The following article was pubished in Dafe’s Joint, Saturday Independent, 27 March, 2010.
By Dafe Ivwurie
On Friday, March 19, 2010, I and some of my friends – Sam Umukoro, the sublimely gifted poet and short story writer; Ade ‘Bantu’ Odukoya, the hugely talented musician and grassroots organizer and activist; and Emem Ema, former member of the all girl gospel group Kush, a rapper and silent but highly efficient mobiliser of people in her sphere of influence - got together for Jos. The event which was tagged Ryhmes and Reasons for Jos was designed to give celebrities an opportunity to raise their voices against the madness and the undesirable battle field that Jos has become lately.
Fewer issues have elicited anger and disgust from Nigerians and the international community like the recent killing of innocent children and defenseless women in Dogo Nahawa, Jos, Plateau State.
We already know the full story of how some heartless marauders armed with knives, machetes and clubs trooped into the community in the cover of darkness to torture, maim and kill people who were smoked out of there homes. We have seen the gory pictures of skulls cut open, of throats slashed, of charred bodies, of human innards spewed out and like dead animals left for a feast for vultures. Those pictures keep hunting me as they appear on every empty space I set my eyes on since I saw them and I find it hard to believe that human beings are cable of delivering such barbarism in a world that we thought was so sophisticated. May be we are all animals after all.
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Rhymes and Reasons For Jos @ Bogobiri House. Images courtesy of Uche James Iroha.
Wordsmiths and Supporters @ Rhymes and Reason Event
Thanks to the following people for participating at the Rhymes and Reasons for Jos event @ Bogobiri House (Fri.19/03/10):
- Odia Ofeimun
- Ali Baba
- Basorge
- M.I.
- Omoni Oboli
- Toni Kan
- Tosy Bucknor
- Jumoke Verissimo
- Peter Okwoche
- Emem
- Nneka
- Yinka Davis
- Moyo Lawal
- Ita Hozaife
- Cordelia Okpei
- Nse Ikpe’ Etim
- Ade Bantu
- Sam Umukoro
- Joseph Benjamin
- Bovi
- Dafe Iwvurie
- Azuka Ogujiuba
- Kevin Pam
- Jostified crew
- Uche James Iroha
- Omoye Uzamere
- Basketmouth
- Kolade Arogundade
- Dean Umukoro
- Arukaino Umukoro
- Karo Umukoro
- Lara George
Voices against violence (1)
“Jos is a wake up call, a challenge to do something. Jos is Nigeria and therfore Nigeria’s problem”- Ita Hozaife
“Religious crisis ? political crisis? Sponsored genocide? Whatever it is, the wastage of women and children and consequently generations is the grossest act of inhumanity. This was the Jos I spent six years of my life without a single violence recorded”- Plumbline
“The Jos crisis is one of great concern. I consider this man’s degeneration into bestiality. So much tension and so much hatred. A very sad story indeed”- Tracy Effion
“The situation in Jos is a sick one! It is so uncalled for: wasting lives and dreams why? It is a useless but not hopeless situation. This too shall pass! Amen! “-Cordelia Okpei
“There’s no word to explain or capture what Jos has suffered in recent times the killings contrast with what we’ve always know Jos for: serene, conservative and exciting Whatever has been done to Jos is still begging for words”- Jumoke Verissimo
“Mutual respect, respect of all religions and most importantly: Love will save us all”- Sabine
“So Jos, I went to Uni Jos. It was and I still like to say THE MOST PEACEFUL CITY IN NIGERIA! I know it is just the big dogs fighting but the grass is suffering”-Eyiyemi Rogbinyin
“Stop killing one another, it is not worth it and the sad truth is it doesn’t change anything”- Tito
“I hope there will soon be an end to the senseless bloodshed. It does not solve anything. The people fuelling this are not fighting and risking their lives” - Oby
“Enough is enough”- Mamu Okoloko
“If we do not device some greater and more equitable system, amagedon will continue to be at our doors. To no one should we delay or refuse right or justice”-Vincent Chuwang Pam
What is Rhymes and Reasons for Jos?
Rhymes and reasons for Jos is a literary protest – an avenue for creative people, celebrities and citizens who shape opinions and set trends to lend their voices and speak up against the massacre in Jos and other parts of the country. Rhymes and reasons for Jos has no political or religious undertone; it is the convocation of people who believe in the power of the word in whatever form – spoken, written, rapped or sung.
Rhymes & Reason For Jos
The Spokenword event was held at Bogobiri House Lagos, Nigeria on Friday 19.March.2010
