Entertainment/Arts/Culture
HOW I. HARRY HAGHER WARS IMPERIALISM IN HIS DEBUT NOVEL : THE CONQUEST OF AZENGA
A preview By Cletus Akwaya, Ph.D.
Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher does not take his pen to issues lightly. The former High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador to Mexico, former Minister and Senator is a high profile writer.
He is among the less than one percent of writers in the world to debut a novel after seventy one, having made a name for himself as academic, prolific playwright and writer on leadership themes.
Hagher was aspirant to the presidential ticket in the 2019 election. He lost. But he won the prestigious Gani Fawehinmi integrity award in 2020.That he returned to his first love ( writing) after his abortive presidential bid is understandable.
Heinemann Publishing House is poised to release his magnum opus, his debut novel: The Conquest of Azenga, this February. The Daily Assets Newspaper is pleased to write the preview of the novel here.The story of the novel is narrated through the odd obsessive omniscient eye of God; Professor Martin Bent, a ruthless District Officer in the British Colonial administration who had regretted the genocide and culturecide of the British imperialism in the Sofalian colony in the colonial period. The whole novel, the writer tells us; in the prologue, is Bent’s legacy bequeathed to him, as inheritance memoir, by the remorseful late professor.
This breakaway, breathtaking opening of the novel ushers the reader into the epical saga of the clash of civilization theme of the novel. It is the clash between the civilization of the British Upper Class versus Azenga egalitarianism. Lord Payne the leading poster child imperialist was the leading proponent of the Empire’s right to ruthlessly save the native savage tribes from themselves by forcing them to become civilized or eliminating them.
The novel opens with the recall of Lord Payne for his genocidal impulses, having wiped out the city of Kidina in the company of the Caliph of Sobikathanu Hadj Omar Hafiz Aatif, and now was on the verge of moving to wipe out the Azenga tribe which had earlier defeated the British Army under his command. The British Colonial Office and the Parliament were aghast at his conduct,
“ The Colonial Office, and the Parliament, accused Payne of being blood thirsty and war-mongering and against British character and taste for decency and Pax Britannica”.
Payne was adamant and showed no remorse at all and was even more determined to go back to London and win a new mandate to come and finish the job of wiping out the Azenga tribe as retribution for their having defeated a British military expedition and killing six Sandhurst trained officers with their poisoned arrows.
The Azenga were quite prepared militarily to stave off any attackers and were ready to face the enemy. When Lord Payne returns to Sofalia several years later having combined with his wife, Lady Liliana Payne to mount a successful propaganda, it was to a higher office as Governor general of Sofalia. He was now more powerful, and regarded as Founder of the new country: the British Sofalia, having amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates.
He was even more resolved to destroy the Azenga civilization without putting a single British military boot on Azenga soil. He went after their war making structure by attacking their elders, the council of gerontocrats. A battle Royale ensued and the rest of the novel is the narration of this war of civilizations and how it affected both the Azenga and the British Empire.
The novel is structured in non-lineal twenty four chapters. It starts with a prologue and ends with an epilogue. In between these; the novel is populated with a wealth of characters that are symbolic and complex.
Each character represents a peculiar world view on the race question, national question, ethnicity question and helps the reader to delve into the mind of the Empire and the colonized. The battle against the Azenga and the use of the Lynch Method, to create a dependent slave colony three hundred years after the British granted independence to Sofalia is surreal. It is culturecide in its deep meaning.
As the novel progresses, the Azenga are increasingly aware of the menace and danger posed by the British Imperialist. But they are even more horrified that the British Indirect rule had somehow created chiefs out of the most unworthy scum “ the drum chiefs” who betrayed the tribe and this led to several suicides of Azenga elders who chose to die rather than be humiliated by British injustice.
Through the characterization of Payne and his wife, Hagher paints a picture of unalloyed ambition and blithe disregard for other cultures and other lives. Hagher is saying that this attitude allows the growth of corruption as the individual has the right to seek his own survival by any means possible.
