ONLINE JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA WITH THAT ABROAD

pix from google





pix from google


The migration of readers, viewers and advertisers from newspaper and broadcast TV to the web is not limited to the developed world but has also become a visible trend in developing countries such as Nigeria.

Newspapers have for the past decade decried the decline in circulation as web visits continue to increase, making the future of newspaper journalism an uncertainty.However, much as this poses a dilemma, it has jolted journalists and media organizations into the realization that being technologically savvy is the only sure means of remaining relevant in an increasingly changing and competitive journalism practice, and a good number of them are stepping up to the plate.Online journalism in Nigeria is rapidly growing. This is evident in the large number of registered daily newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations which maintain online presence. These diverse media ensure that audiences receive national and international news through a potpourri of services offered on their websites.

Major newspapers in Nigeria include The Punch, the Sun, This Day, Vanguard, The Guardian, Daily Independent, The Nation, Sahara Reporters, Daily Trust, Compass, This Day and many more.Though the Punch, one of Nigeria’s most read newspapers, does not produce original videos, it offers a link to videos on YouTube, provides a platform for blogging where visitors can post their comments, and maintains presence on Facebook and Twitter for increased social interactivity. Other features on its website include Photo Gallery, Polls, Weather Forecasts etc Nigeria has 294 radio and TV stations most of which also transmit on the internet. For example, Wazobia FM, and Cool FM, which are both independent radio stations, have their audio programs streamed live. Their audiences can click, download and listen to these programs http://wazobiafm.com/. In addition, Cool FM produces original videos, has a Photo Gallery titled “Cool photos”, online games titled “Cool Games”, and maintains presence on Facebook and Twitter. Other features on its website include an opinion poll site titled “Football Polls” and a “Weather Forecast” site http://www.coolfm.us/.

TV stations in Nigeria are not left out as a large number of them maintain presence on the web, where they transmit live programs. Channels Television, a predominantly news TV station, in addition to its live transmission, produces original news videos, as well as offering links to YouTube videos. It also maintains presence on Facebook and Twitter, gives “Breaking News” through email alerts to subscribers, conducts “Opinion Polls” and gives Weather Reports. http://www.channelstv.com/global .However, a large number of these media organizations are still underdeveloped, lacking the many features of ideal online media. The Sun for example has only a Discussion Forum titled ‘Free kick”, Chat Room titled “Sun Chat Room” and a site for conducting online polls http://sunnewsonline.com/. Similarly, the Guardian, one of Nigeria’s most widely circulated daily newspapers has only a Photo Gallery, while the Nation, another leading national daily newspaper only has links to the social network sites of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Live Bookmarks, through which subscribers receive updates when content changes. Nigerians are active in Internet technology. The Internet country code for Nigeria is.ng. Eleven Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate in the nation. An estimated 100,000 Nigerians are Internet users. Numerous media outlets are available on the Internet. These include specialty media, designed for target audiences to general interest publications.

All Nigeria.com is an Internet source for a broader audience. It contains daily news updates, viewpoints, feature articles and essays on Nigeria, Africa and the world at large from a Nigerian perspective. Nigeria Infonet is a site on the Internet that provides a listing of numerous news and media sources available to anyone interested in either niche or general interest publications. An example of international media outlets providing news analysis on Nigeria's political situation can be found on the websites of both American and British media outlets. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN) both maintain special websites on events and personalities related to the 1999 election. Nigeriaworld is an example of a state of the art newspaper online. Its URL is www.nigeriaworld.com . The Daily Times is another Nigerian newspaper found online. It serves as a contrast to Nigeriaworld in that it lacks both the content and distribution advantages of its competitor. It is not updated on a consistent basis and it does not have the stable of writers found in the pages of Nigeriaworld. Nigeria Daily is between the other two newspapers in terms of quality. It updates its web page on a consistent basis, yet it does not have the resources Nigeriaworld has to provide content from such a wide number of credentialed sources.

The international nature of news flow on the Internet makes it more difficult for the government to control content distributed through this means. Some of the Nigerian newspapers that have daily updated Internet sites have columnists and editorial writers based in the United States and Europe. Many of these people have been educated in American and British institutions of higher learning. A significant number have graduate degrees.

LADIES AND MAKE-UP PALAVA

picture from google

LADIES AND MAKE-UP PALAVA

By Felicia Amos



picture from Googles


They cannot do without wearing makeup, yelled an old woman in a bus heading for Ojuelegba. Sisi your paint is like…

Old woman: (awon omoge isinyin dabi were oja sha oo!) exclaimed in Yoruba language meaning ladies of nowadays looks dramatic. “Sorry to bother you Sisi where are you going with this paint on your face”?

Sisi: “what paint?”, it is called makeup don’t you understand?. “Anyway, I don’t blame an old woman like your type you were born in 3rd century so you don’t expect babes like me to do without makeup.

Other passenger: Na babes like una make paint cost for market!

30 minutes later in the traffic jam Sisi began to feel uncomfortable, sweating, the makeup on her face have started blurring… hisses and complains

Sisi: oh oops! what kind of rickety bus is this for God sake… i suppose don enter cab!

