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A New Chapter For African Artefacts?

Current Issue A New Chapter for African Artefacts?

December 8, 2022

Write Something Join The Republic as a Full-Time Editorial Intern

June 8, 2020

Introducing ‘First Draft’: Our New Column Authors and Prominent Figures on Books, Reading and Writing

February 4, 2020
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Vol. 4, No. 1

Chinua Achebe's Prophetic Vision
IN THIS ISSUE
⎈ The Prophetic Vision of Chinua Achebe: Reclaiming Africa's Past, Writing Its Present and Shaping Its Future by Boluwatife Akinro x Joshua Segun Lean; ⎈ Achebe's Women: A Feminist Reading of Things Fall Apart and Anthills of the Savannah by Dr. Elizabeth O. Ben-Iheanacho; and ⎈ A Laughing Giant: The Everlasting Humour of Chinua Achebe by Wale Lawal. Read the entire issue.  

Special Focus: COVID-19

Expert Roundtable

  • This photo is for our post on Ebola, COVID-19 and other unprofitable diseases.

    Unprofitable Diseases Ebola, COVID-19 and the Return of Industrial Policy in Africa?

    Francisco PerezNovember 17, 2020
  • COVID 19 Pandemic Africans used to test drugs

    Echoes of History COVID Vaccine Tests in Africa

    Muzz MuhammadJune 5, 2020
  • The Excessive Debt Burdens of COVID-19 Development Financing in the Pandemic

    Chimezie AnajamaMarch 31, 2021
  • Shadow Pandemic COVID-19, Women and Girls in Nigeria

    Cynthia IgodoNovember 8, 2021
  • ‘Only Science Can Save Mankind’ Coronavirus, the Death of Religion and the Resurrection of Science

    Abdulbasit KassimJuly 3, 2020
  • For the Community, By the Community COVID-19, Design and Handwashing Infrastructure in Nigeria

    Nifemi Marcus-Bello and Mambidzeni MadzivireJanuary 25, 2021
  • Children and COVID-19 What Happens When a Child Gets COVID?

    Todah OpeyemiMarch 8, 2022
  • Are We Victims of Pharmaceutical Half-Truths? The Politics of Clinical Trials in Africa

    Charles BesidonneFebruary 22, 2021
  • Algeria protests in the midst of coronavirus pandemic.

    Algeria’s Indefinite Pause What Will COVID-19 Mean for Algeria’s Year-long Protests?

    Temi IbirogbaApril 20, 2020
  • Muhammadu Buhari addresses the nation on coronavirus

    ‘COVID-19 is a Big Scam’ Citizens’ Distrust and the Challenge of Combating Coronavirus in Nigeria

    Hakeem Onapajo and Jelili AdebiyiMarch 30, 2020
  • This photo is for our essay on A monstrous Overlap

    A Monstrous Overlap COVID-19 and the New Climate Change Imperative

    Oluwaseun OguntuaseOctober 16, 2020
  • How COVID 19 affects the environment

    The Vengeful Outdoors? The Environmental Drivers of COVID-19

    Amirah YusufMay 8, 2020

The Latest Online

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      ‘I Fell in Love with Books Before I Could Even Read’ Priya Hein's First Draft

      Priya HeinJanuary 27, 2023
    • Ayoola Oladipupo

      ‘My Favourite Nigerian Story Would Be One Told Through Food’ Ayoola Oladipupo's First Draft

      Ayoola OladipupoJanuary 20, 2023
    • Natasha Chilambo

      ‘I Write to Pull the Future Closer to Now’ Natasha Chilambo's First Draft

      Natasha ChilamboDecember 23, 2022
    • Zainab Kuku

      ‘I Write to Gain a Better Understanding of Who I Am’ Zainab Kuku’s First Draft

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      ‘Writing Is a Grind; It Won’t Always Be Exciting or Magical’ Desola Olaleye's First Draft

      Desola OlaleyeNovember 25, 2022
    • Helon Habila

      ‘Like Most People I Am Simply Exhausted by Politics’ Helon Habila’s First Draft

      Helon HabilaNovember 18, 2022

From Our Latest Issue

  • The Prophetic Vision of Chinua Achebe Reclaiming Africa's Past, Writing Its Present, Shaping Its Future

    Boluwatife Akinro and Joshua Segun-LeanJanuary 13, 2020

Achebe’s Women A Feminist Reading of Things Fall Apart and Anthills of the Savannah

Elizabeth O. Ben-IheanachoJanuary 20, 2020

A Laughing Giant The Everlasting Humour of Chinua Achebe

Wale LawalNovember 16, 2017
This photo is for our piece on Survival Tactics from Achebe and Arrow of God.

