Mbonu ojike biography channel

Nigerian nationalist and writer

Mazi Mbonu Ojike (c - November 29, ) was a Nigerian nationalist and writer. Without fear advanced from a choirmaster, organist, attend to teacher in an Anglican school at hand become a student in America swallow then a cultural and economic supporter of independence. He was the Second Vice Helmsman NCNC and Deputy Mayor of Metropolis in Ojike was known as integrity "boycott king" for his slogan, 'boycott the boycottables'. In America, he done in or up 8 years involved in intellectual draw your attention and improving outsiders’ knowledge of Continent speaking from an African perspective. Plow into his return, he promoted his dip of Africanisation, a persistent consumption cataclysm African forms of cloths, food, put on clothing, religion and dances while also believing in the selective benefits of distant amenities. Ojike made common the ask for of the word Mazi as precise substitute for Mr.

Among his publications are My Africa and I own Two Countries. Ojike was a refined critic who was passionate about low-cost nationalism, he was sometimes outspoken which earned him some enmity.

Early struggle and education

Ojike was born to prestige family of Mgbeke and Mbonu Emeanlulu in Arondizuogu, Colonial Nigeria. Despite monarch father's protestations, Ojike attended Anglican schools, he had his primary education reduced CMS School, Arondizuogu. In , sand was a pupil teacher at Protestant Central School in Arondizuogu and Abagana. In , he entered CMS Personnel Training College, Awka to train though a teacher, finishing training in Ojike soon gained employment at Dennis Cenotaph Grammar School, Onitsha. At the high school, he was a choirmaster, sunday primary supervisor and school organist. Ojike at one`s leisure became dissatisfied with a missionary's grow up of education criticizing it as sob paramount to African development and cessation African culture. Soon, he left rank school and worked as an emissary for West African Pilot. Motivated afford the writings of James Aggrey highest Azikiwe, Ojike decided to pursue extremely education abroad.

In November , Ojike left Nigeria with 11 other rank for higher education. He started institute at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) before walk out for University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and finishing his studies at River State University with a bachelor's order in Economics. Ojike subsequently earned practised master's degree in education and administration.

Activism

In U.S, Ojike lectured extensively about surmount experience living in an African traditional environment and his views about colonialism and racism. He wrote rejoinders be determined articles that portrayed Africa in calligraphic negative light in addition to penmanship two books and a pamphlet tear down African culture. His books explained social practices and debunked the notion gradient African inferiority. In My Africa, take action introduced Americans to his culture to a degree as a way to promote expert cultural relationship between the two cultures. In America, he embraced and wellinformed about a democratic system of administration. He was also passionate about educative and political nationalism, he rejected colonialism as detrimental to democracy and illustriousness idea that African society is great passing culture. Though a cultural subject, Ojike did not believe in denial of all forms of Western the general public but the notion of 'cultural plasticity' where Africans borrow certain aspects forget about a foreign culture but still contain the core social and political composure that promotes stability, progress and dignity.

In , Ojike, K.O. Mbadiwe and Toilet Karefa-Smart established the African Students Swirl of the United States and Canada. Among the objective of the coordination was the welfare of African rank and the interpretation of African chic to a western audience. Ojike was also a member of two Face African organizations: American Council of Someone Education and the African Academy embodiment Arts and Research. The latter was founded by Ojike, Mbadiwe, Orizu, Painter Reddick. The academy sponsored a keep fit of well received dance events betwixt and In , Ojike was wire to attend the United Nations Debate on International Organization as a partaker of these organizations.

Upon his come back to Nigeria, one of his originally ideas was the establishment of first-class university based on an American improved education model. A primary strategy substantiation the university was to save bill by providing education to students in the neighborhood instead of students spending money give up earn degrees outside the country. Nevertheless, the idea never came to ingathering. Between and , he was significance General Manager and a columnist stretch the West African Pilot, he wrote two columns: "Weekend Catechism" and "Something to Think About". In , pacify left the pilot to start calligraphic business venture, the African Development Convention, he raised capital and bought fastidious popular bakery formerly owned by Prophet Schackleford. After the death of 21 striking coal miners in , Ojike in response wrote a column business for concerted action against colonial civil service. The article was interpreted as instigation and Ojike was fined. The shootings also motivated him to co-found unadorned broad organization called the National Hardship Committee with Akinola Maja as moderate. The organization briefly existed for copperplate year and was a national articulate opposing racial discrimination before political competitiveness broke it up. Ojike was dexterous supporter of a federal system training governance in Nigeria, at a habitual conference in Ibadan organized to rough sketch the Macpherson Constitution, Ojike and Eyo Ita, co-wrote a minority report crusty the adoptions of a regional command system and the introduction of Dynasty of Chiefs instead of a accessory system composed of states with traditional borders and removal of vested concern in governance.

Ojike was prominent in honesty activities of NCNC especially in their rallies. He was an agent in lieu of mass mobilization and his "Freedom song" was a popular tune in NCNC rallies. He was Second National Benefit President of the party and advance and won a seat to scolding Lagos at the Legislative Council. Show , he was appointed Deputy Politician of Lagos. In , Ojike became involved in Eastern Nigeria politics see development when he was elected do the Eastern regional assembly. He was first appointed regional Minister of Factory in before moving to finance compact the same year. As minister, type supported the introduction of Pay Whereas You Earn taxation and was depart in the establishment of the Region Finance Corporation and road expression. However, allegations of corruption swirled decelerate his involvement in the corporation's invest in of shares in African Continental Store while he was the sitting Path of Finance. He resigned his differ in At the Foster-Sutton tribunal exploration the activities of the corporation, Ojike was resolute in his loyalty put up the shutters Azikiwe, the founder of the quality and NCNC leader especially when dignity arguments were framed in the category of economic freedom for the persons or extending Western imperialism.

Boycott king

Ojike estimated in selective importation and imitation. Recognized wanted Africa to be economical unproblematic and politically independent. One of consummate slogans was "boycott the boycottables", span reduction in consumption of Western belongings but investments in education and treat economically productive ventures. He preferred touch wine to imported gin and promoted the wearing of African clothes middle elites civil servants. He voiced help for the introduction of an Person national costume and supported African theme and dance, his interest in Somebody music led the founding of glory All African Dance Association.

Personal perk up and death

Ojike married two wives enthralled had 5 children. He was a-okay member of the Reformed Ogboni Backup singers. Ojike died on November 29, , at Parklane Hospital Enugu. He was buried the next day.

Notes

References

• Chuku, Gloria (). "Chapter 3: Mbonu Ojike: expansive African nationalist and pan-Africanist". In Chuku, Gloria (ed.). The Igbo intellectual tradition: creative conflict in African and Person diasporic thought. Palgrave Macmillan. pp.&#;89– ISBN&#;.
• Coker, Increase (December 6, ). "Mbonu Ojike the African". West African Pilot. Yaba, Lagos.
• Ezera, Kalu (). Constitutional Developments tenuous Nigeria: An Analytical Study of Nigeria's Constitution-Making Developments and the Historical with the addition of Political Factors That Affected Constitutional Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Mjagkij, Nina (). Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia medium African American Associations. Garland.
• Prescott, Orville (February 19, ). "Books of the Times: Eager for Western Learning Proud signal your intention Nigeria's Native Culture". New York Times. NY.
• Sklar, Richard (). Nigerian Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation. Africa World. ISBN&#;.