A few days ago American comedian Tony Woods tweeted me to “stop taking pictures and help!”
Well he is right, you see as a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker it is impossible not to get affected by the lives of those I photograph and document. I spent the last 3 months in Nigeria setting up collectives for the Hausa/Fulani women Langa Langa Women Kuli Kuli Collective, beekeepers, sesame seeds, millet, rice and beans collectives. My goal with these collectives is to place organic foods grown and made in Nigeria in every food store worldwide.
The Langa Langa Women Kuli Kuli Collective is designed to empower and improve the living conditions of these women. We are currently working on our app and online marketplace where you can order their kuli kuli from anywhere in the world. An ultra modern kitchen facility will be built for the Langa Langa Women Kuli Kuli Collective while preserving the essence of how kuli kuli was made for centuries.
Place your Kuli Kuli order directly from the collective in Nigeria call + 234 802 750 8837 in the United States call + 1 818 305 5854 or by email KuliKuli@Ewedusoup.com
There is a whole culture today driven by propaganda. Corporations and social media basically produce stories laced with elements of fear and dehumanization which naturally buys into people’s sense of religion were everyone believes God is out to get them for every mistake they make not understanding that God is a mistake.
Examples of widespread propaganda can be found printed on U.S. currency “In God We Trust” yet they manage to fool the people into believing there is a separation between church and state. Every death sentence ends with “May God Have Mercy On Your Soul”. Then you have a general population who believe in and are intimate with God and the Devil and have unanimously proclaimed Jesus as God through the Holy Trinity theory.
Southern Nigerians are known for our constant belly arching at the achievements of our Northern relatives, there is the “Hausa people have ruled us for 40years” there is the “Military are bad people” these are some of bias statements directed at Hausa/Fulani people.
Let me tell you a few facts about the Hausa/Fulani people in Nigeria. The Hausa/Fulani people are peaceful and trustworthy which is why the number one job given to the Hausa/Fulani man in Nigeria is as a security guard popularly known as “Meguard” in Nigeria.
When you step out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja Lagos and need to change your dollars into Naira you subconsciously seek out the Hausa man. It is a fact that activism known today as terrorism will always arise from situations where the people live in extreme poverty and injustice. We Southerners are happy and content to see the Hausa/Fulani living in extreme poverty. We are all too content to have them as our trusted “Meguards” at the same time accuse them and their leaders of terrorism, no doubt we Southerners play the hypocrites game rather well.
The Fulani are not only one of the most beautiful people on this planet they also feed Nigeria with organically raised cattle. Yet the Hausa/Fulani are some of the poorest people in Nigeria working menial and backbreaking jobs.
You see the Southerners believe the Hausa/Fulani people are uneducated and are only there to serve them working at menial jobs at the same time dehumanize their leaders, educated and successful population hence the propaganda against Buhari by the Jonathan reelection team regarding his High School Diploma or lack there of. This syndrome is very much like those Europeans who associate color with intelligence.
Now lets fact check that story about how the Hausas/Fulani have ruled Nigeria for over 40years. Nnamdi Azikiwean Igbo was Governor General and Commander in Chief of Nigeria from 1960–63. President of the Republic of Nigeria from 1963–1966. He was Chairman and Presidential candidate of the (NPN) Nigeria People’s Party from 1978–83.
Obafemi Awolowowas a Presidential candidate under (UPN) United Party of Nigeria back the same period as Azikiwethen the Southerners did not belly ache about their age or about recycling past leaders. Azikiwe and Awolowo are enshrined in currency, streets, airports, universities and other governmental institutions all over Nigeria.
Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi an igbo was Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 – July 19, 1966. General Yakubu Gowon from Ngas Plateau was Head of State from August 1, 1966 – July 29, 1975. General Murtala Muhammed a Hausa/Fulani from Kano was the 4th Head of State of Nigeria from July 30, 1975 – February 13, 1976.
General Murtala Muhammed is one of the most charismatic and loved Head of States of Nigeria enshrined in the 20 naira note the highest denomination in Nigerian currency at the time. There is the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Murtala Muhammed 2 Airport (MM2) in Lagos also named in his honor.
General Olusegun Obasanjo a Yoruba from Abeokuta succeed General Murtala Muhammed as Head of State of Nigeria from Friday February 13, 1976 – September 30, 1979. Shehu Shagari a Fulani from Sokoto was elected 6th President of Nigeria from October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983. General Muhammadu Buhari a Hausa from Katsina was the 7th Head of State of Nigeria form December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985. General Ibrahim Babangida a Gwari from Minna was the 8th Head of State of Nigeria from August 27, 1985 – August 27, 1993.
Ernest Shonekan a Yoruba from Lagos was the 9th President of Nigeria from August 27, 1985 – August 27, 1993. General Sani Abacha a Kanuri from the Borno tribe was the 10th Head of State of Nigeria from August 27, 1985 – August 27, 1993. General Abdulsalami Abubakar a Hausa was the 11th Head of State of Nigeria from June 9 1998 – May 29, 1999.
Olusegun Obasanjo a Yoruba was President of Nigeria from May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007. Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua a Fulani from Katsina was President of Nigeria from 29 May 2007 – 5 May 2010. Goodluck Jonathan an Ijaw the incumbent President of Nigeria assumed office on May 6, 2010.
Through Nigeria’s 54year history a Hausa/Fulani man was Head of State or President for 10.8years. You see way back when these leaders made a flawed deal amongst themselves based on tribal and religious lines known as “Turn by turn” a deal that rotated the Presidency of Nigeria from North to South, in a sense making Nigerians participate in staged elections where the outcomes are already determined also created a thriving population of tribal, ethnic and religious bigots. Ogbeni Ayotunde
Egusi soup is a kind of soup thickened with the ground seeds popular in West Africa with considerable local variation. Egusi soup typically contains leaf vegetables, other vegetables, seasonings, palm oil and meat.
Typical leaf vegetables for egusi soup include bitterleaf, celosia, spinach and tomatoes. Usual seasonings include chili peppers, onions, and iru (fermented beans).
Typical meats include beef, goat, fish, shrimp, or crayfish which can also be used as seasoning. In Nigeria egusi is very popular among the Igbo ethnic group of Southeastern Nigeria, the Ibibio people and Efik people (the Calabars) of Southern Nigeria and the Yoruba people. Other ethnic groups in Nigeria including the Hausa also use egusi in their local cuisine. Yoruba people in general and the people of Ọṣun State, especially the Ijesa where Iyan & Egusi is a staple.
In the late 1980s the Canadian government funded a project intended to develop a machine to help Cameroonians shell egusi seeds. A machine has already been developed in Nigeria.
The colonials took advantage of the diversity in Nigerians to subdivide us. When you continue to divide a people they will never add up to a whole nation. One nation rich in the diversity of the Igala, the Awori, the Nupe, the Idoma, the Igbira, the Calabar, the Yoruba, the Fulani, the Gwari, the Igbo, the Hausa, the Ijebu, the Edo, the Ijesa, the Ekiti, the Egba, the Ondo, the Benin, the Ijaw, the Ishekiri, the Igbomina, the Oyo…. – @OgbeniAyotunde
Via Flickr: Bauchi State is a State in northern Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Bauchi. The state was formed in 1976 when the former North-Eastern State was broken up. It originally included the area now in Gombe State, which became a distinct state in 1996. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University is located in the capital city Bauchi.
Via Flickr: Bauchi State is a State in northern Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Bauchi. The state was formed in 1976 when the former North-Eastern State was broken up. It originally included the area now in Gombe State, which became a distinct state in 1996. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University is located in the capital city Bauchi.
