“It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come“- Sam Cooke One of the greatest demonstrations of freedom took place in Nigeria on Tuesday the 16th. It was a youth rally that had over a thousand young professionals storm the Eagle’s Square and the National Assemby complex (the Nigerian Senate building) to demand a change [...]

I thought I’d have you listen in on this IM conversation I had with a friend from medical school, Simon Adebola, about science, science illiteracy and biomedical science in Nigeria/Africa. Simon blogs at iInitiative. Simon Adebola: So tell me, what is new in the nebulous world of cells transmitters and neurobiology? Seye Abimbola: Nebulous world? Simon Adebola: Just teasing. But [...]

I’m working on a collection of poems investigating hate, fear, and loathing: Under the banner of peace and brotherhood, my body to be scattered in bits in the noisy, sudden, non-peaceful tearing of flesh. My body a weapon against cousinhood. I have many cousins – one that smokes by the Ganges and really hates blood. one that used to be [...]

This article is a response to an email a friend sent me. In the email, my friend pointed out that “Mr Soyinka does not have the right to call UK a cesspit and a breeding ground for terrorist when his home country is battling with religious conflict, exported a terrorist that nearly blew up a plane with 279 passengers and [...]

Via Jide Salu. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton London, United Kingdom January 28, 2010 We express our deep regret at the recent violence and tragic loss of lives in Jos, and extend our sympathies to the bereaved and injured. We urge all parties to [...]

22/01/10 – 28/01/10 Considering the immense responsibility of presiding over a nation of 140million+ and the frailty of his health, the case of President Yar’adua (MIA) should garner some sympathy.  Solomonsydelle of NigerianCuriosity, thinks not. Blogger and NigeriansTalk regular contributor, Kola Tubosun, raises money for Haiti and Jos through photography. Bidding information on his personal photos can be found here. [...]

Former American ambassador to Nigeria, Princeton Lyman, writing on today’s (ir)relevance of Nigeria. If Nigeria fails? I have a long connection to Nigeria. Not only was I ambassador there, I have travelled to and from Nigeria for a number of years and have a deep and abiding emotional attachment to the Nigerian people, their magnificence, courage, artistic brilliance, irony, sense [...]

When Nigerians comment in public forums, what are the odds that the discourse will be polite, respectful, contextual and useful?

It is itself a surprise to me that we are responding to the issue of the alleged Nigerian suicide bomber/terrorist if it was totally unpredictable. We want to condemn it, we are disappointed by what Umar is alleged to have done and the added shame and disrepute that has brought upon Nigeria, but it would be wrong to suggest that [...]

Exceptionalism seems to me a distinctly Western way of thinking about things. Yes, I know how that sounds. I don’t like the whole Ubuntu notion either, which seems like the most obvious counterpoint to a more Western-suitable capitalism meme, but it need not be the only counter to the more Western way of seeing things. I think where we differ [...]