations, women head countries as presidents, they make up the best surgeons, economists etc. Their home and children? [that is if they have any], they live it to the supper nannies, the idle step parent, and to a wide variety of satellite TV programmers etc. the consequence? The highest number of rape, drug, suicide, pedophilias, incest’s, divorce phonographic, homosexuality, lesbianism, Gangsters, lack of remorse for the old etc and yet still I asked them the question that you and I need to answer, did women in America become happier? Is weight and ideal beauty the western woman’s obsession? [ unrealistic standards of beauty ironically set by men, where is the equality?] How many of them western women did manage to juggle a career and family successfully? I think you cannot eat your cake and still have it. Its either you focus on building a beautiful traditional family and do career later or do career fully and do Emily later. These are all subject to academic discourse now as we are meant to believe.
It is very funny how the things with the most consequence receive the least attention. It pains me when I visit websites and blogs and I hear American and Europeans regretting and complaining about how feminism has despoiled western civilization, has destroyed and will destroy more innocent lives, about how they turn off the TV set for a week annually just to control their lives awhile, how some fight against daycare centers and nannies and how they demoralize little kids[ because they are products of these social experiments themselves, how they feel full time breastfeeding should be done because with it the body secrets a natural contraceptive, that polio vaccine and all vaccines are a detrimental to our health[ your health], in essence those euro Americans that have woken up from a deep slumber now realize that they have been deceived by the global social engineers of feminism and the new world order. Herewith I placed a direct quote from an American woman in the hub post blog under the topic what is happening to women’s happiness?, she writes, and I quote “I feel like my mother's generation took away the ability for me to be a stay-at-home mom. For most of my peers, it is financially impossible to do this, when 30 years ago it was the norm. I know I have been taught that this kind of thinking should be wrong, but I don't. There had been a balance going on for generations, and it was only tipped recently. I would love to have lived my life 30+ years ago, instead of now”. These nations have been to the pinnacle of their own civilization, and yet they are the most morally bankrupt nations in the world.
Thus, the delicate balance that has been going on for generations dear comrades has been tipped by the social engineers. How does the African copy cat plan to recreate a balance?
I am no saint comrades. I am just a fellow with a thirst for moral redefinition and afro-cultural reclaimation. How and when will we, Africans, set our stakes based on African standards? When will we stop hero worshipping Europe and America? It is said that “it is by copying what everybody does that the monkey ended up slitting its own throat”. Let us pause to ponder over our roots as Africans and as Muslims, how unique a civilization we had. I do not intend to wait until I become a saint before I help pass down information with such grave consequences to my fellow Africans. Every one of us is like a moon having a dark side which they never reveal. All I preach is but moral philosophy.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, a neo pan-African, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Why some people are and will remain single, are social networking sites to blame[ face book, MySpace]?
The basic idea of my generations self indulgement and self centeredness has always given me pain in my heart as to the unforeseeable future, I had my own scattered thoughts about how excessive self worship and selfishness was ruining me and my generation, but not until I laid my hands on a very nice piece online that had almost all the right words I needed, because the writer was writing originally as a narrative, picking out the fruits from the orchard would have been a tedious and discouraging task to the ordinary reader. So, I decided to help break it down, make some insertions, deductions and simmer down to points a little bit more faster, all I want is for my people to get the message and deliberate over it for ones of understanding.
Narcissism is defined by the Encarta dictionary of the English language as;
personality disorder: in psychiatry, a personality disorder characterized by the patient's overestimation of his or her own appearance and abilities and an excessive need for admiration. In psychoanalytic theory, emphasis is placed on the element of self-directed sexual desire in the condition.
self- admiration: excessive self-admiration and self-centeredness.
Twenge also said that a study she's currently conducting with W. Keith Campbell leads to the conclusion that narcissism in Africa is higher than it's ever been before, and by definition narcissists consider themselves more important than the people they associate with, narcissistic people make terrible relationship partners. Twenge blames this spike in narcissism on societal teachings like those aforementioned but also feels that purported social networking devices like MySpace and Face book are less a method of connecting with others than a means of shameless self-promotion, giving the individual limitless opportunity to think about themselves and advertise why other people should want to know them.
Any way you slice it, we're all looking out for Number One. Here's the trouble: the more time we spend thinking about ourselves, formulating clever responses to friends' online comments about us, posting our most attractive photos, and "pimping our profiles" to leave impressions on our contacts, the less time we spend actually interacting with and caring about others.