Dancing with the Times Survival Tactics from Chinua Achebe and Arrow of God

Korede Kaneto AkinseteDecember 3, 2019
This image is for our piece on Zata Iya: A History of Hausa Feminist Writings

Zata Iya A History of Hausa Feminist Writings

Sada MalumfashiDecember 13, 2019
This image is for our piece on Who is the African Writer?

We Need New Names Who is the African Writer?

Ibrahim AnifowosheJanuary 17, 2020
This photo is for our piece on proverbs in Things Fall Apart

The Art of Conversation Proverbs in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Gerald AdewoleJanuary 29, 2020

Introducing 'First Draft'

Our New Column Featuring Authors on Books, Reading & Writing

    • Introducing ‘First Draft’: Our New Column Authors and Prominent Figures on Books, Reading and Writing

      The RepublicFebruary 4, 2020
    • ‘Writer, Write.’ Moyosore Orimoloye's First Draft

      Moyosore OrimoloyeFebruary 5, 2020
    • This photo is for our piece on Ore Ogunbiyi's First Draft

      ‘Editing Feels Like Taking Vitamins.’ Ore Ogunbiyi’s First Draft

      Ore OgunbiyiFebruary 12, 2020
    • This photo is for our piece on 'The Lesson is in the Design' Merlin Uwlaka Interview

      ‘The Lesson is in Design’ Merlin Uwalaka’s First Draft

      Merlin UwalakaFebruary 19, 2020
    • This photo is for our piece on ‘The Story Comes With Its Own Style’ Sada Malumfashi's First Draft

      ‘The Story Comes With Its Own Style’ Sada Malumfashi’s First Draft

      Sada MalumfashiFebruary 26, 2020
    • This photo is for our piece on Political theorist Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ Ṣóyẹmí’s First Draft

      ‘Finish the Damned Thing’ Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ Ṣóyẹmí’s First Draft

      Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ ṢóyẹmíMarch 4, 2020
    • This photo is for our piece on Dominique Otigbah's First Draft

      ‘Who has time for undecided authors?’   Dominique Otigbah’s First Draft

      Dominique OtigbahMarch 11, 2020
    • Joshua Segun-Lean's First Draft

      ‘Every Time You Decide to Write, What Is at Stake for You?’ Joshua Segun-Lean’s First Draft

      Joshua Segun-LeanMarch 18, 2020
    • Moyosore Orekoya First Draft

      ‘Talent not nurtured is useless.’ Moyosore Orekoya’s First Draft

      Moyosore OrekoyaMarch 25, 2020
    • Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún

      ‘Language is resilient’ Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún’s First Draft

      Kọ́lá Túbọ̀súnApril 1, 2020
    • Saratu Abiola

      ‘Are the people in this story I’m telling recognizably human?’ Saratu Abiola’s First Draft

      Saratu AbiolaApril 8, 2020
    • Oreva Olakpe

      ‘Write Something Every Day’ Oreva Olakpe’s First Draft

      Oreva OlakpeApril 15, 2020

Economic Issues

  • Nation Forgotten - Nigeria’s Neglected Pensioners

    Nation Forgotten Nigeria’s Neglected Pensioners

    Wole OlayinkaMarch 13, 2020
  • Teetering on the Edge of a Cliff Safeguarding Nigeria's Future Workforce

    Misan RewaneSeptember 6, 2019
  • We Cannot Eat Our Cake and Have It The Unnecessary Expanse of Nigeria’s Wheat Economy

    Ayoola OladipupoJuly 13, 2022
  • This photo is for our piece on If You No Get Money, Hide Your Face

    If You No Get Money, Hide Your Face The Toxic Underbelly of Nigeria’s Employment System

    Jerry ChiemekeNovember 16, 2019
  • This photo is for our post on Ebola, COVID-19 and other unprofitable diseases.

    Unprofitable Diseases Ebola, COVID-19 and the Return of Industrial Policy in Africa?

    Francisco PerezNovember 17, 2020
  • This photo is for our essay on The Economic Impacts of Internet Shutdowns

    Government Control in the Digital Age The Economic Impacts of Internet Shutdowns

    Osaye AjariDecember 2, 2020
  • Zombiescapes Africa's Megacity Addiction

    Dafe oputuJuly 11, 2019
  • Health Versus Capitalism Is Capitalism Making Us Sicker?

    Charles EbikemeApril 6, 2022
  • Naira Struggles Nigeria's Response to the Crude Oil Price Shock of 2014

    Nonso ObikiliApril 30, 2017
 

International Issues

  • The New Mobility Apartheid? The Case for Vaccine Cosmopolitanism

    Promise Frank EjioforMay 26, 2021
  • This image is for our piece on Nigeria and the Digital Divide.

