Category: Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria’s aviation industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1925 when the first aircraft, a Royal Air Force plane, landed in Kano.

Today, it stands as a testament to the nation’s ambition and resilience, with a rich history that spans over nine decades. As the country celebrates its 65th independence anniversary, the aviation industry has become a vital component of Nigeria’s economy and development.

The industry’s growth has been remarkable, with the establishment of Nigerian Airways in 1958 marking the beginning of commercial aviation in the country. Although the airline collapsed in 2003 due to mismanagement and financial troubles, the private sector quickly stepped in to fill the void.

First, it was airlines like Aero Contractor that broke the national carrier’s monopoly in 1960, followed by Okada Air in 1983 and ADC in 1984. Airlines like Arik Air, Air Peace, and Dana Air thereafter emerged to offer new hope for the industry’s future at the demise of Nigeria Airways.

Air Peace, now uncontestably the largest domestic airlines in the country, has grown its fleet and network, and is providing reliable domestic flights and international routes to destinations in West Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. There is also ValueJet which is showing considerable strength on the regional wing, just as we are witnessing a revolution of state-owned airlines springing up in droves in the country.

By and large, the industry’s growth has had a profound impact on Nigeria’s economy, creating jobs, generating revenue, and contributing to the nation’s GDP.

However, despite its growth, Nigeria’s aviation industry still faces challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, and regulatory issues. To address these challenges, the present government has been supportive to the regulatory agencies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure safety and efficiency in the industry.

But as the industry continues to grow and expand, it is essential to prioritize safety, efficiency, and innovation to ensure its sustainability and contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.

With the right support and infrastructure in place, the aviation industry is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping Nigeria’s future.

The aviation industry’s impact on Nigeria’s economy cannot be overstated. According to a study, the industry has encouraged employment and revenue generation, and its growth has had a positive impact on the nation’s socio-political landscape. The industry’s growth has also facilitated international relations, diplomacy, and foreign policy, making it a vital component of Nigeria’s economic development.

In recent years, the industry has seen significant growth, with the emergence of new airlines and the expansion of existing ones. This growth has led to increased competition, which has resulted in better services. The industry’s growth has also led to the creation of new jobs, both directly and indirectly, contributing to the nation’s economic development.

Despite the challenges facing the industry, stakeholders are optimistic about its future. The government has taken steps to address some of the challenges, including aiding of commercial airlines to access dry lease overseas to cushion the effects of the harsh economy on their operations. The ‘Fly Nigeria’ policy of the present administration is also a potent device to shore up the financial base of the local carriers, if effectively implemented.

The industry’s growth has also been driven by the private sector, with airlines like Air Peace, ValueJet, Ibom Air etc, investing heavily in the industry.

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th independence anniversary, the aviation industry has proven itself to be a vital component of the nation’s economy and development. With its rich history and growth, the industry is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping Nigeria’s future.

However, to achieve this, the stakeholders have to eschew pettiness and be ready to work together to address the industry’s challenges and unlock its full potential.

As the industry continues to grow and expand, what should be of priority now are: safety, efficiency, and innovation to ensure its sustainability and contribution to Nigeria’s economic development. There should be an abrupt stop to window dressing and corner cutting that create a living and healthy façade while the content is hogwash.

With the right support and infrastructure in place, the aviation industry is poised to soar to new heights, driving economic growth and putting Nigeria on the global map.

HAVING a baby is a life-changing experience. Being a parent is exciting but can also be tiring and overwhelming. It’s normal to have feelings of worry or doubt, especially if this is the first time. But if the feelings include extreme sadness or loneliness, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt and anxiety, it may be because of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that happens after giving birth. It affects up to 15% of women. It’s common to experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial and social changes after having a baby. However, these changes can cause symptoms of postpartum depression.