The novel forces the reader to question the nature of British imperialism, after it is observed up close, away from the glitter of propaganda. What emerges is to question the buzz concepts of authority, duty and even Pax Britannica as sham decors to a more sordid preoccupation of Empire as greed, corruption, brigandage and the wiping out of non- western civilizations.
The conquest could not have been brought out at a more auspicious time when there is an overwhelming outcry in Nigeria (Sofalia?) at the mounting insecurity and cries by ethnic separatist groups denouncing the Lugardian amalgamation.
There is need for a national conversation on identity politics, national culture, tribal bigotry, national cohesion, and security within national borders. By making these the nodal issues of his novel, Hagher’s Conquest of Azenga is an important contribution to the canons of literally fiction that explores European Imperialism. The allegorical fiction is full of hard facts about Africa’s colonial legacy. It is universally compelling.
Hagher’s debut novel is brave and extraordinary. His narrative prose is lucid, tantalizing and the reader is constantly titillated. The author unflinchingly wars against external and internal imperialist forces and is in command with his characters, that his playwright skills allow him populate his novel, to express his disgust with imperialism which merely debases humanity.
The characters in the Conquest of Azenga are all defeated souls that lose their dignity, their morality, their sense of shame and even their lives. Everybody in Sofalia is conquered. Hagher’s tone is allegorical, picaresque, satiric and irreverent.
Finally, it is necessary to conclude that I. Harry Hagher has established himself a multi-talented cross-border genre maestro of fiction in the struggle for the establishment of humanism and social justice. His novel posits a unique literary style that combines the epic with the episodic and literal reality with magical reality. Let the reader decide.
Akwaya, Publisher /Editor-in-Chief, DAILY ASSET Newspaper is a Journalist, Political Scientist and Student of Literature.
Canadian International rapper, Drake, has lost a massive 600,000 dollars bet after Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in their much-hyped heavyweight showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Reports says that Anthony Joshua secured a brutal knockout(KO), against Francis Ngannou in the second round of the ‘Knockout Chaos’ clash on Friday night.
The superstar recording artiste, known for placing massive bets on sporting events, posted earlier on Instagram that he was betting $615,000 on Ngannou to beat Joshua outright.
“Betting on a scary man,” Drake said.
Drake joined several fans of combat sports to believe that Ngannou could get the job done against Joshua, and if the bet had clicked, it would have paid out $1.
9million .Although Drake has recorded some big wins and losses in betting, he has gained notoriety with the “the Drake Curse”, assertion by fans accusing him of ‘cursing’ athletes and teams after being pictured with them.
The ‘curse’ has affected numerous victims such as quarterback Johny Manziel,UFC fighter Kamaru Usman, Tennis star Serena Williams, and even the entire Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team in the United States.
In January, the rapper lost over half-a-million pounds when he incorrectly backed Sean Strickland to defend his UFC middleweight championship against Dricus Du Plessis.
One of Drake’s biggest bets in 2023 was on YouTube boxer, Logan Paul to knocout Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis in their Misfits Boxing fight.
The rapper won $1.3million after Danis was disqualified in the final round for trying to choke Paul unconscious, prompting a massive brawl to break out in the ring.
Earlier before that fight, Drake missed out on a $920,000 payout after Nigerian born Israel Adesanya lost his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland.
Drake was routing for Adesanya to knockout Strickland in their world title clash, but Strickland produced a massive upset to win on points.(NAN)
Nollywood stars and fans have felicitated with veteran actor, Pete Edochie as he clocked 77 on Thursday, March 7. expressing gratitude to God for his life.
Actress Rita Edochie, who happened to be the celebrant’s brother’s wife, took to her Instagram page @ritaedochie to celebrate the Nollywood icon.
According to her, the celebrant has been loving, caring, concerned and amazing, adding that she is delighted to be his sister-in- law.
She thanked God that she had no regrets knowing Edochie as her brother-in-law due to the kind of person he is.
” In over 30 years of knowing you as my dear husband’s brother, I have never known any regrets nor discomfort .
“Ibobo , you have been remarkably loving, caring , concerned and amazing. I am greatly delighted to be your sister-in- law.