    Uneven Playing Fields Nigeria and the Digital Divide

    Osivue ItseumahNovember 29, 2019
  • russia

    The Age of Great Power Rivalry Russia’s Geopolitical Vision and the Weaknesses of International Diplomacy

    Blessing SimuraMarch 17, 2022
  • No More Insufficient Funds Yahoo Yahoo and Cybercrime’s International Ecosystem

    Adewale OloworekendeAugust 28, 2019
  • The Blacker the Berry Race and the Devaluation of Black Lives in America

    Oyinkansola AdepitanMarch 1, 2019
  • Western Sahara, Crimea and Russia’s Interest in Morocco

    The Kremlin’s North African Gateway? Western Sahara, Crimea and Russia’s Interest in Morocco

    Dylan YachyshenJuly 31, 2020
  • Africa’s Energy Deficit A Crack in Africa’s Geopolitical Foundation

    Otobong IniekeApril 26, 2022
  • Democracy Questioned How Democracy Can Fail Us, and What to do About It

    Moyosore OrekoyaMay 9, 2019
  • White Extinction: Who Gives a Damn? The Case for a Common-Sense Rainbow

    Jeff PearceMarch 1, 2019
 

Historical Issues

  • kenya

    Students in the Struggle for Kenyan Democracy A Brief History of University Student Activism in Kenya

    Kasajja ByakikaDecember 1, 2021
  • Big Dreams and Grand Ambitions

    Big Dreams and Grand Ambitions Nigeria’s Vision 2020—How far?

    Onyenekenwa EnehMarch 23, 2020
  • Reframing Population Other Perspectives on Africa’s Population Growth

    Yarri KamaraAugust 17, 2022
 

Political Issues

  • COVID 19 Pandemic Africans used to test drugs

    Echoes of History COVID Vaccine Tests in Africa

    Muzz MuhammadJune 5, 2020
  • This photo is for our piece on Nigeria's Sovereign Wealth Fund.

    Who’s Afraid of Saving Money? The Political Economy of Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund

    Daniel OlikaSeptember 16, 2019
  • buhari

    The President Who Belonged to Himself Assessing Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Legacy

    Fisayo AjalaMarch 28, 2022
  • Nigerian Military Leadership Obasanjo 1977

    Nigeria’s Arrested Development A History of Accidental Presidents

    Chukwudi UkonneApril 17, 2020
  • This photo is for our piece on Nigeria's unchecked population growth.

    A Disaster Waiting to Happen? Nigeria’s Unchecked Population Growth

    Barakat AkinsikuNovember 22, 2019
  • Information

    Separating Fact from Fiction Navigating the Information Disorder Sector in Nigeria Ahead of the 2023 Elections

    Tijani AbdulkabeerJanuary 18, 2023
  • A Dutch Court Has Acquitted Shell in the Ogoni Nine Trial

    Tomisin AwosikaMarch 24, 2022
  • bills

    The House of Representatives Will Reconsider Three Gender Equality Bills

    Tomisin AwosikaMarch 9, 2022
  • Beating the Corruption Enterprise A Policy Approach to Criminal Justice in Nigeria

    Olasupo ShasoreMay 13, 2017
 

Social Issues

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    Denis Martin Andrew WaniApril 3, 2018
  • Tolu Ogunlesi

    ‘You Don’t Have to Get It Right in Draft 1.’ Tolu Ogunlesi’s First Draft

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  • Sangu Delle

    ‘What We Read Lives in Our Heads’ Sangu Delle’s First Draft

    Sangu DelleDecember 10, 2021
  • babalola

    ‘My Favourite Love Stories Are the Ones That Are Quieter’ Bolu Babalola’s First Draft

    Bolu BabalolaJuly 22, 2022
  • Amos Tutuola’s Unwonted Predicament A Writer's Many Controversies

    Sanya OshaAugust 30, 2019
  • The Reality of Press Freedom in Nigeria What Are Journalists Saying?

    Todah OpeyemiMay 5, 2022
  • Banking on Women

    Banking on Women Development’s Neoliberal Sexism

    Fadekemi AbiruMay 22, 2020
  • No Country for Mothers Women's Health in Northern Nigeria

    Aisha Mukhtar DodoFebruary 23, 2017
  • #EndSARS The Revolution Generation.