Preventive interventions are crucial in addressing postpartum anxiety and depression. However, the use of psychoactive drugs by nursing mothers can cause several problems, such as severe sleepiness, decreased response to cries, changes in s3xual function, fatigue, confusion, and low blood pressure.

These drugs also have sedative effects on the infant who receives breast milk. Therefore, their use during breastfeeding is limited.

While some mothers may choose not to take medication during breastfeeding due to concerns about potential side effects on their babies, herbal remedies, including curcumin, have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Turmeric is an edible root used in cooking. It’s powdered into a bright yellow spice popular in Asian cuisine. Turmeric also has a history of medicinal use. It contains an active compound, curcumin, that has also been used for many years in the treatment of various diseases.

Additionally, epidemiological studies have indicated that individuals who consume curcumin daily exhibit better brain function and higher cognitive abilities.

Research has found that curcumin has the potential to improve a number of health conditions, including depression. This includes postpartum depression and anxiety in first-time mothers.

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Iran had provided strong evidence that curcumin can be a beneficial and accessible complementary treatment for managing postpartum depression and anxiety in new mothers, offering a valuable alternative where conventional treatments may be restricted.

It found that curcumin effectively reduces postpartum anxiety and depression, suggesting it can improve the mental health and quality of life for first-time mothers.

The trial published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies included 96 first-time mothers in Tabriz City, Iran, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (48 women) or a control group (48 women) using a random block method.

The intervention group received 500 mg curcumin capsules, while the control group received a placebo, both taken once daily after meals for eight weeks starting seven days after delivery.

They were all women aged 18 or older, residing in Tabriz City, with no chronic liver/kidney disease, no history of depression or other mental disorders, no alcohol/drug consumption, no natural birth or caesarean section within the last 12 hours, and not taking drugs causing depressive symptoms.

The women were contacted weekly by phone to check on the baby’s weight and remind them to track capsule use and report side effects.

Depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and anxiety was measured with the postpartum-specific Anxiety Scale Research Short-Form (PSAS-RSF).

The study found significant reductions in both depression and anxiety scores in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group. Four individuals in the curcumin group and one in the placebo group reported gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and stomach pain.

It therefore suggested curcumin’s potential as a cost-effective and accessible adjunctive therapy due to its efficacy, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, particularly given the limitations of conventional medications during breastfeeding.

They declared that further large-scale clinical trials are recommended to validate its efficacy in diverse populations and establish standardised guidelines for clinical use.

Curcumin supplementation may serve as a beneficial non-pharmacological intervention for postpartum women by promoting healing, reducing inflammation, and supporting reproductive health. Its multifaceted properties can address various postpartum challenges, making it a valuable addition to recovery strategies.

A study found that curcumin application led to a greater reduction in wound healing scores, particularly for perineal repair after episiotomy, compared to traditional treatments like povidone-iodine.

Curcumin influences hormonal balance and ovarian function, potentially aiding in the recovery of reproductive health post-delivery.

Its ability to modulate hormonal pathways may support women experiencing reproductive disorders, thus enhancing overall well-being during the period after child birth.

While curcumin shows promise as a supportive intervention for women after childbirth, it is essential to consider that individual responses may vary, and further research is needed to establish standardised guidelines for its use in this population.

The Nigerian equities market began the new month on a positive note, extending its bullish momentum as renewed investor interest lifted the benchmark index.

At the close of trading on Wednesday, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.19 per cent to 142,979.45 basis points, pushing the year-to-date return to 38.91 per cent.

Market capitalisation of equities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) also advanced by N170 billion to settle at N90.75 trillion.

Analysts said the broad-based gains signalled sustained buying interest in financial and consumer names, particularly GTCO, which rose 2.1 per cent, MTN Nigeria, which added 0.5 per cent, and Aradel Holdings, which gained 0.1 per cent, helping drive the ASI higher.

The upbeat sentiment was reflected in market breadth, which closed positive as 34 stocks gained against 25 losers, indicating sustained optimism over earnings expectations and macroeconomic fundamentals.