“I have said it before and I will say it again, in my next life , I will surely be married by the Edochies.
“On this special day that marks another year of wonderful existence, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible person you are.
“Happy birthday my great husband, your charisma, wisdom and warm heart have left an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know you.
“May this year bring you so much joy, success, unforgettable moments. As you blow out the candles, may your wishes soar high and your dreams come true.
“Your presence in our lives is a true blessing, today is a reminder to cherish the remarkable soul that you are.
“Here is to another year of laughter, love and unforgettable memories, cheers to you my great brother-in- law like no other.
“I will always love and respect you, live in longevity and soar immensely. Wishing you more of March 7, the great lion of Africa,”she wrote.
Also, actor Yul Edochie, son of the legend, took to his Instagram page to wish his daddy a remarkable birthday celebration.
He wrote, “A very happy birthday to you, Daddy. The Lion of Africa. The Legendary Chief Pete Edochie @peteedochie. The most handsome 77yr old man. Ibobo Umueri, The Greatest. I wish you many more beautiful years filled with God’s blessings.May God lead you always..’
Actor Kanayo O Kanayo wrote, “We are birthday mates. He makes it a duty to call me on March 1. Ebubedike, Ogadagidi, Mmuo nabu. Great to celebrate you while you are alive and kicking wellA fan @amoson_01: “Happy birthday, living legend. My Godfather. God bless your new age. Many more fruitful years to come sir.”
Another fan @donracy wrote, “Happy birthday Ogadagidi nwoke ike. Age in grace sir.”
Meanwhile, the celebrant Pete Edochie, also known as ‘Lion of Africa’, has taken to his Instagram page @peteedochie to celebrate himself for the gift of life as he marked 77 years on earth.
Edochie flooded his Instagram page with adorable pictures in different outfits with a warm smile to specially celebrate his 77th birthday with a caption ‘Ibobo 77.” (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
German-based oil Company Unveils Nollywood Actor, Pete Edochie as Ambassador
A Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, was on Saturday, unveiled as the brand ambassador of Rowe Motor Oil distributed by a German based company, 9th Integrated Energy Solutions Ltd.
Speaking during the endorsement held in Enugu, Mr Okechukwu Benjamin, the Managing Director, of the company, said the deal was a multimillion Naira contract that would last for two years.
The managing director said the deal was renewable after its expiration in 2026.
He said the company chose Edochie because of his class and impeccable character in Africa and beyond as a reputable movie star.
He explained that 9th integrated Energy Solutions Limited was a German company that brought Rowe oil into Africa and owned the franchise for the whole of Africa.
“We are here today to officially unveil Chief Pete Edochie, as the brand ambassador of Rowe oil Nigeria and we are glad that he accepted the offer.
“Our product is a German premium oil that comes with a seal which makes it difficult to be adulterated in the market.
“We have different categories of the oil that would improve Nigerian vehicles, their engine efficiency and save fuel for them.
He added that they sold the oil based on specification of vehicles.
Reacting, Edochie thanked the company for choosing him noting that companies endorsed him as their brand ambassadors because of his reputation and impeccable character.
Edochie popularly known as “Okonkwo and Ebubedike” by his fans, said he had managed to live above board within a society marked with criminal tendencies, describing the offer as a “credible achievement”.
“I am glad to be here and to be made the ambassador of Rowe oil and I am stating my reputation on the quality of this product.
“I have enjoyed a very international marketable reputation for a very long time and I am glad to say that if you go outside this country, first thing they come across as a thespian is Pete Edochie.
“It is a not magic. When I did Things Fall Apart, I became so celebrated even before the Nollywood came into existence.
“There are some parts of the world I am being moulded and people lean on them to take photographs and pay,” Edochie said.
Speaking on his endorsement, the Nollywood actor, who expressed gladness over the organisation’s choice, said the Rowe oil was unique as it sustained the life of a car.
He said Nigeria had come of age to be introduced into things that were modern and scientific, hence, there was need for them to patronise the oil due to its quality and effectiveness. (NAN)
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