A narration of the history of Nigeria can never be complete without the infusion of the tribe that is, the Yorubas. With one of the deepest castes known to man, the Yorubas have established themselves as one of Nigeria’s biggest and culturally relevant communities. Most pundits will agree that the town of Ife serves as the tribe’s headquarters. Ile-ife, a town of tranquility is best referred to as the origin of the Black race in general and the Yorubas in particular. The influence extends as far as the Caribbean, Cuba, Brazil and some other North American countries where the Yoruba day is celebrated annually. The Oranmiyan staff is the symbol of authority and the pride of the Yoruba race and like all great cultural castes go, there is always an equally magnificent ruling system that serves as a balance for the society. This is where the Ooni of Ife comes into play.

By Adebowale Olusa

The Ooni of Ife is the paramount traditional ruler of Ile Ife, the ancestral home of the Yoruba people. Since the demise of Oduduwa, a host of top-notch personalities have been cradled with the yoke of occupying the hot seat of the Ooni. From the time of Ooni Oduduwa to the ever impressive Oramiyan Omoluabi (who birthed the Benin Kingdom and fathered the first Alaafin of Oyo), to even the female Ooni Luwoo and recently, Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, it has to be said that only the best of the best have been given the opportunity to carry the crown of the Ooni. And such is the case of Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

There is an adage that says some are born great while some have greatness thrust upon them. The story of Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi is that of a man that was born to be great. His greatness had been predicted even before his birth, little wonder his choice as the next Ooni of Ife to succeed the late Oba Okunade Sijuade. Adeyeye’s father said, ‘he grew up with signs of greatness’.

Forty-two years ago in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, a prince was born into the Giesi Ruling House, Ojaja Royal Compound of Agbedegbede in Ile-Ife. He was named Adeyeye Enitan. Many years before the birth of the young prince, it was predicted that a child of prominence that would impact the lives of mankind would be born into the family at exactly 1 pm. Indeed, Adeyeye came into this world at exactly 1 pm on a Thursday, the 17th of October 1974. Enitan-ooni With the news of the arrival of a newborn prince, he was specifically named Adeyeye by his grandfather Pa. Joseph Olagbaju Adewole Ogunwusi Jnr. The name Adeyeye in English translates to ‘A Crown Befitting for a King’; Pa Ogunwusi on setting his eyes on the newborn prince began to call him Adeyeye Ooni from that very day till he passed away. The young prince’s late mother also named him Enitan which in English translates to ‘A child of a great story’.

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had his primary and secondary school education in Ibadan and Ile-Ife. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from The Polytechnic Ibadan, where he started cutting his teeth in outstanding entrepreneurship, even as a student. He is a member of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Accounting Technician and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Nigeria. He is also an active member of the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI).

Oba Ogunwusi is an all-round businessman and an entrepreneur of repute with business interests in engineering, real estate, procurement, and construction both locally and internationally for over twelve years. He has, in fact, been actively involved in the development of over 2500 housing units with various consortia of developers and promoters. He facilitated strong trade relationships in over 200 member countries across the globe using the Association for International Business presence, an organization he set up in Nigeria. One of the key achievements of this body is the trade facilitation between the United Arab Emirates (Jebel Ali free Trade Zone Development) and the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission. He was a co-organizer for Ondo State Economic Planning and Implementation Committee. He led the Government delegation team to Canada in 2002 for strategic alliances and partnership with Ondo State Government on solid mineral potentials of the state (Bitumen, Dimension Stones, Granite, etc.) which led to the formation of Amalgamated Mining and Exploration Company Limited – wholly owned by the Ondo State Government. He was involved in the facilitation and development of Sparkwest Steel Galvanizing Plant (the only Steel Galvanizing Plantin Nigeria), National Iron Ore Mining Company Limited and Jakura Mines resuscitation projects which have eventually become the major limestone feedstock to Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Nigeria.