In the performance board, PZ Cussons went up by 10.0 per cent and Eterna appreciated by 9.9 per cent, topping the gainers’ chart, alongside Champion Breweries, Tantalizer, and AIICO Insurance.

On the flip side, RT Briscoe was down by 9.9 per cent; Thomas Wyatt declined 9.8 per cent; Sovereign Insurance, International Energy Insurance, and Berger Paints all led the laggards team.

Sectoral performance was largely upbeat, with Insurance, Consumer Goods, Banking and Oil and Gas closing in the green by 0.42 per cent, 0.35 per cent, 0.17 per cent and 0.12 per cent, respectively. The Commodities index edged higher by 0.01 per cent, while Industrial Goods remained flat, shedding just 0.02 per cent.

Trading activity surged significantly, underscoring renewed liquidity inflows. Total deals increased by 16.68 per cent to 32,682, while trading volume spiked 402.5 per cent to 6.23 billion units. The value of transactions also jumped 82.57 per cent to N54.45 billion. Cornerstone Insurance dominated the charts as the most traded stock, accounting for 5.45 billion units valued at N25.06 billion.

With October now underway, analysts project that sentiment could remain buoyant if macroeconomic reforms continue to attract both domestic and offshore inflows.

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has called on West African countries to accelerate the integration of their capital markets, describing it as a crucial step toward mobilising large-scale investment for regional development.

Speaking in Abuja, Thursday at the Experts Meeting on the Validation of the WASRA Charter and Recognition of the West Africa Securities Regulators Association (WASRA) as the regulatory body for cross-border securities in ECOWAS, Agama, who also chairs WASRA, said the initiative marks ‘a watershed moment’ in the region’s financial history.

He noted that West Africa faces pressing challenges, including infrastructure gaps, climate adaptation, digital transformation and job creation, which require financing far beyond the capacity of individual national markets.

‘An integrated regional capital market is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,’ he stated.

Agama lamented the slow pace of regional integration, stressing that Africa’s infrastructure financing gap exceeds $100 billion annually, while West Africa alone requires tens of billions to modernise transport corridors, upgrade energy systems and expand digital infrastructure.

Without integrated markets, he warned, governments and businesses would remain constrained by limited fiscal space and costly borrowing.

Drawing lessons from the European Union and ASEAN, he argued that harmonised regulations and investor confidence are essential to unlocking capital flows across borders.

‘Potential means little without decisive action,’ Agama said, highlighting opportunities in agriculture, digital innovation, fintech, and youth empowerment that could benefit from pooled regional capital.

He outlined WASRA’s mandate to drive integration through harmonised regulation, mutual assistance, and common projects. ‘Integration is not only about policy declarations; it is about practical collaboration and shared initiatives that deliver results,’ he stressed, urging ECOWAS finance ministers to demonstrate the political will required.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Mr. Wale Edun, represented by Mr. Hassan Adamu Jibrin, described the WASRA Charter validation as a critical step toward harmonised regulation and sustainable market development in the sub-region.

Similarly, ECOWAS Commission’s Acting Director for the Private Sector, Mr. Peter Oluonye, emphasised that breaking down barriers to capital movement through common standards, interlinked trading systems and unified governance frameworks was vital to financing the region’s economic aspirations.

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has reported an impressive N30.47 billion operating profit for the year ended 2024, a significant increase from N13.75 billion in the previous year.

Also, NEXIM Bank has been assigned a Bbb+ rating by leading credit rating agency Agusto and Co. Limited, affirming its satisfactory financial condition and strong capacity to meet obligations relative to other development finance institutions (DFIs) in Nigeria.

The Bank’s growth underscores its financial resilience and operational efficiency.

Established to promote Nigeria’s non-oil exports and support import-substituting businesses, NEXIM is fully owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through equal shareholding by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

The Bank has maintained strong liquidity and capital adequacy ratios, with notable growth in its loan book and equity instruments.