    The Revolution Generation #EndSARS and the Fight for Nigeria’s Heart

    Abimbola AlabaDecember 23, 2020
 

Technological Issues

  • Africa’s Misinformation Struggles The Impact of Misinformation on Africa and African Media

    Christopher AjuloSeptember 6, 2019
  • The Current State of AIDS And the Future of Global Security

    Obinna ChukwuDecember 2, 2017
  • This photo is for our post on Ebola, COVID-19 and other unprofitable diseases.

    Unprofitable Diseases Ebola, COVID-19 and the Return of Industrial Policy in Africa?

    Francisco PerezNovember 17, 2020
  • Africa’s Energy Deficit A Crack in Africa’s Geopolitical Foundation

    Otobong IniekeApril 26, 2022
  • AI

    Deep Unlearning? AI and Africa’s Struggling Public Institutions

    Victor FamubodeMay 29, 2020
  • Health Versus Capitalism Is Capitalism Making Us Sicker?

    Charles EbikemeApril 6, 2022
  • covid 19 nigeria

    Weathering the Storm COVID-19 and the Case for Universal Basic Income in Nigeria

    Oluwaseyi SomefunJune 12, 2020
  • This image is for our piece on Media and the Globalisation of Misinformation

    Our Post-Truth Era Media and the Globalization of Misinformation

    Nnaemeka IjiomaNovember 1, 2019
  • Teetering on the Edge of a Cliff Safeguarding Nigeria's Future Workforce

    Misan RewaneSeptember 6, 2019

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The Republic
Today in 1976, Black History Month was celebrated Today in 1976, Black History Month was celebrated for the first time. #RxHistory⏳

On 1 February 1976, the month of February was celebrated as Black History Month for the first time in the United States of America, dedicated to honouring and celebrating the ‘often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans’ throughout American history.

Also known as African-American History Month, the celebration was born out of ‘Negro History Week', an initiative developed by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). ASNLH, founded in 1915 by historian, Carter G Woodson, and minister, Jesse E Moorland, was dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.

Since 1976, every US president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is, ‘Black Resistance’ which explores how African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression—in many forms—from America’s earliest days into the 21st century.
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📝: Wemimo Ogunmoyela
 📷: 1) Dancers in a jazz club, Washington, D.C., between 1938 and 1948. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb, Library of Congress.
2) President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (center right) and others look on, August 6, 1965. LBJ Library photo by Yoichi Okamoto.
3) Department of the Army. Maj. Charity E. Adams and Capt. Abbie N. Campbell inspect the first contingent of African American members of the Women's Army Corps assigned to overseas service. England, February 15, 1945. NARA.
4) Senior preparatory class of Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, before 1906. Library of Congress.
5) Portait of Captain William T. Shorey and family, Oakland, CA 1898. Black History Album / FLICKR.
6) Former enslaved families in post-civil war South America.
What Does Chatham House Have to Do With Us? #OnSit What Does Chatham House Have to Do With Us? #OnSite⚡️

Have you wondered why Nigerian politicians keep making their way to Chatham House? What is Nigeria’s history with Chatham House?

In our latest online essay, associate editor at The Republic, Afoma Dike, discusses Chatham House and its involvement with Nigeria. She discusses the reasons why it may appeal to Nigerian presidential hopefuls and what the persistent interest in the London-based institution indicates regarding the mindset of our potential leaders.

According to Dike: ‘The fact that a “neutral forum” must be sought outside of Nigeria, can only be a reflection of a deep mistrust of the country that many of the speakers themselves have pledged to snatch from the jaws of corruption. In a very divided landscape, the colonial power is still seen as a mutual arbiter. It is very telling also that most meetings in the lead up to Nigeria’s independence in 1960 were held in London. History continues to repeat itself. An unfortunate legacy of the Buhari years might be an increasing pivot towards placing more importance on foreign institutions than on national ones. This was made evident through Bola Tinubu’s avoidance of the Arise TV debate, when compared with his determined presence at Chatham House, despite his evident ill-preparedness.’

Read the full essay at the link in bio.
____________________
📝 : Afoma Dike, Associate Editor
📷 : Chatham House / CHATHAMHOUSE. ORG
Today in 1985, President P. W. Botha offered to fr Today in 1985, President P. W. Botha offered to free Nelson Mandela from prison. #RxHistory⏳
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On 31 January 1985, South African president, P. W. Botha, offered to free Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), from the prison sentence he had been serving since the conclusion of the Rivonia trial in 1964. This was on the condition that he renounced violence, and violent protest, as a means to bring about change in South Africa. Mandela refused the offer.
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The ANC is a political party in South Africa that originally attempted to use non-violent protests to end apartheid. Mandela joined the ANC in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League. After the ANC was banned in 1960, Mandela and others founded an ANC military wing. He and other wing leaders were jailed in 1964 when police found their headquarters.
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In response to the offer by President Botha, Mandela stated that the ANC only adopted violence as a means of protest ‘When other forms of resistance were no longer open to us'. Mandela called on Botha to renounce violence, dismantle apartheid, legalize the ANC, free political prisoners, permit exiles to return to South Africa, and grant Black people the right to free political activity.
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On 3 February 1990, President F. W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC and released Mandela from prison on 11 February 1990. Mandela immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected the ANC president. He was inaugurated as South Africa's first democratically-elected president on 10 May 1994.