Other passenger: ( make jestful yawn) uuhmm! Sings… “Baby tan ko few a oju lon mowa, kakako se tiwa to fe lo se ya banker?

Sisi: (the makeup on her face have started staining her dress) “ oh gushhh! Driver next bust wa ooo!

Old woman: look at her (alaileko omo, oda bi were oja) looks horrible and dramatic….

Oshun "The Undergoddess"



Yeye Oshun of Oniru Land & group (picture by me)



Yeye Oshun of Oniru Land (picture by me)







Yeye Oshun & Arugba (pix by me



Yeye Oshun, Arugba and children (pix by me)



An interview with Yeye Oshun of Iruland.

BY FELICIA AMOS

Who really is Yeye Osun?

I am Chief Olori Adijatu Kubura, the Iya Osun of Iruland, Eti-Osa LGA Lagos and I worship osun, its my calling! (laughs)

What is Osun and how did it started?

Osun, in the Yoruba religion, is an Undergoddess who reigns over love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy. She is worshipped also in Brazilian Candomblé Ketu, with the name spelled Oxum. Osun is beneficent, generous and very kind. She does, however, have a horrific temper, one which she seldom ever loses but which causes untold destruction whenever she does. Osun is said to have gone to a drum festival one day and to have fallen in love with the king-dancer Shango, Undergod of lightning & thunder. Since that day, Shango has been married to Oba, Oya, and Osun, though Osun is said to be considered his principal wife.

How did osun came to limelight

Like I said earlier Osun has being in existence for many centuries now and its practice is being pass-on from one generation to the other. When I had a calling from osun I had to succumb to it; it well known to most people because is no more a hidden secret. Its being practiced all over the world.

In Nigeria Osogbo is the venue of the annual Osun-Osogbo festival along the River Osun. The festival is centered around the sacred grove of the river goddess Ọsun. Osogbo was founded around early 18th century by hunters from a nearby village which was suffering from famine. The hunters decided to move a few of their family members to the lower terraces of a nearby river, the river Osun. One of the hunters, Larooye, became the first King of Osogbo, as one of the initial builders of the small settlement. Since then Osogbo has increased in population largely due migration from other Yoruba towns and the movement to the river of Osun.

When did you started practicing Osun?

I started practicing osun about 15 years ago I met it in this world, my forefathers practiced it, I was born into it because my mother was Yeye Osun (mother of water) in her time. It is this osun worship that our mother and father used in sending us to school and catering for our needs. We have not seen nor heard that Osun destroys good thing. I have used it to build houses, buy cars, landed property… its really very lucrative. Inititally I was a bit reluctant in yielding to osun’s calling but as soon as I yielded, things turned around for me.

What are the importance of Osun in Yoruba Culture?

According to the Yoruba elders, Osun is the "unseen mother present at every gathering", because Osun is the Yoruba understanding of the cosmological forces of water, moisture, and attraction. Therefore, she is believed to be omnipresent and omnipotent. Her power is represented in another Yoruba proverb which reminds us that "no one is an enemy to water" and therefore everyone has need of and should respect and revere Osun, as well as her followers. Osun is the force of harmony. Harmony which we see as beauty, feel as love, and experience as ecstasy. She, according to the ancients, was the only female Irunmole amongst the original 16 sent from the spirit realm to create the world. As such, she is revered as "Yeye" - the great mother of us all. When the male Irunmole attempted to subjugate Osun due to her femaleness, she removed her divine energy (called ase by the Yoruba) from the project of creating the world and all subsequent efforts at creation were in vain. It was not until visiting with the Supreme Being, Olodumare, and begging for Osun's pardon (as advised by Olodumare) that the world could continue to be created. But not before Osun had given birth to a son. This son became Elegba, the great conduit of ase in the Universe, the eternal and infernal trickster. Osun is known as Iyalode, the "(explicitly female) chief of the market." She is also known as Laketi, she who has ears, because of how quickly and effectively she answers prayers.

How does osun help people?

There’s nobody that will wake up in the morning without taking water. Osun itself in water. Even if you are a pastor, imam or herbalist you cannot do without water. The Oluweri/mammy water is the god living under water and they help people solve their problems.when you are using water it is believed that u are using osun. Even when you are dehydrated it is osun you need to replenish yourself.

Do people really believed its existence?

From all over the world many people knows you cannot do without water in your life. But it seems some people don’t have a deep understanding about it. We know water is water but Oluweri, mammy water and all other white gods lives in water. Like some people will say dreamt swimming in water which symbolize that they ancestral inclination with Osun. Some believe it and others don’t believe in the existence and potency of osun we don’t have to force anybody to join the worship/practice because when osun reveals itself to them they will be convinced it is where they belong. Osun has had many husbands. Different tales attribute husbands to her, including Erinle, Oshosi, Orisha Oko, and Aje'-Shaluga. She is also the sexual partner of Shango and Ogun at different points. Her children include the Ibeji twins, Idowu, and Logun Ede

You were given an award recently…? Tell us about it.