Key sectors supported include manufacturing, agriculture, solid minerals, and services.

According to Managing Director Mr. Abba Bello, NEXIM has intensified its intervention in the non-oil export sector, disbursing over N495 billion, which has led to the creation and sustenance of over 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Key initiatives currently being driven by the Bank include: ‘The Regional Sealink Project: A public-private partnership aimed at improving maritime logistics across West and Central Africa. Promotion of Factoring Services: Providing alternative export financing options for SMEs.

‘Joint Project Preparation Fund (JPPF): Launched in partnership with Afreximbank to enhance the bankability of export projects.’

Additionally, NEXIM is developing tailored financing schemes for the mining sector, including Contract Mining, Equipment Leasing, and Buyers’ Credit/ECA Financing, designed to unlock export potential and boost foreign exchange earnings.

NEXIM Bank said it remains committed to building local processing capacity and advancing Nigeria’s position in global trade by moving up the commodity value chain and enhancing non-oil export revenue.

President Bola Tinubu has said that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day military parade gave him the opportunity to rest well and enjoy a ‘nice breakfast’ on Wednesday.

The Federal Government had earlier announced the cancellation of the parade scheduled for October 1.

In a statement released on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, it was explained that the decision ‘is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary.’

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Speaking at the unveiling of the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre in Lagos, Tinubu said the cancellation gave him a break from the ‘monotony’ of the usual military parade.

‘I’m more than grateful for tonight. I enjoyed the evening. Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past, parade and everything.

‘By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, have a nice breakfast and wait for this evening. And the evening is well spent,’ he said.

Tinubu arrived at the venue at about 6:24 p.m. for the reopening ceremony of the monument, which was funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.

The president had in July renamed the edifice after Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, describing him as ‘one of the greatest assets of the world, Africa and Nigeria.’

‘So, it couldn’t have been anything else and I know definitely you (referring to Soyinka) will not disobey this president. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre,’ Tinubu added.

The unveiling was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; and Wole Soyinka himself, who was the host of the occasion.

The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Reverend Dr Henry Ndukuba, has called for a renewed spirit of patriotism, volunteerism, and sacrifice among Nigeria’s leaders and citizens, stressing that the nation’s progress depends on values-driven leadership and strong institutions.

Speaking at the sidelines of the World Mission Congress held at St. Matthias House, Gudu, Abuja, Archbishop Ndukuba reflected on Nigeria’s journey since independence, noting that while the country has remained resilient through numerous challenges, there is a need for a paradigm shift in governance and national orientation.

‘At 65, I think that as we look back at what we have passed through as a nation, we have every reason to give thanks to God. But compared with other developing nations like Brazil and India, Nigeria must strive harder to measure up. We have all it takes, the scientists, the engineers, the resources, but corruption and nepotism continue to hold us back,’ he said.

The Anglican Primate observed that the unity and selflessness displayed by Nigeria’s founding fathers at independence have been replaced over the years by what he described as a sense of entitlement among some in leadership. He urged political leaders to put service above personal gain and work toward building a just and prosperous society.

On security, Archbishop Ndukuba commended the present administration for showing the political will to confront banditry and insurgency, while acknowledging the efforts of the military and other security agencies.

He, however, called for more support and resources for security personnel, stressing the need to identify and hold accountable those who finance and sponsor violence.

‘Without security, there will be no development, whether economic or social. We must also strengthen our judiciary and other institutions to deliver on their mandate,’ the Anglican Primate added.

Addressing Nigeria’s diversity, he noted that with over 250 ethnic groups, the country requires strong unifying forces. He cautioned against the misuse of religion and ethnicity for political advantage, warning that such practices fuel division and instability.

‘The ordinary Nigerians are not the problem. The real challenge lies with the elites who must rise above divisive politics and unite to build the nation,’ he said.