The fact today is, young African adults view deep emotional involvement with others as weakness and dependence. It's not just that our culture accepts and accommodates the single lifestyle now -- it's that it actually despises the individual who isn't focused solely on her own personal advancement. The ubiquitous teachings from our capitalist culture media, Boomer-generation parents who toiled to teach us the importance of pursuing personal goals, and teachers in an increasingly survival-of-the-very-fittest education system -- all these emphasize the individual and her goals, not her need for involvement with others.
Looking for love or a list of features?
Chris Morett is a sociology professor specializing in family and marriage at Fordham University in New York City. Morett echoes this cultural emphasis on the individual. He says our communities and peer groups have broken down significantly in the last decade, and our consumer culture promises the singular single that you can "Have it your way." Thus young Africans are less willing to compromise their own desires than ever before, and Morett goes so far as saying that the African dating process has become similar to other means of shopping for a product.
Women don't need marriage for their economic stability and source of identity the institution provided decades ago. The majority of African women nowadays were not raised simply to be wives but to value personal advancement by self-sufficient means, and women are now economically independent, deriving their identity from their work and other societal roles, not just from being a wife. Marriage is no longer a necessity but a choice. So when a woman dates a man and he doesn't possess all the "features" she requires, she briefly deliberates and continues shopping ("Is passionate about his work, check. Loves to travel, check. Forgot to ask how my meeting went, uh- oh. Completely unacceptable.")
The feminine personality is founded on the emotional relationship between mother and baby. It is based on nurturing and self-sacrifice. Masculine nature is founded on the relationship between hunter and prey. It is based on aggression and reason.
Feminism teaches woman that feminine nature has resulted in "oppression" and that she should convert to male behavior instead. The result: a confused and aggressive woman with a large chip on her shoulder, unfit to become a wife or mother.
No longer does a woman need a man or a marriage; now she wants a soul mate, a partner to share her interests and values and someone who provides passion and support and fun. She desires a man who won't require her to sacrifice her identity or every aspect of the single lifestyle she's come to enjoy.
But until we meet him, the solution to the single person's isolation may be simple: shut the lid on our laptops and get over ourselves -- you don't have to do it all on your own. We'll only find the comfort to our singles' loneliness by spending time in the physical presence of people we love. If we want love, we have to love. We have to open our hearts to connecting again.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande; a freelance writer; is the unauthorized editor who reshaped this beautiful article by dating editor Kristine Gasbare for tanoo.com
Narcissism is defined by the Encarta dictionary of the English language as;
personality disorder: in psychiatry, a personality disorder characterized by the patient's overestimation of his or her own appearance and abilities and an excessive need for admiration. In psychoanalytic theory, emphasis is placed on the element of self-directed sexual desire in the condition.
self- admiration: excessive self-admiration and self-centeredness.
Twenge also said that a study she's currently conducting with W. Keith Campbell leads to the conclusion that narcissism in Africa is higher than it's ever been before, and by definition narcissists consider themselves more important than the people they associate with, narcissistic people make terrible relationship partners. Twenge blames this spike in narcissism on societal teachings like those aforementioned but also feels that purported social networking devices like MySpace and Face book are less a method of connecting with others than a means of shameless self-promotion, giving the individual limitless opportunity to think about themselves and advertise why other people should want to know them.
Any way you slice it, we're all looking out for Number One. Here's the trouble: the more time we spend thinking about ourselves, formulating clever responses to friends' online comments about us, posting our most attractive photos, and "pimping our profiles" to leave impressions on our contacts, the less time we spend actually interacting with and caring about others.
The fact today is, young African adults view deep emotional involvement with others as weakness and dependence. It's not just that our culture accepts and accommodates the single lifestyle now -- it's that it actually despises the individual who isn't focused solely on her own personal advancement. The ubiquitous teachings from our capitalist culture media, Boomer-generation parents who toiled to teach us the importance of pursuing personal goals, and teachers in an increasingly survival-of-the-very-fittest education system -- all these emphasize the individual and her goals, not her need for involvement with others.
Looking for love or a list of features?
Chris Morett is a sociology professor specializing in family and marriage at Fordham University in New York City. Morett echoes this cultural emphasis on the individual. He says our communities and peer groups have broken down significantly in the last decade, and our consumer culture promises the singular single that you can "Have it your way." Thus young Africans are less willing to compromise their own desires than ever before, and Morett goes so far as saying that the African dating process has become similar to other means of shopping for a product.
Women don't need marriage for their economic stability and source of identity the institution provided decades ago. The majority of African women nowadays were not raised simply to be wives but to value personal advancement by self-sufficient means, and women are now economically independent, deriving their identity from their work and other societal roles, not just from being a wife. Marriage is no longer a necessity but a choice. So when a woman dates a man and he doesn't possess all the "features" she requires, she briefly deliberates and continues shopping ("Is passionate about his work, check. Loves to travel, check. Forgot to ask how my meeting went, uh- oh. Completely unacceptable.")