Early in 2015, Prince Adeyeye disclosed his plans to take Ile-Ife to greater heights by rebranding the ancient town and replicating the Grand Resort in Ile-Ife, having already acquired a good land mass for the project. He is a grassroots fellow to the core, whose humility is second to none and a lover of youths. As a philanthropist, Prince Adeyeye has sponsored numerous less privileged children and youths in his hometown of Ile-Ife and likewise in Lagos where he lives. Many youths till date are beneficiaries of Prince Adeyeye’s scholarship platform.

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi is best described as a distinct achiever with a revolutionary approach to creativity and innovation resulting in excellence.

His vision and creativity saw a remote jungle called ‘Inagbe Island’ in Lagos transformed into a brand new community with the establishment of a world-class relaxation and recreational center. The Inagbe Grand Resort and Leisure Centre, Lagos is the first of its kind in the whole of West Africa bounded by the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.

A bridge builder and peace ambassador, Oba Ogunwusi, on the ascension of office, has taken on the toga of an ‘elderly’ despite his very young age. His first port of call was a historic visit to the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace where he was warmly welcomed by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. The visit brought an end to the animosity that has existed between the two kingdoms for over thirty years. Such visits have also been extended to other Yoruba Obas to foster strong brotherly love among the tribe. Ooni Ogunwusi promised ‘to unite all the Yoruba and avoid supremacy tussle with any monarch it is indeed a new dawn. It is our God that makes a king, and I am grateful to God for preparing me for this throne. I did not become a king by accident, God designed it to be so because as a prince, I had personal dealings with over 20 kings and I will explore this to work for the unity of all Yoruba monarchs. Speaking further, He said, ‘immediately I was selected by the kingmakers, I called the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and discussed with him the essence of bringing everybody together. I am glad to say that today we are on the same page. I also called Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. We spoke at length. He came around during my seclusion. I have also met with Oba Akiolu of Lagos apart from many other traditional rulers that I have personal relationships with. So gradually, the Yoruba kingdom is coming together. I want to admit that fingers are not equal, but there must be unity’.

The youthful Ooni also promised to do a lot for the youths and improve on our values. ‘I consider myself to be fortunate because for somebody within my age grade to be closer to many leaders, is a rare privilege. And I have started some serious discussions with some monarchs that we are in the same age bracket to improve on the traditional institution’.

A man who loves to contribute his quota to his society, he has personally installed power transformers for several communities. It is without a doubt that the Ooni of Ile –Ife through his vision to impact the lives of everyone around him and his fervent passion for humanity has broken grounds as an investor in people and a preservationist of the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife. He is loved and highly admired by the people of Ile-Ife and importantly, he remains in tune with his roots and tradition. He is married to Adedokun Adebisi Ogunwusi and blessed with a daughter, Adeola Aanuoluwapo Ogunwusi. Long live the King!

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Just like yesterday, I remember that faithful Friday, February 13, 1976. We were just arriving at school for the morning assembly. As usual, we gathered in our well-ironed khaki shorts and stood at attention to recite the "Nigeria we Hail thee" national anthem! It was a ritual we all looked forward to, but that was not to be as the assembly was truncated by noise at the school gates. Parents scrambled to get into the school compound to pick up their wards back home. Innocent children like me looked on at the pandemonium as the gatekeeper refused to let the parents come into the school, until Mrs. Adeogun, (I think that’s her name), the headmistress then, came out looking real sullen. "The nation is in turmoil, tragedy has struck," she said. "The hero of the masses, the most loved Nigerian President has been killed in a brutal, bloody manner on his way to the office this morning." Radios were blasting with martial songs, noise of sirens rent the air, we must all go home to face the uncertainty that faces the nation! Our hero is dead! Murdered in cold blood, the man who identified with the common man was murdered, the hopes of many dashed, that’s the feeling that flowed through the minds of many Nigerians, General Murtala Mohammed was a loved man, a semblance of sensibility in a very chaotic Nigerian militocracy of those days and his death was a rude awakening for a country that many believe does not appreciate its best people.

