Public Relations: Ile-Ife, culture-shock and modernism
August 2 2015 By Abi Giwa
Oba Sijuade of Ile-Ife
Have you been following the news from Nigeria regarding Oba Okunade Sijuade about the issue of life and death? Do you think the news media is right in the way and manner it has been publishing stories much without required attributions? And do you think it is still possible that women could be kept indoor for 24 hours seven days, for any reason, in the 21st century?
Few days ago, the media reported something 'strange', which no one alive will not want attributed to him or her, and a reminder of the refrain that everyone wants to go heaven, but no one wants to die. The reports said the King has died, but in a rebuttal, the chiefs in the palace said the King is not dead, but alive, hale and hearty.
Almost one week after the chief's rebuttal, the King has yet to appear in the public to assure his subjects that he is much alive. Well, observers are saying it is quite possible that the King hadn't appear to disclaim the media publication, because it is possible he is still receiving medical attention or still convalescing after treatment.
But the media has not stopped publishing stories inferencing developments in the city that suggest or confirm the earlier publication, amid public debate in Nigeria in which some people are saying that the media shouldn't have published the first report about death, citing traditions, while some others are saying the media was right for publishing the sad story, citing the new media and modernism.
In the earlier report that said the King has joined his ancestors, the report said the King was ill and rushed to St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, from Ibadan. There was no attribution, the ward number and the possible certificate of death. However, the palace chiefs have not denied that the king was ill and possibly in London for medical attention.
In the course of what has turned into a sort of drama, news reports said the city has embarked on a major festival during which women are not allowed to come outdoor and this is indirectly linked to yet to be confirmed demise. The festival called 'Oro' will hold for seven days. The normal routine for the festival is that it holds in the night, when women are disallowed outdoors.
But a newspaper report said that the festival, holding for seven days would keep women indoor both day and night. An investigation from a woman in Nigeria,who is knowledgeable about such things, though not a native of Ife, said it is possible for women to remain indoors for the entire duration of the festival, based on what she had witnessed in another part of Yorubaland.
The outcome of the investigation quickly attracted a question about whether it is possible for women to be kept indoor for seven days for any reason and in any part of the world and in the 21st century? When the debate about whether the media was right or wrong in publishing the report about death is considered along what people have said, the conclusion will be that it is possible for women to be so treated regardless of time and place, because it is about tradition. It is here that the teaching of 'culture shock' in Sociology comes in.
But would it have been right for the media to have such information and embargo it? The answer is in the negative, because according to universal application, not everyone in the media knows about the tradition in Ile-Ife. For journalists who don't know about Ife's tradition, it will be a culture shock to hear what they have reported is taboo, but not that they have lied. It is here that the role of the palace chiefs who spoke to the state governor with a rebuttal in the media that the King is alive and how that has upended Public Relations has a place.
In this case, any professional will know that the palace chiefs have not lied as being claimed by some people, but merely demonstrating emotion and love for a man who is much a father figure. The chiefs said as much that they have not received information that the King has transformed, and that if such a thing has happened they ought to have been the ones to inform the media for the appropriate action. They don't seem to know what is called journalism and the effort by various newspapers to,outdo one another and how it has affected journalism.
And as the debate continued, two media reports surfaced that said the remains of the revered king has been flown into the country, while another said that the body would be flown home for necessary rites and burial in the palace, and that announcement about the demise is delayed to enable the family take out their personal effects from the palace, because the moment the announcement is made, whatever belongs to them would be confiscated. It is here that curious observers begin to raise a red flag about the reports. While others say the chiefs shouldn't have said the King is hale and hearty. But palace apologists disagree.
They say Oba Sijuade has ruled for35 years, having been on the throne since 1980, and that at 85 it would not have been strange if a man of his stature and age leaves this earth. They say death is not a choice, but mandatory when the time appointed by the Almighty God dawns. They say it is why it is written in "Beowulf" that every man should do what he is capable in advancement of humanity when he is young and strong, because death can come at any time to abort human intentions.