The Archbishop urged both leaders and citizens to embrace righteousness and service to humanity, reminding them that a nation can only prosper when its values are rooted in justice, sacrifice, and the common good.

Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has discharged and acquitted a 82-year-old man, Chief Olowofela Oyebanji, of criminal offences related to kidnapping and murder.

The trial judge, Umar Zikki Jubril, upheld a no case submission preferred before it by the defence counsels.

Oyebanji and 12 others were facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping and giving false information contrary to Sections 97, 221 and 178 of the penal code law and Section 1 (Special Prohibition) Kidnapping Law of Kwara state 2010.

Oyebanji, who is a High Chief in Igbara-Odo, Ekiti state, has since denied involvement in the criminal allegations, particularly the killing of a traditional ruler, Olukoro of Koro, Oba Aremu Cole, in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara state.

In her ruling on Tuesday, the trial judge discharged and acquitted Oyebanji, having proved his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Zikki held that the prosecution was not able to prove a prima facie case against the defendant and others alleged to be involved in the criminal act.

Speaking after the ruling, counsel to the defendant, Dr Solomon Afolabi, expressed joy and satisfaction with the ruling.

He commended the judge for being courageous and ensuring justice was done, amid heightened sentiments and the sensitive nature of the case.

‘It’s a big gift at the beginning of the new legal year that my client, the ninth defendant, who has been standing trial since February 2024, for an offence he knew nothing about, eventually got justice.

‘It was just unfortunate that he had to go through this because, as you heard in the judgement, it was a case of random arrests for many of the defendants in this case’, he said.

Another defence counsel said the ruling came after the prosecution closed its case against the defendants.

‘The prosecution presented evidence and called five witnesses during the case. But after thorough perusal of the evidence before the court, the court found it in its ruling that the prosecution failed to provide a substantial and compelling evidence against all the defendants and, in view of this, discharged and acquitted them’.

It is a privilege to give the Jan Vansina lecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on October 1st, 2025. With the defunding of Title VI programs, it is such a depressing moment for African Studies. Perhaps the field is set for new definitions, or it will be reimagined, or it will be ghettoized, as Philip Curtin once predicted, or it will shift its centers to the margins as the future of empires is reconfigured. The future is always in hiding; the new clothes of today are rags of tomorrow. Nothing is eternal. Africa should not be confused with African Studies. The Sagole baobab should not be confused with the African baobab. In the lecture, I will split my time between the past that Vansina speaks to and the future that partly draws from his career.

Colonial narratives caused African history to be routinely marginalized and misrepresented in the first half of the 20th century. These stories ignored the many indigenous oral traditions of the continent in favor of written materials. This exclusive method essentially undermined civilizations whose historical records grew only through oral storytelling, therefore limiting our knowledge of the historical richness of Africa. Born in 1929, Belgian historian Jan Vansina challenged this constrained historiographical paradigm. He transformed the field of African historical study by promoting the integrity and rigor of oral traditions.

Early in his career, in what was then arrogantly called the Belgian Congo, Vansina was personally exposed to the dominant intellectual theories that rejected African oral traditions. Vansina first learned his craft under the guidelines of conventional colonial ethnography. His academic perspective was much changed by his deep and transforming interactions with the Kuba people. Through close interaction with their rich and complex oral histories, Vansina was able to identify the people’s inherent historical authenticity and depth. He began to realize that oral stories constitute a strong archive of historical knowledge, rather than merely folkloric. This realization changed his intellectual focus and made him a leader in supporting oral traditions as historical sources.

It was a common colonial belief that the validation for Africa’s historical accounts should primarily come from European archival materials. Vansina argued powerfully against this presumption. Historiographical circles initially fiercely opposed his method, mistrusting oral materials due to concerns about their reliability. Vansina continued to fight for the historical validity of oral traditions, thereby ever more transforming the world of scholars with relentless dedication. In his work, oral traditions are finally given the status of living and trustworthy sources, of inestimable value for interpreting Africa’s past in an exhaustive manner.

