Meet Solomon Osagie Alonge, Most Renowned Photographer in Africa during the Early 20th Century

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Solomon Osagie Alonge (1911-1994) was born in Benin, Nigeria. He learned English at the Benin Baptist Primary School and in 1925, at the age of 14, moved to Lagos, where he lived with an uncle to learn a trade. He quickly became interested in photography and began professional practice to expand his knowledge and skills. For Alonge, photography proves to be a lucrative and respected profession. In 1930 he returned to Benin and began photography in his home on Rue Ugbague. He often traveled outside Benin by bicycle, taking annual portraits at schools and gathering at social…

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Protest Rocks Lagos Over Postponement of General Elections

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A heavily armed riot police unit marches through a street in Lagos to disperse a crowd of demonstrators demanding a postponement of the December 1964 federal election. General elections were held in Nigeria on December 30, 1964, but in some constituencies in the Eastern, Lagos and West Central regions they were not held until March 18, 1965, due to the December boycott. During the elections, most parties operated in alliances, the Nigerian National Alliance (Northern People’s Congress, Nigerian National Democratic Party, West Central Democratic Front, Dynamic Party, Niger…

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Creation of Katsina State in Northern Nigeria

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Katsina is one of the oldest states in Nigeria, emerging from the former Kaduna State and located in the northwest geopolitical zone of the country. It is a state that emerged from the ancient Hausa/Fulani kingdoms, particularly the two ancient kingdoms “Katsina and Daura”. According to research, the other ancient Hausa kingdoms included Kano, Gobir, Zazzau, Rano and Biram (Garun Gabas), forming the beginning of the Hausa country. Therefore, at the time of publication of this article, the state capital Katsina and the city of Daura are considered bastions of political activity in the country. The Kingdom of Katsina, one of the Bakwai Hausa, called the “seven true Hausa states,” is…

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Biography of His Eminence Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Kamalud-deen Al-Adabiy

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His Eminence Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Kamalud-deen Al-Adabiy, MFR, OFR, ORSA (Egypt). D.Litt. (University of Ilorin), Scholar of Islamic Studies in Nigeria (FISN), was born at the Ara Agbaji compound in Masingba, Okekere area of ​​Ilorin at the turn of the 20th century (1905). His father was Mallam Habibullahi, son of Sheikh Musa, and his mother was Alhaja Khadijah. His paternal grandparents are said to have emigrated from Katsina. The young Muhammad Kamalud-deen grew up in a purely Islamic…

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Fela Drives a Battered Volkswagen Beetle to Protest FESTAC 77

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Festac ’77, also known as the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture, was held in Lagos in 1977. The cost of the event, $400 million (US$2 billion today), and the way the funds were used caused confusion. In order to draw attention to the plight of the masses, Fela drove a damaged VW Beetle to the event in protest. Nigeria rose to the top of the international charts after successfully hosting Festac ’77, also known as the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture. The international festival, which took place in Lagos from January 15, 1977, to February 12, 1977, was attended by approximately 16,000 participants from 56 African nations and countries of the African diaspora.The event’s 12-year planning saw…

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Historical Origin of the Ogba Kingdom

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The Ogba people are one of the ethnic groups in Rivers State. The Ogba people speak the Ogba language.  The Ogba people live in a local government called Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers State, Nigeria. The Ogba language has three dialects: Usomini, Igburu, and Egi dialect. The Ogba Kingdom consists of three clans: the Egi, Igburu and Usomini clans, and their largest city is Omoku.The Ogba people speak two dialects of the Ogba languages: Egi and Igburu. Eligbo…

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Princess Inikpi’s Selfless Sacrifice for the Igala People.

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Princess Inikpi was a beautiful and intelligent young woman whose selfless sacrifice saved her people from destruction.  She was the only child of her parents: Atah Ayegba Oma Idoko and Queen Omele. The Igala Kingdom came into conflict with the Bini Kingdom, one of its greatest enemies, around the 15th century. The Bini warriors repeatedly attacked the land of Igala until they wanted to destroy its population. The Bini warriors used a variety of tactics, including poisoning waterways, sudden attacks by day and night, and laying siege to their agricultural lands. The people of Igala then lived in…

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Throwback Photo of Tinubu Square Donated by the Lebanese Community in Lagos, 1960