General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was Nigeria’s 3rd military head of state. He came into power after General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown via a bloodless coup while he was attending an OAU summit in Uganda. On assumption of office, he set out like a man who knew what he wanted, he pursued his goal of refining Nigeria, he was a man on a mission. Nigeria has witnessed many government changes but none till date has appeared as prepared as Murtala Mohammed. From the first day in office, he reeled out policies and followed them suit. One of his first acts was to scrap the 1973 census, which was weighted in favor of the north, and to revert to the 1963 count for official purposes. Murtala Muhammad removed top federal and state officials to break links with the Gowon regime and to restore public confidence in the federal government. More than 10,000 public officials and employees were dismissed without benefits, on account of age, health, incompetence, or malpractice. The purge affected the civil service, judiciary, police and armed forces, diplomatic service, public corporations, and universities. Some officials were brought to trial on charges of corruption. He also began the demobilization of 100,000 troops from the swollen ranks of the armed forces.

He was one that had a profound effect on our history. Sadly, he was assassinated 40 years ago on February 13, 1976. In a nation where there were few heroes, he was one of them. His courage, focus, strength of character, brazenness, passion and ability to take the bull by the horn and do what needed to be done, no matter whose ox was gored, and no matter what the consequences were, was outstanding and exemplary. He was blunt, fearless and irrepressible. Though his regime as Head of State was short-lived; July 29, 1975 – February 13, 1976, our domestic policy under his watch brought positive and monumental changes to the fortunes of our country and to the character of the people.

His administration approved, designed and established the idea of a Federal Capital Territory and set the date for the military to hand over power to a democratically elected government in. He didn’t live to see these, but the hand-over date was honoured by his successor in office, General Olusegun Obasanjo. For the six months Murtala was in power, our foreign policy was a sight to behold. It was Nigeria at her proudest and best moments. In those days, when Nigeria spoke, the world listened, and when we sneezed, Africa literally caught a cold. That was when Nigeria was regarded as the giant of Africa and rightly so.

With Murtala at the driving seat in Nigeria, the eventual liberation of Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa were set in motion. Though he did not live to see it, he was the one that set the ball rolling and threw down the gauntlet to the western power and all supporters of racial tyranny and apartheid.

Perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, he could have mounted a good security for himself, maybe Nigeria wouldn’t have degenerated as it is today. He mixed with the masses, he attended Jumat prayers like a normal person, he didn’t carry a retinue of security guards around, he was just your common bloke next door, Nigerians loved him for it but the detractors also saw the weak point and he was killed, without any opportunity to defend himself. Murtala had never bothered with the massive security details characteristic of so many modern Heads of States. He, as a simple and open officer, often times would arrive functions unannounced and without security details. In response to General Obasanjo’s advice to take his personal security more seriously, Murtala was quoted as saying; “if they succeed in killing all of us, good luck to them”. To Murtala Muhammed, that was exactly what happened. On 13th February 1976, Murtala departed for work along his usual route unaware of what awaited him. His car was caught in that usual infamous Lagos traffic outside Federal Secretariat Ikoyi, a group of soldiers rushed to the car and fired a volley of gunshots which killed Murtala, his driver and ADC. Thus came to an end the life of a man who was described in his lifetime to be as “tough as nails”. His life was a manifestation of the fact that truly, “fortune favours the bold”.

As a lasting symbol of his legacy, Nigeria’s largest international airport at Ikeja was renamed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, while the largest hospital in his home state of Kano was also named after him. In addition to these, his face is imprinted on the Nigerian currency note of 20 naira denomination. Though short-lived, his life was very symbolic and Nigeria still is grateful to this fallen hero!

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By Busola Agbabiaka

September 19 2015 was like any other day, the town of Ikenne in Ogun state woke up in its usual quietness with the cool wind blowing gently across its length and breadth. Ironically, at the home of the legendary and highly revered Awolowo family, the sun had set, the wind had stopped blowing and the hand of the clock had stopped ticking. The matriarch of the Awolowo Family, the rallying point of the ageless Yoruba unity and the undisputable mother of the Yoruba race just passed on. As the news seeped out of the town, disbelief, bowed heads, and crying voices trailed it all over the country – H.I.D Awolowo who many preferred to call ‘Mama’ was no more.