(smiles) Yes I received an award recently. The Association of African Tradition Religion (AATREN) award is to appreciate my effort, good work and perseverance in my practice. Good things does not come easily and this is the 12th year anniversary we started the association. Eti-osa LGA came together to give the award to crown my efforts.

Are you the only Yeye Osun in Eti-Osa LGA?

No. there are other osun worship in this local government but am their matron. We do some “Etutu” (sacrifice) together to appease osun when need be and we also have our annual meeting apart from the annual general Osun Oshogbo meeting where osun worshipers from different part of Nigeria even beyond. Besides that, as the Yeye osun of this LGA I have lot of responsibilities on my shoulder and I also hear from Osun to before holding any meeting.

How do you unwind?

I travel at times to Dubai, France, London to mention but few. I go there to relax and do some shopping and come back to Nigeria . I travel only when osun tells me to.

Any word of advice ?

I want people to know that practicing osun is not only for the uneducated. You can be an educated osun worshiper in as much as you have a calling from osun

(Mr. Monsuru one of osun’s worshipper… testifies)

What brought you here?

I am Monsuru by name, I have worked in Beecham company before I lost my job few years back. I had a lot of problems but since I came to osun for help, I discovered that people here (the osun palace) are very caring and friendly. The Yeye performed some river rituals for me and thing began to change for better. I have tralleved aboard, I am a father, infact the osun has done explicitly well for me. That why I have decided to also become an osun worshipper.

How were you convinced the osun can help you?

I think my problems then were more of spiritual than the physical, a friend brought my here I didn’t question why he brought me to Yeye osun because I thought all has finished for me but thanks to Osun’s great powers that transformed my life.

MEDIA CONVERGENCE

 

MEDIA CONVERGENCE IN NIGERIA

The process of convergence starts when previously separate technologies coming closer together as a direct consequence of the advances made in ICT. Convergence has been  made possible by digitalization which allows different types of content (audio, video, text) to be stored in same format and delivered through a wide variety of technologies (computers, mobile phones, television, etc)

Convergence can be viewed from many points. First, is the technological convergence. This refers to the trend for some set of technologies initially having distinct functionalities to evolve to having those that overlap. Like mobile phones making voice calls, sms, internet and Television.

While media convergence means removal of entry barriers across IT, Telecommunications, media and consumer electronics ,creating one and single, converged industry.  Technical convergence is the merging of the delivery technologies through which content reaches the consumer: radio, conventional broadcasting, satellite, cable, fibre optics, wireless, internet.

Content convergence from a broadcasting perspective as the formatting and use of content, aided by the flexibility afforded by digitalisation, to present the same information,  on different platforms and in different ways. The same information can be used for different purposes – audiences can use the platform most relevant to them

Convergence therefore can be defined from a number of perspectives: technological, content, economic,  regulatory and institutional.     Convergence is important because of the role it can  play in national economic and social development  and growth. It has the potential to impact on all segments of society – it can shape the delivery of  government services (education and health included),  redefine the way businesses operate and  provide individuals with as yet unimagined information  and communication services.

There are many hurdles to cross before we can achieve true convergence in Nigeria . The following are some of the hurdles:

Human and institutional capacity 

It is just about eight years that Nigeria   began the reform of the telecommunications sectors leading to the establishment of  the independent regulator, The National communications commission. The opening up of markets and the need to provide universal service required new sets of regulatory skills which are often still in scarce supply. Addressing the needs of convergence will stretch scarce human resources and institutional capacities even further.

The merging of delivery platforms and content creates new opportunities for the development and delivery of services and products that can expand access to communications services in all parts of the  Nigeria  and better meet the needs of users.   

Consumer-driven convergence: In the field of e-commerce and information technology, convergence typically refers to media convergence, and especially to the combination of television, telecommunications, and the personal computer into a single box that would deliver high-speed Internet access, traditional television programming, and interactive services. However, as of mid-2001, interactive television (iTV) was more vision than reality. Major providers included WebTV, owned by Microsoft since 1997 and re-branded in April 2001 as MSNTV; and AOLTV, which launched in October 2000 following tests in select markets. WebTV quickly gained some 1.1 million subscribers, and then found it difficult to acquire more customers. AOLTV had to convince AOL subscribers it was worth an additional $14.95 a month, while non-subscribers had to pay $24.95 a month for access to AOLTV. Short of iTV, some TV shows—including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?—offered some measure of interactivity by directing viewers to their Web sites.

Convergence at a technological level will enable voice, video, and data to be transmitted to consumers through a single pipeline. The pipeline may be wired, such as cable or DSL, or it may be wireless. Instead of accessing the Internet from a single box, however, consumers will be able to access high-speed networks from a variety of access points, including PCs, TVs, mobile phones, mobile devices, public kiosks, and home appliances. Technological convergence also is expected to result in further convergence at the business level. The merger of AOL and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner was expected to help accelerate the convergence of traditional and Internet media. Other telecommunications, cable, Internet, and traditional media companies also would join forces, either through mergers or strategic alliances, to form fewer and larger organizations.