The feminine personality is founded on the emotional relationship between mother and baby. It is based on nurturing and self-sacrifice. Masculine nature is founded on the relationship between hunter and prey. It is based on aggression and reason.
Feminism teaches woman that feminine nature has resulted in "oppression" and that she should convert to male behavior instead. The result: a confused and aggressive woman with a large chip on her shoulder, unfit to become a wife or mother.
No longer does a woman need a man or a marriage; now she wants a soul mate, a partner to share her interests and values and someone who provides passion and support and fun. She desires a man who won't require her to sacrifice her identity or every aspect of the single lifestyle she's come to enjoy.
But until we meet him, the solution to the single person's isolation may be simple: shut the lid on our laptops and get over ourselves -- you don't have to do it all on your own. We'll only find the comfort to our singles' loneliness by spending time in the physical presence of people we love. If we want love, we have to love. We have to open our hearts to connecting again.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande; a freelance writer; is the unauthorized editor who reshaped this beautiful article by dating editor Kristine Gasbare for tanoo.com
Friday, October 16, 2009
High school movie trend and the next generation [us, our siblings, our supposed kids..] what does the future hold?
The new lexicon Webster’s dictionary of the English language defines a model as “a person or thing considered as an object of imitation’’ and in the same line the Encarta dictionary of the English language defines modeling as ”psychology demonstration of behavior; the demonstration of a way of behaving to somebody, especially a child, in order for that behavior to be imitated”
A subliminal message is a signal or message embedded in another medium designed to pass below the normal limits of human mind’s perception. These messages are unrecognizable by the conscious mind, but in certain situations can affect the subconscious mind and can negatively or positively influence subsequent thoughts, behavior, actions, attitudes, belief and value systems. The term subliminal means beneath the ‘’limen’’ [sensory threshold]. This is from the Latin word ‘’sub’’ meaning under and ‘’limen’’ meaning threshold. [ for more information on the negative influence of T.V on kids and adults alike, you can view my article posted 8/30/2007 in the general board section of Kano online.com].
It is evident however that we do not need to look hard to find Model/ Hero/ goddess worship all around us[ no age limits whatsoever]. From our young teenage boys trying to walk, talk and act like Eminem, Usher, 50cents, Dr. dre, Tupac e.t.c to wanting to save beautiful damsels the way superman and spider man does; to our young adolescents and grown up men trying to act or think like T. bag, Michael scoffield or play like ronaldinho e.t.c. On the other hand, the tender shoots of young feminine and inexperienced teenage girls are caught up within the pathetic web of trying in earnest to match the perfect colors of makeup and available wigs to look like the American teen icon ‘Britney spears’, Beyonce or Celine Dion ; to the young adolescent and grown up ladies, it is always weight and figure obsession to equal the likes of Nancy agram, Angelina Jolie’s sensualities and coca cola dream figures.
Sometimes I wonder what happened to our Parents as role models, Mr.s Shekaraus, Mr.s Dora Akunyilis, Maryam Abachas, General Muhammad Buharis, late Audu Bakos of blessed memory, Wada Nas, Mrs. Fatima Abbas Hasan[ n.t.a] , Mrs. Hauwa’u Geibi [n.t.a], Mr.s DR Galadanchi e.t.c.
Every year thousands of curious teenage girls/boys and adults alike wait in earnest for the next high school super hit, to swallow its contents hook line and sinker!, from scary movie 1, 2, 3, I know what you did last summer, I still know what you did last Summer, One Three hill, Hanna Montana on d.v.d, Raven, then subsequently trimming down to the series -Friends, Lost, Prison Break, 24, Charmed e.t.c for the adolescent, adult category.
These are all movies with uncensored explicit languages and scenes depicting gruesome, violent, sensual, sexual intimate happenings that are continually being absorbed by the part of us which does not distinguish between right or wrong- “the subconscious mind”. Ideally, in most of these high school films you and i are humorously taught and conditioned to believed that loved is sex, that we are just biological beings with an impulsive natural sex drive which should be satisfied within or outside wed lock, that disrespect for authority and disregard for parents is trendy and cool; that every date should end with a good night touch, remembrance kiss or a hug “ not even a good night kiss!!” or possibly a first night stand (depending on the freedom, the availability of apartment and mutual consent of the parties involved.
