-By: AlatisheOluwaferanmi
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”- Abraham Lincoln
If we don’t value that which is ours, a stranger will come and make do with it. Just like former time when colonial masters who knew the essence of cocoa and our agricultural products got them from us in exchange for a piece of mirror, so do we stand the chance of losing a portion of who we are. We shouldn’t be like the child who doesn’t understand the difference between a sweet bought with a token, and a bag filled with money. There is a need to value our own products, appreciate, support and promote them.
The University of Ibadan entertainment industry has a lot of talented individuals who are in ways better than most of the ones in the Nigerian entertainment industry, but they have been crippled by the cold attitude of students and the environment towards them. OlamideBaddo, WizKid, Don Jazzy and lots of others were ones a starter like this guys, and it was the encouragement offered by some individuals that got them to this stage; the nice remark about their songs and turnup for their shows goes a long way to help them. This creates a feeling in them, although they might not remember what was said, but the feelings live forever.
Imagine the effect that will be created on the internet if the entire students decide to search and download a song produced by one of us. Definitely, the website will be at the verge of shutting down. It takes the whole ofUites to kill the career of any Nigerian entertainer, and sameto help and promote any upcoming entertainer. So, we should support our own by downloading their songs.If the strength we put into aluta is equivalent to that we use in promoting our entertainer, and every unprofitable trend on all social media to fight a cause that hadnever be won is being done to promote the talented individuals, it wouldhave done well to better the career of our fellow comrades. We all have a role to play in the lives of everyone around us, especially the ones that are in our immediate environment.
Let us desist from the spirit of the crab which does not good, but pulls others down. It is the spirit of the crab that makes you to water down someone’s tireless effort with your mouth, to prevent someone who has interest in a show from attending, andto utter all sorts of defamatory speeches against them. This indeed is the modus operandi in Nigeria, and I have fear for days ahead of Nigeria, if we who are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow also transact in this unprofitable trade and trend. If you can’t make it, don’t mar it.
Some might be of the opinion that promoting them via trending and downloading their songs will be of no benefit to them, but one should be remindedthat if one don’t benefit from it, the posterity will do, for they are the major target of our actions. Imagine the shame we will bear when those who are coming after us discovered that we had the means of rendering a support to our own, but we never did. We will indeed be labeledselfish ancestors.
This is a call to challenge our spirit of oneness, to offer a helping hand to these entertainers because of what we share in common, that is being a “uite”. It makes them feeling indebted to the University system, and they will always be impressed and have reasons to give back tothe system in which ones children might be part of the beneficiaries. So, students of the University of Ibadan should henceforth, endeavor to download their Artist songs, and try to share it with non-students of the University and endeavor to follow them on social media. Remember, we rise by lifting others.
The entertainers should also work towards creating a body that will project their common purpose in the school community and outside. This will require the cloak of selfishness being put off by everyone. Like Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand’’so, the division among us will affect how far we can go.