Read more on African history at the link in bio.
___________
📝: Etashe Okpola and Chiamaka Dike.
📷: 1) Nelson Mandela meeting with President P. W. Botha. Cape Town. 5 July 1989, From L-R: unknown, Nelson Mandela, Niël Barnard, P. W. Botha, Kobie Coetsee. TERS EHLER.
Who is the Governor of Osun State? #RxNews📡 Th Who is the Governor of Osun State? #RxNews📡

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal annulled the 16 July 2022 elections

On Friday, the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo declared former governor Adegboyega Oyetola to be the duly elected governor of the state over Ademola Adeleke, who emerged victorious in the 16 July 2022 elections.

The majority judgement, read by Justice Tertse Kume, said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 290,266. Kume held that the tribunal observed over-voting in 744 polling units, spanning ten local councils including Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ila, Ilesa West, Irepodun, Obokun, Olorunda and Osogbo.

On 16 July 2022, INEC winner of the Osun governorship election. The returning officer, vice chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced that Adeleke won with a total of 403,371 votes over Oyetola who got 375,027 votes and won in 13 local government areas. Oyetola moved to nullify the election, claiming it had been marred with ‘irregularities’. On 05 August 2022, actions at the Election Petitions Tribunal in Osogbo, the state capital, began.

Both parties have since responded to the tribunal’s decision to annul the July 16 polls. Adeleke, who intends to appeal, has described the judgement as ‘a miscarriage of justice’, while Oyetola has voiced his satisfaction with the tribunal’s verdict.

Read the full story at link in our bio.
___________

📝: Hillary Essien, Senior Associate Editor
📷: Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke / PREMIUM TIMES
Today in 2010, the MEND ended its truce with the N Today in 2010, the MEND ended its truce with the Nigerian government. #RxHistory⏳
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On 30 January 2010, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) called off its unilateral truce and threatened an ‘all-out onslaught' against the oil industry in Niger Delta.
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MEND is one of the largest militant groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The loose coalition of armed groups emerged in late 2005 to early 2006, targeting the oil infrastructure in the area, and abducting and holding oil workers for ransom. Although the group claims to be fighting for local control of oil resources in the region, it has been accused of engaging in criminal activities, committing acts of extortion, and stealing oil for its own benefit.
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On 25 October 2009, MEND declared a truce to foster meaningful dialogues with oil executives and government officials in Nigeria. However, three months later, the group called off the truce, citing the lack of commitment of the Nigerian government towards returning ownership and control of Niger Delta lands to its people. The announcement was made at the time when Nigeria was grappling with uncertainty over the health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua who was receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia.
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Since the emergence of militant groups in the Niger Delta region in the 1990s, several factions have emerged, with groups like MEND renamed to the Reformed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (RMEND). According to a 2020 report by Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, more than 1013 people died from militant-related conflicts in the region in 2019.

Read more on African history at the link in our bio.
___________
📝: Etashe Okpola and Chiamaka Dike.
Crude oil spills from a pipeline in the Niger Delta. Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde
Race as powerful fiction. #Onsite⚡ - After 16 ye Race as powerful fiction. #Onsite⚡
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After 16 years of living in the Middle East, Andile Zulu returned to South Africa. On one occasion, a close friend revealed to Andile that he did not like Black men, because they are not attractive and are aggressive. In this Black Atlantic essay, Andile writes about the experience:
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‘In my undergraduate years I saw the white gaze recreated in the vicious faces of policemen surveying a crowd of protesting university students. It caused a burning itch in the mind when white joggers offered nervous, strained smiles as I passed them on an empty street. No, this sensation was not new but in that particular moment the sting felt harsher. Through that confession, my close friend who I had a huge crush on, reminded me of a chasm that existed between us, an asymmetry that turned us into hostile strangers  One that was erected by the past and alive in the present. Luke’s confession was just one manifestation of Apartheid’s numerous legacies. Is it surprising that those who often only see us as their servants, savage criminals, as angry mobs or clowns for their entertainment, would fail to see Black as beautiful?’
-
Read the full essay by clicking the link in our bio.
____________
📝: Andile Zulu
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