Ironically, the parents, guidance and siblings are the same people who buy these high school d.v.d’s v.c.r’s and the season one to four of these series for their wards and children, these youngsters that are curious and eagerly waiting for a role model are given an array of morally bankrupt people to choose from, from the comfort of their rooms. To cap the irony up, when such explicit behaviors are slowly being detected in the once innocent ladies and gentlemen, it would be exclaimed “albasa bata yi halin ruwa ba!!!”, meaning that this generation do not look or behave at all like the last generation.
Tell me what on earth will make our teenage brothers and sisters not to demand a good night kiss or a hug after a first date? Tell me how cuddling and fondling will be exempted from a typical relationship (as it is always depicted in high school movies like one tree hill, Hanna Montana or friends); will you have any cause for alarm when you work past and suddenly find your 16 year old sister in a hot fondling season in a guys ride ( as seen in Scary Movie) .
Thus, our generation and our successors are continually being conditioned to live the euro American life style as we are meant to believe through the same movies that our cultures are outdated rudimentary, barbaric and uncivilized. The kind of movie, news and books we read inevitably shapes and unconsciously dictates our approach to life and living. Humans are creatures of habit, and thus, like the renowned computer concept of garbage in garbage out [the GIGO principle], if we watch, read and hear garbage, we in turn talk, act and form habits based on the garbage we put into our subconscious mind.
So, let us put the idea that says “ it’s just a movie, its harmless fun and entertainment” aside and think rather deep into how daily exposure to these unethical high school movie trend is continually shaping the line of thought and general perception of our next generation towards life and living [ the euro American way though]. We are African remember?, the euro American trend is alien to our moral and cultural norms. Values and belief system. The exposed life never did work for them, why do you think it will work for black Africa? Let us restrain[if we could] ourselves from junk media then move on to explain to our siblings how unique our afro-Nigerian cultures are and the need to put our own civilization first; and that love , relationship and dating take their natural due course if pursued conventionally [you can’t teach a duck to swim, put it into the water and it swims away] . so, please let us reason and think outside the box, at least for posterity.
A subliminal message is a signal or message embedded in another medium designed to pass below the normal limits of human mind’s perception. These messages are unrecognizable by the conscious mind, but in certain situations can affect the subconscious mind and can negatively or positively influence subsequent thoughts, behavior, actions, attitudes, belief and value systems. The term subliminal means beneath the ‘’limen’’ [sensory threshold]. This is from the Latin word ‘’sub’’ meaning under and ‘’limen’’ meaning threshold. [ for more information on the negative influence of T.V on kids and adults alike, you can view my article posted 8/30/2007 in the general board section of Kano online.com].
It is evident however that we do not need to look hard to find Model/ Hero/ goddess worship all around us[ no age limits whatsoever]. From our young teenage boys trying to walk, talk and act like Eminem, Usher, 50cents, Dr. dre, Tupac e.t.c to wanting to save beautiful damsels the way superman and spider man does; to our young adolescents and grown up men trying to act or think like T. bag, Michael scoffield or play like ronaldinho e.t.c. On the other hand, the tender shoots of young feminine and inexperienced teenage girls are caught up within the pathetic web of trying in earnest to match the perfect colors of makeup and available wigs to look like the American teen icon ‘Britney spears’, Beyonce or Celine Dion ; to the young adolescent and grown up ladies, it is always weight and figure obsession to equal the likes of Nancy agram, Angelina Jolie’s sensualities and coca cola dream figures.
Sometimes I wonder what happened to our Parents as role models, Mr.s Shekaraus, Mr.s Dora Akunyilis, Maryam Abachas, General Muhammad Buharis, late Audu Bakos of blessed memory, Wada Nas, Mrs. Fatima Abbas Hasan[ n.t.a] , Mrs. Hauwa’u Geibi [n.t.a], Mr.s DR Galadanchi e.t.c.
Every year thousands of curious teenage girls/boys and adults alike wait in earnest for the next high school super hit, to swallow its contents hook line and sinker!, from scary movie 1, 2, 3, I know what you did last summer, I still know what you did last Summer, One Three hill, Hanna Montana on d.v.d, Raven, then subsequently trimming down to the series -Friends, Lost, Prison Break, 24, Charmed e.t.c for the adolescent, adult category.
These are all movies with uncensored explicit languages and scenes depicting gruesome, violent, sensual, sexual intimate happenings that are continually being absorbed by the part of us which does not distinguish between right or wrong- “the subconscious mind”. Ideally, in most of these high school films you and i are humorously taught and conditioned to believed that loved is sex, that we are just biological beings with an impulsive natural sex drive which should be satisfied within or outside wed lock, that disrespect for authority and disregard for parents is trendy and cool; that every date should end with a good night touch, remembrance kiss or a hug “ not even a good night kiss!!” or possibly a first night stand (depending on the freedom, the availability of apartment and mutual consent of the parties involved.