He also had an interdisciplinary mind, combining anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, and ethnography to fill in the gaps in his endeavor to make oral tradition credible. Thanks to his groundbreaking work, Oral Tradition as History, historians were presented with a challenging model of analysis to aid them in undertaking a critical examination of oral sources. Vansina was able to distinguish historical facts from politically or culturally inspired reinterpretations by comparing different modes of oral tradition, including genealogies, praise songs, epics, and personal testimonies. His research approaches revealed the need to examine oral materials inside the cultural and historical contexts most relevant to them.

Vansina convincingly demonstrated that advanced political and social systems existed in Central African kingdoms long before the arrival of Europeans. This was achieved through a thorough field study of the Kongo and Kuba, among other kingdoms. His research revealed in-depth records of the succession of leadership, political alliances, economic systems, and social standards that were preserved over his lifetime through oral histories. These results clearly refute presumptions that African nations are historically fixed or simple. Instead, they emphasized the dynamic government structures, sophisticated cultural traditions, and substantial economic ties.

Apart from their intellectual value, the strategies devised by Vansina had a profound influence on cultural reclamation movements that spread across Africa. Historically marginalized communities began to regain their stories and validate their historical autonomy, free from the distortions imposed by colonization. Vansina’s support of oral traditions helped indigenous historians and people to preserve, record, and understand their histories independently. This served to foster community pride and identity. This approach greatly helped African groups to restore more significant cultural rituals and strengthen historical self-assurance.

Vansina’s methodology has been criticized for being based on the inherent limitations of oral tradition, such as generation depth bias, selective memory, and political susceptibility. Critics argue that oral traditions can change or become distorted over time, thereby distorting historical fact. Vansina was eager to use strict methodological discipline and cross-verifying multidisciplinary methods to resolve verifiable problems. To make the data more credible and eliminate some of its weaknesses, he prescribed a triangulation of oral testimony, using archaeological data, linguistic forms, and anthropological evidence. The ideas of Vansina have pragmatic consequences that extend far beyond the academic field and significantly impact modern actions related to legal protection and cultural preservation.

Vansina-inspired techniques are now somewhat standard in indigenous rights groups. In the fields of land restitution, cultural conservation, and human rights campaigning, these groups have been gathering extraordinary evidence from oral testimony. In legal settings in countries such as Canada, Australia, and Latin America, where oral histories are accepted as legitimate historical evidence in court procedures, his scholarly method has been particularly significant. In such locations, his technique has been particularly effective.

Moreover, Vansina’s methods have had a significant influence on the field of digital humanities, enabling technological innovations to record, document, and methodically assess oral histories. Digital projects using his transdisciplinary validation techniques help to preserve oral histories. This protects and preserves cultural memories against urbanization, globalization, and social transformation. These digital archives ensure preservation, therefore extending Vansina’s legacy. A great advantage is also their making oral traditions generally available and academically trustworthy for the next generations.

Vansina’s devised strategies have been adopted by educational and cultural institutions, making a significant contribution to the historiographical decolonization process. His inclusive historical methods inspire historians to conduct research from diverse and sensitive perspectives, while also providing comprehensive and culturally conscious teaching. Universities are under greater scrutiny to appreciate multiple epistemologies and methodological rigor when handling oral histories. This helps to produce a more inclusive and balanced historical conversation.

The intellectual work of Vansina makes a considerable difference in indigenous studies worldwide, therefore influencing academic scholarship and constructing cross-cultural dialogue. Indigenous peoples in the Americas, Oceania, and Asia, among other nations, actively engage with Vansina’s scientific work of reconstructing histories that reflect their actual realities. Indigenous intellectuals construct epistemologies within the dominant academic scholarship through their work, deconstructing colonial historical constructions.

