The Nigerian blogger scouring the past to inform the future
There are many events in Nigeria’s history which 23-year-old Teslim Omipidan wishes every Nigerian to know.
For example, in October 1961, a young American woman, Margery Michelmore, was attending Peace Corps training at the University of Ibadan in south-western Nigeria.
A postcard she wrote to a friend back home described the “squalor and absolutely primitive living conditions” of her new environment.
A Nigerian saw the postcard before it was mailed; distributed photocopies around the campus – sparking riots from the students who found the private message outrageous, and an international incident that eventually drew the involvement of then US President John F Kennedy.
Nearly 15 years later, in February 1976, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Nigeria’s former capital city was packed with middle-class Nigerians and expatriates, who had gathered to watch two US professionals, Wimbledon champion Arthur Ashe and Jeff Borowiak, play.
The Ashe v Borowiak match was black Africa’s first professional tennis tournament, part of the World Championship Tennis Pro Circuit series. The winner would take home $60,000 – the equivalent today of about $517,000 (£385,000).
But Nigeria’s beloved military ruler, Murtala Muhammed, had been assassinated in a failed coup three days earlier, on 13 February. Shortly after the game began, five men strolled on to the court – four of them in military uniform.
“What are you doing?” yelled one of the soldiers. “We are mourning, you are making money. Are you all mad? Please, go.”
While a soldier shoved his weapon into Ashe’s back and led him off the court with his hands raised in the air, the spectators scrambled from their seats and fled.