Ironically, the parents, guidance and siblings are the same people who buy these high school d.v.d’s v.c.r’s and the season one to four of these series for their wards and children, these youngsters that are curious and eagerly waiting for a role model are given an array of morally bankrupt people to choose from, from the comfort of their rooms. To cap the irony up, when such explicit behaviors are slowly being detected in the once innocent ladies and gentlemen, it would be exclaimed “albasa bata yi halin ruwa ba!!!”, meaning that this generation do not look or behave at all like the last generation.
Tell me what on earth will make our teenage brothers and sisters not to demand a good night kiss or a hug after a first date? Tell me how cuddling and fondling will be exempted from a typical relationship (as it is always depicted in high school movies like one tree hill, Hanna Montana or friends); will you have any cause for alarm when you work past and suddenly find your 16 year old sister in a hot fondling season in a guys ride ( as seen in Scary Movie) .
Thus, our generation and our successors are continually being conditioned to live the euro American life style as we are meant to believe through the same movies that our cultures are outdated rudimentary, barbaric and uncivilized. The kind of movie, news and books we read inevitably shapes and unconsciously dictates our approach to life and living. Humans are creatures of habit, and thus, like the renowned computer concept of garbage in garbage out [the GIGO principle], if we watch, read and hear garbage, we in turn talk, act and form habits based on the garbage we put into our subconscious mind.
So, let us put the idea that says “ it’s just a movie, its harmless fun and entertainment” aside and think rather deep into how daily exposure to these unethical high school movie trend is continually shaping the line of thought and general perception of our next generation towards life and living [ the euro American way though]. We are African remember?, the euro American trend is alien to our moral and cultural norms. Values and belief system. The exposed life never did work for them, why do you think it will work for black Africa? Let us restrain[if we could] ourselves from junk media then move on to explain to our siblings how unique our afro-Nigerian cultures are and the need to put our own civilization first; and that love , relationship and dating take their natural due course if pursued conventionally [you can’t teach a duck to swim, put it into the water and it swims away] . so, please let us reason and think outside the box, at least for posterity.
SAYING GOODBYE
During the course of my life, I have been around ladies,
This girl I met; coincidentally,
Carved out of gold she was, white gold,
I loved and cared without knowing why?
I treated her delicately, like an egg, carried around in a stony desert,
She loved me like a fairy tale story, with surplus gestures,
I mean, with every muscle in her being, day and night,
Even a blind man could have testified to that,
Perceptions clashed, and we called it quits,
I knew she would never love another as she did me,
Why?, because I made her believe, at a time she had no faith,
She had then no reason to believe,
Thereafter, I stretched forth a friendly arm in a festive mood,
Just but to be a comforter, what happened?,
She threw it right on my face, good intents only I had,
Back to the old drawing board she had slipped,
slipped back and dwelled before and after my gesture,
she stopped believing and started hiding all over again,
hiding behind a courageous mask and denying,
deep down sober and timid, wanting companionship,
yearning within but stubborn and stoic,
as for me, I walk away never to look back again,
why? Because even the price of gold in the world market falls,
happiness though is all I want for her,
it might take ages before the stiffened steel softens,
and a miracle might be needed to melt steel like snow in summer,
how much longer it will have to take? I can’t say,
how long must this feeling go on?, only the Lord knows,
my greatest heart desire now?, that she reads my poem.
Muhammad tijjani nakande is a free-lance writer, wrote in from university of Maiduguri, Borno state Nigeria.
This girl I met; coincidentally,
Carved out of gold she was, white gold,
I loved and cared without knowing why?
I treated her delicately, like an egg, carried around in a stony desert,
She loved me like a fairy tale story, with surplus gestures,
I mean, with every muscle in her being, day and night,
Even a blind man could have testified to that,
Perceptions clashed, and we called it quits,
I knew she would never love another as she did me,
Why?, because I made her believe, at a time she had no faith,
She had then no reason to believe,
Thereafter, I stretched forth a friendly arm in a festive mood,
Just but to be a comforter, what happened?,
She threw it right on my face, good intents only I had,
Back to the old drawing board she had slipped,
slipped back and dwelled before and after my gesture,
she stopped believing and started hiding all over again,
hiding behind a courageous mask and denying,
deep down sober and timid, wanting companionship,
yearning within but stubborn and stoic,
as for me, I walk away never to look back again,
why? Because even the price of gold in the world market falls,
happiness though is all I want for her,
it might take ages before the stiffened steel softens,
and a miracle might be needed to melt steel like snow in summer,
how much longer it will have to take? I can’t say,
how long must this feeling go on?, only the Lord knows,
my greatest heart desire now?, that she reads my poem.