Hannah Idowu Dideolu (Nee Adelana) was born into a modest family in the small town of Ikenne Remo, Ogun State in 1915. She began her formal education in 1921 at St Saviour’s Anglican School, Ikenne and then to Methodist Girls High School, Broad street, Lagos (1928 -1933). She returned to the same school to teach between 1934 and 1936.

In 1937, she got married to her heartthrob, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was later to become the Premier of the Old Western Region of Nigeria. A loving and devoted wife, HID supported her husband all the way, even when her husband was sent to jail for treasonable felony, like the rock of Gibraltar, she stood by him. HID was affectionately referred to as ‘the jewel of inestimable value’ by her husband.

Despite the death of her husband in 1987, HID successfully led Awo’s disciples for the best part of twenty eight years. She founded the Yoruba Unity Front (YUF) which meeting was always and regularly attended by core and loyal Awoists. The Pan-Yoruba group known as ‘Afenifere’ has been presenting Yoruba views on national issues with HID as the rallying point. Every year, the group assembles at her Ikenne residence to continually espouse Awo’s ideas and ideology while eulogizing her for holding forth.

It is on record that every aspiring leader in the South West of Nigeria always sought her blessing for their candidature as any elections approached. Her larger than life image also attracted visits from all presidents that have led this nation at one point or the other.

HID Awolowo was a very successful businesswoman even as the wife of the Premier of the old Western Region, She became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957 and was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria. She was also the Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune established in November, 1949 by her husband

She played innumerable roles both at the national and the international fronts. HID held several traditional chieftancy titles of Mojibade of Ikenne, Iyalode of Remoland, Yeye Oodua of yorubaland and several more.

She also bears to her name the prestigious national award of the commander of the order of the Niger (CON). She also holds Honoraray Degree of Doctor of Letters of the University of Calabar and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

Everything looked pre-ordained and Mama was in charge to the very end. At 99, closer to 100, death did not catch Mama unawares. She went on her own terms, after showering prayers on her family and having a meal of her choice. She went to bed to rest and kissed the world goodbye as if she knew the time, if not the hour had come. She was laid to rest in a gold casket beside her husband in the family mausoleum at the Awolowo’s country home in Ikenne.

The burial was one that would remain long in our memories as it attracted the who-is-who across the country including President Mohammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (who is also an in-law to the Awolowo Family). Also in attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Former Head of State Rtd Gen Yakubu Gowon, Former Head of Interim Govt Chief Ernest Shonekan, Senate President Bukola Saraki, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Several Serving and former Governors , Ministers, Captains of industries led by the richest man in Africa Aliko Dangote, as well as politicians from the 6 geo-political zones cutting across party lines and clerics among others.

HID Awolowo was not just the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty; she was a mother to Nigeria. May her soul Rest in perfect Peace. Amin

For More Juicy Stories, Get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, (Issue 9). Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.

In all of boxing history, Muhammad Ali stands alone. In early boasts, he called himself “The Greatest,” and by the time his storied career came to an end, most fight fans agreed. Ali had also become the best-known athlete in the world and, very possibly, the best loved as well.

Cassius Clay, who used his birth name until he became a Black Muslim in 1964, grew up in a quiet black neighbourhood of Louisville, Kentucky. He was a popular student in high school, where his stunning self-confidence made him noteworthy even then. He had been focussed on boxing since he was twelve and trained with the single-mindedness of a future champion. He started boxing at the amateur level in his hometown and captured the AAU and Golden Gloves titles in 1959 and 1960.

Moshood Abiola:  Unmatched Philanthropist
By Eniola Samuel

MKO Abiola’s memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally. June 12 remains a public holiday in the south western states of Nigeria, though many argue that the date should be a national holiday for democracy. Abiola was known for his charisma and as a prominent social activist, democratic freedom fighter and a successful business figure. The continued support for his person and ideas even in death is seen as part of his legacy.

