ONCE UPON A TIME PART 1

I got a seat in the middle of the 2500 capacity lecture hall. That’s the largest the school had then. It was meant for general classes but this time, we were expecting someone who is coming to lecture both the students and lecturer. Prof Fredrick Duines is a world renowned sociologist who had bagged all the awards with his ideas in sociological theories. A contemporary with Parsons and Merton, whose view about neo Marxism is the greatest the world has seen. As a 200 level sociology student then, having the opportunity to listen to Prof Duines was the most amazing thing. It took the hall five extra minutes after I sat down for it to get filled. Pressmen were in attendance checking their microphones and camera for a good view of this presentation. Lecturers brought out their laptops and tablets and many took pleasure in the conventional jotting with pen on paper. I was prepared to get the best out of this, thus I sat far from all friends. Departments in attendance were sociology & anthropology, political science, International relations, economics and philosophy. 

We all stood up to greet the vice chancellor as he walked into the lecture theater. He had discovered the hall was too small for the presentation. Calls were made and in a short while canopies were arranged outside with screen for students who didn’t make it into the hall. The microphone was tested and the vice chancellor was introduced by the dean of social sciences.

Vice chancellor: today our great institution is hosting a world renowned social scientist that has spanned his knowledge and combed his ideas in the wheels of theories. He is a great influence to many and a friend to all. Prof Fredrick Duines graduated from the prestigious Harvard University where he also lectured till he was seventy five. He did his first ethnological research in Nigeria. Today he has chosen our institution as a ground for his academic deposit. Thus I expect all present here at the moment to get the best out of what he is about to present. 

As he was rounding off his speech, Prof Duines walked in and all stood up as he waved us. The registrar walked him to the stage and age could tell from his voice. The first words that came out of his mouth were “I need a chalk and a chalkboard”. I’m a teacher not a motivational speaker. Clapped roared the whole hall as a white board was manufactured in seconds with different markers showing up. He wrote in capital letters “ONCE UPON A TIME”.

God created the heavens and the earth and all the architecture of the earth were in place and God handed over the earth to men. Since that day, God has been stepping into the situations for men. I’m old and religious now thus I wouldn’t say God made a mistake by handing over something as great as this world into the hands of men. The earth grew so fast and trade and investment grew larger. Societies were built and government imposed. Laws were divined from the Moses and relatively institutionalized into different societies. Kings and Queens emerged amongst the people and they demanded worship from their mates in the name of gods. Civilization started from Africa “The strongest clan of humans the world possesses” The activities of Africans are overwhelming to the world. And at a time Egypt took over the world and made them slaves. To be sincere; most commentaries undermine the strength of Egypt. Egypt captured God’s beloved and enslaved them for 400 years. God negotiated with pharaoh and he declined. He felt so powerful within.

After Egypt was dethroned power was spread across the Middle East. There was no known world power for a long time. Dynasties were built in different parts of the world but the Persians and the Greek were in preparations of the world take over. India and china were building up populations and the world was increasing. 

Not to bore you with world history; let me jump to the Romans. When the Romans took over the world they captured all of Europe, part of Africa and part of Asia. They were the most mechanized army of all times. With the technology available at that time, Rome would fight the world and would win. Their entire males were soldiers and nobility started setting into pace. They became a better race compared to others. They extended the act of slavery beyond development and it became pleasure. The dehumanization of mankind started in Rome and the world embraced it afterwards. 

After Rome came Britain, France, Portugal and America. They all had a taste of masterhood over their fellow men. Africa… the same nation that started the affair of slavery was the deposit of it. It might interest you to know that the Israelites were enslaved by Egyptians for four hundred years and Africa went through the tragedy of slave trade for same four hundred years. Nemesis: a tool of the gods. 

That’s a little history of the evolution of men through the world. Men started fighting for his freedom from the day God handed over the affairs of this world into the hands of Adam and the struggle is what I have come to discuss today. 

My first trip to Africa was on a ship. It took three months before the navigation was completed. I wasn’t expectant of what I saw. The sustainable developmental structure was immense. The political structure was wonderful. The familial educational structure was excellent. Religion was native though compared to our Christianity and Islam but there was sanity in the land. Economy was crude but improving and manual agriculture sustained the society. All these happened once upon a time. 

At these times, the colonial masters were still ravaging the lands in exploration of natural resources the African nations were not bothered about. Living was without jealousy and greed was not present in Africa. All lived well and protected their clans. The slaves were returning to Sierra-Leone and Liberia, some were relocating to their former nations. The integration wasn’t easy but acceptance was good and the locals were documenting the experiences of the sojourners in forms of arts and designs. One thing I knew existed amongst Africans was LOVE. But today that love is no more. 

My name is Olusegun Jubril and this story is all about love………