One of the LPs of the late godfather of Soul Music, James Brown, is titled: “There Was A Time”.
The razor-edge record reigned for a long while on radio charts, social shows and among the bugaloo-trousers wearing students of the late 1960’s/early 1970’s here and abroad. One was at the forefront with girlfriend, “Folly Shanker”.
Pic One: The iconic King of Boxing, the late Muhammed Ali, with the legendary King of Football, the late Edson Arantes do Nascimento (aka Pelé);
Pic Two: A copy of the review of the social world, 48 years ago, on 30th December,1974, by Oloye Lekan Alabi, then as the Social Page Editor of the now-defunct Sunday Sketch Weekly.
After the prolonged self-searching exercise for an appropriate title for this piece, I settled for the above.
Nigeria, nay the world, used to enjoy a safe, settled, peaceful, beautiful and equitable country/world.
All you needed to actualise a good dream or admirable ambition was determination, fired by merit. There was no need for the support of the so-called ‘godfathers’ or ‘godmothers’.
Students, job applicants were at liberty to apply to any school/job of their choice/dreams, attend written/oral interviews and settle back at homes for their letters of admission/employment.
Individuals faced their passions- academia, business, the professions, etc.
Most of the middle 1960’s and early 1970’s were under military rules, scaring away spoil-sports such as politicians, their lackeys who today swagger and cock their snoops at the majority who don’t have stomachs/pockets for chicanery/money-induced games.
In these two photographs, my sermon about the seriousness/beauty/decency/a go-go of decades past, is well captured…
Pic 1: Two of the world’s gifted, hardworking, popular role models of the 1960’s/1970’s, Muhammad Ali, alias “the Louisville Lip”, the greatest boxer ever on earth and Edson Nascimento, alias “Pelé”, the greatest footballer in history, who died on Thursday, aged 82, were perfect turnouts of a world of freedom, order, merit and justice.
Where has their beautiful world gone, you ask?
Gone, gone and since gone, one is furious to reply.
Pic 2: A copy of my review of the social world, 48 years ago, on 30th December,1974, when I was the Social Page Editor of the now-defunct Sunday Sketch weekly.
Today is the last day in the last month of Year 2022.Tomorrow, will usher in Year 2023. I pray for the return of years of godliness, freedom, creativity, chivalry, beauty when individuals worked diligently toward their ambitions and destinies like Muhammad Ali, Pelé and many other superstars.
•Oloye Alabi is the Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland.