Moshood Abiola, popularly known as MKO was born in Abeokuta on August 24^th, 1937. He was a very popular businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat. Born into a poor family, MKO learnt the art of survival through the hard way. This background later came to be his guide to wealth and fame. MKO had to fend for himself and family fetching firewood from the forest before going to school. At age 15, he founded a music band where he performs first for food and later for money. From both proceeds, he was able to sponsor his secondary school education at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. MKO passed out in flying colors earning himself a scholarship to proceed to Glasgow University, Scotland to study Accountancy, Abiola graduated with a first class and proceeded to bag a certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

On his return to Nigeria, he worked as a senior accountant at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, then went on to Pfizer, before joining the ITT Corporation, where he later rose to the position of Vice-President, Africa and Middle-East of the entire corporation, which was headquartered in the United States. As a result, Moshood Abiola spent a lot of his time and made most of his money in the United States, whilst retaining the post of chairman of the corporation’s Nigerian subsidiary. Abiola, through diligence divested into various other business viz Abiola Farms, Abiola bookshops, Radio Communications Nigeria, Wonder bakeries, Concord Press, Concord Airlines, Summit oil international ltd, Africa Ocean lines, Habib Bank, Decca W.A. ltd.

MKO, a lover of the round leather game, founded the then popular Abiola Babes Football Club of Abeokuta which went on to win laurels in Nigeria and Africa in the early eighties. He supported sports both morally and financially all over Africa which earned him the award as the Pillar of Sports in Africa.

Moshood Abiola sprang to national and international prominence as a result of his philanthropic activities. His presence and benevolence was felt by all and sundry, Abiola was a giver who expects no favours in return, he gave for the sake of giving! Someone once wrote, ‘It is only men like MKO that can just call you from the blues or meet you by chance on a first date and there or then settle all your educational/business needs’ and this really was MKO Abiola. He personally sponsored the construction of 121 mosques and churches, 41 libraries, 21 water projects over 20 states in Nigeria. Abiola was the grand patron of more than 149 societies in Nigeria. He won the admiration of several ethnic and religious His philanthropic gestures earned him more than 197 traditional chieftancy titles from 68 different communities in Nigeria. These activities won him admiration across the multifarious ethnic and religious divide through the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Abiola’s foray into politics was ascribed to be the beginning of his end, many Nigerians loved MKO the philanthropist but unkown to many, Abiola’s political career started as early as when he was 19years of age when he joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Camerouns (NCNC) as a student. MKO, like other politicians, went on compulsory sabbatical occasioned by the various military interventions in Nigeria’s democracy until 1978 when he emerged as the National Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria. He was later to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) under which he contested for the post of President in 1993.

At the June 12 1993 polls, he overwhelmingly defeated his rival, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). The election was declared the freest and fairest Nigerian election by local and international observers. For the first time in Nigerian political history, a politician won the presidential elections across the length and breadth of the nation even defeating his opponent in his home state. Nigerians voted without bias for religious, ethnic or social inclinations. However the election was annulled by the then military ruling junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and no reason has been given so far for the annulment of the elections. There were agitations and a feeling of despondency across the length and breadth of the nation but the military did not bulge the call to allow Abiola claim his mandate. The nation was thrown into turmoil which is now popularly referred to as the June 12 Struggle with all parts of Nigeria virtually shut down by protests and pressure from the international community. This and a series of other events led to the palace coup that brought in late General Sani Abacha as the new head of state.

Having exhausted all efforts to no avail, MKO declared himself the lawfully elected President of Nigeria at the popular Epetedo Square in Lagos in the full glare of Nigerians and the international press. Consequent upon this, the military under Gen Sani Abacha interpreted this as treason and ordered his immediate arrest. He was detained for four years largely in solitary confinement with a Bible and Qur’an, as companions. During that time, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and human rights activists from all over the world lobbied the Nigerian government for his release but this was not to be. Abiola refused the solitary terms attached to his bail which was that he renounces his mandate, something he vehemently refused to do!

Just when it looked like the military was considering his release, Nigerians were shocked to hear the news of his death on July 7, 1998, coincidentally the date that was set for his release from prison. The sun had set in the noon for one of Africa’s greatest, the hopes of many were dashed. Never has the death of any man shaken Nigerian on this scale. Abiola was a man of the people.

