- He who would dance with the gods
By Yinka Fabowale
Here begins the series of my reminiscences as a journalist in The Guardian published in the newly-out “The Making of Nigeria’s Flagship: A story of The Guardian.” In the following days, I will be sharing my contribution to the book detailing how I was forged in The Guardian crucible into the writer I have become today. Please, prepare to laugh, learn and get shocked. I wish to say that to the Owner and Bestower of all gifts belong the honour and glory.
The book, written by two of the newspaper’s ace reporters of the period, O’Seun Ogunseitan and Aaron Ukodie, chronicles the evolution of The Guardian, Nigeria’s foremost quality newspaper into a globally reputed and commercially successful brand in its first 10 years (1983-93). The decade is regarded as the golden era of Nigerian journalism as it witnessed the flourishing of a new genre of journalese typified by excellence, in-depth reporting, liberal intellectualism, assertive independence as well as literary elegance! The Guardian stable warehoused the special breed of talented journalists, writers and intellectuals who birthed and led the new literary movement. For this, it was dubbed The Flagship of the Nigerian Press”
Spiced with interesting contributions and recollections by other pioneer staff, the cream of Journalism icons and legends, on their days on board the vessel, it was launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos on April 8, in celebration of this epochal legacy and all those who were part of its making, especially the late founder and publisher of the octopoedal media house, Mr. Alex Ibru.
Yours sincerely was honoured with a special recognition award for being among this privileged crust of professionals. The laurel comes with a memorabilia (customized copy of the rich and classy publication), which, I daresay, is a reference material for readers interested in media economics, management, power writing, and stylistics. Enjoy…
The call
“No one dares the tiger in its lair save an initiate of the inner ring of the braves!That famous line in the panegyric of Eyo Ikolaba Ekun, one of the most dreaded cults of masquerades that stage the Adamu Orisa Play Festival in Lagos summarizes the story of my enlistment on the staff of The Guardian and voyage on board the flagship of the Nigerian press of the 1980s and 1990s!
The Adamu Orisa is a cultural fiesta featuring carnival processions of masquerades representing the different primordial families on Lagos Island and is meant to be an all-day -long mirthful celebration with ‘Opambata’ (carven staff)- wielding Eyo masks entertaining milling crowd of spectators with acrobatic displays, prancing, dancing, praying, and chanting of ‘Aro’ which included their panegyrics. But the revelry sometimes turns violent and bloody, as rival cults clash in a test of strength or to settle old scores between feuding clans.
Ikolaba Ekun, whose totem is a snarling tiger, is a veteran of these fights. Renowned for the elegant beauty, charms, courage, resilience and fearsome fighting spirit and skills of its masquerades, the Eyo’s panegyric is a warning reminder to other armies to weigh their strengths carefully before venturing to confront its camp. Incidentally, the noble family to which it belongs is led by our own royal and literary prince, the indomitable Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu (Oloriekun).
The Guardian!
There is a sense in which the newspaper establishment can be likened to this powerful and aristocratic Lagos lineage. Its distinctiveness, class, majestic aura, ethos and high calibre workforce – journalists, intellectual-writers, as well as the richness and credibility of its titles which all clearly showed from inception that The Guardian, like the eagle, wasn’t going to go pecking with the chickens, trudging with the herd or craving cheap applause by pandering to the whims and caprices of vile powerful interest or the ignorant masses. The one to guide and lead the nation unto a new path of freedom, light and progress could not be of an inferior order.
“We like to believe we’re writing for an informed audience, knowledgeable people, intellectuals, policy makers, people in management exercising high executive functions… so, we can’t afford not to be different. It’s not just about reporting this said this, or that said that. Here our reporters must be able to look at issues comprehensively, analyze and interpret issues…,” Mr. Femi Kusa, the Editor, who I’d approached for a job, after an introduction by an old school mate of his at Olivet Baptist Boys High School, Oyo, had told me, during a visit to know what he thought of a pile of newspaper cuttings consisting of my published articles in Lagos Horizon, a young newspaper set up by the Lagos State Government in 1988 that I’d submitted to him along with a resume.
If Kusa was impressed about the articles reflecting some of my best efforts in news features writing, literary/arts review and a weekly column (Alausa This week) I wrote as a Senior Correspondent covering the Governor’s Office/State Secretariat with oversight responsibility for the arts/entertainment beat for the state-owned newspaper, he didn’t show it.
In fact, I wondered if The Guardian Editor, a work bug, had time to read and assess the works, as I always met him busy and had to wait for hours to see him on appointments at Rutam House, Isolo, only to have the meeting rescheduled. I’d begun to suspect that the man wasn’t keen on engaging me, especially when, on about the third occasion, he declared I had to undergo one – month mandatory performance test under any of the line editors who would have to recommend me for employment. Ought not my four- year experience in the industry count?
That indignant protest earned me the short lecture from which I excerpted the quote above. In fact, that I already was reporting for another newspaper was a disincentive, Kusa said, as, according to him, the company preferred recruiting fresh, young graduates who could be nurtured in its reporting traditions and house style.
I had to concede to Kusa the right to his take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Wasn’t he the Editor of the flagship of the Nigerian press? But, I couldn’t help feeling ‘sorry’ that the top journalist didn’t know or seem to care that he could be throwing away a chance to have a ‘striker’ on his team, an impression fans who goaded me into applying for a job at The Guardian had made me have of myself.
To be continued …
