It Does not Stay in this House. Farotimi, Davido & Badenoch
A few weeks ago, there was a cacophony of voices on Davido's advice to our black Atlantic people on whether they can return or invest in Nigeria; I was indifferent for many reasons that space suggests not to be air. When the drama about Kemi Badenoch was going on, I was at the peak of my 'busyness' attending the 67th African Studies Conference (ASA) in Chicago, grading for a class, preparing a syllabus, and canceling commitments because I was sincerely overwhelmed with a lot, including burnout.
As I peeked in and out of social media while attending stimulating panels and listening to thought-provoking presentations, I read the pens and heard voices of commendation and condemnation. Reading the chorus of critics and hallelujah singers and pondering on my experiences with different aspects and institutions of the Nigerian state, I vacillated on how much you can tell about your experience within a family, work, or nation. What is the boundary between silencing and licensing things by not calling them out? There are many experiences that I have written about in my private journal, and I am still conflicted about publishing them.
The truth is that the West does not need Davido and Badenoch to tell them the flaws and foibles of our country. They are on the rooftop like David, savoring and shaking their head at the nakedness and depravity of our elites.That said, you can't hurt people and get to dictate how they would process it. If Mr. Dele Farotimi's children find themselves outside the country in the future and they talk about their father's experience, I hope you will not come out with pseudo-patriotism to delegitimize their pain.
Along these lines, If the family is like a nation, what happens in the House cannot stay in the House anymore. Some people don't give a hoot about using their left hand to describe their father's House; they will use all their feet and body, and you can't shame them into silence. When the son of a Literary giant called out his father, many condemned him. But I tell people who use secrecy and silencing to perpetuate injustice. Get ready for the Gen Zs and Alphas!
I am thankful that Mr. Farotimi would not be spending Christmas in detention because someone forgot a note at home, like a doctor who forgot his stethoscope or rushed somewhere or went to receive a phone call.
Also, I am not unaware of the stampedes in some states in Nigeria. I offer my condolences to the families, and may those of us alive continue to practice melancholy as resistance about this country until we see the desired change.
Finally, "The mandate for Black/NIGERIAN people in this time . . . is to avenge the suffering of our ancestors /THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AVOIDABLE DEATHS. . . to earn the respect of future generations . . . and be willing to be transformed in the service of the work. —(Mary hooks, “The Mandate chant," my emphasis in capital letters)”Someone was kind enough to take this picture of me at the ASA conference in Chicago, and all that came to my mind was what my late mum would say when she found me gisting with Dad: "Afi ejo yi na ni" ( Talkative! Yes! with my Dad)
Happy Holiday!