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Tinubu Square after the demolition of the Assize Court building. The fountain was built and donated by the Lebanese community of Lagos to celebrate Nigeria’s independence on October 1,1960. In 1846, Mrs. Efunroye Tinubu was the housekeeper of the exiled King Akitoye of Lagos who sought refuge in Badagry during a royal crisis. He managed to mobilize the pro-Akitoye movement, which supported his restoration to the Lagos throne. In 1851, Oba Akintoye successfully regained the throne and invited Mrs. Tinuu with him to Lagos. Mrs. Efunroye Tinubu died in 1887…

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Never Judge a Book by the Cover: Bianca Ojukwu Shares her Story

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Bianca, in an interview some years ago when they celebrated their wedding anniversary, told General Ojukwu a short, fascinating story about their wedding cake and its preparations. Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu (then Bianca Onoh) was preparing for her wedding in November 1994. General Ojukwu’s wife celebrated her wedding anniversary by revealing that a pastry chef in Enugu refused to make her wedding cake. The cook thought Bianca was poor and lower class. A well-meaning friend recommended a qualified pastry…

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Vanity of Old Glory? Photo showing the Once Impressive Garage of Prince Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu

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Prince Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu was the second President of the Senate of Nigeria. He was also Nigeria’s first interim president from late 1965 until the military coup in January 1966. Throughout his political career, Nwafor boasted of having one of the most beautiful luxury cars in his garage. These cars, including his Pontiac Catalina (center), can be compared to expensive vehicles from contemporary brands like Bentley. Nwafor is a member…

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Solidarity Forever: Nigerians in London Protest the Shooting of 21 Striking Nigerian Coal Miners in Enugu by Colonial Police

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Participants in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to protest against the killing of 21 striking Nigerian miners in Enugu by colonial police. The Enugu Coal Mine Massacre, also known as the Iva Valley Massacre, is a site in Enugu city, Enugu State, Nigeria. The name Ivy Valley comes from a valley in the region of the same name. The town is home to the Ivy Valley Coal Mine. Iva Valley is famous in Enugu for the events of November 18, 1949, when police killed 21 miners during protests. On November 18, 1949, 50 armed policemen led by the senior police commissioner F.S Phillips…

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Ben Enwonwu- Africa’s Most Celebrated Artist who Hails from Onitsha

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Odinigwe native Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE (14 July 1917 – 5 February 1994), better known as Ben Enwonwu, was born as a twin into the noble Umueze-Aroli family in Onitsha, Nigeria on July 14, 1917. His father, Omenka Odigwe Emeka Enwonwu, was a technician who worked for the Royal Niger Company. He was also a member of the Onitsha Chief Council and a renowned traditional sculptor who created clerical staffs, stools, decorative doors and…

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Nigerian Famous Writers Visit General Ibrahim Babangida at Dodan Barracks.

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In 1986, three of the most famous Nigerian and African writers and poets, JP Clark, Chinua Achebe and Professor Wole Soyinka visited Dodan Barracks. Their aim was to appeal to General Ibrahim Babangida to pardon General Vatsa, also known as Mamman Jiya Vatsa. Despite their efforts, General Babangida went ahead and executed General Vatsa. It should be noted that General Vatsa and General Babangida were close friends, which made the circumstances of this execution even more embarrassing. The details of what happened between these two friends will soon be…

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General Sani Abacha’s Son and Ally Charged to Court For the Murder of late MKO Abiola’s Wife

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The son of late military ruler General Sani Abacha Mohammed Abacha (left) and former senior security official Major Hamza al-Mustapha (right) are taken out of a prison van en route to the courthouse on October 14, 1999. in Lagos. The two men, along with three others, were charged with the 1996 murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late MKO Abiola. Al-Mustapha was also charged with another murder.

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Aso Oke Weaving, A Dominant Craft by the Iseyin People.

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The town of Iseyin in Oyo is historically known for the production of Aso Oke. Even more notable is that in the 1970s and 1990s, most of the city’s weavers were predominantly men. The production of hand-woven fabrics in Iseyin is based on a careful generational tradition. Since Oke was a skill passed down from generation to generation, it was practiced by almost all Iseyin families, even the youngest members. The art of cloth weaving on narrow, horizontal looms is the most important activity in Iseyin and employs a significant number of people.

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Akolu Rock in Oyo State; A Tourist Sight to Behold

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The founders of Eruwa were from Oyo Eruwa Ojoko, a town surrounded by a range of hills, is the headquarters of the  Ibarapa East Local Government Region. It is an ancient city that predates colonization and has a rich cultural heritage.  According to history, in the pre-colonial years, the Alaafin of Oyo, who was the head of other rulers, recognized Eruwa as the capital of the eastern district of Ibarapa. And according to the history of Eruwa which is famous for its…

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