Salute to Nigerians indomitable spirit

 

There is no gainsaying the fact that we are in a season of anomie in Nigeria. The country is being buffeted by insecurity of diverse ilk—kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual murder, arson, etcetera. The cost of living crisis has made my compatriots turn beggars. What has kept many alive is hope for a better tomorrow. Life has thrown lemons to many Nigerians and rather than sulk in self-pity, they decided to make lemonade out of it.

Today, on this page, I want to celebrate the indomitable spirit of Nigerians. Their never-say-die attitude to problem-solving. Yes, the situation is terrible, but agonising over it is never going to make the situation better. It’s this understanding that has made many Nigerians embark on a voyage of discovery. Look at the Nigerian multi-billion-dollar entertainment industry. Thespians like Chief Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Ola Omonitan, Akin Ogungbe, Tunbosun Odunsi, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love) and Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala) played a pioneering role before it metamorphosed into Nollywood in the 90s with Igbo actors and actresses dominating the scene. Actors like Zack Orji, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Liz Benson, Onyeka Onwenu, Sandra Achums, Ini Edo, Ramsey Nouah, Segun Arinze, Larry Coldsweat, and many others dominated the early stage of the Nollywood film industry. After Nollywood, Kannywood came strictly for the Hausa / Fulani actors and actresses.

The pioneering role of comedians like Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome (better known by the moniker ‘Ali Baba’), Bright Okpocha a.k.a Basketmouth, Ayo Makun (better known as AY), Lepacious Bose, Teju ‘Babyface’ Oyelakin, Bovi and I go dye, to mention a few, have paved the way for skit economy which is now a money spinner. Whereas stand-up comedy is like a closed circuit where only a few have the opportunity to thrive, the skit industry has afforded many talented comics to exhibit their craft and make money by just shooting a short video, some as little as 30 seconds which they post on their Instagram or YouTube page or platform and if the video is deemed very funny or creative, it gets shared by their followers. Once the video can trend and garner thousands and millions of viewers, the content creator gets to make money through clicks, adverts, endorsements and branding opportunities. Through skit-making alone many young millionaires have emerged.

A cursory look at Nigeria’s music industry showed that the century-old sector has transformed into a money spinner for young talented musicians. Nigerians contributed immensely to the growth of ‘highlife’ music with musicians like Oliver De Coque, Chief Osita Osadebey, Dr Victor Olaiya, Tunde Nightingale and Adeolu Akinsanya better known as  ‘Baba Eto.’ Fela Anikulapo Kuti innovated his own musical brand as Afrobeat and made a huge success of his craft. He was a global icon and his children, Femi and Seun, are keeping the Afrobeat torch aloft. King Sunny Ade and Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey played a pioneering role in birthing Juju Music; the same way as Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Gen. Kollington Ayinla midwived the birth of Fuji music.

In contemporary times, singers like Davido, Whizkid, Burna Boy, Olamide, Asake, Rema, Simi, Teni, Ayra Star, P Square, Tu Face, and a host of others have put Nigeria on the world map through their music. Burna Boy and WhizKid have even won Grammy awards for themselves. These youngsters have become role models for Nigerian youths. These ambassadors have shown that something good can still come out of Nigeria’s ‘Nazareth.’

In saluting the indomitable spirit of Nigerians, I appreciate the resilience and excellence of Nigeria’s sportsmen and women who have done themselves and the nation proud. People like Anthony Joshua who is a two-time world champion in boxing, Israel Adesanya better known as ‘Stylebender’ who is a world champion in Mix-Martial Art, Victor Osimhen who is the current African Footballer of the Year, and Asisat Oshoala who is the current African Women’s Footballer of the Year (a titled she has won for the record sixth time). Deserving mention are Nigerians like Tobi Amusan who is a world title holder in 100-meter Hurdle. Another inspiring Nigerian youth is Coach Rena Wakama who was awarded the best coach of the tournament by FIBA for guiding the Nigerian D’Tigress Basketball team to a historic outing at the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympics.

Kudos to Nigerian students who despite hunger and deprivation are determined to soldier on to complete their studies. Salutation to Nigeria’s gallant soldiers and policemen who dare the assault of the bandits and criminal elements in our society to keep the rest of us safe. Hundreds of them have been maimed while many others have paid the supreme price with their lives, yet they remain undaunted and undeterred by taking the battle to the enemies’ territory.

I also recognise mothers who engage in genuine hustle to feed the family. Those who do not mind engaging in tedious tasks and menial jobs in as much as it is honest labour deserve accolades for not giving up despite the prevalent hardship in the land. Many of these women sell off their personal belongings to see their children and wards through school. They go hungry so that their children can have food to eat. They are the ones Prince Nico Mbarga referred to in his classic song as ‘Sweet Mother.’

I doff my hat to men who hustle to feed, clothe and provide shelter for their households. Against all odds, these fathers cater to the needs of their immediate and extended families.  They sometimes do multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. They sacrifice their comfort and convenience just so that their family will not suffer.

While most Nigerians are good and resilient, there is still a significant number who engage in criminality. They are in the minority but their evil actions give the country a bad image of being a den of scammers and criminals. Criminals exist in every clime and it is wrong to use the negative activities of this minority to characterise a country of over 200 million people.

Here is a note of warning to government officials, especially our elected leaders. While it is true that Nigerians have an indomitable spirit and are generally hardworking, our leaders will be mistaken to think we are weak and docile. Nigerians’ tolerance level for hardship is waning very fast and there is a need to provide an enabling environment for the populace to live a decent life. The extant rising cost of living is a bad omen and the nation needs to be pulled back from the precipice of despondency. If that is not done early enough, popular anger can make the citizens become rebellious.