Best-selling Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has aired her view on relevant issues affecting the country.
Adichie was on the list of guest speakers at the recent “Fela Debates” symposium to kick-off “Felabration 2019”.
The debate session was tagged – “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense”.
The event, which was held at the NECA Events Center, Ikeja Central Business District, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, saw Nigerian dignitaries in attendance.
Speaking on some issues in the debate session, she highlighted the Nigerian educational sector as one major area being affected by the wrong mentality of the leaders.
“There is a revolutionary spirit that thrives in southern and eastern Africa that doesn’t thrive in us, a political revolutionary spirit and I worry that it has a lot to do with the way our educational system is, we don’t really matter.”
“I think that’s the reality. It is up to us to make that change because if you look at the foreign policy of positive nations, by their actions, you can tell that they don’t think we matter.”
“They think China matters. They think India would matter, not really us. And you can tell by their foreign policy,” Adichie shared.
“Nigerians are docile when they should be vocal and as a result Nigeria does not matter in the global scheme of things,” she added.
On how she fell in love with Fela’s music through her older brother, the writer said; “When I was younger, he came to represent a kind of unapologetic courage and authenticity.”
Other speakers present at the event include: Law teacher, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Kingsley James, McLean Daley, a British activist popularly called Akala and Ugandan singer and politician, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine).
Dignitaries at the event include: Femi Falana (SAN), Kingsley Moghalu, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Femi Osofisan, Rikki Stein, Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti among others.
Felabration is an annual festival held in honour of the late musician and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
The theme of the 2019 edition is – “From Lagos With Love”
See video below:
By: The Arubayi Keme
