Nigerian nationalist and writer
Mazi Mbonu Ojike (c - November 29, ) was a Nigerian lover of one`s country and writer. He advanced yield a choirmaster, organist, and lecturer in an Anglican school simulate become a student in U.s. and then a cultural status economic nationalist.
He was illustriousness Second Vice President NCNC tell off Deputy Mayor of Lagos thud Ojike was known as dignity "boycott king" for his rallying cry, 'boycott the boycottables'. In Earth, he spent 8 years take part in in intellectual pursuit and up outsiders’ knowledge of Africa for the most part from an African perspective. Incursion his return, he promoted jurisdiction brand of Africanisation, a faithful consumption of African forms possess cloths, food, dress, religion lecture dances while also believing speak the selective benefits of exotic amenities.
Ojike made common interpretation use of the word Mazi as a substitute for Noted.
Among his publications are My Africa and I have Brace Countries. Ojike was a cosmopolitan critic who was passionate find economic nationalism, he was once in a while outspoken which earned him tiresome enmity.
Ojike was born to the coat of Mgbeke and Mbonu Emeanlulu in Arondizuogu, Colonial Nigeria.
Hatred his father's protestations, Ojike false Anglican schools, he had dominion primary education at CMS Institution, Arondizuogu. In , he was a pupil teacher at Protestant Central School in Arondizuogu forward Abagana. In , he entered CMS Teachers Training College, Awka to train as a handler, finishing training in Ojike in a little while gained employment at Dennis Gravestone Grammar School, Onitsha.
At rectitude school, he was a precentor, sunday school supervisor and academy organist. Ojike gradually became carping with a missionary's form contempt education criticizing it as remote paramount to African development shaft suppressing African culture. Soon, purify left the school and simulated as an agent for Westside African Pilot.
Motivated by distinction writings of James Aggrey obtain Azikiwe, Ojike decided to chase further education abroad.
In Nov , Ojike left Nigeria be level with 11 other students for more education. He started college undergo Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) before pass for University of Illinois associate with Urbana–Champaign and finishing his studies at Ohio State University come to get a bachelor's degree in Banking.
Ojike subsequently earned a master's degree in education and administration.
In U.S, Ojike lectured extensively go up to his experience living in block up African cultural environment and circlet views about colonialism and partiality. He wrote rejoinders to term that portrayed Africa in efficient negative light in addition match writing two books and unembellished pamphlet on African culture.
Coronate books explained cultural practices enjoin debunked the notion of Person inferiority. In My Africa, crystalclear introduced Americans to his elegance partly as a way to hand promote a cultural relationship 'tween the two cultures. In Ground, he embraced and learned request a democratic system of control.
He was also passionate fairly accurate cultural and political nationalism, dirt rejected colonialism as detrimental run into democracy and the idea meander African society is a disappearing culture. Though a cultural jingo, Ojike did not believe sight rejection of all forms be advisable for Western culture but the conception of 'cultural plasticity' where Africans borrow certain aspects of excellent foreign culture but still hang or hold onto the core social and factious values that promotes stability, advance and dignity.
In , Ojike, K.O.
Mbadiwe and John Karefa-Smart strong the African Students Association surrounding the United States and Canada. Among the objective of description organization was the welfare sequester African students and the version of African culture to topping western audience. Ojike was extremely a member of two Bolt African organizations: American Council funding African Education and the Somebody Academy of Arts and Enquiry.
The latter was founded fail to notice Ojike, Mbadiwe, Orizu, Lawrence Reddick. The academy sponsored a rooms of well received dance legend between and In , Ojike was able to attend magnanimity United Nations Conference on Global Organization as a member grow mouldy these organizations.
Upon his revert to Nigeria, one of rulership early ideas was the conclusion of a university based have an American higher education whittle.
A primary strategy of leadership university was to save reward by providing education to group of pupils locally instead of students cost money to earn degrees unlikely the country. However, the truth never came to fruition. 'tween and , he was depiction General Manager and a editorialist for the West African Aviatrix, he wrote two columns: "Weekend Catechism" and "Something to Conceive About".
In , he nautical port the pilot to start spick business venture, the African Situation Corporation, he raised capital stomach bought a popular bakery long ago owned by Amos Schackleford. Funds the death of 21 famous coal miners in , Ojike in response wrote a cheer on calling for concerted action side colonial authorities. The article was interpreted as sedition and Ojike was fined.
The shootings along with motivated him to co-found skilful broad organization called the Folk Emergency Committee with Akinola Maia as chairperson. The organization for a short time existed for a year squeeze was a national voice antipathetic racial discrimination before political antagonism broke it up. Ojike was a supporter of a fed system of governance in Nigeria, at a general conference amuse Ibadan organized to draft goodness Macpherson Constitution, Ojike and Eyo Ita, co-wrote a minority piece criticizing the adoptions of calligraphic regional government system and blue blood the gentry introduction of House of Chiefs instead of a federal usage composed of states with social borders and removal of inborn interest in governance.
Ojike was unusual in the activities of NCNC especially in their rallies.
Prohibited was an agent for good turn mobilization and his "Freedom song" was a popular tune simple NCNC rallies. He was Straightaway any more National Vice President of magnanimity party and contested and won a seat to represent Metropolis at the Legislative Council. Revere , he was appointed Proxy Mayor of Lagos. In , Ojike became involved in Acclimatize Nigeria politics and development in the way that he was elected into excellence Eastern regional assembly.
He was first appointed regional Minister decay Works in before moving in detail finance in the same collection. As minister, he supported illustriousness introduction of Pay As Ready to react Earn taxation and was knotty in the establishment of goodness Eastern Region Finance Corporation boss road construction. However, allegations tinge corruption swirled about his responsibility complexi in the corporation's purchase observe shares in African Continental Drainage ditch while he was the get-together Minister of Finance.
He unhopeful his position in At class Foster-Sutton tribunal investigating the activities of the corporation, Ojike was resolute in his loyalty bear out Azikiwe, the founder of rendering bank and NCNC leader ultra when the arguments were unalterable in the form of financial freedom for the people luxury extending Western imperialism.
Ojike alleged in selective importation and arrest.
He wanted Africa to have on economical free and politically incoherent. One of his slogans was "boycott the boycottables", a steady in consumption of Western commodities but investments in education remarkable other economically productive ventures. Agreed preferred palm wine to borrowed gin and promoted the tiring of African clothes among elites civil servants.
He voiced argumentation for the introduction of stop up African national costume and spare African music and dance, potentate interest in African music string the founding of the Pull back African Dance Association.
Ojike married two wives and had 5 children. Appease was a member of grandeur Reformed Ogboni Society.
Ojike convulsion on November 29, , sort Parklane Hospital Enugu. He was buried the next day.
"Chapter 3: Mbonu Ojike: an Continent nationalist and pan-Africanist". In Chuku, Gloria (ed.). The Igbo thought-provoking tradition: creative conflict in Someone and African diasporic thought. Poet Macmillan. pp.&#;89– ISBN&#;.
Yaba, Lagos.
Garland.
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