Abiola was a man whose love for Africa knows no bound, he spearheaded and funded the struggle for the release of Nelson Mandela from the apartheid government in South Africa. He also sought to bridge the divide between all of Africa’s people. As Chairman of the Organization of African Unity’s Group of Eminent Persons on reparations, he reached out to leaders across Africa and the Diaspora. He wanted Africans to speak with a united voice on the issue of seeking reparations for colonialism and slavery. MKO Abiola made an endowment to the African Studies Association, based at Rutgers university in the United States. The objective of the endowment is to afford senior African scholars the ability to develop research and present lectures on issues of relevance to the progress and development of Africa, at their annual meetings. Little wonder, he holds the highest traditional title of Aare Ona Kakanfo’, which literally translates to the ‘the war viceroy of Yorubaland’.

MKO Abiola Stadium was named in his honour. There were also calls for posthumous presidential recognition. Moshood Abiola was twice voted international businessman of the year^[and received numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world. In 1987 he was bestowed with the golden key to the city of Washington D.C., and he was bestowed with awards from the NAACP and the King center in the USA, as well as the International Committee on Education for Teaching in Paris, amongst many others.

MKO Abiola’s memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally. June 12 remains a public holiday in the south western states of Nigeria, though many argue that the date should be a national holiday for democracy. Abiola was known for his charisma and as a prominent social activist, democratic freedom fighter and a successful business figure. The continued support for his person and ideas even in death is seen as part of his legacy.

African Legends: Léopold Sédar Senghor

First president of Senegal, acclaimed poet, writer, teacher and statesman. Co-founder of African philosophical movement known as ‘Negritude’, the black consciousness movement of the French-speaking world. The negritude then posited that, while white people excelled at rational thought, blacks possessed superior intuitive powers. The idea of négritude informed not only Senghor’s cultural criticism and literary work, but also became a guiding principle for his political thought in his career as a statesman. Senghor worked assiduously ensuring the transition of his West African country from colony to respectful independence.

Léopold Sédar Senghor was born in Joal, Afrique Occidentale Française (French West Africa now Republic of Senegal), to a Serer (third largest ethnic group in Senegal) Father and Roman Catholic mother. He initially wanted to become a priest and attended a seminary, but at the age of 20 he decided that he would rather teach and relocated to a college in Dakar. In 1928 Senghor traveled to Paris to continue his studies on a partial scholarship.

Léopold Senghor became the first black African to become an agrégé, the top qualification for a teacher in the French education system, and became a professor of African languages and civilization at the École Nationale de la France d’Outre-Mer.

In 1939, Senghor was enrolled as a French army enlisted man (2ème Classe) with the rank of private within the 59th Colonial Infantry division in spite of his higher education and his later acquisition of the French Citizenship in 1932. A year later in 1940, during the German invasion of France, he was taken prisoner by the Germans in la Charité-sur-Loire. He was interned in different camps, and finally at Front Stalag 230, in Poitiers. Front Stalag 230 was reserved for colonial troops captured during the war. German soldiers wanted to execute him and the others the same day they were captured, but they escaped this fate by yelling Vive la France, vive l’Afrique noire! (“Long live France, long live Black Africa!”) A French officer told the soldiers that executing the African prisoners would dishonour the Aryan race and the German Army. In total, Senghor spent two years in different prison camps, where he spent most of his time writing poems. In 1942 he was released for medical reasons. After his release he joined the Resistance movement in France.

After World War II Senghor pursued a career in politics, entering the French National Assembly as one of Senegal’s two deputies in 1946. In 1948 he founded the Union Progressiste Sénégalaise (UPS, Senegalese Progressive Union). When Senegal achieved independence in 1960, Senghor was elected its first president. He retired from the presidency on 31 December 1980.

Senghor attempted to modernize Senegal, worked against corruption and engaged the international community. He introduced a One-Party State in 1966, but restored multi-party democracy in 1978. Although a socialist, Senghor avoided the Marxist and anti-Western ideology that had become popular in post-colonial Africa, favouring the maintenance of close ties with France and the western world. This is seen by many as a contributing factor to Senegal’s political stability: it remains one of the few African nations never to have had a coup, and always to have had a peaceful transfer of power.