Through his essential work, Vansina revolutionized the field of world historical studies. Consistent with his advocacy for diversity, analytical rigor, and cultural sensitivity, his support for giving underprivileged voices-typically excluded from scholarly debate-the chance to share and communicate their stories using authority. Thus, his work serves to democratize historical research. Emphasizing pluralism and respect for a range of historical sources and knowledge systems, Vansina’s legacy inspires fresh historical research.

Lastly, the ongoing intellectual breakthroughs Vansina brought greatly expanded the horizons of history. These advances underlined the complementarity of written and oral traditions and justified the accuracy of much historical evidence. His appeal to rigorous, multidisciplinary approaches has dramatically influenced the methods of historical research, thereby making history an amazingly accessible, dynamic, and culturally responsive subject. The work of Vansina emphasizes the necessity of continually reconsidering historical methodology to honor alternative human perspectives. This helps to define his ongoing legacy as a forerunner of inclusive historical research.

WHEN many took off, he stayed put. When the ones we thought were the brave ducked, he dug and rigged. He sweated and defended the homestead or what was left of it. Even to me, his courage did not make sense. Why swim against the tide when you can just go with the flow? Why stay in a house with half its roof blown off? What is the sense in not just holding on tight to a tattered umbrella but also taking shelter under it? The umbrella itself looked like it needed help.

Leave and let the house crumble. You can build another one. But he stood there in the rain, in the scorching sun. He even bellowed in a fearful voice at passers-by who thought something was really wrong with him. He flexed his muscles at those who had armour. He looked them in the eye and dared them to cross his threshold.

Who the dickens did he think he was? But he paid us all no mind. It was his umbrella to keep, torn, shredded or bent. He mobilized money and started the rebuilding. When he was let down by those he trusted, he soldiered on. When those whose expeditions he sponsored aimed arrows at his bare chest, he nursed his wound, lips pursed in pain and determination. If he shed a tear, it was in private. If he bled, he hid the blood. To his tattered tent he held.

Then one day, he rose out of the ashes, with his umbrella in his hands, this time like a sword. He had rebuilt the house with everything he could muster. Soon, those who watched him rebuild and those who went away all came back, together. He welcomed them. And they all sat under the umbrella. Then one day, he said he wanted to become the leader. Some of the ‘returnees’ also showed interest. They all agreed to a fair contest. Then the demon of conspiracy came into the house and possessed almost everybody. Stabs in the back, followed by another stab in the heart led to a bloodied floor. Things became blurry and slippery. Of course, things fell apart. There was no centre for anybody to even hold.

Now, the builder is angry, raving and raging. What was taken from him he has sworn nobody else would get. He has even gone after those who left the house a second time, bellowing harder than before. He is like one character in Yoruba movie I watched a long time ago. His name was Cause Trouble. The name still makes me smile every time. But the most apt description for me, at least today, is the debt distrainor as described by Reverend Samuel Johnson. Distraining for debt among the Yorubas used to be a big deal in those days. A ‘distrainor’ is a licensed by fire-by-force debt collector who sits on the debtor in every way until he pays. He is said to ‘d’ogo ti’ until he collects.

Pay attention to how Rev. Johnson describes him.

‘The distrainor is a man of imperturbable temper, but of foul tongue, a veritable Thersites. He adopts any measure he likes, inflicting his presence and attention on the debtor everywhere and anywhere he may go, denying him privacy of any kind, and in the meantime using his tongue most foully upon him, his own person being inviolable, for touching him implies doing violence to the person of the authorities who appointed him the task. Loud in his abuses, intolerable in his manners to all in the house whilst going in and out with the debtor till the inmates of the house get tired and quickly finds a way of getting rid of the distrainor by paying off the debt.’

Our builder, Cause Trouble or Distrainor is ‘drawing gbese’. He’s giving everybody in the house high blood pressure.

‘He must not take anything away from the house but he may enjoy the use of anything he finds in the house.’

Does he remind you of someone?

This is a peaceful piece.