Muhammad tijjani nakande is a free-lance writer, wrote in from university of Maiduguri, Borno state Nigeria.
Are you healthy?
Health is a gift …a rare commodity,
Cherish it if and when you can,
Use it to get all you can and want,
Pray hard to your Lord and be good in conduct,
Because, when health is lost, all is lost,
Have faith in your Lord and ask him for health,
Why? Because only he and he alone can cure you,
When you are losing your health, you might not,
You might not have the strength to pray,
Death is inevitable, but disease and health are his,
They are his to give to whomever he so wishes,
He who prays hard with utmost humility and belief,
Hoping, hoping that their prayers will be answered,
Humbled, humbled before the creator and praying,
To him belongs the most beautiful and magnificent of names,
By which ever you call on to him, it will suffice,
It is he who gives health and causes illness,
He gives health to whomever he wills and whenever he wills,
So, our true faith as Muslims lies in a simple fact,
That we will never fold our arms and wait for the Jews,
Jews and Christians for our survival[ the dajjal],
Why? Because we were given two of the most greatest gifts,
Greatest gifts of all times, the Qur’an and the Sunnah,
From within them, with enough faith and taqwa,
We find answers to the whole travails of humanity,
Allah is great and Islam is the true religion,
So therefore let us go back to the roots and find the fruit.
Cherish it if and when you can,
Use it to get all you can and want,
Pray hard to your Lord and be good in conduct,
Because, when health is lost, all is lost,
Have faith in your Lord and ask him for health,
Why? Because only he and he alone can cure you,
When you are losing your health, you might not,
You might not have the strength to pray,
Death is inevitable, but disease and health are his,
They are his to give to whomever he so wishes,
He who prays hard with utmost humility and belief,
Hoping, hoping that their prayers will be answered,
Humbled, humbled before the creator and praying,
To him belongs the most beautiful and magnificent of names,
By which ever you call on to him, it will suffice,
It is he who gives health and causes illness,
He gives health to whomever he wills and whenever he wills,
So, our true faith as Muslims lies in a simple fact,
That we will never fold our arms and wait for the Jews,
Jews and Christians for our survival[ the dajjal],
Why? Because we were given two of the most greatest gifts,
Greatest gifts of all times, the Qur’an and the Sunnah,
From within them, with enough faith and taqwa,
We find answers to the whole travails of humanity,
Allah is great and Islam is the true religion,
So therefore let us go back to the roots and find the fruit.
Face book, a social networking site?
Hello, I have been on this social networking site as a passive member for quite some time now. During the course of my membership, I have had the opportunity to make a series of observations that tend to give me a heartache as bonafide northerner, a Muslim and most importantly a new believer in the Nigerian spirit[at least not until Mrs. Akunyili came on board].
So, my dear face bookers, after extensive comparison within the face book topics of our peers in the southern parts of this country, Ghana, and other west African countries, I unearthed a horrifying reality which is that; ,most of the topics being put forth within their social circles are topics that are close to reality, concerns everyday life and very much contemporary. They tend to put forth challenging issues to be critically discussed, analyzed and possible solutions be proffered. At the long run with every login into this supposed social network, they leave it better educated to face the challenges of our time[ because you never can tell what collective ideas could do to a virgin mind].
Let our circle movers and shakers begin the task of giving us important and realistic topics of life and living so we could be better off anytime we log in. the superficial love, relationships and dating topics are so fake and so not in touch with reality[ no offends intended please]. Let us discuss our country Nigeria and nation building, career and career opportunities, Africa[ the likes of Sardunas , ziks, Awolowos, Balewas, Abachas, Felas e.t.c] and their various contributions to our nation’s building and nationalism e.t.c. even when we deem it necessary to always discuss superficial fairytale issues, let us be realistic and not pick out topics from love magz.
Let us face reality and converge socially for a noble cause. Thank you for reading.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer living in Kano,[still passive on face book though].
So, my dear face bookers, after extensive comparison within the face book topics of our peers in the southern parts of this country, Ghana, and other west African countries, I unearthed a horrifying reality which is that; ,most of the topics being put forth within their social circles are topics that are close to reality, concerns everyday life and very much contemporary. They tend to put forth challenging issues to be critically discussed, analyzed and possible solutions be proffered. At the long run with every login into this supposed social network, they leave it better educated to face the challenges of our time[ because you never can tell what collective ideas could do to a virgin mind].