Senghor was twice married, first was to Ginette Eboue. His second wife, Colette Hubert, (French) became Senegal’s first First Lady upon independence in 1960. Senghor had three sons between his two marriages.

Senghor retired to France, became the first black African member of the French Academy in 1984, and published his memoir, Ce que je crois: négritude, francité, et civilisation de l’universel (‘That Which I Believe: Negritude, Frenchness, and Universal Civilization’) in 1988.

Senghor received several honours in the course of his life. He was made Grand-Croix of the Légion d’honneur, Grand-Croix of the l’Ordre national du Mérite, commander of arts and letters. He also received academic palms and the Grand-Croix of the l’Ordre du lion du Sénégal. His war exploits earned him the medal of Reconnaissance Franco-alliée 1939–1945 and the combattant cross 1939–1945. He was named honorary doctor of thirty-seven universities. Senghor received the Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire on 14 October 1971. On 13 November 1978, he received the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic of Spain. In 1983 he was awarded the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize by the University of Tübingen.” The French Language International University in Alexandria was officially open in 1990 and was named after him. The airport of Dakar was renamed Aéroport International Léopold Sédar Senghor in 1996, on his 90th birthday. The Passerelle Solférino in Paris was renamed after him in 2006, on the centenary of his birth.

He died at Verson, France, on 20 December 2001.  He is regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century.

African Legends: Remembering Nelson Mandela

During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

By Segun alawofin (ZAF)

The world went silent on the 5th December 2013 as Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa elected in a fully representative democratic election, died at the age of 95 after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection. He died at around 20:50 local time (UTC+2) at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family. His death, announced by President Jacob Zuma, was greeted by reactions from governments, international organizations, and notable individual.Beyond even the long walk to freedom, Nelson walked the long walk from conflict to compassion lasting peace, liberation and oneness. Each immortal comes with his own unique characters and abilities but one man stands tall, the Madiba. Rejecting any suggestions of violent revenge, he told his followers upon his release, “Let bygones be bygones, Let what has happened pass; take your knives and your guns and throw them into the sea”. After 27years of incarceration, mostly in solitary confinement and under untold hard labour, he still forgave!  Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, ‘He is going to be remembered as an icon of reconciliation and forgiveness – a person of very considerable magnanimity, who was able to preside over a process of transformation from repression to democracy, avoiding the bloodbath that everybody expected’. Madiba came, saw and conquered that is the short story, I wondered what is there to write and decided we will give a photo story of this great African, no! describing him as an African would be limiting, he is a world citizen. We can only celebrate because though he died, Mandela’s name, goodwill and memory will forever linger and we as a family say Rest in Peace.

For More Juicy Stories, Get your copy of GENESIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, (Issue 9). Available with the vendors, and online on jumia.com.ng, konga.com. Available also internationally in the USA in all Barnes & Nobles Stores, Chapters booksellers in Canada and isubscribe.com in UK.

When Dreams Come true!

On a hot summer day nearly half a century ago, an African American preacher with no official title or rank gave voice to America’s deepest aspirations, sharing his dream of an America that ensured the true equality of all black people all over the world.  From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired a movement that would push America towards a more perfect Union. Dr. King called on a generation of Americans to be “voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion.”  His example stirred men and women of all backgrounds to become foot soldiers for justice, and his leadership gave them the courage to refuse the limitations of the day and fight for the prospect of tomorrow.  Dr. King’s legacy encompasses the soul of African American history, including the struggle for freedom, black dignity maintained despite hardship and the pride taken in the tremendous achievement against daunting odds. Most fulfilling is the feeling one gets when he reads the inspiring ‘I have a Dream’ speech’. Reading this speech over and over again, one is inspired to see greater things happening in our lives both individually and collectively as a nation and a race. GENESIS INTERNATIONAL relives the speech once again as the whole world celebrates the Martin Luther King Holiday. in the face of the difficult days ahead, his eyes were toward the “mountaintop” and a vision of the “promised land.” He leaves us with a faith-forged certainty that “we as a people will get to the promised land.” It inspires you to believe that Dreams do Come true!

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: “For Whites Only.” We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest — quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

                Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!