JUBRIL OLALEKAN
The sound of indigenous drums, the unadulterated echoes of mother’s tunes and the mellifluous voices of ebullient singers penetrated the air especially around Zik, Indy and its environs, even as people throng into UI (which is believably the national headquarters of the Club) in their numbers from different institutions higher Institutions in the country, at the late evening of Saturday, 9th of October 2021.
Schools like UNILAG, OAU, etc. all have their alumni who are members came over to felicitate with the Club as they celebrated their 49th anniversary. It is pretty interesting however getting to know that the Club will be half a century in a year time, as such, it’s only ideal that we are intimated with the Culture of the Club and what it represents. And to this effect, a member of the club, who preferred to remain anonymous, took us through some of the activities of the Club.
When asked the ‘what is Kegite Club and what do they represent?’ he had this to say: “The Kegite club is a conservation center and the vision of the club is to promote and preserve the ever-dynamic African culture within the confines of the academic community”. And the motto reads: “Unity in diversity”, Response: Never in dichotomy”. In other words, irrespective of your class or background or religion, the club welcomes and accommodates everyone. Simply put, the club is “a place for one and a place for all”.
And the membership of the Club, as he said, is not limited to Nigeria alone, “we have members in Texas, some Universities in Chicago, in India, South Africa, etc. and every other place we have branches”.
Speaking with a correspondent on how the reception towards the Kegite club has been over the years both nationally and internationally he had responded by saying:
“People have some reservations about us. The jamboree, merriment and all makes some see us as one unserious bunch, but then a closer look at our tenet will reveal something else to you”. “When you look at the language of the Club, the music and the instrumentation, the political structure and the protocol of events; one unique thing you will discover is ‘Africa – the mother continent’.”
“Communalism is the African way and the club upholds that dearly. Be your brother and your sister’s keeper.”
Contrary to the popular opinion people have about the club as being a coven for the unserious, our correspondent, who is also a UIte, debunked that by stating that three Professor from his department belong to the Club. And in addition to that, the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, also belongs to this community amongst other highly placed men in the society that are also part of the community.
Speaking further, he emphasized that “there is more to the Club than the dancing people see” and that “there are deep philosophies that are embedded in the Club.”
Furthermore, our correspondent was asked on how the Club could be instrumental in the national development, and he aired his opinion by stating that one of the issues we’re facing in the African continent generally is ‘neocolonialism’ and this cuts across every facet of our lives and we use either consciously or unconsciously to judge our own brothers blatantly at the expense of our own identity as Africans. He stated that “although not everything Western is bad, but it’s not everything Western that is good either”. Therefore, “A lot of things need to be corrected culturally”.
He further expounded on this by saying that, “the Kegite Club is concerned about preserving Africanness”. In other words, the club is bent on the preservation of the African cultural identity; “from the dress – the use of agbada rather than suit, also the songs sung in the Club cuts across different tribes in Africa – from Igbo to Yoruba, Hausa, Swahili songs, etc. The drinking or taking of palm wine rather than alcohol which is essentially African connects us to the primal beginning”. All of these, he believes, fosters and strengthens the cord of brotherliness, of nationalism and patriotism. Especially, he added, “the reenactment of social memories and history – the awakening of self.”