Let our circle movers and shakers begin the task of giving us important and realistic topics of life and living so we could be better off anytime we log in. the superficial love, relationships and dating topics are so fake and so not in touch with reality[ no offends intended please]. Let us discuss our country Nigeria and nation building, career and career opportunities, Africa[ the likes of Sardunas , ziks, Awolowos, Balewas, Abachas, Felas e.t.c] and their various contributions to our nation’s building and nationalism e.t.c. even when we deem it necessary to always discuss superficial fairytale issues, let us be realistic and not pick out topics from love magz.
Let us face reality and converge socially for a noble cause. Thank you for reading.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer living in Kano,[still passive on face book though].
The light
It all started as a wakeup call,
a call to mankind and jinn,
a favor lowered down to earth,
through hard and good times it poured along,
adding meaning and value to everyday life
it cleansed old barbaric Arab tribes,
full of tribal and ethnic feud they were,
its soothing influence spread like daylight,
as far east to China and west to Rome,
it reconciled man with the almighty god,
in a manner only befitting a divine call,
it reconciled man with the al-alamin,
a task in which all hope was lost,
some say it was tales of the ancients,
some say it is mere poetry,
some believe it prose,
lost they are all in a perpetual cross,
its rhymes and lyrics too unique to be classified as such,
the greatest poets and orators attempted to put forth,
the likes of it they never could,
the contemporary secular world has come to terms,
it is the most unique book that ever was,
light upon light is what it brings,
opening hearts that never were,
thus, mankind and jinn has never seen,
a light so bright the noble one,
the Qur’an, which is light and guidance.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
a call to mankind and jinn,
a favor lowered down to earth,
through hard and good times it poured along,
adding meaning and value to everyday life
it cleansed old barbaric Arab tribes,
full of tribal and ethnic feud they were,
its soothing influence spread like daylight,
as far east to China and west to Rome,
it reconciled man with the almighty god,
in a manner only befitting a divine call,
it reconciled man with the al-alamin,
a task in which all hope was lost,
some say it was tales of the ancients,
some say it is mere poetry,
some believe it prose,
lost they are all in a perpetual cross,
its rhymes and lyrics too unique to be classified as such,
the greatest poets and orators attempted to put forth,
the likes of it they never could,
the contemporary secular world has come to terms,
it is the most unique book that ever was,
light upon light is what it brings,
opening hearts that never were,
thus, mankind and jinn has never seen,
a light so bright the noble one,
the Qur’an, which is light and guidance.
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer, wrote in from Kano state Nigeria.
There is a pebble in my shoes
As far as moral history is concerned, the last generation of true Africans [our parents] with rich trado-cultural and religious norms and values might be winding up. I remember my guardian used to tell me how he went to school just to get some “education”, be able to communicate in the alien language and he always dreamt of speaking like Tafawa Balewa of blessed memory, and how much he admired Fela Kuti’s call for a corruption free society which stresses trying to bring an end to colonial indirect enslavement of African[post independence style].
The last generation of true Africans went to school to get educated not a Meal Ticket, they strove hard having in mind that collectively or otherwise, they would be given a chance to work in Nigeria’s bureaucratic administration and be given the honor to serve in nation building, they revered with utmost passion and an insatiable zeal for emulation the legendry Kwame Nkurma’s, Gen Usman Katsina’s, sardauna’a, Awolowo’s, Namdi Azikwe’s, Balewa’s e.t.c. and they hard an unshaken mindset to emulate these immortal humans who fought so hard to make Africa and Nigeria a better place. The last generation of true Africans loved Nigeria with a passion and always thought of what they could sacrifice for their motherland either in thought, time or money and not what they could squeeze out of it.
When I look forth at my generation, my heart bleeds with so much pain!. We are the generation entrusted upon with the responsibility of making Nigeria a better place, for our children and our children’s children right? Or we just don’t care huhn?, the basic impression is “ if I can make some cool money, get my children a good life then Nigeria could go to hell huhn? Well the truth of the matter is that “what goes around comes around” if Nigeria is corrupt, no matter how hard you try to protect your own, it will still catch up.
When I look hard at my generation, I see a generation of youngsters with misplaced priorities, I see a selfish and self indulgent cadre of future leaders, I see half baked and ill educated people with no regards for being their brothers keepers let alone their nation builders, I see a generation of future leaders with such gullible role models as Michael scoffield, Angelina Jolie, Christiano Ronaldo, Drogba, Tupac, Celine Dion, t.bag, David Beckamp, Jessica alba, Ali Nuhu, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Anioston, Brad Pitt, Fati Muh’d e.t.c.