And considering Sijuade's social life and openness - believing that the worst has happened - would he have wished that his body be returned to the country under the cover of darkness and obscurity? The conclusion is that the media ought to wait for a brief from the palace after the chiefs' rebuttal, rather than continued publishing unconfirmed information, which should have been officially released by palace officials, even if the first report was right.
Few days ago, the media reported something 'strange', which no one alive will not want attributed to him or her, and a reminder of the refrain that everyone wants to go heaven, but no one wants to die. The reports said the King has died, but in a rebuttal, the chiefs in the palace said the King is not dead, but alive, hale and hearty.
Almost one week after the chief's rebuttal, the King has yet to appear in the public to assure his subjects that he is much alive. Well, observers are saying it is quite possible that the King hadn't appear to disclaim the media publication, because it is possible he is still receiving medical attention or still convalescing after treatment.
But the media has not stopped publishing stories inferencing developments in the city that suggest or confirm the earlier publication, amid public debate in Nigeria in which some people are saying that the media shouldn't have published the first report about death, citing traditions, while some others are saying the media was right for publishing the sad story, citing the new media and modernism.
In the earlier report that said the King has joined his ancestors, the report said the King was ill and rushed to St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, from Ibadan. There was no attribution, the ward number and the possible certificate of death. However, the palace chiefs have not denied that the king was ill and possibly in London for medical attention.
In the course of what has turned into a sort of drama, news reports said the city has embarked on a major festival during which women are not allowed to come outdoor and this is indirectly linked to yet to be confirmed demise. The festival called 'Oro' will hold for seven days. The normal routine for the festival is that it holds in the night, when women are disallowed outdoors.
But a newspaper report said that the festival, holding for seven days would keep women indoor both day and night. An investigation from a woman in Nigeria,who is knowledgeable about such things, though not a native of Ife, said it is possible for women to remain indoors for the entire duration of the festival, based on what she had witnessed in another part of Yorubaland.
The outcome of the investigation quickly attracted a question about whether it is possible for women to be kept indoor for seven days for any reason and in any part of the world and in the 21st century? When the debate about whether the media was right or wrong in publishing the report about death is considered along what people have said, the conclusion will be that it is possible for women to be so treated regardless of time and place, because it is about tradition. It is here that the teaching of 'culture shock' in Sociology comes in.
But would it have been right for the media to have such information and embargo it? The answer is in the negative, because according to universal application, not everyone in the media knows about the tradition in Ile-Ife. For journalists who don't know about Ife's tradition, it will be a culture shock to hear what they have reported is taboo, but not that they have lied. It is here that the role of the palace chiefs who spoke to the state governor with a rebuttal in the media that the King is alive and how that has upended Public Relations has a place.
In this case, any professional will know that the palace chiefs have not lied as being claimed by some people, but merely demonstrating emotion and love for a man who is much a father figure. The chiefs said as much that they have not received information that the King has transformed, and that if such a thing has happened they ought to have been the ones to inform the media for the appropriate action. They don't seem to know what is called journalism and the effort by various newspapers to,outdo one another and how it has affected journalism.
And as the debate continued, two media reports surfaced that said the remains of the revered king has been flown into the country, while another said that the body would be flown home for necessary rites and burial in the palace, and that announcement about the demise is delayed to enable the family take out their personal effects from the palace, because the moment the announcement is made, whatever belongs to them would be confiscated. It is here that curious observers begin to raise a red flag about the reports. While others say the chiefs shouldn't have said the King is hale and hearty. But palace apologists disagree.
They say Oba Sijuade has ruled for35 years, having been on the throne since 1980, and that at 85 it would not have been strange if a man of his stature and age leaves this earth. They say death is not a choice, but mandatory when the time appointed by the Almighty God dawns. They say it is why it is written in "Beowulf" that every man should do what he is capable in advancement of humanity when he is young and strong, because death can come at any time to abort human intentions.
And considering Sijuade's social life and openness - believing that the worst has happened - would he have wished that his body be returned to the country under the cover of darkness and obscurity? The conclusion is that the media ought to wait for a brief from the palace after the chiefs' rebuttal, rather than continued publishing unconfirmed information, which should have been officially released by palace officials, even if the first report was right.