Sometimes I get to thinking that this pebble in my shoe will give me a gangrene. My generation don’t refer to scholarly books and important education web links to be educated on life, living, religion or leadership, but only wait in earnest for Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil or some movie e.t.c to give them advice on how to live; ohh! what a pathetic state of intellectual degeneration have we scooped so low to.
My own generation cannot be referred to as true African huhn? There is an adage in Igbo land that says, “ it is by copying what everybody does that the monkey ended up cutting its own throat”, thus we are neither British nor Americans, Latin nor French, Arabic nor Indians… “a lizard they say may resemble a crocodile, but it does not necessararily make it to become one” and imitation they say is the highest form of flattery, and it is limitation. So, when I peep into the future of our dear nation guess what i see? If Michael scoffield and the likes of him would be passionately seen as role models and be religiously emulated by the supposed future leaders guess what subsequently ensues? Thus, the above questions are a food for thought to ponder over.
Meanwhile, I appeal to those within the concerned cadre to please close their eyes and visualize Nigeria in the next fifty years going at this reckless phase coupled with our generations supposed provisions for tomorrow. What will the future of our own children look like? Their children?....
So please, let us wake up from our fantasy slumber, come together, be patriotic, selfless and strive to love our country and make Nigeria a better place thus, preserving and restoring trado-cultural and religious norms, values and be our brothers keepers.
Nigeria good people, great nation!,
Long live the federal republic of Nigeria,
Long live Africa,
United we stand, divided we fall[ like a house of cards]
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer living in Kano State Nigeria.
The last generation of true Africans went to school to get educated not a Meal Ticket, they strove hard having in mind that collectively or otherwise, they would be given a chance to work in Nigeria’s bureaucratic administration and be given the honor to serve in nation building, they revered with utmost passion and an insatiable zeal for emulation the legendry Kwame Nkurma’s, Gen Usman Katsina’s, sardauna’a, Awolowo’s, Namdi Azikwe’s, Balewa’s e.t.c. and they hard an unshaken mindset to emulate these immortal humans who fought so hard to make Africa and Nigeria a better place. The last generation of true Africans loved Nigeria with a passion and always thought of what they could sacrifice for their motherland either in thought, time or money and not what they could squeeze out of it.
When I look forth at my generation, my heart bleeds with so much pain!. We are the generation entrusted upon with the responsibility of making Nigeria a better place, for our children and our children’s children right? Or we just don’t care huhn?, the basic impression is “ if I can make some cool money, get my children a good life then Nigeria could go to hell huhn? Well the truth of the matter is that “what goes around comes around” if Nigeria is corrupt, no matter how hard you try to protect your own, it will still catch up.
When I look hard at my generation, I see a generation of youngsters with misplaced priorities, I see a selfish and self indulgent cadre of future leaders, I see half baked and ill educated people with no regards for being their brothers keepers let alone their nation builders, I see a generation of future leaders with such gullible role models as Michael scoffield, Angelina Jolie, Christiano Ronaldo, Drogba, Tupac, Celine Dion, t.bag, David Beckamp, Jessica alba, Ali Nuhu, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Anioston, Brad Pitt, Fati Muh’d e.t.c.
Sometimes I get to thinking that this pebble in my shoe will give me a gangrene. My generation don’t refer to scholarly books and important education web links to be educated on life, living, religion or leadership, but only wait in earnest for Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil or some movie e.t.c to give them advice on how to live; ohh! what a pathetic state of intellectual degeneration have we scooped so low to.
My own generation cannot be referred to as true African huhn? There is an adage in Igbo land that says, “ it is by copying what everybody does that the monkey ended up cutting its own throat”, thus we are neither British nor Americans, Latin nor French, Arabic nor Indians… “a lizard they say may resemble a crocodile, but it does not necessararily make it to become one” and imitation they say is the highest form of flattery, and it is limitation. So, when I peep into the future of our dear nation guess what i see? If Michael scoffield and the likes of him would be passionately seen as role models and be religiously emulated by the supposed future leaders guess what subsequently ensues? Thus, the above questions are a food for thought to ponder over.
Meanwhile, I appeal to those within the concerned cadre to please close their eyes and visualize Nigeria in the next fifty years going at this reckless phase coupled with our generations supposed provisions for tomorrow. What will the future of our own children look like? Their children?....
So please, let us wake up from our fantasy slumber, come together, be patriotic, selfless and strive to love our country and make Nigeria a better place thus, preserving and restoring trado-cultural and religious norms, values and be our brothers keepers.
Nigeria good people, great nation!,
Long live the federal republic of Nigeria,
Long live Africa,
United we stand, divided we fall[ like a house of cards]
Muhammad Tijjani Nakande is a freelance writer living in Kano State Nigeria.
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